TripCart’s US Travel Blog

Romantic Getaways in New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania

Posted on November 18, 2008 by TripCart

As promised, the list continues! This time we find secret hideaways in the New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania regions.

Catskills and Hudson Valley Romance – Relax, couples-style, at the Mohonk Mountain House Resort & Spa in New Paltz. Then go for a romantic hike through Kaaterskill Falls.
New York City Romance – Have a classic New York City tourist day with a trip to Central Park, a ride up to the top of the Empire State Building, and a Broadway show in Times Square. Top it all of with a couple’s massage and a soak in the tub at the Mandarin Oriental Spa!
Jersey Shore Romance – Take a romantic walk on Sandy Hook Beach, get lucky in Atlantic City Casinos, and then chill on the Atlantic City Boardwalk and the Atlantic City Beach before returning to the Borgata Hotel Casino’s Spa Toccare for a luxurious treatment for two.
Long Island Romance – Imbibe on wine and love at the North Fork Wineries. Head out to Westhampton and find an empty spot to relax in the Westhampton Beach Village.
Eastern Pennsylvania Romance – Get down and dirty with a romantic, chocolaty experience at Hotel Hershey’s Chocolate Spa in Hershey, Pennsylvania.
Southwestern Pennsylvania Romance – Roadtrip through fall foliage majesty and stop for the night at Lakeview Golf Resort & Spa in Morgantown, West Virginia. Then head to Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater in Mill Run, Pennsylvania for an architectural and natural (and romantic) wonder!

Presidential Memorials

Posted on November 2, 2008 by TripCart

In continuation of our goal to promote the vote in our Political Orientation Month, we thought we’d highlight some of our nation’s memorial sites that celebrate the lives of past presidents. The question on hand now…in a hundred years from now, will there be a presidential memorial for Obama or McCain?

In the meantime, visit these sites to boost your political IQ and gain an appreciation for the men and women (though, really these sites are just of the men…) who have helped shape American political history.

Happy Halloween from Salem, Massachusetts

Posted on October 29, 2008 by TripCart

Yes, that’s right. It’s that time of year again, and this year’s featured spooky spot is Salem, Massachusetts. What better way to celebrate the darkest day of the year than to walk in the footsteps of witchery and torture! Obviously, by now we know that the real atrocities were done by the witch hunters and not the “witches”, that the true horrors were the persecutors, not the persecutees.

Take some time to learn the REAL stories of these “witches” at the Witch History Museum in Salem. The witch hysteria peaked in 1692-1693. Over 150 people (mostly women) were arrested and accused of practicing witchcraft. About 20 people were finally convicted and executed. The only way out was to point a finger at someone else to take your place.

You can visit the Salem Village of 1692 when you enter the Witch Dungeon Museum. Chilling stories are told of the wrongful imprisonment and persecution of innocent people who were believed to be evil. You’ll learn who the real evildoers were….

Another compelling way to explore this chilling story is at the Salem Wax Museum. Experience Salem witch history through the medium of wax—see Colonel John Hawthorne, the merciless Witch Trials judge, and Tituba, one of the most famous “witches”. You’ll also see non-witch figures like Nathaniel Hawthorne (from the area) and the pirates of New England.

Happy Halloween, and remember that real witches may not be who you think they are…
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Filed under: Festivals & Celebrations, Gigs and Events, Travel/Tourism | Tagged: Budget Travel, History Museums, Museum Favorites, Other Museum, Places To See, Season Of The Witch, Sightseeing Travel, The Road Less Traveled, The Witch, Travel Destinations, Travel Guide, Travel Miscellany, Travel Place, Travel Planning, Travel Specials, Travel Websites, What's Your Trip | No Comments »

Under the boardwalk… up and running by the beach this Fall

Posted on October 23, 2008 by TripCart

Here’s a topic I never gave much thought to: boardwalks. And yet, just the other day I went out to Rehoboth Beach and went for a nice jog up and down what was a very nice boardwalk—in fact, as I learned later, it was voted as the best boardwalk in American by Reader’s Digest in 2006! I guess I never really considered it a genre of travel. And yet, if you think about it, sometimes a beach’s boardwalk is the highlight of a beach trip. When it’s too cold to go in the water, when it’s too dark to head out to the beach, when you’re not in the mood to get sand in your shoes, if you’ve got a bike—those are all ideal times to hit up the action on the boardwalk. And especially now, in this not-too-hot and not-too-cold weather, boardwalks become an ideal place for a morning jog or a mid-afternoon stroll. Bring a sweater and a camera, and you’ll be all set for some prime ocean scene photography. Here’s a list of the top 10 boardwalks in America. Quick! Get out there! Before it gets too cold!

(Thank you ShermansTravel!)
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Filed under: Beach Resorts, Family Fun Ideas, Romantic Destinations, TopTen, Travel/Tourism | Tagged: Beach Vacations, Beach Walking, Boardwalk, Budget Travel, Family Holidays, Family Vacation, Family Vacations, Kid Entertainment, Ocean City, Places To See, Travel Destinations, Travel Miscellany, Travel Specials, Traveling With Children, What's Your Trip | No Comments »

Not too late for a second honeymoon (or third, or fourth, or fifth…)

Posted on October 20, 2008 by TripCart

You don’t have to be a newlywed to go on a romantic vacation and it doesn’t need to be the summertime in order for you to get away. And last but not least, you don’t need to go all the way to Hawaii to find that special romantic spot. There are romantic getaways as close as one town over—no need to book expensive flights (though let’s take a moment to cheer for the drop in oil and gas prices!) when you can just jump in your car or take a Greyhound bus to a spa or a romantic hiking spot right nearby!

Let’s start with the Northeast Coast for today, but stay tuned for more ideas in your region!

Maine Coast Romance – Find comfort in your lover’s arms and in small town charm in Ogunquit, Maine. Hang out at Ogunquit Beach and treat yourselves to blissful treatments at the Cliff House Resort and Spa!
New Hampshire and Vermont Romance – Retreat to the Woodstock Inn Resort and Spa in Woodstock, Vermont and enjoy a ski getaway at the Stowe Mountain Ski Resort Area in Burlington!
Coastal Massachusetts and Rhode Island Romance – Chill on Martha’s Vineyard, soak up some sun on Moshup Beach, and then head back to Boston where you can read poetry in the Public Garden after a sensual massage at the Four Seasons Hotel & Spa in Boston. Finish your trip off by heading south a bit to the Norwich Inn and Spa for a spa double whammy!

Political Orientation Month - Political sites in the U.S.

Posted on October 18, 2008 by TripCart

It’s an exciting time in our nation with the upcoming presidential elections. I’ve heard this election called the most crucial ever—but don’t they say that every year? But with the crashing economy, Wall Street, the war in Iraq, gas and oil prices, Iran, terrorism, and increased healthcare problems, it really does become clear that CHANGE is in order. So wherever you think that change should come from, go out on Election Day and make your voice heard!

In preparation, we’d like to designate this time as U.S. Political Orientation Month. Now’s the time (if you haven’t already, of course) to get out there and start learning about the people and parties who formed this country and who keep it alive and running. Here are a few places in the U.S. that can help you orient yourself in U.S political affairs.

States are closing their doors for registration ANY DAY NOW…so register, educate yourselves, and VOTE!
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Filed under: Festivals & Celebrations, Gigs and Events, Travel/Tourism | Tagged: Historical Sites, History Museums, I Love New York 2, New York NY, New York City Notes, DC Blogs, California Dreamin, DC Talk, Boston Massachusetts, President 2008, US Presidential Election 2008, Gender & Politics, Presidential Primaries, Politics USA, Political Culture, 2008 Presidential Primary, California Dreaming | 1 Comment »

Best City Skylines and Architectural Museums

Posted on October 10, 2008 by TripCart

I guess it should come as no surprise that the biggest cities have the best skylines. Generally speaking, the bigger the city, the bigger the downtown area, the bigger the business and industrial sector, the taller the buildings and the greater the view. Each of these cities has a rich historical architectural history—check them out, and enjoy the view! New York City, Chicago, Boston, Atlanta, Los Angeles, Houston, San Francisco, Miami, Seattle, Washington, D.C.

There are a few museums that celebrate architectural history. We recommend these:

Celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month!

Posted on October 3, 2008 by TripCart

We are smack in the middle of National Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15 – October 15) and museums all around our nation’s capital are celebrating the life and history of the 44 million people in the United States who are of Hispanic origin. Check out these exhibits in some of Washington, D.C.’s finest museums to learn about the culture and history that has significantly helped shaped America today.

At the National Gallery of Art:

Courtly Art of the Ancient Maya
The Cubist Paintings of Diego Rivera: Memory, Politics, Place
Picasso: The Early Years, 1892-1906

At the Library of Congress:

Spanish Missions
The Cultures and History of the Americas: The Jay I. Kislak Collection
Ethnography and Folklore: Alan Lomax Collection
Parallel Histories: Spain, the United States, and the American Frontier
Puerto Rico at the Dawn of the Modern Age
Hispano Music and Culture of the Northern Rio Grande: The Juan B. Rael Collection
Hispanic Americans in Congress
The Spanish-American War in Motion Pictures
The World of 1898: The Spanish-American War

At the Smithsonian Institution:
Legacy: Spain and the United States in the Age of Independence

These exhibits are brought to you by: The Library of Congress, National Gallery of Art, National Endowment for the Humanities, National Park Service, Smithsonian Institution, United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, and the U.S. National Archives and Records Administration.

(Thank you Library of Congress for the list of exhibits!)
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Filed under: Festivals & Celebrations, Gigs and Events | Tagged: National Museum, Museum Favorites, Other Museum, History Museums, Budget Travel, Art Museums, DC Blogs, Hispanic Culture, Our Culture, Modern History, Celebrating, Mayans, LOC, DC Talk, History And Culture, USA / United States, Travel Miscellany, Places To See | No Comments »

Museums in San Francisco

Posted on September 29, 2008 by TripCart

San Francisco is one of my most favorite cities in the world, culturally, historically, and geographically. And while the outdoor options in San Francisco are many and, in my opinion, the best options, because of frequent rain, it’s good to know where you can quickly duck inside for a few hours of dry before going back out and braving the weather. Here is a list of fantastic museums in the San Francisco Bay Area that provide exactly that (not that you can’t go in on a sunny day too…):

Stay dry!
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Filed under: Family Fun Ideas, Travel/Tourism | Tagged: Science Museum, Museum Favorites, Other Museum, History Museums, Art Museum, Fishermans Wharf, San Fran, Museum Of Modern Art, Art Museums, Childrens Museum, Deyoung Museum, Children Museums, California Coast, San Francisco California, California Dreamin, Ripleys Believe It Or Not, San Francisco CA, San Francisco Tours | No Comments »

October Festivals

Posted on September 27, 2008 by TripCart

October is just around the corner and with the cooler weather and the changing scenery comes fall-time festivals, contests, and parties. So grab a sweater and head out to the great outdoors for some serious celebration! Obviously there are many, many more, but this is a sampling of ones we found interesting. Enjoy!

Big Bear Lake Oktoberfest, September 13 – October 25, 2008, Big Bear Lake, California
Duke Ellington Jazz Festival, October 1-7, 2008, Washington, D.C.
California Avocado Festival, October 3-5, 2008, Carpinteria, California
Mount Vernon’s Wine Festival, October 3-5, 2008, Mount Vernon, Virginia
National Gospel & Harvest Celebration, October 3 – November 1, 2008, Dollywood - Pigeon Forge, Tennessee
National Yo-Yo Contest, October 4, 2008, Chico, California
World Senior Games, October 6-18, St. George, Utah
Texas-Style Musicfest, October 12, 2008, Gruene Historic District, New Braunfels, Texas
Maryland Renaissance Festival, August 23 – October 19, 2008, Crownsville, Maryland
Apple Harvest Festival, October 18, 2008, York, South Carolina
Fall Festival of Houses & Gardens, October 24-26, 2008, Beaufort, South Carolina
Hogeye Festival, October 25, 2008, Elgin, Texas
Punkin Festival: “Carving for a Cause”, October 25, 2008, Avery County, North Carolina

See you there!
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Filed under: Family Fun Ideas, Festivals & Celebrations, Gigs and Events | Tagged: Autumn Festivals, Big Bear Lake, California Festivals, Cultural Festivals, Dollywood, Free Festivals, Holiday & Music, Mount Vernon, Music Festivals, October Afternoon, October Calendar, October Road, South Texas, Southern California Attractions, Texas State, Travel Specials, West Tennessee | No Comments »