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Great Ideas for Midwest Vacations

November 29, 2019

There’s something so friendly and welcoming about the American Midwest.

The wide open prairies, the peaceful river valleys and the thriving cities – this region invites you to explore. Whether you’re looking for a chance to hike the great outdoors, enjoy the nightlife, visit historic sites, celebrate Spring Break or enjoy interesting museums – the Midwest has a lot to discover.

If you’re looking for inspiration for the best Midwest vacations, keep reading. We have some great ideas for Midwest family vacations that will make you fall head over heels in love with this region.

Where is the Midwest?

The area known as the Midwest encompasses the center of the United States. It stretches from the state of Ohio in the east, all the way to Nebraska, Kansas and the Dakotas in the west.

Diving deeper into the region, you have the Great Lakes States and the Great Plains States. The Great Lakes States are the ones that border the Great Lakes, including Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin, Indiana and Illinois. The Great Plains States include Nebraska, North and South Dakota, Kansas, Missouri, Minnesota and Iowa.

These states make up the heart of the USA – yet a great deal of tourism in America is focused along the East and West Coast and the South. It’s definitely worth taking the time to explore these midwestern states, so you can experience life in America’s heartland.

Midwest Getaways You’ll Love

Indianapolis, Indiana

If you’re a sports fan, Indianapolis is one of the best Midwest cities to travel to. It’s known for car racing basketball, football and much more. You can visit the world-famous Indianapolis 500 racetrack, then see the 1930s gymnasium at the NCAA Hall of Champions. If you are traveling with little ones, they can take part in the interactive exhibits at the Riley Children’s Health Sports Legends Experience at the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis.

But Indianapolis isn’t just all about sports. It also boasts a thriving art scene, excellent restaurants and beautiful local hiking trails in Eagle Creek Park and Schoen Creek Trail. It’s no wonder so many Midwest vacations include this great city.

St. Louis, Missouri

Standing high above this city, on the west bank of the Mississippi River, is a towering steel arch. It symbolizes the position of St. Louis as the “Gateway to the West.” A vibrant and youthful midwestern metropolis, there are a lot of reasons to explore St. Louis.

This thriving city keeps popping up on “Best Of” lists – thanks to the fantastic parks, excellent zoos and botanical gardens and high quality museums. Be sure to check out the Delmar Loop, which is a six block stretch of Delmar Boulevard – known as one of the best urban streets in America. It’s backed with great attractions like Blueberry Hill (Where Chuck Berry used to play), the old Tivoli Theatre and plenty of superb restaurants, lounges and pubs.

Chicago, Illinois

When you travel the Midwest, you can’t miss Chicago. After all, it’s the most populous city in the Midwest and the third most populous in the entire country.

It has everything you could want from an exciting city getaway, from world-class museums to stunning architecture to a legendary theatre and stand-up comedy scene. Not to mention, there are 7,000 restaurants to choose from serving everything from hearty deep dish pizza to high end cuisine.

Chicago is most enjoyable in the summer months between June and September, when the locals flock to the parks, Lakefront beaches and public squares to enjoy picnics, live music and festivals. In fact, during the summer it feels like there’s a festival happening every weekend! Check out the events calendar and plan your visit you can join in on the fun.

Traverse City, Michigan

Located close to the Canadian border, this city overlooks Lake Michigan and is one of the best Midwest travel destinations for outdoor lovers. On a long summer day here you can head out onto the lake on a fishing trip, or go trekking through the trails of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. If you are here in the winter, you can enjoy the abundant snowfall. It’s perfect for snowshoeing, skiing and snowboarding. At any time of the year you can visit the many wineries and craft breweries to sample locally made tipple.

If you’re looking to experience a bit of luxury with your nature, there are several beautiful Midwest resorts in this area – such as the Tamarack Lodge, the Chateau Chantal Winery and Inn and the Sugar Beach Resort Hotel.

Where will you go on your Midwest road trips?

These are just a few of the best weekend getaways the Midwest has to offer. This may be one of the most underappreciated regions in the USA, so why not get out there and see what the Midwest is all about?

If you’re keen to travel Midwest destinations, you’ll have a lot to see and do in this region!

Entertainment, Vacation Travel

East Coast Vacations: Inspiration For Your Next Trip

November 12, 2019

An East Coast USA vacation is a classic getaway. After all, this region has everything you could want from a fun break: beautiful beaches, cities packed with culture, quiet pockets of nature and stunning views of the ocean.

When it comes to planning the best East Coast vacations (or even an East Coast road trip), there are a lot of great destinations to choose from. From the gorgeous forests of upstate New York to the famous amusement parks of Florida, you can keep coming back to the East Coast again and again.

The Best Places to Visit on the East Coast

If you are looking for some East Coast vacation ideas, (whether for
Spring Break or an autumn getaway) these are some of the hottest spots on this side of the country.

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Historic Philadelphia is the birthplace of America and a fantastic place for an East Coast trip. It’s very popular with families, but it could also be a wonderful romantic trip or a solo adventure. The city is very walkable and there are countless museums and historic sites to check out. You can taste the delicious food at the Reading Terminal Market, revisit history at the Betsy Ross House and go for a jog up the “Rocky” steps by the
Philadelphia Art Museum. Of course, don’t forget to try a big juicy and irresistible Philly cheese steak as well!

It’s no wonder this city draws so many visitors for East Coast vacations.

Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusets

This pretty island is a dreamy getaway, accessible from Cape Cod via a ferry. You’ll fall in love with the charming beaches, quaint lighthouses, gingerbread cottages and sweet hotels. Also, if you love hiking this is a great place for you. There are several stunning national parks where you can explore the great outdoors, including Aquinnah Cliffs and South Beach State Park. It’s one of the most popular East Coast attractions for celebrities, so keep your eyes peeled and you might spot some famous visitors.

Kennebunkport, Maine

This lovely and quaint Maine village is filled with chic boutiques, friendly coffee shops and quirky antique shops. The rocky coastline is ideal for capturing those iconic seaside photos, with a scenic lighthouse in the background. There’s plenty to keep you busy here, from kayak tours of Mousam River Estuary to lobstering and much more. At the end of the day, you can relax with a few local brews at the
Kennebunkport Brewing Company while you admire the views.

Washington, D.C.

There’s so much to see and do in Washington! If you are a history buff or an art nerd, you’ll love the world-class collection of Smithsonian museums – all of which are free. You can also go for a walk along the National Mall, a stunning space lined with iconic landmarks such as the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument. Take a tour of the White House and the Library of Congress, then stroll through the hip streets of Georgetown and enjoy a meal at one of the restaurants that overlook the water.

Portsmouth, New Hampshire

If you’re looking for the quintessential charming New England town, Portsmouth is a pretty great example. It’s just an hour north of Boston but it has a completely different vibe. One of the oldest cities in the USA, it was settled in 1623. This peaceful historic town has excellent museums (such as the USS Albacore Museum) and a lot of stories to tell. Check out the Strawberry Banke Museum, an outdoor exhibition that will show you what life was like when this community was originally settled. Or, you can take a walk along the Portsmouth Harbor Trail, which showcases 70 landmarks and is lined with excellent restaurants, cute artisan boutiques and lovely sidewalk shops.

St. Augustine, Florida

St. Augustine is very special – it’s the oldest continuously occupied European settlement in North America. This gives it a completely different feel than most Florida destinations. Founded by Spanish colonialists in 1565, it has more of an Old World ambiance and feels more like Spain than Florida. You can take a stroll through the cobbled streets and admire the 1672 Castillo de San Marcos. Plus, the Plaza de la Constitución is pretty impressive and the city is filled with beautiful Spanish-style architecture. If you venture only minutes away, St. Augustine has more than 40 miles of stunning beaches.

Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

If you’re looking to relax on a beach or take the family somewhere chilled out, Myrtle Beach is a delight. Along the beachfront you’ll find an array of attractions, including live entertainment, multiple amusement parks and great restaurants. Every night during the summer there will be live entertainment on the oceanfront boulevard, including stilt walkers, jugglers and bagpipers. There’s even a weekly firework display – making the nights very magical indeed. It’s no wonder this is one of the most popular East Coast vacation spots.

These are just a few of the best places to visit on the East Coast. What are your favorite places for East Coast vacations? Share them with us in the comments!

Vacation Travel

What are the Top Tourist Destinations in the World?

November 5, 2019

A lot of travel blog posts are focused on going off the beaten track and finding the most obscure destinations. However, although you might want to avoid the big tourist destinations because “everyone has been there” – there’s a reason why they are so popular.

The world’s most popular and best tourist destinations have reached their status for a reason. There’s something appealing about them that draws visitors from all over the world. So, it’s certainly worth visiting these main attractions and you’ll find plenty of great things to enjoy about them.

So, what are the most famous places in the world? What is the most visited tourist attraction in the world? Let’s take a look at some of the top destinations, to figure out where everyone is heading on their next getaway.

Note: This is not an official or complete list of the top tourist destinations. The rankings will fluctuate year on your, but these are a few examples that are always at the top.

The Top Tourist Destinations

Bangkok, Thailand

With more than 20 million visitors in 2018, Mastercard’s annual
Global Destination Cities Index named Bangkok as the most visited city in the world. It’s also very likely to be on lists of the top 10 tourist destinations in the world. This comes as no surprise, as it’s often the first destination for travelers making their way around Southeast Asia. Bangkok has a lot to enjoy, from fascinating temples to enormous mega-malls to bustling night markets and more.

The Great Pyramids of Giza, Egypt

These iconic pyramids are the last of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World and are more than 3,000 years old – making them a very intriguing tourist attraction. Scientists still don’t really understand how ancient people were able to carve, move and erect this incredible structure, made with more than two million stone blocks. You can take a tour to learn about the history of the pyramids, as well as visit many other fascinating cultural and historic sites around Cairo.

London, England

It’s not hard to see why London is always at the top of Top Tourist Destination lists. After all, this massive World City has one of the best collections of art galleries and museums on the planet. Plus, there are huge parks to explore (such as Hyde Park) and fascinating historic attractions (like the famous Tower of London). Not to mention, the West End hosts a dazzling array of fantastic theatrical shows. Add a superb culinary scene, a great selection of tourist attractions and lots of fantastic shopping and you have a great city for a getaway.

Paris, France

It comes as no surprise that Paris is one of the most visited destinations in the world. This city has such a romance around it and has inspired countless poems, books, songs, paintings, films and more. Numerous lists and studies have identified Paris as the most visited city in the world – and France as the most visited country in the World. After all, how could you not fall in love with the romance, cuisine, museums and charming elegance of the City of Light?

Dubai, United Arab Emirates

With an estimated
15,790 million visitors per year, Dubai is one of the most visited cities in the world. As a destination, it boasts enormous glittering skyscrapers, luxury resorts, dazzling shopping malls and a stunning beachside promenade. Plus, from here you can take a day trip out to the desert and experience camel rides and a cookout with Beduoin tribes – for a fully immersive cultural experience.

Macau, China

Sometimes referred to as the Las Vegas of Asia, Macau is a glittery metropolis known for its enormous mega-casinos, luxury hotels and shopping malls. Everything is a little over the top here, in a fun and fascinating way. Plus, Macau was once a Portuguese colony, so there’s beautiful European-style colonial architecture in the historic core. Unlike anywhere else in Asia, it’s a one-of-a-kind spot that gets over 17 million visitors per year.

New York City, USA

The Big Apple. The Empire State. The Center of the Universe. The City That Never Sleeps. New York is another city that has been featured so much in fiction, music and art that it has achieved legendary status. One of the biggest US tourist attractions, this city is virtually infinite. You could explore it for years and still not experience all the neighborhoods, streets, attractions, restaurants, bars and more. From hipster Brooklyn to stylish Manhattan – it’s definitely worth a visit.

Where will you go next?

Are there any spots on this list of tourist attractions where you haven’t been? Why not take the chance to check out some of these top tourist destinations from around the world?

Lifestyle talk, Vacation Travel

Ideas for the Ultimate Girls Trip

October 15, 2019

Planning a girls weekend with your best friends? There’s nothing quite like a girls weekend getaway to help you relax and recharge. Spending some quality time with your friends gives you a chance to talk through whatever you’ve been struggling with, support and encourage each other – and of course let loose and have a good time! A girls road trip is incredibly good for the soul.

So, where should you go on your girls getaway? There are plenty of options for great weekend getaways with your best friends. So, here are some cheap girls getaway weekend ideas.

Girls Trip Ideas

Eat Your Way Through Montreal

Montreal is one of the most vibrant food cities in Canada, offering up everything from savory smoked meat to freshly baked bagels to glorious poutine. Take your best friends on a food tour of the city to taste everything Montreal’s culinary scene has to offer. You could even consider taking a cooking class, so that you can bond over making your own yummy dishes. Here are 10 dishes you really must try on your travels in Montreal.

Party in New Orleans

Want to dance the night away in one of the liveliest cities in the USA? New Orleans has a fun, sultry vibe. On Bourbon Street you can groove to live music until dawn every night of the week. When you’re not painting the town red with your friends, you can take a tour of the French Quarter. It’s a great way to learn about the intriguing history of this character-packed city. There’s a reason why New Orleans is popular for girls weekend getaways.

Get Cultured in Mexico City

Did you know that Mexico City is one of the best cities in North America when it comes to museums and art galleries? If you and your girlfriends are art lovers, you’ll want to spend several days here to soak everything in. It’s a lot of fun for girls trips. Check out the Frida Kahlo Museum to see some powerful artwork by a very inspiring female artist. After you’ve worked up an appetite touring art galleries all day, you can enjoy the excellent dining scene Mexico City has to offer.

Be Dazzled by Dubai

If you think everything is bigger in Texas, you will be blown away by the scale of Dubai. Enormous shopping malls, the tallest sky-scrapers in the world and even a huge indoor ski resort are the main attractions in this glamorous desert metropolis. Or, you can get out of the city with a full desert experience, complete with camel rides, sandboarding and dune bashing. Whatever you do, it’s bound to be an unforgettable trip.

Tour the Best of Toronto

Toronto is a vibrant city packed with culture, food and stuff to do – making it a perfect destination for a girls weekend getaway. There’s always something new happening there – from the launch of a new restaurant to a thrilling festival and much more. If you can time your visit for Pedestrian Sundays at Kensington Market you can go for a stroll down the car-free streets and enjoy musicians, art stalls and street performers. (Here are a few more ideas for Things To Do In Downtown Toronto.)

Sip Wine in Sonoma

Located in the beautiful California wine country, the Sonoma Valley is a dream destination for wine enthusiasts. This region is home to more than 425 wineries, from stunning modern lounges to striking castles and luxurious villas. Sip on superb Chardonnay while watching the sun set over the rolling vineyards and craggy mountains. You can even take a winery tour to learn more about the production of your favorite bottle (and take one home with you!)

Keep It Weird in Austin

Austin, Texas is a city with a unique vibe and a personality of its own. When you travel there with your best gal pals, you can enjoy fantastic live music, quirky boutique hotels and an excellent food scene. Be sure to take a look at the concert listings at The Moody Theater, a totally cool local venue featuring great bands. Or, if you want to enjoy the great outdoors you can take a hike around the scenic trails of Lady Bird Lake.

Be Seduced By Savannah

The romantic Spanish moss, cobblestone streets and ornate mansions of Savannah give it a feeling unlike anywhere else in the USA. This would be a perfect destination for a group of friends to unwind and relax. You can stroll through the tree-lined streets and sit and chat in the shady parks. Or, shop in the lovely boutiques and sip cocktails in an atmospheric bar. Plus, there are many great day spas in Savannah where you and your friends can be pampered.

travel ideas