Can you believe there are more than 30 Starwood hotels in the New York City area? I mean, sure, this includes hotels in less-than-glamorous Long Island City and Hoboken (New Jersey!), but still; the Starwood properties on the outskirts of NYC are very convenient with easy routes to the city. The Starwood hotels in New York City itself include some of the most upscale joints you’ll find, from the swanky W New York in Times Square, to the hip Le Parker Meridien, to one of the grande dames of luxury hotels in NYC, the St. Regis New York. Not to mention the more affordable Four Points by Sheraton hotels in and around the city. No matter your price point, there’s a Starwood hotel somewhere in the New York City region that will fit your budget. And the assurance of quality at at Starwood property is no small thing: when you plan a big, exciting trip to NYC, the last thing you want to worry about is a questionable hotel.

There’s bound to be at least one Starwood hotel that you’d love to stay in during your next trip to New York City. The great news is, you might be able to do so, for free. As one of the Starwood Preferred Guests American Express blogging partners, or SPG Amex Stars, I have a fantastic prize: 25,00 Starpoints to redeem at a Starwood hotel. The SPG Amex Stars programs’ prize is, to use the legalese, literally “25,000 points from Starwood/Preferred Guest Credit Card from American Express.” Since you’d need to have a Starwood Preferred Guest loyalty account to win — you don’t need the actual Amex card, just the SPG account, and signing up is free –  the eligibility terms are detailed here. This giveaway is provided on behalf of Starwood Preferred Guest Credit Card from American Express.

How to Enter:

To enter and possibly win the 25,000 Starpoints redeemable at any Starwood hotel in the United States, tell me which New York City Starwood property you’d most like to visit. You must answer this question via Twitter, with the hashtag #SPGAMEX, and direct it to The Vacation Gals’ Twitter account, @thevacationgals. You also need to reference this giveaway post in your tweet. In other words, your entry might look something like this: “I entered to win 25,000 Starpoints and would stay at Le Parker Meridien @thevacationgals: http://bit.ly/JACaD0 #spgamex”  ….now, that’s just an example hotel, and I only used that Le Parker Meridien because I got engaged at Carnegie Hall down the street from that hotel. So if anyone asks me how to get to Carnegie Hall (that old joke) I have an easy answer; stay at Le Parker Meridien and walk. If you’d like to tell me personally which NYC Starwood property you’d most like to stay in, you can tweet to me too, I’m @JenniferMiner and I love chatting about New York City.

Legal Mumbo Jumbo:

To enter the SPG Amex Stars 25,000 Starpoint Giveaway, you must be 18 years of age or older at the time of entry, or legal age to enter sweepstakes as required by each state. Employees, officers, directors, shareholders of Sponsor, Administrator, Ogilvy Public Relations, participating Bloggers, American Express and their respective parent, subsidiaries, limited liability and affiliated companies, and individuals providing services to any of the above or any of its affiliated companies through an outsourcer or temporary employment agency (collectively the “Sweepstakes Entities“) as well as the immediate family (spouse, parents, siblings, and children) and household members of such employees, officers, directors and individuals are not eligible. Void where prohibited or restricted by law or regulatory agency. Participation constitutes entrant’s full and unconditional agreement to these Official Rules and Administrator’s decisions, which are final and legally binding in all matters related to the Sweepstakes. Winning a prize is contingent upon fulfilling all requirements set forth in these Official Rules. Approximate retail value is $400.00

Sweepstakes /DRAWING DATE:

A random drawing will be conducted by each participating Blogger on or about Monday, June 4, 2012 from all eligible entries received by each Blogger during the Sweepstakes Period. The Sweepstakes is conducted under the supervision of the Administrator.

Notification of Winners:

Potential winners will be contacted via Twitter and required to provide an e-mail address and phone number. The potential winner will be notified by e-mail or by phone within two (2) business days of the drawing. If, despite reasonable efforts, any potential prizewinner does not respond within (24) hours of the first notification attempt, or if the prize notification is returned as unclaimed or undeliverable such prizewinner will forfeit his or her prize and an alternate winner may be selected. If any potential prizewinner is found to be ineligible, or if he or she has not complied with these Official Rules or declines a prize for any reason prior to award, such potential prizewinner will be disqualified and an alternate winner may be selected. Each prizewinner inner will be required to sign an affidavit of eligibility/publicity and liability release, W-9 Tax payer request for identification form and return it properly executed, within (7) days of attempted notification as a condition of awarding the prize. If a potential prizewinner cannot be contacted, fails to fulfill all the requirements of the Sweepstakes, or if notices or prizes are returned as undeliverable, an alternate winner will be selected from the valid drawing pool. Winners are advised to seek independent counsel regarding the tax implications of accepting a Prize.  Acceptance of any prize constitutes prizewinner’s permission for the Sponsor to use prizewinner’s name, photograph, image, likeness, voice, biographical information, statements and complete address (collectively, the “Attributes“), for advertising and/or publicity purposes worldwide and in all forms of media now known or hereafter devised, in perpetuity, without further compensation or authorization, (except where prohibited by law), and releases the Sweepstakes Entities from all claims arising out of the use of such Attributes

Once eligibility has been verified and the Administrator receives the winner’s mailing address, Sponsor will award the Prize (as defined below). Sponsor nor any of its subsidiaries or affiliates nor any of their respective officers, directors, employees or agents be liable for any unsuccessful efforts to notify or communicate with a potential winner.  Odds of winning depend upon the number of eligible entries received.

An entrant is not a winner of any prize, even if the Sweepstakes should so indicate, unless and until entrant’s eligibility and the potential Winning entry has been verified and entrant has been notified that verification is complete.

No immediate family members of The Vacation Gals should enter this giveaway. You can enter as often as you like, just remember to use The Vacation Gals’ Twitter handle and the relevant #SPGAMEX hashtag. The giveaway entry period will end May 24, 2012, at 6:00PM PST. Good luck!

The Garden of the Gods Club is a private club in Colorado Springs with an enviable location right across the street from the Garden of the Gods, a public park featuring some of the most striking red-rock formations in the state. Club members enjoy a 27-hole golf course (also with plenty of scenic views), a handful of restaurants (including a formal dining room and more casual grill), full-service spa, fitness center, tennis courts and recreation center.

View from my balcony at the Lodge at Garden of the Gods Club.

What’s cool for Colorado Springs visitors: the Lodge at the Garden of the Gods Club is open to the public. Paying overnight guests can also enjoy all of the Club services and amenities. My husband tagged along on my spring travel-writing research trip to Colorado Springs (about 5 hours from our mountain home), and we had a pleasant stay at the Lodge, just the two of us. The summer months will bring even more options for families. Here’s why I’d recommend the Lodge at Garden of the Gods Club for a family weekend this summer in Colorado Springs:

The location is excellent: From our room in the South Lodge, we could walk down a set of stairs, outside across a grassy lawn, and down a short, moderately steep trail to the back of the Visitor Center at the Garden of the Gods Park. The guys at the Lodge’s front desk didn’t know of this unmarked trail; they suggested driving on a road all the way around to the proper entrance. (Or, they did not tell us about the unmarked trail because we weren’t supposed to cut through the back way.) Still, our way by foot was super convenient, and it wouldn’t be difficult for school-age kids to traipse up and down for easy access to the city-owned, no-fee park with its myriad hiking and biking trails.

Entrance to Garden of the Gods, a city park, is totally free.

The Lodge at Garden of the Gods Club is also a convenient base camp for exploring attractions west of Colorado Springs’ downtown area, namely Cave of the Winds, Pikes Peak Cog Railway, Manitou Cliff Dwellings, Manitou Springs (stop in for tasting at D’Vine Wine!) and the excellent restaurants in historic Old Colorado City.

Basic, but comfortable, furnishings in the rooms at the Lodge at Garden of the Gods Club.

Rooms are spacious: The two of us stayed in a King Lodge Room (one of 66 rooms and suites), and found it plenty big. We appreciated the sitting area (with table and chairs, sofa and coffee table), plus two sinks, large closet and shower (with great water pressure). Certainly a Double Lodge Room would have accommodated my family of four for a couple nights. Our view of the Garden of the Gods rock formations from our balcony was superb, too!

Free hors d’ouevres at Lodge happy hour: Never ones to pass up free food, my husband Quent and I had a glass of discounted house wine ($6) and complimentary appetizers before we ventured into Colorado Springs for restaurant research. From 4 to 6:30 p.m. on Thursday and Friday nights the Lodge Lounge is packed with other Club members and Lodge guests, nibbling on fruit, cheese and crackers, as well as hot items like chicken wings and peanut-butter stuffed French toast (nope, didn’t go for that last one). It’s quite the festive scene. Kids are welcome here; I saw some moms – with children in tow – piling plates high with food to bring back to the room.

Besides the Lounge freebies at happy hour, other dining options available when we visited include the formal Lodge Dining Room and the more casual Lodge Lounge, both open for breakfast lunch and dinner. In the summer, the Kissing Camels Grille (named for a rock formation in Garden of the Gods) is open in the Golf Clubhouse, overlooking the fairways.

Recreation center with outdoor pool: Frankly, I was glad that we hadn’t brought our kids along to visit the Lodge at the Garden of the Gods when we visited in early April. The gorgeous infinity pool located right at the Lodge was up and running in the cool spring weather, but it’s only for grown-ups. We only saw a few adults using the pool when we were there, and I think my well-behaved tweens wouldn’t have been kicked out if they had played quietly in it (i.e. no cannonballs). Still, it was a bit surprising to me that the sign on the door leading to the “spa pool” (though down the hall and separate from the full-service spa) made it very clear that it’s meant only for adults.

Adults-only infinity pool features fabulous views of the Garden of the Gods rock formations.

However, between Memorial Day and Labor Day, a Junior Olympic-sized pool, with adjacent kiddie pools and water spray area, is located a couple of miles away, past the golf clubhouse, and open for all Club members and Lodge guests. Drive your own car or take a Lodge shuttle to the Recreation Center, which also features a snack bar, game room, basketball/soccer court and children’s playground – again, only open in the summer.

Full-service spa: I had no time to indulge in a spa treatment while I was at the Lodge at the Garden of the Gods Club (darn travel-writing research assignment kept me out and about taking notes at restaurants, attractions and shops), but I like the look of the spa menu with its variety of massages, facials, scrubs, manicures and pedicures. Each of the men’s and women’s locker rooms has a steam room, or you can soak in the co-ed whirlpool in a sunny solarium. Next time!

Thanks to the Lodge at Garden of the Gods Club for hosting my stay.

Even short getaways do wonders for my energy level. That is, getting out of Dodge for quick trips is such a great way to rest, recharge and return home ready to tackle “real life” again. For me, Vail is that preferred destination for mini vacations; the mountain resort is just 90 minutes from my Colorado home, but it definitely signals “vacation” to me — even if I’m there for just 24 hours. I’ve recently spent an overnight in Vail with my daughter and niece, as well as a couples’ getaway with my husband. My latest short sojourn: 24 hours in Vail with a best girlfriend at The Sebastian.

The sunny lobby of The Sebastian features high ceilings, rustic-but-classy Colorado mountain style decor and a double-sided fireplace (not shown).

What prompted our Sunday/Monday getaway was a spa voucher we’d gotten via TravelZoo Local Deals — 50% off the price of a massage and glass of wine at the Lodge & Spa at Cordillera, near Edwards, Colorado. We weren’t that keen on overnighting at the sleepy, remote resort, and I was eager to check out The Sebastian (which had gotten nice reviews from blogging friend Kristin Luna), that we decided to stay at this boutique property in an enviable location smack dab in the middle of Vail Village — great for strolling and shopping.

Our visit was short, but we sure enjoyed our stay at The Sebastian. Here’s why:

Bloom Spa: Now, as I noted, we had spa treatments booked elsewhere, so we didn’t indulge on still more services at The Sebastian’s Bloom Spa. We did, however, spend a bunch of time browsing its small boutique, and we blissed out in its uber-hot steam room. AlpenGlow is the spa’s signature scent, and it’s divine; you can smell the subtle fragrance on approach to the spa from a hallway off the lobby.

The entrance to Bloom Spa is just off a busy hallway, but once you're tucked inside, you feel world's away.

Accommodations: My girlfriend and I shared a Deluxe Plaza Room with two queen beds, which offered plenty of space for the two of us. I loved my comfy bed with quality linens. The room featured complimentary wi-fi (bonus!), a Nespresso machine (appreciated, though ours didn’t work so we bought big cups of morning coffee from the on-site Market cafe), and bath products in large reusable containers — much more eco-friendly than the tiny little bottles found in so many hotel rooms. Also appreciated: a mini-fridge and humidifier in the room.

If you’re looking for even more space for a gaggle of girlfriends, The Sebastian also has one- to four-bedroom suites with full kitchens. Note: On June 1, The Sebastian is instituting a $25 resort fee per night to cover some of the hotel’s amenities and services.

Plenty of room for two friends to spread out in a Deluxe Plaza Room at The Sebastian

Hooray for eco-friendly, large bottles of shampoo and conditioner in the rooms at The Sebastian.

Frost & Block 16: No need to go off property for fun drinks and amazing food — The Sebastian has both. Frost is the “ice-themed” bar that offers a creative cocktail menu and cozy lounge space. Block 16 is The Sebastian’s signature dining room features an impressive cylindrical tower filled with wine bottles in the middle of the restaurant. The wine list is indeed vast, so it makes sense that the name of the restaurant comes from the term used for the fruit that comes from a specific vineyard or tract (“block”), as well as the hotel address of 16 Vail Road.

At Block 16, my friend and I dined off of a small, but excellent dinner menu, which changes seasonally and focuses on local produce and the freshest of ingredients. When we visited, the menu included ruby red shrimp, tender cobia, grass-fed lamb and some of the most divine black-truffle risotto I’ve ever tasted. The desserts were equally inspired!

Fun martinis served on the "icy" bar at Frost.

Decadent Chocolate Coulant -- served with pistachio ice cream. Delish!

Other nice amenities and services at The Sebastian include an outdoor pool and three hot tubs, a free DVD-lending kiosk, a classy library gathering place, a fitness center above the spa and next to the pool deck, and a slopeside “Base Camp” for convenient storage of ski gear in the winter.

Summer rates at The Sebastian start at about 40% off winter rates — consider $325/night in a Deluxe Plaza Room in June, versus $605 in February. (These rates can decrease, too, depending on demand and length of stay.) If you’re considering a spring or summer visit to The Sebastian, there are a host of special deals and packages, too.

Thanks to The Sebastian for hosting my girlfriend getaway!

When I read that Aussie ProBlogger Darren Rowse, a book author, full-time blogger and worldwide authority on blog monetization, partnered with Tourism Queensland to bring 10 bloggers to his home country, I naturally threw my resume into the ring. After all, three years ago I created a video to enter “The Best Job in the World” contest sponsored by Tourism Queensland (along with 35,000 other applicants). I didn’t snag that cool gig, but I am delighted (over the moon!) to announce that I am going to Australia as a Queensland Blogger Correspondent June 5 to 10.

Yep, just in time to go scuba diving in the Great Barrier Reef to celebrate my 43rd birthday that week. Not too shabby!

More than 700 bloggers from around the world applied to be a Queensland Blogger Correspondent; we filled out an online form with information about our blogs, our social-media reach and how we’d cover our stay in Queensland. This is a definite “working holiday,” as Darren Rowse points out. We’ll enjoy some incredible adventures in Queensland — from getting up close and personal with koalas, to sailing around a tropical island to exploring the Daintree Rainforest and marveling at the underwater world at the Great Barrier Reef. And we’ll share our experiences with our readers along the way, Tweeting live with the hashtag #QldBlog — so I hope you follow along!

While I am so looking forward to visiting the Great Barrier Reef — and eating good seafood and strolling seaside towns in Queensland — I am equally excited to hang out with the uber-knowledgeable ProBlogger Darren Rowse. The 10 winning bloggers will attend two hands-on workshops led by Darren, where we’ll not only have our blogs critiqued, but we’ll get pointers on  improving our blog’s content and learn about the greatest tools out there to optimize our blogs not only for our readers, but for our blog’s business. What an incredible, worthy experience that will be — all sponsored by the generous folks at Tourism Queensland.

Sure, flying from Denver to Cairns for a 6-day stay in Australia might sound a bit ridiculous — I don’t my know flight details yet, but I’m certain it will take multiple, long flights to get from Point A to Point B, over the course of the better part of a day. I’m not great at overcoming jet lag, so I’m hoping that I’m not a total zombie the entire time I’m in Australia. (Combating jet-lag tips welcome in the comments below!)

I’m also missing my kids’ last days of school for the year, including my son’s graduation from elementary school, which makes the trip’s timing kind of crummy. Thankfully dad and grandma will be on hand for the festivities, and both children have an incredible travel-filled summer on the docket to look forward to. I’ll surely bring home a ridiculous amount of souvenirs to make up for any disappointment they may have for my being gone during a celebratory week or to combat any jealousies that this is a solo trip for mom, not a family trip to Australia. Oh, who am I kidding? Their lives won’t miss a beat while their rock-star father is the on-site parent at home for a week.

I’d like to think of my forthcoming short trip to Australia as a learning experience for them, too. Being named one of 10 Queensland Blogger Correspondents will help them see firsthand that a) you’re never too old to chase your dreams b) if you want something, go for it c) and when you believe in yourself, success will follow. When SoCalGal Jen and TwinCitiesGal Beth and I started The Vacation Gals nearly three years ago, who would have thought it would lead to my visiting Australia — with one of the best blogging minds in the business?

Stay tuned for the adventure — I do hope you’ll follow along in June. And, as always, thanks for your support of me and The Vacation Gals.

Photo credits: top sxc.hu, bottom Tourism Queensland

Greetings from Bermuda, where I’ve spent the last 48 hours enjoying plenty of Dark and Stormy rum drinks, a little rain, some welcome sunshine and lots of friendly hospitality. It’s my first trip to the small island 650 miles off the cost of North Carolina. Just 21 square miles in size, this British overseas territory is only a two-hour flight from Newark Liberty International Airport; Boston, Miami, Atlanta, Toronto are all two to three hours away, as well. I’m a guest of The Reefs, a sweet little boutique property on the south shore of the island, which I absolutely adore, namely because of its lovely crescent beach, intimate size, personal attention to guests and its incredible two-bedroom condominiums (one of which I’m sharing with a friend).

Infinity pool, pristine beach, pink parasols as seen from my condo balcony at The Reefs Club.

I’ll have all sorts of details about my stellar accommodations, as well some things to do and see on Bermuda and a ton of photos, in future blog posts. But for now I thought I’d share six things I’ve learned while on Bermuda in the past two days:

1. Bermudians are super friendly and accommodating. To wit: My friend and I were waiting for one of the island’s ubiquitous pink public buses to take us to the west end’s Royal Naval Dockyard, when a bus with the sign “Special” slowed down at our hotel stop. The driver was shepherding a bunch of cruise-ship passengers from the beach at Horseshoe Bay back to their ships at the Dockyard, but kindly stopped to pick two forlorn foreigners anyway. Very nice.

2. Bermudians are super friendly and accommodating (part two): I’d foolishly forgotten my laptop plug-in cord at home. Upon arrival at The Reefs, I asked front-desk staff if they had any cords to help me charge my Dell laptop, but the one they’d offered didn’t work. A second one they sent up did. (Yay! I can blog and check email easily!) Turns out, it’s the personal possession of one of the guys who works in maintenance. He didn’t mind lending his cord to me for three days. Talk about incredible service. I’m grateful.

3. Bermudians greet one another with pleasantries before launching into conversation. I’d read this in a tourist guide on the flight from the East Coast: it’s considered polite and proper to say “Good morning” or “Good afternoon” when you first see a friend or greet a stranger on Bermuda. But I must have forgotten that tip, when, in classic foreigner form, I hopped a bus the first morning I was here and asked, “Where do I put the tokens?” The bus driver replied, “Good morning! Right here in the slot.” Since then, I’ve tried to say a simple “hello” to shopkeepers, taxi drivers, hotel employees and everyone else before asking my question!

The public transit system is quite good on Bermuda; just remember to look for buses on the left-hand side of the road!

4. Driving on the left-hand side of the road is also disconcerting for pedestrians. Bermuda follows British traffic rules: cars have steering wheels on the right-hand side, and cars drive on the left-hand side of the road. I tell you, it looks so strange to approach a roundabout (a.k.a. rotary, traffic circle) and enter traffic in a clockwise direction. While traipsing around the island, crossing streets and walking on shoulders on busy roads, I got totally confused trying to figure out to look first to see if it was safe to cross.

5. Bermudian weathermen know their stuff. We were dismayed to read local weather forecasts predict intense winds for our first full day on the island. Sure enough, on our excursion “to town” (the capital of Hamilton), we were nearly blown off the sidewalks. Weather forecasts called for cloudy skies and diminishing winds our second day, with skies clearing in the afternoon. Sure enough, after walking the beaches on the south shore of the island in the spitting rain in the morning, the sun gloriously shined in full by 2 p.m. yesterday, when we were wandering around the west end (we even got a little sunkissed — not complaining). The meteorologist called it on the nose.

Two Dark and Stormys to go, for savoring on chaise lounges underneath a sweet pink parasol (see above).

6. The Dark and Stormy is Bermuda’s national drink. For whatever reason, I thought the Rum Swizzle was the drink to order on Bermuda (maybe because a college friend said she imbibed plenty on her honeymoon here years ago). Indeed, it’s popular, but it’s the Dark and Stormy (or “Dark ‘n’ Stormy”) that seems to be all the rage here. This combination of non-alcoholic ginger beer and Gosling’s Black Seal Rum, with a slice of lime on the rocks, is equal parts refreshing and sweet with a zesty kick. Back at home I recently met the Moscow Mule — ginger beer with vodka and lime — but I might go with the sweeter rum combo for patio cocktails this summer.

More to come on Bermuda and The Reefs, who generously hosted my stay!

Over the past few years, Courtyard by Marriott hotels have steadily rolled out a brand-new lobby concept throughout the United States. The new look features modern and sleek (yet warm and inviting) decor, plenty of open space and comfortable seating; laptop friendly work stations and  free wi-fi; The Bistro quick-serve breakfast, snacks and dinner menu; GoBoard touch screens for visitors to learn more about the local attractions, weather and transportation; and easy Boarding Pass printers.

The Courtyard Refreshing Business lobbies are indeed inviting, as I experienced last year during a stay in downtown Denver, one of the recently renovated locations. While business travelers certainly appreciate the new lobby services and amenities, as a mom, I think The Bistro is especially great for traveling with kids. Many of the menu items are healthy and kid friendly, plus they are prepared quickly: scrambled eggs, French toast or oatmeal in the morning, then burgers, pizza flatbreads, chicken wings and Caesar salads later in the day. Plus coffee, beer and cocktails!

As of today 500 Courtyard by Marriott lobbies throughout the United States have been totally refurbished with this new look. Over halfway done, Courtyard’s remaining 300 U.S. properties are projected to be completed in 2013. To celebrate the 500th renovation for Courtyard, the hotel brand has teamed up with The Vacation Gals to give away a $300 Courtyard by Marriott gift card to be used toward a stay at any renovated Courtyard property in the continental United States. To enter, just check out this list of renovated U.S. Courtyard properties and tell me in the comments where you’d like to stay!

Here are the details:

• Leave a comment below telling me which renovated Courtyard by Marriott property you’d like to visit and why.
• For another entry, Tweet the following, and then tell me you did in the comments (for a total of two comments daily maximum):
  I entered to win a stay at a renovated Courtyard by Marriott @thevacationgals: http://bit.ly/marriottlobbies
  
• You may leave comments (again, up to two daily: one answering my question; one telling me you Tweeted) until 8 p.m. (Mountain Time) Tuesday, May 1, 2012.
• The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning.
• We’ll do our best to weed out repeat entries from the same household (duplicate IP addresses in one day), but we’re not superhuman. Please, as an individual, just comment up to twice daily — don’t try to dupe the system.
• Immediate family members of The Vacation Gals are not eligible to enter.
• You must be 18 and have a U.S. mailing address to enter.
• We will enter the total number of comments into random.org to generate a winning comment numbers. Winners’ names and winning comment numbers will be announced at the bottom of this post May 2, 2012.
• If winner does not respond to two emails announcing his/her win within five days, another comment number will be chosen.
• Void where prohibited by law. No purchase necessary.
• The $300 gift card should cover two nights of accommodations at most U.S. locations (though depending on the time of year and the destination, winner may have to chip in for the balance, or use the gift card toward a one-night stay).
• Gift card expires August 23, 2012.

Good luck!

This contest for a gift card toward two free nights at a renovated Courtyard property in the continental U.S. was sponsored by Courtyard by Marriott. I will also receive a complimentary two-night stay at a renovated Courtyard property. Photos courtesy Courtyard by Marriott.

UPDATE: Congrats go out to commenter #112 Gina Maddox — she’s our winner, as her number came up via random draw at Random.org.

As the economy continues to slowly improve and springtime turns to summer, many Americans are starting to plan their summer vacations. Some renew their passports and look overseas for adventure, while others consider exploring the remarkable diversity of travel options within our own large country. For those planning to take road trips and stick to summer vacations here in the United States, a trip to one or more of the US National Parks is more than simply suggested. A US National Park summer vacation is most wholeheartedly recommended for travel that expands appreciation for our country’s most precious resource: the places designated to remain as nature intended.

The Vacation Gals has partnered with ARAMARK Parks and Destinations to put together this Top 5 US National Park travel experiences for the summer. ARAMARK Parks and Destinations is one of only three national companies that specialize in concessions for the National Parks and Forests and State Parks systems; their experts clearly know a thing or two about what to do in a national park!

1. Sleep in a Temperate Rainforest 

The rainforests in Costa Rica and other southern countries are what we usually picture, but the temperate rainforest in the Pacific Northwest are wild, lush, green — and a lot less humid. The Olympic National Park is one of my favorite US National Parks because there is something so primordial about it. The 15 feet of rain each year leads to giant redwoods, huge ferns, and moss that covers the ground like a carpet. Lake Quinault Lodge fits the timelessness of the rainforest here in the Olympic National Park; I participated in a tour of the Quinault Rainforest with one of the lodge’s outdoorsy guides and loved it. The lakeside rooms are the only rooms at the lodge with televisions. I’ve also stayed at Kalaloch Lodge, on the coast of the Olympic Peninsula. It’s part of the Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary, and the area is home to sea otters, puffins, bald eagles, and more.  As the only oceanfront lodge in the national park, it’s really a special place to stay, and experience this remote, wild part of our country.

2. Raft the Grand Canyon

While the Olympic National Park is green and sometimes cold and rainy in the summer, Arizona is HOT that time of year. The Grand Canyon National Park feels like a different planet than its Pacific Northwest cousin…but the Colorado River is always cool and refreshing. The perspective change achieved by rafting at the base of the Grand Canyon allows for a new appreciation of one of the world’s largest canyons. Its size and beauty, from the bottom up, is awe-inspiring. With Wilderness River Adventures, you can paddle the rapids yourself, or opt for a raft or motorboat; the company has been operating in the Grand Canyon National Park  since 1983 and their knowledgable guides share information about the geology, history and folklore of the area. From 3 1/2 day motorized boat trips to epic 16 day oar boat trips, WIlderness River Adventures is recommended by ARAMARK Parks and Destinations for an unforgettable Grand Canyon experience.

3. Hike the Appalachian Trail

NO, I haven’t personally done this! To hike the entire 2,181 miles of the Appalachian Trail is a multi-month affair, and most summer travelers set out to just hike a portion of the trail. There is a handy lodge-to-lodge hiking path in the Shenandoah National Park portion of the trail, in Virginia. This beautiful stretch of the trail is more manageable than the long stretches without any accommodations. You don’t need to for a tent in your backpack, either; the Big Meadows Lodge, Lewis Mountain Cabins and Skyland Resort are around 10 miles apart from each other, so summer hikers can enjoy hot showers and fresh prepared meals incorporating local ingredients in the restaurants (Skyland Resort, for example, offers regionally sourced trout, beef and more). Guided hikes of Shenandoah National Park are available, as are twilight hikes, horseback riding, and and that good stuff. If your’e like me, and love hiking but not camping, this is the multi-day national park hiking experience for you.

4. Explore an Active Volcano

This is one of the most unique US national parks. Volcanoes National Park isn’t near any of ARAMARK Parks and Destinations’ concessions, but it’s a favorite national park for many because, hey — you’ve got to be in Hawaii to see it! Two of the world’s most active volcanoes are here: Kilauea is the more accessible one, whereas Mauna Loa is more famous.  Besides hiking around Kilauea (a flat, very easy hike) and gawping at steam venting from the crater,  travelers can explore a walk-in lava tube. It’s an intrepid feeling walking down the slightly sloping, dimly lit lava tube; I explored the tube when it was raining, and felt like Indiana Jones. Crater Rim Drive takes visitors to the Kilauea Caldera and its overlook, Halemaumau Crater, Devastation Trail, that previously mentioned Thurston Lava Tube, and more. You can walk past steam vents, learn about the area’s geologic history at the Jaggar Museum, and (weather permitting) drive south of Crater Rim Drive to the Chain of Craters Road. I have not been able to see the lava flowing into the ocean yet, but a summer trip to Hawaii Island is your best bet for dry enough weather to do so.

5. See Glaciers Up Close

The national parks in Alaska are mind-boggling in their expanse. For most of us, though, summer is prime vacation time to see Alaska — the weather’s a bit too brutal for us the rest of the year. Glacier Bay National Park in Southern Alaska is one of the more tourist-friendly of the Alaska national parks (along with Delani National Park, which is about the size of the entire state of Massachusetts). ARAMARK Parks and Destinations recommends taking the Alaska Marine Highway Ferry from Juneau to Gustavus, from where where the Glacier Bay Day Cruise departs. This is the only day cruise permitted in the national park, and it takes intrepid daytrippers as close to the mammoth glaciers as legally possible. Due to glaciers calving, it’s not recommended to get right next to the them, but Alaska travelers can approach and touch the ice that shears off, commonly known as icebergs.  The vivid blue of the densely packed ice is a sight to see.

The National Park Service offers so much to the United States (I’ve never met a park ranger I didn’t like) and all that’s asked in return is appreciation for the wild spaces still left in this country. If overseas travel isn’t part of your summer plans, consider spending some vacation time in one of the US National Parks. You’ll be glad you did.