The best travel finds of 2014

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The best travel finds of 2014
Got a travel bucket list? You’re going to need a bigger bucket. Our guide is packed with
thrillingly unexpected destinations—and deals, deals, deals. by Lisa Tucker McElroy
spring
Can’t miss: Cooperstown, NY
This upstate New York small town is
famous for the Baseball Hall of Fame,
but come in the spring to experience its
full-on Norman Rockwell–ishness. The
1930s-style Main Street has a perfect
general store and bakery, and the
Farmer’s Museum, which opens every
April, is an authentic throwback
to butter-churning days. Enjoy
brunch at the Otesaga Resort
Hotel, then play a round of
golf or sit in a rocker on the
wide porch. (Stay at the
hotel’s less pricey sister
property, the Cooper Inn, for
$178 per night.) Tear yourself away
to visit a brewery—Ommegang
offers free tours and $3 tastings.
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Scottsdale, AZ (1)
out in the desert—spring
training!—but just relax at
Kimpton FireSky, a boutique
hotel and spa, where REDBOOK
readers who call 480-945-7666
to book by February 28 can
get a two-night deluxe stay with
in-room yoga, spa add-on
treatments, and a picnic
outing for $375 (saving $193).
Orcas Island, WA (2)
This small island is the least
touristy of the San Juan chain,
but one of the best places in the
United States to see whales; mid-May
is prime time. At West Beach Resort,
a garden studio cabin starts at $125.
Washington, DC (3)
You have to see the cherry blossoms in
bloom at least once. Insiders know the
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Main Street in Cooperstown.
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Kenwood neighborhood,
in nearby Bethesda, MD, and
Dumbarton Oaks, an estate in
DC’s Georgetown area,
boast beautiful blooms
without the crowds.
Memphis
Of course you’ll visit
Graceland, but
then witness another
entertainment legend: the
marching ducks of the
Peabody Memphis Hotel. They (and
their ancestors) have been parading
around the lobby fountain twice a day
since 1932. Stay at the Hotel Memphis; it
looks upscale, but king rooms start at
$74 per night.
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East Kemptville, Nova Scotia
It’s lobster season in Canada, so take
a class to learn how to cook them at the
rustic-luxe Trout Point Lodge. Get a
deluxe junior suite for $169 through late
April when you book through slh.com.
Charleston, SC
In May and June, the Spoleto Festival
offers world-class performances, from
steel guitar to Shakespeare. Take a
break from all that cultchah with fried
shrimp at the Wreck.
Oak Park, IL
The Chicago suburb is celebrating the
125th anniversary of architect Frank
Lloyd Wright’s home and studio. Tour
it—and other glorious homes he
designed—on the All Wright HouseWalk.
cooperstown, orcas island: alamy. Scottsdale: courtesy of kimpton
firesky. Washington: getty images.
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deal! There’s more baseball
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end of June, islanders gather
to defend against a pirate
invasion and race cardboard
boats at the sixth annual
Pyrate Fest.
De Smet, SD (3)
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Calling Ingalls family
superfans: Visit the Ingalls
Homestead, open in summer, to
tour Laura Ingalls Wilder’s school and
two houses from the pioneer
period, then stay overnight in a
covered wagon for $50.
Hendersonville, NC
The Southeast Lighthouse on Block Island.
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pricey, but the Harborside Inn is a find
(they have AC, and not every place
does), with rates starting at $119.
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deal! Yes, it smells like chocolate,
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Can’t miss: Block Island, RI
Want to vacation like a Kennedy on a
clam-digger’s budget? Block Island,
a dot in the sound near Rhode Island,
Connecticut, and New York’s Long
Island, is not as fussy as Martha’s
Vineyard and Nantucket but still has
that irresistible New England style. The
quietest place to lay down your towel is
the north end of Scotch Beach, but save
an afternoon for the gorgeous redbrick
Southeast Lighthouse, which may or
may not be haunted. In the evening,
order a cocktail and watch the sun set
from the porch of the oceanfront
Atlantic Inn, then get the clams casino
at the Beachead restaurant. Some of
Block Island’s inns and rentals are
Hershey, PA (1)
and you can get fresh-from-the-factory
Kisses, but there’s more. Hershey
Park has a new roller coaster this year,
plus tamer rides for little (or timid)
ones. REDBOOK readers get a fourth
night free at the Official Resorts of
Hersheypark and four park admissions
between May 25 and June 30; mention
REDBOOK when you call 800-HERSHEY.
Put-in-Bay, OH (2)
Loyal summer visitors love that this
outpost on Lake Erie has largely
avoided joining the modern age. At the
Palmer, AK
The Alaska State Fair, August 21 through
September 1, schedules events you might
not find in, say, Iowa. Practice your cow
and bull calls—they’re different—watch
Alaska Native drummers and dancers, or
munch on pieces of deep-fried halibut.
Quebec City, Quebec
Love a leisurely five-course meal? So
do the Quebecois. Panache is a mustdine (go for lunch for the $20 prix-fixe),
but you can also have tasty eats
on the go at Chez Ashton, where the
poutine (brown gravy and cheese
curds over fries) is legendary.
Rockaway Beach, OR
Kite pros (who knew?) call the seven
uninterrupted miles of sand here one of
the best places in the U.S. to let loose and
soar. After kite flying and swimming, stay
in a two-bedroom suite with a kitchen at
the Ocean Rogue Inn for $129 per night.
block island, de smet: alamy. hershey, put-in-bay: getty images.
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Want a state-park-hiking
kind of day, but a cushy-bed
kind of night? Here you
can spot warblers in Chimney
Rock Park and scoot down a
waterfall on your butt at Sliding Rock,
then crash in a hammock on the
porch outside your room at the lovely
Highland Lake Inn (from $159 per night).
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night for a two-bedroom, two-bath
condo overlooking the gulf).
Warning: You might never leave.
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deal! This chain of islands offers
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Can’t miss: Sandestin, FL
You’ve probably done Miami, maybe
even Tampa. But what about the
Florida panhandle? You gotta know,
some of the best Florida beaches are
right here, and fall brings the perfect
75-degree weather to enjoy the white
sand and turquoise water. If you
need a break from all that relaxing,
rent a boat and visit Crab Island, a
sandbar with a waterslide and
floating restaurants, or take a family
outing to the Village of Baytowne
Wharf in the Sandestin Golf and
Beach Resort. Kids can try a ropes
course—and parents can grab a
daiquiri. Spend the night in a beach
rental, available through Frangista
Beach Properties for cheap ($120 per
The Abacos, Bahamas (1)
great shopping and pretty beaches.
Stay at the Abaco Beach Resort, with
pastel cottages and good fishing,
where REDBOOK readers who travel
by December 15 can get a family
excursion and two kids’ camp days
(worth $500) for free when you book
four nights online (abacobeachresort
.com) with code ABRREDBOOK.
Traverse City, MI (2)
Kids love this vacation retreat in the
Mitten State for the apple orchards,
hay rides, and corn mazes. Adults love
the dozens of wineries and tasting
rooms. Don’t miss Black Star Farms,
an old horse farm that makes cheese
as well as wine, and the Willow
Vineyards, where the hillside setting
makes for “this is the Midwest?” vistas.
North Adams, MA (3)
Bring color into your life with the
Berkshires’ Fall Foliage Festival,
complete with a parade and leaf hunt
for the kids. While you’re there, hike
the portion of the Appalachian Trail
that runs through town, or the easy
but lovely Cascade Falls path.
Hannibal, MO
October’s the perfect time to take a
ghost tour of Mark Twain’s hometown
and enjoy the 1800s-themed Autumn
Historic Folklife Festival, featuring
old-fashioned crafts, street musicians,
and fresh-pressed apple cider.
Meredith, NH
Early holiday shoppers, this is the trip
for you. Start in town with its vintage
and artisan shops, then drive 30
minutes to Tilton’s 50-plus factory
outlets. Why here, particularly? There
is no sales tax in New Hampshire.
Stay at the historic Mill Falls at the
Lake, starting at $119 per night.
sandestin: gary crabbe/enlightened photos. bahamas: courtesy of
abaco beach resort. traverse city: Getty images. north adams: alamy.
Acadia National Park, ME
The park’s remote location makes
constellations sparkle like you’ve never
seen. In September, hit the Acadia
Night Sky Festival, which features art,
music, and the aforementioned
stargazing. If you’re not a coldweather camper, stay at the Bar
Harbor Inn, a waterfront find where
many of the rooms have working
fireplaces and rates start at $189.
Fayetteville, AR
The home of the Arkansas Razorbacks
is also 28 miles from the free Crystal
Bridges Museum of American Art.
The gems in this collection—including
works by Andy Warhol and Georgia
O’Keeffe—rival the art you’ll find
in cities like New York and London.
Baytowne Wharf in Sandestin.
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Heber Valley’s Heber Creeper.
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Green Mountain
deal! Falls, CO (1)
This picturesque town (think
outdoor skating next to a
historic gazebo) is home to the
Outlook Lodge, where the art
hanging in the rooms will knock
your socks off. Rooms start at $109 per
night, and REDBOOK readers get 20
percent off two or more nights between
February 1 and April 30 with online code
REDBOOK (outlookgmf.com).
St. Paul, MN (2)
Yes, St. Paul is cold. Very. But the frigid
air is perfect for cross-country skiing
and the oldest winter carnival in the
nation. Watch artists create intricate
snow and ice sculptures as long as your
toes can stand it, then hit Cafe Latté for
tea or a glass of red.
Skytop Lodge, PA (3)
This old-timey Poconos resort will make
you wonder if you’ve wandered onto the
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set of Dirty Dancing—
except that Baby never
got to dogsled with an
Iditarod competitor. You
can! Rates start at $195.
Cozumel, Mexico
Our favorite way to get to this island city
with a coral reef snorkelers dream of?
On a Disney cruise, which is magic (of
course) for Disney aficionados, but
equally elegant and fun for everybody
else. All-inclusive four-night trips that
call in Cozumel start at $449 per adult.
New York City
The secret to a good NYC vacation: a
cheap place to stay. You’ll barely be in
your room if you go during the holidays,
because the streets are especially
sparkly then. Book a suite right across
the Hudson River at the Homewood
Suites Edgewater for roughly $199, then
take a quick ferry ride (the views!). Or
stay downtown at the Jane, where
retro-chic rooms with a shared bath
start at $99.
Las Vegas
The Winter Carnival at the Vegas
version of Venice lets you celebrate
the chilly season without bundling
up. Witness whimsical tree-lighting
ceremonies, lovely decor—no Vegas
cheesiness here—and a skating rink with
a view of the Venetian’s Grand Canal.
Romantic! Suites with special “Winter in
Venice” extras start at $149 per night.
San Simeon, CA
From November through February, San
Simeon is home to 17,000 elephant seals.
Wave to them on the rocks, then take the
gorgeous five-mile drive up to Hearst
Castle, a historic-landmark mansion with
jaw-dropping interiors and grounds.
heber valley, skytop lodge: getty images. st. paul: alamy. green mountain falls: courtesy of the outlook lodge.
Can’t miss: Heber Valley, UT
Utah’s famous for its skiing, but few
out-of-staters know the trick to the
perfect ski vacation on a budget. Heber
Valley has lower-priced lodging within
a half hour of the top slopes in Park
City, so you can pop over to get
your skiing fix. That is, if you
can tear yourself away—
there’s so much to do here
that you may never hit the
slopes. Kids go crazy for the
Heber Creeper, a restored
antique train that somehow
manages to get “robbed” on every
trip across the valley, and adults
tuck into the cheese fondue at
the nice-but-not-snobby Blue
Boar Inn. The whole family
can snorkel in a crater with
a geothermal spring—yes,
in winter. Stay at the Zermatt
Resort, so Swiss you’ll be
surprised to hear English as you
head to your comfy, elegant room.
Rates start at $195.