Resort Maps Blog

WAITSFIELD, VERMONT…

 

Resort Maps, creator of more than 90 customized travel maps across the United States, England, Costa Rica and Puerto Rico, recently announced the launch of its “Best Worst Trip” contest.

 

Starting March 15, members of the general public can submit their worst travel story in 200 words or less to Resort Maps, with entries being accepted up until May 1. Then, a team of judges, comprised of Resort Maps staff and travel journalists, will select the best “worst vacation story”.  The grand prize is a $100 American Express gift certificate.

 

“When reflecting on vacations both as kids and as adults, it’s human nature  that the ones that come to mind first aren’t the ones that went off without a hitch, but the one where the car broke or somebody got sick, or some other calamity,” said Peter Hans, president of Resort Maps Franchise, Inc. “With this contest, we’re looking to see who out there has the worst story and to see if by our small gesture of an American Express gift certificate can take the sting out of that memory.”

 

Anybody 18 years of age or older is eligible to participate. Entries can be submitted online by visiting Resort Maps’ Web site at www.resortmaps.com or by e-mailing info@resortmaps.com. You can also send your entry to Worst Trip, c/o Resort Maps Franchise, Inc., 5197 Main Street, Suite 8, Waitsfield, VT  05673. All entries must be 200 words or less to be considered and must include your name, address, phone number and e-mail. You can submit your story with photo to improve your case.

 

“At Resort Maps, we have a philosophy that the journey can be every bit as memorable as the end destination,” said Hans. “Unexpected delays along the way or ‘bumps’ along the road may leave an everlasting imprint on a traveler’s memory.  Even though this contest is about people’s worst trips, I’m sure when most people look back on their worst trips it’s with a smile—mainly because they survived and it’s over—but with a smile nonetheless.”

Resort Maps are colorful, hand-drawn maps of resort towns and cities. Free to area visitors, each map advertises restaurants, accommodations, retail stores, factory outlets, recreation and attractions, real estate and other local services. Each advertiser is represented with a display ad surrounding the map, including a color-coded grid locator and a building drawn, highlighted and labeled making it easy to locate. 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.

WAITSFIELD, VERMONT… 

In the famous Seinfeld episode on the holiday of Festivus, George Constanza generously made donations on behalf of his co-workers, in lieu of gifts, to the made-up Human Fund. While that kind of generosity didn’t have much of an impact on his co-workers, Resort Maps Franchise Inc.’s donation to the American Cancer Society on behalf of its franchisees made a significant impression on Resort Maps owners.

 

“Cancer pretty much touches or has touched everybody’s life in some form or another and the response from our franchise owners to the donation has been overwhelmingly supportive,” said Peter Hans, president of Resort Maps, Inc. “What’s made it rewarding on our end is people not only say thank you but add their own story of how a relative or loved one had cancer and how much a donation like this means to them.”

 

According to the American Cancer Society, more than an estimated 562,000 deaths were caused by cancer in 2009. That’s a marked improvement over the estimated 570,000 cancer-related deaths in 2005, an improvement that can be directly attributed to cancer research funded by donations from individuals and companies like Resort Maps Franchise, Inc.

 

“As a company that produces more than 90 customized travel maps across the United States, England, Costa Rica and Puerto Rico, we believe that life is about the journey as much as the end destination,” said Hans. “Cancer has sidetracked far too many people’s journeys, which is why we feel strongly about writing this check.”

 

To donate or for more information on the American Cancer Society, you can visit www.cancer.org.

 

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 has grown to over 90 Resort Maps in publication in the US and the UK, with several more in the process of being published. More than 20 million Resort Maps will be printed and distributed in 2009.

 

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

 

Resort Maps franchises serve cities and towns in California (Carmel, Monterey), Colorado (Boulder, Breckenridge, Cherry Creek, Colorado Springs, Denver, Eagle River, Estes Park, Fort Collins, Summit County), Delaware (Bethany Beach, Rehoboth Beach), Florida (Clearwater Beach and Gulf Beaches, Cocoa Beach, Daytona Beach, Melbourne, New Smyrna Beach, St. Augustine, Tarpon Springs), Georgia (Savannah/Tybee Island), Maine (Bar Harbor/Acadia, Boothbay region, Camden-Rockland, Kennebunkport, Kittery, Portland, York-Ogunquit), , Maryland (Annapolis, Eastern Shore, Ocean City,  Solomons Island, St. Mary’s County), Massachusetts (Berkshires, Chatham-Orleans, Falmouth, Hyannis-Yarmouth, Martha’s Vineyard, Newburyport, Plymouth, Sturbridge, Worcester), Michigan (Traverse City), New Hampshire (Franconia/Notch Region, Hampton Beach, Hanover/Lebanon , Keene, Lakes Region, Mount Washington Valley, Portsmouth), New Jersey (Barnegat Bay, Cape May, Hoboken/Jersey City, Hunterdon, Lambertville , Long Beach Island, Ocean Grove, Point Pleasant, Princeton, Sandy Hook), New York ( The Hamptons, Lake George , Lake Placid, Saratoga Springs), North Carolina (Asheville, Brunswick County, Hendersonville , Outer Banks, Salisbury and Rowan County, Sandhills, Wilmington,), Pennsylvania (Bucks County, Chestnut Hill, Delaware River Valley, Gettysburg, The Main Line), Rhode Island (Newport, Providence), South Carolina (Charleston, Hilton Head, Myrtle Beach), Tennessee (Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge), and Vermont (Addison County/Brandon, Barre/Montpelier, Burlington, Killington/Rutland, Mad River Valley, Manchester, Mount Snow, Okemo, Smugglers’ Notch, Stowe, Waterbury/Richmond, Woodstock/Quechee) —as well as towns and cities in England (Chicester, Lewes, Windsor), Costa Rica (Escazu and Santa Ana) and Puerto Rico (Vieques, Culebra, San Juan).

PLYMOUTH, MASSACHUSETTS AND WAITSFIELD, VERMONT…

Beth Sobiloff and Virginia Just never saw themselves as “traditional” grandmothers spending their reclining years, well, reclining. To prove that point and to achieve a lifelong dream of traveling the U.S., the two small business owners have literally decided to take their show (lives and businesses) on the road in a cross country journey to begin in March 2010.

Resort Maps, creator of more than 90 customized travel maps across the United States, England and Puerto Rico, has signed on as one of the first sponsors of the “Two Grannies on the Road” trip.

“At Resort Maps we believe that every trip is about the journey, not just the destination. Two Grannies on the Road epitomizes that philosophy and takes it one step further as Beth and Ginny will also be running their businesses while they see the country—and that’s something we want to support,” said Peter Hans, president of Resort Maps Franchise.

Just, a 62 year-old grandmother of two boys and freelance graphic designer and Sobiloff, a 59-year-old grandmother of two girls and Web designer/search engine optimization specialist, plan to start their journey in March 2010, traveling in an RV down the coast and across the country to California over a two-month period. During that time, the two grannies will continue to run their businesses. Part of that will be stopping off at local chambers of commerce and Business Networking International (BNI) for meetings along the way.

“Both Ginny and I have been huge networkers, particularly with BNI. So, we’re looking forward to attending networking meetings on our trip and meeting other small business owners, including Resort Maps franchise owners in the cities and towns we travel through,” said Sobiloff. It will also be a big help to have the maps provided by Resort Maps in navigating our trip.

Resort Maps franchises operate in cities and towns in 20 states, including: California, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Vermont—as well as towns and cities in England and Puerto Rico.

“Many Resort Maps franchise owners bought into the business because they didn’t want to be confined to the 12 months a year, 9-to-5 grind. Much like the Two Grannies, our franchise owners want to run their businesses on their own terms. Again, that’s what makes Resort Maps’ sponsorship with the Two Grannies a perfect match,” added Hans.

To find out more about the Two Grannies on the Road, including the progress of preparation for this great journey, please visit their blog at www.twogranniesontheroad.com. Businesses looking to sponsor the Two Grannies can contact Beth Sobiloff or Virginia Just by calling 617-851-6337.

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.

Resort Maps franchises serve cities and towns in California (Carmel, Monterey), Colorado (Boulder, Breckenridge, Cherry Creek, Colorado Springs, Denver, Eagle River, Estes Park, Fort Collins, Summit County), Delaware (Bethany Beach, Rehoboth Beach), Florida (Clearwater Beach and Gulf Beaches, Cocoa Beach, Daytona Beach, Melbourne, New Smyrna Beach, St. Augustine, Tarpon Springs), Georgia (Savannah/Tybee Island), Maine (Bar Harbor/Acadia, Boothbay region, Camden-Rockland, Kennebunkport, Kittery, Portland, York-Ogunquit), , Maryland (Annapolis, Eastern Shore, Ocean City, Solomons Island, St. Mary’s County), Massachusetts (Berkshires, Chatham-Orleans, Falmouth, Hyannis-Yarmouth, Martha’s Vineyard, Newburyport, Plymouth, Sturbridge, Worcester), Michigan (Traverse City), New Hampshire (Franconia/Notch Region, Hampton Beach, Hanover/Lebanon , Keene, Lakes Region, Mount Washington Valley, Portsmouth), New Jersey (Barnegat Bay, Cape May, Hoboken/Jersey City, Hunterdon, Lambertville , Long Beach Island, Ocean Grove, Point Pleasant, Princeton, Sandy Hook), New York ( The Hamptons, Lake George , Lake Placid, Saratoga Springs), North Carolina (Asheville, Brunswick County, Hendersonville , Outer Banks, Salisbury and Rowan County, Sandhills, Wilmington,), Pennsylvania (Bucks County, Chestnut Hill, Delaware River Valley, Gettysburg, The Main Line), Rhode Island (Newport, Providence), South Carolina (Charleston, Hilton Head, Myrtle Beach), Tennessee (Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge), and Vermont (Addison County/Brandon, Barre/Montpelier, Burlington, Killington/Rutland, Mad River Valley, Manchester, Mount Snow, Okemo, Smugglers’ Notch, Stowe, Waterbury/Richmond, Woodstock/Quechee) —as well as towns and cities in England (Chicester, Lewes) and Puerto Rico (Vieques, Culebra).

The Daily Citizen, Dalton GA

"Chatsworth Native to Appear on HGTV"

written by: Jamie Jones

You may recognize John McClain from his days hosting infomercials on Charter Media.

McClain, a Chatsworth native and 1993 graduate of Murray County High School, will return to television on Saturday on the HGTV program “First Time Design.” The program, which airs at 2:30 p.m., shows McClain spending four days and $7,500 to completely make over a master bedroom for a family in Los Angeles.

McClain works with acclaimed interior designer Vern Yip, but producers made it clear that McClain had the final say on all things design. Yip, the host of several HGTV programs, serves as a “mentor.”

“After everything was over, I was like, ‘Oh, wow! I just had the main judge from ‘Design Star’ helping me,” the 34-year-old McClain said. “I had him ironing curtains, I had him hanging things up on the wall. If you’re going to be in the room, you’ve gotta work. The funny thing is, he said he’s totally used to it. He was very down to earth and very helpful.”

McClain found information about the show audition online. According to the posting, producers were looking for untrained, amateur interior designers for a new program. McClain submitted an eight-minute video. A few days later, show representatives asked for photos and more information. Soon after, they asked if he could be in Los Angeles in two weeks for filming. McClain now lives in Orlando, Fla., and owns a Resort Maps advertising franchise. His flexible work schedule afforded him the chance to jet to L.A. and spend four days on set. Thirteen people will appear in separate 30-minute episodes.

The days of filming were “enjoyable — in the beginning,” he said. Even for a person used to being in front of the bright lights, McClain said the constant presence of the cameras began to wear on him.

“There was a camera in my face every single moment of the day,” McClain said. “When I came out of the restroom there would be a camera waiting on me. It was non-stop filming. Basically, I had to talk the entire time. I’m being filmed and being asked, ‘What are you thinking? What are you feeling? What’s on your mind? What do you plan on doing?’ When I walked into a store, I had to narrate that I’m going to a home improvement store to get paint or I’m going to get furniture. On top of all the daily filming, I had a diary cam in my room so every time before I went to bed and every morning as well I had to talk to the camera.”

Despite such rigors, McClain said the show was a hugely positive experience. He said his “passion and hobby” is interior design. He hopes his appearance on HGTV will propel him into a career in the field — and possibly his own show. There is some drama built into the HGTV show. While McClain wants to incorporate Moroccan-inspired colors into the family’s home, the family members are hesitant to stray from their neutral color scheme.

“There are a lot of ups and downs in my episode,” McClain said. “I watched their DVD, and they watched my DVD, and I tried to figure out what they like, what their styles are. They were all over the board with the different designs that they wanted. I had to try to hone in on what I thought they wanted. When I got there, I did my presentation and they’re not that into it.”

Without giving too much away, McClain says it all worked out in the end.

Much of McClain’s family still lives in north Georgia and they will be tuned to HGTV Saturday afternoon. He plans to have a viewing party in Orlando and friends throughout the country will be watching.

Along with several other people who might recognize him from his days in Dalton.

WAITSFIELD, VERMONT…

 

When it comes to romantic getaways, what’s more important: where you go or what you do? While it’s difficult to argue the inherent romance offered by a tropical vacation or cruise or a ski lodge or remote cabin up in the mountains, sometimes what you pack or that spontaneous little side trip can enhance the intimacy of a romantic getaway.

 

As the creator of more than 90 customized travel maps across the United States, England, Costa Rica and Puerto Rico, Resort Maps believes travel is about the journey as much as the end destination, particularly when it comes to romantic getaways. Says Peter Hans, president of Resort Maps Franchise, Inc., “If you reflect on the great trips in your life, some of the best times occur on spontaneous little side trips. In fact, for many people, those side trips end up being more memorable.”

 

So, what sort of things can you do make your journey more memorable? Hans suggests:

 

·         Renting an automobile instead of using your everyday car. If the temperatures allow it, rent a convertible and ride with the top down.

·         Follow the signs – if you see a sign advertising something that sounds interesting, e.g. homemade ice cream store, stop in.

·         Take plenty of breaks – often times on a road trip, you’ll pass bridges, bodies of waters, shops, etc. that look interesting but you keep going. For your romantic journey, stop and smell the figurative roses and explore those places. Even pulling over on a country road to literally smell the roses or share an intimate moment can be a trip maker.

·         Plan a detour – do a little research on the area where you’ll be driving through and see if there’s anything of interest that could make for a nice little surprise.

 

While these spontaneous trips or adventures can serve as very tasty appetizers, you still want to enjoy the main course, your destination, as well. To do that will require some forethought.

 

Some romantic items you may want to include in your packing are:

 

·         Tea lights or scented candles – remembering the matches or lighter.

·         Luxury bubble bath.

·         Massage oil.

·         Music: an MP3 player and speakers or a CD player and CDs with your favorite love songs.

·         Rose petals to scatter in the bed.

·         Romantic notes to leave on each other’s pillow.

 

“The beauty of a romantic getaway is that it really can be anything you want it to be, anywhere you want it to be,” said Hans. “By following just a few of these ideas, you can create a trip that you’ll be talking about with your grandkids—perhaps once they are adults.”

Resort Maps are colorful, hand-drawn maps of resort towns and cities. Free to area visitors, each map advertises restaurants, accommodations, retail stores, factory outlets, recreation and attractions, real estate and other local services. Each advertiser is represented with a display ad surrounding the map, including a color-coded grid locator and a building drawn, highlighted and labeled making it easy to locate. 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 has grown to over 90 Resort Maps in publication in the US and the UK, with several more in the process of being published. More than 20 million Resort Maps will be printed and distributed in 2009.

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

Resort Maps franchises serve cities and towns in California (Carmel, Monterey), Colorado (Boulder, Breckenridge, Cherry Creek, Colorado Springs, Denver, Eagle River, Estes Park, Fort Collins, Summit County), Delaware (Bethany Beach, Rehoboth Beach), Florida (Clearwater Beach and Gulf Beaches, Cocoa Beach, Daytona Beach, Melbourne, New Smyrna Beach, St. Augustine, Tarpon Springs), Georgia (Savannah/Tybee Island), Maine (Bar Harbor/Acadia, Boothbay region, Camden-Rockland, Kennebunkport, Kittery, Portland, York-Ogunquit), , Maryland (Annapolis, Eastern Shore, Ocean City,  Solomons Island, St. Mary’s County), Massachusetts (Berkshires, Chatham-Orleans, Falmouth, Hyannis-Yarmouth, Martha’s Vineyard, Newburyport, Plymouth, Sturbridge, Worcester), Michigan (Traverse City), New Hampshire (Franconia/Notch Region, Hampton Beach, Hanover/Lebanon , Keene, Lakes Region, Mount Washington Valley, Portsmouth), New Jersey (Barnegat Bay, Cape May, Hoboken/Jersey City, Hunterdon, Lambertville , Long Beach Island, Ocean Grove, Point Pleasant, Princeton, Sandy Hook), New York ( The Hamptons, Lake George , Lake Placid, Saratoga Springs), North Carolina (Asheville, Brunswick County, Hendersonville , Outer Banks, Salisbury and Rowan County, Sandhills, Wilmington,), Pennsylvania (Bucks County, Chestnut Hill, Delaware River Valley, Gettysburg, The Main Line), Rhode Island (Newport, Providence), South Carolina (Charleston, Hilton Head, Myrtle Beach), Tennessee (Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge), and Vermont (Addison County/Brandon, Barre/Montpelier, Burlington, Killington/Rutland, Mad River Valley, Manchester, Mount Snow, Okemo, Smugglers’ Notch, Stowe, Waterbury/Richmond, Woodstock/Quechee) —as well as towns and cities in England (Chicester, Lewes, Windsor), Costa Rica (Escazu and Santa Ana) and Puerto Rico (Vieques, Culebra, San Juan).

MELBOURNE, FLORIDA AND WAITSFIELD, VERMONT…

 

Resort Maps, creator of more than 90 customized travel maps across the United States, England and Puerto Rico, recently announced Tom Wright as the new owner of their Melbourne, Florida operation.

 

Resort Maps are colorful, hand-drawn maps of towns and cities, distributed free to area visitors at rest and travel information areas as well by advertisers. The Best of Melbourne Map highlights local attractions, restaurants, accommodations, retail shops, real estate and other services in the greater Melbourne area. Each advertiser on the map is represented with a display ad surrounding the perimeter of the map, including a color-coded grid locator and their actual building drawn, highlighted and labeled, making it easy to locate. 

 

“With more than 33 miles of unspoiled beaches in and beautiful weather most of the year, you really can’t go wrong in Melbourne,” said Wright. “Resort Maps helps to point out the many places to explore and things to do in the area, including the Eau Gallie Arts District and Historic Downtown Melbourne.”

The Best of Melbourne map offers a real treasure trove of things to do for people vacationing in the area or just down for a day or two. Resort Maps free ‘souvenir style’ maps can be found not only at the local advertisers’ shops but also at many non-advertiser locations throughout Melbourne.

These same colorful maps can also be found on-line at www.resortmaps.com. Here you will find interactive maps of all 90+ resort areas to choose from. These interactive maps allow the viewer to read a description of each business as they scroll over each building and to connect to the website of the business for further information. 

 

For information on how to advertise on the upcoming Melbourne map, you can call Tom Wright at 321-243-0449 or email at tomw@resortmaps.com.

 

Resort Maps began creating and publishing maps in the northeastern U.S. back in 1986. In an effort to continue the company’s growth and simultaneously maintain the quality of the product, Resort Maps became a franchisor in 1993. Since adopting the franchise model, Resort Maps has grown steadily to more than 90 maps distributed across 20 states as well as towns and cities in England and Puerto Rico.

 

“We publish over 20 million maps per year in more than 90 cities and towns for a good reason. Our maps are fun, easy-to-read and they really do make you want to stop and see some of the local attractions before heading to the next part of your trip. Our advertisers like them for that very same reason,” said Peter Hans, president of Resort Maps.

 

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 has grown to over 90 Resort Maps in publication in the US and the UK, with several more in the process of being published. More than 20 million Resort Maps will be printed and distributed in 2009.

 

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

 

Resort Maps franchises serve cities and towns in California (Carmel, Monterey), Colorado (Boulder, Breckenridge, Cherry Creek, Colorado Springs, Denver, Eagle River, Estes Park, Fort Collins, Summit County), Delaware (Bethany Beach, Rehoboth Beach), Florida (Clearwater Beach and Gulf Beaches, Cocoa Beach, Daytona Beach, Melbourne, New Smyrna Beach, St. Augustine, Tarpon Springs), Georgia (Savannah/Tybee Island), Maine (Bar Harbor/Acadia, Boothbay region, Camden-Rockland, Kennebunkport, Kittery, Portland, York-Ogunquit), , Maryland (Annapolis, Eastern Shore, Ocean City,  Solomons Island, St. Mary’s County), Massachusetts (Berkshires, Chatham-Orleans, Falmouth, Hyannis-Yarmouth, Martha’s Vineyard, Newburyport, Plymouth, Sturbridge, Worcester), Michigan (Traverse City), New Hampshire (Franconia/Notch Region, Hampton Beach, Hanover/Lebanon , Keene, Lakes Region, Mount Washington Valley, Portsmouth), New Jersey (Barnegat Bay, Cape May, Hoboken/Jersey City, Hunterdon, Lambertville , Long Beach Island, Ocean Grove, Point Pleasant, Princeton, Sandy Hook), New York ( The Hamptons, Lake George , Lake Placid, Saratoga Springs), North Carolina (Asheville, Brunswick County, Hendersonville , Outer Banks, Salisbury and Rowan County, Sandhills, Wilmington,), Pennsylvania (Bucks County, Chestnut Hill, Delaware River Valley, Gettysburg, The Main Line), Rhode Island (Newport, Providence), South Carolina (Charleston, Hilton Head, Myrtle Beach), Tennessee (Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge), and Vermont (Addison County/Brandon, Barre/Montpelier, Burlington, Killington/Rutland, Mad River Valley, Manchester, Mount Snow, Okemo, Smugglers’ Notch, Stowe, Waterbury/Richmond, Woodstock/Quechee) —as well as towns and cities in England (Chicester, Lewes) and Puerto Rico (Vieques, Culebra).

KEY WEST, FLORIDA AND WAITSFIELD, VERMONT…

 

Resort Maps, creator of more than 90 customized travel maps across the United States, England, Costa Rica and Puerto Rico, recently began work on the first edition of a map of Key West, Florida.  Resort Maps are colorful, hand-drawn maps of resort towns and cities, free to area visitors. 

 

The creation of the Best of Key West Resort Map will show what the area has to offer by highlighting local attractions, restaurants, accommodations, retail shops, real estate and other services in the greater Key West area. Each advertiser on the map is represented with a display ad surrounding the perimeter of the map, including a color-coded grid locator and their actual building drawn, highlighted and labeled, making it easy to locate. 

 

These same colorful maps can be found on-line at www.resortmaps.com. Here you will find interactive maps of all 90+ resort areas to choose from. These interactive maps allow the viewer to read a description of each business as they scroll over each building and to connect to the website of the business for further information. 

 

“You think Key West and you think Jimmy Buffet and Ernest Hemingway and that’s all part of Key West, yet there are many other wonderful places to see and things to do here,” said John McClain, Resort Maps franchise owner. “The new Key West map offers a real treasure trove of things to do for people vacationing in the area or just down for a day or two. Our free ‘souvenir style’ maps can be found not only at the local advertisers’ shops but also at many non-advertiser locations throughout the area.”

 

For information on how to advertise on the upcoming Key West map, you can contact franchise owner John McClain by e-mail at john@resortmaps.com or by phone at 305-433-8442.

 

Resort Maps began creating and publishing maps in the northeastern U.S. back in 1986. In an effort to continue the company’s growth and simultaneously maintain the quality of the product, Resort Maps became a franchisor in 1993. Since adopting the franchise model, Resort Maps has grown steadily to more than 90 maps distributed across 20 states as well as towns and cities in England, Costa Rica and Puerto Rico.

 

“We publish over 20 million maps per year in more than 90 cities and towns for a good reason. Our maps are fun, easy-to-read and they really do make you want to stop and see some of the local attractions before heading to the next part of your trip. Our advertisers like them for that very same reason,” said Peter Hans, president of Resort Maps.

 

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 has grown to over 90 Resort Maps in publication in the US and the UK, with several more in the process of being published. More than 20 million Resort Maps will be printed and distributed in 2009.

 

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

 

Resort Maps franchises serve cities and towns in California (Carmel, Monterey), Colorado (Boulder, Breckenridge, Cherry Creek, Colorado Springs, Denver, Eagle River, Estes Park, Fort Collins, Summit County), Delaware (Bethany Beach, Rehoboth Beach), Florida (Clearwater Beach and Gulf Beaches, Cocoa Beach, Daytona Beach, Melbourne, New Smyrna Beach, St. Augustine, Tarpon Springs), Georgia (Savannah/Tybee Island), Maine (Bar Harbor/Acadia, Boothbay region, Camden-Rockland, Kennebunkport, Kittery, Portland, York-Ogunquit), , Maryland (Annapolis, Eastern Shore, Ocean City,  Solomons Island, St. Mary’s County), Massachusetts (Berkshires, Chatham-Orleans, Falmouth, Hyannis-Yarmouth, Martha’s Vineyard, Newburyport, Plymouth, Sturbridge, Worcester), Michigan (Traverse City), New Hampshire (Franconia/Notch Region, Hampton Beach, Hanover/Lebanon , Keene, Lakes Region, Mount Washington Valley, Portsmouth), New Jersey (Barnegat Bay, Cape May, Hoboken/Jersey City, Hunterdon, Lambertville , Long Beach Island, Ocean Grove, Point Pleasant, Princeton, Sandy Hook), New York ( The Hamptons, Lake George , Lake Placid, Saratoga Springs), North Carolina (Asheville, Brunswick County, Hendersonville , Outer Banks, Salisbury and Rowan County, Sandhills, Wilmington,), Pennsylvania (Bucks County, Chestnut Hill, Delaware River Valley, Gettysburg, The Main Line), Rhode Island (Newport, Providence), South Carolina (Charleston, Hilton Head, Myrtle Beach), Tennessee (Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge), and Vermont (Addison County/Brandon, Barre/Montpelier, Burlington, Killington/Rutland, Mad River Valley, Manchester, Mount Snow, Okemo, Smugglers’ Notch, Stowe, Waterbury/Richmond, Woodstock/Quechee) —as well as towns and cities in England (Chicester, Lewes, Windsor), Costa Rica (Escazu and Santa Ana) and Puerto Rico (Vieques, Culebra, San Juan).

WAITSFIELD, VERMONT…

 

Resort Maps, creator of more than 90 customized travel maps across the United States, England and Puerto Rico, recently announced agreement for franchises in Windsor, England, Escazu and Santa Ana, Costa Rica and Old San Juan Puerto Rico.

 

The new map in Windsor, England is owned by Paul Drew. Juan DeCorral owns the Old San Juan map. A company called Strings & Rain is the owner of the Costa Rica map.

 

“We’re very excited about adding new maps in England and Puerto Rico. The current locations we have in those countries—Chichester and Lewes in England, Culebra and Vieques in Puerto Rico—have been very well received,” said Peter Hans.  We are happy to add Windsor to our other maps in England [Chichester and Lewes] and Old San Juan to our maps in Puerto Rico [Culebra and Vieques],” said Hans, president of Resort Maps Franchise, Inc.  “We’re looking forward to the new maps going over just as well, and that includes our initial offering in Costa Rica.”

 

Resort Maps are colorful, hand-drawn maps of towns and cities, distributed free to area visitors at rest and travel information areas as well by advertisers.  Resort Maps highlight local attractions, restaurants, accommodations, retail shops, real estate and other services. Each advertiser on the map is represented with a display ad surrounding the perimeter of the map, including a color-coded grid locator and their actual building drawn, highlighted and labeled, making it easy to locate. 

 

These same colorful maps can be found on-line at www.resortmaps.com. Here you will find interactive maps of all 90+ resort areas to choose from. These interactive maps allow the viewer to read a description of each business as they scroll over each building and to connect to the website of the business for further information. 

 

Resort Maps began creating and publishing maps in the northeastern U.S. back in 1986. In an effort to continue the company’s growth and simultaneously maintain the quality of the product, Resort Maps became a franchisor in 1993. Since adopting the franchise model, Resort Maps has grown steadily to more than 90 maps distributed across 20 states as well as towns and cities in England, Puerto Rico and now Costa Rica.

 

“Looking for those hidden treasures is not something that’s restricted to the U.S. People traveling all over the world want that too,” said Hans. “We’re hopeful that our global expansion will continue as our maps grow in popularity.”

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 has grown to over 90 Resort Maps in publication in the US and the UK, with several more in the process of being published. More than 20 million Resort Maps will be printed and distributed in 2009.

 

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

 

Resort Maps franchises serve cities and towns in California (Carmel, Monterey), Colorado (Boulder, Breckenridge, Cherry Creek, Colorado Springs, Denver, Eagle River, Estes Park, Fort Collins, Summit County), Delaware (Bethany Beach, Rehoboth Beach), Florida (Clearwater Beach and Gulf Beaches, Cocoa Beach, Daytona Beach, Melbourne, New Smyrna Beach, St. Augustine, Tarpon Springs), Georgia (Savannah/Tybee Island), Maine (Bar Harbor/Acadia, Boothbay region, Camden-Rockland, Kennebunkport, Kittery, Portland, York-Ogunquit), , Maryland (Annapolis, Eastern Shore, Ocean City,  Solomons Island, St. Mary’s County), Massachusetts (Berkshires, Chatham-Orleans, Falmouth, Hyannis-Yarmouth, Martha’s Vineyard, Newburyport, Plymouth, Sturbridge, Worcester), Michigan (Traverse City), New Hampshire (Franconia/Notch Region, Hampton Beach, Hanover/Lebanon , Keene, Lakes Region, Mount Washington Valley, Portsmouth), New Jersey (Barnegat Bay, Cape May, Hoboken/Jersey City, Hunterdon, Lambertville , Long Beach Island, Ocean Grove, Point Pleasant, Princeton, Sandy Hook), New York ( The Hamptons, Lake George , Lake Placid, Saratoga Springs), North Carolina (Asheville, Brunswick County, Hendersonville , Outer Banks, Salisbury and Rowan County, Sandhills, Wilmington,), Pennsylvania (Bucks County, Chestnut Hill, Delaware River Valley, Gettysburg, The Main Line), Rhode Island (Newport, Providence), South Carolina (Charleston, Hilton Head, Myrtle Beach), Tennessee (Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge), and Vermont (Addison County/Brandon, Barre/Montpelier, Burlington, Killington/Rutland, Mad River Valley, Manchester, Mount Snow, Okemo, Smugglers’ Notch, Stowe, Waterbury/Richmond, Woodstock/Quechee) —as well as towns and cities in England (Chicester, Lewes, Windsor), Costa Rica (Escazu and Santa Ana) and Puerto Rico (Vieques, Culebra, San Juan).

TravellingInfo.com

WAITSFIELD, VERMONT'

Usually when they had their own families and attempted trips of their own. Resort Maps, creator of customized travel maps in more than 90 cities and towns across the U.S. and U.K. has some family travel tips that can help you optimize the pleasure of family trips and minimize the inconvenience.

 

'In a perfect world, every family trip goes smoothly and years later your memories center on where you went'Disneyworld or the Grand Canyon'rather than little Joey getting sick on the plane or on his sister in the car. But we all know the world is not perfect,' said Peter Hans, president of Resort Maps. 'There are some things you can do to prepare for the mini 'disasters' that happen on your journey so they don't impact the rest of your trip.'

 

Some of the areas to focus your pre-travel preparations include:

 

• Attitude ' expect a few snags and glitches both in packing and getting to and from your destination. By adopting a roll-with-the-punches approach, you really can keep the molehills from becoming mountains.

• Drugs ' there is never a drug store around when you need one. Keep this reality in mind when packing. Make sure to pack some travel size containers of cough syrup, cold or allergy medicines. Benadryl, in particular, is very helpful in getting sick children to rest comfortably on a flight or long car ride.

• Baby wipes ' even if the kids are out of diapers, wipes come in handy for a variety of quick clean ups.

• Zip lock bags ' make sure to carry a variety of sizes, which can have numerous uses. Oversized bags come in very handy for packing wet clothes.

• Night lights ' do not forget them, particularly if you're sharing a hotel room. A bad night for one of your kids means no sleep for the entire family and that certainly can impact fun activities.

• Scheduling ' if you're kids are younger, leave around the time they usually nap. This might buy you some extra quiet time for the drive. If flying, you may want to weigh the pros and cons of flying overnight. Sure, it will impact your zzz's, but it may beat entertaining a pre-schooler for six hours on a daytime flight.

• Flying ' utilize resources like SeatGuru.com to strategize where you want to sit (e.g. windows, aisles, front of the plane or back). Maybe you want to split the kids up to minimize the possibility of bickering and fights.

• Games, toys and other entertainment ' ultimately, the key to traveling with children means keeping them occupied. Whether it's playing their favorite DVD in the car, a deck of cards for the car or plane or finding some fun travel games (www.momsminivan.com has a list of 101 Car Travel Games and Road Trip Ideas for Kids), keeping your children entertained for as long as possible is the real difference maker in a good or bad trip.

 

'For many people, the memories of trips they took with their families last a lifetime. You'd be amazed at how a little bit of pre-planning, including having the right map of the town or city where you'll be staying, can go a long way towards ensuring that the memories of your family trips center on the fun you had and the places and things you saw,' said Hans.

Resort Maps are colorful, hand-drawn maps of resort towns and cities. Free to area visitors, each map advertises restaurants, accommodations, retail stores, factory outlets, recreation and attractions, real estate and other local services. Each advertiser is represented with a display ad surrounding the map, including a color-coded grid locator and a building drawn, highlighted and labeled making it easy to locate. 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. And Kids love them so you can add Resort Maps to the list of things that will keep them entertained.

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.

About the Author: