More Mountains!

Continuing on with our mountain vacations, let’s head to the Colorado Rocky Mountains.

The trip has got to start with a visit to the Rocky Mountain National Park.

The scenic mountain scape is home to trails upon trails — a hikers dream! Don’t feel like walking? Drive along the highest highway in the world! “Trail Ridge Road snakes its way through alpine tundra for 50 miles between glacier-sculpted peaks. It crosses the park from east to west and then drops into the Kawuneeche Valley, where the north fork of the Colorado River flows. The road travels for 11 miles above 11,000 feet and for 4 miles above 12,000 feet.”

Whew!

And of course there is camping and hiking, rafting and sight seeing to fill up your entire day. Looking for something a little more relaxing? Then check out the list of mountain resorts where you can kick up your heals and enjoy the view.

Hi Ho Pocono

Beat the heat this summer by taking a trip into the mountains! There’s so many great places to explore in this country that I can’t possibly list them all in one post. So let’s start on the East coast with the Pocono Mountains!

According to the official Pocono website:

“The Pocono Mountains of Northeastern Pennsylvania, USA offer 2,400 square miles of wooded peaks and valleys with numerous sparkling lakes, rushing rivers, and some of the loveliest waterfalls in the east. In the midst of such natural beauty are literally hundreds of attractions and places to stay, making the Pocono Mountains the perfect place to vacation year-round. The Pocono Mountains region encompasses four separate counties: Carbon, Monroe, Pike and Wayne. Each has its own special appeal for the perfect vacation spot.”

Summer is a great time to visit, what with all the lakes and rivers just waiting for boating, kayaking and swimming. There’s also museums, fairs and NASCAR racing at Pocono Raceway.

Going to be around this weekend? Saturday, June 21st is the 18th Annual Great Tastes of Pennsylvania Wine and Food Festival at the Split Rock Resort.

“The two-day outdoor festival held on the grounds of Split Rock located in beautiful Lake Harmony will feature continuous musical entertainment on three separate stages, up to 30 of Pennsylvania’s finest wineries and a wide selection of food vendors to tempt your taste buds.  Educational Seminars will be held during the festival so check them out and learn some new things about wine.  Split Rock also offers a weekend package for our overnight guests.  Each festival attendee will receive a commemorative wine tasting glass.”

How fun! For more information about the festival, visit www.splitrockresort.com.

Lobsta!

If you haven’t made a trip to Maine you must take the opportunity this summer. Nothing screams New England as much as Maine sea air and a fresh lobster dinner. Or as they say in Maine, “Lobsta!”

Lobster From Maine.com has an entire page of recipes sure to make your stomach rumble. But if you want it the traditional Maine way, follow these simple steps:

- Select a pot big enough to cover the lobster completely with water.

- Bring water to a rolling boil and add 1tbs of salt per quart of water.

- Put lobsters in claws first and begin timing as soon as the water comes back up to a boil.

For 1 pound: 5 minutes
1 1/8 pounds: 6 minutes
1 1/4 pounds: 8 minutes
1 1/2 to 2 pounds: 8 to 10 minutes
more than 2 pounds : 12 minutes

Serve with a side of butter and lots of napkins!

(PS- if you’re looking for some Maine inspiration, check out the Maine Beach Tote. It comes with it’s own lobster bib!)

Road Tripping

Just because gas prices are high, doesn’t mean you can’t take a road trip. Some of the best places are a short drive away.

Live on the East coast? Head to Maine and drive the Arcadia National Park Loop in Arcadia National Park. According to Visit New England:

The 27-mile loop offers truly spectacular Atlantic Ocean views. Driving the loop is breathtaking enough with its incredible sunsets, amazing Maine rocky coast and the mix of ocean and mountains, but we strongly suggest getting out of the car to climb Gorham Mountain, you get an incredible view of the glacial blue Atlantic Ocean and Thunder Hole, with its waves creating a sonic boom. Sand Beach, just under 300 yards long, may be short in distance, but endless in beauty — so untouched and so small and intimate is this wonder of nature that it makes you wish that you could bring this environment home.

As someone who as actually visited Arcadia, I can attest that it is a gorgeous place to hike, camp and relax. Don’t forget to pack up your Louisiana Market Sac with outdoor essentials like sunscreen, bug spray and your shades!

Escapes In Your Own Backyard — Florida

Residents of sunny Florida might be interested to know that the first weekend of May holds more than just the promise of summer.

It’s also the annual Isle of Eight Flags Shrimp Festival! Visit May 2-4 and see more than 300 Arts and Crafts exhibitors, more than 75 antique dealers, fun zone for kids, and shrimp! Don’t forget the shrimp!

The festival is home to dozens of food booths boasting shrimp specialties. Yum, yum!

The Festival is held in the Historic downtown Centre Street business district in Fernandina Beach on Amelia Island, Florida. Be sure the check out the website here for all the info!

Happy shrimping!

Tips for the Woman Traveler

Smart, sexy, independent women love to travel — but they know how to travel safe. Do you?

Travelgirl magazine offers some great tips to women enjoy a hotel stay without the worry of safety.

Tips include:

1. Consider staying in boutique hotels with less that 100 rooms. With a smaller hotel, it’s easier for the staff to pay attention to all their guests and know what is going on around them.

2. A cautious desk clerk will not announce your room number out-loud. If they do, request a new room number to be shown to you privately.

3. If filling out a room service tag to hang on your door, don’t list service for one. Instead, call the kitchen to order.

4. Never open the door to a stranger. Always utilize the peep hole on your door. If you’re not expecting a hotel employee, don’t hesitate to call the front desk to confirm their arrival.

5. Utilize the hotel concierge for directions around a strange city.

6. When heading out at night, keep the contents of your purse light and only bring the bare essentials.

7. Trust your instincts and follow your gut. There’s nothing quite as strong as women’s intuition.

8. Magnet strips on hotel keys can hold personal information. Always return them to the front desk.

9. Leave your information with a friend. It’s always a good idea to let someone know where you are…just in case.

Spring Break Getaway!

It’s the time of year to kick up your heels, relax and fly south for spring break. Whether you’re a mom looking to take the family on a great vacation or a college student ready to toss the books aside, Florida offers the perfect mix of sun and fun to cure the winter blues.

For your wild side, check out South Beach. Miami’s hottest neighborhood offers the sand, great restaurants and hot nightlife for after the sun goes down.

Key West has quirky architecture, a balmy breeze blowing through the palm trees and is home to Duval Street where live music and tasty drinks are never out of style.

And is there anything better than a Disney vacation for the family? Rides, characters and fun all in one great place.

Don’t forget to bring your Florida Beach Tote with you!

Now it’s your turn to share the wealth. What was your best Florida vacation?