Posts Tagged ‘beach rentals’

Kisses Sweeter Than Wine In Napa Valley

Wednesday, July 7th, 2010

The Wine Country of Northern California is a destination for wine lovers from across the country and around the planet. Napa, Sonoma, and Calistoga offer visitors a splendid vacation experience with the laid back attitude of Northern California. From the romantic bed and breakfast tour to the pleasure of winery tours for the wine affecionato, the Wine Country is really a fabulous destination.

The area has unquestionably been developed on the wine industry’s success. In 1975, Napa Valley had roughly 20 wineries. Today tourists can select between an extraordinary 275. Nearly all of these wineries suggest tours and tastings and several are open to the community daily. The Wine Country continues to mature and to attract visitors who are interested in the best wines that California has to offer. 

The city of Napa is the biggest in the valley and has all of the accommodations one might expect from a city of its magnitude. There is mainstream shopping and many options for guests looking to have a convenient base of operations in the valley. Prices for vacation rentals and hotels are generally less in Napa than beach rentals directly on the coast line. The disadvantage is that the city is less refined and certainly more mainstream than the rest of the valley’s wine areas, but the proximity to the rest of the valley might make that a lesser price to pay.

If you are on the lookout for something out of the ordinary, then Calistoga should be on your list of adventures. The town is bedecked with false fronted shops in the manner of the Old West. There are real 19th century hotels and fabulous opportunities for visitors looking for bed and breakfast inns in the wine country. The fine dining found elsewhere is replaced by unpretentious cafes and a relaxed attitude that permeates the town. The town was founded as a resort vacation destination, and some of the earliest hotels and hot springs are still in operation. This is absolutely the place for visitors who are fascinated in the Wine Country but also have a need to see Northern California the way that it once was.

Another 19th century creation, and the oldest town participating in the Wine Country, is Sonoma, California. There are a variety of sights here and many of them are unrelated to the cuisine and wine culture of the surrounding region. There are places preserved from the Spanish Mission era, 19th century adobes, old hotels, and even a theater preserved from the 1930s. Sonoma is undeniably an outstanding place to find vacation rentals to set up your base of operations, although there are genuine hotels and a variety of bed and breakfasts here as well. Make a stop in the city’s central plaza to catch sight of what real life is like for locals of the California Wine Country.

 

The Magnificent Beaches Of Florida

Wednesday, April 21st, 2010

Florida is one of the world’s great vacation destinations. Blessed with balmy weather and physical beauty, the Sunshine  State is a fantastic vacation destination for tourists of all ages. Whether traveling by car or flying into one of  Florida’s commercial or international airports, a varied assortment of activities and sight seeing experiences await.

Enclosed by both the Atlantic and the Gulf of Mexico, the state’s shoreline boasts 1,200 miles of beaches, many considered  to be amid the greatest in the world. Notably, Sanibel Island on the west coast has been given the honor of being one of the  best shelling beaches anywhere. Fishing, snorkeling, diving, jet skiing, surfing, parasailing and kite boarding provide  ways to recreate in, on, and above the water.

FL beach rentals are abundant.  One such Florida oceanfront rental is the Sanibel Sunset Beach Resort.  This resort  offers modernized rooms directly on the Gulf of Mexico, picturesque beachfront views, white sandy beaches, contemporary amenities, and  more.  For further information regarding this wonderful resort, go to their web site.   There are also  Florida rentals which are excellent for larger families who might want to book for a month or more.  These houses  are well kept, come with washers and dryers, full kitchens, linens, and more.

Along with Florida’s great shoreline, natural and historic sights dot the state. In the panhandle, the state’s  capitol, Tallahassee, gives tourists the chance to view numerous magnificent antebellum southern plantations. The Museum of History  and Natural Science delivers insight into the past. Apalachicola, an additional panhandle city boasts greater than 900 historical sites  all within its city limits and within walking distance. Natural springs and Native American historical sights dating  back almost 1,000 years may also be explored.

To the east, St. Augustine, the oldest European established metropolis in the United States, provides plenty of places to  explore. See the Spanish fort Castillo De San Marcos, The Old City Gate, the oldest house in America and the Plaza de la  Constitucion.

At Cape Canaveral, stop at the Kennedy Space Center and NASA’s launch headquarters. Prepare to spend the day amazed at the  blend of high technology and natural wonders, as the  Space Center is bordered by the Merritt Island National  Wildlife Refuge.

Next, drive south of Miami and tour the Florida Keys. Key West has a notable walking tour and is residence to numerous great  bistros. See Hemmingway’s cottage, the Conch Train, Sloppy Joe’s bar and the dock at sunset while you stand on the  southern most spot in the continental United States.

Everglade’s National Park with its spectacular scenery and wildlife is also a most laudable destination. Mosquito spray is a  must in the summer months!

Orlando is a terrific base for your travels while in the state of Florida. Daytona Beach and Speedway are merely ninety minutes  away. Kennedy Space Center, Cocoa Beach, Tampa and St. Petersburg are also a short drive.

While in Orlando, stop at America’s much loved theme parks. If you love water, you should positively pay a visit to Aquatica  Water Park. You’ll find 36 water slides, six rivers, lagoons and 60 acres of lush landscape where visitors splash, float  and behold animal habitats all at the same time.

Walt Disney World Resort represents 40 square miles of entertainment featuring four theme parks, two water parks, 32 hotels  and 81 holes of golf. Sea World Orlando is the world’s leading adventure park with rides, shows and animal encounters.  Universal Studios is an innovative entertainment experience offering rides, attractions and shows.

What ever your liking or preference, Florida has it all. From great  beach rentals, bistros, theme parks and  attractions, at hand is continually loads to see and do in the grand state of Florida.