Resort Maps Blog

By Peter Hans

Resort Maps

You’ve probably heard the expression, “we’ve come full circle”. In some circles, pardon the pun, that may mean you’ve gotten nowhere. When it comes to traveling by car, however, planning your destinations in a circle or loop can help you take in more sights, visit more destinations and put you on the fast track home.

For example, let’s say you’re planning a trip east to New England, with Boston as your starting point. After a few days of taking in the Freedom Trail, the Old North Church, Fenway Park and a few other sights, you venture north along the coast, spending a few days each in the port cities of Portsmouth, New Hampshire and Portland, Maine before returning to Beantown—completing the loop.

While that may seem like a fairly broad scope for a trip, using a loop as your guide can help you focus on the things you want to see. In fact, the travel loop lends nicely to creating a theme trip. For example:

• Lighthouse loop – Starting from Maine or Cape Cod, Massachusetts, create a loop of all the great lighthouses along this coastal route.
• Florida loop – Staying at Disney doesn’t mean you can’t go anywhere else. A loop from Disney World to Daytona Beach, Kennedy Space Center and other interesting sites in Florida will certainly keep you well-entertained.
• Colorado Rockies loop – Starting in Denver, you can hit the slopes or hit the sights with a loop to Red Rocks, Summit County and Breckenridge, then to Eagle River Valley, Vail and Beaver Creek and onto the Flat Iron Mountains and University of Colorado in Boulder, continuing to Ft. Collins then to the Rocky Mountain National Park in Estes Park.

Of course, these are just a few suggestions. The beauty of the loop is that you can make it as small or large as you want, for whatever theme you desire. And while there are certain parts of the country better suited to the travel loop, you can conceivably create one anywhere based on your interests and the interests of those you’re traveling with.

Some more examples:

• Antique Loops – If antiquing is your thing, chart out a loop of antique shops in your part of the country or, better yet, head out on a road trip.
• Factory Outlets Loop –What better way to shop for the holidays than a fall trip to factory outlet stores. Here’s a  perfect fall foliage/factory outlet loop (Manchester, Vermont to Kittery, Maine).
• National Parks – How about a loop of some of the United States’ greatest treasures, its National Parks. For example, how about a loop from Acadia National Park in Bar Harbor, Maine to Lake Placid, New York in the Adirondacks to Sugarbush, Mad River and Stowe in the Green Mountains of Vermont.
• Major or Minor League Baseball Stadium Loop – While loops involving stops around major league baseball stadiums have been around for years (e.g. Chicago-Detroit-Cleveland), minor league loops have become more popular in recent years. Plus, the shorter loop and cheap ticket prices are a winning combination. 

Whether you choose a theme or simply pick a part of the country that interests you, the travel loop gives you a practical system to visit the sights you want to see while limiting backtracking and shortening the return ride home.

Peter Hans is the president of Resort Maps Franchise, based in Waitsfield, Vermont. Resort Maps creates customized travel maps over 90 cities and towns across the U.S. and U.K. For more information, please visit www.resortmaps.com.

 

Hi Everyone.  Post your thoughts, stories or experiences about Annapolis, Maryland.

Over the past few years, many families have embraced the concept of a “staycation” or a vacation spent at home where, instead of going away, you do short day trips—typically within three hours from your residence. What’s been a little more difficult for some is acting like you’re on vacation when you’re not technically away from your home for an extended stay. Resort Maps, creator of customized travels maps in more than 90 cities and towns across the U.S. and U.K., has some pointers for those new to the staycation trend.

 

“Vacations are meant for rest and rejuvenation. You can’t do that if you’re still taking calls from the office or doing chores around the house. Because you’re staying at your house instead of a hotel, there’s a tendency for people to fall into the trap because they are technically not away,” said Peter Hans, president of Resort Maps Franchise, Inc.

 

By following certain ground rules on your staycation, it is more likely to be fun and stress-free. For starters:

 

• No contact with your office – Just because you’re not going away for an extended trip is no reason to be calling in to the office. Time off is to rest up and recharge your batteries. You can’t do that if you’re never mentally away.
• Limit your computer time – Again, you’re on vacation. Restrict your computer time to researching potential day trips. NO E-MAIL, unless you’re being sent a confirmation or reservation number.
• Do not set your alarm – Do not set your alarm if you don’t have to. The beauty of the staycation is that you’re NOT on a schedule.
• Minimize your home chores – Unless you’re specifically taking the week off to complete a project, e.g. painting your house, keep your home chores to a minimum. That doesn’t mean let the dishes in the sink stack up. Just don’t sweat it if the lawn goes a few days without being cut.
• Leave your cell phone off unless you need to use it – Your phone can be handy if you’re traveling with other families or your group splits off into twos. So, leaving it home is not practical. Just make sure you don’t take calls from anybody not in your vacation group. If you’re curious or worried about an emergency, just check the voice mail they leave.

 

“If you were on a cruise ship, you wouldn’t answer a call from the office. You should you’re your staycation that same respect,” said Hans. “Remember, you work hard for your time off and you owe it to yourself, your family and, believe it or not, your employer to come back rested ready with your batteries fully recharged.”

 

Resort Maps offer a number of ideas on possible local excursions for your staycation. Colorful, hand-drawn maps of resort cities and towns across 20 states, as well as parts of the UK, Resort Maps advertise restaurants, accommodations, retail stores, factory outlets, recreation and attractions, real estate and other local services. With landmarks prominently displayed on the maps, Resort Maps are an easy and fun way to find your way around town whether you are visiting, new to the area or you just want to know what's happening around your town.

 

For more information on Resort Maps or to inquire about ownership of a Resort Maps franchise, please visit www.resortmaps.com or call 802-496-6277.

About Resort Maps

Headquartered in the Green Mountains of Vermont, Resort Maps has been creating and publishing advertising maps in the northeastern U.S. since 1986. In 1993, Resort Maps expanded its reach by creating a franchise model for distribution of its colorful, hand-drawn maps of resort towns and cities. Today, that network of franchises grown to nearly 90 Resort Maps in publication in the US and the UK, with several more in the process of being published. Nearly 20 million Resort Maps will be printed and distributed in 2009.

For more information on Resort Maps the company and/or the franchise opportunity, visit www.resortmaps.com or call 802-496-6277.

 

Extended stay vacations are one casualty of the current recession. But many families have found a more cost-effective way to spend their vacations while having just as much fun. How, you might ask. By going on a “staycation”.

Loosely defined, a staycation refers to a vacation spent at home where, instead of going away, you do short day trips—typically within three hours from your residence. The concept itself has enlightened many to the tourist “treasures” quite literally in their backyards. 

“We get so hung up on traveling to far away places that we really do overlook gems that are pretty close to home—like those places you might see in a brochure or flyer at a rest area while you’re traveling . A staycation makes it possible for you to schedule mini-vacations to those kind of places and keep your costs down,” said Peter Hans, president of Resort Maps, creator of customized travel maps in more than 90 cities and towns across the U.S. and U.K.

So, what can you do on your staycation? That’s the beauty of it, you can do anything. Some easy, low- cost ideas include:

·         Visit a local water park – In most parts of the country, you can find a water park within a three-hour drive of your home. Pack a picnic basket or, better yet, take some coals and barbecue. Many of these parks have barbies you can use.

·         Hike and picnic at a state or national park – Be a little daring and venture off to one you haven’t visited before.

·         Outdoor music or film festivals – Free outdoor concerts are in abundance during the summer. For many, you can just spread out a blanket or prop up a lawn chair. Also, more and more areas hold film festivals.

·         Foreign Cuisine Night – Maybe a trip to another county is not in the budget. A night out to sample some foreign cuisine can be the next best thing. For example, have a “Mexican night” at a nearby Mexican restaurant, “Indian night” at your local Indian establishment, etc. If you’ve never tried that kind of food, even better.

·         Museum Day – You’ve probably got several within a 45-minute drive from your home, yet how many times have you been to one of them? Take one day and hit as many museums as you can.

·         Family Game Night – Lest you think it’s mandatory to go somewhere for your staycation. Hosting a family game night can be fun and relaxing—whether it’s a Wii golf tournament or board game marathon.

·         Camp out in your backyard – Young kids especially will love the adventure of pitching a tent in the backyard.  Plus, you’ve got the conveniences of your home without the expense of a campsite.

 Added Hans, “Staycations provide a viable alternative to a vacation, allowing similar adventures you might experience on a vacation without the big expense. Who knows, you may even like them more. Especially when you can put your head down on your own pillow at the end of the day.”

 

Resort Maps offer a number of ideas on possible local excursions for your staycation. Colorful, hand-drawn maps of resort cities and towns across 20 states, as well as parts of the UK, Resort Maps advertise restaurants, accommodations, retail stores, factory outlets, recreation and attractions, real estate and other local services. With landmarks prominently displayed, Resort Maps are an easy and fun way to find your way around town whether you are visiting, new to the area or you just want to know what's happening around your town.

 For more information on Resort Maps or to inquire about ownership of a Resort Maps franchise, please visit www.resortmaps.com or call 802-496-6277.

About Resort Maps

Headquartered in the Green Mountains of Vermont, Resort Maps has been creating and publishing advertising maps in the northeastern U.S. since 1986. In 1993, Resort Maps expanded its reach by creating a franchise model for distribution of its colorful, hand-drawn maps of resort towns and cities. Today, that network of franchises grown to nearly 90 Resort Maps in publication in the US and the UK, with several more in the process of being published. Nearly 20 million Resort Maps will be printed and distributed in 2009.

For more information on Resort Maps the company and/or the franchise opportunity, visit www.resortmaps.com or call 802-496-6277.

 

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