Join Chattanooga Locals for Annual Swingfest During Labor Day!
Put on your dance shoes during Labor Day weekend as you vacation in Chattanooga, where citizens celebrate with the annual Swingfest. The event incorporates many of the biggest swing orchestras in the area, and it all takes place in Coolidge Park, where visitors can attend for free. If you’d like, you can even take a free dance lesson from skilled choreographers! You can meet some of the professional musicians while you’re there, including band directors and famous performers. Be sure to book your lodging near the Coolidge Park area.
If you would like to see some of the attractions beyond the music, Chattanooga is great for all types of sightseeing including tours such as the Lookout Mountain Attractions. Your ride starts out on the Incline Railway, one of the steepest passenger railways in the entire world, as you ascend to Rock City. On top of the mountain, there are many places to explore like the 4,100 foot trail beside rock formations or the 200 foot Swing-A-Long-Bridge. You can also see Ruby Falls – the tallest underground waterfall in the US!
There are other ways to see Chattanooga’s environment such as through the Chattanooga Nature Center, which is right alongside the Lookout Mountain and features exotic wildlife like red wolves. You may walk along the creek and look for interesting plants and other animals that make this area their home along with a viewing of the impressive George S. Bryan Tree House, one of the largest tree houses in the entire nation. There are many wonderful gardens to explore as well.
The music, arts, wildlife, and scenery all combine to provide a successful vacation experience inside the Chattanooga area. Pack your luggage and book today.
Have Your Last Fling for Summer at an Orlando Theme Park
As summer comes to a close, you may want to consider heading into Orlando and taking the kids to the exceptional theme parks in the area before they go back to school. With five different parks, you could spend a whole week having fun together in the summer sunshine.
You can’t visit Orlando without going to the Walt Disney World Theme Parks for one day or several days of theme park thrills. This park offers visitors of all ages the chance to be a kid again. Beloved Disney characters like Mickey Mouse, Cinderella, and Jasmine will greet you everywhere you go and rides themed after Disney movies and television cartoons are around every corner. There is no place on earth that is as magical as Walt Disney World!
Universal Studios Orlando has become famous for its cutting edge rides, shows, and attractions. This park offers you fantastic rides like the Disaster! Ride and 3D showings of classic movies like the Terminator 2. You can’t get this quality of entertainment and fun anywhere else. It’s perfect for ending your summer vacation on a high note!
Enter a world of whales, dolphins, and water adventures the moment you step into SeaWorld in Orlando. This theme park gives guests the opportunity to experience the beauty of marine creatures through shows, rides, and other attractions. Shows like Shamu Rocks let you see killer whales in action while rides like the Kraken will give you the chance to experience Orlando’s only rollercoaster without a floor. This park is awesome for anyone who appreciates the incredible world under the sea!
Put on your swimsuit and head to Aquatica where the beauty of marine life awaits you. Enjoy the many water rides, the wave pool, and the sandy beaches that you can relax on throughout the park. This park has exciting rides that you can’t find anywhere else like the water slide that takes you through a clear lagoon where Commerson’s dolphins live. This park is an incredible place to spend some of your time during these last days of summer.
Alligators, pink flamingos, and a huge variety of other wildlife are at Gatorland just waiting for you to come and see them. This theme park is perfect for animal lovers with its petting zoo, shows, aviary, and other attractions. You can even watch gators being fed or wrestled with at this exciting park. It’s certainly a one of a kind attraction!
Nashville Hosts the Second Annual Music City BBQ Festival
August 5, 2010 by admin
Filed under Nashville TN
Come to Nashville’s Riverfront Park from August 27-28 to enjoy the Second Annual Music City BBQ Festival which will benefit two local children’s hospitals. During this great BBQ festival, there will be over 70 teams competing for the title of Tennessee State Barbecue Champion. During the BBQ, enjoy great music, learn about the art of BBQ, enjoy delicious food, and more!
Need a place to stay while you enjoy all the great tastes during the Second Annual Music City BBQ Festival? We offer several great hotel selections whether you are wanting to stay for the BBQ festival or just wanting to enjoy a wonderful family vacation to the Nashville area. For more information on lodging in the Nashville area, click here.
After spending a couple days enjoying the Second Annual Music City BBQ Festival, take some time to explore all Nashville has to offer. The Discover Nashville Tour is the perfect way to take full advantage of all Nashville has to offer. Enjoy admission to great attractions which include the Country Music Hall of Fame, Ryman Auditorium, and more great attractions in Music City, all for one great price.
If you are wanting to experience the wild side of Nashville, enjoy a trip to the Nashville Zoo. Here you can see the habitats of hundreds of reptiles, birds, mammals, and other great animals from all over the world. Some exhibits include The Unseen World, Bamboo Trail, The Meerkat Exhibit, Gibbon Island, Hyacinth Macaw Exhibit, and more the whole family can observe and enjoy.
Williamsburg is Soon to Begin Pastimes of Colonial Virginia Event!
Starting August 1, visit Williamsburg for a chance to experience the Pastimes of Colonial Virginia, lasting all month at the Jamestown Settlement and Yorktown Victory Center. This great interactive event features 18 and 19-century myths and legends with a variety of games including nine pins, mancala, corncob darts, and nine-men’s morris. While enjoying the historical experiences in Williamsburg, choose from a variety of offered lodging.
For a tasteful mix of culture, entertainment, and fun, Busch Gardens Williamsburg is superior in every category. Buckle up for the Battering Ram ship ride or give your heart a rush with the Alpengeist, holding the record as the world’s tallest inverted roller coaster. European food, clothing stores, and live shows are all part of the experience as well.
If you’d like to pair your Busch Gardens adventure with something cooler in the summer heat, the Water Country USA park is your solution. Teaming with 50’s and 60’s style rides, these cool adventures will leave you breathless with excitement as you swim, tube, slide, or splash through waves of water. If you get hungry, choose between seven service areas throughout the park to fill you up with classic American cuisine!
With so many opportunities inside Williamsburg, you’ll enjoy the rides, history, and culture every step of the way. Plan your vacation today!
A Variety of Entertainment in Chattanooga, TN
Chattanooga, TN is known for the beautiful scenery that surrounds the area. It’s not just nature’s beauty that brings people back to the area time after time though, it’s also the incredible variety of entertainment that Chattanooga has to offer. With everything from nature activities in the great outdoors to mystery dinner theater, this lovely town has a lot to offer visitors.
Of course, when visiting Chattanooga in the summer, you will want to start out with an outdoor activity. The Lookout Mountain Attractions are a great way to see some of the incredible scenery of the area. You start out with 200-million year old rock formations, go up the world’s steepest passenger railway, and finally see the 145-foot waterfall inside the mountain. It’s a fascinating experience that will put you in touch with nature.
Take a break from being outdoors in the evening with one of the Murder Mystery Dinner Shows at Vaudeville Cafe. Get to know the suspects from the moment you arrive, so when the murder is committed on-stage you will know who the culprit is. This live show gives you the chance to put your thinking skills to the test. It’s a fun activity that people of all ages can enjoy!
Another wonderful area activity is the Blue Moon Evening Dinner Cruise. This cruise gives you the best of both worlds. You get dinner on a relaxing cruise as well as being able to see the beauty of nature from a cruise ship. Whether you’re looking for romance under the stars or just want to enjoy the scenery and sensation of gliding along the river, you’re in for a treat with this wonderful dinner cruise.
26th Annual International Blues Challenge Hits Memphis!
Known for blues and rock ‘n roll, Memphis hosts many music-themed festivals throughout the year. This year happens to be the 26th annual International Blues Challenge (IBC). If you’re thinking about visiting the Memphis area early in 2010, this would be the time. The IBC begins on January 20 and the finale will occur on the evening of January 23.
The International Blues Challenge is an event hosted by The Blues Foundation and has slowly grown to become the most respected showcase for blues musicians. This year’s entries represent 39 US states, the District of Columbia, and 13 foreign countries. Some of the countries represented include Australia, Denmark, India, and Italy.
It is a competition, mind you, and a winner is chosen for each of three categories. The ‘Blues Band’ category is the biggest, with 111 entries this year. The second competition category is ‘Solo/Duo Acts’ and boasts 83 competitors this year. The newest category is the ‘Youth Showcase’, which includes 32 entries all under the age of 21.
The festival kicks off with a Meet & Greet at the New Daisy Theater, followed by the international showcase. Days are filled with festival activities ranging from seminars and workshops to awards ceremonies. The competition semifinals take place at blues clubs along Beale Street with the final competition occurring at the famous Orpheum Theater.
To stay close to the action, we recommend hotels in the downtown area. There are several hotels within walking distance of Beale Street, which makes attending the competition events that much easier. The Marriott Downtown is just a short cab ride away from Beale Street and offers guests tons of amenities and a relaxing environment. The Holiday Inn Select Downtown is just a few blocks from Beale Street and definitely within walking distance. The Madison Hotel sits between the Marriott and the Holiday Inn Select, placing you just a few streets over from Beale Street. This hotel boasts first class amenities, on-site dining, and beautiful views.
New Orleans Tours Offer Something For Every Visitor!
New Orleans is such a diverse city that it can be hard to find a way to see everything you want to see. Depending on what you want to see, there are three tours that cover just about everything. Whether you’re looking for graveyard tours or a comprehensive tour of the area, we’ve got what you’re looking for!
Unlock the intriguing secrets of the Big Easy with the City & Cemetery Tour. Over the course of this tour you’ll experience everything from the mystery of the city’s graveyards to the enchanting districts the city is famous for. The tour begins with tales of days gone by as your guide leads you through Jackson Square, the French Market, and the Garden District, making sure to stop at all of New Orlean’s most famous locales. The second part of the tour leads you through a maze of above-ground burial sites that New Orleans has become notorious for. This tour is a can’t-miss for anyone interested in the history of this fascinating city!
Cover 45 miles on the streets of New Orleans in three hours with this guided tour! The transportation for this tour is a 14-passenger van, so you’ll enjoy all the attention of a personal tour. The guides are happy to provide information and answer all your questions about the Big Easy. You’ll visit all the major sites of the city, including The French Quarter, Bayou St John, the Garden District, and Downtown New Orleans. Take advantage of the one-on-one attention with the New Orleans Combo City Tour!
This narrated tour will open your eyes to the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Even if you’ve seen pictures and heard stories, nothing comes close to experiencing it first-hand. Your guide will lead you through the city, pointing out significant sites and explaining how they were affected by Hurricane Katrina. You’ll visit places like UNO’s Campus, New Orleans East, the 9th Ward, and several places where the levees were breached. You will also see how the city has begun to rebuild and experience for yourself the resilience of the people of New Orleans. If you’re going to be visiting New Orleans, don’t miss this eye-opening experience.
Hop On & Hop Off In DC With A Tour!
Washington DC is so replete with history that it can be hard to experience it all. Tours are a wonderful place to start, but you only get to see what the tour covers. However, if you add a ‘hop on and hop off’ element to the tour, you can see the things you want to see and skip the ones you don’t. The ‘hop on and hop off’ feature allows you to spend extra time at the attractions that interest you and then rejoin the tour on the next bus! Check out a few of the tours available in DC.
Old Town Trolley Narrated Hop On/Hop Off Tour
This two-hour excursion weaves you through the history of Washington DC aboard a trolley as your knowledgeable guide recounts tales of this fascinating city. The tour has 17 stops where you can hop off and re-board at any time while the tour is running. The trolley takes you to all of the major attractions in the city, including including the US Capital, Air & Space Museum, Lincoln Memorial, Vietnam Memorial, museums at the Smithsonian Institute, Dupont Circle, Georgetown, and so many more!
DC Roundabout Hop On/Hop Off Tour
Enjoy all of the sights of Washington DC as you journey through the city aboard a bus. Your well-informed guide will recant stories designed to enlighten and entertain as you ride along between the stops. This two-hour loop visits places such as Old Town Alexandria, Union Station, Arlington National Cemetery, and Lincoln Memorial. Jump off for extra time at any of the stops and hop on the next bus when you’re ready to move on. It’s the perfect tour for a first-time visitor!
City Sightseeing Double Decker Hop On/Hop Off Pass
Enjoy a unique tour of the DC area with a double decker tour bus! The bus offers an excellent vantage point to see all of the visited sites. However, with the ‘hop on and hop off’ feature, you can jump off and explore the sites a little more and catch the next bus. The loop is approximately 2.5 hours if you choose not to explore on your own. Passes are available for one or two days and visit 25 sites, including Capital Hill, Smithsonian museums, Embassy Row, Watergate, Kennedy Center, and so many more!
Washington DC has so much history and excitement to offer visitors. Take a ‘hop on and hop off’ tour so you don’t miss any of it!
2010 Travel Ideas – New Attractions Across the Country
While holiday travel is still alive and well around the country, the time is quickly coming to place focus on where to go and what to do in 2010, and Vacations Made Easy is here to help! From unique additions and minor changes to some of your favorite, long-standing vacation options to completely new attractions and shows, we are highlighting some of the more notable additions throughout the country to give you a head start on planning a refreshing family getaway for 2010!
Beginning in Branson, Silver Dollar City will be paying homage to home state literary hero and providing its guests with yet another way to experience the culture of the Ozarks through interactive fun with Tom & Huck’s River Blast. The initial concept for this unique ride attraction features guests armed with water guns taking a leisurely raft ride as they battle other guests armed with water guns positioned at numerous points along the ride with various other water-themed activities featured near the ride. The ride is still in construction, but even the concept alone sounds more than promising.
Those looking for something entirely new to do in the Branson area will find another adventurous option in Branson Zipline and Canopy Tours. As the first attraction of its kind in Branson, this unique ecological attraction is shaping up to set the bar in terms of outdoor Branson activity. Set to open in the spring of 2010, Branson Zipline and Canopy Tours will offer a thrilling zipline experience over the Ozarks hills while simultaneously providing interesting ecological information on the area flora and fauna.
In Lancaster, the popular Sight & Sound Theatre will be presenting an all new play to area visitors: Joseph. This exciting re-telling of Joseph and the coat of many colors looks to present this classic tale as only Sight & Sound can with massive casts, intricate set design, vivid costumes and special effects bringing the story to life!
Music City visitors can expect an extension on some of the already great events and attractions previously featured in Nashville, offering guests a second chance to experience the heart and soul of country music. In particular, we are talking about the Country Music Hall of Fame and the unbelievably successful CMA Music Festival Fan Fair.
At the Country Music Hall of Fame, they have extended the special exhibit Family Traditions: The Williams Family Legacy to run through the entirety of 2010, keeping the talents and tales of the legendary Williams Family alive in well in the memories of country music fans.
As for the CMA Music Festival Fan Fair, it will provide a showcase for country legends, current super stars and rising talent, and is annually considered the single greatest country music festival in the world.
Whether hoping to experience some of the hottest annual celebrations in the nation or wanting an entirely new experience, these popular ideas should provide great starting points for planning a refreshing getaway in 2010!
Visit Mt Rushmore Attractions Your Kids Will Love
Although the fantastic historical attractions in Mt Rushmore are appealing to many visitors, they are not always able to keep the interest of children. Although one day your children may appreciate the history in Mt Rushmore, you can take them to activities that kids of all age will have fun at to make sure that everyone is entertained during your vacation.
At the Holy Terror Mini Golf attraction in Keystone, Colorado, you and your family can enjoy an afternoon of fun while testing your putt-putting skills. This course was named after the last active gold mine in Keystone and features 18 fun and interactive holes. While you go through the gold-mine themed course, you can also enjoy the beauty of the area. This attraction is located at the Presidential Wax Museum, so you can also fit in some history during your visit if you want.
For a historical attraction that is also really fun, check out the Big Thunder Gold Mine. Kids of all ages will love trying their hand at striking it rich panning for gold. At the Big Thunder Gold Mine, you can enjoy a tour of the mine as well as pan for gold, as well as visit a museum. You are guaranteed to find gold during the panning experience, so everyone will have a shiny piece of South Dakota to take home with them.
Flying T Chuckwagon Supper and Show
What better way to end a day of fun activities than with an interactive cowboy-style supper? At the Flying T Chuckwagon Supper and Show, you and your family can enjoy an Old West meal complete with a barbecue feast and singing around the campfire. While you enjoy a meal with buffalo, chicken, or roast beef, you and your family can enjoy a stage show with the Flying T Wranglers. This unique dinner show is sure to please even your pickiest eater and provide an evening your family will not soon forget!
