My daughter and I spent the night in Memphis, Tennessee about2 years ago on our way to Kentucky. It was a quick stopover because  we were short on time, but we were able to drive past Elvis Presley’s home,Graceland, although it was too late in the evening so it was closed. It was a site I’d always wanted to at least see and so we did the driveby!  I do wish we had had more time because there are some very interesting sites to see in Memphis.  Besides being the site of Elvis’ famous residence, Memphis is home to some of the most famous (and infamous) bbq in the country.  I don’t know about you, but I absolutely LOVE bbq and would love to return to Memphis to explore some of the delicious restaurants I’ve heard about, particularly the restaurants down on Beale Street.  Don’t misunderstand, there are other foods besides bbq, so anyone can find whatever they’re craving, I’m sure!    To see some of the interesting ideas for travel planning, visit Memphis-savvy travel guide, it’s full of great ideas and activities for families or romance for couples.   If you’ve never been to Memphis, I do recommend it.  Read below to see how you can enter to win a trip package for yourself.

If you click the Memphis-savvy travel guide, be sure to look for the red box in the lower right corner of the page in order to enter to win a trip package in Memphis. Prize packages include carriage rides, dinners, hotel stays, museum visits and yes, even Graceland! You can choose which package you’d like to win and there is no purchase required. Prizes are awarded weekly and you can enter once every 24 hours. (Must be 21 years of age or older). So what are you waiting for? Enter to win!

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More than just the home of the blues and barbeque, Memphis gives you plenty of ways to play around, with fun things to do no matter who you are or what you like. Of course, if you’re into Elvis, rock-and-roll and mouth-watering ribs, you’ve got to check out Graceland, Sun Studios, and the Rendezvous. But Memphis has much more to offer than this holy trinity of southern culture, with enough to see, do and eat to make it the perfect location for your next long weekend getaway.

The families out there (or the wild at heart) should be sure to check out the Memphis Zoo, one of only four U.S. zoos with giant pandas. Recently ranked the #1 zoo in the U.S. by TripAdvisor.com, the Memphis Zoo lets you get up close and personal with the animal kingdom. And with the recent addition the Northwest Passage, home to Polar bears in a see-through underwater exhibit, and the zoo’s newest section, Teton Trek, kids and adults alike are certain to have a blast.

Don’t let your midtown experience stop at the zoo; the Cooper-Young and Overton Square neighborhoods are just down the street. Ask a local Memphian where to find a tasty bite to eat, great local music and ice cold beer, and they will probably direct you here. Speaking of beer … the environmentally conscious visitor can enjoy a locally brewed beer by Ghost River Brewing or walk through the natural landscape and educational facilities at the Lichterman Nature Center.

Memphis has museums for just about everything. From the Civil Rights Museum, Cotton Museum and Fire Museum in downtown to the Brooks Museum, Children’s Museum of Memphis and the Pink Palace Museum further east, the number of places to have fun while you learn are as bountiful as the barbeque restaurants. Families, friends, sports fans, history buffs, self-proclaimed food critics – Memphis has everything you need to keep everyone happy.

So when you visit Memphis, stay a few extra days. Even the locals don’t run out of things to do. And to make it easy, memphistravel.com is launching a new travel guide to help you plan your next vacation. Simply choose from a list of interests and you’ll be given a sample itinerary with lots of great ideas. You can also register for a chance to win one of twelve trip packages that include tours, gift certificates to Memphis’ favorite restaurants, hotel stays and more. Go to itinerary.memphistravel.com to get started.

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We leave tomorrow morning and will be in LA for lunch.  Friday we plan to take our daughter to the beach, and Saturday is the big birthday bash for little one #1 who is turning 3.  We will head home on Sunday.

I’m looking forward to some California fun!

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The Hilton Branson Escape Package is available at either the The Hilton Promenade at Branson Landing and the Hilton Branson Convention Center Hotel from February 5-8, 2009. This package deal is amazing because it includes deluxe accommodations, a complimentary movie, drinks for two and even breakfast. It’s all included for the amazing deal of only $79 per night! I’d be shocked to find that kind of deal anywhere, much less at one of these beautiful Hilton hotels.

Now, just imagine yourself enjoying all of the amenities that the hotels have to offer. I think a day at the spa with a nice massage would be pretty nice and follow that with a bottle of wine while maybe sitting in a whirlpool. If we wanted to leave the hotel we could head over and take a relaxing dinner cruise on Lake Taneycomo and then we could even watch the Branson Landing Fountain Show, a beautiful display of water and fire. Really, there are so many things to do in Branson, we can be as busy as we want to be, or not!

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Seriously though, we’ve always thought it would be awesome to have our own little place in the woods. I was recently looking around online at log cabins and discovered The Timberworks Garden Company, located in the UK, that has a great selection of log cabins. Not only will they ship your choice of cabin to anywhere on the mainland UK, but, if you so choose, they’ll even set it up for you.

Think about all the variety of uses for a log cabin. Yes, it can be the dream getaway place in the woods, but it could also be your workshop located on your back lot. Or, maybe you’ve been wishing for a place for all the exercise equipment you got for Christmas? How about a cute cabin in your back yard? I could use one in our back yard to have my very own private sewing area. I would absolutely love that!

For now, I’m just going to keep dreaming of my log cabin in the woods, or, my new sewing room which is sounding better and better the more I say it!

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Now, if you’re like me and want to be in the middle of all the shopping, then I have to recommend the Hilton Promenade at Branson Landing. This hotel is literally in the middle of the new Branson Landing shopping and entertainment district and has rooms with spectacular views of Lake Taneycomo and downtown Branson. Again, if you’re like me, you may not be able to escape by yourself, but taking the family is what Branson is all about and both of these hotels have great rooms, some with kitchenettes, making staying with children a breeze.

I have to tell you too, if you’ve never stayed at a Hilton, you’ll be very pleased with their beds. The rooms have the “The Serenity” mattresses and they are certainly what the name implies, serene! The only thing that could possibly get me out of those beds is the wonderful shopping and entertainment available in Branson. This is definitely a fun place to rejuvenate and possibly even spend New Year’s Eve and a great time to save money by taking advantage of Hilton’s Winter Escape Package.

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I recently discovered Rentalo.com which is a website that can help find vacation rentals around the world. I used their site to look up rentals in Paducah, KY which is where we’re going in April for a huge quilt show and I got quite a few results from their search that included a cute cottage and a number of different hotels. The results include photos, hotel names and detailed descriptions and allows you to compare your results to narrow down your search.

I can use this site for anything from rentals in Paducah to Maine vacation rentals to rentals across Europe or any other continent I choose to travel to. It’s definitely a travel tool that I’ve bookmarked and will use regularly, you should too!

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New Zealand, a country roughly the size of the state of Colorado, is an ideal vacation destination. The warmest months are typically December, January and February which makes New Zealand the perfect place to spend the holidays. From the history and culture to exploring all of the lakes and islands, there is so much to do and see in New Zealand, I’m afraid that once I get there, I may never want to leave. Did you know there are 25 marine reserves and 14 naitional parks in New Zealand? That’s more than enough to keep me busy for quite some time.

Right now, you can win a free trip to New Zealand from Air New Zealand and Larry the Travel Guy. In fact, they are giving away TWO free rountrip tickets from Los Angeles to Auckland, New Zealand and Larry, a full time travel blogger, will feature your trip (if you’re the winner) on his website.  That Larry has got one awesome gig!  Check out his site to see photos and videos of New Zealand.

If you’re ready to check out the amazing scenic views, walk and hike the trails and swim the beautiful beaches, get your entry in now, entries must be received by December 31, 2008.   I’m submitting my entry, what are you waiting for?

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