Country Vacations & Resorts

If requirements for your Summer 2012 vacation are, “Golf, golf, and more golf” you might be interested in any one of the 3 luxury gulf resorts and spas linked below.

Even better news, 10% off your first purchase of $1,000 or more at Luxury Link through 5/31 with code LUX10.

Some of the on-sight amenities:

+ Beauty Salon + Concierge
+ Spa on Property + Library
+ Fitness Center + Bicycle Rental
+ Boutiques + Outdoor Pool
+ Tennis Courts + Personal Trainers
+ Driving Range + 18-Hole Golf Course

CuisinArt Golf Resort & Spa
Anguilla, British West Indies

Makena Beach & Golf Resort, Hawaii

Makena Beach & Golf Resort on the island of Maui, Hawaii, is perched on 1800 stunning acres of oceanfront property, between the dramatic slopes of Mount Haleakala and the sparkling Pacific Ocean.

Undisturbed peace and quiet is yours, with an ocean view free of charge and exquisitely plush offerings that will comfort your family. Spa themed wash rooms and delectably soft bedding invite you to a deep sleep or afternoon nap. A post card perfect Hawaiian sanctuary.

Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay Golf Resort, Spa and Marina

Located in Cambridge, Maryland, and perched on the stately banks of the Choptank River, the Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay Golf Resort,Spa and Marina faces the waterfront on an expansive 400-acre Eastern shore property in Maryland.

Discover the unrivaled services of the Hyatt, ensuring exquisite comfort for traveling families during your stay. Centrally located to the historic centerpieces of Annapolis museums and landmarks, expect the finest treatment and amenities at this Four Diamond resort.

News this week for your travel – maybe in the great outdoors!

+ Minnesota state parks and trails to offer ‘how to’ camping, paddling, climbing, fishing, archery programs for families this summer

+ Camping at Escalante Petrified Forest State Park

+ New Climbing and Moutaineering Summer Camps for Teens

+ Participation in Outdoor Recreation Reaches Highest Level in Five Years

+ Park and Read Program Gives Library Customers a Free Pass

+ Chesapeake, VA Parks And Recreation Announces KayaXpedition Event June 9 – 10

+ 7 Great Hotels Where You Can Cook Like a Local

+ Hilton Queenstown, New Zealand named one of the world’s hottest new hotels

This is a pretty nice offer from Expedia.com…

If you’re stumped on where to go Summer 2012, have a look through the Country Vacations & Resorts Destinations List for some new ideas on great destinations.

Only 3 days left on this deal:

Expedia Top 10 Deals! Book your best-value hotel today! – Expires 5/7/12

The Kentucky Derby is a Grade I stakes race for three-year-old Thoroughbred horses held annually in Louisville, Kentucky on the first Saturday in May and caps the two-week-long Kentucky Derby Festival. The race is one and a quarter miles (2 km) at Churchill Downs. Colts and geldings carry 126 pounds (57.2 kg) and fillies 121 pounds (54.9 kg).

The race is known in the United States as “The Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports” or “The Fastest Two Minutes in Sports” for its approximate duration, and is also called “The Run for the Roses” for the blanket of roses draped over the winner. It is the first leg of the US Triple Crown and is followed by the Preakness Stakes, then the Belmont Stakes. The horse must win all three races to win the Triple Crown.

+ Fates of some of the past Kentucky Derby Favorites

Attendance at the Kentucky Derby ranks first in North America and usually surpasses the attendance of all other stakes races including the Preakness Stakes, Belmont Stakes and the Breeders’ Cup.

Here’s a video of the 2009 Kentucky Derby:

This is exciting enough but watching this championship of sporting events in the thoroughbred world is probably like watching auto racing – nothing like the experience of actually being there!

Visit the official site of the Kentucky Derby 2012 for race times, info on betting, history of the derby, and for more information on all the activities taking place up to the post time and after.

Race Day 2012 is this Saturday, May 5, 2012 – post time approximately 6:24pm ET.

More about planning your visit to Kentucky from the state’s tourism center. You can sign up here for a copy of the tourist’s guide or access the online version.

Prices here, as everywhere else, continue to rise…

While the main focus of this blog is “travel,” it is also about finding great destinations – otherwise, travel is rather a pointless endeavor.

At the same time, I do love some great scenic views – whether it be beach or mountain, and once and awhile I take a meander through prime real estate ads because the properties listed have such fantastic settings. From Caribbean real estate in the millions to many-acre mountain properties, it constantly amazes me how much bang-for-the-buck we lovers of country locations can find.

Here is an example -just in the good old USA and each of these spectacular properties are on the market for $3,995,000 US.

Our first example is in Florida…

Particulars:

+ 5500 square feet
+ Built in 2010
+ 5 bedrooms, 6 baths
+ Exclusive location on the intracoastal waterway
+ Lot size: not listed

You can quickly see that this luxurious property is in very close proximity to its neighbor.

Maybe I am rather weird, but if I’m dropping nearly 4 million dollars into a property, I want privacy. While this property is conveniently located to shopping and dining in the beautiful city of Golden Beach, Florida, it is just not my cup of tea.

Based on square footage alone – which is admittedly deceiving since the land price is a critical component – this property will cost me $726 per square foot. For more detailed info on this property visit: Viviun.com.

Property #2

Particulars:

+ A 6000 square foot “outbuilding”
+ Main house square footage: Not listed
+ Built in 1999
+ 4 bedrooms, 5 baths
+ Longmont, Colorado – fantastic mountain views
+ Lot size: 10 acres

I see no neighbors – which means I will HEAR no neighbors!

This is important to me – may not be to you.

I realize there are a lot of people who would feel a bit creepy living in this 10-acre environment. Some people NEED density. But for my dollars – or rather the $4 million I’d need, this property gets me more space, more flexibility for any future plans I might have, and that 6,000 square foot outbuilding ensures I have room for all the “toys” a property such as this wants and needs.

Guessing the house itself is around 8,000 square feet, my per square foot price is around $500. Realtors who may read this will go berserk that I am making any comparison between this “apple” and this “orange” but really it is not about the house, it’s about taking financial advantage if what you truly want is a country lifestyle. For vacation rentals – same philosophy…

More about this fantastic Colorado property here.

I normally don’t pick such things as a “Spa of the Day” but this one is truly an exception…

The Marquis Boutique Hotel and Spa is located on Saint Martin, French West Indies.

On the pristine white sands of Anse Marcel on the island of Saint Martin, is the wonderful Marquis Boutique Hotel and Spa. With a relaxed cabana atmosphere, fantastic terraces with ocean views, and all the modern comforts you need, each room is perfect for families. Stroll to the beach to swim, surf, snorkel, or dive in the warm waters of the Caribbean, or charter a boat for a day at sea.

Enjoy great shopping in the town of Anse Marcel, often tax free, or take a beautiful nature hike before sitting down at one of many area restaurants for dinner.

And yes! There is a spa on the property…

Marquis Boutique Hotel and Spa – Package Details…

I wanted to re-post the US State Fairs list now that we’re getting closer in time to many of these event dates.

Photo: Credit

Although the first on tap is the North Dakota State Fair, July 20 through 28, 2012, anyone making plans to visit then should be making plans – now. (Florida’s State Fair was in February 2012.)

Contact North Dakota’s Official Tourism Office.

For international travelers…the United States is more than just New York, Florida, California, Las Vegas, and Washington, DC. To really experience America and her people, get out of town and visit the rest of the country.