Dazzling Art Scene in Tacoma, Washington

There's enough public art in Tacoma you'll need to watch your step as you move around downtown. Our beautiful salmon sculptures can be found throughout Tacoma - check for the silver salmon in front of the Theater on the Square, and look for Sparky-the Dalmatian salmon at the fire station in the Proctor District, an exciting boutique shopping area.

The Chihuly Bridge of Glass with its Crystal Towers connects Downtown Tacoma to the Thea Foss Waterway and the Museum of Glass. In addition to the Crystal Towers, you can marvel at the Seaform Pavilion or the eighty-foot long Venetian Wall. Once you've crossed the bridge, wander through the five outdoor art installations at the Museum of Glass on the shores of the Thea Foss.

Tacoma's Museum District-featuring the Museum of Glass, Tacoma Art Museum, and Washington State History Museum-is surrounded in public art. Union Station - a Victorian train station turned federal courthouse- displays beautiful Chihuly art in its windows and is open to the public during the week with ID. The Tacoma Link light rail stop at Union Station is complimented by beautiful urban artwork.

posted by luv2travel! at 1:53 PM

Milwaukee To Host Two Travel Industry Conferences

Milwaukee has been selected as the host city for two conferences that will bring influential travel professionals to town, The Heartland Travel Showcase and the Midwest Travel Writers Association. The positive impact of these meetings will extend far beyond the individual conferences and should include future group business for Milwaukee and significant media coverage for the city.

The Heartland Travel Showcase, a trade show produced by Ohio Travel Association, will convene in Milwaukee March 6 - 8, 2008. Of the expected 800 attendees, approximately 150 will be tour operators or tour planners looking at the city as a destination for future groups. The Heartland Travel Showcase encompasses attendees from Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Ontario, Canada.

“Heartland Travel Showcase is recognized as the largest regional motorcoach marketplace in the United States. Business booked through these visiting tour planners has the potential to bring millions of dollars into the city,” explained VISIT Milwaukee Group Tour Manager Wendy Dobrzynski. “Our world-class attractions, top-notch entertainment, and a city that is easy to navigate make Milwaukee an ideal group tour destination. We look forward to showcasing the city’s best assets.”

The Midwest Travel Writers Association(MTWA), the nation’s oldest organization devoted exclusively to travel writing, will hold its 2009 fall conference in Milwaukee. Based in Lincoln, Neb., the MTWA has about 100 members from 13 Midwestern states. A primary function of MTWA meetings is to provide opportunities for active members to experience destinations firsthand for research and story gathering. This group last met in Milwaukee in May 1986.

“With $1.5 billion invested in our tourism product since 1998 and another $1 billion to come in the next couple of years we have a new, reenergized city to showcase to these journalists,” said David Fantle, vice president of public relations for VISIT Milwaukee. “We’re rightly proud of Milwaukee and we look forward to sharing the fun and excitement of our tourist-friendly destination with these guests.”

VISIT Milwaukee markets Greater Milwaukee to tourists, convention and meeting planners nationally and internationally and is dedicated to ensuring our guests are warmly welcomed and enjoy an enriching experience in this jewel of the Great Lakes. VISIT Milwaukee has more than 700 members, including hotels/motels, restaurants, attractions, services and area businesses. Tourism generated $2.4 billion in spending in Greater Milwaukee in 2004 and supported about 61,000 local jobs. The Spirit of Milwaukee and Potawatomi Bingo Casino are strategic partners with VISIT Milwaukee, providing funding support for conventions and tourism programs.
For more information call 1-800-554-1448 or visit www.visitmilwaukee.org.

posted by luv2travel! at 1:17 PM

There's a lot to do in Tampa Bay, Florida

Nothing about Tampa Bay is typical. From the dramatic design of the minarets at the historic Henry B. Plant Museum (formerly the Tampa Bay Hotel) to the brilliant sunsets that electrify the night sky, this coastal community is tropical and always alluring. Tampa Bay's weather, accented by warm sunshine and cool bay breezes, provides the perfect backdrop for tourism and for your Florida vacation.

Lush, exotic foliage flourishes throughout the area, filling the surrounding scenery with brilliant colors and intoxicating scents. Glistening waterways wrap around the Tampa Bay region's miles of coastline providing scenic lookouts and passageways for dolphins, manatees and other aquatic creatures.

Architectural highlights and delights add visual vibrancy to the local landscape. Centrally located on Florida's West Coast and easily found on maps and accessible by air, highway and waterways, it's easy to enjoy the many sights and sounds of Tampa Bay. Well within an hour's drive from almost any point in the Tampa Bay area are all kinds of Florida attractions, cultural institutions, professional and recreational sports facilities, great restaurants, rich Florida history, nature preserves, shopping plazas and quirky and colorful events.

Whatever your pleasure, it awaits you in Tampa Bay Florida.

posted by luv2travel! at 3:36 PM

Phoenix Arizona: Golf in the Valley

The Whirlwind Golf Club at the Sheraton Wild Horse Pass Resort and Spa has named The Bird Golf Academy as its new on-site golf instructional team offering a wide array of services including personalized coaching, the finest PGA and LPGA professionals, comprehensive packaging and unparalleled customer attention. Promising the "Ultimate Golf Learning Experience®," the Academy's unique concepts are the product of many lifetimes of observation, teaching, and research. Instructors for the Bird Golf Academy include National Head Professional, Sharon Miller, the LPGA's national Teacher of the Year in 1989 and founding editor of Golf For Women magazine; Mary Mills, US Open and two-time LPGA Championship-winner; and Jim Samsing, a PGA Professional for 30 years, among many other notable professionals.

For the second straight year, The Wigwam Golf Resort & Spa holds dominant positions in the Travel + Leisure Golf "World's Best Golf Resorts" reader survey, including four #1 and eight total top three rankings in the Southwest. The Wigwam was named Best Golf Resort in the Southwest for Buddy Trips and Family Trips, was listed as the Most Underrated Resort in the Southwest, and The Blue and The Gold courses were named two of the Most Underrated Courses in the Southwest. The resort and amenities also landed in the top three for Best Resort Course, Best Restaurants, and Best Spa/Gym. In the annual online survey, Travel + Leisure golf readers rated hundreds of properties across the Americas, as well as in the United Kingdom and Ireland, in numerous categories including best golf courses, family vacationing, and overall quality of the resort experience.

posted by luv2travel! at 3:10 PM

Welcome to Columbia, South Carolina!

Gracious and charming Columbia is the heart of South Carolina, combining the legacy of Columbia's rich past with the vibrancy of an emerging metropolis. Lying between beach and mountains in the geographical center of South Carolina, Columbia proudly takes on the role as state capital, education center and caretaker of South Carolina history, tradition and culture.

Columbia SC sits at the confluence of three major rivers – the Broad, the Saluda and the Congaree – within a 20-minute drive of 50,000-acre Lake Murray and within 20 miles of Congaree National Park. Lush surroundings envelop visitors with a canopy of green and it seems there’s always something blooming. Blessed with all this natural beauty and a favorable climate, Columbia SC offers visitors a wealth of exciting year-round attractions.

There’s never been a better time to visit Columbia SC. You’ll experience a vibrant city undergoing a renaissance in growth and beautification projects. New attractions, hotels and event venues are being built or refurbished, improving the quality of life for residents and making the region exceedingly attractive as a destination for visitors.

Southern hospitality flows as readily as our three rivers. The easygoing, natural friendliness of Columbia’s residents will continually make you feel welcome during your visit. You’ll find a charming and attractive city perfect for walking and exploring. It’s quaint neighborhoods, tree-lined streets and wide boulevards give it a graceful beauty.

Visit Columbia, South Carolina any time of year to experience Columbia’s numerous attractions. Leisure-time activities include museums, theatres, art galleries, distinctive shopping and dining, college and professional sporting events and one of the nations top 10 zoological parks. Columbia’s mild, temperate climate makes outdoor recreation a year-round possibility. You’ll find more than 20 golf courses, numerous tennis facilities and opportunities for hiking, boating and fishing.

As you explore the Columbia, South Carolina CVB website, you will quickly discover the many reasons that make Columbia SC one of the South’s most delightful visitor destinations. Whether you are planning a visit for business or pleasure, to reconnect with family and friends, or are a meeting and event planner, you will be thrilled with what lies ahead for you in Columbia, South Carolina. We look forward to your visit!

Whether you’ll be visiting on leisure or business, this is the place to find some great ideas. Columbia, South Carolina is convenient by car from almost anywhere and offers everything you can imagine in a mid-size city: great shopping, exciting attractions, eclectic dining, and multi-faceted outdoor recreation, all complemented by outstanding weather year-round. Best of all you’ll be welcomed in Columbia’s trademark style – we’re friendly, and always pleased to have you here.

posted by luv2travel! at 3:04 PM