The right technology will help you be more productive on the road with less backache. Even if you’re not a technophile, your business travels will benefit when you take advantage of the latest trends in electronics. New tablet-style computers and eReaders might be just what you need to shed some weight in your luggage and stay connected. And when you stay at a Country Inns & Suites By Carlson hotel, you’ll be able to take advantage of free high-speed Internet access!

Tablet Computers

It’s not hard to see why tablet computers are surging in popularity. With easy-to-use touch screens and advanced technology, tablets offer the same functionality of laptops in a lighter package. Tablets are different from laptops and their netbook counterparts because they don’t have a keyboard. Instead, you operate a tablet using your fingers or a stylus and an onscreen keyboard. 

The best-known and most popular tablet is the Apple iPad. Now in its second generation, the iPad has set the standard for tablets with its intuitive design and handy apps. Connect to your hotel’s Wi-Fi and create documents in Microsoft Office or join a virtual meeting. Other popular tablets to recently hit the market include the BlackBerry PlayBook, the Samsung Galaxy Tab, Dell Streak 7 and Motorola Xoom.

eReaders

The weight and bulk of books can add up fast when travelling. EReaders are lightweight and slim, making them ideal for reading on the go. These devices hold thousands of books, magazines and newspapers and can connect to the Internet to download through an online bookstore. Because they are optimized for reading (unlike a tablet), eReaders can go days without being charged.

The two most popular eReaders are the Amazon Kindle and Barnes & Noble Nook. Both devices use new technology to make reading easier on the eyes, even in sunlight. Consider the Kindle if you travel internationally (it’s currently the only device that will automatically connect with Wi-Fi overseas). If you don’t want to miss the full-color photos in books or magazines, the Nook Color may be a good choice.

Any Wi-Fi–enabled eReader will be able to connect easily using your hotel’s free high-speed Internet so you can browse for a new novel or download your hometown newspaper.

Keeping Them Juiced

I won’t soon forget the hour I spent in a department store in Chicago where I was borrowing a wall outlet to charge my phone. I had just bought a new charger from the store after an off-brand charger I bought that same morning failed. Keeping your electronics going can be a headache, and all device chargers are not created equal.

The Chargepod is a multi-device charger that can charge up to six devices using one outlet. It’s light and portable, and charges most phones, iPods and GPS devices. For charging small devices without a wall outlet, the iGo Charge Anywhere is a good bet. It’s a wall charger/battery combo that can recharge your phone and other devices even if you’re not in your hotel room.

Spring into your next family getaway by adding a touch of the unexpected to the timeless pleasures of a good old American road trip. Plug one, or all three, of these family destinations into your GPS and you’ll find adventures to keep everybody happy.

Quirky St. Augustine

There’s more to St. Augustine than meets the eye. With its strategic coastal location, once a magnet for plundering pirates, and deep Spanish roots, St. Augustine offers a Florida experience best suited to visitors interested in something beyond the usual. Yes, this town of 12,000 has great beaches, restaurants, historic sites and plenty of shopping. But wouldn’t you rather go gator tracking? Or see the world’s oldest rug? Sure you would.

Don’t Miss

•          Villa Zorayda, a Moorish castle and museum patterned after the Alhambra in Spain, complete with a cursed Egyptian rug woven from the hair of the sacred cats that used to roam the Nile.

•          Adrenaline Alligator Adventures, an interactive gator adventure that almost always gets its reptile. Sign on and you’ll be in the middle of the action, helping the pros snag and snare the beast while keeping those sharp teeth at bay.

•          Yarrr! The new timber-shivering interactive St. Augustine Pirate & Treasure Museum transports your family back in time to the pillaging and plundering Golden Age of Piracy, complete with gold doubloons and treasure maps.

Springtime in DC

The cherry blossoms are in bloom until the end of April in America’s hometown, an ideal multi-generational destination. Between the grandeur of the national monuments, the Smithsonian complex and the National Zoo, home to giant pandas Mei Xiang, Tian Tian and Tai Shan, Washington D.C. has all the bases covered. Just keep in mind that the distance between wherever you are and the Washington Monument is farther than you think. The Mall — the heart of D.C. main attractions — is almost two miles long. And here’s a tip — if there’s a line to climb the Washington Monument, head for the Pavilion at the Old Post Office (Pennsylvania Ave., between 11th and 12th Sts. NW), where the clock tower affords an equally dramatic view. A food court on the main level offers snacks to keep everybody’s spirits high.

Don’t Miss

•          The Newseum, with its section of the Berlin Wall, gallery of Pulitzer Prize winning photos and an interactive newsroom, which gives kids the chance to be an on-camera TV reporter.

•          The National Museum of the American Indian on the National Mall showcases some 8,000 artifacts including totems and both historic and contemporary art.

•          Fly high at the National Air and Space Museum, home to the original Wright 1903 Flyer, the Spirit of St. Louis, the Apollo 11 command module, and a lunar rock sample that kids (of all ages) can touch.

Jazzfest in New Orleans

There’s always a party going on in the Big Easy but especially during Jazzfest, the annual music, roots and heritage fest held this year April 29-May 8 at the Fair Grounds Race Course.  What’s so special about this music event?

Depending on whom you talk to, it’s a tie between the 12 stages of music and the food, followed by, in no particular order, the people watching, the after-fest shows around town, and did we mention the food? With 2011 headliners including Jimmy Buffett, The Roots, local trumpet sensation Kermit Ruffins and Jersey boy Bon Jovi, Fest is an annual tradition for a legion of locals and music fans of all ages coming together for love of jazz and blues, Zydeco and gospel, and cochon de lait po’boys. Despite the thrumming crowds and weather that can range from gorgeous to blistering and torrential, the vibe is pure love fest.

Don’t Miss

•          Catch a Fest parade by the Mardi Gras Indians, a feathered and bejeweled tribal tradition that dates back more than a century.

•          New Orleans still needs a helping hand. With the sixth anniversary of Katrina approaching, there are plenty of volunteer opportunities to aid in the city’s rebuilding. For a full list of options, visit Volunteer Louisiana.

Being a Club Carlson member just got even better.  For a limited time, two qualifying stays will earn Club Carlson members a free night at over 1,000 Country Inns & Suites, Radisson^®, Park Inn^® or Park Plaza^® hotels worldwide.

Register for the ‘Stay Twice, Earn a Free Night’ Promotion and then complete two qualifying stays between now and June 15, 2011 to earn your Free Night Award.  Once earned, the Free Night Award may be booked at any participating Carlson hotel worldwide for stays now through December 31, 2011.

To register for this promotion, and to see full terms and conditions, visit http://www.clubcarlson.com/freenight.

Dubbed by many as “the only area in the US with perfect weather,” San Diego is an impressive destination with many beautiful beaches and lovely attractions. Whether you’re visiting for fun with the family or are in town for a business event, San Diego is sure to please. Below are some suggestions on what to do while you’re there.

• Visit Sea World and swim with the dolphins or relax and enjoy the view from a ride across beautiful Mission Bay on the Bayside Skyride.
• For lunch head on over to Georges at the Cove and enjoy a fantastic meal on the Ocean Terrace which many say is the region’s best rooftop dining experience.
• Go shopping at the Westfield Mall. Receive a $100.00 gift card to Westfield Mall when you book the Shopping Package at Country Inn & Suites – San Diego, CA North.
• Enjoy the ultimate nightlife experience and treat yourself to a satisfying evening at Ivy Nightclub located in the world renowned Gaslamp Quarter.
• Celebrate Cinco De Mayo at the 28^th Annual Fiesta Old Town Cinco De Mayo Celebration. This free, two-day fiesta takes place on Saturday, April 30^th and Sunday, May 1^st.

To explore more about San Diego, including additional hotel deals, click here.