USA Travel Magazine - Topics

  The Crescent City Classic 10k is a New Orleans tradition, held every year. Participants run through the French Quarter, all the way to New Orleans City Park, where they cross the finish line under the cool, shady, ancient live oak trees. LCMC Health Crescent City Classic and YMCA of Greater New Orleans officials are back for the fourth annual combo of the CCC Fall Classic and YMCA Corporate Cup called the “Corporate Classic.” The family-oriented 3.1-mile race will take place this year on Saturday, November 2, 2024, in New Orleans City Park at 8 am. The joy of the event is the Crescent City Classic festivities make for a jam-packed weekend. The fun includes a two-day Health & Fitness Expo, free and open to the public. Many runners sign up simply to attend the post-race party hosted by Michelob Ultra, complete with live music from local bands and world-famous New Orleans cuisine! Be sure to stick around after the family-friendly race for a wide array of complimentary food, beer...

Ober Mountain will surprise you when you discover all the attractions , recreation activities, entertainment,  and delicious dining options to sample. The top Gatlinburg attraction is always adding new adventures and activities, and one of these is Downhill Mountain Biking that is perfect to share during National Bike Month. The action starts with a lift for you and your bike to the top of the mountain. Look back,and admire the view before picking a trail! Download the map and see the trails designed for every level of experience. And, if you need a bike, helmet or pads, they are available to rent.     See the Ober Mountain Adventure Park and Ski Area website for events, activities and adventures, and  ticket options . Learn more about National Bike Month on the League of American Bicyclists . By Leroy Worley Photo Credits: Ober Mountain  

  Gear up for the prestigious Bass Pro Shops and Cabela's Masters Walleye Circuit (MWC) World Walleye Championship (WWC), held October 8th-10th. This is will a chance to witness the "very best of the best" walleye anglers from across the country battle it out for a $120,000 prize pool. The tournament boasts a "protected slot limit" to ensure healthy fish populations, with anglers aiming for a maximum of five walleye, sauger, or saugeye, with specific size restrictions. The event will be filmed and broadcasted, offering a chance for everyone to witness the action. This is just the beginning of events to join this weekend - The Fishers of Men National Tournament Trail brings the Berkley Team Series District 11 Championship to the Quad Cities on the same dates. These tournaments highlight the Quad Cities' commitment to promoting the Mississippi River as a world-class fishing destination. Don't miss the chance to join these exciting fishing events this Oct...

This winter it's time for a change and renewal as you let the serenity of winter surround you as you immerse yourself into all things snow. On the Breathe Into Winter YogaKoh Retreat in Montana you'll enjoy downhill skiing on Whitefish Mountain Resort to snowshoeing in Glacier National Park. Plus, you'll be able to go dogsledding in backcountry woods, and as you'll find out, this winter yoga retreat will certainly offer much more than just yoga! YogaKoh and Dancing Spirit Ranch have joined together to offer this amazing retreat in the Rocky Mountains of Northwest Montana. Each day will start with an invigorating yoga practice led by internationally-known Jolie Manza. The morning sessions are designed to get your heart pumping, breath moving, and mind clear, as well as preparing the body for the activities of the day ahead! Enjoy fun, sweaty Vinyasa Flows where we will cover a range of different postures, discovering new levels of strength and flexibility, imprinting the...

  We arrived in Miami ready to travel along the Florida Keys. We had no problems finding our bags, and everyone who worked at the Miami International Airport was nice and helpful when we had questions. Once you're in Miami, pack your bags and friends and family in the car for a cruise through the Keys. Bring along a cooler with some refreshments, a few snacks, and pop in a Howard Livingston & the Mile Marker 24 Band's CD or Jimmy Buffet to set the mood as you set off on your dining adventure. (Yes, you can fly into Key West and find such a exciting mix of activities and attraction to enjoy, but then you'll miss the opportunity to meet many of the other Characters of the Keys.) Mile Marker 79.9 - 106.5 - As you begin your journey through the Florida Keys you'll notice Mile Maker's along the way. These are the easiest way to figure out where you are and what you're looking for as you travel down the Overseas Highway towards Key West. This is...

  Everywhere we look while traveling around town we see our neighbors out and about enjoying the warmth and nature. Now it is easier than ever to plan a cycling escape that offers affordable lodging, great dining, and beautiful country sides to admire on your tour. Whether you enjoy bicycling or are just looking for a great getaway destination, you'll find three premier New Hampshire inns that offer exceptional amenities and picturesque locations. And, these Inns are offering cyclist the lowest inn to inn biking tour in New England. With gas prices continuing to climb,  Bike The Whites  allows you to park your car upon arrival. These packages three nights of luxury accommodations and friendly one-on-one attention from award winning innkeepers, gourmet dining, maps, luggage transfer, roadside assistance, bike storage and complimentary water bottle. Accommodations are provided by three of New Hampshire’s finest country inns, the Tamworth Inn, The 1785 Inn and Snowvilla...

  "We hope the U.S. Pond Hockey Championships will provide the community with a weekend to pay tribute to a true Minnesota tradition, while bringing nationwide attention to the purity that still exists in sport." Winter is a great time for exciting outdoor sports. For 128 teams of everyday hockey lovers it was a exciting chance to gather and play hockey the way nature intended: outside and in the elements. The U.S. Pond Hockey Championships takes place in mid- January in Minneapolis on the Twin Cities' Lake Calhoun, a beautiful urban lake in the shadows of the Minneapolis skyline. The thrilling 3 day competition for men and women in 128-team, four-on-four challenge is unlike any other competition and is certain to be a highlight of winter for years to come in the Twin Cities. Winter Fun Supports The Community "The Pond is where we grew up, learned to play and made friends. The U.S. Pond Hockey Championships is an inspirational tribute to this legacy and the authentic...

Aside from the obvious, diving, one can experience so many different adventures while spending a day or a night on a dive boat. Activities include dinner cruise, proposal, burial, or even a Christmas parade at sea. Gary Jackson invited me, and my friends, during the winter holiday festivities to spend an evening on his boat - the Psalty V is a Hatteras-built 50ft-sportfisher design that has been customized for diving. However, ‘Dive boat’ was not the first thing came to my mind when I set foot onboard. My eyes were fixed on a luxurious salon with leather couches on a carpeted floor. I instantly pictured dripping divers on the couch watching the Sunday Football on the 42” HD plasma TV between dives. “Nobody comes inside when wet,” said Jackson. “The crew can bring out anything you should need, let it be sunglasses, towel, a sandwich or a beer from the fridge. Of course beer comes strictly after the dive day is over.” My usual dive buddies accompanied me that night for the special event ...

Waterside fun draws us to the shores of lakes and beaches coast to coast. For those near  or those who live in Washington DC and the surrounding region,  Rehoboth Beach  is a popular place for an escape. With chic shops and gourmet restaurants to a mile-long boardwalk loaded with fun family activities, there's always some festive event to attend in Rehoboth Beach. One of the best ways to experience the abundant wildlife that resides in the Delaware shore area is via kayak. As you paddle out into Rehoboth Bay you'll be able to view a variety of herons, ducks and shorebirds. Kayakers in the Delaware Bay get a spectacular view of the Breakwater and Harbor of Refuge lighthouses as well as a close-up look at rare birds including nesting osprey, oyster catchers, and terns. Dewey Beach nearby offers vacationers lots of recreation, including windsurfing and jet skiing on the bay to skim boarding along the oceans' edge. If you're looking for a great night out on the town, Dewey ...

  Located in the Big Sky, Montana region, the legendary Lone Mountain Ranch is a rustic luxury guest ranch that blends authentic Western heritage with deluxe hospitality service. The ranch is celebrating ‘100 Years in Big Sky offering guests breathtaking natural views and expansive trails to explore while enjoying a getaway from the hustle and bustle of the everyday world. Lone Mountain Ranch was recently voted the #1 Nordic skiing, and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, with a history that dates back to 1915. In celebration of 100 years, the Lone Mountain Ranch has a variety of Winter Packages, which include: Winter Getaway Package : Experience an authentic Montana escape! Spend (2) nights in one of the Ranch cabins, enjoy a dinner sleigh ride with live entertainment, breakfast each morning, and (2) days access to the cross country ski or snowshoe trails. Sleigh and Stay Package : Treat yourself to an unforgettable retreat, complete with Montana’s original slei...

  There is no better place in New England to discover the pleasures of winter recreation than Connecticut. Anyone seeking to combine an invigorating and thoroughly relaxing weekend of outdoor fun with the cozy warmth of a country inn, comfortable B&B or family-friendly hotel need look no farther than an hour or so beyond Boston, Providence, or New York. Cross country enthusiasts will discover that Connecticut has some of the finest, and most scenic, ski touring centers in New England. Some offer a "pure" cross-country experience, others, as in the case of Woodbury, feature other winter sports. Among the best known are the 4,000 acres of the White Memorial Foundation in Litchfield , offering 35 miles of ski trails through meadows and woodlands, and Winding Trails Cross Country Ski Center in Farmington, where, in addition to 20 kilometers of ski trails (rental equipment is available) through gently rolling hills, outdoor enthusiasts will find ice skating on Walton Pond a...

Bar Harbor, Maine and Acadia National Park are full of beauty and adventure. So if you are looking for a relaxing, adventurous and enjoyable vacation with a lot to do, or nothing to do this is a great place to go. The coastline of Maine has many breathtaking scenic views form Kittery Point at the southern tip to the town of Robbinston bordering Canada at the Bay of Fundy. Wildlife in Maine is noted for its Moose, Bear and a bird called the Loon. Its not everyday you see a bear or moose crossing in front of you as you drive down a road or you hear in a distance a wild bird called the Loon calling out in a quiet unique and distinctive sound. A great way to see the wildlife and beautiful coastlines of Maine is by visiting Maine's State and National Parks. Maine is the home of the well known National Park of Acadia. The park is located on Mount Desert Island on the Atlantic Ocean along with the well known small coastal harbor town of Bar Harbor. After you’ve entered the Park you can en...

  Southern West Virginia is known as the Grand Canyon of the East, and is where the New River curves through the mountains, and a 53-mile stretch of the river was designated a National Historic River in 1996. This is a great place to enjoy a relaxing day fishing or take a raft or duckie trip on the Upper New with its' mild to moderate ripples or take on the Lower New big water rapids that is great for all levels of experience. New River season begins in April and runs through October. The New is a free-flowing river and boasts a different experience every time. Attracting rafters from around the globe, the Gauley River , located in Summersville , is a dam-released river and has a scheduled release season starting the Friday after Labor Day and going for six weekends – a 22 day season. (Reservations are highly recommended). The 26-mile stretch of river is divided into two sections; the Lower Gauley with its' combination of spectacular scenery and challenging rapids offers an...

  We arrived early at the Lakeview Golf Resort and Spa and weren't able to check in as they were still cleaning the unit. One thing about being at a timeshare is the ability to trade. If you do this on a bit of the off-season, you can still get the area attractions and in many cases a larger unit than the one you trade. Our unit had two bedrooms and two and half bathrooms. Each of the bedrooms upstairs (Oy, the climb) had a full bathroom and tv. The bathroom downstairs was perfectly placed at the entrance. Full kitchen with dishwasher, dining area and living room with a tv and couch. Washer and dryer. What more can you want? At no extra charge you can get the cleaning folks to tidy the place the whole week. I only asked for it once. There is a hotel on the premises and quite common for groups to come in and book events. You park in front of your unit but may not be as easy if you're stopping at the hotel. That's where the computer is that gave me access to my email at no c...

  Filmed in the states of Utah and California, the Academy Award-winning movie Thelma and Louise is available in a special edition on Blu-ray. This exciting film took us on a wild ride with Thelma and Louise, and highlight some of Utah's beautiful landscapes. Among the filming locations were Moab, Arches National Park , and Dead Horse Point State Park , which was the site of the final scene. To celebrate the anniversary the Utah Film Center in downtown Salt Lake City hosted an evening with Geena Davis at the Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center. During the event, she discussed her career on and off the screen. Those who joined the event also enjoyed a a screening of Thelma and Louise. Afterwards, the film producer, Mimi Polk Gitlin, participated in conversation about he film. Co-produced and directed by Ridley Scott, Thelma and Louise was first released in 1991, and included a amazing cast. With Geena Davis playing Thelma, and Susan Sarandon playing Louise, they soon find themselves...

  Georgia’s rich history includes significant turning points like the Civil War that set brother against brother, and the birth of the Civil Rights Movement. Today, Georgia is a vibrant state filled with cultural, historical, and spectacular sports events and attractions travelers enjoy statewide. In  April Georgia's state parks, national landmarks, classic mountains and the state capital will highlight the route of the annual Tour de Georgia. Expanding its stature from six to seven days, featuring a full week of professional cycling and community festivals, which has previously begun in Peachtree City, GA. The sporting event works its way in a clockwise direction around the state of Georgia, and has included a return to Chattanooga, Tennessee. Highlights of the 600-mile route include a dramatic individual time trial to the top of Lookout Mountain, a return to the epic mountain-top finish on Brasstown Bald Mountain, a stage finish in Stone Mountain Park and a return to downtow...