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[greatplaces]
By: Guest Date: Tue Feb 3 14:56:14 2009
usatoday
10 great places to go coastal with your kids
Know before you go on a family beach week that not all stretches of sand and ocean are created equal, says Stephen Leatherman (aka Dr. Beach), professor and director of the International Hurricane Research Center & Laboratory for Coastal Research at Florida International University in Miami (drbeach.org). "Taking the kids to the beach can be a great experience, if you choose the right one," says Leatherman, author of Beach Vacation Travel Journal, Dr. Beach's Survival Guide and America's Best Beaches. He talks with USA TODAY's Shawn Sell about sandy fun-in-the-sun family destinations.
North Beach (Fort De Soto Park)
St. Petersburg, Fla.
"A great place to do all things beachy," Leatherman says, "such as swimming in the warm, clear waters, fishing in the channels between the five islands, bird-watching, barbecuing at one of the many grills, camping in the park, exploring a Civil War fort, fishing off one of two long piers, taking a ferry over to an island in the mouth of Tampa Bay, bringing your bike or renting one to roam the miles of paved trails." 727-582-2267; pinellascounty.org/park/05_Ft_DeSoto.htm
Rehoboth Beach
Rehoboth Beach, Del.
"This small-town beach is known for its mile-long wooden boardwalk, great for strolling or watching fresh french fries and saltwater taffy being made," Leatherman says. "There is a fun amusement park at the south end with great bumper cars. Make sure to bring your boogie board, because there's good surf on most days." 302-227-6181; cityofrehoboth.com
Myrtle Beach
Myrtle Beach, S.C.
"This popular beach is part of the Grand Strand that extends some 60 miles," Leatherman says. "Although it gets a bit crowded, the kids will have fun swimming and shelling on this very-fine-sand beach. Look for small, elongated coquina clams, which wash up between waves. Nearby, there are water parks galore." 800-356-3016; mbchamber.com
East Beach
Santa Barbara, Calif.
"This popular beach, which faces southward, has better weather (more sunny days) than most beaches in Southern California, courtesy of the mountain," Leatherman says. "Beach sports include Frisbee and volleyball, kayaking, parasailing or biking and in-line skating on the paved trail. This small town, a fun place to explore, has some great seafood restaurants." 805-965-3023; santabarbara.com/activities/beaches
Cannon Beach
Cannon Beach, Ore.
"While the water is chilly, even in summer, children still love to run and splash in it here," Leatherman says. "The sand is remarkably fine and the beach flat; at low tide, it's hundreds of feet wide, so it's great for building sand castles. (There's an annual sand castle-sculpting contest in June.) Just offshore sits the 235-foot-high Haystack Rock, an impressive backdrop to this beautiful beach, where exploring the intertidal pools yields starfish, sea urchins and other interesting creatures." 503-436-2623; cannonbeach.org
Coronado Beach
San Diego
"This 11/2-mile-long beach is an oasis within the San Diego area, but a world away on an offshore island accessible by bridge," Leatherman says. "The water is warm and calm, great for swimming, and the beach is flat and glimmering because of tiny flakes of mica in the sand. The San Diego Zoo and Sea World are nearby." 619-437-8788; coronadovisitors.com
Cooper Beach
Southampton, N.Y.
"Here at these world-famous Hampton beaches, Cooper is a wide sandy area backed by large grassy sand dunes," Leatherman says. "The beach face can be fairly steep — some kids like to run and jump into the surf — and there are good rolling breakers for board surfing or body surfing. An added extra: The beach pavilion has tasty food and ice cream." 631-283-0402; www.southamptonchamber.com
Holden Beach
Holden Beach, N.C.
"This 11-mile-long barrier island has been developed as a family beach," Leatherman says. "You can swim in the warm, safe waters, beach-comb for shells, fish from the surf or go boating on the ocean or the Intracoastal Waterway. At night, chase the ghost crabs with a flashlight — they dart quickly across the beach and have serious pinchers, which means you don't really want to catch them." 910-842-6488; hbtownhall.com
Panama City Beach
Panama City Beach, Fla.
"Bring the sunglasses when you visit this stunning stretch of beach boasting the finest, whitest sand in the world," Leatherman says. "The shallow, clean, emerald-green water normally has no waves, which makes this a great beach for swimming and snorkeling. Other activities include arcades, amusement parks and miniature golf." 850-235-1159; pcbeach.org
Coast Guard Beach
Cape Cod, Mass.
"Outer Cape Cod is one of the world's special places," Leatherman says. "The old white Coast Guard Station sits on a sea cliff, and down below you see Nauset Spit and the salt marshes. In Colonial days, lobsters were so numerous, they were caught by hand in the tidal channels; today, you have to dive offshore or go to a nearby restaurant. While the water is nippy, a short dip is always refreshing. Bring your kite, as the wind always seems to be blowing on this island, known for 'free air conditioning.' " 888-332-2732; capecodchamber.org
By: Guest Date: Tue Feb 3 14:55:30 2009
nytimes
31 Places to Go This Summer
Corrections Appended
THERE used to be a time — oh, let’s call it 2007 — when summer was considered a time of almost limitless possibilities, a time of languorous vacations, of trips filled with the promise of discovery.
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But the summer of 2008 is starting out like a cruel joke, with air travel increasingly a nightmare and with wildly escalating gas prices threatening to make the road trip all but obsolete. It’s almost enough to make you sit at home and catch up on episodes of “Gossip Girl.”
The summer vacation is still an inalienable right, however. And there is no reason to forgo it this year. It will just take a bit of creativity — and perhaps the willingness to stay a little closer to home this time around — to pull it off in 2008.
Thus, here are 31 options — from river rafting in eastern Oregon to biking in the White Mountains of New Hampshire — for a great summer vacation. Not one involves the terrifying conversion of dollars into euros, many can be enjoyed without ever getting on a plane, and the road trips are ones that actually justify filling up your tank, even if the price of gas hits $5 a gallon this summer.
1. TEXAS HILL COUNTRY
Who needs Europe? The Texas Hill Country, west of Austin and north of San Antonio, might be the next best thing to crossing the Atlantic. The region is lush, colorful and, unlike much of the pancake-flat state, dotted with beautiful green hills that are evocative of Tuscany or the south of France. Moreover, the region is speckled with 22 wineries (www.texaswinetrail.com) that buzz with food and music festivals year round. And towns like Fredericksburg offer a taste of the Old World, with German-style biergartens and schnitzelhäuser.
2. NEW HAMPSHIRE
With 800,000 acres of rugged terrain and biking trails, the White Mountains of New Hampshire are sometimes called the Moab of the East. And while you won’t get red-rock formations or Road Runner vistas, the White Mountains do offer their own purple majesty. The Cherry Mountain Loop near Twin Mountain, not far from Bretton Woods, features remote waterfalls and thick forests. The trails around North Conway, a small, outdoorsy town near the Maine border where volunteer riders maintain more than 100 miles of downhill paths, are popular. For trail information, see the New Hampshire Trails Bureau (www.nhtrails.org) and New England Mountain Bicycling Association (www.nemba.org).
3. LAS VEGAS
The much-hyped efforts of Las Vegas to turn itself into a family destination a few years ago pretty much fizzled — there’s still plenty of sin in Sin City — but anyone looking for a pool vacation for the kids this summer might want to consider this desert spot. The pool scenes at any number of hotels (including recent expansions at Mandalay Bay and the Excalibur) are fairly over-the-top, but few can rival the 15-acre “tropical oasis” at the Flamingo Las Vegas (888-902-9929; www.flamingolv.com), with four pools, a water slide, several waterfalls and a subterranean grotto that can be explored either on foot or by water. And for the adults, there’s even a swim-up blackjack table. Weekend rates for a room with two queen-size beds (suitable for a family of four) start about $140 this June and July.
4. PHILADELPHIA
There are enough history excursions in the City of Brotherly Love to fill an entire summer, including big landmarks like the National Constitution Center (215-409-6600; www.constitutioncenter.org), with its interactive displays in which kids can be sworn in as president or cast their ballots in authentic voting booths. But there’s also plenty to do off the history track — much of it affordable for a family weekend. For starters: the new $20 million Big Cat Falls exhibit at the Philadelphia Zoo (3400 West Girard Avenue; 215-243-1100; www.philadelphiazoo.org), where lions, tigers, baby pumas and snow leopards are on view. A quick trolley ride from Center City can take you to one of the nation’s oldest — and most lovely — botanical gardens, Bartram’s Garden (54th Street and Lindbergh Boulevard; 215-729-5281; www.bartramsgarden.org). For local flavor, it’s worth a lunch visit to John’s Roast Pork (14 East Snyder Avenue; 215-463-1951; www.johnsroastpork.com), where the made-to-order cheese steaks are legendary (the James Beard Foundation declared John’s one of “America’s Classics”). The Loews Philadelphia Hotel is well situated at 1200 Market Street (215-627-1200; www.loewshotels.com), with occasional family packages. Rooms with two double beds start at $179.
5. A WESTERN ROAD TRIP
You could join the thousands of visitors vying for a glance of the fabled Grand Canyon before retiring to cafeteria lines and dorm-size rooms (surrounded by those same throngs). Or you could opt instead to navigate a series of mind-bendingly beautiful mesas and wild canyons in the Capitol Reef National Park, in almost near solitude. En route from Las Vegas, is Bryce Canyon — shades of the Grand Canyon with a fraction of the tourists. A bit farther, in Torrey, Utah (population about 200), the Cafe Diablo on Main Street (435-425-3070; www.cafediablo.net), serves rattlesnake cakes with ancho-rosemary aioli, glazed salmon, and margaritas at outdoor tables with views of the surrounding mountains. The nearby Hell’s Backbone Grill in Boulder, Utah (population 1850), on the edge of Escalante’s enormous slick-rock chasm, also serves food that’s strikingly good (Utah North Highway 12; 435-335-7464). Along the way, the stretch of road on Highways 89 and 12 is one of the country’s most stunning. (Information on Capitol Reef National Park, including camping permits: www.nps.gov; 435-425-3791.)
6. MYRTLE BEACH, S.C.
The 55-acre Hard Rock Park (www.hardrockpark.com), billed as the “world’s first rock ’n’ roll theme park,” just opened in Myrtle Beach, complete with a Led Zeppelin-themed steel roller coaster and nightly fireworks set to Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody.” It may be an unlikely addition to this popular resort, best known for its golf courses, but it’s not the only reason to visit this summer. Many of the area’s hotels are offering deep discounts on their weekend rates, ranging from three-bedroom suites for $225 a night to two-bedroom golf villas starting at around $200.
7. MONTAUK, N.Y.
It’s cheaper, less crowded and arguably even prettier than the Hamptons. And now the party scene is getting a boost, too. Montauk, the salty surfing and artists’ village at the eastern tip of Long Island, welcomed a new hotel this season, the Surf Lodge, created by the same celebrity-wrangling folks who brought you the Cain nightclub in New York’s Chelsea neighborhood. The 32-room hotel is set on tranquil Fort Pond, and imports such Hamptons-like affectations as a mixologist, yoga gurus and a flip-flop-friendly restaurant helmed by the former “Top Chef” heartthrob Sam Talbot. (Surf Lodge, 183 Edgemere Street; 631-238-5190; www.thesurflodge.com.)
8. NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE
You won’t find much evidence of George Bernard Shaw at the Shaw Festival (www.shawfest.com) this year — just “Mrs. Warren’s Profession” and the seldom-performed “Getting Married.” But there are still excellent theatrical offerings this summer, including two Stephen Sondheim musicals, “A Little Night Music” and “Follies.” But even if you never go inside a theater, Niagara-on-the-Lake in Ontario has plenty to offer, including a lovely setting on Lake Ontario, a clutch of charming B & Bs and some excellent wineries — particularly Peller Estates (www.peller.com), with a restaurant featuring creative seasonal menus from its executive chef, Jason Parsons. The historic Prince of Wales Hotel, in the center of town (6 Picton Street; 905-468-3246), is an excellent place to park yourself for the weekend. Summer rates start at about 290 Canadian dollars, about the same in United States dollars.
9. SCOTTSDALE, ARIZ.
Downtown Scottsdale is turning into a desert version of Miami’s South Beach. No ocean of course, but plenty of late-night partying and a buzzing hotel scene. The latest arrival is the 224-room W Scottsdale (www.whotels.com/scottsdale), scheduled to open in August, featuring a Bliss spa, a 1,100-square-foot fitness center, a sprawling pool area (with 13 private cabanas) and a sushi restaurant. Rates start at $449.
10. CHESAPEAKE BAY
The calm waters of Chesapeake Bay are an idyllic setting for a summer afternoon sail. But don’t know your mast from your helm? Then check out the “Learn to Sail Package” being offered by the Tides Inn (www.tidesinn.com), a resort in Irvington, Va., set on an estuary that flows into the Rappahannock River and the Chesapeake. Starting at $2,495 for two people, the package includes four nights in a suite in a part of the hotel with a private boat slip and two and a half days of expert instruction that will enable you to earn a basic keelboat certificate. More of a landlubber? Stay behind and hang out at the spa, where the treatments include a lava shell massage and a Sedona clay body wrap.
11. PORTLAND, ORE.
As far as foodie havens go, Portland has been better known for its vegan cafes and eco-hippie cooperatives than for restaurants with gastronomic ambitions. But an emerging locavore movement has changed that. Drawn by the city’s low rents and artsy vibe, young chefs are breaking the culinary mold and tapping into the Northwestern bounty of local fisheries, small meat purveyors and artisanal farms. Sample the heat at places like Clyde Common (Southwest 10th and Stark; 503-228-3333; www.clydecommon.com), which serves novel dishes like crispy pork belly with blood orange marmalade.
12. MONUMENT VALLEY
You’ve seen it in countless spaghetti westerns and Marlboro ads. But the iconic red buttes and mesas of Monument Valley, in the heart of Navajo country, offers more than just postcard-ready views of the quintessential American West. The wind-scraped valley, which spreads along the Utah and Arizona border like a rock sculpture garden, also draws horseback riders, mountain bikers, river rafters and other outdoor enthusiasts. Sacred Monument Tours (www.monumentvalley.net) has horseback rides starting at about $57. Tours are also available at Goulding’s Lodge (www.gouldings.com), currently the only lodging in the valley, at least until the View Hotel (www.monumentvalleyview.com) opens sometime in the fall. Other services can be found through the Navajo Parks and Recreation Department (www.navajonationparks.org).
13. HIGHWAY 101, OREGON
Oregon’s Highway 101 may be a National Scenic Byway (www.byways.org), but that doesn’t mean you have to drive it. This coastal highway is also great for biking. Yes, there are some challenging uphill stretches, but the reward is fragrant old-growth forests, misty ocean cliffs and isolated coves that you’d miss whizzing by in a car. Plus, it’s easy to tack on a side trip to artsy little towns like Port Orford (www.portorford.org), the nearby historic Cape Blanco Lighthouse (www.capeblanco.org) and the Bandon Marsh National Wildlife Refuge, which is excellent for bird-watching. For lodging, try the eco-friendly Wildspring Guest Habitat (866-333-9453; www.wildspring.com), which has cedar cabins filled with art and antiques starting at $245.
14. THE SAN JUAN ISLANDS
Although the San Juan Islands in the Pacific Northwest can be reached by plane or boat, traveling by ferry will make you rethink your concept of mass transit. Although the ferries, part of the Washington State Department of Transportation (www.wsdot.wa.gov/ferries), are used mostly by commuters, these same ferries can be a leisurely (and economical) way to take in the stunning beauty of this popular tourist spot — an archipelago of more than 450 tiny islands roughly halfway between Seattle and Vancouver. In particular, the route of the Illahee, the 45-minute ride between San Juan Island and Orcas Island, has been described by a writer for the Travel section as “the most beautiful trip in the entire Washington State ferry system.”
15. THE BOUNDARY WATERS
Every summer, thousands of canoe paddlers head to the small Minnesota town of Ely to explore the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, a 1.3 million-acre park that runs along the border between the United States and Canada. The frenzy sometimes gives Ely the feel of the Old West, with travelers loading up on food and liquor before heading out into the great unknown. But the sights and sounds of a boomtown are soon replaced by the lull of a canoe gliding through water and the near-absence of any other living soul. Among the many local outfitters is the Piragis Northwoods Company (www.piragis.com), which offers four-day weekend excursions over the summer, with rates starting at $695 a person.
16. QUEBEC CITY
The city’s celebration of its 400th anniversary will mean a full summer schedule of events, including a sound and light show with 2,000-foot-long grain silos serving as projection screens for images of the city; an exhibition of 277 pieces on loan from the Louvre at the Musée National des Beaux-Arts (866-220-2150; www.mnba.qc.ca); and — mais oui — a free concert by Celine Dion on Aug. 22 (418-648-2008; www.myquebec2008.com).
17. PASO ROBLES, CALIF.
Blame it on “Sideways.” Ever since that 2004 film uncorked central California as a discerning wine region, the boutique vineyards and wineries in Paso Robles have blossomed into the region’s next viticulture center. The number of bonded wineries has tripled to 170 in recent years, cultivating everything from cabernet sauvignon to zinfandel. Elegant hotels like the Hotel Cheval (1021 Pine Street; 866-522-6999; www.hotelcheval.com) have sprouted. And so have delectable restaurants and artisanal shops like Pasolivo Olive Oil (8530 Vineyard Drive; 805-227-0186; www.pasolivo.com). For tasting maps, see the Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance’s Web site, www.pasowine.com.
18. BAHIA HONDA KEY, FLA.
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Reporting for this article was done by Stuart Emmrich, Denny Lee, Suzanne MacNeille and Laura Marmor.
This article has been revised to reflect the following correction:
Correction: June 29, 2008
An article on June 1 about 31 places to go this summer described Mesa Verde incorrectly and a correction in this space on June 8 misidentified the state in which it is located. Mesa Verde is a national park, not a national monument, and it is in southwestern Colorado, not in New Mexico.
This article has been revised to reflect the following correction:
Correction: June 8, 2008
An article last Sunday about 31 places to go this summer described Mesa Verde in Farmington, N.M., incorrectly. It is a national park, not a national monument.
By: Guest Date: Tue Feb 3 14:53:23 2009
2008 Great Places in America
Great Neighborhoods
Baltimore, Maryland
Charles Village
Salem, Massachusetts
Downtown Salem
Sheridan, Wyoming
Downtown Sheridan
Los Angeles, California
Echo Park
Denver, Colorado
Greater Park Hill
Syracuse, New York
Greater University Hill
Boise, Idaho
North End
Wichita, Kansas
Old Town
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Society Hill
Mariemont, Ohio
Village of Mariemont
Great Streets
Ybor City, Tampa, Florida
7th Avenue
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Broad Street
Arlington, Virginia
Clarendon and Wilson Boulevards
Portland, Maine
Commercial Street
Annapolis, Maryland
Main Street
Tempe, Arizona
Mill Avenue
El Paso, Texas
South El Paso Street
St. Paul, Minnesota
Summit Avenue
Boston, Massachusetts
Washington Street
Louisville, Kentucky
West Main Street
Great Public Spaces
New York City, New York
Central Park
Burlington, Vermont
Church Street Marketplace
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Mellon Square
Portland, Oregon
Pioneer Courthouse Square
Santa Monica, California
Santa Monica Beach
Washington, D.C.
Union Station
Charleston, South Carolina
Waterfront Park
Providence, Rhode Island
Waterplace Park
Cleveland, Ohio
West Side Market
Prescott, Arizona
Yavapai County Courthouse Plaza
What Makes a Great Place?
Probably we all can think of a street, neighborhood, or public place that is unique or memorable, but what makes it special? What elements combine to produce a place that not only works for people in the community but rises far above the ordinary?
APA's selection guidelines will be considered in addition to other important factors such as geography, population, demographics, and setting (urban, suburban, rural). Consider these guidelines not as a checklist of "must-haves," but rather as important principles from which we will base our judgments.
Characteristics and Guidelines of Great Streets
Characteristics and Guidelines of Great Neighborhoods
Characteristics and Guidelines of Great Public Spaces
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