Fall Foliage Destinations

Top ten fall foliage destinations in the U.S., according to a TripAdvisor survey of more than 2,300 travelers. From mountain peaks to seaside ports, these destinations offer a fabulous variety of activities for leaf-peepers.

1. Auburn Awakening: Asheville, North Carolina
Nestled in the foothills region of western North Carolina, Asheville is a spectacular location for leaf-peeping. Travelers can enjoy the beautiful views by peddling through the Appalachian Mountains on one of many biking trails, or hop in the car for a scenic drive on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Peak foliage-viewing is from mid to late October.

2. Mass Appeal: Boston, Massachusetts
Travelers visiting Boston this fall can stroll along the Charles River, enjoy a ride on the Swan Boats, or simply relax in the Public Garden for a glimpse of autumnal color. Lush foliage, sprawling grass, and sounds of nature in these serene spots allow travelers to forget they are in the midst of a bustling city. A TripAdvisor traveler said, Peak foliage-viewing is from late September through the middle of October.

3. Peak Views: Gatlinburg, Tennessee
Leaf enthusiasts visiting Gatlinburg can enjoy the city’s small-town charm in the middle of the Smoky Mountains. With over 600 miles of hiking trails, there is plenty of room for exploration, including the Newfound Gap Road from which travelers can observe a brilliant tapestry of foliage at 1,400 feet above sea level. Peak foliage-viewing is from mid October to early November.

4. Champlain Wishes: Burlington, Vermont
A short walk from Church Street Marketplace lies Waterfront Park, where travelers can enjoy a stroll along the shores of Lake Champlain and become lost in the reflection of golden leaves with the mountains in the distance. Peak foliage-viewing is from the middle of September through the middle of October.

5. A Show in Stowe: Stowe, Vermont
Sparkling with shades of orange, gold, and crimson, it is not surprising that Stowe calls itself, “Fall’s Color Capital.” View the brilliant display of leaves from the comfort of a car while driving the scenic Mount Mansfield Auto Toll Road. Peak foliage-viewing is from the middle of September through the middle of October.

6. Total Tranquility: Traverse City, Michigan
Visitors can enjoy the crisp fall air with Traverse City’s warming foliage and venture down Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive for seven picturesque miles of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. Peak foliage-viewing is from mid September through October.

7. Open Door: Door County, Wisconsin
Whether travelers are up for hiking, biking, or relaxing on a beach, nearby Peninsula State Park has it all. Spanning nearly 4,000 acres, travelers will be sure to get their fill of stunning foliage. Peak foliage-viewing is from late September through November.

8. Placid and Pristine: Portland, Maine
Travelers can view exceptional foliage throughout Portland, as well as visit exquisite boutiques within the Old Port District, watch fishermen as they return with a fresh catch, or head over to Portland Head Light. Peak foliage-viewing is from mid September through October.

9. Mountain Magic: North Conway, New Hampshire
Buried within the White Mountains National Forest lies the Kancamagus Highway and with more than 26 miles of roadway to meander, leaf-peepers will be captivated by the stunning blaze of color. Peak foliage-viewing is from late September to mid October.

10. Awesome Acadia: Bar Harbor, Maine
Travelers can experience the dazzling hues of fall while driving along the 40-mile stretch of the Acadia Byway and stop to enjoy the rocky coastlines, crisp foliage and evergreens at Acadia National Park. Peak foliage-viewing is from mid September to mid October.

It’s not too late to getaway this Fall. Contact your Indianapolis Travel Agency, CALDWELL TRAVEL, to book your vacation today!

Eat, Pray, Love – Travel Opportunities

When the much-anticipated film “Eat Pray Love,” starring Julia Roberts, was released in August, tour operators seized the opportunity to market the three destinations featured prominently in the lead character’s voyage of self-discovery: Italy, India and Indonesia.

The film is based on author Elizabeth Gilbert’s memoir of the same name, which has been on the New York Times best-seller list for 184 weeks. In the book, Gilbert, in the midst of a personal life crisis, travels to Italy in pursuit of pleasure, then India for spiritual enlightenment and ultimately finds love in Indonesia.

It portrays more than just enticing destinations – it sends a deeper, more meaningful message about the power of travel.

Many tour groups are now offering a line of tour packages for fans of the book and movie that mirror Gilbert’s journey across either Italy, India and Bali, or all three destinations combined. The overall message is that “here’s somebody who did it, and you can, too.”

If you are interested in one of these travel packages – or in a vacation to one of these destinations, contact us and we’ll take care of the rest.

Plenty to See and Do in Tennessee

Tennessee is within a day’s drive of 65% of our nation’s population. There, you’ll find natural beauty, great music and vibrant communities ladled with a dose of Southern hospitality.
Here are five places your family won’t want to miss.

1. Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Gatlinburg
This 800- square-mile wonderland offers a treasure trove of outdoor opportunity for family members of all ages. Heavily forested, it’s well known for its plant and animal diversity, including a population of 1,500 black bears. Enjoy picnicking, hiking the nearly 800 miles of trails, horseback riding and fishing. Kids can earn a Junior Ranger badge and join one of the ranger-led programs designed for young people.

2. Graceland, Memphis
Share a bit of music history with your kids by including Elvis Presley’s home in your itinerary. You won’t want to miss the trophy building where the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll stowed his massive collection of awards, records and flashy mementos. Consider donning a headset for an audio tour that includes commentary from Elvis himself as well as his wife, Priscilla. Conclude the visit with a stop by the Meditation Garden where Elvis and other family members rest in peace.

3. Tennessee Aquarium, Chattanooga
Make time for a stop at the world’s largest freshwater aquarium to scope out the 10-foot-long sharks, giant spider crabs, river otters and alligators. Within the aquarium’s newest addition, Ocean Journey, you and your clan will learn about stealthy stingrays and colorful reef fish as the creatures glide through coral formations. You’ll also experience a shark and ray touch pool and hundreds of free-flying butterflies. Ask about overnight programs that allow those 6 and older to “Sleep in the Deep.”

4. Nashville
Spend time in Music City USA, and young and old will swing to country music and discover its rich origins. Start at the Grand Ole Opry, where an 85th birthday celebration is under way. Learn about industry legends such as Loretta Lynn as well as more recent names the kids might recognize, including Tim McGraw and Carrie Underwood. The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum further reveals how folk and gospel music and front-porch jamming evolved into the sounds we know today. You’ll also see rhinestone costumes and tear-stained lyric sheets in this world’s largest music museum.

5. John Muir Trail, Cherokee National Forest at Reliance, Tennessee
Named for the famed naturalist and founder of the Sierra Club, the John Muir Trail stretches for 20.7 miles along the north side of the Hiwassee State Scenic River. Here, nature-loving families can explore a crowd-free portion of the state that’s said to look much the same as it did in Muir’s day. Take the trail in springtime to view wildflowers. Fishing, picnicking and rafting are also accessible via the trail.

(c) 2010, The Dallas Morning News.

Want to getaway? Contact Caldwell Travel, your Indianapolis Travel Agency!

Montana’s Glacier National Park

On sunny days, Lake McDonald shimmers like blue silk, enticing visitors to plunge into its richly colored water. But that would be a mistake. Hypothermia would quickly set in because the lake is fed by the same forces that formed it: glaciers.

So instead, I explored its waters the way so many other tourists have since Montana’s Glacier National Park was created 100 years ago. I boarded a creaking wooden tour boat.

The double-decker DeSmet, with its varnished wood benches and thick coats of turquoise and white paint, eased from the dock with a low-grade rumble one bright morning this summer. From the open-air upper deck, I watched beyond the stern as mountains, still draped in snow, rippled in the water’s reflection.

“We saw a bear and a bald eagle yesterday. Keep an eye out,” our guide told us.

The DeSmet has been carrying tourists past such scenes since it was built in 1930. Before roads cut through the thick forest, the boat and others that preceded it ferried tourists from a point near West Glacier rail station, where many of them arrived, to Lake McDonald Lodge.

The boat ride was not my only brush with history. The evening before, I’d arrived by train — following the same remarkable route laid down by St. Paul’s Great Northern Railway more than 100 years earlier.

That night at dinner, sitting beside a lifelong Montana farmer, I got my first jolting look at the Rockies — towering peaks that abruptly soar into view after endless miles of prairie. By dessert, the train was rolling past the southern border of Glacier National Park and its mountains of wilderness, lush gorges and whitewater rapids on the Middle Fork of the Flathead River.

I learn on the boat tour that it is glacial flour — minuscule particles of rock generated by glacial erosion — gives the lake its unique color. 14 other boats lie at the lake’s bottom: “With all the wood around, it was easier to sink a boat and build a new one than to haul an old one out for repairs,” explains the tour guide.

There are only 25 glaciers in this national park named after the frozen wonders of nature. Last year, the count stood at 27; in 1985, it was 150.

Glacier National Park became the 10th national park on May 11, 1910. It preserves more than 1 million acres of land carved by glaciers and includes 25 remnant glaciers in Montana’s Rocky Mountains. Going to the Sun Road, the only road across the park, offers scenic views as it climbs over the Continental Divide. Snow makes it unpassable for much of the year.

If you’d like to visit Montana’s Glacier National Park, or have other vacation aspirations, Caldwell Travel is ready to handle the details so that you can simply relax and getaway.

By Kerri Westenberg – (c) 2010, Star Tribune (Minneapolis)
Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.

Contact us today to book your next vacation!

Vacation Postcard from Greece

If you’re interested in a romantic getaway to Greece as well, contact Caldwell Travel to get the best price and great personal service. Contact Caldwell Travel online or call 317-885-9855 for information and details.

Getaways: Take a Classic American Vacation

Now that Independence Day and Labor Day have come and gone, a classic American vacation can help your family continue to celebrate our nation’s heritage into the fall. With Fall Break approaching, here are a few ideas to get your started:

1. Take a road trip
A concept often parodied on television and in the movies, the family road trip continues to be a source of happy memories and fun. Play games, sing songs and tell stories along the way.

2. Make your way to the mountains
Breathe the pine-scented air. Raft the rivers. Wonder at the wildlife or travel by horseback into the backcountry. A visit to a mountain destination such as Jackson, Wyo., will offer your family the best of the great outdoors paired with a glimpse into our Western heritage.

3. Head to the beach
You may have a family favorite, or get out of the house and build sand castles on the beach nearest home. However, if you’re looking for a new sandy spot, consider the list created by Stephen P. Leatherman, director of Florida International University’s Laboratory for Coastal Research. For the last 20 years, ‘Dr. Beach’ has used 50 criteria, including water, sand quality, safety and environmental management to rank seaside playgrounds. The 2010 list includes beaches in New York, Florida, California, Hawaii and North Carolina.

4. Relax at the lake
With more than 1,000 miles of shoreline, Missouri’s Lake of the Ozarks is a family favorite. In addition to boating, swimming, fishing and a wide range of water sports, generations of lake lovers enjoy hiking in the nearby state park, biking, miniature golf and water parks as well as access to restaurants, music and other kid-friendly attractions.

5. Visit a national park
Celebrate our freedom and the beauty of our land within one of the nation’s 392 national parks. With so many historical and natural wonders to discover, consider heading to the National Park Service’s webpage, designed to help regular and first-time visitors plan a meaningful trip. There, you can research park activities as well as camping, backcountry, lodging and educational options. Parks offer special events, institutes and field schools as well as volunteer opportunities.

RISMEDIA, July 9, 2010 – (MCT)

Americans Gear Up for Great Escapes this Autumn

A Labor Day travel survey of more than 2,000 U.S. travelers shows that autumn is a great time to get away!

Eighty-six percent are planning leisure trips this coming fall, compared to 73% that said they took trips last fall. Seventy-eight percent say the economy is not having any effect on their fall travel plans, while 42% plan to take their biggest trip of 2010 this autumn.

Fall Travel Findings and Finances
-36% expect to take one trip this fall,
-while 41% are planning two getaways.
-45% plan to spend more on travel this fall than in autumn 2009,
-while 41% expect to spend the same amount.

-Of those planning fall leisure trips, 90% plan to spend more than $500 on their travels.
-21% of those planning leisure trips expect to spend $1,000-$2,000.
-33% intend to spend over $3,000 on fall leisure trips.

-Among those planning to travel this fall, 37% plan to travel internationally, with Paris, London and Rome the most popular overseas destinations.

Top 10 Most Browsed U.S. Hotspots
Below are the top 10 U.S. destinations that the millions of travelers online have been browsing in the past month, suggesting these may be America’s travel hotspots this fall.
-New York City, New York
-Las Vegas, Nevada
-Orlando, Florida
-Honolulu, Hawaii
-San Francisco, California
-Chicago, Illinois
-Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
-Boston, Massachusetts
-San Diego, California
-Los Angeles, California

Favorite Fall Settings
City trips are travelers’ top choice for fall, with 54% planning an urban getaway.
-39% plan to take a beachside break.
-32% will get back to nature in the countryside.
-15% will head for the great outdoors, with a visit to a national park.
-11% will set sail on a cruise.

Top Five Fall Activities
-Viewing colorful fall foliage – 43%
-Wine tasting or visiting a vineyard – 28%
-Visiting a state or county fair – 23%
-Attending a football game – 21%
-Apple picking – 13%

Fall is a great time to getaway! To book your escape, contact Caldwell Travel today! Your Indianapolis Travel Agents are standing by to help you book a wonderful vacation.

Couples Resort – Negril, Jamaica

I recently returned from Couples Negril in Jamaica. It is one of 4 Couples Resorts on the island. I have included a few photos of the resort and of the amazing sunset. I absolutely loved the resort and the staff is so friendly…..service is great! I would recommend to anyone looking for a relaxing vacation on a beautiful beach with a variety of included activities to choose from. Especially nature lovers. They are Green Globe Certified and take great pride in meticulously maintaining their beautiful property.
–Kim Compton, Caldwell Travel

All Aboard – Cruise Line Entertainment

Royal Caribbean’s 5,400-passenger Allure of the Seas will be the ship of entertainment when it debuts in November, according to the senior vice president of hotel operations for Royal Caribbean.

Only a few years ago cruise lines competed to have the most unique, headline-grabbing amenities, an arms race that delivered bowling alleys, surfing machines and real lawns.

Now it seems that the cruise lines are banking on luring passengers with a variety of entertainment options, often brand-name – and the Allure of the Seas will as well.

The Broadway musical “Chicago,” which will be the headline show in the ship’s 1,340-seat main theater.

Two ice shows: Ice Games, a performance inspired by the board game Monopoly, and a performance based on the DreamWorks film “How to Train Your Dragon” will enjoy the all-new Studio B performance space.

Royal Caribbean partnered with DreamWorks this year to incorporate its characters and animated films into the line’s onboard activities and entertainment, starting on the Allure.

The ship will also introduce a new water show, “Let You Entertain Me,” in its outdoor AquaTheater. The show features the characters of DreamWorks’ “Madagascar” and a new diving show called “Ocean Aria.”

In all, the ship will have four franchises between the musical, ice shows, diving shows and the Dreamworks character entertainment, which will also include parades and character meals as well as first-run 3D movies.

If you’d like information about the Allure of the Seas, Royal Caribbean Cruise Line or any of our other cruise promotions – contact Caldwell Travel for your vacation needs.

10 Fireworks Photo Tips

With the holiday weekend approaching, it’s a great time to sit back with friends and family and take in some amazing aerial displays – fireworks.

But like many, your photos probably never come out as well as seeing it live. Well, maybe that’s changing. Check out these tips from Shutterfly.com photo blogger Rachel B. on taking some amazing fireworks photos:

1. Extra Memory Cards – the more photos you can take, the better chance you have of walking away with some great shots
2. Keep your finger on the button – prevent “camera shake” by not releasing the shutter button right away
3. Focus faraway – fireworks explode far away from you. To record them clearly, set your digital camera focus to infinity. If your digital camera has preset focus modes, look for the mountain icon either on a camera switch or in a menu
4. Tripod is a must – tripods are key in making your fireworks photos crisp. If you can’t bring a tripod, make sure you brace your camera, or your hands (holding the camera) on something solid
5. Location location location – location also plays an important role. Avoid streetlights that may outshine the brightness of the fireworks. Also choose a spot that’s not highly trafficked, in order to avoid people walking in front of your shot
6. No flash - using flash won’t do a thing for you
7. Higher ISO - try increasing your digital camera’s ISO setting from 100 to 200 (check your manual for details) in order to shorten exposure time. Your photo might look a little grainy, but this shouldn’t be too noticeable.
8. Filler – to fill the empty space of the night sky, try incorporating a landmark into your photo – a building, statue, etc
9. Angle it – try tilting your camera to add more variety/interest to your photo
10. High Exposure – to capture the full effect of those fireworks, set your camera’s exposure time (shutter speed) to between .5 and 4 seconds