Top American Trips 2017
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CANADIAN SPECIAL EDITION Top American Trips 2017 CHOOSE YOUR TRIP STYLE, YOUR TRAVEL COMPANIONS… AND GO! 2017 $8.95 DISPLAY UNTIL DECEMBER 31, 2017 PM 42720012 This summer, guests can immerse themselves in Ocean Explorer™, a whole new realm at SeaWorld®. With five new rides and three new animal encounters, guests will unlock the ocean’s deepest mysteries. Canadian USD** Resident $ 50 Offer 64. www.seaworld.ca/sandiego Park guests need to hang on tight to Kraken® Unleashed, the new virtual reality experience aboard SeaWorld’s famous floorless coaster. They will race through the deep, dark hunting grounds of the legendary sea monster. Canadian USD* Resident $ 50 Offer 74. www.seaworld.ca Buy your Tickets in Advance and SAVE with our Canadian Resident Offers! Credit Gutter 2 | JULY 2017 CANADIAN TRAVELLER* Oer expires | August AMERICA: 31st, 2017. Taxes, YOURS service fees TOand parking DISCOVER are extra. Ticket is valid for one year from date of purchase for a single day admission to SeaWorld Orlando. CANADIAN TRAVELLER | AMERICA: YOURS TO DISCOVER JULY 2017 | 3 ** Oer expires December 31st, 2017. Service fees and parking are extra. Ticket is valid for one day admission to SeaWorld San Diego through January 31st, 2018. © 2017 SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment, Inc. All rights reserved. CANADIAN SPECIAL EDITION BE INSPIRED Top American Trips 1 2 Black Hills & Badlands, South Dakota 1 6 Lake Ouachita, Arkansas 18 Anchorage to Fairbanks, Alaska 2017 CONTENTS 20 Presque Isle State Park, Pennsylvania 50 BEACH VACATIONS 22 El Pastillo, Puerto Rico 24 Pensacola, Florida 27 Galveston, Texas 3 1 Daytona Beach, Florida CITY ESCAPES 36 Buffalo, NY, Reno, NV & St. Louis, MO 39 Phoenix, Arizona 40 San Antonio, Texas 41 Tampa Bay & St. Pete/Clearwater, Florida HISTORY, ARTS & CULTURE 48 Kansas City, Kansas & Missouri 50 Mukilteo, Washington 52 New Orleans & beyond, Louisiana 86 82 ALL-ACCESS VACATIONS 60 Gilroy & San Luis Obispo, California 63 Yuma & Mesa, Arizona 66 Orlando & Kissimmee, Florida NATURE & OUTDOORS 70 Rochester & the Finger Lakes, New York 75 Beaver’s Bend State Park, Oklahoma 77 Theodore Roosevelt National Park, North Dakota 78 Yarmouth to Tumbledown Mountain, Maine 52 ROAD TRIPS 82 I-395, California 84 Seven Wonders, Oregon 86 Road to Mighty, Utah 88 Overseas Highway, The Florida Keys & Key West OTHER 6 Snapshots: What’s going on in U.S. travel 90 Shop: Prepare for your vacation 2 | JULY 2017 CANADIAN TRAVELLER | AMERICA: YOURS TO DISCOVER CANADIAN TRAVELLER | AMERICA: YOURS TO DISCOVER JULY 2017 | 3 editor’s note CANADIANTRAVELLER.COM EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Terrilyn Kunopaski [email protected] ART DIRECTOR America, the great Gordon Alexander WESTERN REGIONAL DIRECTOR – NORTH AMERICA James Mohr T’S AN INTERESTING TIME TO BE TALKING ABOUT TRAVEL TO THE NATIONAL ACCOUNT MANAGER United States, a subject hotly debated since President Donald Trump’s Joanne Tichborne GENERAL ADVERTISING INQUIRIES proposed travel ban first made headlines within days of his inauguration. 1-888-924-7524 The move sparked a conversation and resulted in a number of school [email protected] boards and businesses cancelling annual visits south of the border. Many called for a boycott, suggesting that it’s a matter of principle and that PRESIDENT Brad Liski ourI tourism dollars are better off spent elsewhere or at home. And while I PUBLISHER Jennifer Prendergast ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER understand the knee-jerk reaction, I’ve yet to hear a compelling argument that & EXECUTIVE EDITOR has me second-guessing the multiple visits I have scheduled to different cities Michael Baginski and states this year. In fact, I believe it to be more important to travel there now EDITORIAL DIRECTOR – TRAVEL & LEISURE than ever before. As Johanna Read so aptly put it in a Wayward Post article Terrilyn Kunopaski titled, ‘Visiting Flyover America in a Trump World,’ “Boycotts do not bring DIRECTOR OF ONLINE Kevin Hinton about openness. Isolationism only breeds more ONLINE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF intolerance, as do failing economies.” Ryan McKenzie ONLINE EDITOR According to the U.S. Travel Association, one Jennifer Hubbert out of nine jobs in the U.S. depends on travel CUSTOMER SERVICE Sheila Ross and tourism. In 2016 alone, international travel ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE Lea Latham spending directly supported about 1.2 million DIRECTOR - CONSUMER MARKETING U.S. jobs and $32.4 billion in wages. That is to Craig Sweetman say, travel is much bigger than one man sitting SUBSCRIPTION HOTLINE in an oval office; it impacts individuals and 1-888-924-7524 families, socially just as much as financially. SUBSCRIBER ENQUIRIES: The USTA and Brand USA, America’s tourism [email protected] SUBSCRIPTION RATES: promotion agency, are focusing on a message of One year $17.95 (taxes vary by province). inclusivity and openness with their new ‘One US: $27.95 per year. International: $47.95. Big Welcome’ campaign, which includes videos Send Name & Address Along With Payment To: Canadian Traveller, PO Box 57096, of Americans inviting international travellers to Vancouver, BC V5K 5G6 Canada visit their country. It goes to show that the things Canadian Traveller is published four times per year: that make the United States great continue to exist; the country boasts some of the Spring (February), Summer (May), Fall (August), Winter (November) most beautiful landscapes in the world; people who are creative and innovative; Contents copyright 2017 by cities that are progressive and inclusive. Canadian Traveller. All rights reserved. Reproduction of any article, photograph And this is what we are showcasing in Canadian Traveller’s 2017 edition of or artwork without written permission is America: Yours to Discover. Last fall, we put out a call for nominations in search of strictly forbidden. The publisher can assume the best travel experiences in the U.S. within seven categories, and we chose the no responsibility for unsolicited material. ISSN 0030-8986 best of the best from the submissions received. Within these pages, you will find stories from writers who have been to and experienced our top choices, and our hope is to inspire you to do the same. There are a million different destinations throughout the U.S., and whether eating your way through San Antonio or driving California’s I-395, stargazing PO Box 57096 Vancouver, BC Canada V5K 5G6 in Arkansas or running down Daytona Beach, these articles showcase these Tel: 1-888-924-7524 Fax: (604) 620-0245 experiences in a visceral way. It’s one thing to let politics influence your travel PRINTED IN CANADA decisions, but don’t let it rob you of amazing experiences in a country that largely Canadian Publications Mail Product remains as great as it’s ever been. Sales Agreement No. 42720012. Postage paid at Vancouver, BC. Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to Circulation Dept., PO Box 57096, Vancouver, BC, Canada V6E 3Z3. Terrilyn Kunopaski Editor-in-Chief [email protected] 4 | JULY 2017 CANADIAN TRAVELLER | AMERICA: YOURS TO DISCOVER CANADIAN TRAVELLER | AMERICA: YOURS TO DISCOVER JULY 2017 | 5 4 | JULY 2017 CANADIAN TRAVELLER | AMERICA: YOURS TO DISCOVER CANADIAN TRAVELLER | AMERICA: YOURS TO DISCOVER JULY 2017 | 5 News, views, trends & updates from across the U.S. SNAPSHOTS DESTINATIONS Vibrant Rochester Rochester is one of the most arts-vibrant communities in the country, according to the National Center for Arts Research (NCAR) at Southern Methodist University. Rochester ranked within the top 20 of the third annual Arts Vibrancy Index, which examines the level of supply, demand and government support for the arts in more than 900 communities across the country. In its report, the NCAR recognized the impact that George Eastman had over 100 years ago in cultivating the arts in Rochester as a means to attract top employees to work at Kodak. “Rochester’s arts scene is thriving,” the NCAR says, offering special attention to its dance, theatre and music organizations. The city’s many art galleries, museums and community art classrooms were also highlighted. Rochester last appeared on the National Center for Arts Research ranking in 2015. Other top-ranking cities in the “Large Cities” category (defined as a population of one million or more) include Washington D.C., New York City, Boston, San Francisco and Pittsburgh. DESTINATIONS Acadiens & Creoles in Lafayette Fall 2017 marks the 40th anniversary of Festivals Acadiens et Creoles in downtown Lafayette, Louisiana. Acadians, or Cajuns as they are called now, were exiled from Nova Scotia in 1755. They took with them few possessions, but did carry away a rich cultural heritage, which included a blend of French, Celtic, Scots-Irish and Native American influences. Cajun and Creole culture, food and music are showcased beneath the spreading oaks of Girard Park at the festival, while Louisiana’s best Cajun and Zydeco bands draw thousands of people from across the nation and around the world. Whether you make it for the celebrations or have a visit in mind for another time, be sure to plan your meals accordingly; special recommendations while in the area include fried soft- shell crab, seafood and artichoke lasagna, barbecue boudin and catfish courtbouillon, just to name a few. Find more information at www.festivalsacadiens.com. 6 | JULY 2017 CANADIAN TRAVELLER | AMERICA: YOURS TO DISCOVER TRENDS Vegas a hot ticket for Expedia Canadians love travelling to the U.S., there’s no doubt about that, but where within the country’s great expanse are we going? According to Expedia, Las Vegas, New York and Chicago have experienced an increase in hotel bookings and are trending to be more popular this year than last. Vegas, in fact, is so popular on the travel site that a special page has been dedicated to all things Sin City. This includes curated travel packages based on themes born from real Canadians' Vegas travel habits and desires. Check it out for yourself at www.expedia.ca/vegas.