There’s nothing like seeing a new place through the eyes of a local. Although you might not have a pal in a city to show you around, taking a walking tour led by a local expert is the next best thing.

Consider that with a walking tour, the legwork is done for you. Instead of spending your time navigating an unfamiliar landscape, you can follow along and soak up the experience.

Another benefit is the opportunity to meet interesting people. Some tours, such as New York’s Big Apple Greeter, actually pair travelers with resident New Yorkers based on language, neighborhoods requested and interests. All that, and it’s free of charge.

Your Walking Guide:

• There’s a tour for that. Is your passion architecture, food, history, gardens or neighborhood culture? Chances are, in most cities and towns, a walking tour awaits. Some tours, such as those offered by Philadelphia’s Mural Arts program, or the Coronado Historical Association in San Diego, are also offered on bicycle.
• Take a foodie tour and skip lunch. Sign up for a stroll through Pittsburgh’s Strip District with ‘Burgh Bits & Bites or San Francisco’s Chinatown with Wok Wiz, and you’ll eat your way through colorful storefronts selling everything from homemade sausage to Peking duck.
• Calling all preservationists. PreservationDirectory.com is a great resource for history buffs. The website is a clearinghouse for history-focused strolls, both guided and solo. Searching by state and region, you may find a route through bewitching Salem, Mass., or along the Art Deco facades of South Beach in Miami.
• Dabble in the weird. If you’re looking for the offbeat, Weird Chicago fits the bill. Follow in the steps of serial killer H.H. Holmes, relive the bloody St. Valentine’s Day mob massacre or chase elusive ghosts for a few hours. With its voodoo-laced past, New Orleans is another city that loves to make you shiver. Explore the shady and sinister side of the Vieux Carré with Haunted History Tours or trek to an above-ground cemetery for a lesson in Big Easy burial customs and a gander at Voodoo Priestess Marie Laveau’s final resting place. (Or is it?).
• All by yourself. Sites like City Slicker (Charleston, S.C.), GPSmyCity (multiple, including Indianapolis and Portland, Ore.) and Trek Exchange (multiple, including Philadelphia and San Antonio) offer self-guided tours you can download to your smartphone and do on your own schedule. Check the city’s local tourism or convention and visitor’s bureau sites for more, and sometimes even free, options. Your job is just to show up with a curious mind and a good pair of walking shoes.

Traveling for business can be a grind. But it doesn’t have to be. Why not give yourself a break and get more than just work out of your next business trip? Adding a Saturday night stay over instead of heading straight home can actually reduce the overall cost of the trip by saving on airfare, a strategy that lets you deduct your travel expenses and have a mini-vacation at the same time.

Since business travelers tend to be creatures of habit—remember George Clooney’s “same old” regimen in Up in the Air?—forging new paths may take some conscious effort. Even if you don’t add on extra days, there are still ways to recharge your batteries by getting local and soaking up a slice of regional culture.

1. Do what you love. From swimming laps at the Y to taking in a foreign film to perusing a farmers’ market, sniff out a source of R&R in your business destination. For example, conference goers in New Orleans can take a yoga class at the Cabildo Museum overlooking Jackson Square three mornings a week for just $12.50.

2. Stop by the local visitors’ center or CVB. In Philly, for example, the Independence Visitor Center in the heart of the historic district can hook you up with a Mural Arts walking tour, breakfast with Ben Franklin and a City Pass for bundled savings on museums and other attractions. There are plenty of free touring options, and a multilingual concierge staff can help you make the most of your time.

3. Force yourself to disconnect. Instead of catching up on email in your room, take a technology break and visit new surroundings. Even if you have to work, opting for sitting in a local coffee shop will expose you to an energizing flow of people and a sense of place.

4. Don’t always have dinner with colleagues. It’s easy to fall into the habit of rehashing office politics and the day’s business. Treat the end of the workday as exactly that, and go out and do your own thing.

5. Support local restaurants. Even somewhere as chain-heavy as Orlando has an indie restaurant scene, populated by gems such as Le Coq au Vin, where chef Louis Perrotte gives farm-to-table dining a decidedly French accent. Not sure where to start? Your Country Inns & Suites By Carlson front desk staff can help.

6.Museum hop. Just because a city museum is huge doesn’t mean you have to spend all day in it. Even the vast British Museum offers free 30–40 minute eyeOpener gallery tours introducing different areas of the museum’s collection. Dip in for the time available and you’ll walk out better for it.

7. Take in a show. Getting out and about can include experiencing repertory theater, showing up for a library lecture series or giving stand-up comics an audience. Anything that gets you out and about is a good thing.

8.Use social media. Search on Twitter or Facebook for a city and an activity, say hiking and San Francisco, or fishing and Columbus, and you’ll find all kinds of connections to explore.

Autumn is the season for romance. The air is crisp and the changing leaves create a beautiful backdrop for a couple’s getaway. Now is the perfect time to explore some of the country’s most romantic cities! Choose a romance package from Country Inn & Suites By Carlson for special touches, such as chocolates and champagne, to make your vacation memorable (varies by hotel).

• New York’s Adirondacks. The Lake George area in New York’s Adirondack Mountains is bursting with yellow, red and amber hues each fall. Get a close-up view of the beautiful scenery as you hike one of the many trails winding through the mountains. Or enjoy the peaceful lakes and charming towns that dot the countryside. This region is known for its fine wines, and you’ll get a souvenir bottle and two tickets to the Adirondack Winery as part of the romance package at the Country Inn & Suites By Carlson in Lake George.

• North Carolina High Country. Wildflowers along the Blue Ridge Parkway and fall foliage against the Carolina-blue sky greet you in Boone, N.C. Relax in a rocking chair and do some people watching at the famous Mast General Store downtown. The mild autumn weather is ideal for taking a hayride at The Orchard at Altapass. This 102-year-old apple orchard is a cultural hub where you’ll find local art and plenty of mountain music and storytelling. For a panoramic view of the mountains, head to Grandfather Mountain and cross the Mile High Swinging Bridge. At the Country Inn & Suites By Carlson in Boone, your romance package includes a Jacuzzi Suite, a bottle of champagne and breakfast in bed!

• Discover Denver. The Mile-High City offers restaurants and attractions to keep you and your loved one busy. Browse the fascinating American Indian art collection at the Denver Art Museum, which includes Pueblo ceramics and Plains beadwork, or look through more than 150,000 titles at the Tattered Cover Book Store. If your sweetie has a sweet tooth, be sure to visit Hammond’s Candy for a complimentary tour. Hammond’s has been making homemade lollipops and candy since 1920. If craft beer is more your style, stop at one of the city’s many local breweries to enjoy a pint. After your day of exploring, watch a complimentary pay-per-view movie as part of your romance package at the Country Inn & Suites By Carlson in Denver.

Why plan one trip when you can plan two? When you stay for two or more consecutive nights, Sunday through Thursday, at participating Country Inns & Suites By Carlson^SM hotels in the U.S. and Canada between Oct. 2 and Dec. 1, 2011, and then register that stay on or before Dec. 22, 2011, we’ll send you a Free Night Reward Certificate! You can use the certificate for a free night stay between Dec. 15, 2011, and Feb. 15, 2012.

As if this offer isn’t tempting enough, you’ll also enjoy our everyday amenities, including:

• Hot complimentary breakfast (now available on classic dining ware at select locations)
• Free high-speed Internet
• Workout facility
• Business Center
• Free weekday newspaper
• Free freshly baked cookies
• Read It & Return Lending Library^SM
• Club Carlson^SM hotel rewards program
• Swimming pool

Book the Free Night Fall rate online now to enjoy this great offer at participating Country Inns & Suites hotels in U.S. and Canada. Visit countryinns.com/freenightfall for more details, terms and conditions.

Many people don’t realize it, but Labor Day is more than just a day off from work. Created by the labor movement in the late 19th century, Labor Day pays tribute to the contributions and achievements of American workers.

But Labor Day also traditionally symbolizes the end of summer and the start of the back-to-school season. And for many of us, it is celebrated with parades, picnics and barbecues.

So from all of us at Country Inns & Suites by Carlson, warm wishes to you and yours for a happy, safe and fun Labor Day!

Are you the adventurous type? Do you absolutely love the outdoors? Would your “ultimate day” include canoeing, whitewater rafting, hiking, horseback riding or fishing? If so, make sure to check out these amazing outdoor packages currently available at Country Inns & Suites By Carlson^SM hotels.

• Escape Into Bass Country – There’s nothing more relaxing than hitting the open water and passing the day away fishing with friends and family. Head to Portage, Ind., and test your bassing skills before checking out the Bass Pro Shop Outdoor World. This package includes:
  • $50 gift certificate to the Bass Pro Shop Outdoor World (per stay)
  • Complimentary gift bag
  • Complimentary upgrade

• Dam Release Whitewater Rafting – Get ready to get soaked! Paddle on over to Lehighton, Pa., and take on 17 rapids while screaming, laughing and having an excellent day. Enjoy 12 miles and five hours of Class III whitewater rafting on this exciting package.
  • Admission for two on the whitewater raft trip

• Escape in Town Trail Ride – Hit the trails by horseback in Shoreview, Minn., and encounter a true north woods experience. Begin at Bunker Park Stable-Anoka County Parks for a one-hour trail ride before taking the plunge on the giant weekend water slide, pool and whirlpool at the Country Inn & Suites Shoreview. This package includes:
  • $10.00 discount trail ride ticket

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.

Vacation is time for your family to relax, indulge and just enjoy life. So, who in their right mind—especially kids!—would want to watch what they eat while on vacation? While a family vacation should be a concern-free zone, it’s also important for families to eat well while on the road.

Here are five tips to keep in mind about healthy eating for your family while on your next road trip:

1. Consider “where” you stop. Let’s be frank: It’s challenging to eat healthy when on the road. With mainly convenience stores and fast food restaurants as your roadside options, it’s important to research ahead of time and find grocery stores where you can pick up whole or healthy foods—fruits, carrots, nuts, etc.—or supermarkets that feature a salad bar.
2. Drink lots of water. It’s very important to stay properly hydrated on long road trips, and drinking plenty of fresh water will help flush your body of toxins, keep your skin fresh and help you eat less. Water also helps to ward off travel lag and heat overexposure.
3. Don’t skip breakfast. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day because it jumpstarts your metabolism. Country Inns & Suites’ Be Our Guest Breakfast offers an array of breakfast options—for kids and parents—to start your day: yogurt parfait, warm oatmeal with fresh fruit and a variety of meat or veggie omelets.
4. Eat frequently, but watch portion size. Eating too many calories in one meal—even if they’re healthy calories—sends your brain the message that leaner times are around the corner, so those calories will be stored as fat. Instead, eat small amounts of healthy foods throughout the day to let your body know it’s OK to burn through those calories quickly.
5. Pack snacks. Often when traveling we don’t have access to food at regular intervals. Because our typical routines get out of whack, it’s better to have healthy snacks—especially for kids—than skip meals and indulge in a big slice of apple pie later. To keep your body humming, pack healthy snacks such as almonds, veggies, yogurt, fresh or dried fruit and hard-boiled eggs.

Getting sick at home is bad enough, but being sick on the road is never part of the itinerary. Away from our usual comfort zone, navigating an unfamiliar landscape while dealing with a bad cold or worse is enough to give anybody a headache. If the usual preventative measures—staying hydrated, frequent hand washing, taking vitamins, getting plenty of rest—fail, here are a few coping tips to get you over the hump.

1. Travel with meds. Depending on where and when you get sick, a pharmacy may not be around the corner, or open, in the middle of the night. Keep a small kit packed with pain relievers, cold/flu medication, antibacterial and cortisone creams, plastic thermometer and anti-diarrhea tonic so it’s handy. On the road, safe is better than sorry.
2. Don’t push it. If you’ve come down with something, forcing yourself to attend a meeting or stick to an ambitious touring schedule can just run down your immune system further. You may also be exposing your colleagues to whatever is bugging you.
3. Let yourself rest. Give yourself a sick day—you would at home. Sleep will help you get well faster and give your body the ammo it needs to fight off infections and viruses.
4. Push fluids. Water, juice, hot tea and soup will help flush your system and keep you hydrated.
5. Adjust your expectations. If you’re functioning but just not 100 percent, pick a few highlights from your itinerary and let the rest go.
6. Ask for help. The front desk staff at your Country Inns & Suites By Carlson^SM hotel will go the extra mile to be sure you have what you need in your room to feel better.
7. If you need a doctor, see one. Toughing it out isn’t always the smart way to go. Ask the front desk for a local recommendation.
8. Keep important phone numbers handy. Keep these in a prominent place in your purse or wallet in case somebody else needs to make calls for you. Include your emergency contacts, your doctor and a list of any prescription medications or allergies.
9. Know your benefits. As a precautionary measure, call your health insurance company and find out what your protocol is when you’re sick in the U.S. and abroad. For overseas travel, buying short-term supplemental health insurance can put your mind at ease.

Montana is a beautiful state with majestic scenery and great sites all over. From the elk, bison and bear in Yellowstone, the nation’s first national park, to the site of “Custer’s Last Stand” at Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument, Montana has a rich variety of things to see. Head west and explore America’s distinct mountain and valley country.

But before heading off on your Montana adventure, make sure you add these must-see sites to your itinerary:

• Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument – Take in the sites of one of the most significant battles in American history. At Custer’s Last Stand, in 1876, 263 soldiers were killed in combat with several thousand Lakota and Cheyenne warriors. Admission is $10 per vehicle, and $5 for pedestrians and motorcycle riders.
• Billings – Bordered on the north by distinctive rock formations known as rimrocks, Billings was established in 1882 and is where Montana Territory began. Don’t miss the Western Heritage Center, Zoo Montana and MetraPark. After a long day of exploring the city, rest up at Country Inns & Suites By Carlson Billings, where you can curl up by the fire with a book from the Read It & Return Lending Library^SM, relax in the whirlpool or enjoy some fresh cookies before bed.
• Yellowstone National Park – Teddy Roosevelt declared Yellowstone the first national park in 1872. Home to hundreds of varieties of wildlife (elk, bison, grizzly bears and wolves), the park also includes geysers and hot springs, geological wonders that are more spectacular than words can describe. Drive through the park yourself or enjoy a guided bus tour. Prices range from $29 to $68 per person.
• Glacier National Park – Picture wide, open and rugged landscapes. Craggy peaks jut into the sky that the resident mountain goats climb. A gravity-defying two-lane road named, appropriately enough, the Going-to-the-Sun Road, stretches 50 miles while clinging to the edge of the world as cars—and bikes—cross over the Continental Divide. With wildflowers, alpine vistas and waterfalls along the way, prepare for an experience you’ll never forget.