Smell the salt in the air, feel the distant ocean breeze and enjoy the breathtaking view of the marshlands of Glynn, all without leaving Historic Downtown Brunswick far behind.  By Brian Crocker
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 With a four-square foundation symbolized by four downtown statues and an abundance of art, Charlotte, the Queen City of North Carolina, also teems with spectator sports.

By Irwin Speizer
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Early in the morning before sunrise, the last stars shine on the blue-black back of Lake Superior. To paddle on such a morning among the Apostle Islands is to kayak among the constellations. By Jeff Rennicke

From June through early October, these 21 islands sprinkled like stars off Wisconsin’s north coast (a 90-minute to two-hour drive from Duluth, Minn., are rainbowed with colorful kayaks. Sandy beaches, black bears and bald eagles, and the lee shores of wild islands, make this one of the best freshwater sea-kayaking destinations in the country. Paddling the islands can be a connect-the-dots affair. A good nautical chart is a must. You can find one online at the Office of Coast Survey site. GPS and compass skills are helpful.

The most popular paddle is a day trip to the Mawikwe Sea Caves, a mile-long maze of burnt orange cliffs carved by the waves, with some caves as big as cathedrals, others as small as a kayak.

Farther out, lighthouses—the largest collection in any national park—and wilderness beckon. Trips to the outer islands are overnight ventures, ranging from a half-day to two weeks—14 days is the camping limit set by the National Park Service (NPS).

 At Raspberry Island you can step back in time as you tour the island’s lighthouse with a National Park Service ranger . Tour the historic Manitou Island fish camp, or walk the silent hallways of old brownstone quarries.

Outer Island, Devil’s Island and some of the more distant destinations sport big waves, wild shores and a designation as national wilderness areas. Still, there are trips suitable for any skill level. Paddling alone beyond the inner islands is best done by moderately experienced paddlers. Those with less skill can go safely with a guide.

Local adventure companies such as Living Adventure offer equipment rental packages with everything you need, including kayaks, life jackets, paddles and paddling instruction. Rental packages start at $32 for eight hours, depending on the type and size of the boat.

Guided trips range from half-day excursions starting at $59 per person to overnight adventures starting at $294.

Campers on the islands will find varying accommodations, from the developed sites of Stockton Island, complete with picnic tables and fire pits with grills to primitive back-country sites (camping permits and a fee required; contact the NPS). But from any camp among the Apostle Islands, paddlers can slip their boats into the early morning waters, silently push off and, with barely a ripple, find themselves paddling among the stars.

Kayaker and photographer Jeff Rennicke is the author of Jewels on the Water: Lake Superior’s Apostle Islands. www.jeffrennicke.com

Golftown USA is the city’s self-proclaimed moniker, and with more than 120 public and semiprivate courses arranged end to end over the 60-mile strip called the Grand Strand, the name certainly fits.  By Larry Olmsted
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Michigan’s Fruit Basket

Open your senses to the pastoral charm of southwest Michigan.

Sight Delight in the vision of the late 19th-century covered bridges that dot the roads near Kalamazoo and Grand Rapids.

Sound Dance along with Grand Haven’s Musical Fountain as it performs its nightly water, light and music shows.

Taste Sip wine along the Lake Michigan Shore Wine Trail.

Touch Sift the sand at Warren Dunes State Park, while hang gliders take off overhead.

Smell Inhale the aroma of blueberries, fresh-picked or in scented soaps, candles and other products, throughout South Haven.

Road Rules

Residents of a foreign country, that signed the 1949 United Nations Convention on Road Traffic who are temporarily in the United States, may drive in Michigan with a valid International Driving Permit and home country license. The vehicle’s registration and proof of insurance or rental agreement must be in the car at all times.

When professional golfers need new clubs, they don’t go to the corner store. They get their clubs custom made at places such as TaylorMade Performance Labs, where they can wear sensors all over their bodies as a giant computerized simulator precisely measures every aspect of their swing. So can you.  By Larry Olmsted
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Now that summer’s in full swing, it’s time to put on those hiking boots or sandals, gas up the car and head for the outdoors. America’s parks are top recreational destinations, and with more than 520 U.S. national parks and forests to choose from, you can easily find one that’s right for you, whether you have in mind a drive, a hike, a swim beneath a waterfall or a frolic at a beach. Be sure to take a picnic or try some local eats, and stop in the souvenir shop, too. To jump-start your vacation plans, Voyageur’s correspondents explore three parks, which represent a cross-section of natural settings—desert canyon, mountain peaks and sandy beaches. You’ll find each holds the promise of adventure.

By Annette McGivney, Cyril Manning and Larry Rice
 

 
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MINNESOTA HOTELS ADOPT LIFE-SAVING SOAP-RECYCLING PROGRAM

Orlando, FL — Thursday, July 15, 2010 — Owning and operating hotels can be grueling.  But the work can be rewarding when there is an opportunity to give back to others – just ask Jami Pogue, CEO of Southern Hospitality Inc., operator of two Minneapolis-St. Paul area hotels that recently adopted Clean the World’s soap-recycling program. 

“My family grew up in the hospitality industry, cleaning rooms and working the front desk, before we got into management,” said Pogue.  “We always hated throwing the barely used soaps away, and we are thrilled that the soap from our hotels will now go to people in need.”

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CARLSON HOTELS RAPIDLY EXPANDS COUNTRY INNS & SUITES BY CARLSON^SM WITH OPENING OF 12^th HOTEL IN ALABAMA 

 SARALAND, Ala. (June 16, 2010) – Carlson Hotels, one of the world’s leading hotel companies, today announced the further expansion of Country Inns & Suites By Carlson^SM in Alabama. The opening of Country Inn & Suites Saraland, Ala. marks the brand’s accelerated expansion in the region as part of its Ambition 2015 growth strategy.

“With 12 Country Inns & Suites hotels in the state and more than 220 locations in the southern United States, the brand has established a strong footprint in the region,” said Steve Mogck, executive vice president and chief operating officer for Country Inns & Suites By Carlson. “We are focused on building momentum in North America and India as we increase our portfolio of hotels over the next five years.”

Country Inns & Suites offers caring, consistent, comfortable hospitality with a touch of home, and many distinctive product and service innovations, such as the Friends Hosting Friends^SM employee training program that has generated tremendous employee engagement scores and high overall guest satisfaction. 

“We are thrilled to be joining the Country Inns & Suites family and are confident that the consistency, value and leadership of this brand and the Carlson Hotels system will result in a successful future for this hotel,” said Larry Wright, owner of the Country Inn & Suites, Saraland, Ala. 

The 100 percent non-smoking hotel features an outdoor pool and whirlpool, and a fitness center. The 60-room hotel features one-bedroom suites, extended stay suites and guest rooms featuring complimentary wired and wireless high-speed Internet access, microwave, refrigerator and flat screen televisions. 

The hotel is located 10 miles from downtown Mobile. 

For reservations and information, visit www.countryinns.com or call toll-free +1-800-456-4000.

St. Peters, Mo. (June 15, 2010) – Carlson Hotels, one of the world’s leading hotel companies, today announced the further expansion of Country Inns & Suites By Carlson^SM in Missouri. The opening of Country Inn & Suites, St. Peters, Mo. marks the brand’s accelerated expansion in the region as part of its Ambition 2015 growth strategy.

“With four Country Inns & Suites hotels in the state and more than 175 locations in the Midwest, the brand has established a strong footprint in the region,” said Steve Mogck, executive vice president and chief operating officer for Country Inns & Suites By Carlson. “We are focused on building momentum in North America and India as we increase our portfolio of hotels over the next five years.”

Country Inns & Suites offers caring, consistent, comfortable hospitality with a touch of home, and many distinctive product and service innovations, such as the Friends Hosting Friends^SM employee training program that has generated tremendous employee engagement scores and high overall guest satisfaction.  

“We are thrilled to be joining the Country Inns & Suites family and are confident that the consistency, value and leadership of this brand and the Carlson Hotels system will result in a successful future for this hotel,” said Dinesh Patel, owner of the Country Inn & Suites, St. Peters, Mo. 

The 100 percent non-smoking hotel features an indoor pool, whirlpool, fitness center, business center and meeting space for up to 50 guests. The 63-room hotel offers studio suites, one-bedroom suites, executive king rooms, whirlpool suites, extended stay suites and guest rooms featuring complimentary wired and wireless high-speed Internet access, microwave, refrigerator and flat screen televisions. 

The hotel is located 12 miles from Lambert-St. Louis International Airport.

For reservations and information, visit www.countryinns.com or call toll-free +1-800-456-4000.