S p e c i a l F e a t u r e ! T r a v e l t h e S t a t e s : Te n n e s s e e & Te x a s -WINTER
2020
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memories
MAKING MOUNTAIN
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TRAVEL-SAFE CHECKLIST
Must-Do’s While Traveling PLUS
Tour America Discover the Country’s Most Unique Hometowns
WINTER 2020 DISPLAY UNTIL 3/29/21
TIME TRAVELING IN
IRELAND
VAIL RESORTS, COLORADO
Discover how cozy Florida can be.
Real Florida. Real Close. It’s time to plan your visit at www.VisitLakeFL.com.
CLERMONT • MOUNT DORA • LEESBURG • TAVARES • HOWEY-IN-THE-HILLS • EUSTIS
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ashville is known for its vibrant neighborhoods, eclectic foodie scene, and of course, music! When exploring this great city, you will want to make sure you are doing it like the locals do in order to get the most out of what Nashville has to offer. There are some iconic attractions worth your time, like the Grand Ole Opry and the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. However, if you really want to dive into the culture and history here, start exploring neighborhood by neighborhood.
Head to Downtown Nashville for a honky-tonk music experience unlike any other. As you walk the streets, music can be heard from almost every threshold and open window. The smell of world-class restaurants cooking up the most delicious meals will entice your taste buds to try something from every establishment. Enjoy shopping in the boutiques, peruse through fine art galleries, and stay in one of the beautiful hotels within the district. Downtown Nashville is chic, hip, and loves to play, so if you’re heading to the city for a good time (especially at night), you’ll find it here.
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Discover CRYSTAL RIVER Experience a once-in-a-lifetime adventure in the soul of Florida in Crystal River. Every winter, from November to March, docile, loveable manatees flock to Crystal River and Homosassa to bask in the warm waters provided by the numerous crystal clear springs. Here, these federally protected gentle giants spend their days munching on seagrass, floating lazily in the warm water, or resting on the bottom, conserving energy and soaking in the warmth. Come discover an underwater wonderland in Crystal River and enter their world when you swim with a manatee.
Swim with a manatee! Let a trained guide take you out to experience this amazing opportunity to see these curious creatures up close. It’s an adventure you won’t soon forget, as each manatee has its own unique personality. Practice passive observation while in or on the water to keep the manatee population safe and coming back to the springs for future generations to enjoy.
Swim with a Manatee and Experience Authentic Adventures in the Soul of Florida in Crystal River. Explore Nature In addition to 600 acres of natural springs, there is more to explore on Florida’s Nature Coast. Discover two National Wildlife Refuges—the Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge and the Chassahowitzka National Wildlife Refuge along with numerous parks and preserves where you can discover native plants and wildlife. .
Discover a Paddling Paradise Paddle through crystal clear springs, down the still wild Chassahowitzka River, into open bays, and around freshwater lakes in Florida's paddling paradise.
World-Class Fishing Cast your line from offshore or onshore, into freshwater or salt, wherever you go on the water, Crystal River, Homosassa, Inverness, and Floral City offer world-class fishing.
Ride the Trails Discover miles of scenic trails to explore on two wheels, from rugged mountain bike paths through the Withlacoochee State Forest to the paved 46-mile Withlacoochee State Trail, a picturesque ride through forests, past lakes and into quaint downtowns for a quick stop for an ice cream or latte.
Birding Bliss Birding in Citrus County can include anything from a flock of whooping cranes to a soaring eagle to nesting sandhill cranes. Many of Citrus County public parks and preserves have huge avian populations. The Great Florida Birding Trail has 445 official sites and 23 of them are in Citrus County.
Discover Our Towns The quaint untouched Old Florida towns of Crystal River, Homosassa, Inverness and Floral City each offer authentic experiences with great dining, rich histories and lots to explore.
Get Inspired with our Videos Find inspiration for your getaway with our exciting new videos showcasing our cities, top attractions and authentic adventures in the soul of Florida. Discover all of this and more at www.discovercrystalriverfl.com
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hether it’s the runes of ancient magic or the whispers of ghost-haunted corridors calling you to the Irish shore, you’ll find yourself led on a path straight to some of Ireland’s most enchanting castles. Ireland is known for its remnants of mystic history, holding links in time between the modern world and the era of fairytales and knights. Exploring these ruins should be at the top of your travel itinerary but if not, here’s a guide for three of the most beautiful and unique castles worthy of time travel adventures. BLARNEY CASTLE If you like legends, Blarney Castle is a garden of wish-granting folklore; your inner child is sure to find home amongst its stones. According to blarneycastle.ie the castle, built roughly 600 years ago by one of Ireland’s best chieftains Cormac MacCarthy, a gift awaits those who visit. At the top of its tower, as if reaching towards the heavens, the Stone of Eloquence is said to exist. Legend has it, if one were to plant a kiss on its surface they’d never again be at a loss for words. However, as with every fairytale, the magic comes with both gift and curse. In the castle gardens, tourists can expect to find a twisted wonderland where plants are caged as if they are beasts. This place is known as The Poison Gardens. Enter at your own risk & view plants that bring their admirers a deadly fate if not kept safely away from the body. Do not be tempted by the beauty of this twisted wonderland and its red-painted roses, all your senses must be kept closely guarded. Close by in the castle’s gardens, another tale of a King and battle takes birth and haunts like a ghost. The Seven Sisters is a stone circle of immortalized grief, laced in ancient druid magic. Legend has it that a great king once ruled the lands of the Blarney Castle and in a battle lost two of his sons. On his journey back, he came upon the 9-stone circle, and knocked over two to memorialize the loss of his two sons. What stands to this day are the seven stones for the king’s remaining children; sisters' immortal reminders of battle’s hunger. A day spent roaming the sprawling acres of this castle is sure to transport you to a realm of myths and time of ancient magic. KILKENNY CASTLE However, castles aren’t only known for their mystic ruins — Kilkenny Castle is home to some of Ireland’s richest cultural history. If you’d like to see what it might’ve been like from the roots of the medieval 13th century to the scholarly decorum of the 19th century, Kilkenny castle is perfect for your time travel wishes — bringing history to life once more.
Top left, Blarney House at castle gardens in Co. Cork, Ireland. Bottom right, Irish castle of Blarney on top of a hill surrounded by gardens and trees on a cloudy day
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- W I L S O N C O U N T Y, T N -
NEAR NASHVILLE, MILES FROM ORDINARY
Do you remember those choose your own adventure books? The ones where you turn to page 31 if you want to explore the noises coming from the abandoned mine or turn to page 48 if you want to go into town for help? We have all seen them, read them, and then re-read them to change some of our choices. What if we told you that you could choose your own adventure right here with a visit to WilCo: Wilson County, Tennessee? The best part of this adventure is that there are no poor choices, and no need to “bookmark” your spot before you turn the pages and read ahead (and don’t tell us you didn’t do that).
With safety and health being at the top of the list with all WilCo’s shops, dining options, attractions, and events, you can easily turn those first pages on your adventure, because it has been taken care of. From there, you’re off and running with choices galore. Choose to get outside and hike through a state park. Choose which park to visit; we a have couple! Choose the perfect pumpkin, the perfect apple, or the perfect Christmas tree. Choose to shop around, but just know that the choices there are numerous, and a multiple-choice answer might be in order. Check the schedule on the Farm Bureau Exposition Center, with distancing and sanitizing protocols in place, you can be assured that whichever event you choose to attend will be safe and worry-free. Whatever choices you make in WilCo, whether it is time spent around a campground fire, time spent finding the perfect treats, or time spent finding the perfect trail, just know that you will always make the right choice in WilCo. Make the choice to travel safe, to travel responsibly, and to travel to Wilson County, Tennessee. To find out more about what makes Wilson County “Near Nashville, Miles from Ordinary,” check out VisitWilCo.com cares to start planning your trip!
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N O T R I P TO GETTYSBURG IS COMPLETE WITHOUT EXPERIENCING
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ITS RICH H I S TO RY.
ettysburg, PA stands uniquely positioned as one of our nation’s premiere historic travel destinations. Nestled in idyllic Adams County, it offers breathtakingly scenic landscapes, wideranging outdoor activities, adventurous dining and – perhaps most famously – an unparalleled, firsthand look back at this country’s dramatic and inspiring past.
No trip to Gettysburg is complete without experiencing its rich history. Witness the hallowed battlefield and feel the full weight of its solemn significance. Among the monuments and memorials, the enormous impact of our past truly resonates. Experience it as the soldiers did, with a horseback tour led by a Licensed Battlefield Guide or jump in a scoot coupe and hear the story of the famous battle with the wind in your hair. Pause for a moment of inspiration in the Soldiers’ National Cemetery where President Abraham Lincoln delivered his stirring “Gettysburg Address”. Explore the story beyond the battlefield with a variety of venues that share the story of the local aftermath of the battle, enabling you to stand in the shoes of civilians whose lives were upturned by three fierce days of fighting in the place they called home.
D I S C O V E R LO C A L A RT I S T S W H O D R AW I N S P I R AT I O N F R O M LO C A L H I S TO R Y , A G R I C U LT U R E , A N D N AT U R E . For the outdoor lover, breathe in the fresh air of surrounding Adams County with a hike through beautiful state parks and a nature preserve just a short drive from town. The winding trails are dogfriendly and perfect for those traveling with a furry companion. Be sure to take a stroll through the historically preserved downtown area encircling Lincoln Square. Gain insight into our nation’s gripping backstory at interactive museums and education centers. Test your wits at a period-authentic escape room. Find the perfect gift at charming shops filled with oneof-a-kind antiques, handmade treasures and Civil War artifacts. Visit nearby premium outlet shops, offering everything from the latest fashions to charming Christmas specialties. If the spirit is willing, snuggle close together when darkness falls for an eerie evening ghost tour of famous haunts. Discover local artists who draw inspiration from local history, agriculture, and nature. Meet a potter who also operates a family farm market stand supporting sustainable farming. Get to know a painter with a public art studio tucked amongst the hillsides of her country home.
And, of course, the entire region is brimming with foodie-pleasing dining establishments, offering local farm-to-table cuisine in a wide variety of styles. Enjoy unique, contemporary meals prepared by award-winning chefs, experience a period-specific food prepared in a landmark setting, or grab a quick bite at a popular pizza joint. Craft beers, wines, ciders, mead, and spirits produced in Adams County can be found along popular beverage trails – or take a tour of the region’s many farms and orchards. Whatever your tastes, Gettysburg has you covered and then some. Cozy bed & breakfasts, rustic cabins, luxurious inns, your go-to hotel with all the amenities, or that special guest house for the entire family – you’ll find accommodations of every type in Gettysburg, whether you want to stay in walking distance to everything or escape to a quiet retreat. As we move forward and define what the “new normal” looks like together, Gettysburg remains fully committed to the safety of their guest travelers, residents and community as first priority. Don’t forget to check their ongoing online safety updates and, for now, remember to bring your masks. https://destinationgettysburg.com/safe-travel/
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