Grand Junction is situated at the confluence of two mighty Western rivers - the Colorado and the Gunnison - in the high desert just east of the Colorado/Utah border.

Grand Junction is part farming town, part college town, part retiree haven and part headquarters for the gas industry. Every segment of it’s population thinks it suits their needs well. It’s the largest city within thousands of square miles and serves as the air travel, shopping and medical capital of the entire area.

For most west-bound tourists, this is where they get their car repaired, stock up on ice and supplies and get one last shopping mall fix or fine restaurant meal before heading out into the harsh desert. Among outdoor enthusiasts, it’s considered a jumping off point for adventures in southern Utah and southwestern Colorado, but you don’t really have to travel far from Grand Junction before you can enjoy some of the best outdoor recreation activities of their kind.

The first stop is a mere 7 miles west at Fruita, where even the most die-hard mountain biker will meet his or her match on the rocky Book Cliff Trails designed just for them in the desert northeast of town. The Fruita Fat Tire Festival attracts enthusiasts every Spring to celebrate in tribal fashion. Nearby Highline State Park is a good option for camping nearby.

Just a few miles further along Interstate 70, you’ll find Loma. This is the trailhead for the legendary Kokopelli Trail, which winds above the Colorado River canyons for 140 miles into Moab Utah.

Rafting through the desert canyons west of Grand Junction is an one of the must-dos for American river-runners. Those seeking a scenic float can spend 2-3 days lazing through Ruby and Horsethief Canyons, while paddlers seeking an adreline rush head straight for the challenging rapids of Westwater Canyon on the Utah side of the border.

These are just a few of the world class outside activities available nearby when you make Grand Junction your headquarters for exploring the landscape of western Colorado.

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Rockport, Massachusetts is another of those places you have probably never heard of, which is exactly the kind of place that makes for an ideal New England getaway weekend. It’s a short,  scenic hour’s drive from Boston.

Rockport’s character is that of a cultural haven within a classic New England seaside village. Interesting, eh? Imagine a picturesque town on a harbor called Sandy Bay at the very tip of a peninsula (Cape Ann) and surrounded on 3 sides by the mighty Atlantic Ocean.

The region, known as the Essex National Heritage Area, includes the surrounding communities of Essex, Glouster and Manchester By the Sea, which share Rockport’s heritage of seafaring and have also held a similar, long-time attraction for artists of all types.

One of the best ways to experience the area is during the annual Trails and Sails Weekend, which is usually held the last weekend in September. Over 150 free programs are offered throughout the area over 3 days.

However, nearly any weekend you may choose to visit, you’ll find entertaining and interesting things to do- the Rockport Chamber Music Festival, free summer concerts, dance performances, art shows, photo exhibits, meet the author events, artisan studio tours, dory races, story telling, recitals, book chats, auctions, winetastings, the Clam Chowdah Festival and much, much more. You’ll also want to visit the lighthouses and beaches of Cape Ann.

When you make this Yankee town your very own hometown for a few days, you’ll have plenty of charming choices for lodging. To immerse yourself in the true spirit of the area, consider the only historic grand hotel in Rockport , where you can rock on the porch looking out over the harbor and dine on fresh seafood much as Ralph Waldo Emerson and his family did long ago.

While you may not be familiar with Pittsfield, you’ve probably heard of The Berkshires and this enigmatic little city sits right in the heart of that famous region. It’s elevation provides expansive views of the Hoosac and Tactonic hills covered with eastern hardwood forests, six lakes, and the powerful Housatonic River.

Like many places in New England Pittsfield’s history is very long and very interesting and chock full of odd characters. The most famous of these is Herman Melville, who wrote Moby Dick at his Arrowhead home. The historic Colonial Revival home of another famous citizen, Thaddeus Clapp, has been restored as a gracious Pittsfield Massachusetts bed and breakfast.

Pittsfield began as an agricultural village, developed with mills and sheep farming and then became a bastion of Northeast industrialism and a playground for wealthy. Now, it prides itself on being a premier cultural resort adorned with beautiful, historic architecture. Ongoing plays, ballets, operas, children’s theater, dances, concerts, galleries, a living history center and the celebrated Berkshire Museum keep residents and tourists engaged and entertained throughout the year.

Newport, Rhode Island is one of those rare places where everything exceeds your expectations!

The town is absolutely over run with opulent mansions. History oozes from every cobblestone and lamp post. All the old buildings and historic sites have been lovingly restored. There truly is water water everywhere - it’s an island - with sleek boats and stunning coastlines in all directions.

There seems to be an exhibition, show, festival, fair, feast, concert, sporting event, story time, re-enactment, party, parade, picnic, play, guided walk, tour, tasting, ball, race or celebration of some kind nearly every day. And many of the most interesting and entertaining ones are inexpensive or free. Check out all the Newport Events here.

You have an astonishing array of lodging from which to choose. During your visit, try a Newport Rhode Island Bed and Breakfast for a taste of the elegance of the Gilded Age and to actually live in the atmosphere and history of of this unique New England Seaport.

You’ll certainly want to try some of the fresh seafood the East Coast is famous for, as well. A good place to start is Bannister’s Wharf, where you’ll find 3 restaurants ranging from casual to fine dining, along with dancing in the Boom Boom Room.

Without a doubt, the most beautiful time of the year in the Hudson Valley of New York State is Autumn, when the weather is ideal and the scenery is breathtaking. The area’s tourism bureau offers several driving itineraries for self-guided Fall foliage tours, although there aren’t many places you can drive where you won’t be awestruck by the stunning display of colors.

These delightful drives can be combined with visits to the region’s many historic sites - the whole area is a National Historic Landmark District - or cultural events, interesting museums and eclectic array of festivals and fairs that will draw your attention and vie for your time.

You can also enjoy this time of year in the Catskills in other, more active ways. Consider a hike on one of the many trails; a kayak trip on the Hudson River, an incredibly scenic horseback ride, a bike tour or a river boat cruise .

New Paltz is one of the most interesting towns in the region, offering a concentrated version of all the best the area has to offer, including a stylish Hudson Valley Bed and Breakfast, a History of New Paltz bike tour , and a cool pick your own pumpkin farm complete with dozens of scarecrows, a corn maze and hayrides.