USA Travel Guide

California has its fair share of big name national parks – Kings Canyon, Sequoia and Yosemite National Park among them. However, there are some lesser-known state parks that offer just as much outdoor adventure (and they’re often less crowded about it). Up in the San Francisco Bay, for instance, where you might expect miles and miles of uppity wine land, you can visit the strikingly beautiful Mount Diablo State Park. In fact, let’s go now!

Mount Diablo State Park is a 20,000-acre public reservation established around, you guessed it, Mount Diablo. The unmistakable “double pyramid” of Mount Diablo is a common sight to Northwestern Californians. If you’re traveling in, though, the mountain range is more than just a Bob Ross painting on your horizon. It’s a choice destination for a little outdoor fun.

A $10 per vehicle fee gets you into Mount Diablo State Park, and from there the options are many. Don’t be ashamed if you, like most visitors, head straight to the summit. A breathtaking view of Mount Hamilton, the Sierra Nevada, San Francisco and even the Golden Gate Bridge await you from the staggering 4,000 foot-high perch. While you’re there, take the chance to visit the Summit Museum, a daily attraction known as much for its impressive stone architecture as its exhibits.

Now that you’ve got that out of your system (and who can blame you), make time for other things to do in Mount Diablo State Park:

• Mary Bowerman Trail – a gentle trail located near the summit, incredible views the whole way round
• Rock City – don’t you have to go for the name alone? Features large rock formations and small caves
• Diablo Valley Overlook – another great vantage on the Golden Gate, spanned by that famous bridge
• Deer Flat – a more challenging 1.6-mile hike that holds the promise of wildlife sightings
• Fossil Ridge – like fossils? If yes, check out Fossil Ridge

The California State Parks Department knows more about Mount Diablo State Park than I ever will, so you can get some finishing information on their Web site. I’m just here to give you that spark!

Well, that and great hotel recommendations. The nearest major city to Mount Diablo is San Francisco, but we actually prefer to stay a little closer in the affluent city of Pleasanton.

Have fun exploring Mount Diablo State Park, one of America’s Parks.

Last year we ran a poll of favorite Spring Break destinations – mountains, golf resorts, big cities, that kind of thing – and the overwhelming winner was beaches. Like turkey on Thanksgiving, I guess there are times when the oldies really are the goldies.

Then again, there are some places you can keep a tradition alive and still do something new. Tell your friends you’re going to North Carolina for Spring Break, and what’s more, you’re still going to the beach, and you might attract a few raised eyebrows. Not to worry, though, you know you made the right decision.

Spring Break Beaches near Wilmington, North Carolina
The call it Cape Fear, but there’s nothing scary about miles of soft sandy beach, old soul attitude and authentic, of-the-land atmosphere. Put more simply, the beaches of North Carolina feel real in way that a lot of resort destinations don’t. Let’s look at our favorites:

• Carolina Beach – Often frenetic during the late Spring Break season, Carolina Beach brings a cosmopolitan energy to Cape Fear that you won’t find anywhere else. Surfers and scuba divers love Carolina Beach, as does anyone who looks for as much personality as things to do.
• Kure Beach – nearby Kure Beach couldn’t be more different from its neighbor. Come to Kure Beach for a calmer, quieter atmosphere ideal for afternoons of relaxation. The main attraction, the Kure Beach Fishing Pier, is a popular choice for anglers any time.
• Wrightsville Beach – And then there’s Wrightsville, our favorite. The quality of the beach itself (the sand and the surf) is unmatched in the area, and the whole coast has a village atmosphere that manages to charm without being stuffy. Sailing is a popular activity near Wrightsville Beach.

You can learn more about beaches in North Carolina and order a free brochure and area guide at http://www.gocapefearcoast.com/

All three of these beaches are within 18 miles of one of our favorite East coast cities, Wilmington, North Carolina. For exciting days of the beach and fulfilling nights back in town, we recommend a stay in Wilmington.

Have a blast on Spring Break 2010 among the beaches of North Carolina.

If yesterday’s pick, Santa Monica Beach, was a little too predictable for your Spring Break beach vacation, maybe you should be thinking East Coast instead. If you can believe it, not all of the East’s top beaches line the coast of Florida. Head towards the southern tip of Virginia and you’ll find the charming bayside community of Hampton Roads, home to quaint Buckroe Beach and massive Virginia Beach.

Buckroe Beach
Though not as famous as nearby Virginia Beach, Buckroe Beach is terrific family destination to compliment any Spring Break in Virginia. The beach is modestly sized (about three-quarter mile), but is in top condition following a recent renovation by the city of Hampton.

In fact, there’s a lot new about Buckroe, which is currently in the middle of a major revitalization project. Top activities include swimming of course, and also picnicking, paddle-boating and fishing off the new pier. You won’t get several days of fun out of Buckroe, but it’s well worth an afternoon. Learn more.

Virginia Beach
The real star of any Virginia Spring Break, Virginia Beach boasts a world-record holding 28 mile-long beach, and with that much room to stretch out, you can bet that it brings every kind of Spring Break crowd. Another cool thing about the area is the city of Virginia Beach itself, which features near-endless entertainment. You can check out the Virginia Aquarium, Virginia Beach Amusement Park, Virginia Zoo, Mount Trashmore, several museums and state parks, the historic boardwalk and, naturally, lots and lots of shopping. Pound for pound, mile for mile, Virginia Beach offers more to love than just about any other beach in the country.

Families, college kids and rumpshakers need certainly apply! Learn more.

Have fun for Spring Break 2010!

Feels like Spring Break snuck up fast this year, but that’s not gonna stop the USA Travel Guide team from rolling out a few top picks for 2010. College students, vacationing families (and anyone else), welcome to Spring Break 2010.

First to the docket: Santa Monica Beach in splendorous Santa Monica, California. It’s the quintessential American beach in a lot of ways. There’s boardwalk entertainment nearby, there’s always a chance to spy a celeb, and most importantly, it’s the very same beach where they filmed “Baywatch”. This beach changed our expectation of beaches forever.

Too much? Alright, let’s just look at all there is to do:

• Santa Monica Beach – the main attraction. Santa Monica Beach is a sizzling scene come Spring Break, with miles of tanned bodies writhing to the same beat. The busier it gets, the crazier the party, so why not add yourself to the mix.
• Nightlife – a lot of people keep the party going late into the night, but you shouldn’t let your close proximity to the L.A. club scene go to waste. Head back to your room, throw on your best, and hit the town.
• Montana Avenue – Spring Break in Santa Monica means sensational shopping. Montana Avenue is the beach scene’s Beverly Hills, sure, but the real star of this stretch is the “dressed down” celebs.
• Santa Monica Pier – the “World Famous” Santa Monica Pier is a must-do for dining and cool afternoon entertainment. Visit Pacific Park, an admission-free amusement park (you pay by the rid featuring a heart-pounding over-the-water rollercoaster.

And don’t forget, Spring Break in Santa Monica can quickly become Spring Break in Los Angeles, Redondo Beach or Malibu. If you’re willing to drive, even San Diego or Enseñada, Mexico are within reach. Make Spring Break 2010 in California one to remember.

Have fun and stay safe for Spring Break 2010!

Okay, maybe it’s a little early for Spring Break in your neck of the woods, but who knows? Maybe it’s senior year and you promised your future-graduate something awesome. Well, unless you’re MacGyver, something awesome requires a bit of planning.

Spring Break vacation in Maui, Hawaii? Now that’s something awesome!

Atlantis Submarine Tour in Maui, Hawaii
We’ve talked about Hawaii’s second-largest a couple times before. From Maui golf vacations to whale watching. Today we’re headed back for our most adventurous pick yet: Atlantis Submarine Tours.

The sub is real, and so is the wonderment. Atlantis Submarines Maui invites you aboard a 48-passenger shallow dive submarine for a nearly two-hour tour of the Maui coast – from the fishes’ point of view! Descending more than 100 ft. below the surface, you’ll explore natural and artificial reefs and all the amazing creatures that call them home.

Fairly new to the tour (2005) is the Carthaginian, a 19^th-century supply vessel replica that Atlantis Submarines intentionally sank to create an additional landscape for the tour. This handsome tall ship, now teeming with life and young reef, proves a highlight of the tour if you can turn off your authenticity filter. As someone who loved that Speed Racer movie, I can do that just fine.

The basic tour runs roughly 105 minutes and costs $89.10 per person online (ages 13 and up). That includes a submarine trip only. Atlantis also offers a few combo packages which include the submarine tour along with other popular Maui attractions: Royal Lahaina Luau, Maui Ocean Center, Maui Tropical Plantation, Hawaii Nature Center, snorkeling and dolphin adventures among the choices.

Explore all of their Maui tour options here.

Whether planning for a Spring Break trip to Maui, or any other kind of trip, what’s most important is that you score your reservations early. Like, right now, if you can. With only 48 seats per trip, they do fill up quick, and it’s not like you can just go back any time.

It’d be a shame to stay anywhere but the beach in Maui, so of course we recommend the Maui Oceanfront Inn, located right on Keawakapu Beach – great for couples, great for families, great for anyone who like soft sand and warm sun. The hotel offers great rates if you stay so many nights, so be sure to look into that. Maui vacation specials here.

Have fun on your Spring Break (or anytime!)

You may not often put Texas and “boardwalk” together in your mind, but fact is Texas has one of the longest coastlines in the continental United States, and gosh darn it we use it. Just a half-hour (or so) car trip out of Houston and you’ll be at Galveston Bay, home to a major cruise ship port and the classic, Coney Island-style fun of Kemah Boardwalk.

Though it opened in 2001, Kemah Boardwalk has got some old school appeal. Flashy carnival rides, midway games, sundry shops with personality to spare, beautiful outlooks over the bay – it’s that perfect combination that seems to charm kids and adults alike.

But don’t get me wrong, this is a modern amusement complex. After all, nothing is more than eight years old, and several attractions come much more recent than that. The theme park draws the biggest crowds. More than 16 rides and attractions are on-site to test your courage, priced either by ride (3-4 bucks) or for unlimited access with a prepaid wristband ($18.99 + tax).

Favorites include Pharaoh’s Fury, a classic swinging ship ride, the Inverter, the only ride that takes you upside down, the Boardwalk Tower, which takes you way high for unforgettable views, and the beautiful two-story carousel. But the favorite, of course, is the Boardwalk Bullet, a high-speed, high-intensity, super-twisted wooden roller coaster. Not only is this the only rollercoaster on the Texas gulf coast, but since the closing of AstroWorld in Houston, it’s the only rollercoaster in the whole region. (Unfortunately, it’s not available with the unlimited ride wristband).

Hopefully the rides don’t churn up your stomach too much, because lunch is definitely on the day’s menu. Kemah Boardwalk has just about everything, although seafood is the decided specialty (and so close to the coast, how could it not be?). It’s a little cheesy, but there’s no doubt that kids love Aquarium, the restaurant walled with floor-to-ceiling aquariums. You can also get wood-fired pizzas, Mexican cuisine, steaks and much more at the various Kemah Boardwalk restaurants.

So you’ve fed the thrill bug and you’ve fed yourself; the only thing left is to hit up the shops. Kemah Boardwalk stays true to its name with real boardwalk-style shopping. That means outrageous shops with stacks of … stuff piled high as the light fixtures. You’ll find plenty of brand names and plenty of not-so-brand names scattered all over the place.

All in all, you’re looking at a full day at Kemah Boardwalk, and I haven’t even mentioned some of the most time consuming attractions like Stingray Reef or the Boardwalk Beast (about to close for the season. We’ll get back to it next spring). For vacationing families or just a one-day getaway, this is a place to check out.

Learn more about Kemah Boardwalk here.

Because it’s a fairly short drive and you can do just about everything in a single day, Kemah Boardwalk makes for a great day trip out of Houston at any time of year. If you live in the area, or even the next time you’re traveling in, consider a visit. For hotels in Houston, we again recommend the Crowne Plaza Houston Downtown Hotel. It’s a great location and property for any kind of Houston trip.

Have fun!

Amusement park season is finally upon us again, so I thought we’d do our own little kickoff with an annual favorite: Busch Gardens Williamsburg.

With loads of yearly awards and commendations to weigh down their metaphorical mantle, including “Most Beautiful Park”, “Best Landscaping”, “Best Food”, awards for management and operations, and rankings on lists for best coasters, rides and live entertainment, I can assure you that we’re not the only ones expounding on the greatness of Busch Gardens Williamsburg. This place is a must for any theme park fan’s bucket list.

Busch Gardens Williamsburg is a combination amusement and animal park not all that different from Anheuser-Busch’s other line of successful parks, SeaWorld, only at the Gardens the focus is much more on thrills than our animal friends. The park, renowned for its memorable décor and quaint beauty, is separated into ten sections, or hamlets, based on six European countries: England, Scotland, Ireland, Italy, Germany and France*. This unique theme gave the park its original name, Busch Gardens: The Old Country.

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By this point, most of the student body has either gone back to class already or is deeply-depressed watching the last few days of their Spring Break slip away from them.  They’re like a small child who lets go of his balloon. Still, there are plenty more with Spring Break yet to come.

Judging by our poll, Spring Break beach vacations are the hands down favorite, so I thought we’d return to our series with something a little different. Consider, won’t you, the beaches of North Carolina.

Name recognition they have not, but buzz they do have, especially in the late Spring Break season when the weather tends to be warmer. The beaches along North Carolina’s Atlantic coast, especially in the Cape Fear region that we like so much, offer miles to explore and are perfect for those who think beaches are for more than music videos. You might be surprised to find vibrant beachfront communities to rival many more famous destinations.

Cape Fear has three major beaches, each of which can do a Spring Break vacation justice:

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Spring Break 2009 has gone for some, is ongoing for others (it’s that time here in Dallas), and for many more is still eagerly-anticipated. As the weeks dwindle we’ll try to throw out a few final ideas for Spring Break. Enjoy!

Spring Break beach getaways have a certain … reputation. Empty kegs, skimpy bikinis, debauchery everywhere you look. Don’t get me wrong, I dig it. But the staff here at USA Travel Guide would like our audience to know that beach-bound families have plenty of options as well.

Due to the price barrier, all-inclusive resorts in Mexico or the Caribbean tend to keep the college crowd away, so if you’ve got the scratch, have at it. However, you can also find beaches here in the States that manage to provide plenty of springtime fun without succumbing to MTV-ism. The tranquil resort beach of Singer Island, Florida is a prime example.

With the smooth, soft beachfront of Singer Island lined with upscale resorts and private accommodations, this is no college hangout. That makes it all the better for those with elementary-to-middle school children planning to hit the beach this year for Spring Break.

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You know what? Forget about the kids! They’re snotty and bratty and ruin all the fun, anyway. Why not throw together a few days of PTO and enjoy your own Spring Break vacation in Mexico. Better yet, why not make it Los Cabos!

Our most indulgent selection for Spring Break 2009 (and by a good margin), the Hilton Los Cabos Beach and Golf Resort exudes the palatial opulence and sublime hospitality that these world-class destination resorts are known for, and for the next couple of months they’re doing it more affordably than ever.

Make no mistake: this is not a college party resort. Even with great seasonal deals, this isn’t the kind of place you go after two or three months of ramen noodles. But that works in your favor, because despite the season you can still experience the Mexican Riviera in all its tranquil majesty.

Of course, this is a five-star resort, so there’s plenty more to explore.

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