Need new ideas while traveling to U.S.A.?
Some ideas for travellers to U.S.A.
California: Dream big in the Golden State. California provides the backdrop for dreamers like chefs, shopkeepers and wellness experts to follow their passion to find success. The new VisitCalifornia.com launched January 2015, inspiring Canadians to dream big when planning their vacation in the Golden State. For those that enjoy the finer things in life, superlative indulgences await in California for the ultimate bespoke vacation – from private vineyard experiences in Napa and cycle tours around Santa Barbara to chef dinners in San Francisco and glamping in A-framed huts in the San Jacinto Woods.
San Diego’s Balboa Park, the largest cultural urban park in the world, celebrates 100 years since the 1915 Panama-California Exposition, which lay the foundation to the park’s inception. To explore this legacy of pioneering inventions and ideas, visitors can purchase the Balboa Park Explorer pass and receive unlimited general admission to 17 of its attractions for one year. Dream Big www.visitcalifornia.com
Carlsbad, Calif.: Founded as a mineral spring in 1882, Carlsbad offers an unmatched standard of personal pampering for both women and men. Conveniently located between Los Angeles and San Diego, luxury resorts such as Hilton Carlsbad Oceanfront Resort & Spa, Omni La Costa Resort & Spa, Park Hyatt Aviara Resort, Sheraton Carlsbad Resort and Spa and West Inn & Suites offer exquisite dining, service and world-class spas. Men looking for adventure can take advantage of Carlsbad’s sunny weather on its eleven kilometres of pristine beaches with a surf lesson, or tee up at four golf courses, including the recently renovated Omni La Costa Legends Course. Golf enthusiasts can also brush up their skills at the PGA Tour Academy and receive custom clubs as well as discounted gear straight from the source at Callaway, Cobra-Puma and TaylorMade. In May 2015, Carlsbad’s wellness month promotion returns with an expanded focus with special deals and packages at area resorts. Where to go for fun. www.visitcarlsbad.com
Chattanooga, Tenn.: Discover the “Scenic City,” a riverfront escape that’s big on arts and adventure. Chattanooga’s burgeoning music scene continues to develop as a new entertainment district is set to open in 2015 as part of an $8 million renovation to the iconic Chattanooga Choo Choo campus. Local artists go back to basics with glassblowing, letterpresses, calligraphy and more for visitors to experience firsthand. The Tennessee Aquarium, ranked the 2014 fourth best aquarium in the world by TripAdvisor, is set to expand in 2015 with a new freshwater conservation institute. Whether an avid rock climber or new to the sport, either can perfect their technique at High Point Climbing, Chattanooga’s newly-opened downtown indoor/outdoor rock climbing and fitness center. Uncommon lodging exists in many forms, from the carriages of the Chattanooga Choo Choo, to the LEED Platinum Certified Crash Pad Hostel and the de-commissioned Delta Queen riverboat. Also, the development of a new five-story, 90-room upscale boutique hotel has been announced, planned for the arts district near the Walnut Street Bridge. All this, plus year-round outdoor adventures such as biking, caving, paddling, rock climbing, trail running and hang gliding await! Take me there! www.ChattanoogaFun.com
Cincinnati, Ohio: The Queen City welcomes visitors with a magnitude of identities. The river town is home to professional sports teams, a ballet and symphony, a host of museums and cultural institutions, and a burgeoning culinary and libation scene. All eyes will be on Cincy this summer when the Cincinnati Reds host Major League Baseball’s 2015 All-Star Game and the 86th Midsummer Classic at Great American Ball Park. The city pays homage to its German roots with the annual Goetta Fest this August 6-9, 2015 – a celebration of the much-loved German breakfast sausage unique to Cincinnati in all culinary shapes and forms, from goetta balls and goetta nachos to the more traditional goetta sliders. www.CincyUSA.com
CityPASS: Save up to 50 per cent on attraction admissions in top North American destinations with CityPASS. Spring Break travel is a breeze with CityPASS, ticket booklet holders can bypass most main-entrance ticket lines – an extra-special perk with excited children in tow. CityPASS delivers deeply-discounted tickets to top attractions in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Houston, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Seattle, Southern California, Tampa Bay and Toronto. All CityPASS products are available online and can also be purchased at any of the participating attractions, providing a foolproof city escape this spring and summer season. CityPASS: Save Money. Have Fun. www.CityPASS.com
Finger Lakes Wine Country, NY: Upstate New York’s Finger Lakes Wine Country offers four seasons of visitor experiences. Throughout the spring and summer, visitors can enjoy world-class wines from a selection of more than 100 area wineries situated along picturesque lakes in upstate New York. Summer is also a great time to explore the great outdoors, from hiking the trails of Watkins Glen State Park to sailing at Seneca Lake. In the Finger Lakes, not even the sky is the limit, with hang-gliding, ballooning, and glider planes in the soaring capital of America. The internationally-renowned Corning Museum of Glass
See the Beauty. Feel the History. Taste the Wine. www.fingerlakeswinecountry.com
Huntington Beach, Calif.: Enjoy the experience of a classic California beach town in Huntington Beach, Surf City USA. From the International Surfing Museum to the annual U.S. Open of Surfing, visitors can explore the destination’s surf heritage, or just immerse in Huntington Beach’s laid-back surfing attitude. Alongside the free spirit of Huntington Beach’s coastal lifestyle is a playful imagination highlighted through new cultural and tourism developments. Pacific City debuts in 2015 with 11 acres of shops and dining, including a public market called LOT 579 which will serve as an incubator for local artisans. The new Pasea Hotel and Spa is also slated to open doors in early 2016. Year-round stunning weather and ten miles of broad sand beaches make Huntington Beach an active, energetic town where life is lived outdoors. Owing to its outdoor recreational opportunities and a vibrant downtown, Huntington Beach is a perfect family getaway – from parents to pooches! Surf City USA. www.surfcityusa.com
Long Beach, Calif.: Located in the heart of Southern California, Long Beach blends the urban sophistication of a big city with the relaxed atmosphere of a beach resort. Bordered by the Pacific Ocean, with 9 kilometres of sandy beach front, plus kilometres of inland bays and waterways, Long Beach basks in the warm glow from our year-round California sun. Visitors will also discover world-class attractions and cutting-edge museums, including the legendary Queen Mary ocean liner and WWII troopship; the Aquarium of the Pacific, boasting more than 11,000 animals; and the Long Beach Museum of Art, now featuring a pavilion with two new floor of gallery space. Long Beach Airport provides nonstop service to 13 destinations, and Los Angeles International Airport and Orange County’s John Wayne Airport are only 25 minutes from Long Beach, making a SoCal getaway just a short flight away! www.visitlongbeach.com
The Palm Beaches, Fla.: Located two hours south of Orlando and one hour north of Miami, The Palm Beaches offers visitors the best way to experience Florida®. Find an eclectic collection of 38 distinct cities and towns from the beaches of the Atlantic Ocean to the shores of Lake Okeechobee, from Boca Raton to Jupiter. Known as Florida’s Golf Capital, beyond its famous resort fairways discover acclaimed four dozen public courses. Play golf on the ocean at Palm Beaches’ Dick Johnson designed Par 3 or for a different kind of “birdie” at the Audubon International certified Osprey Point Golf Course. For shoppers, the destination’s affluent community keeps The Palm Beaches’ consignment stores filled with the latest designer and couture fashions for less. At Wellington’s International Polo Club Palm Beach the winter 2015 polo season crescendo’s with the US Open Polo Championships Sunday, April 19. Take this majestic game in over the weekly Sunday brunch or join the fun of International Gay Polo Week April 9 – 11. The Best Way to Experience Florida® www.palmbeachfl.com
Greater Palm Springs, Calif.: Nestled in Southern California’s Coachella Valley, Greater Palm Springs is located two hours east of Los Angeles and comprised of nine unique cities – Palm Springs, Desert Hot Springs, Cathedral City, Rancho Mirage, Palm Desert, Indian Wells, La Quinta, Indio and Coachella.
Outdoor adventures await visitors during the winter and spring travel seasons. Trails around the Coachella Valley are waiting to be explored by foot, bike, ATV, horse or even hummer; which includes those in both Joshua Tree and Death Valley National Parks – a favourite for adventure junkies. The region continues to thrive with hotel openings and enhancements. Arrive, a 32-room boutique and restaurant, will open in Palm Springs’ Uptown Design District later in 2015. By the end of the year, Two Bunch Palms Spa Resort will add 26 rooms as a part of its ongoing multi-million renovation. The iconic Horizon Hotel, a prime example of midcentury modern architecture built by renowned architect William F. Cody 1952, is also currently undergoing enhancements. The new SilverRock Resort has been approved to be built in
La Quinta. This CA$520 million US project will include a 140-room, luxury hotel and spa with lobby and pool bars, fitness center and a restaurant, a 200-room “lifestyle” hotel with a spa, fitness center, lobby and pool bar. Go behind the scenes at the Coachella Valley’s windmill farms with new tours now available. A Brand New Day. www.visitgreaterpalmpsrings.com.
Santa Barbara, Calif.: Part of California’s Central Coast region, Santa Barbara spans 100 miles of pristine coastline, with dramatic mountain views, sparkling seas, lush gardens and white-washed buildings which have earned its distinction as “The American Riviera.” The destination has always been a haven for artists, artisans, wine makers and chefs. Many have located themselves into The Funk Zone. This inner city neighborhood has exploded with artisan shops, art galleries, award-winning microbreweries and even a craft distillery. Be Immersed in Santa Barbara’s art scene staying within the sophisticated design of the Hotel Indigo, or check out the affordable accommodations at new hostel The Wayfarer – a haven for art and wine enthusiasts and beach adventurers. Wine lovers will appreciate the region’s Urban Wine Trail, featuring the best of Santa Barbara and the Santa Ynez Valley. Santa Barbara’s year-round signature events also delight. This includes Old Spanish Days Fiesta, Summer Solstice Parade, Harbor & Seafood Festival, Vintners’ Festival and Earth Day Festival The American Riviera. www.santabarbaraca.com
Sunny Isles Beach, Fla.: Sunny Isles Beach is nestled between Miami and Fort Lauderdale, located on a three-kilometre expanse of white sand and glittering ocean. With beautiful weather year-round, Florida’s Riviera is the ultimate winter escape. The destination is home to some of South Florida’s most luxurious accommodations including Acqualina Resort & Spa, Trump International Beach Resort and Turnberry Isle Miami. This compact destination also provides the ultimate luxury pre- or post-cruise stay with mega ships such as the Carnival Breeze, Disney Oceania Cruises and Regent 7 Seas home ported in Miami. Visitors will enjoy festivals such as the 8th Annual Sunny Isles Beach Jazz Fest, returning in November, outdoor adventure at Oleta River State Park and the finest shopping opportunities. Discover a getaway beyond your expectations. www.sunnyislesbeachmiami.com
Greater Williamsburg, VA: Greater Williamsburg is ready to shatter their history-only reputation with a slew of new openings and cultural experiences. The first exhibition devoted to Leonardo da Vinci’s fascination with the beautiful and the ugly comes to Williamsburg’s Muscarelle Museum of Art Feb. 21-April 5 – making Williamsburg one of only two North American cities to host the exclusive exhibit. Williamsburg Distillery prepares to open this spring and will craft vodka, rum and bourbon using 18th-century recipes and techniques. Alewerks Brewing Company unveils a recreated 17th-century beer that can be tasted during tours or sold exclusively to Chowning’s Tavern when the restaurant re-opens in March 2015. The new Virginia Capital Trail currently offers 12 kilometres of historic hiking traversing 400 years of North American history. The trail will soon be a part of the larger 85 kilometre trail. Yorktown Victory Center’s brand new 7400 metre-squared facility opens spring 2015, featuring vibrant gallery exhibits and enhanced outdoor interpretive programming. www.visitwilliamsburg.com