The Oceanside Vacation Home Of Your Dreams…Finding The Perfect “Get Away From It All”

Vacation homes are easy to find, just do a simple search on the internet and you will have your choice of thousands to pick from.

It’s finding which vacation home is right for you that starts to become difficult. A surfside beach condo in Florida, a beach house on the North Carolina Outer banks, luxury beach villas in Mexico…these are all great choices but do they fit your need for the perfect “Get Away From It All” vacation home?

Luxury Beach Villas or Secluded Beach House…

In real estate you always hear location, location, location. But is location really the most important to you in your choice of vacation homes? Read more »

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Vacation Homes and Villa Rentals at Windsor Hills Resort

If you are looking for Orlando vacation rental close to Disney, how about trying Windsor Hills Resort? You find won’t anything much closer to Disney World than two miles – you can even walk if you wanted. So what’s the deal? What’s the catch?

No deal and no catch. You simply rent this amazing Orlando vacation villa for as long as you require it for $225 a night plus tax, and then relax. The 13% Florida tax will bring this up to under $255, but guess what? That’s a night no matter how many people you have with you. So it’s great for a bunch of buddies. Say there are 10 of you, then you each pay $25.50 and you have the cheapest most fantastic vacation you ever had in sheer unadulterated luxury. Read more »

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Enjoy The Public Gardens Orlando Has to Offer

If you are a gardener or just love the scent of a beautiful rose then a trip to the Harry P. Leu Gardens in Orlando is well worth your time. This is one of the quiet attractions of Orlando that will provide a good change of pace from the flashy theme parks. Let’s look at what you will find here.

The gardens is made up of three miles of paved scenic walkways that wind through fifty acres of southern styled gardens. The gardens include America’s largest Camellia collection outside California, three acres of idea gardens for weekend projects, the largest formal rose garden in Florida, a house museum dating from the 1880’s, a two acre Tropical Stream Garden, a Vegetable and Herb Garden, a Butterfly Garden and lots more. Read more »

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Colorado, USA – A Brief Narrative

Before Columbus, Colorado was inhabited by the Anasazi Indians.

The first Europeans to land in Colorado were the Spanish. In 1540-41 Coronado led an expedition to North America in search of the seven cities of Cibola, “where the streets were carved out of Gold” and years later the Spanish got to Colorado. Traders followed soon and started selling local goods eg. the beaver fur which was considered to be of excellent quality and thus expensive. Read more »

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California’s Mission Inn opulent enough for presidents

Riverside, California, is a seeming metropolis and part of the L.A. basin, but it’s hard to think of one distinguishing characteristic.

But get on down off the freeway and you’ll find one of the most unique getaway experiences in the state – an experience that transports you to Early California through architecture and through the efforts of city fathers to preserve Riverside’s past. Smack in the middle of it all is an inn so grandiose that presidents have married there, honeymooned there and even planted trees there.

It’s always a good sign when the place you’ll be staying has a street named after it – and so locating our destination was especially easy when we took the Mission Inn Road exit off the freeway and found ourselves instantly surrounded by historic Spanish architecture on every street corner. We noticed that churches, museums and historic storefronts are all within walking distance of one another and, towering above it all, was our weekend getaway – the Historic Mission Inn.

Just inside the ivy-covered adobe archway, we walked through a courtyard of lush landscaping before getting our first glimpse of the majestic lobby area. Spectacular chandeliers and giant wood beams complemented the elegant flower-patterned carpet to create a sense that this building was at once luxurious and historic. The lobby’s grand piano is the only piano made by Steinway for the 1876 Centennial. But this was only the beginning – the Historic Mission Inn is like a fun house for those who marvel at historic and creative architecture. Something unusual is waiting for you around every corner.

The Historic Mission Inn at first gives the feeling it might have been a real mission or monastery, what with its 239 guest rooms, including 28 suites. But upon closer reading of its history, this palace-like inn was actually built by Riverside town father Frank Miller, who had taken the original Glenwood Tavern, built in 1874, and converted it to a small inn that opened in 1903. Over the years Miller continued to expand the inn using the popular Mission Revival architecture so prevalent in California, but blending architectural styles and ornamental details from the Southwest U.S. as well as several Mediterranean countries – and of course the California missions.

The inn closed for seven years in the late 80’s for a $55 million renovation and then reopened in 1992 to rave reviews. Today, the inn is situated on an entire city block and has a total of 320,000 square feet. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is a State of California Historic Landmark. President Nixon was married here, President Reagan honeymooned here and President Teddy Roosevelt planted a tree on its grounds. There is even a chair still on the property that was built for 300-pound William Howard Taft, also a visitor to the inn. Of course, dozens of movie stars and other dignitaries also have spent time at the inn, and its unusual architecture has served as the backdrop for a string of movies dating back to 1913.

The rooms and suites – which offer many unique floor plans — are almost as interesting architecturally as the inn’s exterior. The sitting area in our suite was appointed with antiques — some more elegant than others – and the bedroom featured a comfortable four-poster bed. Our unit had an L-shaped floor plan and, just beyond the sitting area was a large table and four chairs that could double as a work area or a dining table. There was no view to speak of, but once you walked outside the suite there was a series of stairways, walkways and catwalks that offered a variety of amazing views of the inn’s special architecture.

The inn has several award-winning restaurants, with Duane’s boasting an especially long list of awards from restaurant writers and Wine Spectator Magazine. Although relatively new, Las Campanas, the hotel’s Mexican restaurant, is now starting to appear on many award lists – and we could see why. We enjoyed a variety of dishes that all seemed to have a special flair.

The inn features a year-round heated swimming pool and jacuzzi area for relaxation but, if you want the ultimate, Kelly’s Spa will pamper you until you won’t want to go home. A recent addition to the Historic Mission Inn – and proving especially popular with local residents — Kelly’s features a variety of scrubs, polishes, body wraps, therapeutic baths, massages and facials. Getting treated like royalty is not inexpensive — plan to spend about $250 for a half day or about $400 for a full day, although that can vary depending on the treatments. Read more »

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Laughlin, Nevada is known as the UnVegas

The one-time owners of a tiny eight-room motel on the banks of the Colorado River must be feeling a little like the Native Americans who sold Manhattan Island for, let’s say, less than today’s market value.

Not that these motel owners were short-changed by visionary Don Laughlin – it’s just that now, four decades later, Laughlin has parlayed that $235,000 investment into a big-time resort empire that so far has drawn eight other casino/hotels to his little stretch of the Colorado. In the meantime, Laughlin has pumped millions in casino profits back into such community projects as a bridge to Arizona and an airport capable of landing 737’s. Read more »

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Mad Cow Theater: Some Serious Entertainment in Orlando

There are a lot of entertainment choices available to you if you are vacationing in Orlando. For example, you can go to the night clubs at Universal and Disney or take in one of the many dinner shows on Orlando’s International Drive. However, if you appreciate top-flight theater, then you should definitely plan to spend one evening at the Mad Cow Theater.

The Mad Cow Theater started in 1997, housed in a former blueprint studio in Maitland, Florida. Starting with a simple two-show format, the theater began to attract the attention of both critics and audiences alike.

After an initial period, where it was housed in other Florida institutions, the theater put down roots in downtown Orlando where it has become an important of the city-center’s cultural scene. In this location, the theater has maintained a high level of performance and was acclaimed as the Best Theater in Orlando two years in a row by Orlando Magazine.

The Mad Cow Theater has treated audiences in Orlando to classic works as well as some of the best contemporary plays. With a repertoire encompassing both American works and world literature, plays by Chekhov, Williams, Pinter, Shaw, Brecht, Ionesco and Pinter have been performed during the last 12 years.

These plays have been produced by Central Florida’s best actors, designers and directors. Working in process that combines in-depth rehearsal with fertile collaboration, the theater company has been the recipient of many prestigious awards such as Arts Innovator of the Year by United Arts of Central Florida and Umbrella Awards at The Orlando International Fringe Festival.

It is not only critics that have embraced the Mad Cow Theater, the public has given the theater a consistent “thumbs up” and ticket sales have increased steadily over the past years.

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Europe in the State of Washington?

“All problems have a solution,” we hear, and people always seem to be right! So when the solution you are aiming for is “the perfect European vacation”, but the Euro is getting in your way… No problem! The solution you are seeking is right in your North West Washington “back yard”, and it’s called: Port Townsend, Washington.

Port Townsend is a city with the European flavor you crave in food, wines, (both imported and/or the splendid local reds and whites), architecture and culture.

Lodging here can also be a charming “one of a kind” experience, in the Victorian Mansion that belonged to Anne Starrett, in the very heart of Up Town.

Your delights here start entering. Here in Port Townsend, the precious wooden carved stairs offer you the harmony you would expect from a song. And on the way up, you bring your delighted eyes to the painted “cúpula” as the climax of your first visual ecstasies.

If in the other wonderful Victorian “treat”, The Old Consulate -which, like its name indicates, was built to serve that very honorable purpose; and still distills the irresistible charm and elaborate beauty of its time.

You can lodge, overlooking the amazing Puget Sound, if you lodge in the James House.

There you’ll find the charm of elegant and well chosen antiques all about; but each of the rooms will provide you , in all comfort, a flavor all its own!

But Port Townsend is all this and more.

Port Townsend is a compendium of all these gifts in the middle of crystalline waters for you to admire, and sail and kayak or wind-surf. There are also luscious woods for your appreciative eyes; growing in the midst of homes, gardens, parks, and beside some lovely beaches, for you to hike at your leisure.

Fun, cultured, multi-talented people are all around; entertaining themselves in art or arts and crafts, and entertaining you with their art, and their stories.

You can expect excellent taste and variety in boutiques; and excellent, affordable antiques -if you take some time to look.

An unforgettable visit to Port Townsend will quench well your thirst for the European flavor…in your very own back yard! Read more »

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Orlando Vacation Homes: Luxury Accommodation that Hits the Spot

Orlando vacation homes offer a degree of personal luxury accommodation that hits the spot and makes you feel like you are really on holiday. You don’t all share one room at home, so why do it on vacation?

Some people want their holiday homes to be just like their own – why? If that’s what you want, then pass on Orlando because that offers better! If you wanted your accommodation while on holiday to be just like home, why not save the expense and just stay at home? Nope – no matter who you are, prince or pauper, while on vacation you want something special.

How about a 5 star hotel? Think about it. Apart from the cost, are you happy spending your vacation in one room. What if you have kids? Most do in Orlando – what is its biggest attraction? Are you at ease in a hotel room, wondering what the little darlings are getting up to in their own room(s)? Or are you all sharing? If that’s your idea of a relaxing vacation, then . . .

How about a 4 or 5 bedroom vacation home, with the same number of bathrooms and a 50 inch home cinema system? How about a Bose system? Or TVs and DVD players in every room, with an Xbox or the latest Playstation? How about all that for half the price per head than an average hotel room? Did I mention the spa and pool?

Orlando vacation homes exude Luxury with a Capital L, and unless you are in the Bill Gates range, there is no hotel to beat them – period! Certainly not for value for money. It’s a very difficult decision to make – no, not between a hotel and a luxury Orlando holiday home, but between which vacation villa, apartment or condo to go for. A lot depends on the size and composition of your party. Read more »

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Relaxing Wine & Dine Weekend Getaways in the U.S.

Before Winter’s cold sets in, enjoy the last of the Fall Colors by grabbing your Road Trip Planner and create a wonderful Wine & Dine Weekend Getaway for two. A 3-Day Weekend of wining and dining, walking through vineyards or sun-dappled trails and getting a breath of fresh Fall air will breathe romance into your life and relaxation into your veins.

The TOP WINE PRODUCING STATES in the U.S. are: California, Washington, New York, Oregon, Texas, Virginia, Idaho, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Missouri, North Carolina. But WINE IS PRODUCED IN EVERY STATE so you can easily build a road trip within driving distance of your home or via a short flight.

Below are some Wine & Dine Weekend Getaways to help with your road trip planning, including some of the top-rated vineyards in the country as well as those wineries offering visitors a beautiful setting and a fun experience.

CENTRAL CALIFORNIA: Halfway between San Francisco and Los Angeles, San Luis Obispo County produces excellent Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs. The Cottage Inn by the Sea at Pismo Beach overlooks the Pacific Ocean. You can venture to the region?s wineries on your own or take their Coastal Wine Tour, which includes the popular Edna Valley Vineyard. TOP RESTAURANT in the area: F. McLintocks Saloon & Dining House.

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA: A verdant valley, and a lovely place for a road trip, includes Napa, Sonoma, and Healdsburg. Here you can find the Monte Rosso Vineyard, one of California’s oldest vineyards. Known for its firm Cabernet Sauvignons as well as intense, old-vine Zinfandels. TOP WINES from this area: 2002 Ravenswood Monte Rosso Zinfandel; 2003 Rochioli Estate Grown Pinot Noir from the The Rochioli vineyard in Healdsburg.

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA: Add Santa Barbara to your road trip planner because it offers you the Pacific Ocean on one front, the Santa Ynez Mountains at your back, and in between, prime wine country. The Hotel Mar Monte is a historic hotel built in the tradition of Spanish Colonial architecture. They offer a package tour to three wineries if you’d rather not explore on your own. Or choose staying at the Estero Beach Hotel Resort in San Ysidro, nearly at the Mexican border. Nearly two dozen wineries can be found in the Mexico Guadalupe Valley. BONUS ACTIVITY: Try a bike tour to a winery or a horseback-riding adventure to the Adobe Guadalupe Vineyard.

TRAVERSE CITY, MICHIGAN: In the nation’s fourth-largest grape-growing state, the Chateau Grand Traverse winery overlooks the Grand Traverse Bay. You can sample their award-winning varietals, including their Rieslings. BONUS DESTINATION: Nearby, you?ll find the Old Mission Peninsula, which leads you into 7 wineries like the Chateau Chantal, Bowers Harbor Vineyards, Brys Estate Vineyard & Winery and Peninsula Cellars.

LONG ISLAND, NEW YORK: For some hands-on fun, sign up for Wine Camp at Long Island’s renowned wine-producing North Fork region. Wine Camp’s packages vary as do the participating vineyards but you?ll enjoy activities like winemaking, tasting techniques, food pairings, and wine blending. The price includes lodging, some lunches & dinners… and a case of wine! But weight loss pills are not included.

WILLAMETTE VALLEY, OREGON: To see a 6-generation family-owned establishment, enjoy a trip to Willamette Farms in Newberg. For a more drama-infused history, check out what used to be called Seven Springs Vineyard. The grapes from this vineyard were sought after by many top wine producers in the world. Then it was cut in half after a legal settlement in 2001, only to be reunited six years later with an exclusive, fifteen-year lease to the Evening Land partnership. FINAL VINTAGE: The St. Innocent Seven Springs Vineyard Pinot Noir 2006.

TEXAS: What often springs to mind when people think of Texas are those BIG 10-gallon hats. And yes, Texas is getting BIGGER… in wine production. This Lone Star State boasts more than 110 bonded wineries and wine aficionados are noticing their award winning wines. The following three vineyards rise above the rest because they go the extra mile for their guests: Bella Vista Cellars, in Wimberly; Delaney Vineyards in Grapevine; Flat Creek Estate, west of Austin. Any of the 3 would make an excellent anchor in your road trip planning, whether you create 3 individual weekend getaways or a wine-themed week’s vacation. FUN FACT: A ten-gallon hat actually only holds ¾ gallon. Its name was derived from the Spanish galón word meaning braid.

OAK GROVE, VIRGINIA: One place I’d recommend adding to your road trip planner is Ingleside Winery, one of the oldest and largest wineries in Virginia. This winery was built in 1834 and the vineyards cover about 70 acres. Their wines have consistently earned top honors in state, national, and international wine competitions. BONUS LODGING: Ingleside Vineyards has two 2-bedroom rental cottages set within the vineyards and also a stunning four-bedroom Leeds Cove retreat, which overlooks the Rappahannock River.

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON: You can secure a great wine package when you add the Hotel Vintage Park to your road trip planner. Enjoy wine tasting at Pike Place Market’s tasting room, and an evening wine hour in the hotel’s lobby. Or check out Seven Hills Vineyard in Walla Walla Valley. Seven Hills Vineyard is now one of Washington’s best known vineyards.

Getting away for an extended weekend, indulging in respected wines and eclectic dishes, enjoying the view from your hotel window…yes, these are the things that await the Road Trip Planner who heads for wine country.

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Tripwiser is a fun place to visit! Our free social trip planning service leverages the collective wisdom of travelers worldwide and makes trip planning interactive and enjoyable.
http://www.TripWiser.com

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