Country Vacations & Resorts

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.

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.

After my recent experience with noisy vacation neighbors, from now on, I’m renting a separate unit versus a condo. This doesn’t guarantee I won’t hear from any neighbors – just that they won’t be tromping overhead all evening.

Here are some options to consider. These particular units are in California, but there are vacation cottage options all over the world.

Near Santa Barbara, the 3 bedroom, Paradise Cottage offers ocean views and a delightful garden.

Summerland, on the edge of Santa Barbara and Montecito, has a delightful village atmosphere with unique shops, a local winery, several restaurants and coffee shops.

The cottage has an open and airy feeling with vaulted ceilings, a large inviting kitchen, hardwood floors and wool carpets, decks off the kitchen and master bedroom, fireplace, heated tile floors, digital cable, high-speed wireless Internet, DVD/VCR and is furnished with antiques. Landscaping is extraordinary with an English garden including roses and numerous flowering plants year-round.

Or how about the Cape Cod styled 2-story Cambria Cottage ?

A short walk to town and Moonstone Beach. Located in the “Happy Hill” section of Cambria – right above the West Village. Neighborhood is peaceful with various wildlife and sounds of the ocean. Close to hiking trails in the forest or beach, shopping, antiques, wine tasting, restaurants, Hearst Castle, etc.

This is a charming and spacious cottage with open living area with several windows to enjoy the view, full kitchen, 3/4 bath, bedroom and loft. You’ll have great ocean views from bedroom, living area, and deck.

Ellen’s Cottage at Pleasure Point is located in beautiful Santa Cruz, California.

The large backyard grassy lawn has a great view of the Monterey Bay from a new redwood deck with outdoor table and umbrella and features a large hot tub.

One off-street parking space is a rare find in this popular area. BBQ and 2 lounge chairs and a table or sit on the redwood deck under the umbrella and have wonderful dining. Smell and hear the beach from this home! Great surfing beaches 3 houses away. Walk your dog along East Cliff Drive. No parking permits required near home. Pets OK.

Cottages or Villas, vacation rental accommodations offer as many options as the destinations themselves.

Start your “cottage” search with Vacation Home Rentals – over 600 cottage vacation rentals available!

Sounds peaceful doesn’t it?

In fact, selecting a lakeside resort or cabin for your next vacation can be as active or as inactive as you choose. Here are some great options from Luxury Link that might get you thinking about finding a lake to suit your vacation destination requirements.

The Hotel des Trois Couronnes – Deluxe Lake View Room package is located in beautiful Vevey, Switzerland.

Click the link above to find out about their special 3 night package which includes: welcome drinks, buffet breakfasts, access to spa, and wireless access – so you can send your incredible images home to envious friends and family!

This sounds like a double-win for me with my need to be near the water and my love of history travel…

The Camp Richardson Historic Resort & Marina is in scenic South Lake Tahoe, California.

A variety of lodging options, including rustic cabins and comfortable hotel lodge rooms, welcomes you and your family to relax and enjoy this Northern California vacation destination. Without distractions of the modern world, you can truly spend quality time together, with days exploring the lake and mountains, and evenings relaxing around a fire. Conveniently located right on the lake, all the outdoor recreation you can imagine is steps away.

This puts a little twist on my normal rustic lake thoughts, but who can argue with Las Vegas AND a beautiful lake?

Choose Ravella at Lake Las Vegas just 15 minutes from the strip, in Henderson, Nevada.

Stroll right down to the marina and take a sailboat out on the lake, glide through the cool waters on a kayak, or go fly fishing from the shores. A hike along the shores and hills of the lake makes for a perfect family outing, or you can go horseback riding on the area’s picturesque trails. As the sun sets, dine on seasonal menus inspired by Italy at the hotel’s Medici Café & Terrace.

Enjoy the hustle and bustle of the Strip and then head back to Ravella for some downtime peace and quiet.

Hundreds of options for a custom and perfect vacation destination and accommodation await you at Luxury Link! Take advantage of these limited-time offers…

+ Save $100 on Staff Picks with code STAFF100 at LuxuryLink.com!

+ 10% off your first purchase of $1,000 or more at Luxury Link through 4/30 with code LUX10

+ Bid on Hot Travel Deals at Luxury Link

You have to admit that the word “Villa” brings to mind a luxury experience. No offense intended, but no one says, “Hey, I’m staying at a great Motel 6 Villa.”

Instead they expect something like this – which is “Villa” defined by Wikipedia:

“A villa was originally an ancient Roman upper-class country house. Since its origins in the Roman villa, the idea and function of a villa have evolved considerably. After the fall of the Roman Republic, villas became small farming compounds, which were increasingly fortified in Late Antiquity, sometimes transferred to the Church for reuse as a monastery. Then they gradually re-evolved through the Middle Ages, into elegant upper-class country homes. In modern parlance ‘villa’ can refer to a various types and sizes of residences, ranging from the suburban “semi-detached” double villa to residences in the wildland-urban interface.”

Here are my top 3 picks in the “Villas” category this week from Luxury Link…

A villa in Italy… Need I say more?

Villa Termini – Palaia, Italy

My sister spent her February 2012 birthday in Saint Lucia. Her one-word description upon return…”Incredible!”

Stonefield Estate Villa Resort & Spa – Soufrière, Saint Lucia

If you’ve been on this blog for more than one visit you might have known I’d find something for you in the British Virgin Islands! And here it is!

Hawk’s Nest – Tortola, British Virgin Islands

Over 50 more “villa” destination choices waiting for you…