October 2008 Archives

Both Napa and Sonoma valleys in California will wow you with their sleepy, romantic charm and should be high on our list if you want to take a tour of California's wine country. You can enjoy the  fine dining, picturesque countryside and romantic accomodations of Napa and Sonoma by booking a vacation rental or you can make these beautiful valleys your home by buying property there. To book vacation homes and cottages or to find the perfect wine tour click here.

Napa is warmer in the summer than Sonoma County, thus, the Napa wineries favor wine varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon, while the specialities of Sonoma are Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. At the north end of Napa County, in the Mayacamas Mountains, lies Mount Saint Helena, the Bay Area's second tallest peak and home to Robert Louis Stevenson State Park. So theres lots to do if you want to take a break from wine tours. 

To top it all, California's wine country is fast becoming a top spa destination in the US. What better way to enjoy a vacation?

Pic courtesy Brad and Jenny Garland from flickr.com

For just the right mix of romance and relaxation, a refreshing vacation home in the mountains is the first thing that comes to one’s mind. If you want a pinch of adventure with that then Lake Tahoe located in the Sierra Nevada Mountains of the United States is the perfect place for you. Located along the border between California and Nevada, Tahoe is home to several ski resorts and summer outdoor recreation centres thus making it a major tourist destination for people all over the world. In addition to this, the Nevada side also includes large casinos so if you have a weakness for gambling or you just love the thrill of it, this may be the destination of your dreams (or your spouse’s nightmare).
The best time of the year to visit Tahoe is in August when the weather is a bit warm. If you want to ski then you have to visit Tahoe from between December to February. Sometimes, summertime monsoon storms bring heavy rainfall to peaceful Tahoe, dampening the zest of tourists. These periods are rare so take heart and plan your vacation anyway.
For a more detailed description of the many delights Tahoe has to offer click here.
To find out about vacation rentals at the lake click here.

Pic courtesy Leto A. from flickr.com

With 53 peaks of the Rocky Mountains most of which are above 14,000 feet in height within its boundaries, Colorado is the skiing destination of choice for skiers from all over the World.
The thrill of skiing amongst pristine tree lined ski trails is like no other. You can pick from several trails depending on the level of your skill from Beaver Creek and Steamboat to Crested Butte.
Vacation homes are available along ski trails.Click here to find out more about ski rentals in Colorado.

Pic courtesy germán :) from flickr.com

If you love seeking out those breathtaking views that very few stumble upon, if you love the thrill of adventure or if you just love flirting with danger, then a vacation in the wild is probably tailor made for you. Very few choose to de-stress by taking on nature’s challenges but those few are well rewarded with a glimpse of a part of the world no one has ever seen before.

With nothing above you but the sky, you can get away from the clutter and noise of city life with a mountain vacation home.

For details about mountain vacation homes all over the U.S.A click here.

Pic1 courtesy Jarkko Aho from flickr.com

Pic2 courtesy Peppysis from flickr.com

If Eleuthera, which I wrote about in my previous post, does not hold any allure for you then maybe you need to pick from amongst all the islands of the Bahamas. For this post I will write about the Abacos islands.

Apart from being a renowned base for sailing activities, the Abacos islands also have four national parks that attract a lot of tourists namely Pelican Cays Land & Sea Park, Abaco Wild Horse Preserve, Man-O-War Cay, and Great Guana Cay. So if you feel your holiday isn't complete without some meaningful sightseeing and if you aren't put off by the hustle and bustle of crowded tourist towns then this may be the place for you.

To learn more about home rentals in the Abacos islands click here.

With the recent destruction caused by Hurricane Floyd, the islands may take some time to recover but rest assured, life will return to normal sooner or later. The real draw of the islands are their natural beauty, friendly and lovable people and simple lifestyle. The hurricane could destroy none of this.

To read about the history of the islands click here.

Pic courtesy Bitterroot from flickr.com.

If dipping temperatures dampen your mood plan a long stay by the shore of a tranquil sea in the Bahamas. From hiking, snorkeling/scuba Diving, bicycling, boating, fishing, kayaking, surfing and diving, the islands of the Bahamas have several attractions. Or if you just want to relax and bask in the sepia tinted light of a crimson sunset with only the gentle sound of waves for miles around this is the place to go.

To rent a cozy cottage or a luxurious oceanfront villa on the island of Eleuthera with a panoramic view of  the Caribbean sea click here.

An island of pink and white sand beaches, Eleuthera (meaning freedom in Greek)  has long been the favourite of travellers who long for a bit of peace and quiet. However, theres quite a bit of sightseeing to do once you get into the mood. Preacher's cave, Windermere island, Hatchet cave, Spanish wells, Glass Window bridge and Harbour island are some of the places to explore. To read about the history of these places click here.

Pic of lone tree on Harbour Island courtesy photos_mweber from flickr.com. 

I was looking out for cool vacation rentals in Tennessee and discovered that there are a host of interesting festivals celebrated in that state through the year. It makes sense to time ones stay with one of these, and you can take your pick depending on the location and flavor you want.

There are some interesting festivals and fairs with agricultural or country themes - livestock, pet show, rodeo ride, and food themes like strawberry, pumpkin or tomato.

There are also music and culture related festivals which sound wonderful. A country music festival takes place at Nashville, you can now catch it in June 2009.  If you want to plan your stay and would like to know more about this festival, visit this link.

Right now, the Fall Folklore Jamboree is set to start in Milan. Over a 100 traditional folk artists, musicians and demonstrators will make appearances at the West Tennessee Agricultural Museum and demonstrate traditional crafts like broom making, quilting and doll making.

Local bluegrass and gospel music groups will perform throughout the day, and there will also be demonstrations of cooking. Read more details about the festival here.

This pic, courtesy Jessica on www.flickr.com has been taken at the Renaissance festival in May.

Would you love to live like royalty of the good old days? Here's a site dedicated to homes with history in the UK, with options like 'former 18th century ornamental dairy', 'gate lodge in the estate of a castle' and 'traditionally built stone farmhouse'.

Who wouldn't love the sound of something like this - the pictures are certainly a treat, a sight for sore eyes after urban traffic snarls and smog.

Details are provided about the living arrangements, and pictures  show that the historical exteriors are matched with well appointed and modern interiors.

Do take a look at the options on offer here.

Picture courtesy www.statelyholidayhomes.co.uk

Warm weather, wild west history, and some great vacation homes for rent are enough to send you happily to Arizona.

You can get a one bedroom condominium close to Sabino Canyon Park for $ 750 per week or less, or a home in Apache Junction, near the mountains, for about $ 675.

I am specially tempted by a beautiful home in Beautiful Oro Valley at North West Tucson. The virtual tour provided looks tempting, you can view it here.