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VACATION BLOG BY THE VRC
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Five Great Summer Beach Vacations for 2013 | | Monday, May 13, 2013 | It’s been a long, strange spring that felt more like a lingering winter around most of the US. Cries of “fire the groundhog” were heard as we bundled up and endured several, late in the year, snowstorms. But, it looks like summer is finally arriving and everyone can jump (glide in with grace, if you prefer) in the ocean and enjoy the cool refreshing water. Yes, it’s vacation time!
You have planned your vacation, right??? You know, that place with the great pool, that awesome beach condo, the house with the amazing view? Well, better late than never! Look below for some fantastic ideas to cool off at the beach this summer. No more excuses. Go enjoy, relax and have a great summer vacation!
1) Coastal South Carolina – South Carolina lets you pick your beach speed. Ready to hit the ground running and do it all? Myrtle Beach is right up your alley. It has enough offerings and activities to keep you busy without even stepping onto the sand. On the other hand, there is the less commercial, more environmentally conscious Hilton Head Island. Both destinations offer great beaches and golf. In between the two areas lies Charleston with its historical charm and outlying island destinations. Choose from over 200 VRC rentals in coastal SC. http://www.vacationrentalconnection.com/UnitedStates/SouthCarolina/
2) Florida's Gulf Coast - this beautiful stretch of beaches is an amazing and affordable summer destination. “High season” includes winter and spring months with discounted rates offered for summer rentals. From Clearwater Beach south to Naples, you can choose from over 300 VRC homes on or near the clear turquoise blue water of the Gulf of Mexico. http://www.vacationrentalconnection.com/UnitedStates/Florida/GulfCoast/
3) The Outer Banks of North Carolina: The Outer Banks are a unique group of barrier islands stretching for over two hundred miles along the coast of North Carolina. Great surfing, fishing, and shell collecting make the OBX a popular vacation spot for many East Coast families. From the northern 4WD beaches of Carova with their wild Spanish mustangs, to the remote southern gem known as Ocracoke Island, the Outer Banks are a special vacation area. And, with over 16,000 rental homes available, you can always find something! http://www.vacationrentalconnection.com/UnitedStates/NorthCarolina/OuterBanks/
4) Coastal Maine: One word – gorgeous! The coast of Maine is a perfect location to do a little exploring. With so many little towns, each unique and inviting, you can go by car or map out a bike excursion and see the wide variety of rocky cliffs, sandy beaches and stunning scenery. See over 70 vacation homes and pick your starting point. http://www.vacationrentalconnection.com/UnitedStates/Maine/BeachandCoast/
The Gulf Coast of Texas From Galveston all the way down to the end of South Padre Island, there are miles and miles of pretty beaches. Go surfing on South Padre, fishing in Port Aransas and hit the attractions on Galveston. Whether you like crowds and lots of activities or the solitude of a quiet beach, you can find the perfect spot on the Gulf Coast of Texas. http://www.vacationrentalconnection.com/UnitedStates/Texas/GulfCoast/
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| | | | | posted by jill at 12:06 PM | Comments [0] |
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Winter, Winter where is the snow? Fun places to go when it snows! | | Tuesday, January 15, 2013 | Still waiting for our deluge of snow from last winter, let alone this winter. I keep hoping for more fun days on the slopes in the mid-atlantic region, but in the meantime, let’s find a few places to go when it snows. Whether seeking deep powder or hoping to get as far a way as possible from the white stuff, I think you will like the following suggestions.
1) New Hampshire’s White Mountains - This beautiful area of the country is a fantastic destination for skiing and snowboarding for a long list of reasons, but the top one is the multitude of ski resorts in a small geographic region - Cannon, Attitash, Bretton Woods – close to 20 resorts total. http://www.vacationrentalconnection.com/UnitedStates/NewHampshire/WhiteMountain/
2) Snowshoe Mountain, WV – Beautiful mountain scenery, great fun (skiing, snowboarding, snowmobiling) and options without being overwhelmed. Snowshoe is a nice day trip drive from VA, OH, PA, MD, KY, TN. Snowshoe was named best ski resort in the Southeast by On the Snow in 2012 - need I say more? http://www.vacationrentalconnection.com/UnitedStates/WestVirginia/EasternWestVirginia/SnowshoeMountainResort/
3) Lake Tahoe, NV & CA – Gorgeous lakeside ski resorts abound throughout all the areas of the lake. Even if you don’t ski/snowboard the scenery and activities will keep you busy during a winter trip. From gambling on the NV side to snowmobiling and spas throughout, you are sure to find a great spot. http://www.vacationrentalconnection.com/UnitedStates/California/LakeTahoe/
4) Park City and Deer Valley, UT – Fun town (the Sundance film festival is held here for good reason), wonderful ski resorts right next door to each other with skiing only at Deer Valley (one of only a few resorts in the US that is ski only) and skiing and snowboarding at Park City. You can’t go wrong planning a trip here. http://www.vacationrentalconnection.com/UnitedStates/Utah/NorthernUtah/
5) Florida Keys – Get away from the snow, warm your toes and relax in the sunshine down in the keys. You don’t need to visit a third world country in the Caribbean when we have the fabulous FL Keys. Go fishing, diving, snorkeling, play tennis, golf, sightsee, or do absolutely nothing. The temps for this week in January – highs in the low 80s to upper 70s! http://www.vacationrentalconnection.com/UnitedStates/Florida/FloridaKeys/
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| | | | | posted by jill at 1:29 PM | Comments [0] |
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It's July And It's Hot... Here's How To Cool Off This Summer | | Friday, July 06, 2012 | The 4th of July has come and gone and you still haven't gone anywhere this summer? Or maybe you did go on a trip, but you are ready for round two or even round three. We have some ideas for you!!! It's July and it's hot. Like really hot, so I am just going to say it. Don't go to a theme park with little kids or elderly family members in July or August. The asphalt at theme parks gets so hot it will make you feel like you are melting into it. Go to the mountains and cool off preferably in an area with a lake or river nearby. Or, go with the summer standby and go to the beach, but switch it up this time and discover a new beach you've never gone to before.
Here are some fantastic destinations off the beaten path and perfect for a trip this July or August.
1. Lake Lure, NC – Beautiful lake for boating and fishing fun with mountain views to boot. Cold enough not to have gators, but not too cold for a great swim
http://www.vacationrentalconnection.com/UnitedStates/NorthCarolina/Mountains/LakeLure
2. Lake Winnipesaukee, NH – Another choice with an amazing lake and mountain views. Worth the trip to hear the accents of locals alone.
http://www.vacationrentalconnection.com/UnitedStates/NewHampshire/Lakes/LakeWinnipesaukee
3. Northern Georgia - Mountains, rivers, streams, and lakes abound in the beautiful areas in Northern Georgia.
http://www.vacationrentalconnection.com/UnitedStates/Georgia/NorthernGeorgia
4. Big Bear, CA – Lakes, mountains, in kicked back yet civilized Cali - you can't go wrong.
http://www.vacationrentalconnection.com/RentalSearch.aspx?Country=1&State=4&Region=120&Area=999
5. Carolina Beach, NC – beach community off the coast of Wilmington, NC tucked in between two coastal reserves. Easy to access but not a huge tourist spot like its neighbor an hour south, Myrtle Beach .
http://www.vacationrentalconnection.com/UnitedStates/NorthCarolina/CoastalNorthCarolina/CarolinaBeach
6. Venice, FL – A big spot for snowbirds meaning the summer rates are great. Discover smaller gulf coast communities of FL and their charm.
http://www.vacationrentalconnection.com/UnitedStates/Florida/GulfCoast/Venice | posted by jill at 4:57 PM | Comments [0] |
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Summer Is Almost Here! Have You Found the Right Vacation Rental? | | Tuesday, June 12, 2012 | It's that wonderful time of year again. The kids are out of school, the days are longer and vacation time is just around the corner. Your weeks of planning the perfect vacation in just the right vacation rental are about to pay off. All you have to do is pack up for your trip and you're on your way!
Wait a minute... You haven't booked a rental yet? You waited to the last minute to start looking for a vacation spot? No problem! The Vacation Rental Connection has thousands of vacation rentals available this summer and have a few handy tips for making your summer vacation a success.
FOUR HOT SUMMER DESTINATIONS FOR 2012
* Florida's Panhandle: Widely known to locals as the Redneck Riviera, this beautiful stretch of beaches is an amazing summer destination. Panama City, Destin, Fort Walton Beach and Pensacola have beautiful sugar-white sands and the clear blue waters of the Gulf of Mexico. http://www.vacationrentalconnection.com/UnitedStates/Florida/Panhandle/
* The Outer Banks of North Carolina: The Outer Banks are a unique group of barrier islands stretching for over two hundred miles along the coast of North Carolina. Great surfing, fishing, and shell collecting make the OBX a popular vacation spot for many East Coast families. From the northern 4WD beaches of Carova with their wild Spanish mustangs, to the remote southern gem known as Ocracoke Island, the Outer Banks are a special vacation area. And, with over 16,000 rental homes available, you can always find something! http://www.vacationrentalconnection.com/UnitedStates/NorthCarolina/OuterBanks/
* Central Florida / Theme Park Heaven: If you have children to entertain and are looking for a magical trip, a vacation to Orlando in central Florida is a wonderful option! Not only is the Magic Kingdom of Disney World close by, but other theme parks like Universal Orlando, Sea World Orlando, Lego Land and more await you. There are thousands of vacation rentals in the area and you can have an amazing trip visiting some or all of the different theme parks. http://www.vacationrentalconnection.com/UnitedStates/Florida/CentralFlorida/
* Lake Tahoe - California & Nevada Sides: Looking for something different for this year's trip? If you've done the beach trip and theme parks aren't your thing, Lake Tahoe might be the ticket. Lake Tahoe is a huge freshwater lake located in the Sierra Nevada, straddling the state line between California and Nevada. Depending on where you stay, there are a multitude of activities including hiking, biking, climbing, boating, fishing, skiing, swimming and even gambling (if you stay on the Nevada side of the lake). Lake Tahoe has many different options for vacation rentals, ranging from condos to luxurious lake-front mansions. Something for everyone! http://www.vacationrentalconnection.com/UnitedStates/California/LakeTahoe/ |
| |  click for larger image | A Disney World vacation is the stuff children's dreams are made of. Magic for the whole family. |
| | posted by jill at 3:15 PM | Comments [1] |
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Five Fall Trips Off the Beaten Path for 2011 | | Monday, October 10, 2011 | So you think this is another travel blog telling you to visit Boone, NC, the Poconos, Pigeon Forge, Aspen, Vermont, et al? Think again. These are outside of the box, amazing fall trips where you are sure to have a great time, avoid the crowds and maybe save a buck or two. 1. Orlando/Kissimmee - Trust me on this one! The best time to hit the theme parks is when school is in session, no one is on any type of holiday break and the weather is divine. You won't miss the blistering upper 90s that hit during the summer one bit! Just remember to bypass Columbus Day weekend and Thanksgiving as they are always busy, and book any other time in the fall. You should be able to move around town and the theme parks with ease and the rates for vacation rentals are typically very affordable. If you have children, its worth pulling them out of school to visit Orlando in the fall especially since Legoland is opening its newest location in nearby Winter Haven in Mid October 2011. http://www.vacationrentalconnection.com/UnitedStates/Florida/CentralFlorida/ 2. Ft. Myers - There is a brief window when the summer beach crowds have dwindled, hurricane season has peaked and the snow birds haven't made it down in droves yet. This is the best time to relax on the beautiful beaches in the Ft. Myers / South West Florida area. From Bonita Springs to Marco Island, you will find some of the most amazing beaches in the world. Go shelling and bike riding on the islands of Sanibel and Captiva. Take a charter fishing boat out for the day or spend time on the area golf courses. http://www.vacationrentalconnection.com/UnitedStates/Florida/GulfCoast/FortMyersBeach/ 3. Outer Banks, NC - Skip hurricane season, the crowds, and the peak rates on vacation rentals and come in the fall. But, shh, please don't tell anyone else! The weather is perfect for strolls on the beach, fishing excursions, kayaking on the sounds, hiking up lighthouses and the Wright Brothers Memmorial, touring the Elizabethan gardens and shopping along the waterfront in Manteo. And, the best news is, the temporary bridge has just opened allowing vehicle traffic back onto Hatteras Island. So, plan a trip to the Outer Banks and help revive the businesses who have been shut off from their lifelines since Hurricane Irene traversed the Pamlico sound this past August. They will be thrilled to have you there! http://www.vacationrentalconnection.com/UnitedStates/NorthCarolina/OuterBanks/ 4. San Diego - Everyone knows San Diego for its beautiful beaches, its amazing weather and its phenomal zoo. Head there during the month of October, and kids 3 - 11 are admitted FREE to the zoo (a $30 savings per child/day). The weather is perfect for touring the historic sites, visiting the amusement parks and enjoying cozy fires on the beach at night. Take a surf lesson, go snorkeling or kayaking in La Jolla Cove and enjoy yourself, knowing you have visited at the right time avoiding the summer crowds and those that are currently at the apple orchards and pumpkin patches you've been to dozens of times already. http://www.vacationrentalconnection.com/UnitedStates/California/SanDiegoCounty/ 5. Maui - Do you know what the average temperature is in Maui during November? Mid 80s! Amazing weather for the beach, golf, tennis, biking, hiking, snorkeling..... you get the picture. Peak rates are during the winter when everyone north of the Mason Dixon line has had it with shoveling their sidewalk. So, if you go just a month earlier, you will have a great time getting in a little sunshine before the cold weather hits and you won't break the bank. And its Hawaii people, its beautiful! http://www.vacationrentalconnection.com/UnitedStates/Hawaii/Maui/ |
| |  click for larger image | A Vacation Rental Connection listing in Corolla a northern community on the Outer Banks of North Carolina. |
| |  click for larger image | An ocean front condo in the Lahaina section of Maui listed on Vacation Rental Connection. |
| posted by jill at 9:18 PM | Comments [7] |
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