Destinations That Won’t Break the Bank

The weak dollar and soaring gas prices doesn’t mean that you have to compromise on taking a break this summer. For those who believe that getaway is not simply pitching a tent in the backyard, there are six amazing places in the US, where you can have a fantastic vacationing experience without spending ‘too much’.

Downtown Atlanta

Hip and vibrant, Atlanta is a perfect blend of the old and the new. Numerous luxury hotels are springing up in the city. The recently opened W Atlanta in Midtown is within walking distance of the High Museum of Art and Piedmont Park. In downtown Atlanta, the new Ellis and Twelve Centennial Park hotels and the rehabbed Glenn Hotel are just a few steps away from the prominent attractions.

What's the deal: The $89 MVP (Most Valuable Package) on sale through Sept. 21 buys admission to five popular attractions. For information call 800-285-2682; or check out atlanta.net

Harbor Country, Michigan

Just a short drive from Chicago's downtown Loop, this is an amazing place offering a mix of beaches, you-pick-'em farms (blueberry season starts in early July) and shopping for antiques and art.

What's the deal: Free Fourth of July events include fireworks and live music in New Buffalo. For information check out: harborcountry.org

North Texas Hill Country

Emerging as a new tourist destination here you will have plenty of opportunities for discovery, from visting Granbury's classic courthouse square; one of the best in Texas to scuba diving in cliff-lined Possum Kingdom Lake, you will have a great experience!

What's the deal: Stay two nights at gorgeous Wildcatter Ranch in Graham (888-462-9277; wildcatterranch.com) and they'll pay for your gas both ways from the Dallas-Fort Worth area. For more information call; Travel Texas, 800-888-8839; or check out traveltex.com

Laguna Beach, California

Nestled between Laguna Canyon and the Pacific about 50 miles south of downtown Los Angeles, its picture-perfect setting has long attracted artists - at last count, about 400 are in residence - along with almost 100 galleries.

What's the deal: Free trolleys with extended summer hours circulate downtown and in the canyon so you can leave the car behind. . For more information call; Laguna Beach Visitors & Conference Bureau; 800-877-1115; or check out lagunabeachinfo.org

Mount Rainier National Park

On a clear day, Mount Rainier is a giant mound of white looming over Seattle, and its national park, around 50 to 100 miles from the city is always worth another visit. There's a place 5,400 feet up the mountain called Paradise, and you'll know why when you see the wildflowers in July. The lush scenic beauty of the place will sweep you off your feet!

What's the deal: A newly extended free shuttle system whisks weekend visitors from Ashford, 6 miles outside the park's Nisqually entrance, to Longmire, where a second shuttle takes you to Paradise. For more information call; 877-270-7155; or check out visitrainier.com

Charlottesville, Virginia

Better known for its academic affiliation, Charlottesville boasts a cornucopia of good restaurants rarely found in a town of 40,000 year-round residents.

What's the deal: The $29 Presidents' Pass buys discounted tours to three popular historical attractions: Monticello, Ash Lawn-Highland (Monroe's home) and the 18th-century Michie Tavern. For more information call; 877-386-1103; or check out pursuecharlottesville.com

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Skydive Lost Prairie Annual Jump- 2008

Do you love adventure? If yes then Skydive Lost Prairie Annual Jump is a must for you. The largest, the biggest and the most popular of its kind in the North-western USA, Skydive Lost Prairie Annual Jump is an annual event organized by adventure enthusiasts for adventure enthusiasts.

In case if you haven’t heard about this event (which is impossible if you are a die hard follower of adventure sports), Skydive Lost Prairie Annual Jump is an annual event that happens every summer in Marion, Montana, attracting more than 500 skydivers to relish their thirst for action and adventure. A week long event where you can experience the thrill of skydiving, here in Skydive Lost Prairie Annual Jump, even if you are a first timer, you need not worry about a thing, just enjoy the thrill, the adventure and the of course the view as you will be offered with a practice session, plus accompanied by a professional instructor.

That’s not all, besides skydiving; the event also features air shows, live music, various exciting exhibits and sporting events.

When: Saturday, July 26, 2008 to Monday, August 04, 2008
Where: 3175 Lower Lost Prairie Road, Marion, MT
How to Reach: From Kalispell west on Highway 2 between milepost 88 and 87, turn onto Lost Prairie road and go four miles.

Top 10 Weird Attractions

Forget about those usual destinations this summer, here's a list of some wierd places offering a never before vacationing experience:

1 The Great Whipped Cream Battle: Olomouc, Czech Republic

2 The Modern Toilet Restaurant: Taipei, Taiwan

3 Eeyore's Birthday: Austin, Texas

4 Sourtoe Cocktail: Dawson City, Alaska

5 Cabbages and Condoms Restaurant: Bangkok, Thailand

6 Shrove Tuesday Pancake Races: London, England

7 Shot Cafe, Riga: Latvia

8 Hakone Kowakien Yunessun Wine Spa: Hakone, Japan

9 Cafe Gratitude: San Francisco, California

10 Cockroach Races: Brisbane, Australia

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European Music Festivals this Summer

With so many music festivals crowding the European summer calendar, music lovers have yet another reason to travel. Serbia's Danube River, the Mediterranean coast in Spain and the rolling hills of Stradbelly, Ireland are just some of the places you'll find this summer's best soundtracks. Here are a few best picks, just for you:

Roskilde Festival
3-6 July 2008, Roskilde, Denmark

One of the largest and most musically diverse festivals in northern Europe, the four-day-long Roskilde will be sure to satiate your sonic craving. It's been on the groove since 1971. All profits go to humanitarian causes.

Headliners: The Chemical Brothers, Grinderman, Jay-Z, Radiohead

Exit Festival
10-13 July 2008, Novi Sad, Serbia

EXIT is the biggest music festival in South Eastern Europe. EXIT has taken place at a beautiful and magical fortress in Novi Sad, since 2001. EXIT prides itself on its political agenda - which includes campaigns around issues like drug trafficking and migration. Apart from quality music program that it offers, the festival is a place of wild fun, and you can enjoy the cool atmosphere of the fortress and the positive energy of the city.

Headliners: Sex Pistols, Gossip, Paul Weller, the Hives

Montreux Jazz Festival
4-19 July 2008, Lake Geneva, Switzerland

Founded in 1967 by Claude Nobs, the Montreux Jazz Festiva is being held on the banks of Lake Geneva since 1967. The Montreux Jazz Festival has become an unmissable event for music fans over the years. Festival alumni include jazz greats like Miles Davis and Ray Charles.

Headliners: Quincy Jones, Leonard Cohen, Etta James, N.E.R.D

Pukkelpop
14-16 August 2008, Hasselt-Kiewit, Belgium

Belgium's best outdoor festival, Pukkelpop has drawn over 135,000 people and a very-now line-up in previous years. The festival features as many as 150 acts.

Headliners: Metallica, The Killers, Flaming Lips, Serj Tankian

Electric Picnic
29-31 August 2008, County Laois, Ireland

Electric Picnic has established itself as a truly unique Irish festival, featuring the usual array of fine music, theater, comedy, holistic health and arts.

Headliners: Sex Pistols, My Bloody Valentine, Underworld, Grinderman

Bestival
5-7 September 2008, Isle of Wight, UK

Curated by renowned British radio DJ Rob da Bank, Bestival is one of the newest kids on the block, but has already earned its title. Its benefits include boutique camping, the colourful Bollywood cocktail bar, an inflatable church for Vegas-style weddings, the Restival chill-out area and the Breastival baby temple for new mothers.

Headliners: My Bloody Valentine, Amy Winehouse, Underworld, the Breeders

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