If you generally think of Colorado as a ski vacation Mecca, let me introduce you to the “off-season”. Summers in Colorado are known for whitewater rafting, camping, hiking, golfing, mountain biking, fly-fishing, festivals, horseback riding and more! And Keystone’s central Colorado location excels in all of these Rocky Mountain summer activities.

Flyfishing – AugustKids029 Whether you are a beginning or experienced fly-fisherman the streams, ponds and rivers surrounding Keystone have something for every angler. Summit Fly Fishing offers casting and fishing clinics as well as guided trips on the Snake River.
River Rafting – Two world-class adventure rivers, The Arkansas River and The Colorado River, are right out Keystone’s backdoor. The area boasts extreme whitewater to casual float trips and everything in between.
Golfing – Two remarkable golf courses featuring 36 incredible championship holes will amaze even the most refined golfers as they tee off into the light Rocky Mountain air. Open Memorial Day through September, the courses put a new meaning to “golfing on the edge”. For the family, Keystone also has a miniature golf course in River Run.
Mountain Biking – Take advantage of the mountain’s lift service to experience world-class downhill mountain biking terrain, complete with views of the Continental Divide and Lake Dillon. Members of your group that don’t wish to go down on two wheels can take the lift back down to safety. Or mountain bikers can try out any of over 100 miles of cross country biking and hiking trails that wind through the Keystone area. Bikes, helmets, and safety equipment rentals are available at the Adventure Center in Lakeside Village. The center also offers paddle boating, kayak and canoe rentals, and fish feeding activities. Printable bike trail maps can be found on Keystone Resort’s website.
Festivals – Summer in Keystone is the time to catch art shows, jazz festivals, a fiddle contest, Celtic festival, culinary galas and more! The 15th Annual Bluegrass and Beer Festival will be held this year August 6th – 7th. Enjoy mountain music, sample Colorado’s microbrews, and let the kids burn off energy in a free family Kidzone. Also in August, the 7th Annual Blues Festival and Art Show will be held. An art show and competition complete with tasty dishes and an array of brews and wines will be accompanied by live guitarists. Keystone also offers free weekly family events like storytelling, stargazing, craft nights, and gold-panning. Call for more information: 800-354-4FUN (4386).
Unique Adventures – In addition to the summer mountain activities mentioned above, Keystone has a few unique activities like a bungee trampoline, barn dances, beaver patrol, mine tours, and llama lunch hikes on Keystone Mountain.
Lodging – Whatever your reason for visiting Keystone in the summer, let the experts at Summit County Mountain Retreats provide accommodations for your Keystone Resort rental. Featuring homes and condos on the mountain or in town, Karen and William Fuller are happy to help you choose a vacation rental to make this your most memorable Colorado summer vacation!

Come see why many locals deem summer their favorite time of year!

Welcome back!

Are you searching for an alternative to your regular family beach vacation? Then it is time to Discover Southport and Oak Island in North Carolina. With 28 miles of gorgeous Atlantic Ocean beachfront, the area excels in the standard beach goers activities like swimming, building sandcastles, combing for seashells, golf, fishing, kayaking, scuba diving and more. Lesser known attractions that your whole family can enjoy will get you off the beaten path and out of a vacation routine:
Learn about Southern History – The whole family can enjoy a FREE self-guided walking tour on the Historic Southport Trail. Make history come alive as you enjoy a relaxed one mile walk through charming Historic Southport. Continue a history lesson traveling a short distance to Wilmington, NC. On the way, stop at the Fort Fisher Civil War Museum. Remains of the earthen fort that kept the Cape Fear River and the port of Wilmington open to blockade runners, which delivered vital supplies to the Confederate armies until the fort fell on January 15, 1865. Among many historical points in Wilmington, the whole family will enjoy touring The USS North Carolina Battleship. She is preserved just as she was in World War II and has been the site for many dramatic documentations and action films.
Discover Under the Sea – Before you leave Fort Fisher, be sure to take the whole family to The North Carolina Aquarium. Here you can meet Luna, a rare albino alligator currently weighing in over 54 lobs and 6 feet in length. The kids will also enjoy hands on experience with sea stars and can sign up for a summer camp on the island. Best of all, you and your family will get to see close up what is living in the waters you are typically only swimming in.
Connect with Nature – Back on Oak Island there are many trails and parks for enjoying North Carolina’s exceptional natural environment. Be sure to visit the Oak Island Nature Center overlooking the Intracoastal Waterway. The Center has live animal exhibits as well as educational activities and programs with walkways to the water. Dedicated to a former Mayor Dorothy Kelly, the Dot Kelly Memorial Butterfly & Hummingbird Garden is a natural setting that attracts these creatures so you and your family can enjoy them in their typical surrounding.
See it All – Get a bird’s eye view of the island as you fly down the coastline in an open air cockpit, waving at beachgoers and occasionally spotting dolphins, sea turtles and more. Oak Island Sport Planes also offers flight lessons for the adventurous types.
Stay all Summer – Whether you are looking for a weekend retreat or a month long getaway, Margarat Rudd & Associates Realtors can find a long or short-term vacation rental to suit your needs. Vacation rental lodging is perfect for a family or group vacation where you want the cost savings and convenience of having your own kitchen, washer/dryer, and parking. Many units are also pet-friendly so your entire family can enjoy the trip! Visit Rudd’s website to view their current Oak Island Vacation specials.

Maui, Hawaii is a majestic destination full of history and mystique. The ethereal Pacific Ocean with its sapphire and emerald colored waters envelops the flourishing vegetation; exclusive wildlife and towering mountains that make up the island of Maui. Each year families, friends and groups look forward to finding an ideal Maui condo to rent and discovering the area’s most popular entertainment.

When escaping to the exquisite island of Maui the only thing you want to think about is how close the beach is. The town of Kihei is an idyllic resort town with an abounding selection of Kamaole beaches, an appealing family-friendly scene and more audacious outdoor splendors than you can experience in just one trip.

Jump in with both feet and experience first-hand the delight and exhilaration of Snuba. Yes, Snuba – a combination of scuba diving and snorkeling. Snuba divers breathe underwater with assistance from an air hose that is connected to a customary scuba tank above water. It’s safe, fun and best of all; you don’t have the intrusion of a heavy tank on your back. Maui Classic Charters in Kihei will have you pumped up and out in the water in no time.

Kihei is also home to three magnificent beaches: Kamaole I, II and III. This stunning collection of oceanfront property is a quintessential part of any island getaway. Whether you’re in the ocean on a kayaking extravaganza or lounging on the soft sand with the latest bestselling novel, Kamaole beaches welcome you with a smooth ocean breeze and pristine skyline.

Are you ready for more? Just north of Kihei is the charming Maalaea Bay, where you and the group can gear up for a whale watching expedition or charter fishing excursion. Don’t forget to stop by the Maui Ocean Center where you’ll come face to face with the largest collection of living coral, green sea turtles and an array of reef sharks.

Book a flight, pick a beautiful Maui Kamaole condo to rent and throw on your Lei – Kihei, Maui awaits you!

St. John, home to the Virgin Islands National Park, is easy to explore when you have your own transportation. Two main roads cross the island; one road runs across the center of the island and another along the north shore. However, if you want to get off the main roads, many other trails and dirt roads can take you through magnificent unspoiled forests, weaving through scenic lookout points, and ending at the shoreline of a fabulous beach. Make sure you have a four-wheel drive jeep for a couple of reasons. First, some island roads are rough and four wheel drive greatly enhances your driving ability. Second, St John and Tortola have some steep hills plus concrete roads that get very slippery when it rains. You will definitely appreciate the added traction and safety of four wheel drive should you get caught driving in a cloudburst.

If you are debating renting a jeep versus public transportation, here is a thought. Taxis and bus service to remote areas of the island do not exist. If you are planning on staying near your Caribbean vacation rental then you can get away with not renting a car. But, if you want to explore the island at your own pace and discover the beauty of unspoiled beaches and tropical forest, then a four-wheel drive jeep is for you. Here are a couple of driving facts for tourists to St. John:

• Driving in the Virgin Islands is on the left side of the road.
• Vehicles are typical American cars with left side steering.
• Valid US and international driver’s licenses can be used while visiting the Virgin Islands for up to 90 days.

If you decide jeeping is the right choice for your next vacation, let Caribbean Villa & Resort Management handle your Virgin Island car rental when you stay in one of their exclusive condos or villas. Jeep reservations are made at no extra charge and the experienced consultants there can also help you to book the perfect Caribbean vacation with a perfectly matched vacation rental and information on St. Johns many activities.

Have you ever had a vacation where you needed a vacation when you were done just to recuperate from all the fun and activity? 

Do the people in your party have such diverse taste in what they do to have fun, that it’s hard to please everyone all the time? 

If you answered yes to either question, then you might want to start your vacation planning with  Deep Creek Lake rentals and prepare for a delightful Maryland vacation experience full of giggles and stories to share that is sure to please everyone in your family or group.

Deep Creek Lake in Maryland seems to have every kind of vacation activity you could imagine no matter what time of year! 

Adventure and outdoor enthusiasts can select from activities that exhilarate the senses such as water or snow skiing, wakeboarding and river rafting or experience the mountain coaster all year round. 

If your senses are looking for a calmer, more tranquil feel, then visitors can choose to enjoy the peacefulness of snow-shoeing or cross country skiing, fly fishing or simply bobbing or floating on the lake.

 Festivals more your thing?  Then , don’t miss out on the Art & Wine and Highland Festivals.  Visitors of all ages will find events to delight by visiting the local chamber for their calendar of events.

 I can’t imagine a family or group that wouldn’t be able to find something to interest everyone in and around the Deep Creek Lake area.  What’s even better is the close proximity to Baltimore, Cleveland, Pittsburgh and Washington, D.C.  With the hassles of flying, how nice is it that so many people can visit by driving from nearby? 

Moving to Colorado after living in the Midwest farmland for many years has made me realize that you can have a vacation nearly every weekend when places are within easy driving distance.  It seems like the same would be true for people in and around the Deep Creek Lake area.  Iowa Farmlands?  Not so much.  I used to have to drive at least 40, if not 90 miles, just to reach the nearest interstate that would then take me another sizeable distance to some place you actually wanted to visit! 

 So, whether you travelling from near or far, your group is large or small, you’re looking for exhilaration or tranquility, a vacation in and around the Deep Creek Lake area of Maryland seems like a sure bet.  It’s certainly going to be on my ‘list of places to see.’