Austin City Limits Music Festival Starts Today!
Austin City Limits Music Festival (Andrew Shapter/courtesy, Austin CVB)
Music lovers are flocking to Texas this weekend for the Austin City Limits Festival, which kicks off today and features internationally acclaimed acts including Pearl Jam, the Kings of Leon, and the Dave Matthews Band. While general-admission tickets are completely sold out, you can still catch the show online via a live Webcast all weekend. If you're in town and are still looking for things to do outside the festival, here's our guide to Austin's Top 10 Active Adventures.
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September 17, 2009
How to Find the Best Fall Foliage Updates Online
Fall colors in Colorado (courtesy, Colorado Tourism)
Tuesday, September 22 officially marks the start of fall, a date eagerly anticipated by those most ardent of outdoorsy folks: leaf peepers! Reports show that Mother Nature is already revving up for the annual show, with rich reds, crimsons, and yellows already sweeping down through Canada and some of the more northerly parts of New England.
Look out this year, too, for a color-filled profusion of online updates, with newcomer Twitter.com able to provide a stream of real-time updates. And check out Away.com's comprehensive guide to fall for activity ideas and general peak predictions. For a great general resource, go to YankeeFoliage.com, plus follow the photographer who's behind the site on Twitter at http://twitter.com/Foliage_Reports.
Below the jump are listings for state and provincial tourism bureaus in those regions where fall colors are typically the most impressive, with additional information on the latest updates for the 2009 season. Obviously there are dozens more great local resources available around the Web, so tell us in the comments section if you have additional leaf-peeping information to share!
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September 09, 2009
Beach Bytes: Celebrate Oyster Season
Shucking oysters (courtesy, Arcata Bay Oyster Festival)
The arrival of Labor Day and September in the United States heralds thoughts of fall, whether or not the summer temps have cooled. And though summer is known for its bounty of fruits and vegetables, fall brings its own flavors as well, with crops and seafood that arrive with the cooler temperatures.
Fall means oyster season. Though harvesting usually occurs during months that end in "r," weather and water temperatures determine the actual open and close of harvesting season for each state. Along most of the East Coast it begins mid-September. The mighty mollusk lives on the seabed in shallow coastal waters, which rapidly change in temperature and salinity in fall. There are more than 200 appellations of oysters in North America, with subtle changes in flavor determined by its growing environment in Atlantic or Pacific waters.
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September 02, 2009
Beach Bytes: The Outer Banks Marathon
Wright Brothers National Memorial in Kill Devil Hills (courtesy, North Carolina Tourism)
The Outer Banks Marathon is a great event during Veteran’s Day weekend that's not just for runners. The weather and scenery in these North Carolina barrier islands is beautiful in November, and the weekend promises fun for the whole family, even if you plan to do more cheering than running. The marathon itself traces a circuit through some of the area's main attractions: The course begins in Kitty Hawk, providing views of Albemarle Sound; passes through the Wright Brothers National Memorial in Kill Devil Hills, the Nags Head Woods Maritime Forest, and some of the tallest sand dunes on the East Coast in Jockey’s Ridge State Park; crosses the scenic Washington-Baum Bridge; and ends on Roanoke Island, near where the first English colonists landed in 1587. Other races during this weekend include a half marathon, an 8K, and a leisurely Fun Run for kids and families. If you like art, you'll want to check out the Outer Banks Marathon Race EXPO, which will showcase work from local artists, along with music, games, and other entertainment. Whether you are running or not, you can join in the tradition of loading up on carbs at the Pasta Party the night before the big race. And be sure to check out the festivities at Marathon Village in Manteo, where the Pirate Jamboree will get started at 8 a.m. on race day. Enjoy food and beer for purchase (free for runners), and live music and games.
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August 19, 2009
Beach Bytes: Lighthouse Lovers Invited to Maine
Portland Head Lighthouse on Cape Elizabeth, Maine (Tony Sweet/Digital Vision/Getty)
Lighthouse lovers, make your travel plans to head up to the Maine coast now. September 12 will be the first Open Lighthouse Day, giving the public access to more than 50 sites participating in the event. Maine boasts more coastal lighthouses than anywhere in the country, and the New England state is proud of the history and legends surrounding many of these structures and their keepers.
Most were built in the 1800s when safe navigation along the dangerous rocky coastline was dependent on the light and foghorn signals from these lighthouses. Modern sailors can barely imagine trying to get ashore through storms and treacherous waters without GPS or sophisticated technological warning systems.
Today the structures and their grounds vary widely, ranging from beautifully designed and well-maintained masterpieces to unusual, unattractive, or even damaged sites. They are tall, short, octagonal, cylindrical, yet all were important to Maine’s maritime history. Many of the lighthouses and grounds are open regularly, and have visitor centers, gift shops, research facilities, or museums, while others are privately owned or leased to private residents and unavailable to the public.
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August 05, 2009
Beach Bytes: Saturday Night Alive in Fort Lauderdale
Fort Lauderdale beach (Mark Lewis/Digital Vision/Getty)
Fort Lauderdale is a popular strip of Florida’s east coast just north of Miami and near the Everglades. I probably don't have to tell you that it's got a reputation for big time fun along its 23 miles of beaches, and has lots of attractions for all ages.
But if you think you’ve been there and done that, it’s time to revisit and see what’s new. On the scene this year is a series of block party-like events every Saturday in August, showcasing new venues and improvements around the business district, which have been created to attract new and returning visitors.
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July 29, 2009
Beach Bytes: Rehoboth Beach's Watermelon Festival
Rehoboth Beach, Delaware (Rehoboth Chamber of Commerce)
One of the East Coast's best family beaches is celebrating summer with one of America’s favorite seasonal fruits. July is National Watermelon Month, and Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, is hosting its first annual Watermelon Festival on August 15.
I’m looking forward to a little dose of nostalgia with a visit to Rehoboth, which was one of my favorite getaways during my college days. The last time I was there, 100 gourmet restaurants and 40 hotels and bed and breakfasts wouldn't have been in a developer’s wildest dreams! It was not sophisticated, but no one asked for more. It’s grown and prospered, but continues to display its small town pride and warm welcome to visitors, and the surf and sand attracts visitors from several neighboring states. The charm of bygone days on this mile-long boardwalk lures returning guests, while art, theater, and upscale boutiques lend a new attitude. Downtown Rehoboth is doing a lot this year, and there's always something going on.
The history behind the Watermelon Festival goes back to the 1920s and '30s when vacationing families purchased their melons from hucksters. Refrigerators were not common, so families carved their initials on their purchase to identify it among all the melons that were stored in the community icehouse. The Rehoboth Beach Museum is now housed in the old icehouse building where the festival will be based. Seed-spitting and watermelon-eating contests are part of this event, as are crafts, a moon bounce, and food and drinks. The admission price ($4 for adults, $2 for children) includes a visit to the museum.
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July 28, 2009
Birdwatching in Arizona and Beyond
Spotted owl (Alan and Sandy Carey/Photodisc/Getty)
Though most of us are sweating out the dog days of summer and dreaming of cooler days ahead, avid birdwatchers are probably the most anxious for fall to arrive (well, maybe it's a tie with fall-foliage lovers). Each fall, billions of birds migrate across North America, heading south for warmer weather and better food supply. The sites at these "flyways" are spectacular, and festivals run throughout fall to celebrate this wonder.
The fall birding festival season kicks off soon at the 18th Annual Southwest Wings Birding & Nature Festival in Sierra Vista, Arizona (August 5-9, 2009). Sierra Vista lies at the foot of the Huachuca Mountains, minutes away from popular southwest birding hot spots including the San Pedro River and the Garden, Sawmill Huachuca, Ramsey, Carr, Miller, and Ash canyons. These places are known for their excellent biodiversity of birds, butterflies, mammals, reptiles, and close to 1,000 species of plants. Field trips and seminars will introduce these natural features and the area's abundant birdlife to festival participants. New this year is a hike up Miller Canyon to search for high-elevation species such as the Red-faced Warbler, Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher, Painted Redstart, Greater Pewee, Hepatic Tanager, and possibly Spotted Owl. Writer-naturalist Kenn Kaufman will be the keynote speaker. Base registration fee is $15 with a la carte pricing on field trips. Registration info is on the festival's website. Inquire with the Windemere Hotel about reduced rates for festival attendees. --Laura Kammermeier
Check back later this summer when Away.com will publish Laura's picks for the Top Ten Fall Birding Festivals. Until then, check out Away.com's Birdwatching Guide.
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June 27, 2009
Top Ten 4th of July Celebrations
Fireworks, barbeques, parades, and live
music—no other holiday spells summer fun quite like the 4th of July. Since the 4th falls on a Saturday this year, most people get Friday, July 3rd off from work, giving you a long weekend to celebrate America's birthday—and that means the perfect opportunity to take a road trip. Although you could just as easily watch the festivities on TV or set out some lawn chairs and a
grill in your backyard, some Independence Day celebrations are worth
the trip, especially if they're right up the road from you. Here are
our picks for the country's top ten places to ring in the 4th. Make sure to tell us if we've missed any of your favorite local July 4th celebrations in the comments section—we're always up for a new party suggestion!
Top Ten 4th of July Celebrations
10. Mount Rushmore, South Dakota
9. Greater Williamsburg, Virginia
8. Miami, Florida
7. San Diego, California
6. New Orleans, Louisiana
5. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
4. New York City, New York
3. Chicago, Illinois
2. Washington, D.C.
1. Boston, Massachusetts
Bonus: U.S. Virgin Islands
If you want to spend your July 4th weekend in one of America's smaller coastal towns, check out the Best Beaches for a July 4th Celebration. Or if you want more Top Ten travel ideas, get some inspiration here.
PHOTO: The Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular over Boston Harbor (Jay Connor/courtesy, B4 Productions)
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June 24, 2009
Beach Bytes: Best Beaches for a July 4th Celebration
HAPPY FOURTH!: Holiday decorations at a coastal celebration (Liz Mitchell)
It’s not too late to plan a beach trip for the July 4th weekend, when Independence Day is celebrated in thousands of coastal towns throughout the United States. You’ll find the biggest festivals and warmest welcomes—sometimes hot—during this prime summer holiday when Americans celebrate the birth of their country (or at the very least, celebrate a day off from work!). A few suggestions for events follow, and I would be excited to join any of them for fireworks and festivities.
- Visit the coast of New Hampshire for a unique, historical day of festivities. An American Celebration at Strawbery Banke Museum in Portsmouth is a fabulous old-fashioned way to celebrate July 4th, offering an opportunity to experience four centuries of New England life. One of the highlights of a New Hampshire summer, this event includes a children’s bike and wagon parade, games and crafts, historic garden tours, live music, living history, hands-on activities, and lots of food.
- Off the coast of Massachusetts, Nantucket's July 4th Celebration includes face painting, watermelon and pie-eating contests, a dunk tank, children's parades, three-legged races, tug-o-war, music, and a huge water fight. Fireworks set off from Jetties Beach, a family-friendly spot on the North Shore.
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