By Layla Bellows

The Pacific Northwest might be most famous for its long rainy seasons, but come summer, the region boasts plenty of sunshine, and, as the rest of the country’s temperatures soar into 90 degrees and above, the mountains here have a season of mild highs and comfortable overnight lows. It’s the perfect time to get outdoors and enjoy the beautiful scenery while trying out some of the region’s great hiking.

Oregon’s landscape has everything from the mountain peaks to lava flows and unusual coastal rock formations. If summer simply isn’t summer without a trip to the coast, a visit to Devils Punch Bowl State Natural Area near Newport, Ore., is a must. The hike to this coastal rock formation is less than a mile, and the payoff is huge: Foamy seawater churns in what appears to be, well, a giant rock bowl formed when, it’s believed, two large underwater caves collapsed. The beaches beyond are also popular for whale watching.

Unusual geological features exist in inland Oregon as well — the Painted Hills, a portion of the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument near Mitchell, Ore., dazzle visitors with crimson shades of clay set against the soft green sage brush covering the rolling hills. Paths have been developed for simple hikes ranging from a quarter to a half mile. The Newberry National Volcanic Monument also lies in the center of the state; the star of this park is the 17 square-mile caldera at the top of the active Newberry Volcano. The Big Obsidian Flow trail follows the state’s youngest lava flow for less than a mile and is surrounded by glassy obsidian and rocky pumice.

The quintessential Pacific Northwest mountain experience is found within easy distance from Seattle, in the Cascade Mountains. Although the hikes here have steeper grades and are typically several miles long, beginners shouldn’t shy away from them. The Central Cascades have hikes as short as 4.5 miles round trip, and along the way, you’ll see everything from wildflowers to waterfalls, chains of mountain peaks and old-growth forests.

A great spot for beginning hikers is Barclay Lake. Its well-maintained trail has a mild grade and heads through both regenerating and mature forests before ending at the lake, which sits in the shadow of the rocky northern face of Baring Mountain. For a slightly more challenging hike, visit Wallace Falls, which connects nine waterfalls, including the 265-foot-high Middle Falls. The grade on this trail is steeper, but benches and picnic tables are located along the path so visitors can sit and catch their breath. In the North Cascades, Mt. Pilchuck has a trail good for hikers with a moderate level of skill — not so much because of the grade but because trails are sometimes muddy and slippery. The payoff comes at the trail’s end, which has breathtaking views of Mt. Ranier, Puget Sound, Seattle and the Olympic Mountains.

By Layla Bellows

We’ve spent months hearing tragic stories about the Gulf coastline — it’s enough to make many despair about a trip to the beach. But Florida alone has more than 1,200 miles of coast (Fun fact: That’s more than any other state in the continental U.S.), and most of it remains unaffected. To get all the information you need to plan a relaxing Sunshine State vacation, visit Florida Live, the state tourism board’s depot for vacation information.

Real-time coastal updates aren’t all you’ll find on Florida Live. It also has short videos about travel destinations, a blog, visitor-submitted photos and Twitter feeds from Florida tourism organizations. And, though the site is clearly there to help promote the state’s tourism industry, the information isn’t just repurposed PR: The blogs and videos are by Kevin Mims, a freelance journalist traveling throughout Florida, and he often highlights offbeat destinations that might not have been on your radar. For instance, did you know there’s a coral castle in Homestead? Yes, it’s actually built from coral, and it was single-handedly built by a five-foot tall, 100-pound man between 1923 and 1951. Unusual spots exist throughout Florida — the kinds of quirky places the locals love to talk about. Mims’ content offers an insider’s perspective coupled with the experiential details of someone actually traveling the state.

The pictures on the site are all from the Share a Little Sunshine Facebook page, and they’re time-stamped, so you’ll know if what you’re seeing is what you can expect to get if a destination is on your vacation list. The site editors also limit how many times any one person or business can post photos to make sure Florida Live visitors are getting a wide range of views. Twitter feeds from CVBs provide local updates not just about beaches but also about attractions and other visitor-worthy information.

If pictures of beaches, and videos and blogs about attractions aren’t enough to entice you to the state, then click on the hot deals button on the right-hand side of the homepage. From here you can search for deals or browse through featured discounts. And if that’s not enough, try the Florida Vacation Auction button, where you can bid e-Bay style on rooms at some of the state’s most famous hotels and resorts. You can actually see what properties you’re bidding on, so you can research rooms and amenities, making it a safer bet than the Priceline negotiator. William Shatner, eat your heart out.

Image Courtesy VISIT FLORIDA.

By Layla Bellows

Florida’s Palm Coast is, of course, known for its miles of untouched beaches, acres of protected forests, and the many rivers and streams that run throughout Flagler County. Scratch the surface of this ecologically rich part of the state, however, and you’ll find a good dose of Florida history as well. Whether looking to remain outdoors, find an adventure or get inside to beat the heat, Flagler’s got a historical spot for you.

If hiking, canoeing, bird watching and all else outdoors are on the vacation to-do list, take a trip to Bulow Plantation State Park, where you’ll find all those activities as well as the ruins of — you guessed it — Bulow Plantation. This park does double duty with its access to Bulow Creek (a state canoe trail) and the somewhat eerie remains of the plantation house and slave quarters as well as a sugar mill and springhouse. The site tells the larger tale of Florida’s plantations, burned and destroyed by Seminole Indians in 1836, during the Second Seminole War. The Mala Compra Plantation met the same fate that year. General Joseph Hernandez, Florida’s first delegate to the U.S. Congress, grew cotton and oranges here, and James Audubon also visited the plantation. Today, the archaeological remains provide an example of a coastal plantation layout.

To get a deeper glimpse into Florida’s farming history, head no further than the Florida Agricultural Museum in Palm Coast, where you’ll find an 1890s pioneer homestead, an early 1900s dry goods store, five buildings from a Depression-era citrus business, a 5,000-square-foot dairy barn and the archaeological site of a water-powered sawmill. Needless to say, the buildings didn’t just happen to be on the site: They were all moved from their original locations and restored as a museum devoted to learning and fun. Museum guides dress in period costume and lead visitors through hands-on farm activities; the barnyard animals can eat carrots right out of your hand, so be sure to bring a good supply. Even the animals have history here: The Florida Agricultural Museum is part of a statewide heritage livestock preservation program and has a stock of cracker cattle and horses (shown).

A day cavorting with dolphins at Marineland might not sound like a dip in history, but this attraction, widely known for offering visitors the opportunity to swim with dolphins, is also on the National Register of Historic Places. Initially opened as Marine Studios in 1938, the original intent of its founders (including Leo Tolstoy’s grandson) was to create a place where marine life could be filmed for TV and movies. Who knew a day of good, old-fashioned tourism could also serve as a lesson in history?

Image courtesy the Florida Agricultural Museum.

By Layla Bellows

Whether you’re a shopper, a sightseer or a music-lover, it’s no secret that you’ll find plenty to do in Grapevine, Texas, that doesn’t involve libations. But let’s face it: No trip to a town named Grapevine would be complete without a sip (or two, or three) of wine. Many cities can’t even boast one true winery; this town of 50,000 has eight.

With the bulk of tasting rooms clustered in the downtown area, Grapevine is to wine-lovers what South Beach is to the party set. Take South Main Street: Here you’ll find Su Vino Winery, D’Vine Wine and Farina’s Winery, all in about four blocks. Each has a unique identity. D’vine, for instance, is known for its varietals created on premise. Farina’s boasts Italian flair and a tasting room distinguished by its 19th-century European bar. Su Vino is a great spot for those new to wine: It’s known for an approachable tasting room and unstuffy education sessions.

Head just about a block off South Main on East Worth Street, and you’ll find the Homestead Winery Tasting Room, where you can sample Rose of Ivanhoe, a favorite at the city’s annual Grapefest. The cluster is completed a few blocks away at La Buena Vida Vineyards (bottom right) on East College Street, where Spanish tile fountains and a palatial patio set the perfect stage for an al fresco tasting.

Head slightly off the beaten path to North Main Street to find Cross Timbers Winery. Here you can enjoy one of the house varietals or try one of the wines from its sister wineries in Casa Madero, Mexico, or Krems, Austria. Regardless of which you choose, you’ll be enjoying it in a quaint Victorian farmhouse, which holds the winery’s tasting room. For a more Napa-like experience, hop in a car and head toward the Dallas-Fort Worth Airport to visit Delaney Vineyards & Winery (top left), where you can see all that goes into a Texas wine — from growing to bottling. If you’re in town in late August, be sure to put Delaney on the itinerary for Aug. 21, when it holds an annual harvest and grape stomp.

And if you somehow managed to skip by all these incredible stops during your stay, never fear: La Buena Vida Vineyards has a sister tasting room, La Bodega Winery, in the Dallas-Fort Worth airport. Grapevine really wants to make sure you can’t leave town without trying some Texas wine.

 

Images courtesy Grapevine, Texas, CVB.

By Layla Bellows

If you want to head deep into the heart of Texas, set your GPS to Abilene, a town that celebrates its Lone Star State heritage every day through arts, celebrations and a number of historical sites. It also happens to be the starting point for what could be considered the soul of the state: The Texas Forts Trail. This ring of eight forts in the West Central Texas region were established to protect the settlers whose bravery and can-do attitude began what’s now called the frontier spirit.

The first fort on the trail is Fort Phantom Hill (left)  just north of Abilene. Its stone structures served as an outpost for the federal army from 1851 to 1854. Although much of it burned shortly after the army abandoned it, it continued as a postal way station and stagecoach stop, then as a station for the Confederacy’s Frontier Battalion, and finally was reoccupied by troops involved in Indian campaigns. And it all happened in 50 years.

You’ll find similar stories all along the 650-mile Texas Forts Trail, and whether you see all eight forts or choose to dart in and out of specific sites, you’ll find small pieces of Texas history that together tell the story of its settling. On the southern side of the trail, for instance, stands Presidio San Luis de Las Amarillas (right) built by the Spanish in 1757. It was constructed to protect a nearby mission from Indian raids — a task that proved so hard the fort was abandoned after only 10 years, never to be used for defense again. To its east is Fort Mason, built in 1851 as part of a string of army forts from the Rio Grande to the Red River to open new land to settlement and protect the pioneers. This time the goal was attained.

Like a scenic byway, the trail is dotted with charming towns, noteworthy landmarks and beautiful parks. In the town of Cisco, for instance, you can see Conrad Hilton’s first hotel. On the northeastern edge of the trail, near Fort Richardson, is Lake Mineral Wells State Park. Located along the scenic Rock Creek, this is a spot to stretch your legs and test your endurance: Rock climbing, horseback riding and mountain biking are all top activities here.

A round trip, of course, ends in Abilene, where you can celebrate the pioneers with a visit to Frontier! Texas or keep a military theme with a trip to the 12th Armored Division Memorial Museum.

Fort Phantom Hill image courtesy Steve Butman Photography.

By Layla Bellows

Fireworks and bandstands are a Fourth of July tradition you can find in just about any American city. So why go just anywhere? We have the good fortune to live in a country with towns that keep colonial life and pioneer traditions alive — and when these towns celebrate American Independence, you’ll get a sense of national history in addition to the requisite live music and fireworks.

First stop is, of course, Williamsburg, Va., where Independence Day festivities begin with a reading of the Declaration of Independence and end with fife and drum performances and fireworks over the more than 200-year-old historic district. During the day, head to the Governor’s Palace for a picnic that features performances by dancers and balladeers, among others. Tickets are $51 for adults, and the cost includes food and VIP seating for the fireworks.

If you really want to go back in time, head to St. Augustine, Fla., which was established almost 450 years ago by the Spanish, making it the country’s first European city. During the day you can take a tour of St. Augustine’s famous fort, the Castillo de San Marcos, then return that evening to watch the brilliant fireworks display over the Matanzas Bay, which the Castillo overlooks. Another prime viewing point for St. Augustine’s Fourth of July fireworks is its lighthouse — get there before 8 p.m. for tickets that will get you a birds’ eye view of both a spectacular Florida sunset and St. Augustine’s fireworks.

To get a 19th century Independence Day experience, visit Dallas Heritage Village’s Old-Fashioned Fourth or Old Town San Diego’s Historic 4th of July Celebration. Dallas Heritage Village is located just south of the city and is dedicated to preserving and presenting Dallas and North Central Texas life between 1840 and 1910. On the Fourth, they’ll be celebrating with Victorian games and stick pony races, among other hands-on activities (including making ice cream). In Old Town San Diego, you can get a taste of the city’s lifestyle between 1821 and 1871, when the city transformed from a Mexican pueblo to an American settlement. Independence Day will be marked with period games including a three-legged race and egg toss, as well as live music and lemonade and popcorn at the historical-feeling price of 50 cents each.

For more Independence Day celebrations, visit our Hershey-Harrisburg and Brunswick Islands blogs!

(Photo by Mike Cubbedge with permission from the City of St. Augustine.)

By Layla Bellows

With all that’s going on in the Gulf of Mexico these days, it’s hard to feel confident about a summer trip along its shores, but the fact is that plenty of coastline remains as sugar-white as ever. Plus, almost all Gulf Coast towns have rivers and streams, beautiful parkland and quaint downtowns you should experience during any getaway.

Charlotte Harbor & The Gulf Islands, located on Florida’s southwest coast just north of Fort Meyers and south of Sarasota, is one such community. The stretches of white sand and clear-blue sea that grace Palm Island and Manasota Key are the undoubted draw for tourists. But seasoned travelers will tell you that you’re not getting the full experience that Charlotte Harbor has to offer if you don’t go inland.

The Charlotte Harbor area includes eight distinct communities, each of which reveals Florida’s storied history and culture. El Jobean, for instance, served as a winter home for circus and carnival performers. For a taste of Florida lifestyle, head to the historic village of Boca Grande for a peek at charming old-Florida homes. Get a cultural fix at Port Charlotte, where there’s a waterfront museum and the county’s historical center. You’ll find each area walking friendly, and if the heat has you weary, just head into one of the many local restaurants and treat yourself to some fresh seafood and a cool drink.

Time in and around the water is essential to any Florida trip, and you’ll be impressed by the offerings in the Charlotte Harbor area. It boasts one of Florida’s longest open-water estuaries, rife with wildlife and ringed with mangroves. Head to Charlotte Harbor State Park for the best views. Look no further than Englewood-Cape Haze for Blueway Trails, the kayak and canoe version of a blue highway — slow, windy routes that take you through some of the state’s most beautiful country.

Curious? Check out Charlotte Harbor & The Gulf Islands’ ECOnomical Summer Escape Giveaway, a five-day, four-night getaway for four that includes hotel accommodations and entertainment discounts. Click here for more!

By Layla Bellows

When it comes to a Florida vacation, it’s hard to beat the experience you’ll find in the Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater area. Tampa is an old Florida town, and it’s rife with both history and fun. St. Petersburg boasts some of the best museums and art collections you’ll find anywhere, and for the perfect day at the beach, Clearwater Beach (its name says it all) is unbeatable.

In short: A visit to this area gives you all the excitement and culture of a big city coupled with world-famous art and pristine beaches that are hard to find elsewhere.

Within Tampa, the top spot to visit is Ybor City, a town-within-a-town developed by Vicente Martinez Ybor in the late 1800s to serve as a cigar-manufacturing center. By day, it’s the perfect spot to learn about the city’s history and place within America’s multicultural fabric through tours and visits to sites such as the Ybor City Museum. By night, the city’s lively dining and nightlife scene draws folks from all over Florida. Sports action is a year-round affair in the Tampa Bay area: Catch football at a Tampa Bay Buccaneers game; you can’t do better when it comes to a baseball game than the Tampa Bay Rays; and if you enjoy hockey, well, you’ve simply got to check out the Tampa Bay Lightning, winners of the 2004 Stanley Cup.

A trip to the area is never complete without a stop at the The Dali Museum in St. Petersburg. Here you’ll find some of the art world’s most recognizable works, including several pieces featuring the artist’s iconic melting clocks as well as “Geopoliticus Child Watching the Birth of the New Man” (a man emerging from the Earth) and larger-than-life masterworks such as “The Hallucinogenic Toreador” (the one sporting several Venus de Milo images). If you’re visiting the area after July 11, don’t miss the Chihuly Collection presented by the Morean Arts Center, which includes some of the glass artist’s most stunning large-scale installations. The arts center is conveniently located near the waterfront.

Spend an idyllic day at Clearwater Beach and enjoy its well-loved shoreline. The sand is white and soft, and the water is the perfect shade of aqua-blue at the shore, developing into a deeper blue at greater depths. And the water here is actually clear. Promise. Jump in and see your toes for yourself. It’s also the ideal beach for families thanks to its staff of full-time lifeguards. If you don’t catch the dolphins’ regular appearances along the shoreline, seen most often in the afternoon, head over to Clearwater Marine Aquarium, which has dolphin encounters and a sea turtle rehabilitation center.

For golfers, Innisbrook Resort and Golf Club in nearby Palm Harbor is a newly renovated resort property with four separate courses designed by Lawrence Packard, but golf isn’t the only draw at Innisbrook. The property also has accommodations including spacious suites with golf courses and resort views. A spa, pools, fishing and tennis are a few other amenities to check out in between rounds on the course. 

 

Images (from top):

Tampa offers all the excitement of a big city coupled with shorelines you won't find anywhere else. (Image courtesy Tampa Bay & Co.)

Sit back, relax, and enjoy the view (not to mention sun and surf) at Sand Key Park, just south of Clearwater Beach. (Image courtesy Visit St. Petersburg/Clearwater)

Don't miss the area's famous golf courses! (Image courtesy Visit St. Petersburg/Clearwater)

 

   

By Layla Bellows

Denver is one of those towns that immediately comes to mind in the winter. The slopes beckon skiers and snowboarders, and snowy mountains draw adventurous climbers and hikers. But don’t overlook the mile-high city in the summertime: It comes alive with outdoor festivals, and it’s the prime season for exploring neighborhoods and the city's vibrant cultural scene.

This summer’s not-to-be-missed arts event is “Tutankhamun: The Golden King and the Great Pharaohs,” a special exhibition of treasures from Tut’s tomb showing at the Denver Art Museum (an architectural feat worth checking out in its own right). Notable artifacts include a 10-foot statue of Tutankhamun — the largest image of the pharaoh ever unearthed — and the canopic jar that once held his organs. The exhibition goes beyond Egypt’s most famous tomb and explores other parts of its ancient culture through artifacts of other rulers, including Khefren (builder of the Great Pyramid) and Hatshepsut, one of the few documented female pharaohs. Get VIP treatment and avoid long lines by booking with one of the museum’s hotel partners, all of whom are offering great summer deals.

Outdoor enthusiasts likely know about Denver’s thriving bike trails and linear parks. But in the summertime, they aren't the only outdoor draw. Red Rocks is a famous outdoor amphitheater, and the summer concert season is just one reason to check it out — Red Rocks also hosts Film on the Rocks, a summertime series of classic films. In downtown Denver, there are free outdoor concerts aplenty, with the City Park Jazz Summer Concert Series taking a prime position; shows are Sunday from 6 to 8 p.m. from June 6 through August 8. Be sure to check out the Denver CVB’s website for great outdoor summer film series, many of which are free or low-cost.

Experience Denver from a local’s perspective by touring one of its neighborhoods. Five Points is known for historic Victorian homes and rich African-American history, and South Broadway is recognized for its hipster scene — and antiques: The neighborhood has one of the highest concentrations of dealers in the country. Head to Belmar/Lakewood for an old town-style pedestrian district complete with a European-inspired market all summer long or to Denver’s arts district on Santa Fe to visit one (or more) of its 40 galleries, boutiques and restaurants.

If you’ve only been to Denver in the winter, it’s time to experience summer in the mile-high city. Go for nationally recognized art museums and exhibitions, go for breezy outdoor festivals, go to walk through neighborhoods like a local — whatever your reason, we promise you’ll be happy you visited.

 

Image: "Tutankhamun Shabti," the only such figure found in the Antechamber, it is one of the largest of the servant statuettes. The inscription records the shabti spell from the Book of the Dead, ensuring that the king would do no forced labor in the afterlife. ©2008 Sandro Vannini.