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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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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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.

Gumbo, jambalaya, étouffée, and red beans and rice. They’re some of the signature dishes of southern Louisiana cuisine. But do you know which are Cajun and which are Creole?  By  Julie Burnham

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From the silky white sand beaches lined with a kaleidoscope of colored umbrellas to the impeccable rolling golf courses, Myrtle Beach is fun for just about anyone. Myrtle is the most famous spot on the sunny Grand Strand, 60 long miles of beautiful South Carolina  beaches stretching from Little River to the historic streets of Georgetown. But beyond the staples of popular resort areas, Myrtle Beach boasts a variety of entertainment options, including theaters, nightlife, fine dining, water parks and outlet shopping galore. Hit Restaurant Row after a day in the sun for endless eateries or head over to Broadway at the Beach, a mini-boardwalk city of award-winning restaurants, shopping, nightclubs, an aquarium, the IMAX 3D Theatre, and miniature golf. Not far from Broadway are a bevy of live performance theaters such as the Carolina Opry, Alabama Theatre, Palace Theatre, Legends in Concert, Dolly Parton’s Dixie Stampede and Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament.

Here’s what I love about technology — not only have these brave families been guided COMPLETELY be Smart Phone, GPS, and Twitter, but I’m writing this update from the PLANE, en route to go meet them at the finish.  My destination remains top secret – but only for another day – and I can’t wait to give my new friends a great big hug.  Although sometimes it seems that technology makes it too easy for humans to NOT interact with each other, I think the little virtual community we’ve crafted is a great example of how technology makes the world smaller, and brings us closer together in ways we otherwise wouldn’t experience.

Day 5’s adventures started by experiencing Kansas City’s beautiful fountains.  Fun fact?  Only ROME, ITALY has more fountains than Kansas City.  Pretty cool, huh?   Then they headed off to Lawrence, Kansas for a sweet treat (Unfortunately Sylas & Maddies ice cream wasn’t open early enough for two of our famlies, but at least the Williams kiddos got to enjoy a cone!).  Next up?  The Kansas Aviation Museum, which just looks incredibly cool… that’s where our day wrapped up, and the gang was off to rest their weary heads at the Country Inns & Suites By Carlson, OKlahoma City Airport! 

Sharlene, Kara, and Ross all had great wrap-ups after yesterday’s adventures, and I cannot wait to see what today has in store for them!

It has been so amazing to watch these adventures – and to watch the families get to know each other. If there is one thing I’ve learned over my many years of blogging, it is that friendships can be strong and powerful, even if you’ve never met face to face.  I know that our social media savvy participants had local visitors throughout this journey – people they’ve emailed, blogged, and tweeted with for years, who they finally got to meet face to face.  Having experienced that phenomenon myself over the years, I know the emotional feeling of giving a big warm hug to somebody for the first time that you’ve KNOWN for years. 

Case in point – en route to my (TOP SECRET!) destination tonight, I’ll be stopping off to have dinner with a woman I’ve been emailing with for about 5 years… who I’ve never laid eyes upon.  I “know” her, her husband, her children and her stories as well as if they lived next door, but this is the first time we’ll meet face to face.  I’ve had this experience several times now, and each and every time it feels as natural as spending time with old friends.  I’m confident that as time rolls on, The Earnshaws family, Williams famly, and Sveback family will remain close — both to each other, and to me!  

Something we strive to do at every single one of our hotels is to treat our like family – the familiarity, comfort and warmth that allows you to relax, unwind and be pampered for a while.  I can’t think of any better way to exemplify the feeling of family than by hanging out with these guys all weekend.  After all, there’s nothing that makes this girl happier than walking into a room filled with strangers – and leaving with 5 new best friends.  I said it the other day and I’ll say it again – from all of us at Country Inns & Suites By Carlson,  thank you for sharing your family with ours.

 I love this Country.
~Emily

 PS: Rumor has it that Sharlene’s blog posts have gotten some pickup on the USA Today’s website!  How cool is THAT!?

ROAD WARRIOR, that is.  Our road-trippin’ families are amazing, and I cannot believe how much ground they’ve covered since Sunday!

Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois, Missouri … All in THREE DAYS! 

I’m impressed (they’re exhausted). 

The shots below include a first Suite Stop at the famed St. Louis Arch – photo ops abound – where I’m told they were met by a camera crew from the local NBC affiliate, KSDK-TV.  The crew showed up to report on the adventure and wrote this article.  You can also view 1K Country KSDK Clip, showing the family enjoying the arch!  After journeying up all 630 feet of the arch and snapping a few pics, the families headed back down to earth… where they got their next Suite Stop: a trip down the very first strip of Interstate highway in the US.  Once the mini-roadtrip was over, they recieved something new: a Suite SIDE-TRIP, which allowed them to choose from two options: pedal, or putt. After the families enjoyed golf clubs & go-karts, they recieved their next Suite Stop, directing them to their home for the night: the Country Inns & Suites By Carlson, Kansas City Village West, located near shopping malls and Speedways.   But we’re not quite done yet!  One last Suite Stop ORDERS that our weary travelers get a good night’s sleep (easy to do in our awesome beds!), before continuing on Day 4 of the 1K Country Adventure!

Don’t forget to check the blogs:
Kara!
Sharlene!
Ross!

Half way there, gang… can’t wait to greet you at the finish…. wherever that may be!

I love this Country.
~Emily

Here are some of the sensory experiences that are part of the Blue Ridge Parkway:

Sight
Just off the parkway, Mount Mitchell rises 6,684 feet, making it the tallest mountain east of the Mississippi River. At the top, you’ll find an impressive 360-degree view.

Sound
Old-time fiddle music is part of the legacy of early Scots-Irish settlers. Performance venues are common in local towns.

Taste
Visit Ararat, Virginia’s Levering Orchard in June and pick cherries right off the tree. You’ll find no cherries sweeter than the ones you pick yourself.

Touch
Most days, on the 228-foot suspension bridge on Grandfather Mountain, the winds will invigorate you as well as the view.

Smell
In June and July, be sure to stop at Craggy Gardens, where you can smell the thriving wildflowers and see blooming rhododendrons.

Hiking the Blue Ridge Parkway

Try Hiking the Blue Ridge Parkway by Randy Johnson, an insider’s guide to the trails along the Parkway, its overlooks and roadside facilities.

Road Rules

In most cases, if you’re from outside the United States and plan to drive for fewer than 30 days you can use your driver’s license from your native country. However, plan to check about licensing and insurance requirements, as these both vary from state to state. If you’re going to drive for more than 30 days in North Carolina or Virginia, you will need to get a state driver’s license. At the time of application, you must present both a motor vehicle report (MVR) and a copy of your driver’s license from your native country that indicates the original date you were licensed.

 To find a North Carolina or other Blue Ridge area hotel and experience this region yourself, visit www.countryinns.com. 

I love this Country!
~Emily

My Old Kentucky Home
Follow your senses to Kentucky and the heart of bluegrass country.

Sight
Catch glimpses of thoroughbreds at more than 450 horse farms around Lexington.

Sound
Hear the foghorns echo off the banks of the Ohio River on misty spring nights.

Taste
Sip a mint julep to join in a tradition almost as old as the Kentucky Derby itself—first run in 1875 at Louisville’s Churchill Downs.

Touch
Feel the rough wood of the covered bridges, more than a century old, which still dot northern Kentucky.

Smell
Savor the sweet aroma of Kentucky bourbon at one of the area’s famous distilleries.

Road Rules
If you’re from a country other than the United States and plan to operate a motor vehicle in Kentucky, you will need a valid driver’s license from your home country and an international driver’s license. The vehicle’s registration and proof of insurance must be in the vehicle at all times.