Month: December 2011

In general, vacationers envision spring break and the summer months as peak vacationing seasons. But some of the best U.S. vacation spots have surprisingly good winter attractions.

Napa in Winter

Napa Valley in the winter months is one of the United States’ best-kept vacation destination secrets. The country’s wine professionals book their sojourns to this Mecca of the grape in the first part of the year, when the vineyards are golden with wild mustard and the crowds are thinnest.

For a fraction of the price you’d pay in, say, August, you can enjoy the relatively mild temperatures of a California winter; glorious accommodations at reduced prices; and some of the best food in the country. Wait times are short, prices are low, and staff has the time to be solicitous and the motivation to be truly glad to see you. Slow season customer service is often the best there is, especially in high-class establishments.

The Food

Napa Valley offers some of the best restaurants in the United States, catering to wine aficionados who love to pair a pricey wine with pricey food. In the off-season, Napa’s legendary food offerings tend to become more affordable, so your culinary dollar goes further.

The Wine

No place in the country is as known for quality wines quite like Napa Valley, where the right climatic conditions combine with the right imported vine stock to grow truly world-class grapes for truly world-class wines. In this part of the country, generations of winemakers have honed their crafts and now operate Old World wineries side-by-side with upstart new vintners that are taking the blending of grapes in irreverent new directions.

During the winter months, they’ll all have a little more time and energy to show off their best offerings for you at tastings and pairing events. Take it from us – you’ll learn twice as much on a winter trip to Napa as you will in the summer… and probably enjoy yourself twice as much, too.

Mustard Season

For about the first three months of the year, the floor of California’s Napa Valley is an explosion of golden-yellow flowers. According to legend, a Spanish friar once explored the deepest reaches of California, scattering mustard seed from south to north as he went.

On his return, he followed a carpet of yellow blooms back home from north to south. Spanish Mustard has since naturalized in this part of the world, and now blankets the quiet slumber of the vineyards in a profusion of color.

Many vineyards use the “Mustard Season” or “Mustard Festival” to bill their wintertime events. Winter in Napa is a time of food, wine, and show-quality events designed to boost business, which create a festive atmosphere without the bumper-to-bumper crowds of summer (and the accompanying bumper-to-bumper traffic).

If you’ve caught on to the appeal of Napa’s winter wine wonderland, let us show you just how beautiful it can be. No matter what your vacation preference, you can find help planning your trip from Best Vacations Ever. Check us out online, or follow us on Facebook or Twitter to learn more.

Here at Best Vacations Ever, we pride ourselves on offering useful travel tips.  Packing for a range of climates can be tough, especially when you’re making multiple stops on a long trip (say, hiking in the Carolina Mountains on Monday, and then spending the weekend at the beach).

Anytime you need to plan for a range of temperatures and climates, you’ll need to balance bulk with need, functionality with style. We know you want to look your best during your vacation, but you won’t want to lug two suitcases in order to make it happen! Here are our best tips to keep you feeling your best when you’re on the go.

Start with the shoes. Except for jackets and coats, shoes will be your bulkiest items to pack. By picking shoes that match the same color scheme (say, all blacks or all browns), you can design your clothing choices “from the ground up” with mix-and-match pieces that work with your footwear.

Start by picking at least one pair of dress shoes, a pair of comfortable but presentable sightseeing shoes, and tennis shoes if you plan to work out. Plan to wear your heaviest pair of shoes on the plane or in the car to minimize the size of your luggage.

Pack complete outfits. Instead of stuffing your bag with a variety of items you “might” wear, take some time to plan. Make sure every piece that goes into your bag has a place and will be used at least once.

Layer. Choose pants, skirts (for you ladies), tops, sweaters, and jackets that can mix and match. Think short sleeves that work at the beach that can pair with a jacket or a cardigan for that mountain adventure. Bring at least one coat that can handle rain or serious cold, so that you don’t find yourself out of luck when you need it most.

Reduce, reuse and recycle. Go through your bag one more time before you leave. If you’re not convinced you need it, leave it behind. Plan to wear items at least twice; if you’ve brought wardrobe choices that can mix and match, you’ll have the option of wearing your favorite pants twice with two different tops, or a jacket over three different outfits.

Bring at least one lightweight scarf – they’re great to dress up an outfit, to add a little extra warmth over the shoulders, or to wear with a coat if the weather goes south.

Ready to pack for your next vacation? No matter what climate you’re after, you can find help planning your trip from Best Vacations Ever. Check us out online, or follow us on Facebook or Twitter to learn more.

When you hear “top family vacations,” does your mind jump to visions of prohibitively expensive weekends in Tahoe or Vermont? Top family vacations aren’t necessarily top-dollar family vacations. With a little planning, you can have a truly memorable experience with a surprisingly reasonable price tag. At Best Vacations Ever by Preferred Guest Resorts, our job is to organize packages and do the planning for you so that you can enjoy time with your family.

Winter Mountain Vacations

If you like to ski or snowboard, or even just thrill at the thought of a warm fire and a hot drink while the world sparkles outside, you’ll love the holiday feel of a winter mountain vacation. From the Carolina Blue Ridge to the Smoky Mountains to California’s National Parks, the winter offers adventures and experiences that your family will remember for years to come.

The Carolina Mountains

The Blue Ridge Mountains that cross the western end of North Carolina are part of the Appalachian chain, some of the oldest mountains in the world. Several major ski slopes are located here, from Beech Mountain’s new ski resort opening its doors this December to Sugar Mountain, which features a number of early-season Winter Value Packages.

But the fun doesn’t stop there. Asheville, N.C., is a cultural hub in the heart of Appalachia, home to countless small shops and restaurants, to Biltmore Estate’s lavish Christmas displays—this area offers a bountiful range of family-friendly museums and tours.

The Smoky Mountains

Over the state line in Tennessee, just far away enough away from Asheville to make the trip seem somewhat long sits the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The Smokys are a beautiful getaway at any time of year, with trails and mountain views to take the breath away.

Equally attractive, especially in winter, are the vast array of indoor, family-friendly winter options available in Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge. From the Ripley’s Believe-It-Or-Not Museum to stage shows to art galleries and a broad range of dining experiences, you’ll find something to please every member of your family in Gatlinburg.

California’s Mountains

Yosemite National Park is a glorious winter destination that offers all the beauty and excitement of a mountainous environment with downhill skiing at Badger Pass, as well as ice skating, cross-country skiing, and ranger-led tours. Need a break from the mountain air? Go down the hill into the valley for a hike. In that sliver of time when winter begins to turn to spring, it’s worth a trip to the valley just to see the waterfalls swelled with spring melt.

Mammoth Lakes, squirreled away in California’s Sierra Nevada, is a resort town designed with the family in mind. Built around the epic skiing available on Mammoth Peak, Mammoth Lakes looks like a little Alpine Village tucked away at the mountain’s base. Dog sledding, sleigh rides, and snowmobiling are other magical-memory activities that Mammoth Lakes offers only during the coldest times of the year.

If you’ve caught on to the appeal of a mountain getaway in winter, let us show you just how beautiful it can be. Share your top family vacations spots! No matter what your vacation preference, you can find help planning your trip from Best Vacations Ever by Preferred Guest Resorts. Check us out online, or follow us on Facebook or Twitter to learn more.