With 60 miles of white sandy beaches and premier resorts, Myrtle Beach remains the number one family beach in America. But after a long day in the sun, you’ll also find plenty of options for getting away from the surf and sand.

Myrtle Beach is filled with great shopping, dining, nightlife options and some of the best live entertainment at The Carolina Opry Theater.

Among its various entertainment options, the theater presents three award-winning live shows, The Carolina Opry, Good Vibrations and the Carolina Opry Christmas Special.
The Carolina Opry remains one of the mainstays amidst the Myrtle Beach entertainment scene. The popular show has been widely acclaimed and is voted the Best Show in Myrtle Beach year in and year out. The Opry blends two hours of critically acclaimed music, comedy and dance in a 2,200-seat theater with state-of-the-art lighting and sound.

Another highly popular live show is Good Vibrations, offering up the best live music of the 60s, 70s and 80s. The feel good music is uniquely coordinated with rich multimedia screens, special effects and elaborate costuming to create a fast-paced, energetic show that brings back some of the most popular music in history. Sing along with hits from the Beatles, Beach Boys, Cyndi Lauper, James Brown, Tina Turner and even KISS.

For more on Myrtle Beach shows and attractions, as well as discount Myrtle Beach accommodations, visit http://www.westgatemyrtlebeach.com/ or http://www.westgatereservations.com/.

Get ready for more Halloween screams at Universal Studios Florida! Halloween Horror Nights XX: Twenty Years of Fears is coming back to bring the ultimate in fright nights to Orlando on select nights during September and October.Universal Studios theme park will be transformed into a nightmarish maze of all new haunted houses, scare zones and live shows while an assortment of mutants, monsters and maniacs roams the darkened streets.

For details on how you can enjoy the thrills and chills of Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights, go to www.halloweenhorrornights.com/orlando. Official event dates include: SEPTEMBER 24, 25, 30 and OCTOBER 1-3, 7-10, 14-17, 20-24, 27-31, 2010.

Few destinations offer as many opportunities to experience the great outdoors as the Great Smoky Mountains area near Gatlinburg, Tennessee.

As the gateway to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Gatlinburg puts you on the doorstep to an amazing array of outdoor recreation. Try your luck fishing for a mountain trout in one of the many lakes, rivers, streams and ponds. Hop on your bike and experience the quaint and historic mountain village of Gatlinburg or zip into the national park and tour the Cades Cove loop.

While in the park, look around for wildlife in the extensive and diverse habitat. Or look to the trees for some amazing bird watching. The crest of the Smoky Mountains towers nearly a mile above the foothills, creating a range of elevations and topographies and microclimates ideal for nearly 250 species of birds.

The park also offers more than 800 miles of scenic hiking trails that range from difficult to easy. There’s no better way to experience the vast solitude of the national park land.

The Gatlinburg area offers a special challenge for golfers. The mountain terrain not only provides a magnificent backdrop, it creates an up and down layout that will test golfers of any skill level.

Another outdoor adventure the family can enjoy is a fun-filled horseback ride, so saddle up for a back country excursion or a guided tour. And for those seeking extra adventure, there’s nothing quite as exhilarating as a whitewater rafting trip down an untamed river like the Big Pigeon.

Now is a great time to visit the Gatlinburg area and experience the outdoor opportunities. For additional information on Gatlinburg, the Great Smoky Mountains area and accommodations like Westgate Smoky Mountain Resort, visit http://www.gatlinburgvacationstore.com/ or http://www.westgatereservations.com/.

While thousands of families head for beautiful Myrtle Beach, SC every year to “hit the beach,” it seems there are just as many headed out to “hit it straight” on one of the area’s many championship golf courses.With more than 100 top golf courses throughout this spectacular Grand Strand area, Myrtle Beach remains a popular and highly rated golf paradise. Choose from top flight courses designed by famed architects like Pete Dye, Tom Fazio, the late Robert Trent Jones as well as the likes of Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer and Greg Norman.

Myrtle Beach caters to golfers of every skill level from novice to professional. Or those casual and first-time golfers can make their Myrtle Beach visit a little less-pressured and a lot more fun by teeing off on a driving range or by playing any one of the fun par-3 courses in Little River, North Myrtle Beach, Myrtle Beach, and Surfside Beach.

Whether you visit Myrtle Beach with the sole intention of hitting the links or you just need a break from the beach, you’ll find the perfect golf haven nearby.

For details on Myrtle Beach and its many amazing golf courses, or for information on area accommodations like the Westgate Myrtle Beach Resort and Spa, go to http://www.westgatemyrtlebeach.com/ or http://www.westgatereservations.com/.

Now’s the time to enjoy a little extra fun at Silver Dollar City theme park in Branson. The park  is celebrating the last blast of summer with Moonlight Madness hours in effect from July 24 through August 8.Guests are invited to stay late during Moonlight Madness, which offers expanded nighttime hours until 10 pm.  There’s also a special Moonlight Madness reduced price ticket option. The evening ticket costs just $25 for admission after 5 pm and all rides and attractions will stay open until 10 pm.

The summer fun includes Silver Dollar City’s new Street Dance that kicks off at 9 pm each evening throughout Moonlight Madness. Select shops and restaurants will also stay open late with specials

Of course, for those who want a full day of fun and adventure, the regular admission price allows guests to stay come early and stay late to enjoy more than 12 hours of Silver Dollar City thrills.

Throughout the day, Silver Dollar City is featuring its annual KidsFest activities, including an all-new Stunt Dog Experience with performing dogs and the mystifying magic and illusions of Peter Gossamer, now in its final season at the park. And don’t forget the rides and attractions like the 15-story drop on Wildfire or the epic water battles on the all-new RiverBlast.

For more information on Silver Dollar City or accommodations in Branson, please visit http://www.ticket2branson.com/ or http://www.westgatereservations.com/.

It’s showtime!In fact, it’s always showtime in Branson, Missouri, the self-proclaimed live entertainment capital of the world.

Today, close to seven million annual visitors to Branson can find a virtually never-ending list of live performances from Country, Rock n’ Roll, Magic, Comedy, Musical Theatre and Gospel. Whether you prefer a small intimate show or a major world-class production, chances are you’ll find it gracing one of the more than 40 stages in Branson.

For those looking for big name entertainment, there’s plenty to choose from, including Cathy Rigby as Peter Pan, the Oak Ridge Boys singing their classic country tunes, the Osmond Brothers and former Righteous Brother and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Bill Medley, to name a few.

Of course there’s also dozens of Branson style shows, featuring amazing singing, high energy dancing, laugh out loud comedy and mystifying magic. It’s all part of the fun and adventure of Branson. Better yet, it’s all great family entertainment. Every show is suitable for the entire family, young and old.

For additional information on shows, theme parks and discount hotels and resorts in Branson, visit http://www.ticket2branson.com/.

Music is in the air at Busch Gardens Williamsburg this summer. Every weekend, the popular theme park presents a special concert presentation called Illuminights: A Busch Gardens Encore.The 6 pm concerts take place in the park’s Festhaus Park. The concert series started with shows by The B-52s and Creedence Clearwater Revisited. And the music continues this weekend with two shows by the powerhouse female rockers, The Bangles. 

Additional concert series performers include The Fixx, August July 31 & August 1; American Idol David Cook on August 7 & 8; Grand Funk Railroad on August 14 & 15; and finally, Emily Osment on August 21 & 22.

For more on the summer entertainment at Busch Gardens Williamsburg, go to http://www.historicwilliamsburgusa.com/. Or visit http://www.westgatereservations.com/ for discount Williamsburg hotel and resort accommodations.

Silver Dollar City remains one of the most popular destinations in Branson, MO. The fun-filled theme park is celebrating its 50^th anniversary in 2010 with an all new attraction, RiverBlast - America’s Biggest Water Battle.The new $7 million super-soaking ride is great for all ages. Hop aboard and get ready to take aim at the water-armed adversaries that surround your river raft. With 8 eight passenger river rafts, 80 water blasting guns, 150 targets and over 560 feet of river channel to explore, RiverBlast in nothing short of waterlogged chaos.

There’s also plenty of other high energy action at Silver Dollar City including the swooping GIANT Swing, the multi-looping WildFire roller coaster, the corkscrew turns of thunderation, and PowderKeg, an explosive coaster that launches riders from zero to breathless in 2.8 seconds.

For all the details on Silver Dollar City and Branson adventure vacation packages, visit http://www.ticket2branson.com/.

The ultimate Halloween nightmare is coming back for a 20^th year of nightmarish thrills and unbridled terror. Get ready for Universal Studios’ Halloween Horror Nights® XX: Twenty Years of Fear.

On select evenings in September and October, Universal Studios Florida® theme park will transform into a nightmarish maze of all new haunted houses, scare zones, and outrageous live shows. Meanwhile, an extensive assortment of mutants, monsters and maniacs will also roam the darkened studio streets offering scares of their own. It’s all part of the fun of this wildly popular annual event.

General admission for this separate ticket event is $74.95. However, Florida residents can save with a variety of advance purchase options, including $64.99 on Saturdays, $49.99 on Fridays and just $39.99 on Sundays-Thursdays. Additional savings are available with “Frequent Fear” passes.

Visit www.halloweenhorrornights.com/orlando for up-to-date details and restrictions regarding the event, as well as some history on the past 20 years of Halloween Horrors!

For more on discount Orlando vacation packages and other theme park adventures, go to www.OrlandoThemeParkVacations.com.

Dates for Halloween Horror Nights® XX

SEPTEMBER 24, 25, 30, 2010
OCTOBER 1-3, 7-10, 14-17, 20-24, 27-31, 2010

Nestled amidst the lakeside beauty of the Ozark Mountains, beautiful Branson, Missouri remains one of America’s most affordable, fun-filled and wholesome family vacation destinations. Located in the heart of our nation, the Branson area emphasizes fun and family while mixing it with plenty of excitement and adventure.

From a long list of dazzling live shows and theaters to thrilling theme parks and amazing attractions, Branson welcomes visitors with a warm and inviting atmosphere and a spirit of patriotism, faith and generosity. There’s also a wide variety of outdoor recreation and adventure to be had throughout the Branson Lakes Area.

2010 represents a special year in Branson as the area celebrates 50 years of entertainment. The popular Silver Dollar City theme park celebrates its 50^th anniversary with the opening of a new $7 million ride, Tom and Huck’s RiverBlast. Meanwhile, the Shepherd of the Hills Outdoor Drama also celebrates its 50 year of telling the history of Branson.

Branson offers up more than 22,000 affordable and comfortable hotel and resort rooms, including the luxurious Westgate Branson Woods Resort. For details and reservations, visit http://www.westgatereservations.com/. If you would like additional information on discount Branson tickets and discount Branson family vacation packages, please go to http://www.ticket2branson.com/.