What’s even better than taking a family road trip? Taking a road trip with the destination: UNKNOWN.
So that is exactly what we’ve enlisted some of our favorite families to do.
The journey begins at the Mall of America on Saturday, June 5th and concludes on the 13th.
Where? Nobody knows!
(Well, WE know, but we’re not tellin’!)
You can follow along on twitter by watching the list www.twitter.com/countryinns/CIS-1k-country!
Minnesota’s Twin Cities are consistently ranked among the top cities in which to raise a family, so naturally they’re a great place for families to visit. With all the recreational activities surrounding the parks and waterways and the kid-friendly amusements and museums, it’s a challenge to pack the possibilities into just one weekend. By Rachel Hutton
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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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Our third gal, Lauren Horsley, told us all about the Do’s and Don’ts of Family Roadtripping with this great post. She took her family from Utah to Arizona, taking in a spring training baseball game, and lots more during the course of her great American road trip!
She’s shared this great video of her family’s adventures on the road — we hope you’ll enjoy it as much as we do. And once again, a huge thank you to Chelsea @JVC_USA for donating the beautiful JVC Everio HD Camcorders. We’re sure they helped our families (and us!) create memories that will last a lifetime.
I love this Country!
~Emily
For all of Katrina’s dousing destruction, the floodwaters could not extinguish the bright light that is, and always will be, New Orleans. Although the city is still in recovery mode, the heart of what made it one of America’s most popular tourist attractions is still beating strong. The dining, architecture, music, nightlife, shopping—it’s all here, waiting to be rediscovered or experienced for the first time. By Beth D’Addono.
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The Sonoran Desert in Scottsdale, Arizona, offers the perfect backdrop for a romantic getaway. This Arizona travel destination is filled with adventurous activities and cultural hotspots to make your romantic vacation memorable. By Judy Wade.
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Warmly tucked inside our heated high-speed gondola, my son and I take in the spectacular scenery as we soar up Mont Tremblant (www.monttremblant.ca), the highest peak in Quebec, Canada. The resort’s European-style village appears underneath. Looking as if they have been airlifted straight from the French Alps, the buildings are painted brilliant shades of pastel, cream or orange, and capped by red and silver roofs.
At the 2,871-foot-high summit, towering trees pierce the bright blue sky like a skier’s stairway to heaven. A crisp cold wall of fresh air, scented with pine, greets us as the doors swing open. Clicking into our skis, we make our first run down P’tit Bonheur, a carved green (beginner) run through fresh snow. Schussing on a perfectly groomed white carpet, we are flanked by snow-laden trees on either side.
At the first lift, a regular lets us in on the local secret to avoiding long lines: Ski the more remote North Side and Edge area in the morning, and in the afternoon, when the uninitiated discover that the easier runs are on the North, head to the sunny South Side and Versant Soleil. With 49 miles of trails cutting through 654 acres of varied terrain, there are plenty of options here for skiers of all levels. I surprise my son—and myself—with a daredevil routine on the six-meter-high half-pipe in Tremblant’s snow park, rated one of the best snow parks in North America by Ski Magazine (www.skinet.com).
We venture to Versant Soleil in the afternoon. The rugged landscape is heart stopping. Contoured trails hug the natural terrain with undulating troughs and sharp rising mounds. I careen down the roller-coaster-like slope. Total freedom! Later, drawn by the smell of burning wood and maple syrup, we stumble on a voyager’s log cabin, where a roaring fire and hot refreshments beckon us inside. Weathered wooden snowshoes hanging on a wall remind me it’s time for the “walk on the wild side” part of our winter adventure.
We head up the mountain again, this time on the back of a snowmobile and outfitted with rented high-tech snowshoes—only our tracks mark the pristine snow. Early dusk is the ideal time to observe area wildlife. Barely 25 yards along the trail, a mother doe keeps three young fawns in tow. Feeding on a thicket of trees and shrubs, they pay no attention to us. After a perfect winter day, I have a translation for the resort’s slogan, “joie de vivre”: Anyone coming to Tremblant had better be prepared to have a good time.
John W. Yan is the founding publisher of the Canadian Tourism Commission’s TOURISM magazine. He lives in Ottawa, Ontario.
Facing each other across Tampa Bay, the cities of Tampa and St. Petersburg offer differing views on paella and palm trees, cigars and surrealism, and the cultural heritage of Florida.
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Sunglasses are a necessity on a drive along the Southern California coast, where the rays blanket the blue Pacific with shimmering flecks of light. Skip the air conditioning, though. Just roll down a window, stick out your hand and feel those balmy breezes rush between your fingers. The year-round Mediterranean climate sparks romance, just one of the reasons why cheerful San Diegans are always boasting about the weather.
On Saturday, experience San Diego’s beach culture at Mission Beach. Start the day early with the sound of breaking waves in the background while you enjoy a breakfast of eggs and bagels at North Shore Café for $7 to $10. It’s right on a boardwalk that parallels the ocean and is a great spot to watch the parade of swimmers, skaters and beach bums passing by. The café is adjacent to the Belmont Park amusement park, and you can choose to rent bicycles and cruise the boardwalk, or, if you dare, cuddle close and scream on the Giant Dipper Roller Coaster, one of two original oceanfront roller coasters operating on the West Coast ($6 per person).
Spend the afternoon at SeaWorld (admission $69, $59 children 3–9 and children under 3 free; parking $12), just 15 minutes away, and feed fun-loving bottle-nosed dolphins or slide your hands over the slick surface of a California bat ray. Be sure to see “Believe,” a show in which trainers interact with magnificent killer whales.
At the end of the day, the two of you can sip margaritas and watch the sun set from the Ocean Terrace at George’s at the Cove. This romantic La Jolla restaurant is famous for specialties such as garlic roasted shrimp and Asian marinated skirt steak with garlic spinach and buttermilk onion rings (entrees $16.50–$25). Stroll down tree-lined Prospect Street after dinner and explore the fine art galleries and specialty shops that stay open late.
Start Sunday downtown at homey Hob Nob Hill. Locals have enjoyed hearty breakfasts here since 1944. Mimosas are made with fresh-squeezed orange juice, and the made-on-the-premises cinnamon rolls are a sweet start before a corned beef omelet or a waffle sprinkled with pecans ($1.95–$15.25).
After breakfast, head for Balboa Park, where the San Diego Zoo ($26–$35) and more than a dozen museums are situated on 1,200 verdant acres abundant with floral gardens, and towering palm and eucalyptus trees.
The zoo houses approximately 4,000 animals, and besides lions, tigers and bears (oh, my!), you’ll find many endangered species and the largest number of giant pandas in the United States. Steal a kiss on the Skyfari Aerial Tram, an airborne shortcut that sails over the whole park ($4 each way). Once you’ve toured the zoo, head over to Balboa Park’s Botanical Building to view the exotic orchids before a light lunch at The Prado. Sample the tortilla soup ($6.95) and chopped salad with mango and grilled chicken ($9.95-$14.95), then drive down Broadway to the Gaslamp Quarter.
Don’t miss Westfield Horton Plaza, an open-air shopping complex that looks like a fantasyland, with turrets, domes and twisting stairways in sherbet shades of strawberry, grape and orange. Use the handy parking garage, then search for souvenirs at the kiosks, where you’ll find everything from shell necklaces to straw hats. Dine at Beach City Market, a gourmet market specializing in fresh and healthy food that is owned by Culinary Institute of America graduate, Brian Jackson. Afterward, walk a few blocks to Croce’s Restaurant & Jazz Bar and end the evening with a sweet, slow dance.
If you have another day, stop by Old Town San Diego, the first European settlement in California. The nine-square-block area has historic buildings, and plenty of shopping and fine dining.
Though romance may come and go, Marcia Manna is happy to report that her secret love affair with San Diego and all of its hot spots remains an enduring passion.
Baltimore’s waterfront offers dining, shopping, history and fun. By land or sea, Baltimore’s Inner Harbor reveals the allure of maritime life. By Susan Weissman
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