USA Travel Guide

There’s nothing sadder than a golfer with frozen balls. Grab your clubs and head some place warm for the winter, some place where the bright green beauty of summer never goes out of style, some place like Cocoa Beach, Florida on the Space Coast.

The golf courses of Cocoa Beach and surrounding areas welcome golfers novice-to-pro for serene and scenic outings at any time of year. What’s more, the average green fees aren’t as pricey as you’ll find even a little bit south near the Palm Beaches or Miami. For Florida golf vacations, winter or summer, it really can’t be beat.

Here are a few favorite Cocoa Beach golf courses:

Cocoa Beach Country Club
5000 Tom Warriner Boulevard
Cocoa Beach, FL 32931
321-868-3361 | Web site

Beset on all sides by the inky blue Banana River, the Cocoa Beach Country Club provides some of the best aerials in the industry. It also provides a great game of golf. A trio of 9-hole courses challenge your long game and twitch skills as sand and water hazards wraps their way into nearly every hole. If you time it right, you can even see a shuttle take to the sky from Cape Canaveral.

Favorite Course: River Course

Viera East Golf Club
2300 Clubhouse Drive
Viera, FL 32955
321-639-6500 | Web site

The smooth, beguiling slopes of the Viera East’s 18 holes hide a subtle challenge that seems to reward more experienced players. Designed by architect Jon Lee, Viera East offers equals chances to power through the ball and hone that chip shot. The game proceeds well over 18 holes, the design growing only more robust as you reach the latter half of the course. Spotted with towering palms, Viera East offers a fresh and, most importantly, fun game of golf.

Turtle Creek Golf Club
1279 Admiralty Boulevard
Rockledge, FL 32955
321-632-2520 | Web site

Few golf courses in Florida offer more varied play than the 18-hole course at Turtle Creek Golf Club. Unlike the others, the course at Turtle Creek is heavily wooded, winding tirelessly – dogleg after dogleg – through dense clusters of trees stemmed only by amoeboid water hazards. Counting your wedges, you could have 10-12 irons in your bag. Turtle Creek finally gives you a chance to use them.

Stay and Play
There are just three of our favorites. There are dozens more golf courses in Cocoa Beach and the Space Coast, courses attuned to every level of play and right for every budget. (But really, start with these three, and we’re sure you’ll be satisfied.)

Heading in? One of our favorite Cocoa Beach hotels is the Holiday Inn Cocoa Beach Oceanfront Resort. This surprisingly affordable property is located just minutes from the Cocoa Beach Country Club, and just a few miles more to our other suggestions. Plus, if you don’t get enough sun out on the course, you can walk to the beach.

Have fun golfing the Space Coast!

Here in Dallas we just enjoyed a nice shorts-worthy weekend, but in most of the country temperature dials are headed south. As it happens, so are a whole lot of people.

They’re called “snowbirds”, folk who flock to warmer climates before the winter woes have a chance to set in. They head to Georgia, Florida and the Keys, the Caribbean, maybe even Hawaii if they’ve got the scratch. One place they’ve begun to head more and more is the Mississippi Gulf Coast, now experiencing a welcome revival after years recuperating from the terrible hurricane season of 2005.

And why not? The Mississippi Gulf Coast is beautiful, offers every bit as much to do as Florida or the islands, and often does it for a lot less. If you’re browsing snowbird winter rentals for December on into 2010, consider the Gulf Coast and our particular recommendation, Biloxi, Mississippi.

Snowbird Vacations in Biloxi, Mississippi
You’ll have no trouble finding what you’re looking for: a cozy condo with easy access to the all the entertainment of the region. Something ideal for a month or two, or even just a couple of weeks to help brighten up a long winter.

Just what entertainment can you expect to find? For starters, Biloxi has you Florida fans covered with pristine golf courses (several award-winning) and close access to the beach for everything from deep-sea charter fishing to leisure cruises. For a different kind of fun on the water, Biloxi’s magnificent casinos welcome players 24 hours a day (we’re partial to the Beau Rivage).

Shopping is another major draw to the Biloxi-Gulfport region. You’ll find shops, boutiques, malls and centers at every price level, including the humongous Prime Outlets of Gulfport. Just make sure you pack a way to get it all home when you travel in.

Where to stay? For snowbird winter rentals in Biloxi, Mississippi, we like the Ocean Club at Biloxi. The Ocean Club offers full-featured Mississippi Gulf Coast vacation rentals for extended stays just minutes from the ocean, golf, casinos, shopping, and just about everything else. They cater to snowbirds, too, which you can read more about here.

Escape the cold this winter with a snowbird vacation to Biloxi, Mississippi. Have fun!

Forget about that old country club course you’ve played a few hundred times over. Have yourself a summer golf vacation and do it big in the most beautiful place on Earth: Maui.

Voted “Best Island in the World” by Condé Nast Traveler an incredible 14 times, Maui is one of the top vacation destinations for a lot of reasons, and championship golf is one of them. The island boasts 15 courses by master architects Robert Trent Jones Sr., Arthur Jack Snyder, Colin Cameron, the legendary Arnold Palmer and others.

Despite the prestige of the location, reserving a tee time is never a hassle. Let’s look at a few must-plays: 

• Royal Kā’anapali Course – Quintessential Hawaii. This Jones Sr.-designed course has defined the Maui golf experience for over 40 years. It’s even played its way into the hearts of mainland golfers as the site over numerous PGA events since 1963. After a tricky fourth hole, ranked one of the toughest on the island, the course rewards you with a fifth hole on the beachfront. Just don’t get too distracted by the lounging beach babes. www.kaanapaligolfresort.com
• The Plantation Course – Kapalua Resort’s Plantation Course touts 4.5 stars from Golf Digest, and it earned them with just the right blend of challenge, fun and visual bliss. Designers Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw built the Plantation Course around the 18^th hole, a massive 663-yard par five that always caps off the day with a bit of grandeur. www.kapalua.com
• Wailea Old Blue Course – Story goes that tournament officials have had to get on to professional players several times for holding up the proceedings. Every time, they’ve been caught gazing into the beautiful blue Pacific. While it’s not our favorite course on the Island, there may not be a more beautiful place to golf anywhere in the world. Old Blue is a forgiving Par 72. www.waileagolf.com

These are just three of the spectacular courses that Maui has to offer. For more information about them, and all the others, the Maui visitor’s guide has put together an extensive brochure. Check that out here.

They’ve also got reviews of all the resort restaurants, so don’t waste your money on fuddy club grub. See them here.

We love golfing in Maui, but the resort prices can certainly run away from you, especially if you want to “play the field” as it were. That’s why we stay affordably at the Days Inn Maui Oceanfront Inn. No regular Days Inn, the Maui Oceanfront offers resort ambiance at leisure prices, especially if you taken advantage of their rotating specials. There are three Robert Jones courses nearby as well.

Have fun!

I don’t know if there’s a place in this country USA Travel Guide has raved about more than San Diego. Incredible attractions, variety to spare, good deals everywhere you turn and, of course, sublime weather – there’s just a lot to brag about. Yet, we have gone all this time without so much as mentioning that sassy little town within town: La Jolla.

We’re righting that wrong right now, because La Jolla is the place to be. And not just because it’s home to disgraced Miss California Carrie Prejean.

La Jolla is a higher-end beach community located within San Diego, California. It’s much larger than a neighborhood, with retail, dining, entertainment and even services to functionally self-subsist, but it is still technically a part of larger San Diego and not its own city. The area is defined by expensive houses, governed communities, upscale shops and dining, the presence of the University of California San Diego (UCSD) and the preponderance of biotech companies.

Like the rest of San Diego and much of Southern California, La Jolla is known for immaculate beaches. If you’ve got a summer beach vacation on the brain, La Jolla should top your list. There are two I have to mention: 

• Windansea Beach - If you dig the scene, this won’t be news, but Windansea Beach is one of the top surfing spots in California. The beach is as well known for its iconic history as its clean, dependable breaks. Several professional surfers have called the area home over the years.
• Black’s Beach – Another intense surf destination actually, but that’s not why it’s notorious. Black’s is effectively a nude beach. Though prohibited within city limits, a little less than a mile of beach is located in a nude-allowed State Park. Because enforcing the difference is an unrewarding hassle, the nudes more or less own the place. Just thought it deserved mention.

La Jolla is also home to the famous Torrey Pines Golf Course, a city-owned course so popular that eager golfers will wait in line overnight to get a Saturday morning tee off. Sounds nuts to me, but I don’t play a lot of golf.

Attractions abound in La Jolla. Whether it’s you and a spouse, family, or groups of friends, there will be plenty for everyone. Favorites include: 

• Birch Aquarium
• Mount Soledad
• The Cave Store
• The Gliderport
• Museum of Contemporary Art
• La Jolla Cave
• Shopping at The Village
• Trips to San Diego

For hotels in La Jolla, San Diego, we like the Hotel La Jolla at the Shores. It’s a charming boutique property, not too big, and it fits the vibe of La Jolla to a T. Take advantage of the in-room spa service for a particularly posh vacation.

Have fun!

That’s it! It’s summer, there’s a plague going around, it’s the economic End Times, Kendra got her own show on E! – it’s time to get out of this country!

And what better place than the shimmering coast of the Mexican Baja? Awash in opulent radiance (and far from that pesky flu virus), the Los Cabos corridor between Cabo San Lucas and San Jose Del Cabo is a year-round vacation destination of utter magnificence, and with the Mexico travel industry still on crutches, you can score affordable luxuries like never before.

Once again we recommend the Hilton Los Cabos Beach & Golf Resort, a testament to five-star, four-diamond perfection set against the only swim-safe beach in the whole corridor. Whatever your thrill, be it ultimate relaxation, outdoor adventure, or anything in between, the Hilton Los Cabos delivers with ease, class and total satisfaction. And no, they didn’t pay me to say that!

This is a luxury Mexico getaway the way you’ve always imagined it. Palatial suites with balconies overlooking the vibrant azure ocean, sparkling pools that seem to blend with the horizon, gourmet cuisine in almost too-precious presentations, indulgent spa treatments, tennis lessons in the afternoons, evenings on the beach – it’s as excessive (and lovely) as you’ve heard.

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Let’s change directions a little. I’ve been so busy blabbing away about country music, pirates and, well, Alaska, that I’ve lost sight of what’s really important at this time of year: summer beach vacations!

But no more! Spring Break is only two months in the past, and we hear the beach call our names once again. Rather than return to one of our old haunts, I thought I’d give you something new: Maui, or more specifically, Keawakapu Beach in Maui.

Pack your suit, buy some fresh sunscreen and for heaven’s sake don’t forget your camera, it’s time for a fabulous summer beach vacation in Maui. The second-largest of the Hawaiian Islands, Maui is a year-round destination for beachfront vacations, especially for U.S. travelers (Oahu and the Big Island attract a more international clientele, don’t you know). Leisure entertainment is unlimited, of course, but the best known Maui attractions are the black sand beaches, Haleakal­ā National Park, whale watching, island cruises and shopping at Lāhainā.

Let’s learn a little about the popular things to do in Maui:

• Beachfront Activities: The largest category by far, the beaches of Maui offer days of entertainment – swimming, tanning, volleyball, snorkeling, scuba diving, surfing, body boarding, kayaking, fishing – the list could go on. Oh yeah, the water is around 75-80 degrees all the time. It’s, like, not even fair.
• Maui Golfing: Until you’ve been golfing on a volcanic island with the sound of the coast crashing in the background, it’s debatable whether you’ve ever truly been golfing at all. Famous designer Robert Trent Jones has three championship courses on the island.
• Iao State Park: Incredible walking trails define this inner-island park, best known for the impressive 1200-foot “Iao Needle”, a sharp rock pinnacle. (more)
• Atlantis Submarine Tours: The terrestrial beauty of Hawaii is nothing compared to the aquatic paradise beneath. Travel 100 feet below the surface in a very real submarine for this unforgettable tour. (more)
• Feast of Lele: Even professional curmudgeon Anthony Bourdain couldn’t resist the charm of this tourist-friendly Luau, basically a Maui-must. (more)
• Lāhainā: This sort-of-city offers plenty, but is most popular among tourists for the shops and activities along the wharf.

Where to stay? Options abound, of course, but we’ve fallen in love with Keawakapu Beach. The views are breathtaking, the beach is wide and clean, the water is luxurious and because it’s a few miles out from Lāhainā, it’s not as crowded as the major beaches.

And let’s face it, if you’re doing this right, you shouldn’t be spending a whole lot of time in the room, so while we encourage you to stay comfortably, we also suggest doing so affordably. We like the Best Western Maui Oceanfront Inn, featuring villa-style accommodations and oceanfront suites that sleep up to four, so you can bring the kids (or not). Many rooms are located only 100 feet from the water, and if you keep an eye on the Maui vacation deals, you can score a surprisingly reasonable price.

What more can I say? It’s freakin’ Maui! Get out there and have a great summer beach vacation in Maui.

Some might find those coastal Virginia mornings still a bit cool for comfort this time of year, but as the highs continue to rise, golfers on the east coast finally stir from their winter slumber and hit the links once more in Williamsburg. And ah, it feels good to be back!

Whatever it lacks in name recognition, Williamsburg makes up for in scenic, well-architected courses that favor the quality of the game and have the official commendations to back them up. Golf Williamsburg is a collection of 15 four star and above-rated championship-style Williamsburg golf courses, and with maps, directions, course information and even packages, it’s the only resource for golfing in Williamsburg, Virginia that you need.

(Did I just write myself out of my own blog?)

We can, however, recommend some worthwhile options:

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I gave you beaches, mountains, adventure, and a little bit of everything else. Yet, I still managed to overlook one of the biggest Spring Break activities of all: golf.

Whether it’s college friends, fathers and sons, or even whole families, more and more people are spending their week away from the real world out on the fairway, and with inviting, affordable golf destinations like Phoenix, Arizona to choose, it’s no wonder why? Let’s take a closer look.

(With considerable help from our previous article on Phoenix golf vacations. Forgive the laziness. I’ve written so much about Spring Break now that I think my mind is already there.)

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Trolling over the archives I realized that we hadn’t done much lately for the golfers in the audience, and with the temperatures warming up quickly over the next couple of months, not to mention Spring Break just around the corner, the time seemed right.

Since the temperature likes to hover above one hundred degrees in the summer, right now is an especially good time to be thinking about a Phoenix, Arizona golf vacation. It’s no secret: Phoenix is the golf capital of the southwest, and it’s with good reason. The low humidity and limited, reasonably predictable precipitation leaves the maintenance of the many, many Phoenix golf courses in the hands of the experts, in other words, the owners.

The architects have taken this freedom and gone buck wild. Phoenix is an excellent destination for golfers who like a long game. The wide open spaces of the Sonoran Desert, an elevated desert as beautiful as it is unique, allow for larger, longer courses than you find in the more compact golf destinations of Florida, Virginia and Southern California. If you’re used to playing on a 6,000-yard course, you’ll want to start your morning with some stretches because many Phoenix, Arizona golf courses top 7,000 yards easy.

Like any top golf destination, the highest-rated courses are resort courses and they’ve got the price tag to match the prestige. If money’s no issue, check out the Troon North Golf Club, the Phoenician Golf Club, or The Boulders. This celebrated trio gets a lot of play from tour professionals, and indeed they are stunners, but they can also run over $200 a round, which is a little much for us professional bloggers.

Don’t fret, however. One of the great things about Phoenix is that by sheer saturation (there are over 200 Phoenix area golf courses) you can find a top-notch course that’s also competitively priced. These aren’t “budget” courses, but you can typically play them for well under $100. Here’s a few of our favorites: 

• Ahwatukee Country Club
• Hillcrest Golf Club
• Stonecreek Golf Club
• Encanto Golf Club (best value!)

Golf rates in Phoenix dip in the summer, but you’ll want to keep the temperatures in mind. Once it tops out at 105 to 110, it’s gone past the point of discomfort and can even be dangerous. We recommend playing in the fall, winter or spring, but should you play in the summer, be sure to wear sunscreen, drink plenty of water and for goodness’ sake don’t dilly-dally.

Two recommendations today, both located in the beautiful North Phoenix area near Paradise Valley and both quite new.

Expected to make a pretty big mark among Phoenix area hotels is the Courtyard Phoenix North/Happy Valley. Take advantage of the new hotel shine: state-of-the-art amenities, resort-style pool, free Internet – the works!

For business trips or longer Phoenix golf vacations, the Residence Inn Phoenix North/Happy Valley boasts itself one of the best extended stay hotels in Phoenix, Arizona. The suites feature full kitchens, stove, dishwasher and all, so if you don’t mind feeding yourself, you can save that much more for your course selection.

Get out there and get golfing!

Snowbird [snoh-burd] – Informal: a person who vacations in or moves to a warmer climate during cold weather.

Sure enough, our winged friends aren’t the only ones who head south for the winter. Leisure migration in the wintertime is big business in places like Georgia, Florida, the Keys and the Caribbean, which is probably why season rates in many of these destinations have come to be so overblown.

There is, however, another option springing back to life just now: the Gulf Coast, and specifically Biloxi, Mississippi. After three hard years of reconstruction and recuperation following the bitter hurricane season of 2005, the Gulf Coast is brimming with life and living opportunity, making it an ideal and relatively inexpensive choice for snowbirds and all wintertime vacationers looking for a little warmth this season.

For one thing, Biloxi has it all, probably even more than most Florida destinations. Along with the requisite beaches and golf courses that most snowbirds are looking for, Biloxi offers leisure gaming at numerous world-class casinos, deep sea sport fishing, museums, a beautiful arboretum and a number of humongous shopping destinations. Not only will you find a good deal on these attractions, you’ll be helping out businesses in a struggling travel market that deserves to survive. It’s a win-win all around.

But where to stay? For extended stays in Biloxi, I always look to the Ocean Club at Biloxi. One of the most attractive Gulf Coast vacation rentals, the Ocean Club provides extensive resort-style amenities including full-kitchens with appliances, in-room laundry units, pool house and swift access to the sandy white beach. Obviously, as beachfront condo rentals, you’ll be paying more than day-to-day rates, but you can expect far more reasonable rates compared to like resorts in Florida or the Caribbean.

Ocean Club image used with permission.