One of the most exciting fishing stories you can bring home from your Florida vacation, is about the one that didn’t get away. If you have discovered the beauty and adventure of Marco Island, a fisherman’s delight surrounded by mangrove islands and sparkling coastal waters, then you probably have your fair share of big catches to boast about.

Marco Island is a mere six miles in length and just four miles wide, but this little slice of heaven is not easily forgotten. In fact, if fishing, boating, and kayaking are three of your favorite words, it is likely that your first visit to the Island will become the first of many. While you visit – check out the wide variety of Marco Island Vacation Rentals on the island, you’re sure to find one within walking-distance of your charter office or marina.

The convenience factor itself is amazing. Imagine never being more than a mile or two from your condo or hotel, yet just moments away from some of the best fly fishing in the world. The lukewarm gulf temperatures of the backwater bay provide the perfect home for tarpon, snook, spanish mackerel, sea trout, and mangrove snapper. Secluded fishing holes are not hard to find, even during tourist season, since most of the visitors take their fishing offshore. Guided backwater fishing excursions are easy to find, or simply rent a canoe or kayak and set off exploring.

Charter boats can take you offshore, for either full or half day fishing trips. Grouper, barracuda, amberjack, cobia, and king mackerel are a few of the trophies you may have the good fortune to hook. Your boat captain will take you to the best fishing holes.

Once you’ve had your fill of fishing – is that even possible? – you can experience a completely different type of boating adventure. How about taking a three hour ride on a 155 foot catamaran that will deliver you to Key West for the day? Getting there is truly half the fun when you are riding on one of these luxurious watercrafts. Fully air conditioned and equipped with big screen TVs, satellite television and a full bar, this is traveling in style. After swimming with the dolphins or enjoying the historical sights of Key West, you’ll be safely returned to Marco Island. That’s a lot of paradise to handle, all in one vacation. Now you are beginning to see why Marco Island has the ability to become an annual family getaway.

Did I mention the dinner sunset boat trips, the superb shelling, or the fact that there are over 50 top rated restaurants and over 100 retail shops on the island? Marco Island – all the comforts of home and the ability to catch a 200 lb fish right in your back yard. That’s what I call a vacation. How about you?

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Sitting around 7,000 feet above sea level, Park City is the perfect locale to escape from the summer heat!  Park City, Utah is home to the US Ski Team and the Sundance Film Festival, and is widely known as a great winter vacation destination.  What many people don’t realize, is that Park City is also an amazing summer destination.  With a fun, bustling downtown area, wildflowers as far as the eye can see, golf, fishing, and a variety of festivals, the mountain village is the perfect summer vacation destination!

The same mountain that provides world-class skiing also offers some amazing mountain biking in addition to an alpine slide, ziprider, alpine coaster, a climbing wall and more!  For the less adventurous traveler, there is also the option of a scenic chairlift ride, hiking, and mini golf.  Park City Mountain Resort, Deer Valley Resort, and The Canyons Resort  all offer a little something for everyone in the summer.

When planning your vacation, be sure to check out some of the amazing Park City vacation rentals.  Amazing mountain condos and private homes that command high rates in the winter are often offered for a fraction of the price throughout the summer months!

You may want to center your trip around one of the many festivals that Park City is famous for.  Here is some information on a few of the area’s most popular summer events:

• Park City Food and Wine Classic [July 9-12] -An “Epicurean Extravaganza” featuring master winemakers, amazing chefs, and an impressive guest list!  This delectable event is a must if you love food, wine, and good company!
• Fidelity Jazz Festival [August 21-23] -An annual festival featuring amazing musicians.  In addition to nightly performances, this festival features daily workshops and clinics for budding musicians.
• Deer Valley Music Festival -A variety of musical styles to suit all tastes and ages!
• Park City Farmer’s Market -Held every Wednesday between June and October from noon to seven pm at The Canyons Cabriolet parking lot.
• Park Silly Sunday Market -An eco-friendly open market and street festival.  Every Sunday from mid-June through September.
• Fourth of July Celebrations -There are a variety of celebrations surrounding Independence day! Starting with the July 3rd celebration at The Canyons Resort, finishing up with activities and fireworks at Park City’s Traditional Independence Day Celebration and The Flying Ace All-Stars Show at The Utah Olympic Park.

What are you waiting for? Start planning your Park City getaway today!

Images Courtesy ArtBrom

Just one look at the fantastically wind and water sculpted shapes of Goblin Valley in south central Utah explains how it got it’s name, but as you approach, you only see the rocks sticking up above the landscape and not the very weird valley hidden below them. In fact, it’s so well hidden that it wasn’t discovered until 3 cowboys stumbled upon it while looking for their cattle.

You’ll find Goblin Valley State Park 6-7 miles west of the road between Green River and Hanksville, Utah, 30 miles south of I-70 Exit 149 on the way to Lake Powell. Just look for the signs. There’s a small, but nice improved campground, with drinking water and modern rest rooms with hot showers. The best sites are hidden in coves among the rocks. The road leading to the park is paved, so it’s no trouble getting there.

There’s a visitor’s center, 3 marked trails and free Ranger-led interpretive programs, but the true thrill is being able to wander through the rock formations at will, exploring the maze of thousands of grotesque sandstone creatures and climbing over, around and even through them. Because it’s literally in the middle of nowhere, you’ll see skies crowded with stars. A full moon walk among the hoodoos is an experience you’ll never forget.

While mountain biking, dirt biking and ATV riding is not permitted within the park itself, the surrounding area offers hundreds of miles of good dirt trails for these activities. The summer sun is relentless in the high desert, so Autumn is without a doubt the best time to visit.

If you’re a distance runner, check out the Goblin Valley Ultra Marathon held each year in late October. It could just be the most breathtaking race you’ve ever run.

Non-campers can stay in Green River, Utah,  about a 45 minute drive from the park. You won’t find anything fancy or charming there, but the Robbers Roost is a clean and friendly place to spend the night.

With a name like the Devils Garden, you probably think it doesn’t sound like a very good place to camp, but boy are you wrong. It’s one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever pitched my tent. Unless you’re backpacking or 4 wheeling waaaaay off road, it’s the only camping area you can legally use within Arches National Park in Moab, Utah. It’s also the only developed camping area in one of our most visited National Parks.

Even as such, the campsites are very large and it’s easy to pitch your tent well away from the road and other campers. They offer sites to accommodate RV’s of all sizes and have several campsites available for large groups. There aren’t any showers, but there are flush toilets, running water and drinking water and sinks for washing dishes.

The campground is well staffed with friendly, caring hosts who keep the place nearly spotless. Firewood is available for sale and rangers run evening programs in an incredible natural amphitheatre tucked in the folds of rock.

There are several trails emanating from the campground. Most of them take you to an arch or two and tend to be some of the least crowded trails in the park. Devils Garden campground is 18 miles into the park along winding two lane roads, so stock up on what you need in town before you head up there. It’s very close to some of the best natural attractions in Arches, like the Fiery Furnace, Delicate Arch and the almost embarassingly arch rich Devils Garden that gives the camping area its name.

The campground is very quiet during the day, since most people are out hiking around through the geological wonders that drew them to Moab. For many of them, especially the numerous foreign visitors, it’s a once in a lifetime trip. Since people from all over the world want to stay here, be certain to make your camp site reservations well in advance.

If you only ever take one raft trip, make certain this is one that you consider. It’s a day trip on the Colorado River through Utah’s red rock formations in an area so awe-strikingly scenic that it’s been dubbed Postcard Alley. Everywhere you look, you’ll see another varnished cliff, another flat topped mesa, another weather-sculpted spire and another incredibly pure blue sky.

It’s all desert and dirt and rock until you drop down to river level. Here, world becomes refreshingly wet and cool. The water sparkles with white rapids, the banks are lined with greenery and a strand of sandy beach beckons around every bend.

You can raft the entire stretch of river from Dewey Bridge into Moab, Utah, which is close to 30 miles. There are nice developed campsites in numerous places along the road side of the river. On busy weekends, you’ll need to make a reservation to snag one of those spots. Absolutely sweet beaches for primitive camping are available on islands and along the cliff side of the river. No reservations necessary.

The Daily run, which all the local outfitters float, is by far the best one day trip. Put in at Hittle Bottom, where there are restrooms, ramps and plenty of parking. The take out, 13 miles downstream, is creatively named Take Out Beach, which also has a ramp, parking and pit toilets. Expect it to take 6-10 hours depending on water levels and how much you want to paddle and how much you want to float.

As I said, all the local Moab outfitters run this stretch. Lunch is included on day long trips and the guides will keep you entertained with river lore and water antics. The prices are very reasonable for a day’s adventure. If you’d rather do it on your own, most of the outfitters also rent an assortment of paddle and oar rafts, as well as inflatable kayaks. Expect mostly flat stretches broken up with Class I and II rapids most of the year, although a few tight bends in the river create Class IIIs during higher water.

Don’t forget your camera, but if you do, you’ll have an ironclad excuse to do it all over again!