Ready to shop ’til you drop? The holidays are here, along with the best sales of the year! Several Country Inns & Suites By Carlson hotels offer shopping packages to help you save even more at some of the best destinations in the country. Make Country Inns & Suites By Carlson your home away from home as you breeze through your holiday shopping list and enjoy some great perks along the way (such as a complimentary hot breakfast to start your day out right) and to help you unwind after your shopping is finished.

Westfield Mall in San Diego
Marathon shoppers will be in heaven at Westfield Mall in San Diego. With 114 stores, including Macy’s, Nordstrom and the Apple Store, you’ll have no problem finding something for everyone on your list.

The shopping package from Country Inn & Suites By Carlson, San Diego North, makes your day even sweeter with a $100 gift card to the mall and a welcome bag with an energy bar, bottled water and more! A complimentary shuttle with take you from the hotel to the mall and back.

Legends Outlets in Kansas City
See the savings stack up at Legends Outlets in Kansas City. The stores and restaurants stretch over 1.2 million square feet! Your shopping package from Country Inn & Suites By Carlson, Kansas City at Village West includes a $50 gift card you can use at any of the stores or restaurants. After a day of exploring Legends, rest your tired feel at the hotel’s heated indoor pool and hot tub.

Shop Your Style in Covington, LA
Browse through the antique shops in search of a one-of-a-kind gift, or hit the new shopping districts for the latest designer fashions. Your shopping package from the Country Inn & Suites By Carlson, Covington, LA, includes a $50 Visa Gift Card you can spend wherever you’d like. The hotel is convenient to fantastic shopping, and you’ll get coupons and shopping guides to help you navigate the deals. Warm chocolate chip cookies will be waiting upon your return. And you’ll have plenty of room for all of those shopping bags in your upgraded suite.

When the weather is mild and the trees are draped in crisp, fall colors, it’s hard to resist the urge to squeeze in as much time outdoors as you possibly can, especially before winter hits. Our solution: Plan a vacation that includes some fresh-air fun! Many Country Inns & Suites By Carlson^SM hotels offer special packages designed just for outdoors lovers.

Go Caving in Kentucky
Lost River Cave offers Kentucky’s only underground boat tour, taking visitors through some of the largest caves east of the Mississippi River. While at the park, you can hike nature trails, go bird watching or visit the butterfly habitat—a whole day’s worth of fun activities.

The Country Inn & Suites, Bowling Green, is only four miles from Lost River Cave, and has an indoor pool and fitness center. The Lost River Cave Package includes an overnight stay in a quality suite, plus two adult tickets to Lost River Cave.

Hit the Links in North Carolina
There are plenty of blue-sky days to spend on the fairways this fall. Birkdale Golf and Country Club in Lake Norman, NC, is an 18-hole Arnold Palmer-designed golf course right outside of Charlotte. This acclaimed course has well-manicured greens and challenging water hazards to keep you on your toes.

As part of the golf package at Country Inn & Suites, Lake Norman, you’ll get a suite with a king-sized bed and 18 holes of golf for two adults at Birkdale Golf Club. Also included is bottled water and various snacks for when you hit the course.

Bike through Lehigh Gorge
The trails that crisscross Pennsylvania’s Lehigh Gorge State Park take you through a railroad bed along the river, making for an unforgettable bike trip. Take the 15-mile ride down the Mid-Way trail, which is 100 percent downhill and takes about 2 to 4 hours to complete. Or for more of a challenge, opt for the 25-mile ride, which takes 3 to 5 hours and canvasses just a slightly downhill grade.

The Country Inn & Suites, Lehighton has biking packages for either route you choose. The packages include overnight accommodations, bike rental and shuttle service for two.

And don’t forget, any stay at a Country Inn & Suites by Carlson hotel always includes our free hot breakfast to help you start the day!

While the warm weather is still with us, why not squeeze in a vacation while you can? Late summer/early fall is the perfect time to spend a long weekend soaking up the sun or visiting family-friendly attractions. Here are some of our top picks for last-minute trips!

Sunny San Diego
Southern California is beautiful year-round, and San Diego has cultural attractions and sandy beaches to make everyone happy. The Country Inn & Suites By Carlson, San Diego North is 7 miles from downtown and is a great home base for your trip.

Take a picnic to Balboa Park, home to the San Diego Zoo and 15 museums. The grounds of the park are free to explore, and you can choose to visit the attractions based on your interest and budget. The park also has miles of hiking trails, a miniature railroad and a carousel.

San Diego also has beautiful beaches close to downtown. Drive or take the ferry across the bay to Coronado and enjoy one of the wide, family-friendly Coronado Beaches. And while you’re there, stroll the charming shops and restaurants of this lovely seaside town.

Action-Packed Atlanta
This southern city is brimming with attractions and events for families or couples. And there are plenty ofCountry Inn & Suites By Carlson^SM locations to choose from, all convenient to major sites.

Enjoy the warm, late-summer weather by exploring Piedmont Park, more than 180 acres in the city center with a lake and walking trails. It’s adjacent to the Atlanta Botanical Garden where you can spot native birds and walk through the treetops on a canopy bridge.

Did you know that the state of Virginia is the birthplace of more presidents than any other state? Eight of our U.S. presidents were born in Virginia. Learn other interesting U.S. facts by booking one of our Tours & Sightseeing hotel packages. These activity filled destinations make the perfect summer getaway, just in time for Fourth of July weekend.

• Visit America’s oldest city and enjoy the great weather in sunny St. Augustine, Florida. With this hotel package from Country Inn & Suites – St. Augustine, Florida you’ll be treated to:
  • Two tickets per reservation for either the Red Sightseeing Train or the Old Town Trolley, which include unlimited on-and-off privileges for shopping, attractions and restaurants at more than 20 stops
• Tour New Orleans’ waterways by airboat. Country Inn & Suites New Orleans is proud to offer this Airboat package where you’ll ride through the depths of nature and experience a unique, once-in-a-lifetime adventure. This hotel package includes:
  • Two passes to Airboat Adventure
  • Pick-up and drop-off from hotel
• Explore Stone Mountain Park and enjoy this great family vacation destination from Country Inn & Suites – Stone Mountain, Georgia. Located on 3,200 acres of natural beauty, Stone Mountain Park features a wide variety of fun family activities. This offer includes:
  • Four all day, all attraction passes to Stone Mountain Park
• All Aboard! Take the trolley tour of Watertown. Enjoy VIP perks at all of Watertown’s Trolley stops with this hotel package from Country Inn & Suites By Carlson Watertown, South Dakota. This package includes:
  • One-night stay in a single king or double queen room for two at the newly renovated Country Inn & Suites
  • Free trolley fare and VIP perks at all Watertown trolley stops
  • Two tickets to Bramble Park Zoo
  • Keepsake cookie cutter and Mellette fan from the historic Mellette House
  • Terry Redlin exclusive edition print from the Redlin Art Center

And, as always at Country Inns & Suites, enjoy complimentary hot breakfast and free high-speed Internet in the U.S. and Canada.

Make this Fourth of July one to remember forever!

The Dallas-Fort Worth area offers a vacation playground for all ages. By Leah Shafer

With more than 6 million people, the Dallas–Fort Worth area is one of the fastest-growing regions in the United States. But there’s still some folksy charm in an area that’s perfectly at home with the chic and fashionable, as well.

Day One
Start your day at upscale grocery store eat Zi’s, in the Oak Lawn neighborhood, minutes from downtown Dallas. Hit the grill and get breakfast sandwiches and fresh juice for everybody. Don’t forget an extra loaf of bread to feed the ducks.

Head two blocks east to Turtle Creek Boulevard; this is one of Dallas’ most tony neighborhoods, and the creek has plenty of shady spots to people-watch. Stop at Lee Park and see the classical architecture of historic Arlington Hall, built in 1939 and fully restored in 2002. The park itself dates back to 1903 and is one of the urban area’s treasured oases.

One of Dallas’ major airports is Love Field, which houses the Frontiers of Flight Museum in the terminal building. Take a flight through time with exhibits that range from the pioneering aviators of the 1920s to the rocket age that launched us into space. Kids love the old airplanes, hands-on models and interactive exhibits.

Head to the Knox-Henderson area and get ready for squeals of delight in Wild About Harry’s when your children try one of Dallas’ best frozen custard creations, such as “Mort’s Favorite” sundae with Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup, hot fudge, whipped cream and a cherry. Sit outside beside the giant hot dog and watch the world go by.

Afterward you might head next door to Knox Street Market, a grown-up toy store with posh knickknacks and gourmet treats. A little farther down the street, visit Iota, a fine arts and crafts store showcasing sculptors, painters, jewelry makers and designers.

Dinner is upscale at Abacus, just steps away. The contemporary global cuisine of chef Kent Rathbun has kept this restaurant flush with accolades. Our favorite? Wood-roasted beef tenderloin with red wine butter, truffle-whipped potatoes and baby vegetables ($39).

Day Two
Start your day in Uptown at the most popular brunch spot in the area, Bread Winner’s Bakery Bistro. Kids love the breakfast tacos, and grown-ups can opt for the French ham Benedict.

Head west on Interstate 30 to Cowtown—Fort Worth got this name because it was a stop along the Chisholm Trail . Start the adventure at the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame. Head upstairs and have a video made of everyone “riding” the mechanical bucking bronc; it superimposes your image on an old-timey video of a rodeo that you can download from the Internet later.

The Fort Worth Museum of Science and History offers an IMAX theatre, as well as special exhibits.

Don your cowboy hat and step into cowboy lore when you walk across the street to the Fort Worth Stockyards, at the center of the Stockyards National Historic District. There are more than 50 shops and stalls inside, but be sure not to miss the herd of longhorns that will walk outside at 11:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. Wild West Weekends mean gunfights, cattle roundups, the Pawnee Bill Wild West Show at Cowtown Coliseum and the Cowtown Cattlepen Maze.

If you have extra time, you might mosey on over to the Log Cabin Village, with all the sights of 19th-century Texas on 2.5 acres in Forest Park. 

 Author Bio: Leah Shafer was dancing to “Cotton-Eyed Joe” before she could ride a bicycle.

 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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