Ten-Day Vacation Ideas

You can see and do a lot in ten days, here are three trips that are worth the extra time.

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Alaska stretches out over 656,000 square miles of space, and exploring the state is a once-in-a-lifetime trip.  Alaska’s Marine Highway was founded in 1963 and today, 11 ferries travel over 3,500 miles on the “marine highway” between Washington state and Alaska’s Aleutian Islands. Visitors who take this route will come away with a deep understanding of Alaska’s diverse and scenic coastline and communities.

There is nothing like a vacation to Australia.  Do a road trip to see the sights and sounds of hotspots like Melbourne, Sydney, and the Gold Coast.  Experience wildlife and nature at destinations like Kangaroo Island, El Questro, and the Bungle Bungle Range. And of course Australia is known for its Great Barrier Reef, so plan time to go snorkeling or scuba diving.

Finland might not be on your vacation radar, but it should be.  The winter guarantees snow, which is great for skiing or snowshoeing.  Summer’s days are filled with light, making it a great season to explore the country’s small towns and great outdoors. Head north to Lapland, the largest region in Finland and one of the best places in the world to see the northern lights phenomenon.

So if you’re one of the lucky ones who are planning a long vacation this year, enjoy one of these great life-list destinations.

Beach Destinations for Families

But where is there to go for summer vacation?  That might be something you are asking yourself and sure, big waves, romantic sunsets, and turquoise waters are great. But carrying a crying toddler across miles of burning sand or having your family picnic ruined by some boozing twentysomethings can really ruin a beach vacation. These five beach towns offer a great balance of family friendliness (think: extracurricular activities, nearby hotels, parking) and surf and sand.

Cannon Beach, Oregon
Cannon Beach, 80 miles west of Portland, is named for a cannon that washed ashore in 1846 from the shipwrecked USS Shark. The area offers an abundance of activities including an annual castle-building contest in June. Many well-known natural landmarks such as the Haystack Rock and Needles can be seen from the coastline. With a quaint downtown filled with small businesses and a farmer’s market every Tuesday, Cannon Beach will let you sit back, relax, and enjoy food, family, and friends.

Waikiki, Hawaii
From surfing to the zoo, from restaurants to parks, Waikiki has something for everyone in your family. Found in Honolulu, Waikiki used to be a retreat for Hawaiian royalty. Today, the beachfront is lined with hotels and resorts and hosts many events throughout the year, including surf competitions and outdoor performances. There is also the iconic Diamond Head Crater, the 500-arce Kapiolani Park, a zoo, and an aquarium for when you get too much sun.

Ocean City, New Jersey
Nicknamed “America’s Greatest Family Resort,” Ocean City has miles of guarded beaches, a 2.5 mile boardwalk with amusement parks, a water park, miniature golf, and many unique restaurants and shops. Families can find many fun things to do from a fireworks to concerts to auto shows. Cape May, to the south, makes for a great day trip as well.

Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
Myrtle Beach has camping, resorts, outlet malls, go-cart parks, waterslides, thousands of restaurants, plenty of shows, and 60 miles of wide, soft sandy beaches. Plus, it boasts some of the best (and, with more than 250, most) golf courses in the south, some created by Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, or Greg Norman. With the average high hovering in the high 80s and a wide variety of activities for all ages, it is one of the top family beach destination in the United States.

Clearwater, Florida
Considered one of America’s best beaches, Clearwater will offer your family a fun relaxing vacation. The clear, warm waters are shallow; the lifeguards on duty are attentive; and the beaches include a pier and accessible restrooms. The kids will enjoy building sandcastles while the parents keep an eye out from underneath their umbrella. Older kids can rent jet skis if they get restless.

Beach Vacations on a Budget

Summer goes hand in hand with taking a great beach vacation. Here are three budget-friendly destinations that won’t stretch your wallet.

Destin, in the heart of the Florida panhandle, is known for its 100-miles of white sandy beaches and its world-famous fishing.  Wake up early and take a stroll on the beach with the pelicans and sandpipers, just as the fishing boats head out into the Gulf.  Rent your own fishing pole and impress your friends and family with a fish dinner caught by yours truly. Now that’s thrifty!

The Outer Banks of North Carolina is second on our list. They’re a lot of budget-friendly things to do on these barrier islands besides relax on the beach. Watch for birds, wild horses, and turtles as they roam the 130 miles of pristine shore. Visit one of the area’s four lighthouses, or head to Kitty Hawk– and see where the Wright brother’s learned to fly.

Costa Rica is the destination for travelers looking for adventure and relaxation, all at a decent price. Many well-known resorts dot the Pacific coast, but head to the Caribbean side, where beach-front bungalows are cheap and you can walk all the way to Panama on the quiet beaches.

So even with a small budget, there are plenty of great options to get some sand between your toes this summer.

Five Burger Stops for Memorial Day

This year, Americans will consume 1.3 billion pounds of ground beef, with more of it eaten on Memorial Day than any other day of the year. Some 70-percent of those burgers will be eaten outside of the backyard. And restaurants, from fine New York steakhouses to beachside greasy spoons, are ramping up their menus with juicy new takes on the patty melt.

The other Memorial Day constant? The open road. According to AAA, 28 million Americans will take a road trip this Memorial Day; why not combine your burger craving with a weekend escape might be your best bet for summer’s first long weekend? Here are five destinations where the only thing better than the burgers are the lineup of post-lunch patriotic events.

Brooklyn, New York

Burger joint: Peter Luger Steakhouse

Peter Luger’s has been rated New York’s number one steakhouse for 26 years running. And while you can drop a small fortune on their famous Porterhouse, the lunchtime and its succulent, half-pound Luger-Burger is a steal. Prime aged-porterhouse trimmings and prime chuck come topped with American cheese, the bacon, and raw onion to create an amazing effect on your taste buds. After gorging yourself, head down to the Coney Island for Fleet Week, where events like parades, competitions, and tours of ships honor the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps.

 

Wilmington, Delaware

Burger joint: Charcoal Pit

Hidden in oft-passed-over Wilmington, the Charcoal Pit first opened its doors in September 1956. It keeps that ‘50s vibe with neon lights and Black and White milkshakes that Esquire Magazine once featured in a piece titled “67 Things Worth a Detour.” After you finish your eight-ounce charbroiled hamburger (just $6.79 with fries), be sure to walk along the Christian River or check out the Memorial Day Parade that starts at Delaware & Woodlawn avenues.

 

Atlanta, Georgia

Burger Joint: Holeman & Finch

Holeman & Finch Public House off of Peachtree Road keeps burger lovers on their toes.  Each night at 10:00 p.m. a bullhorn sounds in the restaurant, signaling the start of the fastest burger chowdown anywhere. Cooks put out only 24 double patty cheeseburgers and hungry buyers snatch them up in less than a minute. So if you want to try the yummy goodness, show up a little early and hope that you are at least the 24^th person in line. It’s a great way to wrap up a day after visiting the Atlanta Jazz Festival or the Georgia Renaissance Festival, both of which take place over Memorial Day weekend.

 

San Antonio, Texas

Burger Joint: Chris Madrid’s

Chris Madrid’s in historic mid-town San Antonio opened in 1977 with six varieties of burgers and a promise to “cook each item as if you were cooking it for a friend.”  This type of attention to grill detail has had critics calling Madrid’s burgers some of “best in the world.”  They come with a side of nachos instead of fries—a variation that is purely San Antonio. Those unfamiliar with this West Texas hub will want to head down to the San Antonio River Walk for the Memorial Day Arts & Crafts Show or hope to catch the chili cook-off by the famous Chili Queens of San Antonio.

Los Angeles, California

Burger Joint: The Original In-N-Out Burger

(original location in Baldwin Park, 25 min East of Los Angeles, CA)

They do make great burgers, Walter, and have for 63 years. Now with 258 additional locations across the southwest, it’s not hard to find one of In-N-Out’s classic handmade burgers. But the original In-N-Out Burger, opened by Harry and Esther Snyder in Baldwin Park, California, still stands. Known as California’s first drive-thru hamburger stand, you will find the same menu with burgers and fries that customers enjoyed in 1948. Order up to four, yes four, patties on a single bun, or go with an off-the-menu favorite like the “animal style 3×3” (three mustard-cooked patties, three slices of cheese, lettuce, onion, tomato, and extra pickle). Find a beach-side parking spot and people watch, or finish of your meal and head to prime events like City of Angels Wine Fest or the JazzReggae Festival at UCLA.

Weekend Getaways: BBQ Style

Memorial Day marks the first long weekend of summer, and it is the perfect opportunity to kick off the season with a trip. Weekend getaways and barbecue are practically synonymous with summer, so why not combine the two? Here are some of the best areas around the country to discover whether you like your barbecue pulled, sliced, shredded, wet or dry.

                                            

Texas (Lockhart)

A lot of restaurants in the Lone Star State serve “Texas barbecue,” but Texas barbecue is not just one style. Texas actually has four different styles of barbecue, and what you get depends on which side of the invisible line you’re standing on. East Texas style is slow cooked to the point that it’s “falling off the bone.” Central Texas’s focus is on the meat, which is typically rubbed with spices and cooked over indirect heat, served with sauce on the side. These two styles are the most well-known. South Texas barbeque is coated in either a molasses-like sauce or a spicy Mexican style called barbacoa, while West Texas-style meat is cooked over direct heat and can have a bitter taste.

 Which should you choose? If you only have time for one town, try Lockhart in Central Texas. It is considered the “Barbecue Capital of Texas.” Lockhart has a grand total of four barbecue restaurants, but they average 5,000 visitors each week, so you know they’re serving something special.

Missouri (Kansas City)

Kansas City celebrates barbecue the way that Philly embraces cheesesteaks, meaning every local has their own opinion about where to find the best food. The sauce is Kansas City’s signature, think K.C. Masterpiece, one of the best-selling barbecue sauces in America. When you venture to Kansas City, be sure to order a plate of “burnt ends.” These are the morsels from the edges of the brisket, and they are one of the yummiest things you will ever taste.

The Carolinas (Lexington, N.C.)

Barbecue in the Carolinas is more than just a style of cooking, it is a culture. The differences across the states can be determined by which sauce is used. A vinegar-based sauce means you are in the east; central North Carolina combines ketchup and vinegar; western barbecue is primarily tomato based; and South Carolina is mainly known for its mustard-based sauce. The small town of Lexington, N.C., stakes its claim as “The Barbecue Capital of the World.” Known for its wood-smoked chopped pork and red and white coleslaws, Lexington attracts barbecue lovers from all over the country.

Tennessee (Memphis)

For any barbeque lover a trip to Memphis, Tenn., is a must. This southern belle of a city might be the “Home of the Blues,” but it’s also the home of more than 100 barbeque joints. Memphis barbecue is known for its tomato- and vinegar-based sauces, but a favorite at some Memphis establishments is meat that is dry-rubbed and smoked over hickory wood, and then served with sauce on the side. Either way, when your hardest decision all weekend is whether to have your ribs wet or dry, you know it’s a good vacation.

Other highlights

If you find yourself near St. Louis, then try the regional specialty called snoots; don’t even ask what it is, but just enjoy its crispy goodness. St. Louis also has its own style of ribs that are neatly trimmed before they are cooked. Western Kentucky is one of the only areas known for mutton, which is lamb-based versus the traditional pork or beef. Oklahoma combines Texas, Kansas City, and Memphis barbecue styles, and California’s well-known barbecue dish is called tri-tip beef rump.

Getaways for Memorial Day Weekend

Memorial Day marks the first long weekend of summer, and it’s the perfect opportunity to kick off the season with a trip. I’ve picked picked three destinations that promise to deliver a fun weekend getaway.

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For any barbeque lover, a trip to Memphis, Tennessee, is a must.  This southern belle of a city might be the “Home of the Blues,” but it’s also the home of more than 100 barbeque joints. When you’re hardest decision all weekend is whether to have your ribs wet or dry…you know it was a good vacation.

For many travelers, Memorial Day is synonymous with the beach. And I suggest heading to Hilton Head Island in South Carolina. Beach bums are sure to find a spot to soak up the sun on the island’s 12 miles of sandy coastline, while active types can explore 100 miles of bike trails or tee off at one of the 20 golf courses.

Want a weekend dose of the great outdoors? Look north to Portland, Maine.  This “Jewel by the Sea” has a relatively new arts scene, but it has long been revered for its lobster shacks and lighthouses. Hiking or sea-kayaking on Casco Bay is a great way to take in all the sights.

So round up the crew and start the summer off right with a weekend escape for Memorial Day.