(c) by Jo Giraudo, Travel Consultant
There is no need for you to fore go a family summer vacation, romantic get away or self discovery adventure just because the economy continues to stall. Your home is worth less, your stocks are down and there is little any of us can do to fix the big picture. So we might as well just continue moving forward as best we can and by all means take a Vacation . To get more bang for your deflated buck, consider a trip in the U.S.
What does an American vacation look like? There are far more options than the usual trips to Disney, Time Square and the monuments of D.C. And they range from five star luxury to roughing it in eco outposts.
First- how to get around – the new buzz word in travel is Amtrak. Go to www.Amtrak.com and you will be amazed at how they are realizing their star potential. There is now a department called Amtrak Vacations. They have regional tours, cross country treks, cars that will carry your car to your destination, overnight entertainment, and weekly specials.
For luxury travel visit www.AmericanRail.com. They specialize in nostalgic North American private rail tours. And www.GrandluxRail.com is the American Orient Express . Luxury cars are attached to the back of Amtrak’s regular trains. They are separate experiences with five course dining, 500 thread count sheets and piano bars.
If you want to be on the water, every major lake and river in the US has barges and mini cruise ships ready to show you an American experience. There are riverboat ports all over inland America from Little Rock AR to St Paul, MN. Check out www.RiverCruiseTours.com to get ideas.
America is overflowing with destinations to satisfy any travel desire. Need some ideas? Here are a few:
National Parks and Historic sites: Buy the $7.50 Passport to your National Parks. There are 395 listings all across the US. Make it a goal to visit all of them in your life time. Amtrak is a perfect way to journey from park to park.
Santa Fe, NM: Start with the natural beauty -- landscapes that inspired Georgia O'Keefe. Enjoy unique settings and sweeping vistas as you hike in the high desert. Add a history and multicultural aspect -- from ancient Agassiz ruins, to living history at Taos Pueblo, to isolated Spanish towns founded centuries ago. Throw in some cool adventures! Want to climb ladders to an ancient cliff side cave dwelling? Go whitewater rafting on the Rio Grande? Ride horseback across the desert? Sounds like you could be in Mexico or Spain.
Napa Valley & San Francisco, CA: Sipping fine wines while chatting with experts, musty cellars stacked high with oak barrels, outdoor dining under the warm California sun, and acres of trellised vineyards stretching out before you... Feeling the wind in your hair as you sail across the bay, with the San Francisco skyline sparkling, and the sun setting behind the world-famous Golden Gate Bridge... No you are not in Italy.
Alaska & Yukon : From Glacier Bay's icy spectacles and migrating whales to Dawson City, destination of many a Klondike gold seeker - Alaska and its Canadian neighbor, the Yukon, are still largely untamed wilderness. Explore their natural beauty, and meet the people who call this wild, challenging place home. No it’s not the Arctic Circle.
San Juan Islands: As your boat heads out toward the islands, you can feel the worries slip away... Between the Washington mainland and Vancouver Island, lie the unspoiled San Juan Islands. A visit is like stepping back in time, with no high-rises, freeways or fast-food chains. It's a nature-lover’s paradise, with hundreds of islands, 200 species of birds, and the most bald eagles outside Alaska. The waters are famous for killer whales (orcas), and abundant with porpoises and seals. Like the U.K.?
The Berkshires: When Daniel Chester French, who carved Abraham Lincoln’s figure for the Lincoln Memorial, was asked about his home in the Berkshires, he replied: “I live here six months of the year—in heaven. The other six months I live—well, in New York.”The Berkshire Hills, on the New York/Massachusetts border, stretch for about fifty miles north to south, encompassing several little villages from Williamstown in the north to Sheffield in the south. Shop at antiques shops, crafts stores, and farmers markets. Indulge in amazing food. See the houses of great artists and writers, and settle into welcoming inns and resorts. No it’s not the French countryside.
Don’t give up on your vacation this year. Discover America’s charm, beauty, raw nature and vast variety. Spend your money here where it can help our economy and our people recover and prosper. Viva Americana !
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