State Tourism Sites

If you're putting together those last-minute summer vacation plans with friends or family, there are great resources online for researching activities, attractions, destinations in the U.S. Many state tourism sites offer travel ideas for where to go and how to entertain your group; quality sites have useful information, beautiful photos, clean designs, give an accurate glimpse of what to expect from visiting the area, and are easy to navigate.

Type the state plus the word tourism in any search engine to find the official state tourism sites. Here are some of my favorite U.S. state tourism sites for trip planning and idea gathering:

Washington
Aside from TripHub blogging, I also write features for this site. Have a look at Washington's great outdoors, national parks, farmers markets, and one-of-a-kind Washington. If you like what you read, the writer graciously thanks you. ;-)

Oregon
This is an easily usable site with useful travel ideas and descriptions of what makes Oregon unique and enticing as a place to gather the troops: wineries, culinary travel, outdoor activities, mountain hiking, urban experiences, etc.

Utah
Clean design, lots of information, easy navigation.

Colorado
Clean design, good amount of information, relatively easy to navigate.

New Dynamic Maps Improve Trip Planning

TripHub's new Trip Maps allow groups to more easily plan and share trip information. If you're visually oriented, this is a dream come true. The maps are essentially a mash-up of trip elements from each group member (think wedding location, museum visit, restaurant for dinner, theater shows, hotels), plus you can easily add search results for local activities, accommodations, and more to your group's trip map.

According to a recent group travel survey by PhoCusWright, 80 percent of group travelers find maps and driving directions to be the most helpful trip planning tools. TripHub took PhocusWright's data to heart and listened to its customers and by creating maps that allow groups to see where activities, events, and accommodations are in relation to each other and to other local landmarks in a destination. You can also get driving directions to any of these locations within your Trip Home page and print both maps and directions. Most convenient!

See for yourself in this sample group trip.

Note: The maps require whoever sets up the trip to use a valid city name (Las Vegas instead of Vegas, New York City instead of NYC, for instance).

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Unique Road Trips

Road trips conjure up images of weekend getaways to the country, usually with a campsite or remote B&B or hotel as a destination. Solo road trips are unique in that they usually involve the adventurous independent person seeking space, ready to soul search.

But group road trips are unique in that they offer stunning scenery to experience with close friends or family. Road trips are a special way to bond since they involve so much time together - in vehicles, on the trip, and then returning home. You have to be willing to give and take, compromise, pitch in (i.e., share the gas money), and bring music everyone might enjoy (rather than your cousin's college garage punk band with barely audible lyrics that scream to an indiscernible beat).

Two unique ways to travel the road with groups:

Harley-Davidson motorcycle rentals: Awww, yeeeah. Nothing beats Harley hair and the open road, not to mention the cool personas you can pull off at pitstops along the route. While you likely need a motorcycle license to rent, this type of trip could be the trip of a lifetime for the right group. I'm picturing spring break for college students, or just a group of friends reuniting for some adventure. Plan a Harley motorcycle road trip with TripHub.

Model T group tours: California road trips through Yosemite National Park with stops at  other notable attractions is the way to go. That's if you prefer to step back in time to yestercentury when the engines were newborn, the roads dusty, and wide open expanses of scenery were yours for the day or the week (depending on your preference - rental vs. full week tour). I'm picturing extended families gathering for a unique tour through California's back roads. Plan a Model T group tour or day trip as part of a vacation/reunion with TripHub.

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Top 10 U.S. Ski Destinations: Via Orbitz

Orbitz released its second Annual Orbitz Ski Insiders Index, where stats from their site and trends in the ski industry are analyzed and the result is a top 10 list of the most popular U.S. ski destinations for the year. It's the usual suspects, although I was surprised to see Snowmass.

For 2006-2007 skier visits, Orbitz predicts these will rank top 10:

1. Breckenridge, CO
2. Mammoth Lakes, CA
3. Lake Tahoe, CA
4. Park City, UT
5. Steamboat Springs, CO
6. Winter Park, CO
7. Jackson Hole, WY
8. Aspen, CO
9. Vail, CO
10. Snowmass, CO

To plan ski trips with friends, ski clubs/teams, or family, TripHub offers many free traveler tools to plan and coordinate the trip.

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Underwater Poker

For a guy trip with a little adrenaline and other worldly experience, try an underwater poker tournament. Divester reported about a tournament to raise money for a military family, but there are tons of other good causes as well.

Here's how to organize your getaway with friends while raising money for a good cause:

1. Decide how many guys can make this commitment. Note: They must either be scuba certified or willing to be trained how to dive.
2. Arrange practice group dives before the big tournament.
3. Arrange practice poker matches just for fun.
4. Decide where to go diving and make any necessary hotel, transportation, etc. arrangements. (Hint: TripHub can help.)
5. Set the date of the tournament, the cause for which you'll donate money, and the target amount to raise. Alert the non-profit organization, church, family, or other benefit group.
6. Raise funds. Make calls. Go door to door. Do email blasts. Ask co-workers. Post announcements on MySpace. And so forth.
7. Create a trip on TripHub to invite any who want to join the tournament and go as spectators or participants. Here's helpful tips on how to do this using TripHub's free trip planning tools.
8. Discuss trip details using TripHub's trip discussion blog, organize and post everyone's info and trip details on the event schedule.
9. Then go on the poker tournament, win big, and feel great about donating to a worthy cause while bonding with your pals in a unique way.

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Snowshoeing: An Eco-Friendly Winter Activity

Puget Sound Journey's Nov/Dec issue has a great article on how snowshoeing is "an escape from both urban and ski-resort crowds." As winter blusters its way in, snow fans who want to get their fill of the powder, but away from the crowds and off the beaten path, can reap magnificent rewards with snowshoeing. It's a great group sport for the following reasons:

1. Like skiing, you can snowshoe at your own pace. Like hiking, this often leads to good conversation with various members of the group, depending on your speed, etc. Unlike skiing, you rarely lose your group to lifts and runs and mostly stick together yet with the freedom hiking allows to stop and snack, look at vistas, etc.
2. Safety in numbers: Should avalanche danger exist, or one person gets injured, there are multiple people to take action and mitigate problems or help in any other way.
3. Orientation: If solo trekking while snowing, your tracks can easily get erased with new snow, causing some disorientation of where the trail is or which way is north; therefore, it's always good to count on at least one other to share responsibilities for staying on track.
4. Unique way to "walk" in nature and share an outdoors experience.
5. Photo ops: You won't just get scenic shots. You can get proof you were there by having a friend take your photo next to Mt. Spectacular and email it to your mom.
6. Green travel in action: Snowshoeing is one of the best ways to experience winter without noise pollution (as in snowmobiling), expensive gear (as in skiing + lift tickets), and low impact on the environment (it's essentially you, the elements, and your snowshoes).

Any other reasons snowshoeing is either neat-o in general or eco-friendly? Any other tips for people organizing group snowshoeing trips?

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10 Best Holiday Shopping Spree Trips

For the ultimate girls getaway with a mission, I say take your gal pals to a town full of entertainment and plenty of good shopping to give a little something unique for Christmas this year. Find the perfect gift for your sister, mom, friend, cousin, boyfriend, husband, and so forth. Getting away before the holidays (when sales are on, travel deals abound, winter temperatures are at bay) can be worth the trip.

1. New York City

• For him: The basic I Love New York t-shirt or luxury items such as shoes that turn into roller skates or a watch that doubles as a remote control (for the James Bond in your man).
• For her: A handbag from a discount shop or designer shirt from quaint boutiques. Heck, if you can swing it, drop the credit card at a 5th Avenue store.

2. Los Angeles

• For him: Universal Studios paraphernalia for the kid in him or hat that makes him feel like the fly boy he wants to be. If he likes fine arts, grab him something from a museum or gallery. Or get your picture taken by his favorite Hollywood star handprint and frame it.
• For her: Anything from a store on the fancy, famous Rodeo Drive such as designer jeans or sunglasses the size of her head would be good. You'll feel like a star shopping and she'll feel like a million bucks receiving.

3. San Francisco

• For him: Go glam with original art from Sausalito, or buy Ghirardelli chocolates. If your man is an earthy dude, find a trippy tie dye Grateful Dead t-shirt, a drum, or incense. Wine from Napa Valley (to grab on a leisurely day trip) is always a good gift as well.
• For her: Again, go glam with original art from Sausalito, or buy Ghirardelli chocolates. If your female friend is earthy, find Haight-Ashbury District candles, incense, a woven purse, patchouli oil, the works. There are also outlet stores downtown for more "typical" shops. Wine works wonders for women as well.

4. London

• For him: Find the rare book or gift he loves at flea markets in areas such as Notting Hill. Bring back some of the best tea from Fortnum & Mason (arguably the world's most expensive and best grocery store for specialty foods).
• For her: What's not for her in London? Flea markets with jewelry, books, household items, scarves, etc. And shopping boutiques and high fashion stores. Then there's always Fortnum & Mason for cookies, pates, teas (expensive but worth it!).

5. Chicago

• For him: Cubs, White Sox or Bears paraphernalia (jersey, balls, bat, mug, etc.) if he's a sporto; if he prefers fine arts, the Chicago Art Museum is world-renowned and the gift shop has a bevy of nice gifts (I can attest).
• For her: Home to the Magnificent Mile, Chicago, does indeed have magnificent shopping such as numerous department stores (Lord and Taylor, for instance) and shops for everything from leather gloves to perfume to cashmere wraps.

6. Washington, DC

• For him: Smithsonian books or paraphernalia from the museums, books for the history buff, or a framed photo from your trip to the U.S. capital. Sunset from the Lincoln Memorial looking toward the U.S. Capitol includes the reflecting pool and Washington Monument - a classic shot with your signature all over it.
• For her: Antiques and collectibles at the weekend Eastern Market on Capitol Hill, non-fiction books for the history buffs, arts and crafts at either the flea market or any of the numerous art galleries or museums.

7. Whistler, BC

• For him: Any ski gear possible (guys dig this), including poly shirts for insulation. Find stores with sales if need be as there are plenty of shops at this big ski resort with Blackcomb village and Whistler village.
• For her: Ski-themed t-shirts, ski gear or just about anything goes. Whistler has a slew of different shops such as soap shops, coffee houses, and more.

8. Las Vegas

• For him: Win big and bring him back some dough.
• For her: Outlet malls galore are here to offer discounts on major clothing, shoe, home and gear labels. Two major outlets: Premium Outlets and Fashion Outlets of Las Vegas.

9. San Diego

• For him: Get him a couple 22-ounce bottles of micro-beer from local Coronado Brewing Company, and top the gift off with a logo'd pint and sweatshirt.
• For her: A cuddly stuffed animal from the San Diego Zoo or arts and crafts from boutiques around town. If a Tijuana day trip is on your agenda, there are plenty of arts and crafts to buy in Mexico from wool blankets to woven baskets to sculptures.

10. Denver

• For him: A classic belt buckle (if he's into that sort of thing) or leather belt for the hidden cowboy within.
• For her: A nice leather belt is a wonderful gift for women also, but Denver also boasts several boutiques in addition to major shopping stores. And there's always the Southwest art scene if you want to splurge and purchase some hand-crafted jewelry or art.

To plan a girls getaway shopping spree for before the holidays, you can use TripHub's free trip planning tools and coordinate easily.

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10 Haunted Hotels

TripAdvisor.com released its hit list for top 10 haunted hotels. For groups on last-minute trips who are looking for a little bit of freakiness in their escape, try one of these for an extended weekend.

1. Farnsworth House Inn, Gettysburg, Pa.
2. St. James Hotel, Cimarron, N.M.
3. Lizzie Borden Bed and Breakfast, Fall River, Mass.
4. The Menger Hotel, San Antonio, Texas
5. Stanley Hotel, Estes Park, Colo.
6. Lemp Mansion Restaurant & Inn, St. Louis, Mo.
7. Rosario Resort and Spa, Orcas Island, Wash.
8. Buxton Inn, Granville, Ohio
9. Wyndham Bourbon Orleans Hotel
10. Crescent Hotel & Spa, Eureka Springs, Ark.

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How Do Guys Bond?

OK, let's keep this civilized. No snickering. It's a serious question. With all the whoopla about "mancations" and guys traveling together for fun (groups of buddies/pals/friends/comrades have traveled together for getaway/bachelor/etc. trips for a while, but the travel industry just clued in) I decided to investigate.

When childhood pals, college friends, frat boys, ski club members, or just friends from life decide to get together to reconnect or bond, how do they pass the time? Whether road tripping or flying somewhere, bachelor parties, casual reunions, and sporting (golf, ski) get togethers are all part of the rituals of reconnecting.

Guy getaways can include anything from golfing, skiing, boating, fishing, hunting, club-hopping, lady-gawking, cigar-smoking, beer-chugging, gambling, or even metro activities such as meeting up in a city of choice and relaxing together at clubs.

Outside magazine recently emphasized how important the buddy system is (traveling with at least one other for safety) and listed great articles on various ways men bond, using famous figures such as Eddie Vedder, Jack Handey, and others for how to play on vacation. Plus, a few lessons for athletes who get too competitive.

Have a look. Or pick up the October Outside magazine edition.

Source: Gadling

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Musical Trips

Gadling's Neil Woodburn blogged about his 24-hour experience in Las Vegas to see The Pogues which got me thinking. Not only was I jealous of his having gone to see one of Ireland's best, modern, and eclectic bands (in my humble opinion), but there are so many other bands worthy of traveling (road trips included) to a destination to see them with a good group of friends.

This is my quick hit list:

1. Grateful Dead (oh wait, not an option anymore)
2. Bob Dylan
3. Pearl Jam
4. Rusted Root
5. Sheryl Crow
6. Simon & Garfunkel revival concert
7. The Shins
8. Belle & Sebastian
9. Pink Martini
10. Kelly Joe Phelps

What bands or musicians would inspire you to travel with friends for a concert?

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