USA Travel Guide

Can’t call a night in town a getaway no matter where you spend it? Well, then get outta town. Get way outta town. Make this Valentine’s Day something special with a romantic getaway to the Texas Hill Country and the Canyon of the Eagles Resort.

Valentine’s Day Getaways in Texas – Canyon of the Eagles
Nestled against Lake Buchanan in the heart of its own 940-acre nature park, Canyon of the Eagles is a hearty Texas vacation destination that’s ideal for romance. Serene, tranquil, secluded – there’s no better chance to enjoy nature and enjoy each others’ company.

Because it’s in the middle of nowhere (about one and a half hours from Austin by car), Canyon of the Eagles is blessed with one out-of-this-world attraction: the stars! Share an evening admiring the full beauty of the night sky, possibly like you’ve never seen it before. There’s also the package:

Valentine’s Romance Package
Canyon of the Eagles also knows a thing about cozy contentment. Highlight your Texas romantic getaway with this Valentine’s Day package:

• Overnight accommodations
• Special Valentine’s dinner for two (view menu)
• Hot breakfast in the morning
• Chocolate covered strawberries in room
• Bottle of wine in room
• A long stem rose at dinner

You can also stay an extra night for cheap. Learn more about Valentine’s Day getaways in Texas.

Don’t sell your Valentine’s Day short. Make it something memorable with a trip to Canyon of the Eagles in the Texas Hill Country. Have fun!

For more V-Day ideas, visit our Valentine’s Getaways & Packages Portal.

I’ve been playing favesies with the coasts the last few days, but wouldn’t you rather celebrate Valentine’s Day in the Heartland (come on, Hallmark, you know you want a piece of this). So this morning we’re heading way inland to the oft enlightening and always surprising Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Valentine’s Day Packages in Tulsa, Oklahoma
A southwestern city with uptown ambitions, we like Tulsa, Oklahoma a lot. Like nowhere else in the state (that we’ve found, at least), art, culture and fine dining come together in Tulsa and give the whole scene an unexpected cosmopolitan flavor. Stay right, and you can live it and love it yourself.

The Mayo Hotel
Why not a little boutique luxury to celebrate this Valentine’s Day in Tulsa. The Mayo Hotel first opened all the way back in 1925, at which time it was the place for the affluent socialite crowd. More than 80 years later, the Mayo has been beautifully restored to its historic glory. A wonderful stay any time, a downright fabulous choice for Valentine’s Day. The package:

Valentine’s Day at The Mayo Hotel
Celebrate Tulsa, Oklahoma Valentine’s Day:

• Luxury accommodations
• Dozen red roses
• Champagne
• Complimentary Valet Parking
• Optional: Add a $100 dining credit to Trula

Learn more about the The Mayo Hotel Valentine’s Day package.

Hilton Tulsa Southern Hills
Sure, you can read up on things to do for Valentine’s Day in Tulsa, OK, or you can just let the Hilton Tulsa Southern Hills take care of everything for you. The always-inviting and newly renovated Hilton Tulsa Hotel has got your whole night planned:

Valentine’s Day – Package Two
I don’t know why this is number two. It’s far cooler than number one.

• Overnight accommodations
• Tickets to see Kris Kristofferson at the Mabee Center
• Shuttle to concert, VIP entry to the Mabee Center
• Dinner for two at Legends Grill
• Full American breakfast for two at Legends Grill

Valentine’s Day – Package One
Because hey, Kris Kristofferson isn’t for everybody:

• Special Valentine’s dinner for two at Legends Grill
• Red rose for ladies upon arrival
• Full American breakfast for two in Legends Grill

Learn more about these Valentine’s Day packages at Hilton Tulsa here.

Have a fantastic Valentine’s Day!

Tulsa not convenient? Well, maybe one of our other selections is. Head to the Valentine’s Day Getaways & Packages portal to see all of our coverage.

For iconic American romance, Manhattan is pretty hard to top. Sharing your first Broadway Show, ice skating at Rockefeller Center, carriage rides in Central Park, maybe even buying that perfect Valentine’s Day gift on Fifth Avenue … and the restaurants. Oh, man, the restaurants!

Valentine’s Day Packages in New York City
Celebrate Valentine’s Day in New York City with a fabulous meal and a fabulous stay. With hundreds of hotels and thousands of restaurants fit for every possible budget, the sky’s the limit, but we do have a suggestion:

Crowne Plaza Times Square Manhattan
Situated on Broadway and just steps from Times Square, the Crowne Plaza reaches well above brand to become one of the best hotels in Times Square. Thanks to their Romantic Escape package, it’s also one of the best New York City Valentine’s Day hotels.

Romantic Escape Package
Classic accoutrements in this classic city:

• Overnight accommodations
• 1 bottle of sparkling wine per stay
• 1 bouquet of flowers per stay
• 1 box of Godiva truffles per stay

Learn about New York City Valentine’s Day.

Whether you stay at the hotel or not, you might consider eating there. On-site fine dining restaurant Brasserie 1605 is hosting an exclusive Valentine’s Day prix fixe dinner. Personally, I was sold at “Tarragon Basted Lobster Tail”, but by all means view the menu.

You’ll want to get your reservations soon. Have a remarkable Valentine’s Day in New York City!

Want more Valentine’s Day packages and hotels? Head to our Valentine’s Day Getaways and Packages portal.

Hard to believe the 2010 BB&T Charleston Food + Wine Festival is almost upon us. Feels like we’re still reeling from last year’s smorgasbord of Lowcountry opulence. Magnificent meals, tasty tidbits, luscious libations, celebrity sightings, it’s not quite the same as your local “Taste of…”

The Charleston Food + Wine Festival has fast become a major foodie event on America’s culinary calendar. Attendees come from all over the nation, as do award-winning and celebrity chefs of both local and global acclaim.

What’s so different about Charleston? For one thing, the festival, like the city itself, caters very well both up and down. Food festival mainstays like cooking demonstrations and general tasting tents are joined by high-end extravagances like private dinners in the home of an acclaimed chef.

Add on a tremendous wine program and the whole 3-day event takes on a gourmand sensibility. You don’t just go to get stuffed – you go to celebrate food and eating.

As before, the 2010 Charleston Food + Wine Festival is built around the Culinary Village at Marion Square. Here you’ll find endless delights under the Grand Tasting Tents, celebrity cooking demos, book signings, cooking competitions, charity auctions, live music and a chance to meet any number of incredible chefs.

The festival has always touted big guests, and this year they’re rolling out a platter of Top Chef favorites: Brian Malarkey, Eli Kirshtein, Kevin Gillespie and Richard Blaise. Also on the docket are the Food Network’s Tyler Florence and all-round super chef Daniel Boulud. (Eating at his namesake restaurant in NYC is on my bucket list. Yes, even travel writers have bucket lists).

On the luxury end of the Festival, you can purchase tickets for the Red, White and Lowcountry SpiritLine Cruise, a relaxing cruise of Charleston Harbor flavored with delicious wine pairings. The Bubbles and Sweets Soiree makes a good Saturday night party, a good follow-up, in fact, to the Craft Beer Dinner. Events can sell out quickly and early, so look into the schedule and buy up soon.

The 2010 BB&T Charleston Food + Wine Festival will be hosted March 4-7, 2010, primarily at Marion Square but really all around Charleston. Learn more and buy tickets here.

Save on Your Tickets – A Charleston Food + Wine Festival Hotel
One of our favorite Charleston hotels, the Mills House, is offering two package options featuring luxury accommodations (the rooms really are wonderful), breakfast each day, and tickets to the Charleston Food + Wine Festival.

• Wine & Food Connoisseur Package – the higher-end package includes tasting tent tickets and tickets to Saturday’s Bubbles & Sweets party (hard to come by).
• Wine & Food Gourmet Package – this more affordable package sticks to the general festival tickets, but try not to have a fabulous time!

View the Charleston Food + Wine Festival hotel packages here.

Have a delicious time!

We usually play up San Diego as a top family destination (which it is), but you couples have just as much to love. A sunset walk on the beach, dinner at some restaurant you saw on the Food Network, a balcony room overlooking the bay – you can put together the perfect night pretty easily.

(And remember, you can find more Valentine’s Day hotels here.)

Valentine’s Day Packages in San Diego, California
Whether rekindling the fire or lighting one anew, make your Valentine’s Day in San Diego, California all the spark-ier with these hotels and packages.

Holiday Inn San Diego Hotel on the Bay
There’s lots to love about this hotel, but the thing I can’t stress enough is the sublime location. It’s situated on North Harbor Drive right on the Bay – from a high-level balcony you can see forever. Just seconds to the coast, minutes to the Midway Museum and the Gaslamp Quarter, effortless from the Airport, really just perfect. Plus, they have a Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse on-site, if you’re willing to have a manly Valentine’s Day dinner (I’d get reservations early).

Romantic Escape Package
A few classics plus one of those balconies we we’re just talking about:

• Accommodations with furnished balcony
• One bottle of sparkling white wine
• One bouquet of flowers
• One box of chocolates

Learn about this Valentine’s Day package here.

Doubletree Hotel San Diego Downtown
Another high-rise hotel, the Doubletree is located downtown, convenient to many of the most famous San Diego attractions and several stellar restaurants. The refined, upscale sensibility of Doubletree is perfect for Valentine’s Day, and a nice package to go with only makes it sweeter.

Sweet Romance Getaway
This is a year-round package, but we’ll try not to hold that against it:

• Deluxe accommodations
• Sparkling wine
• Full breakfast in the morning
• Early check-in, late check-out (by request only)

Learn about this Valentine’s Day package here.

San Diego not really convenient for you? Don’t worry! Our coverage continues to grow. View all of our stories at the Valentine’s Day Getaways and Packages portal.

I guess our first post was a bit of a fake-out, but this time we’re doing D.C. for real. For all of our Valentine’s Day coverage, head here.

However we may feel at times about the people who work in its most famous buildings, Washington D.C. really is a romantic dream come true. The stunning Roman architecture, the world-class dining, the history – there’s plenty of romance to find for those looking, and that’s why Valentine’s Day in Washington D.C. is always  a good idea.

Valentine’s Day Packages in Washington D.C.
We’re sending you to a historic hotel on the edge of Capitol Hill, just a moment’s walk from some of the most scenic beauty in the city.

Phoenix Park Hotel
An icon in itself, the history of the Phoenix Park hotel stretches back to 1922 when it was frequented by tourists, diplomats and congressmen just as it is today. Phoenix Park’s luxury rooms are finished in grand detail, from authentic Irish linens to glittering chandeliers. They’re also offering a Washington D.C. Valentine’s Day deal:

Date Night Package
It’s nice to see such a full-featured package:

• Deluxe accommodations for 2
• Bottle of wine
• Fruit and cheese tray for 2
• $50 credit for dinner in the Dubliner (on-site)
• American breakfast for 2
• Free parking
• Free Internet
• Late check-out (3:00 p.m.)

Learn more about this Valentine’s Day packages here.

Again, you can find all of our past coverage on the growing Valentine’s Day Getaways Portal.

Valentine’s Day will be fast upon us, and that means it’s time again for USA Travel Guide to scrounge through its favorite hotels and pull out some terrific Valentine’s Day packages and deals in your area. Read on for today’s post, or head to our Valentine’s Day Getaways page for all the coverage.

Valentine’s Day Packages in Alexandria, Virginia
Situated just minutes from the heart of Washington D.C. is one of the east coast’s most dynamic cities. Alexandria, Virginia is progressive, modern, quaint and historic all at the same time, though never confused or incongruous. Put simply, this is a town that works. It’s also a town with fabulous restaurants, charming scenery and plenty for romantic couples to do. Valentine’s Day getaways to Alexandria are always worth the drive.

We’ve got a couple hotels and a few Valentine’s Day packages to mention:

Crowne Plaza Old Town Alexandria Hotel
Our more upscale recommendation, the Crowne Plaza Old Town is located near Alexandria’s historic district and has recently undergone a major renovation. The rooms and suites, including Alexandria’s only Presidential Suite, provide effortless comfort for a romantic escape. Their Valentine’s Day packages aren’t half bad either:

Occidental Valentine
This package includes dinner for two at the acclaimed Occidental restaurant in Washington D.C. Of any of our Alexandria Valentine’s Day deals, this is the one I’d choose:

• Price fixe dinner for two at Occidental
• Town car transportation to restaurant
• Dozen roses in a vase
• Chocolates
• Buffet breakfast for two

Sweetheart Escape
This similar package leaves your dinner plans open:

• Dozen roses in a vase
• Chocolates
• Buffet breakfast for two

Learn more about the Crowne Plaza Valentine’s Day packages here.

Holiday Inn Alexandria Hotel – Historic District
Also renovated and just moments from Old Town, the Holiday Inn Alexandria Hotel – Historic District makes for an affordable stay that’s, well, only as restful as you want it to be. Especially with their deals:

Heart to Heart Package
I think they offer this package year-round, but it makes a perfectly good Alexandria Valentine’s deal, so let’s go for it:

• Overnight accommodations
• Champagne upon arrival
• Breakfast for two people each day
• One in-room movie per day
• 2:00 p.m. late check-out

Learn more about the Holiday Inn Valentine’s Day packages here.

Make the most of this Valentine’s Day with a getaway to beautiful Alexandria, Virginia, or find a deal closer to home on our ever-growing portal. Have fun!

While Napa Valley drinks in all the acclaim – to say nothing of film and TV cred – nearby Livermore Valley continues to grow both in abundance and prestige. Forgiving the fact that wine grapes have been grown in this distinct graveled valley every bit as long as in Napa, the days of calling the latter “California’s Wine Country” may soon be over. The next time you’re in Northern California, take the chance to visit Livermore Valley Wine Country.

Thirty miles east of San Francisco, and less than fifteen from Pleasanton, you’ll find a robust ten by fifteen mile valley tucked into the floating shadows of the costal foothills. In this valley, as with so many others, they’re all about wine.

In fact, Livermore Valley is a formative wine-growing region of California. The first grapes were planted by Spanish missionaries as far back as the 1760s, and commercial production started in the 1840s.

But early adoption isn’t the only claim to fame. America’s first international gold medal for wine, won in Paris in 1889, was awarded on the quality of a Livermore wine.  Growers from Livermore Valley also bottled America’s first Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and the unctuous Petite Sirah.

Not so much on the history and just looking to do some classy boozing? You’re in luck in Livermore. Today the valley is home to more than 40 vineyards and wineries, almost all of which host tasting rooms, several of them free. The official Livermore Valley Wine Country Web site is your best resource for winery information including addresses, hours, prices and wines produced.

We would like to make a few suggestions, though:

• Wente Vineyards – the nation’s oldest, continuously operated family-owned winery and also the largest producer in Livermore. Wente is a perfect last stop, because nothing expresses the wine country experience better than dinner at Wente’s fabulous and locally sourced restaurant.
• Concannon Vineyard – pioneers of the world’s first Petite Sirah and California’s first Bordeaux, Concannon is Livermore’s second-largest grower today. Just as the wines play beautifully across your palate, the rustic and historic grounds of the Vineyard provide a beauty all their own.
• White Crane Winery – no historical significance, no centuries-old estate, just good award-winning wine. White Crane Winery actually overlooks the valley from Crane Ridge, a subtle geographic advantage that reveals itself in the glass.

The location of the Livermore Valley Wine Country is always dictated relative to San Francisco, but we actually recommend staying even closer in the upscale suburb of Pleasanton, California, just 10-15 miles from the wineries of Livermore Valley. Among Pleasanton hotels, we like the Hilton Pleasanton at the Club. Don’t forget to check out their specials.

Have fun!

When we wrote about Rawhide Western Town nearly a year ago now, they called it Rawhide at Wild Horse Pass, and their sign was a fair bit more charming, too. But changing the name doesn’t change the fact that Rawhide is still a fun afternoon excursion for anyone in the Phoenix area. So happens it’s also a great place to rustle up some unusual holiday entertainment.

Holiday Events at Rawhide Western Town
Put yourself in the moment. Horses tied to a splintered old post, dusty saloon door swinging in the breeze, a raggy jingle slinking its way up and down the piano. You hear raised voices in the bar, just on the edge of a brawl, then the sudden clink of spurs behind you. The sheriff walks up slow, a wizened calm exuding through the sun-burnt wrinkles on his face. Welcome to the Wild West!

Maybe you’re thinking John Wayne, maybe Clint Eastwood, or maybe you’re like me and you’re thinking Firefly. Either way, live the spirit of the Wild West, without the hassle of a ruthless untimely death, at Rawhide Western Town & Steakhouse near Phoenix, Arizona.

This free-to-enter entertainment destination offers Wild West-themed amusements aplenty – costumed actors, mechanical bull riding, authentic stagecoach rides, shooting galleries, and themed shows packed with trick roping, gun twirling, horse-riding and, of course, dude shooting.

That’s just a selection, because what we’re really here to talk about (said the blogger five paragraphs in) is the special Thanksgiving and holiday attractions at Rawhide. For Thanksgiving, the delicious Rawhide Steakhouse is featuring a special menu loaded with all your favorites – butter basted turkey, honey-lime glazed ham, country sausage and corn bread stuffing and green bean casserole. Because it’s Rawhide, you can also get a succulent prime rib. Learn more.

Head back just a week later for the start of Rawhide’s “Cowboy Christmas”. Beginning December 3, Rawhide Western Town will take on an uncharacteristic red and green glow as the spirit of the season takes over Main Street. New holiday shows will play at both theatres, and every evening will kick-off in festive glamour with the lighting of an 80-ft. Christmas tree. Santa might even roll in on a horse-drawn carriage.

All the fun of Rawhide plus tree-lighting and holiday music and a Wild West Santa? That’s a lot of seasonal fun!

Rawhide Western Town & Steakhouse is open Thursday – Sunday, although their event hours do vary. It’d be easier for you to look it up following the link below. Rawhide is free to enter, and you can pay for attractions either by one or you can purchase an unlimited wristband (recommended). Learn more.

Rawhide is located south of Phoenix off I-10, and we always stay in town. For hotels in Phoenix, we again recommend the Crowne Plaza Phoenix Hotel. The hotel is situated near several of our favorite attractions, or at least within a reasonable drive, and we’ve always found the accommodations a cut above.

Have fun! 

With the mad holiday rush heading into high gear, the New Year will be upon us in no time. Say goodbye to 2009 in splendorous style at the biggest party in the world: New Year’s Eve in Times Square, New York City.

Absorb the energy, revel in the fervor, get lost in the sound – and enjoy a little champagne while you do at the Crowne Plaza Times Square Hotel. Home to the hottest party within the party, this stylish hotel on Times Square is celebrating big, and you want to act soon to get your tickets to New Year’s Eve in New York City.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for huddled masses of the cold and drunk, but why suffer the crush of over a million people when you can have an unbeatable vantage point on the whole event and a warm party to come into from the cold? No traffic, no waiting, no frostbite.

That’s what you’ve got at the Crowne Plaza Times Square. Their New Year’s in New York package scores you the following:

• 3-course dinner, special menu
• Live music and dancing
• Open bar with Louis Roederer Champagne
• Exclusive viewing area to watch the iconic ball drop live

Experience all the best of the night, then step in from the cold. Learn more about this New Year’s Eve party in New York City.

Got a favorite place to celebrate New Year’s Eve in NYC? Let us know about it in the comments below.