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Explore America's Distinctive Destinations
this spring
By Kate Sitarz, SmarterTravel.com
Step back in
time this spring by traveling to one of the National Trust for Historic Preservation's 2010 Dozen
Distinctive Destinations. From Provincetown, Massachusetts, to Sitka, Alaska, these destinations are packed with history and are the
perfect places to explore while on a weekend getaway. I've also included three
destinations that have earned the distinctive destination honor in previous
years.
Abingdon, Va.
The Crooked Road,
Virginia's
Heritage Music Trail, spans several cities and towns as it winds through the
mountains in the southwest corner of the state. Visit eight major venues along
the route, including the Ralph Stanley Museum, Carter Family Fold, and the Blue Ridge Music Center, and
experience authentic mountain music at its roots. There are numerous places to
stay in any of the towns along the route. The Martha Washington Hotel and Spa combines history with modern
amenities in Abingdon, Virginia. Originally built in 1832, the
building has seen many uses, including a finishing school for young ladies to a
hospital for wounded soldiers during the Civil War. Rates start at
$195 per night and include newspaper, coffee, tea and treats, a
glass of wine, full American breakfast, parking, shoe shine, Internet, and use
of the therapeutic salt-water pool, Jacuzzi, tennis courts, bicycles, and library with over 1,500
volumes. Call 888-999-8078 for reservations.
READ
MORE: Straight up pickin' on the Crooked Road
Another
option is the Mountain Rose Inn, a
1901 Victorian home located on 100 acres of land along the Rock Castle Creek in
Woolwine, Virginia.
Rates begin at $129 per night. To experience even more local flavor, book the Blue Ridge Parkway 75th Anniversary Wine Tour Special. Tour
the Blue Ridge Wine Trail with a map, tour and tasting coupons for all five of
the stops, and a wine and cheese basket featuring wines from the trail from
$189 per night. To make reservations, call 888-930-1057.
Bastrop, Texas
Just
over 30 minutes from Austin, Bastrop feels worlds away from the city.
Built in 1835 and located in the historic Manlove Chambers house, the Elm Street Inn
is the perfect place to rest your head as you explore the historic downtown
area. Originally built on Mexican soil, the building was home to the man who
became the first mayor of Bastrop.
Stays begin at $125 per night, but the inn offers several add-ons to make you
stay more enjoyable. Add a box of handmade chocolates from the local
chocolatier, an hour massage, cheese and fruit tray, or a horse-drawn carriage
ride around Bastrop's
historic district. Call 512-581-1341 for reservations. A minimum two-night stay
is required on weekends.
Cedar Falls, Iowa
The
Blackhawk Hotel is the oldest continuously-running hotel in Iowa
and is listed in the National Register of Historic Places, making it the ideal
location to explore scenic Cedar Falls.
Rooms start at $99.95 per night for weekend stays in a standard room this
April. Upgrade to a junior suite for $20 more, or Book the Special Getaway
package for two. For an extra $75, you'll receive two martinis in the Stuffed
Olive; a certificate for dinner for two at Bourbon Street, Ferrari's Ristorante, Soho, or Beck's Sports Grill; evening turndown service;
robes; chocolates; breakfast; and late checkout. The hotel can also customize
your stay to include anything from flowers to spa treatments. Check the Cedar Falls
Tourism and Visitors Bureau's website for coupons good at local
merchants, restaurants, and attractions.
Chestnut Hill, Pa.
Located
in the northeast corner of Philadelphia,
the Chestnut Hill Hotel takes you out of the city and into nature. The Garden Package starts at $139 per night and includes
accommodations, a bottle of wine, continental breakfast, onsite parking, and
two tickets to the Morris Arboretum, where you can explore 92 acres of rare
flora and fauna. Call 215-242-5905 to book this package. Check the Chestnut Hill Business Association's website for current area
specials at local shops, restaurants, and more.
Ft. Collins, Colo.
As
the last operating historic hotel in downtown Ft. Collins,
the Armstrong Hotel offers a slice of history with its accommodations in a 1923
building. Rates begin at $99 per night, and the hotel offers several packages to make your stay more memorable, including the Night
on the Town package that, for an extra $65, comes with a bottle of sparkling,
red, or white wine; an imported cheese and meat plate; bathrobes; and two
coffee or espresso drinks. The hotel also allows guests to check out bicycles
for free, so you can leisurely explore the town's parks, museums, theaters, breweries,
and golf courses.
Huntsville, Ala.
Get
up close to science with over 100 interactive exhibits at the Sci-Quest Museum.
The Huntsville Marriott's Sci-Quest Museum Package B will entertain, educate, and engage
adults and children alike. Rates begin at $115 per night and include
accommodations, one adult ticket, one child ticket, and breakfast for two. Need
more tickets? The Sci-Quest A package includes tickets for two adults and two
children, as well as breakfast for four from $137 per night. Use promotional
code "ARN" when making reservations. This offer is valid through
January 2, 2011 for Friday- or Saturday-night stays.
Key West, Fla.
A
2005 distinctive destination, Key West
combines history with sun and sand. This April, the Heron House Court has an April Showers
package, offering 30% off three-night stays in a deluxe king room with French
doors opening to the Jacuzzi or pool area from $202 per night. You must book
this package in full. For reservations call 800-932-9119.
Marquette, Mich.
The
Landmark Inn, a Historic Hotel of America, has played host to a range of guests
including Amelia Earhart and The Rolling Stones. Join the hotel's list of guests with the Bed and
Breakfast Getaway, starting at $365 for a two-night stay. The
package includes accommodations, daily breakfast for two, dinner one night, and
a welcome gift. There is a daily happy hour from 3:00 until 5:00 with free
chips and salsa, as well as drink specials. The inn is home to baker Joe Heck,
who creates cheesecakes, pies, and has a special cake of the month (lemon for
April). If you'd rather work off the calories than consume them, Marquette is home to
plenty of waterfalls and hiking trails. For reservations, call 888-752-6362.
Port Townsend,
Wash.
When
the distinctive destination distinction began in 2000, Port Townsend was one of
the chosen locations. The Bishop Victorian has several packages available this
April, including the Classic Chamber Music Package valid on the weekend of April
16. This package includes a two-night stay; breakfast delivered to your room;
access to the Port Townsend Athletic Club; a bottle of wine, Champagne, or
sparkling cider; a $40 dinner certificate for your choice amongst five
restaurants; and two tickets to the April 18 concert of the Chamber Music
Society of Port Townsend. The package is $390 for the two night stay, and is
valid from April 16 to 19.
For
stays on other weekends in April, the hotel is offering a Dinner, Movie, and More Package through the end of the month.
This package includes two nights' accommodations, continental breakfast, a
bottle of wine, two tickets to the Rose
Theatre, access to the
Port Townsend Athletic Club, free parking, and a $40 dinner certificate and a
$20 lunch certificate good at your choice of local restaurants. This offer
starts at $315 for a two-night stay. To book either package, call 800-824-4738.
Provincetown, Mass.
It
might be too cold to go swimming, but that doesn't mean a visit to Cape Cod this April is out of the question. Instead,
explore sand dunes, go on a whale watch, visit Pilgrim
Monument and celebrate its 100th
anniversary, or simply stroll around America's oldest artist colony.
Through May 15, the Crowne Pointe Historic Inn and Spa, a Historic Hotel of
America, is offering 50% off third night when you stay two nights at the
regular price. Rates begin at $149.17, and include complimentary breakfast with
all the morning favorites: waffles, French toast, homemade granola, fruit,
yogurt, eggs, pastries made on-site, and more. The rate also includes wine and
cheese each evening at 5:00, handmade chocolates, nightly turndown service,
twice daily housekeeping service, Internet, afternoon cookies, and access to
the Shui Spa's mineral soaking tub, sauna, and eucalyptus-infused steam room.
Rockland, Maine
There's
a reason why Maine is called the Vacation State. Find out why with a trip to Berry
Manor Inn, an environmental leader in the hospitality industry for its green
practices. Learn how to tell the difference between a male and female lobster,
hard and soft shell lobsters, or just kick back and relax on an hour-and-a-half
cruise on a downeast lobster boat. Book the Eco-Lobster
Adventure with Captain Jack package from $160 per night and
experience the life of a local lobsterman, while viewing lighthouses, gulls,
and osprey. For reservations call 207-596-7696.
Santa Barbara, Calif.
One
of last year's distinctive destinations, Santa
Barbara offers beaches, Spanish architecture, and a
giant fig tree. Hit the water at the Inn by
the Harbor with the Seashore Cruise and Soother package. This offer includes
accommodations, a sunset cruise for two, a bottle of Chardonnay or sparkling
cider from Santa Barbara Winery in a souvenir tote, and a La Cumbre Plaza
Shopping and Dining Visitor Rewards Book. The package begins at $206 per night.
You'll learn about Santa Barbara's
history from the ship's crew as they point out notable homes along the coast,
while you spot whales, sea lions, and dolphins. Contact the hotel to book this
package at 800-626-1986.
Simsbury, Conn.
Only
a few miles from Hartford, Simsbury
is the perfect location to explore historic landmarks, including Mark Twain's house; the Hill-Stead
Museum, a National Historic Landmark;
and the Wadsworth Athenaeum, America's
oldest public art museum. Stays at the Simsbury
1820 House begin at $129 per night, and include complimentary breakfast. While
the hotel offers several packages, base rates include a lot of extras, such as van
transportation to and from Bradley
International Airport
and local businesses, access to the movie library, parking, 24-hour coffee and
tea service, and use of a nearby pool, health club, and tennis facilities.
Nearby Simsbury Inn has rooms from $169,
which includes access to the indoor heated pool, Jacuzzi, sauna, exercise room,
gallery of local art, and shuttle service to and from the airport and train
station.
Sitka, Alaska
Take
a trip to "The Last Frontier" by visiting historic Sitka, Alaska
this spring. Otter's Cove Bed and Breakfast has rates from
$89 per night, including breakfast, through April. The inn also offers a 10%
discount to anyone reserving a room for seven days or longer. Relax in the oceanside backyard, take to the water on a fishing trip,
or visit the Sitka
National Historical
Park, a 107-acre park
listed on the National Register of Historical Places that preserves the site of
a battle fought between the Russians and Tlingit Indians.
St. Louis, Miss.
Moonrise
Hotel puts you in close proximity to St.
Louis' iconic Gateway Arch. The Top of the World package starts at $199 per night and includes
accommodations, two tickets to the Gateway Arch, two tickets to the Metro Link,
two cocktails at the Rooftop Terrace Bar or Eclipse Restaurant. Book using promotional
code "TOP."
If
you've got a bit more room in the budget, and want to catch the Cardinals in
action, the Hilton St. Louis at the Ballpark's Grand Slam Package includes accommodations, a souvenir, and
two outfield field box tickets to a Cardinals' game. This package is available
through October 5, and available the weekend of April 16-18 starting at $299.
Book using plan code "OY." There is also a four-ticket package
available.
These are just a sample of the latest offerings from a variety of
popular destinations nationwide. If you have a different place in mind, contact
your favorite hotel company and the local convention and visitors' bureau to
find out the most current promotions.
http://www.usatoday.com/travel/deals/inside/2010-04-08-historic-weekend-getaways_N.htm
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Regional Destinations 
