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This week at Barrhead we're going Stateside!
Fall For New England
Each year as summer drifts into autumn the northeastern region of New England comes alive. The leaves start to change colour and nature once again puts on a spectacular display. The October spectacle makes the region, made up of six states – Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Connecticut and little Rhode Island – a magnet for ‘leaf-peepers’ on scenic flydrive breaks.
But it’s not all about foliage; New England also has the vibrant, historic city of Boston and the mountains of New Hampshire and Vermont, not to mention Acadia National Park, Atlantic beaches, heritage sites, wineries, and dozens of hospitable inns.
Typical travellers to New England tend to be second or third-time visitors looking for a more cultural/educational experience. There is so much variation across the six states that the area has wide appeal. The autumn colours will always be a major factor in attracting visitors, but you should be aware that this is also when the region is at its busiest, and most expensive.
What’s new?
The last year has seen Boston, the gateway to New England, emerging as a viable city break alternative to New York. In particular, the city has experienced strong growth in the volume and quality of accommodation it has to offer. Another option is for you to stay out of town and take advantage of the light-rail system.
Wherever you stay, add an extra night or two to take in the sights: the venerable Harvard University, the Freedom Trail (a walking tour that links the city’s historic highlights), shopping for bargains and exploring distinctive districts like Beacon Hill, the South End with its gourmet eateries, and Back Bay. And of course, nobody should leave Boston without checking out the bar from long-running TV show Cheers – in fact, there are actually two to choose from, as well as hundreds of other local hostelries. Boston likes to party!
We can package New England with New York city and/or state, or Eastern Canada – Montreal, Toronto, Ottawa and Quebec City, as well as Atlantic Canada. We have introduced a self-drive tour of New England for visitors in search of fall foliage this autumn.
Don’t miss
The New England coastline can get neglected in favour of the inland attractions. Must see attractions are wild, rocky shores (including Acadia National Park) and fishing ports of Maine. Massachusetts has superb beaches, especially along Cape Cod, which stretches from Martha’s Vineyard out to Province-town, a sort of American-style mini-Brighton. The Cape gets a lot of celebrities. Connecticut also has beaches on Long Island Sound while Rhode Island, America’s smallest state, is also among its most charming.
Away from the coast, New Hampshire and Vermont have some of the finest scenery, foliage, and outdoor activities, although only Vermont can lay claim to ice cream royalty Ben & Jerry’s. Wedged between New York and Massachusetts, Connecticut has Yale, with its fine buildings, art galleries, museums, shopping and food, as well as the gentle Litchfield Hills that are dotted with welcoming wineries. Connecticut also earns rave reviews for its outlet malls – you must take an empty suitcase.
Each of the six states has its own tasty twist on the region’s signature dish: New England clam chowder. You can also expect excellent seafood, maple syrup, microbrews and seasonal fruit pies.
If you are visiting either side of autumn’s peak season will find better value and availability of accommodation, as well as quieter roads, while snow-lovers can pretty much fill their boots any time after Thanksgiving. New England also does a traditional Christmas exceedingly well.
Embrace the Great Outdoors
A recent documentary hailed the National Park Service as America’s best idea, and few of those visiting Yellowstone or Yosemite, the Everglades or the Grand Canyon would disagree.
There are 58 National Parks from Florida to Washington State and Southern California to Maine, which make for great add-ons to a holiday or holidays in their own right.
Here are some of the highlights, together with details of what each has to offer the UK visitor.
Yosemite National Park
Sierra Nevada, Northern California
What to expect
This is the mother of all the National Parks, a mystical valley straight out of The Lord of the Rings. There’s a range of accommodation in the park, from camping and motor-homes to cabins, and even the venerable Ahwahnee Hotel, which you will need to book six months in advance. The alternative is to stay in a hotel or motel just outside the park.
In winter Yosemite is buried under several feet of snow; in summer it’s heaving with visitors. The best times to visit are the shoulder seasons when the waterfalls are in full flow and most trails are open. Yosemite works well twinned with San Francisco – the drive from shore to mountains takes about four hours.
Don’t miss
The magical waterfalls; the giant sequoia trees; picture-postcard views from Glacier Point; a ranger-guided hike; more than 400 species of wildlife including foxes, deer, snakes and bears.
Yellowstone National Park
Wyoming, Montana and Idaho
What to expect
Big, blue skies and wide open spaces are the essence of Yellowstone. Here, the visitor feels as it’s possible to feel from cities and civilisation.
Then there’s the history, the thundering geysers, and the wildlife – just don’t go looking for Yogi Bear! Accommodation is deliberately basic – cabins and campgrounds – to preserve the park’s atmosphere.
Silver Gate Cabins are a good in-park option, but they should be booked early. If you want more luxury, book the lodgings on the outskirts of Yellowstone. The park’s summer season runs from mid-April to the start of November.
Outside that period, you can expect some roads and entrances to be closed, and plenty of snow. You might want to combine Yellowstone with a winter sports break at Jackson Hole, or rent a car to add on a visit to Grand Teton National Park.
Don’t miss
The chance to spot wildlife – bears, wolves, elk and buffalo – in the Lamar and Hayden valleys; watching Old Faithful blow his top; taking a horseback ride to savour the view; hiking, biking, camping, fishing and a variety of ranger-led programs.
Grand Canyon National Park
Arizona
What to expect
The canyon is 18 miles wide and more than one mile deep. If standing on its rim doesn’t take your breath away, you should probably check your pulse. Everyone has seen it on television but nothing matches the thrill of being there.
Most see the canyon from the south rim; the north rim is higher and harder to access, especially in winter. As with all the great Western parks, accommodation is at a premium, especially in summer. In-park lodging includes seven lodges on the south rim. All are connected to restaurants, shopping and great viewpoints by free shuttle buses. Tusayan, seven miles south of Grand Canyon village, has more hotels and inns.
Don’t miss
Las Vegas. You could take a helicopter tour (from Vegas), hike or ride a mule down into the canyon, paddle a boat along the mighty Colorado River, or hop aboard for the two-hour trip on the Grand Canyon Railway from Williams, Arizona.
Acadia National Park
Maine
What to expect
A rocky coastline, Atlantic breakers, granite mountains and spruce-fir forests are the keynotes of Acadia. This rugged East Coast park makes a striking contrasts to the wonders out West. Home to a diversity of plants and animals, Acadia also has the highest peak on America’s East Coast.
A system of carriage roads throughout the park makes for excellent walking or biking. Acadia is very much a four-season park, with mists and brilliant foliage in the autumn, and precipitation likely in any month of the year, so pack accordingly.
There’s no lodging in the park, except for two campgrounds on Mount Desert Island and one on Isle au Haut. Nearby Bar Harbor has a variety of accommodation,
however, including the Bar Harbor Inn and new Grand Hotel. Acadia works well as part of a New England flydrive itinerary.
Don’t miss
The 20-mile Park Loop Road with stunning views of mountains, ocean and forests (the drive takes three to four hours with stops); a horse-drawn carriage tour; a ranger-led boat cruise.
Olympic National Park
Washington
What to expect
West of Seattle on the Olympic Peninsula, this park offers the perfect Pacific Northwestern blend of ocean beaches, rainforest valleys, and glacier-capped peaks, plus a host of plant and animal life.
You can combine a few days in the park with time spent in Seattle or Vancouver. It’s worth remembering to pack carefully – where the Pacific Northwest meets rainforest, a brief shower is never far away.
Within the park, Log Cabin Resort on the shore of Lake Crescent has various lodging options, as well as camping and hook-ups for motorhomes. Lake Crescent Lodge has cabins, a motel and rooms in the historic lodge. Sol Duc Hot Springs Resort and the Kalaloch Lodge are other good options.
Don’t miss:
Hurricane Ridge, for its mile-high visitor centre and nature trails; Hoh Rain Forest, with its subtropical trails beneath the forest canopy; rocky Rialto Beach for offshore islands and a Pacific sunset to remember.
To book your own US holiday or for any of your travel needs contact one of our expert consultants now on 0871 226 8689 or visit www.BarrheadTravel.co.uk and start planning your next holiday today!
Showing posts with label usa holidays. Show all posts
Showing posts with label usa holidays. Show all posts
Wednesday, 2 June 2010
Tuesday, 8 December 2009
Barrhead Travel Destinations of the Week: New Orleans and Colorado
This week's top destinations are Stateside:
New Orleans
Many cities try to lay claim to the title 'America's most haunted', but New Orleans can give any of them a run for their money. Beyond the incomparable cuisine, historical must-sees, musical high notes and never-ending nightlife, the Big Easy also has plenty to send a delicious shiver running down any visitor's spine.
A ghost tour around the beautifully picturesque French Quarter conjures up local legends of gruesome ghouls and weaves the fascinating history of the city into the plot.
The dead are pretty visible in New Orleans - they have to be, or they'd float away. In the 18th century, when the inhabitants tried to inter their loved ones beneath the ground, the high water table meant they simple rose back up again. So the graves are built above ground, forming real cities of the dead. Visitors can pace these streets on a cemetery tour.
St Louis Cemetery No 1 on Rampart Street is the oldest existing example, dating back to 1789. The architecture of the graves illustrates the cultural melting pot of the city, with French, Spanish, Italian and Portuguese styles evident. One of the graves belongs to the famed voodoo queen Marie Laveau.
The tour ends with a visit to a voodoo temple to meet a voodoo priestess, which is far less intimidating than one might expect. Priestess Miriam looked like any other middle-aged lady and rambles vaguely, but kindly before showing off the temple.
If you are expecting heaps of bones and lashings of chicken blood you’ll be disappointed - instead you’re lead into a dim room filled with a mish-mash of objects and artefacts, many related to religions from all over the world. There's even a gift shop.
For a real supernatural thrill, visit New Orleans during Halloween. Second only to Carnival in the party time pecking order, you wouldn't be surprised if the dead really did come out to join the fun.
Spooky floats parade along the streets and many revellers dress the part in elaborate costumes, with local bars offering prizes for the best. As well as balls and parties, there are also family events where kids can have a go at cookie decorating and pumpkin painting. The Voodoo Experience music festival also falls around Halloween - this year, acts included Lenny Kravitz and Eminem.
Other Reasons to Visit New Orleans
Carnival
The world's biggest street party lasts for nearly a week, with different 'krews' organising parades of elaborate floats through the city. Outside Mardi Gras season, visitors should go to Blaine Kern's Mardi Gras World. It's surreal and exciting to wander through this huge workshop where floats are made and stored. Visitors can try on costumes and sample a slice of traditional king cake.
Food and drink
Not just a cultural but also a culinary melting pot, New Orleans cuisine brings together influences as broad as French, Spanish, African and the Deep South itself.
For the best of Creole and Cajun cooking - with a musical accompaniment – try a jazz brunch at The Court of Two Sisters.
You can sit out on the picturesque terrace, trying specialities such as gumbo, jambalaya and turtle soup. Local desserts are mouth-watering too, from Bananas Foster to beignets, the local doughnuts dusted with sugar that are best enjoyed with a cafe au lait.
Music
Home to legends such as Louis Armstrong, New Orleans is called the birthplace of jazz. Music is everywhere, from the raucous bars of Bourbon Street and trendy clubs on Frenchmen Street to historic venues such as Preservation Hall. Perhaps take a jazz dinner cruise on a traditional paddle steamer such as the Natchez.
Colorado
You're never far away from nature in Colorado. The state is awash with National and State Parks protecting a landscape that ranges from vast prairies to the Rockies, to the tallest sand dunes in North America. Even in the state capital, Denver, the Rockies can be seen lingering on the horizon, luring travellers away from the city.
Despite its heavy winters, Colorado is a real year-round destination and the locals often boast of the 300 days of sunshine each year. Colorado is a fantastic state that takes in the 'real America', offering the best in western adventure, Native American history, four National Parks, great shopping and delicious cuisine.
Denver
The so-called 'mile-high city' or 'gateway to the Rockies' will be most visitors' first point of call. Both United Airlines and British Airways fly direct from the UK.
Denver's a very clean and cosmopolitan city with a lively arts scene. It's home to a wide range of museums and galleries, including the striking Daniel Libeskind-designed Denver Art Museum, which houses a modern art collection and an interesting Native Indian history exhibition. Music venues attracting big acts include the Red Rocks Amphitheatre just outside of town.
The locals are a healthy bunch and unlike many US cities, Denver is well-geared for pedestrians, and hundreds of miles of bike trails ring the city. Walking tours are a great way to get to grips with its rich past.
Shops are clustered around Larimer Square, while wannabe cowboys and cowgirls should mosey on down to Rockmount Ranchwear in the LoDo district, which along with Larimer Square is home to much of the city's nightlife.
Accommodation comes from big names such as Hilton and Sheraton, as well as smart boutique offerings such as Hotel Teatro and The Curtis with its funky modernism. For a stately historic hotel, then stay at the Oxford or the Brown Palace.
Active
White-water rafting is popular between May and late August, with lots of options across the state. A good spot near Denver is the Poudre River near Fort Collins, about a 45-minute drive. If overnighting, the quaint, centrally-located Armstrong is the pick of the hotels.
Colorado is well known for its excellent skiing and 'champagne powder' snow. Aspen may be the best-known resort, but there are 26 ski areas in the state. Most are easily reachable from Denver, such as the Crested Butte, Breckenridge and the relatively new resort of Silverton.
A good base for year-round activities is the resort town of Steamboat Springs, a short connecting flight or a three-hour drive from Denver.
Steamboat's excellent ski runs (and intimidating looking ski jumps) loom over the town, and in the summer it's a great base for hiking and mountain biking. Staying options include a Sheraton and the Grand Hotel, which has a spa and outside pool area. The massive five-bedroom penthouses go for about $3,000 in the peak season, but can be had can be had for as little as $500 out of season.
The area around Steamboat is also home to a number of guest ranches, which are pre-bookable, where guests can stay for a week and learn about ranching and help out with tasks. A good option for a short visit is Dutch Creek Guest Ranch, where activities include horse riding in the stunning scenery, or sledding in the winter.
There's also a restaurant and a bunch of simple, but sweet wooden cabins to stay in. And at the nearby Dig This! Attraction, visitors can act like big kids while making the earth move in bulldozers and diggers - great fun.
Hot Springs
After a tough day of outdoor action the state's many hot springs offer some cheap and cheerful welcome relief. The rustic and scenic Strawberry Springs is a popular option, and great for a soak beneath the stars, while Steamboat's Old Town Hot Springs boasts water slides.
Colorado also features the world's largest natural springs at Glenwood Springs, where visitors can also go rafting and check out the Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park.
Fly-Drives
A fly-drive holiday is a great way for visitors to explore the state's parks, highways and byways. The drive through the Rocky Mountains National Park is stunning and takes in the highest continuous paved road in North America. Visitors can stop off at the stately Stanley Hotel, in the town of Estes Park.
The reputedly haunted hotel is where Stephen King got his inspiration for his book The Shining, although the famous movie starring Jack Nicholson was filmed elsewhere. Pre-bookable ghost tours are a popular option.
Another good option is to head for the Royal Gorge Bridge near Cañon City, the highest suspension bridge in the US. A fly-drive is also a great way to check out major attractions in the neighbouring states like Wyoming's Yellowstone National Park.
Colorado By Train
Colorado's historic railroads offer a great way to explore the state and get a handle on its rich past, from the Wild West to mining towns dating from the boom times of the Gold Rush.
The historic mining town of Durango in the southwest, for example, is served by the narrow gauge Durango to Silverton line. Durango is also a good base for exploring the Mesa Verde National Park, where visitors can find the spot where four states meet and explore the area's cave dwellings.
Other great options include the Royal Gorge Route and the Cumbres and Toltec line, which offers a steam train experience in the Southern Rockies. Visitors can also take a very scenic, three-hour train ride up the side of Pikes Peak. The cog railway, the highest in the US, offers dramatic views.
And if you fancy finding out if there is still any gold in them thar hills, you can visit one of the old mining towns such as Central City or Cripple Creek where you can tour an operating gold mine or have a go at panning for gold.
For all of your travel needs be sure to make Barrhead Travel your first port-of-call. Contact one of our friendly sales consultants now by calling 0871 226 2673 or visit www.barrheadtravel.co.uk and start planning your US holiday today!
New Orleans
Many cities try to lay claim to the title 'America's most haunted', but New Orleans can give any of them a run for their money. Beyond the incomparable cuisine, historical must-sees, musical high notes and never-ending nightlife, the Big Easy also has plenty to send a delicious shiver running down any visitor's spine.
A ghost tour around the beautifully picturesque French Quarter conjures up local legends of gruesome ghouls and weaves the fascinating history of the city into the plot.
The dead are pretty visible in New Orleans - they have to be, or they'd float away. In the 18th century, when the inhabitants tried to inter their loved ones beneath the ground, the high water table meant they simple rose back up again. So the graves are built above ground, forming real cities of the dead. Visitors can pace these streets on a cemetery tour.
St Louis Cemetery No 1 on Rampart Street is the oldest existing example, dating back to 1789. The architecture of the graves illustrates the cultural melting pot of the city, with French, Spanish, Italian and Portuguese styles evident. One of the graves belongs to the famed voodoo queen Marie Laveau.
The tour ends with a visit to a voodoo temple to meet a voodoo priestess, which is far less intimidating than one might expect. Priestess Miriam looked like any other middle-aged lady and rambles vaguely, but kindly before showing off the temple.
If you are expecting heaps of bones and lashings of chicken blood you’ll be disappointed - instead you’re lead into a dim room filled with a mish-mash of objects and artefacts, many related to religions from all over the world. There's even a gift shop.
For a real supernatural thrill, visit New Orleans during Halloween. Second only to Carnival in the party time pecking order, you wouldn't be surprised if the dead really did come out to join the fun.
Spooky floats parade along the streets and many revellers dress the part in elaborate costumes, with local bars offering prizes for the best. As well as balls and parties, there are also family events where kids can have a go at cookie decorating and pumpkin painting. The Voodoo Experience music festival also falls around Halloween - this year, acts included Lenny Kravitz and Eminem.
Other Reasons to Visit New Orleans
Carnival
The world's biggest street party lasts for nearly a week, with different 'krews' organising parades of elaborate floats through the city. Outside Mardi Gras season, visitors should go to Blaine Kern's Mardi Gras World. It's surreal and exciting to wander through this huge workshop where floats are made and stored. Visitors can try on costumes and sample a slice of traditional king cake.
Food and drink
Not just a cultural but also a culinary melting pot, New Orleans cuisine brings together influences as broad as French, Spanish, African and the Deep South itself.
For the best of Creole and Cajun cooking - with a musical accompaniment – try a jazz brunch at The Court of Two Sisters.
You can sit out on the picturesque terrace, trying specialities such as gumbo, jambalaya and turtle soup. Local desserts are mouth-watering too, from Bananas Foster to beignets, the local doughnuts dusted with sugar that are best enjoyed with a cafe au lait.
Music
Home to legends such as Louis Armstrong, New Orleans is called the birthplace of jazz. Music is everywhere, from the raucous bars of Bourbon Street and trendy clubs on Frenchmen Street to historic venues such as Preservation Hall. Perhaps take a jazz dinner cruise on a traditional paddle steamer such as the Natchez.
Colorado
You're never far away from nature in Colorado. The state is awash with National and State Parks protecting a landscape that ranges from vast prairies to the Rockies, to the tallest sand dunes in North America. Even in the state capital, Denver, the Rockies can be seen lingering on the horizon, luring travellers away from the city.
Despite its heavy winters, Colorado is a real year-round destination and the locals often boast of the 300 days of sunshine each year. Colorado is a fantastic state that takes in the 'real America', offering the best in western adventure, Native American history, four National Parks, great shopping and delicious cuisine.
Denver
The so-called 'mile-high city' or 'gateway to the Rockies' will be most visitors' first point of call. Both United Airlines and British Airways fly direct from the UK.
Denver's a very clean and cosmopolitan city with a lively arts scene. It's home to a wide range of museums and galleries, including the striking Daniel Libeskind-designed Denver Art Museum, which houses a modern art collection and an interesting Native Indian history exhibition. Music venues attracting big acts include the Red Rocks Amphitheatre just outside of town.
The locals are a healthy bunch and unlike many US cities, Denver is well-geared for pedestrians, and hundreds of miles of bike trails ring the city. Walking tours are a great way to get to grips with its rich past.
Shops are clustered around Larimer Square, while wannabe cowboys and cowgirls should mosey on down to Rockmount Ranchwear in the LoDo district, which along with Larimer Square is home to much of the city's nightlife.
Accommodation comes from big names such as Hilton and Sheraton, as well as smart boutique offerings such as Hotel Teatro and The Curtis with its funky modernism. For a stately historic hotel, then stay at the Oxford or the Brown Palace.
Active
White-water rafting is popular between May and late August, with lots of options across the state. A good spot near Denver is the Poudre River near Fort Collins, about a 45-minute drive. If overnighting, the quaint, centrally-located Armstrong is the pick of the hotels.
Colorado is well known for its excellent skiing and 'champagne powder' snow. Aspen may be the best-known resort, but there are 26 ski areas in the state. Most are easily reachable from Denver, such as the Crested Butte, Breckenridge and the relatively new resort of Silverton.
A good base for year-round activities is the resort town of Steamboat Springs, a short connecting flight or a three-hour drive from Denver.
Steamboat's excellent ski runs (and intimidating looking ski jumps) loom over the town, and in the summer it's a great base for hiking and mountain biking. Staying options include a Sheraton and the Grand Hotel, which has a spa and outside pool area. The massive five-bedroom penthouses go for about $3,000 in the peak season, but can be had can be had for as little as $500 out of season.
The area around Steamboat is also home to a number of guest ranches, which are pre-bookable, where guests can stay for a week and learn about ranching and help out with tasks. A good option for a short visit is Dutch Creek Guest Ranch, where activities include horse riding in the stunning scenery, or sledding in the winter.
There's also a restaurant and a bunch of simple, but sweet wooden cabins to stay in. And at the nearby Dig This! Attraction, visitors can act like big kids while making the earth move in bulldozers and diggers - great fun.
Hot Springs
After a tough day of outdoor action the state's many hot springs offer some cheap and cheerful welcome relief. The rustic and scenic Strawberry Springs is a popular option, and great for a soak beneath the stars, while Steamboat's Old Town Hot Springs boasts water slides.
Colorado also features the world's largest natural springs at Glenwood Springs, where visitors can also go rafting and check out the Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park.
Fly-Drives
A fly-drive holiday is a great way for visitors to explore the state's parks, highways and byways. The drive through the Rocky Mountains National Park is stunning and takes in the highest continuous paved road in North America. Visitors can stop off at the stately Stanley Hotel, in the town of Estes Park.
The reputedly haunted hotel is where Stephen King got his inspiration for his book The Shining, although the famous movie starring Jack Nicholson was filmed elsewhere. Pre-bookable ghost tours are a popular option.
Another good option is to head for the Royal Gorge Bridge near Cañon City, the highest suspension bridge in the US. A fly-drive is also a great way to check out major attractions in the neighbouring states like Wyoming's Yellowstone National Park.
Colorado By Train
Colorado's historic railroads offer a great way to explore the state and get a handle on its rich past, from the Wild West to mining towns dating from the boom times of the Gold Rush.
The historic mining town of Durango in the southwest, for example, is served by the narrow gauge Durango to Silverton line. Durango is also a good base for exploring the Mesa Verde National Park, where visitors can find the spot where four states meet and explore the area's cave dwellings.
Other great options include the Royal Gorge Route and the Cumbres and Toltec line, which offers a steam train experience in the Southern Rockies. Visitors can also take a very scenic, three-hour train ride up the side of Pikes Peak. The cog railway, the highest in the US, offers dramatic views.
And if you fancy finding out if there is still any gold in them thar hills, you can visit one of the old mining towns such as Central City or Cripple Creek where you can tour an operating gold mine or have a go at panning for gold.
For all of your travel needs be sure to make Barrhead Travel your first port-of-call. Contact one of our friendly sales consultants now by calling 0871 226 2673 or visit www.barrheadtravel.co.uk and start planning your US holiday today!
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