Survey finds travelers to head West
Seventy percent of leisure travelers surveyed said they would like to visit the western regions of the United States within the next two years, with national parks dominating travelers’ wish lists.
Two-thirds of leisure travelers are now very interested in visiting national parks.
The survey, conducted by the Ypartnership/Yankelovich 2009 National Travel Monitor, also found 62 percent of leisure travelers would like to visit the South. One-third of those surveyed said Florida was the destination they would like to visit most during the next two years, with the Florida Keys and Orlando holding top spots for Sunshine State getaways.
If a national park is one of your dream vacations, AAA Travel has a Grand Canyon Rails to the Rim departure this month (Sept. 10–14) that includes motorcoach transportation from Phoenix to Williams, Ariz., the departure city for a round-trip aboard the historical Grand Canyon Railway to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. Additional departures in May and September 2010 soon will be announced.
Additional tours that include national parks are available through AAA Travel.
National park and history fans may be interested in a documentary, “Paving the Way: The National Park-to-Park Highway,” that was partially underwritten by AAA. The 76-day, 5,000-mile, inaugural tour of the National Park-to-Park Highway in 1920 is the focus of this award-winning documentary, which will air on select public television stations throughout the country between May 2009 and April 2012. To purchase the two-part series on DVD for $24.95 or for more information on the documentary, visit www.PavingtheWay.TV.
3 Branson hotels get green certs
Three Branson hotels–Comfort Inns & Suites Branson Meadows, Comfort Inn at Thousand Hills and Comfort Inn West–recently were certified as green by the Missouri Hotel & Lodging Association (MHLA). The properties are owned by Myer Hotels of Branson.
To qualify, hotels must display environmental information to educate staff and guests, achieve certain project levels within various categories (conservation, recycling) and pass random independent inspections.
There are 15 certified g
reen MHLA hotels. Visit www.missourilodging.com for a complete list.
Explore northwest rivers with Cruise West
Uncover the beauty along the Columbia and Snake rivers next year with Cruise West, small ship specialists.
Upon arriving in Portland, Ore., passengers are met and transferred to the Spirit of 98, which can accommodate up to 96 guests. Accommodations are small, yet efficient. Enjoy an inviting parlor and a beautiful dining room with wrap-around windows. There are no televisions or telephones in the room, but by the end of the first day, these are not missed as guests begin to relax and get to know one another.
Guest lecturers provide interesting presentations on such topics as the Lewis and Clark expedition and Native American culture. Naturalists point out the history of the region, as well as sights along the way that might have otherwise been missed.
The itinerary includes stops at Bonneville Dam, the entrance to the world-renowned Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, with a tour of the Bonneville Visitors Center and a breathtaking stop at Multnomah Falls. In Pendleton, Ore., visit the Under-ground City, Pendleton Mills, and have lunch at a famous saloon. Explore Hell’s Canyon, North America's deepest, on a jet boat. Visit the wineries of Walla Walla, Wash., including a wonderful lunch at a local restaurant. Finally, experience a memorable visit to Mount St. Helen’s.
During the journey, the ship will pass through several locks, which is quite an experience. The seven-night cruise will be offered April through September 2010.
If you have not yet been exposed to small ship cruising, consider a Cruise West vacation. For more information on this itinerary, or any of the other many voyages offered by Cruise West, contact your local AAA Travel professional, call (888) 366-4222 or click on www.AAA.com/travel.
