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.

Our final guest, Stefanie Fauquet of Mommy Musings, took her family to Bradenton, FL for some sun and fun in Citrus Country! 

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 North of San Antonio, the Lone Star State’s ripening wine industry is centered in the Hill Country, a landscape shaped by an ancient earthquake that buckled limestone and granite into rugged hills and valleys. Today a favorite vacation getaway, the region is textured by majestic live oaks, tinted by wildflowers, and is home to parks, antiques shops and an increasing number of quality wineries. By Paris Permenter and John Bigley
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Join us as we welcome one of our newest additions to the Country Inn & Suites By Carlson system as of March 22, 2010.
 
Country Inn & Suites By Carlson, College Station, TX
1010 Southwest Parkway East
College Station, TX 77840
979-693-7777
http://www.countryinns.com/hotels/txcolleg
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Here are some of the sensory experiences that you can discover in the Mississippi Delta:

Sight
According to legend, early blues great Robert Johnson sold his soul to the devil, for the ability to make music, at the crossroads of Highways 61 and 49. Today, a signpost with faux guitars marks the spot.

Sound
You can get an earful of the blues at any number of juke joints and festivals in the Mississippi Delta. Consider dropping in at Ground Zero Blues Club  in Clarksdale, owned by actor and Memphis native Morgan Freeman.

Taste
To indulge your appetite, stop by famed Lusco’s (722 Carrollton Ave., Greenwood, MS; 601-453-5365) in Greenwood for Black Angus steak or pompano grilled in vinegar sauce.

Touch
If you like the feel of cards or poker chips in your hand, then head to Tunica, where you can play a few hands at one of the town’s casinos.

Smell
In the Mississippi Delta, spring means flowers. Do as the old expression says and stop and smell some of spring’s most beautiful, fragrant creations.

Road Rules

If you’re from outside the United States and plan to operate a motor vehicle in Mississippi, you will need a copy of your driver’s license from your native country as well as an international driver’s license. An insurance card belonging to the owner of the vehicle (or rental agency) must be in the car at all times.

Country Inns & Suites celebrates its own Final Four in TampaThe road to the Final Four is not headed to Indianapolis, but rather Tampa, Fla. which is home to the fourth and newest 65-room Country Inn & Suites, Tampa Airport North. The brand has developed a major presence in the Southeast, including 38 hotels opened or signed in Florida. The opening supports Country Inns & Suites By Carlson’s plan to add another 250 hotels in key target markets including the United States, Canada, Mexico and India over the next five years as part of Carlson’s Ambition 2015 global growth strategy.  
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