Hot Spot | High Sierra, California

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Visit High Sierra California

California's High Sierra is located within the Sierra Nevada range of mountains. Visitors to this region will find mountain peaks, lush forests and more recreation than any visitor could ask for. During the winter the High Sierra offers visitors amazing skiing. Travelers can also enjoy Lake Tahoe, lots of hiking and more.

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Hot Spot | Plymouth, Massachusetts

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Plymouth, Massachusetts "America's Hometown"

Plymouth is an amazing destination in Massachusetts. Also known as "America's Hometown," this destination is filled with the rich history of the first pilgrims to the country. Visitors can experience many of the founding myths and stories of our country. Plymouth is also a great modern destination. Visitors will find all sorts of activities to enjoy beyond exploring the history of the region.

This is the place where the pilgrims on the famous ship the Mayflower landed and founded the town of Plimoth. It is also the site of the "First Thanksgiving," and other founding stories that are part of the foundation of the early history of our country. Today visitors can explore recreations of the seventeenth century farms and crafts, and then enjoy the recreation of the towns parks and beaches and the delicious cuisine in the fine dining of the area.

Plymouth has a few great parks for visitors to enjoy the outdoors. Ellisville Harbor State Park has a barrier beach, salt marsh and more interesting ecosystems. Visitors to this park can explore these ecosystems, enjoy the beach and do some bird watching. Pilgrim Memorial State Park is another great destination in Plymouth.

Pilgrim Memorial State Park is home to Plymouth Rock. This symbol of the forefathers of America, is located right on the waterfront of Plymouth. Visitors to the rock can learn about the long history and path that the rock took to get to its current location. Plymouth rock was actually moved to its current location, and in the process the rock broke, so actually only part of the original rock is under the canopy built to celebrate this part of American history.

Plymouth is also home to the Pilgrim Hall Museum, which is the oldest continually operating museum in the United States. This museum is filled with artifacts and objects from the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag who's stories have been an important piece of American history. Visitors can explore the many possessions preserved within the exhibits and more.

Plimoth Plantation is another amazing destination to learn about the history of Plymouth. This destination has a recreation of the seventeenth century Plymouth settlement. In addition there is a replica of a Wampanoag homesite from the same era. Visitors can learn about the history of Plimoth, the crafts of the era and even a replica of a farming homestead with several animals true to the time period, which are now rare breeds. The craft center showcases artists who use seventeenth century techniques and materials, both English and Native trades are featured throughout the plantation. Visitors can also visit a full-scale replica of the Mayflower, called the Mayflower II, on the ship visitors can learn about the navigation and what the seventeenth century ship was like. Plimoth Plantation features a visitor center, and tour guides dressed in period dress and playing roles of the seventeenth century pilgrims and Wampanoag that lived in Plymouth.

After exploring the many historical sites found throughout Plymouth visitors can enjoy relaxing on one of the local beaches, including Plymouth Long Beach, located near Plimoth Plantation. In addition, Plymouth is a great destination for taking cruises. Visitors can take a whale watching tour or enjoy a lobster boat tour, which gives visitors a chance to learn how lobsters are harvested.

Plymouth, Massachusetts is filled with interesting activities and destinations. Visitors have the opportunity to learn and even experience recreations of seventeenth century pilgrim and Wampanoag life. The town also has plenty of modern activities to enjoy, from exploring the areas parks to taking a cruise around the bay.

Hot Spot | Poconos, Pennsylvania

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The Poconos - Something for Everyone

The Pocono Mountains cover a large region of northeastern Pennsylvania. These mountains are a popular vacation destination throughout the year. Visitors will find plenty of preserved natural beauty, and lots of outdoor recreation. In addition, the Poconos are a great cultural destination, with art galleries to naturalist museums and music festivals. The Poconos are sure to have something for every visitor.

The Poconos stretch across four counties, and encompass 2,400 square miles of wilderness. The majority of the Poconos are located within Monroe and Pike counties in Pennsylvania. These mountains are located a convenient distance from many large cities on the east coast, making it a fantastic getaway and weekend destination. Within this region there are 150 lakes, making it a great destination for water recreation. The mountains also have plenty of opportunities for hiking, biking, camping, skiing and more.

In the winter, the Pocono Mountains become a snowy wonderland, great for winter recreation. Visitors can enjoy good snow, groomed trails and more. Within the Poconos there are plenty of ski areas, including Shawnee Mountain, which has 125 skiable acres with 23 trails. Visitors can also spend some time at the Blue Mountain Ski Area, which has the highest vertical in Pennsylvania.

Visitors to the Poconos can also enjoy plenty of recreation throughout the year. Travelers can explore the Appalachian Trail on the southern border of the Poconos for a fantastic hiking experience. Throughout the Poconos there are parks and natural areas that have miles of hiking trails, which offer beautiful views, opportunities to see natural wonders, wildlife and more.

Big Pocono State Park is located on the top of Camelback Mountain, this park has spectacular mountaintop views. Visitors can also enjoy the great scenic drive the circles up the mountaintop. Promised Land State Park is another great destination for outdoor recreation. This park is surrounded by the Delaware State Forest, and also has two lakes and a few streams. Promised Land State Park is great for hiking, biking and plenty of water recreation. Travelers looking to enjoy some of Pennsylvania's natural wonders can explore Bushkill Falls. Known as "The Niagara of Pennsylvania," Bushkill Falls has eight waterfalls, and plenty of features, including paddleboat rides, trails, Twin Lakes and much more.

The Delaware Water Gap is another great Pocono destination. The Middle Delware River flows between low mountains, when it passes between Mt. Tammany in New Jersey and Mt. Minsi in Pennsylvania, the river forms the Delware Water Gap. This amazing natural wonder is a great opportunity for visitors to enjoy beautiful Pennsylvania.  There are many overlooks that can be enjoyed when driving on Interstate 80 and while recreating in the area. Visitors can also enjoy a wide range of water recreation, including kayaking, fishing, swimming and more.

Visitors to the Poconos will also find plenty of historical and cultural attractions. While traveling through these mountains, visitors can explore historic communities, many of which feature historical sites. The Bell School House in Stroudsburg is a great historic destination located in Hamilton Township. Visitors can also explore the Delaware and Lehigh National Heritage Corridor, which protects a region which supported both the coal and lumber industries.

Throughout the Poconos travelers are sure to find destinations of interest. The historic mountain resort region is filled with excellent outdoor recreation, from fishing to biking, whitewater rafting, cross-country skiing and much more. The Poconos also has plenty of historic attractions and areas for visitors to learn about the development of the region and more.

Hot Spot | Oregon's Central Coast

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Travel to Oregon's Central Coast

Central coast of Oregon is a true hot spot. Stretching from Lincoln City in the north down to Yachats in the south. Visitors to this region will find beautiful sandy beaches, stunning evergreen forests and much more. Travelers can enjoy all of the beauty of the Pacific Ocean in this beautiful landscape.

Lincoln City, located on the northern end of the Central Coast of Oregon, is a great tourist destination. The town is a great destination for shopping and dining. In addition, there are plenty of galleries with handblown glass and other local art galleries. Lincoln City's beaches are a lot of fun for the whole family. The beaches are great for beach combing, exploring tide pools, clamming, crabbing, surfing, whale watching and much more.

Traveling south, Depoe Bay is another wonderful beach community. Surrounded by cliffs and state parks, this community is a great stop during a Central Oregon vacation. The town is a fantastic whale-watching destination, with grey whales living in the area for about 10 months of the year. Visitors to Depoe Bay can also learn about the history of the small fishing harbor, which has a bridge and walkway for spectators to watch the vessels coming in to the port.

Beverly Beach State Park is a fun family attraction. Visitors walk under the highway on the walkway to access the long sandy beach, which stretches from Yaquina Head to Otter Rock. The sandy beach is great for all sorts of beach activities, including building sand castles, surfing, and especially flying kites when the wind is good.

As travelers continue south along Oregon's Central Coast they can stop in beautiful Newport. Visitors can enjoy the beautiful Newport beaches, but there are many other fun activities to enjoy while staying in Newport. Children will love the Oregon Coast Aquarium. Newport is also a good destination to enjoy some arts and culture along the trip, with a symphony orchestra and many art galleries. Fishing and crabbing are also fun activities to enjoy while in Newport. The city is actually an important spot for commercial fishing on the Oregon Coast and there are many different charter options for visitors. Newport also has lighthouses, and access to many other fun outdoor activities.

Yachats, on the southern end of the Central Coast is a great spot to spend some time relaxing and enjoying the wonderful beachside community. The area is great for fossil hunting, birdwatching, clamming and exploring tidepools. This region has some amazing tidepools, with blow holes and other fascinating sites. Visitors to the area should also be sure to stop at the nearby Cape Perpetua Scenic Area, with some amazing viewpoints, including the Cape Perpetua Overlook.

Visitors to this region can also travel a little farther south to explore the stunning Sea Lion Caves. This is the world's largest sea cave and is a fantastic attraction. Travelers can take tours of Sea Lion Caves and see the Stellar sea lions that make the cave their home. Visitors will also see plenty of birds and many other fascinating sites while touring the cave.

Oregon's Central Coast is a fantastic destination in the northwest. Visitors can enjoy all of the fun activities found on the sandy beaches, and enjoy the beautiful Pacific Ocean. In addition, the region is filled with opportunities for recreation and exploring the region's beautiful nature. With wonderful beachside communities, national forests, parks, sandy beaches, tidepools and much more, this is an ideal spot to enjoy all that Oregon has to offer.