AOL Travel Ideas

15 Reasons the Best Place in America to Start a Road Trip is Louisville, Kentucky

Zach Everson — 2013-05-07T08:00:00+00:00

Filed under: Weekend Getaways, Road Trips

Louisville, Kentucky? Road trip hub of America? Yes. The city's location and attractions make it America's premier launching pad for a road trip. Here are 15 reasons why:

1) Louisville is within 500 miles of 50 percent of the U.S. population.

2) It's within a day's drive of two-thirds of the U.S. population. So you should have no problem finding friends or family to crash with on a road trip out of Louisville. (Best not to tell them though if you plot an entire vacation around couch crashing so you can blow the savings on Kentucky booze.)

3) Still not convinced about its strategic location? UPS delivers 16.3 million packages and documents a day. Its main U.S. air hub is in Louisville. So there's a good chance the Apple toys you've ordered online have visited.

4) Sure, they'd be long hauls, but Austin, Boston, Denver and Miami are each within a day's ride.

5) Closer afield, you could leave Louisville after breakfast and be in Asheville, Atlanta, Chicago, Memphis, Nashville, St. Louis or Pittsburgh for lunch (you know, in case you can't put French fries in your own sandwich and needed Primanti Bros. to do it for you).

6) Kentucky is wedged between the state most like the other 49, Illinois, and the state least like the rest, West Virginia. So it's easy to map out a road trip as normal or as wild and wonderful as you want.

7) Lonely Planet ranked Louisville the "top U.S. travel destination for 2013." Lonely Planet won the 2012 Travelers' Choice Award for favorite travel guide from TripAdvisor. And TripAdvisor itself was Travel + Leisure's 12th best travel website of 2011. So Louisville's distinction is kind of a big deal. (Full disclosure: Louisville's honor was announced before a Kentucky man bought Lonely Planet.)

8) Condé Nast Traveler's Readers' Choice awards ranked Louisville's 21c Museum Hotel among the top 10 hotels in the world in 2009 through 2011. And while a night in the hotel isn't free, a visit to its museum -- North America's first one dedicated to 21st century art -- is. Its exhibits change, but right now they feature a topless woman in a football helmet and a deer dressed up in a leather gimp mask. So check your expectations of Louisville at the door along with your umbrella.

9) The cheeseburger, the quintessential road-trip meal, was invented in Louisville. But the city's culinary scene has evolved considerably since 1934. Last year Zagat's called it one of "8 Awesome Foodie Getaways Around the World." And, that article didn't even touch on Louisville being KFC's hometown.

10) Bars in Kentucky's most populated city stay open until 4 a.m. Afraid a late Saturday night will keep you out of church Sunday morning? Synergize at the Holy Grale -- a Unitarian Church converted to a beer-only bar that's been written up in publications like the New York Times, Wall Street Journal and Food & Wine.

11) It's home to the reigning NCAA basketball and Sugar Bowl champion Louisville Cardinals. It's where the baseball bats are made (tour the factory and see for yourself). And there's that little two-minute pony race on the first Saturday of May, which attracts all types, ranging from the Queen of England to O.J. Simpson (pre-incarceration).

12) Rick Pitino is the only coach in NCAA basketball history to win championships with two teams (the University of Kentucky in 1996 and the University of Louisville this year). And only in Louisville can you eat in a restaurant where he's admitted in court to having sex on the floor with a woman not his wife while his assistant lay face down on the floor to give them some privacy.

13) Its most famous son doubles as the world's most famous athlete: Muhammad Ali. Downtown's Muhammad Ali Center celebrates his life and legacy, both in and out of the ring.

Need more road trip ideas? Visit our Great American Road Trips home page.

14) Pages could be spent detailing how eclectic the city's Highlands neighborhood is. But just know it's responsible for both Hunter S. Thompson and Mitch McConnell.

15) That Pappy Van Winkle you're having a hard time finding at home? In Louisville, there's so much of that top-tier bourbon, horses get bathed in it. Well, maybe not, But you'll have an easier time finding it there.

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Everydayer: Get Racey At Churchill Downs

MapQuest Discover — 2013-05-04T06:00:00+00:00

Filed under: Arts & Culture, Weekend Getaways

Home to the most exciting two minutes in sports (aka the Kentucky Derby), experience a day at Churchill Downs and its high stakes horse races during the spring and fall meets (late April through July 1, and late October through Thanksgiving weekend).

Read this thorough(bred) guide to a day at Churchill Downs on AOL's MapQuest Discover.

You may also like: Louisville Road Trip: Driving the American Horse Trail.

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Meander Through NULU—Louisville's East Market District

MapQuest Discover — 2013-05-03T10:13:00+00:00

Filed under: Food + Drink, Weekend Getaways

Find out why folks are flocking to New Louisville (NULU). The historic area has had a recent resurgence of restaurants, galleries and shops, with enough food and fun to fill an afternoon -- or two.

Morning
Every breakfast spot serves a sammy, but never has one been so well executed as the bacon and egg sandwich at Toast. In case you're not an early riser, they serve breakfast all day.

Design junkies can get their fix with the home décor stores flanking East Market Street. Scout sells a stylish mix of personal and home accessories, from sofas to statement jewelry. Find Louisville lore like vintage Derby posters and an eclectic selection of furniture from Relleck. Working women will love the laptop bags by journalist-turned-designer Emily Gimmel from Graceship (sold at Work the Metal, the super cool store right below her studio).

Read the rest of Meander Through NULU-Louisville's East Market District on AOL's Mapquest Discover.

You may also like: Louisville Road Trip: Driving the American Horse Trail

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American Horse Trail Road Trip, Stop Four: Assateague Island

Zach Everson — 2013-05-02T18:03:00+00:00

Filed under: Weekend Getaways, Road Trips

Leave Middleburg and head east on I-270, to the Washington, D.C. beltway, where drivers go round and round like ponies on a carousel, often at the same slow speed. Continue east to Annapolis, cross the Chesapeake Bay and then it's straight south on US-50 through the quaint towns of Easton and Cambridge. Head east, bisecting the coastal plain of the Delmarva Peninsula where the flat landscape is pocked with poultry farms. Chicken poop is not a pleasant odor, but by the time you reach Assateague, you'll smell nothing but sea breeze.

Road Trip Starting Point:
Driving the American Horse Trail

Located on Maryland and Virginia's Eastern Shore, Assateague Island is renowned for two herds of wild horses, one herd in each state (a fence separates them; they do not intuitively recognize state boundaries). The horses, of course, aren't really wild; they are feral. As the National Park Service's Assateague website explains, "they are descendants of domestic animals that have reverted to a wild state." Wild sounds more romantic than feral though, which evokes images of a nasty cat tormenting you as you take out the garbage. Truly wild horses have not roamed the Americas for thousands of years, so herds that have been feral for a few centuries are as close as you're going to be able to get on a road trip.

Camping is permitted only on the Maryland side of Assateague. Both the National Park Service and Maryland Department of Natural Resources maintain campsites. Demand can be heavy though, so make reservations in advance.

DON'T MISS
The two herds are subdivided into bands of two to 12 horses, with each band occupying a home range. Your ability to view the horses really depends on them. Sometimes, you may have to drive around the island. Other times, they may approach your tent, trying to snap into your uneaten Slim Jims. The National Park Service recommends staying at least a bus length away though, even if the horses are the ones seemingly initiating contact.

EAT AND DRINK HERE
Food-wise, you'll mostly be making use of a cooler beside the campfire. But you'll want to make use of the campground's showers to clean up and visit the Assateague Crab House, located just outside of the campgrounds, at least once. Of course, by the time you're done inhaling all of the batter, butter and tartar sauce there, you might feel the need to shower again on your return.

ROAD TRIP TIP
While you shouldn't pet or feed the horses, you can buy one as a souvenir from your horse-themed road trip. On the last Thursday in July, the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company, which owns the Virginia herd, hosts a pony auction to help it manage the herd's size. You're on own though for a tip on how to get your new pony back home. And, no, these formerly feral horses aren't eligible for Derby.

Previous Stop: Northern Virginia
Starting Point: Driving the American Horse Trail

Looking for more road trip ideas? Visit our Great American Road Trips home page.

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American Horse Trail Road Trip, Stop Three: Northern Virginia

Zach Everson — 2013-05-02T18:02:00+00:00

Filed under: Weekend Getaways, Road Trips

Before Kentucky's Bluegrass region became America's horse headquarters, that distinction belonged to Virginia. What happened? Those early Virginians moved west. Equine activities remain entrenched in the Old Dominion, but evolved differently, with most popular races being steeplechases.

Road Trip Starting Point: Driving the American Horse Trail

Heading east on I-64, you'll take in West Virginia's abundant wild and wonderful foliage on highway that's curvier than your typical stretch of interstate. Once into Virginia, you'll be immersed in the Appalachian Mountain range, cutting across the Alleghenies and then heading north on I-77, up a gauntlet with George Washington National Forest on your left and Shenandoah National Park on the right. Both areas make fine places to hike, bird watch and, yes, go horseback riding.

The National Steeplechase Association sanctions both spring (March through June) and fall (September through November) races in Virginia. Most notable are the Virginia Gold Cup Races, held the first Saturday in May (yes the same day as Derby), and the International Gold Cup Races, on the third Saturday of October. Both are contested at Great Meadow in The Plains, Virginia, 46 miles west of Washington, D.C.

DON'T MISS
Lower-profile races, like the Middleburg Hunt Point-to-Point offer a more laid-back experience. Reserve a picnic parking space (info for doing so is on its website) and set up your own tailgate spread: they range from ladies in Lilly Pulitzer and men in seersucker nibbling on prosciutto around a giant M ice sculpture to a couple of folks sitting in folding chairs in the back of their pickup, passing a bag of Utz potato chips back and forth. So regardless of whether you're a member of the landed gentry or an itinerant backpacker, don't worry about feeling out of place.

EAT AND DRINK HERE
If you decide on food more substantial than a bag 'o chips, visit The Market Salamander in Middleburg. Its "gourmet food to-go" includes prepared tailgates and picnics packages-splurge on the Point to Point Basket ($25 a person) and take in some local flavor via the jumbo lump crab cakes. Its owners (including CEO Sheila Johnson, Black Entertainment Television co-founder and -- full disclosure -- Strategic Advisor for Multicultural and African-American Initiatives at AOL Huffington Post Media Group) are opening the Salamander Resort & Spa in Middleburg this August. The resort's equestrian center will offer horseback riding lessons; courses in dressage, cross country, polo, jumping, and carriage driving; and a mock fox hunt.

ROAD TRIP TIP
Not every steeplechase offers pari-mutuel wagering, like at a thoroughbred race. Look around though and you'll likely find someone willing to take your bet. Hint: It might be worth talking to the guy with a chalkboard in the back of his truck.

American Horse Trail Road Trip, Stop Four: Assateague Island
Previous Stop: Northern Virginia

Looking for more road trip ideas? Visit our Great American Road Trips home page.

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American Horse Trail Road Trip, Stop Two: Lexington, Kentucky

Zach Everson — 2013-05-02T18:01:00+00:00

Filed under: Weekend Getaways, Road Trips

East of Louisville, through fenced-off rolling green fields where horses with a higher net worth that yours graze, lies Kentucky's Bluegrass region and Lexington, the "Horse Capital of the World." Like your lunchtime smoothie, the soil in that area has high mineral and protein content, which means that horses grazing there grow stronger. That's the claim anyway. That rationale "was tacked on after the fact," John Jeremiah Sullivan wrote in Blood Horses: Notes of a Sportswriter's Son, "as a boast or perhaps as an explanation for what had come to seem a part of nature, its contingent historical causes forgotten." For travelers though, the cause is less important than the result-and that's an area flush with equine-related sites.

Road Trip Starting Point: Driving the American Horse Trail

Lane's End, Three Chimneys and WinStar Farm are home to horse racing's recently retired superstars-like 2010 horse of the year Zenyatta, Derby winner Big Brown and the only two-time Breeders' Cup Classic winner Tiznow, respectively. But tours are limited (these horses have work to do in the breeding shed), so check their websites for times. Impersonate a prospective buyer or breeder though (a la Count Homer Simpson at the Bentley dealership), and you'll find more relaxed visiting hours.

While Churchill Downs is the country's most celebrated racetrack, Lexington's Keeneland, might be its best. A shrine to the sport, with a backdrop of a barn resting on lush green pastures, Sullivan described it as "an oasis from the businesslike atmosphere and general skeeviness that still cling to many American tracks." While its annual meets are in April and October (neither of which overlap with Churchill's races), its auctions are a spectator sport onto themselves. Pro tip: Sit on your hands lest you commit yourself to buying a $16 million unraced horse.

Thoroughbred racing, of course, is just one aspect of equine sports. The Kentucky Horse Park, in the northern part of Lexington, is home to the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event annually in late April, which includes cross-country, dressage and jumping. The rest of the year, a ticket to the park includes admission to the International Museum of the Horse, the American Saddlebred Museum, a horse-drawn tour and equine presentations. For $25, visitors can saddle up for a guided 35-minute trail ride that's suitable for maiden riders.

DON'T MISS
The hour-long walking tours are more frequent-daily at 10 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. at Old Friends, a retirement home for "thoroughbreds whose racing and breeding careers have come to an end." There you'll meet and learn about its 137 residents, who've won every major race save Derby, earning more than $90 million in the process (how's your career going?). Like many human retirees, these horses have plenty of time to be social.

EAT AND DRINK HERE
This area isn't just horse country though, it's bourbon country too. If you're looking for a distillery with a horse connection (or just want to sip good bourbon), visit Woodford Reserve. It's the official bourbon of Derby, it sponsors the race that immediately precedes Derby (the Woodford Reserve Turf Classic-a major race in its own right and televised nationally on NBC) and the distillery itself used to be a home for (largely unsuccessful) racehorses. April through October, soak up some of that bourbon you sampled with a picnic on the porch overlooking the distillery and Glenn's Creek. Wallace Station's sandwiches also are popular with the horse-and-bourbon traveling set. Guy Fieri declared its The Big Brown (Griddled on the bun, with ham, bacon, tomato and white Cheddar Mornay) one of his top 5 burgers. And while Fieri's tastes are sometimes called into question, this burger's popularity shows that he might be correct.

ROAD TRIP TIP
If Keeneland isn't hosting races or auctions, you can always bet on a race at a different track via its drive-thru wagering window. But, as the signs throughout the track say, "When it's no longer a game, there is help!"

American Horse Trail Road Trip, Stop Three: Northern Virginia
Previous Stop: Louisville, Kentucky

Looking for more road trip ideas? Visit our Great American Road Trips home page.

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American Horse Trail Road Trip, Stop One: Louisville, Kentucky

Zach Everson — 2013-05-02T18:00:00+00:00

Filed under: Weekend Getaways, Road Trips

Louisville is home to the world's premier horse race, the Kentucky Derby (its just "Derby" to locals). The 160,000 people -- two-thirds of Louisville's everyday population -- that head to Churchill Downs includes all types. For $40 travelers can party with the infield hordes, where you'll likely see more mud wrestling than horses races. At the other extreme, for you-know-how-much-it-costs-if-you-can-afford-it, you can be one of 320 people enjoying the rarefied air of the 6th floor invite-only The Mansion (also dubbed Billionaire's Row), which overlooks the finish line and debuts this year.

Road Trip Starting Point: Driving the American Horse Trail

But even if you're not road tripping to Kentucky's largest city the first Saturday of May -- and with some hotels and restaurants jacking up their prices that weekend (for example, the Econo Lodge Downtown's best rate for Derby: $499 a night), you might not want to be -- the thoroughbred-racing scene here still demands a visit. Churchill Downs is hosting three meets in 2013: April 27-June 30, Sept. 6-29 and Oct. 27-Nov. 30. While not quite as grandiose as Derby, night racing (Downs after Dark), a go-to spot for locals, provides a chic racing experience.

Churchill and other racetracks are surprisingly kid-friendly too. Hang out by the paddock and watch the ponies walk around and get saddled up. Then head to the track to watch them warm up, parade to the post and race. Stand by the winner's circle and you'll see them get washed down after the race while the winner poses for a picture. Head back to the paddock, and a few minutes later a new batch of horses will be out.

DON'T MISS
Even when the ponies aren't running, Churchill Downs is home to the Kentucky Derby Museum, which is open year round. Its permanent exhibits includes Riders Up where visitors can "mount a simulated horse and try to maintain the jockey's stance for two minutes-the time it takes to run 1.25 mile track on Derby day." For the winner anyway.

EAT AND DRINK HERE
Located across the street from Churchill Downs's backside, the horse racing atmosphere at Wagner's Pharmacy is no simulation: jockey silks and horse liniment for sale at the register, walls covered with racing photos and a steady stream of stable hands at its lunch counter give it an authentic vibe without a whiff of manure. To get a true taste of the South, try the pimento cheese sandwich.

For a more upscale, but still horse-related, meal, visit Jack Fry's, a clubby steakhouse in Louisville's Highlands district. Fry used to run a bookmaking operation out of the back. These days, it's better known for its steaks, shrimp and grits, and Manhattans.

SLEEP HERE
And while no area barns advertise accommodations for humans, Bashford Manor Inn used to be a thoroughbred racing and breeding farm. It produced Lookout, winner of the 1893 Derby, as you no doubt recall. Now it's a bed and breakfast.

ROAD TRIP TIP
For betting, while it's more fun to pick your own horses, winning money can be a lot of fun too. The track announcers, Daily Racing Form or tip sheets (like the easy-to-read ones of syndicated handicapper Ellis Starr's) can provide insight on what horses might win, and how to bet them to best make a profit. Keep in mind though, just as most horses leave the track as losers, so to do gamblers.

American Horse Trail Road Trip, Stop Two: Lexington, Kentucky
Starting Point: Driving the American Horse Trail

Looking for more road trip ideas? Visit our Great American Road Trips home page.

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Road Trip: Driving the American Horse Trail

Zach Everson — 2013-05-02T17:59:00+00:00

Filed under: Family, Arts & Culture, Weekend Getaways, Road Trips

Louisville is the ideal starting gate for a horse-themed road trip east, in part retracing the path America's iconic horse racing and breeding industry took as it largely migrated from Virginia to Kentucky. Begin under the twin spires of Churchill Downs, home of the Kentucky Derby, where the winner of the world's most prestigious horse race (held this Saturday) will earn his or her owners $1.24 million.

A short drive to the Bluegrass region takes you to the highly regimented Lexington-area breeding sheds. After a stop in Virginia to see steeplechases or maybe take an equestrian lesson, you'll end up on Assateague Island on Maryland and Virginia's Eastern Shore. There wild, er, feral horses frolic on the seashore and set their own agenda-which sometimes includes raiding travelers' campsites.

Giddy-up and happy tails.

Stop One: Louisville, Kentucky
Stop Two: Lexington, Kentucky
Stop Three: Northern Virginia
Stop Four: Assateague Island

Looking for more road trip ideas? Visit our Great American Road Trips home page.

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Great American Road Trips

AOL Travel Staff — 2013-05-01T17:14:00+00:00

Filed under: Weekend Getaways, Road Trips

Planning a road trip? Of course you are. It's almost summer, and few American pastimes -- baseball, eating hot dogs, heckling baseball umpires between bites of your hot dog -- are as enticing as piling in a car with family or friends and heading toward the beach. Or heading for that national park you've always meant to visit. Or just pointing your car toward the horizon and seeing where the bends in the road take you.

Road trips appeal to us because they have a timelessness and tradition that tap into the rugged American spirit. But they're also appealing because they allow us to travel close to the ground and see take the pulse of the country's landscape and people.

Follow along as we highlight road trips that offer travelers a taste of both of these worlds. We'll start off in Louisville, and we'll venture across the country, from Virginia to Nebraska to Hawaii and beyond.

But rest assured, we'll leave room for another beloved part of any great American road trip: surprises. Our spring and summer road trip coverage starts here:

15 Reasons the Best Place in America to Start a Road Trip is Louisville, Kentucky
Driving the American Horse Trail
Exploring Maui's Upcountry

Also, be sure to check out some great road trip stories from our archive.

Road Trip: Florida Spring Break 2013
5 Things I Learned Road Tripping through Florida on Spring Break
Road Trip Gear: Seven Must-Have Essentials

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Best 48 Hours: Boulder, Colorado

MapQuest Discover — 2013-03-06T16:18:00+00:00

Filed under: Weekend Getaways

Boulder, Colorado, has won just about every "best of" designation imaginable, from health and wellness, to food, to education and arts. Located just 25 miles west of Denver at 5,430 feet in the foothills of the Rockies, you'll be on high as soon as you hit the tarmac. Get inside the "Boulder Bubble" with this itinerary. It lays out a jam-packed weekend that combines the city's sporty culture with its gourmet locavore foodie scene.

DAY 1: FRIDAY EVENING
Start at the St. Julien, a luxury hotel in the heart of downtown where locals gather for live salsa music on the back terrace on Friday nights. Dance under the stars in the shadow of Boulder's landmark Flatiron Mountains and sip artisan cocktails outside on the patio or inside at the sexy T-Zero Lounge. The St. Julien is also one of the top places to stay in Boulder, thanks to its prime location, upscale yet unpretentious ambiance and notable day spa, so stumbling home means an elevator up.

Read the rest of the Best 48 Hours: Boulder at AOL's MapQuest Discover.

[Photo by Aidan M. Grey]

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Three Cozy Winter Getaways (VIDEO)

AOL Travel Staff — 2012-12-14T10:59:00+00:00

Filed under: Weekend Getaways

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BCS Bowl Games Travel Guide

Chris Gray Faust — 2012-12-06T08:53:00+00:00

Filed under: Weekend Getaways

Congratulations! Your favorite college football team fought its way to the top of the BCS bowl rankings and now you're bowl-bound this January. Scoring tickets and arranging your hotel and transportation are the hard parts; once that's over, check out our picks in the BCS bowl game towns.
Pasadena (Rose Bowl)
Jan. 1
Rose Bowl Stadium
Wisconsin vs. Stanford

Suburban Pasadena can seem far more than 10 miles from Los Angeles' hipper neighborhoods. And the late 1800s Mission and Revival architecture and pedestrian friendliness of Old Town Pasadena can be more manageable than L.A.'s sprawl, especially if you're traveling with your family. First played in 1902, the Rose Bowl is the oldest and arguably most prestigious BCS bowl game; the tradition of New Year's Day football games started here.

Sports bar
If Old Town's establishments start looking too pristine in the California sun, duck into Freddie's 35er, a sports bar that's decidedly on the dive side of the spectrum (open since 1963, its nickname is the "dirty diver"). Despite this, it's one of the few sports bars that is regularly open early enough to catch all the games playing in Eastern time zones. Don't expect to stick to your diet; the bar boasts that all foods on the menu are fried (except the free popcorn).

Tailgate food
Gus's BBQ in South Pasadena has been around since 1946, serving up beer-braised brisket, ribs, pulled pork, brick chicken, smoked sausage and countless sides. Party packs that will feed your entire alumni group are available, and all come with cast-iron cornbread.

Local legend
Rose Bowl Stadium is home turf for UCLA, so leave that USC shirt at home. Sadly, there are no outposts of Wingstop, which has Bruin alum Troy Aikman as its spokesperson, in Pasadena, but there are several in nearby L.A. communities.

Off the grid
A few days before the Tournament of Roses parade, the float barns where the topiary-style creations are made are open to the public. Some even offer last-minute volunteer opportunities; check the Pasadena Convention & Visitors Bureau website for information.

Miami (Orange Bowl, BCS National Championship)
Jan. 1 for Orange Bowl, Jan. 7 for BCS Championship
Sun Life Stadium
Florida State vs. Northern Illinois, Orange Bowl; Alabama vs. Notre Dame, BCS Championship

Miami is always up for a party, and the dual BCS bowl games that kick off the New Year are no exception. While the stadium itself is in a nondescript area of Dade County known as Miami Gardens, bowl-goers can stay and play anywhere in the city. While everyone knows about South Beach and Coconut Grove, Brickell, Wynwood and Little Haiti are other options, as is nearby Fort Lauderdale (which has become more stylish, less Spring Break in recent years). Miami is notoriously hard for pedestrians, so make a car rental your first priority. It's up to you whether it's a convertible.

Sports bar
The Clevelander Hotel in the South Beach neighborhood has been around since 1938, but the vibe at this Art Deco landmark now is decidedly 21st-century; tourists crowd its clubs at all hours, ponying up $15 for a mojito. (Consider yourself warned: SoBe can be a budget buster.)

Wear your swimsuit to Game On, the hotel's dedicated sports bar, which has 20 TVs and a pool where you can take a dip, should the action get too heated.

Tailgate food
Miami is justifiably known for its Cuban food - and nothing beats an authentic Cuban sandwich, served on flaky bread and toasted with butter before it's pressed. Take a detour to Calle Ocho in Little Havana and pick up a few to go at Versailles' takeout window, La Ventanita, where you'll often find Cuban exiles enjoying café con leche and gossip.

Local legend
Former Miami Dolphins coach Don Shula has built a steakhouse empire with outposts throughout the South, East and Midwest. Visit the original, a salute to the 1972 Fins, at Shula's Hotel and Golf Club. Bonus: It's close to Sun Life Stadium.

Off the grid
Chances are, if you've spent the money to head down to Miami in January, you're going to hit the beach. But which one? Get away from the city's go-go attitude at Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park in Key Biscayne, which offers historic trails and a lighthouse. Or jump into the scene with both feet at South Beach, where Ocean Drive is still the spot to show off the results of your winter workouts. If the revealing swimsuits aren't skimpy enough, head to Haulover Beach, one of the country's few public nude beaches.

New Orleans (Sugar Bowl)
Jan. 2
Superdome
Florida vs. Louisville

New Orleans is tailor-made for football fans, with an ever-growing number of bars and restaurants in the once-barren area surrounding the Superdome (including Borgne, a highly rated John Besh restaurant in the Hyatt Regency) and a welcoming atmosphere sure to please any tourist. The Loyola streetcar line, set to run from Canal Street on the edge of the French Quarter to the Dome, might not be open in time for the Sugar Bowl, although it is on track for the Super Bowl a month later. However, the city's Central Business District is compact enough that you can get around easily by foot or cab (too many Abitas and you shouldn't be driving anyway).

Sports bar
Steps from the Superdome, the New Orleans Hyatt Regency was heavily damaged during Hurricane Katrina and its reopening in late 2011 represented another milestone in the city's recovery. Named for the first American for-profit movie theater, built in New Orleans in 1896 (this city loves its history), Vitascope Hall is meant to be a sophisticated sports bar, where you nibble sushi and drink craft cocktails while watching the game on one of 42 flat screens. Or download the bar's app, which allows you to select music choices on the DJ's sound system.

Tailgate food
It isn't game day in the Crescent City without a pot of gumbo on the stove. Buy your own at Mother's, where a gallon of file gumbo goes for $50 (the seafood gumbo is also sublime, but you'll pay more). Other Cajun/Creole choices include po'boys, jambalaya, red beans and fried chicken.

Local legend
Who Dat? The city's love for the Saints has only deepened in the post-Katrina era. While QB Drew Brees is a local investor in sandwich franchise Jimmy John's, most of the locations are in the 'burbs. But black-and-gold legend Archie Manning (yep, dad to Peyton and Eli) has some of his family's memorabilia on view at Manning's, a restaurant serving Southern/Creole comfort food in the Harrah's Casino downtown. Groups can reserve the private End Zone recliner section, which features a mega TV and stadium-style seating.

Off the grid
Take a break and explore the music that made New Orleans famous on one of John McCusker's jazz walking tours. McCusker, a local author (he wrote the book on Kid Ory) and former news photographer for the Times-Picayune, is so well known as a jazz authority that a version of his tour showed up on the HBO series "Treme." Email jazzhistorytour@yahoo.com for schedule and availability.

Glendale/Phoenix (Fiesta Bowl)
Jan. 3
University of Phoenix Stadium
Kansas State vs. Oregon

On the west side of Phoenix, Glendale doesn't have the name recognition of crosstown sports hubs like Scottsdale and Tempe. But there's a lot to like in the family-oriented suburb, which has a historic downtown full of mom-and-pop stores and restaurants housed in converted bungalows. Plus the view from Thunderbird Conservation Park, where ESPN took its beauty shots of the stadium last month, equals anything you'd find elsewhere in the Valley of the Sun.

Sports bar
Not to be confused with the bar that bears the same name at Apache Greyhound Park, Max's Sports Bar and Restaurant in downtown Glendale wins points for a bank of large-screen HD TVs, which the bartenders will tune to your game of choice, as well as a monster collection of football helmets. Daily lunch and dinner specials of the homey sort -- think Salisbury steak or meatloaf sandwiches -- elevate the food choices beyond the typical wings 'n' things.

Tailgate food
The chicken tacos at Pedro's Mexican regularly win awards from city magazines, plus the downtown Glendale establishment is locally owned (a bonus in chain-rife Phoenix). Everything on the menu, from tamales to fry breads, is available for takeout.

Local legend
Although the Cardinals and ASU call it home, the Phoenix area tends to get more excited about the basketball court than the gridiron. Former Suns player and current assistant coach Dan Majerle has four Majerle's Sports Grills; the downtown Phoenix location is closest to Glendale.

Off the grid
Have your own Willy Wonka experience with a free tour through the Cerreta's Candy Co. factory. From chocolates shaped like cacti and sheriff's stars to Western honey peanut brittle and Camelback pecan caramel clusters, Cerreta has been making candy with an Arizona twist for 40 years. Ride your sugar rush all the way to the game.

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Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore is Most Beautiful Place in America

Vilmarie Estrella — 2011-08-18T12:30:00+00:00

Filed under: Adventure Travel, Beach, News, Weekend Getaways

rkramer62/Flickr

Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, a relatively unknown national treasure located on the northwest corner of Michigan's Lower Peninsula, earned the title of "Most Beautiful Place in America," according to Good Morning America.

What was once a heap of glaciers that melted over centuries to reveal 64 miles of blue beaches surrounded by colossal sand dunes, now draws visitors with its picturesque landscape and small town charm. The 26 inland lakes and two islands at Sleeping Bear are the cherry on top (and speaking of cherries, the area boasts the title of largest cherry growing region in the world).

GMA's search, which began in June, called for their viewers to nominate the most beautiful places online. Also in the running were Cape Cod; Aspen; Lanikai Beach, Hawaii; Newport, R.I.; Point Reyes, Calif.; Sedona, Ariz.; Destin, Fla.; Asheville, N.C.; and Grand Teton National Park, Wyo. Tens of thousands of GMA viewers were seduced by photos and stories of Sleeping Bear's beauty and took to the polls, voting it the clear winner.

Grand Rapids, Mich., resident Jim Madole nominated Sleeping Bear. In his GMA submission, he wrote: "It is peaceful and serene, a place for gazing out into the world, night or day, and realizing that the universe is truly a magical, majestic mystery, and humans are just a very small part of it all. Here at Sleeping Bear, I sit in awe and wonder at the perfection of Mother Nature."

Even celebrity chef Mario Batali is a fan, spending his summers there to escape the New York hustle.

"I spend my entire summer here on Lake Michigan because it's beautiful, because it has farmers, because it has great food artisans," Batali tells ABC News. "It has great products. It has magnificent fresh water."

All of that fresh water provides a plethora of activities for Lakeshore visitors to choose from, including paddle-boarding, fishing, or simply taking a swim at one of the many beaches. Those who opt to stay dry can climb the colossal sand dunes or hike through the forest.

It looks like Midwesterners finally have something on East Coast and West Coast dwellers.

WATCH GMA's big reveal below:

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8 Bed and Breakfasts with the Best Fixin's (PHOTOS)

The Daily Meal — 2011-08-06T09:00:00+00:00

Filed under: Hotel, Best Of, Weekend Getaways

Courtesy of Cornerstone Victorian

Bed and breakfasts promise the warmth and comfort of home for those on the road. But, how many of us are cozily welcomed home with a glass of wine by the fire or awoken by the smell of coffee and freshly baked scones every day?
Like at your most generous friend's house, the innkeepers live on site, so they know the area backwards and front and they can't wait to show you the best of it. The houses themselves, often in an idyllic setting, harbor a rich history and ooze character.

Whether they're haunted, were once homes of grand families, or have been passed down by generations of B&B owners, every portrait and floral bedspread tells a story.

One of the most obvious ways innkeepers show their passion for hospitality is through pampering their guests' palates. The Cocoa Cottage Bed and Breakfast is perfect for chocolate-lovers. Innkeepers make sure their guests are always staring down something cocoa-filled, whether it's homemade chocolates or the richest hot chocolate around. The Gastonian wakes its guests up with lemon ricotta pancakes or poached eggs with grilled tomato, creamy spinach, and apple-smoked bacon.

Near the charming, food-loving small town of Asheville, N.C., the Brookside Mountain Mist Inn boasts a multi-course homemade breakfast starting with scones or muffins, working toward a fresh fruit parfait, and finally an entrée like Belgium waffles, pecan French toast, or a Southwest chicken frittata. The hosts take care of all their guests' needs by accommodating diabetics, gluten-free diets, lactose intolerant needs, and vegans as well.

The romance of getting a key (instead of a card), making your way up creaking, wooden stairs, and receiving a friendly, warm hello from the hosts is surely not lost on us.

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Hong Kong's Hidden Island Retreat: Cheung Chau (VIDEO)

Chris Anderson — 2011-07-21T07:30:00+00:00

Filed under: News, Video, Weekend Getaways

Chris C. Anderson/AOL Travel

"Island retreat" isn't the first thing that comes to the minds of visitors heading to Hong Kong. It's more like: massive, ultra-busy and urban - all of which are accurate. But, Hong Kong also offers a large array of diverse, out-of-city retreats many don't even consider. The island of Cheung Chau is one such place.

Cheung Chau is about a 25 to 45 minute ferry ride from Hong Kong Main Island's Central Ferry Pier. Cheung Chau is most widely known for the Cheung Chau Bun Festival, which attracts around 20,000 visitors each year on May 10th.

For those not in Hong Kong on May 10th, Cheung Chau still offers a great day or couple-day retreat, especially during the summer. The weekends are usually pretty packed with Hong Kongers, but for those able to swing a weekday trip it's much more kick-back and less crowded, giving more of a true sense of the place minus the hoards.

There's no need to book a hotel in advance as Cheung Chau has a number of small, private "resorts" like Miami Resort that offer rooms ranging from $45 to $75 per night, depending on the season, if the room is sea-view, and how busy a day it is. The hotels have small booths set up right as passengers get off the ferry pier, so browse around and do some bargaining.

Cheung Chau is a great place for couples to escape to, especially those looking for a relaxing day or afternoon drinking a few beers by the beach, wandering or riding bikes along the narrow streets and trails, or sampling the inexpensive seafood and snacks.

Check out the video of our trip below.

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Kayaking U.S.A.: A Push for Possible Paddlers

Rebecca Ballhaus — 2011-07-13T08:00:00+00:00

Filed under: Weekend Getaways

Brooke Anderson/Flickr

With summer in full swing, weekend warriors are looking for ways to get outdoors and beat the crowds - a difficult task for the earthbound, but no sweat at all for the more ambitiously amphibious.
There's vast amounts of prime paddling water within a few hours drive of the country's major cities and plenty of space and quiet to go around.

And the barrier to entry is low. Becoming an excellent kayaker takes years of experience and a lot of upper body strength, but those looking to go for a quick paddle only need a little balance and an almost token amount of arm strength. This is not a race.

Here are a bunch of recommended paddling excursions near major cities. Remember: It isn't the size of the boat, but the motion of the ocean.

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Destin-Nation USA: Voluntouring America

AOL Travel Staff — 2011-07-05T08:45:00+00:00

Filed under: Weekend Getaways, Destin-Nations

Gary Soup/Flickr

America is blessed with such an incredible diversity of cities that travelers sometimes fall into the trap of taking towns at face value - seeing only the museums and sites along the most well-worn tourist trails. Aside from offering a chance to give back, "voluntourism" presents service-minded travelers with an opportunity to really get to know a town, to move past talking about the weather and have an earnest heart to heart.
America is blessed with such an incredible diversity of cities that travelers sometimes fall into the trap of taking towns at face value - seeing only the museums and sites along the most well-worn tourist trails. Aside from offering a chance to give back, voluntourism presents service-minded travelers with an opportunity to really get to know a town, to move past talking about the weather and have an earnest heart to heart.

On July 4, U.S. citizens all over the world celebrated their country's past. Collective nostalgia is wonderful (though hangovers aren't), but the stormy present will not be ignored. Thanks to the economic crisis, many communities across America are struggling. Thanks to the founding fathers, many people are in a position to help.

Helping, it should be noted, doesn't require sacrificing the fun of travel. To the contrary, a traveler busy getting his hands dirty is a traveler without a hand free to check his Blackberry. Volunteering also offers the opportunity to meet new people from all walks of life. What is endlessly astounding about the U.S. is not its scope, but the diversity of the people that live between the shining seas.

There are countless worthy causes in every city in America, so what follows should only be considered suggestions oriented towards visitors to some of the country's more major cities.

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Shopping in Counterculture Vermont (PHOTOS)

AOL Travel Staff — 2011-05-16T07:30:00+00:00

Filed under: Weekend Getaways

Rob Liguori

Local merchants selling hand-made crafts, food, and microbrews, and large-scale operations have managed to maintain their Vermont sensibility. -- Rob Liguori"A vibrant public market is our threshold to the world," Patrick Leahy, U.S. Senator from Vermont, said.

His words are emblazoned in stone on the walkway of a mall in Burlington, and it's a sentiment that plays out state-wide - but with the counterculture attitude Vermont is known for.

Local merchants selling hand-made crafts, food, and microbrews, and large-scale operations have managed to maintain their Vermont sensibility.

Here, our friends at Trazzler.com have put together a list of the best shopping in Vermont.

Text by Rob Liguori. Photos courtesy of Trazzler.com.

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National Public Gardens Day: 10 Under-The-Radar Gardens To Visit This Mother's Day (PHOTOS)

Kate Auletta — 2011-05-06T07:30:00+00:00

Filed under: Budget, Arts & Culture, EcoTravel, Weekend Getaways

American Public Gardens Association

May 6th marks the 3rd annual National Public Gardens Day. Created to bring awareness to the importance of public gardens in promoting environmental stewardship and plant and water conservation, the day will see some 500 events across the country to celebrate America's public gardens.

May 6th marks the 3rd annual National Public Gardens Day. Created to bring awareness to the importance of public gardens in promoting environmental stewardship and plant and water conservation, the day will see some 500 events across the country to celebrate America's public gardens.

Most of the events, for families, schools and tourists alike, will last through the weekend (hint: A visit would make a great last-minute Mother's Day treat).

National Public Gardens Day always takes place on the Friday before Mother's Day, and is meant to commemorate the start of spring.

Get outside in your hometown or travel to a nearby public garden to celebrate spring - not to mention good ol' mom.

All the gardens mentioned below are free to enter. Check the National Public Gardens Day website to get coupons to gardens that charge admission on Friday.

Text and photos courtesy of the American Public Gardens Association.

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San Mateo Coast: A California Secret (PHOTOS)

AOL Travel Staff — 2011-05-02T07:30:00+00:00

Filed under: Beach, Food + Drink, Weekend Getaways

San Gregorio SB

Just a few miles from Silicon Valley, beaches here sprawl-from wide-open sandy strips, to hidden rocky coves-and each is wildly different from the next.Just a few miles from Silicon Valley, beaches in San Mateo County sprawl-from wide-open sandy strips, to hidden rocky coves-and each is wildly different from the next.

Seventy percent of San Mateo County is dedicated open space--seventy percent! How magical to see the primordial old-growth redwood forest spilling into the churning sea at the edges of Big Basin Redwood State Park.

The coast here looks just as it always has-and there's no chance of it being developed, thanks to the Peninsula Open Space Trust. But there's more here than just beaches: the rolling inland hills are protected in a series of parks and marshlands, ideal for day-hiking.

In between, small towns beg exploring, and lush, green farms dot the countryside. Plan to poke your head into country antiques shops, then load the trunk with strawberries.

Text and images courtesy Trazzler and John Vlahides.

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