Photo Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/3059349393/4183803802/

What’s better than being on a boat? Some might say being in a parade, but Destin, Florida has them both beat with the 23rd Annual Holiday on the Harbor Lighted Boat Parade, scheduled for December 11, 2011 at 5 p.m. This holiday season, the Destin Harbor comes alive with festive commercial, charter and private boats cruising through the waterway. A Northwest Florida tradition, the boat parade can easily be viewed from the docks and restaurants west of Grand Harbor. Get  into the seasonal spirit and cheer on your favorite vessel , or if you wish to be a part of the event, pick up an entry form at the Destin History Museum, the Destin Community Center, or the Destin Chamber of Commerce. A $25 entry fee does apply to each boat. Spectators will enjoy live music, children’s arts and crafts, and delicious hot cocoa with Santa Claus.

Whether you’re making the trip down to Destin just for this special weekend, or you plan on staying in town all week or month long, be sure to book your accommodations with Holiday Isle Properties. This premiere vacation management rental firm specializes in Destin, Florida properties, and features great deals on luxurious condo and house rentals in Northwest Florida. Ranging in size, price and amenities, choose the Holiday Isle property that’s right for you.

Photo Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/ricardo_mangual/6015320599/

Fishing Rodeo season descends upon Destin once again. Throughout the month of October, more than 30,000 anglers converge to “the world’s luckiest fishing village” for the largest tournament in the Southeast. Established in 1948, the tournament features daily weigh ins, and over $200,000 in prizes all month long. Bring your best catch to the docks behind A.J.’s Seafood & Oyster Bar for free daily weigh ins from 10 a.m.-7 p.m.

Not a fishing pro? No problem!  The Destin Fishing Rodeo has events lined up for all ages and skill levels. Saturdays October 1,8, 15,22 and 29 welcome “Mako My Shark Saturdays” where competitors fish for the biggest shark! Opening day (October 1) features a Kid’s Kickoff Carnival with a wagon boat parade, clowns, games and more. And don’t miss the weekly scheduled Mullet Toss, the Destin Car Club-Euro Exotic Car Show or the 23rd Florida State Hog Rally, all bringing a unique experience to the fishing rodeo.

Stay for the entire month, a week or just a weekend, Holiday Isle Properties offers a variety of beach-front accommodations ranging in size and price. From luxury condominiums on the Gulf Coast to family-friendly vacation homes, there’s a property for every budget. Fall is the perfect season to visit the Emerald Coast, and October ’s Fishing Rodeo is a major crowd-pleaser.

Lobster, shrimp and oysters, oh my! Once again, Northwest Florida spices up your palate with the succulent Destin Seafood Festival, now in its 33rd year. A conglomeration of nationally-renowned entertainers performing on 15 different stages along the Destin Harbor, an incredible mix of booth and restaurant vendors, and plenty of family-friendly activities, the Destin Seafood Festival is the place to be. The fun runs Friday, September 30 from 4-10 p.m.; Saturday, October 1 from 10 a.m.-10 p.m. and Sunday, October 2 from 11 a.m.-4 p.m.

What’s not to love about the Destin Seafood Festival? Admission is free, which means you have more money to spend on your favorite seafood dishes. Check out D’Lobster Hut, Island Grille, Cajun Specialties and many more. Local bands and songwriters from Nashville will be performing throughout the weekend on the HarborWalk Main Stage and Fisherman’s Wharf Main Stage, so be sure to catch emerging artist Andy Velo Band & the Southern Gentlemen Tour.

Don’t forget to get a full night’s rest before a full day of festival fun. Holiday Isle Properties has a variety of budget-friendly and affordable luxury rentals for you and your family. Close to all the seafood action, you can enjoy the comforts of home at a reasonably nightly rate. So stay for the weekend, the week, or the entire month!

Learn about the natural history of the Outer Banks region while observing wildlife and enjoying scenic views at the 14^th Annual Wings over Water Festival. This family-friendly festival will take place from November 9-14 in the Eastern Outer Banks region of North Carolina and include wildlife watching, paddling, wildlife photography, and birding programs.

The Eastern Outer Banks region is home to thousands of acres of conservation property and a diversity of wildlife, including alligators, black bears, deer, red wolves, and hundreds of species of birds. Participants in the Wings over Water Wildlife Festival will have the opportunity to discover natural wonders and take part in an array of activities that celebrate the region’s environmental diversity.

The Eastern Outer Banks region boasts myriad waterways and paddling opportunities for canoe and kayak enthusiasts. Some paddling trips that will be offered during the Wings over Water Festival include the Kitty Hawk Bay Sunset Kayak Tour, the Lost Colony History Kayak Tour, and the Alligator River Refuge Canoe Tour. And owing to popular demand, the number of nature photography programs led by professional photographers has been increased at this year’s festival. Other activities festival participants may register for include the following:

• Exploring a ghost town on Portsmouth Island
• Climbing the historic Currituck Lighthouse
• Visiting the Kitty Hawk Woods, an ancient maritime forest
• Searching for bears and other wildlife at night at the Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge
• Going birding on Hatteras Island
• And much more…

This year’s Wings over Water Keynote Dinner will be held at the North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island. Bill Thompson, author of several nature and birding books and guitarist with the Swinging Orangutangs, will be this year’s keynote speaker. Dinner will be catered by Kelly’s Restaurant and will include beer, wine, and non-alcoholic drinks. Prior registration is required for the Keynote Dinner, which costs $35 to attend.

How to Register

To attend the 14^th Annual Wings over Water Wildlife Festival, register by email, snail mail, or telephone. You have to pay in advance for each tour or activity in which you plan to participate. A couple of the activities offered are free of charge, but most of them cost anywhere from $10 or $50 per person. For some tours, however, children may accompany an adult at no charge or for half price. Since the Wings over Water Wildlife Festival always takes place during the shoulder season, the region’s weather is mild, traffic is light, and Outer Banks accommodation rates are reasonable.

To learn more about the Wings over Water Wildlife Festival or to register, call 252-216-9464 or visit wingsoverwater.org.

Memorial Day in Miami is filled with events that are outside the norm for the holiday.  Yes, there are parades and celebrations related to the holiday itself, but some of the biggest fests have nothing to do with marking Memorial Day.  Urban Beach Week, one of Miami’s largest springtime parties, culminates on Memorial Day weekend with concerts and beach parties.  This event adds to the usual assortment of attractions along Miami’s seafront strip.  But there are plenty of non-wild-party options in Miami and the other cities along South Florida’s Gold Coast.

The most visible event during the last weekend in May is Urban Beach Week.  This event originally had a music theme, but has grown into a full-blown beach party that more-or-less dominates South Beach during Memorial Day weekend.  Parties at some of South Beach’s hottest clubs will feature appearance by rap luminaries like Sean Diddy Combs and Busta Rhymes.  For those who don’t care for the hip-hop scene, Miami also plays host to the Best of the Best Concert.  Many of reggae’s biggest names will be taking to the stage, as will stars of the Caribbean’s other musical genres.  The event will be held in Bicentennial Park on Sunday May 3oth.  The tunes will start at 1:30 and last for more than 10 hours. If you have too much fun while visiting, find great Miami summer travel deals to keep the party going.

While Miami’s city beaches are crowded – more-so than usual – during the holiday weekend, sandy spots up the Gold Coast are reasonably calm.  Fort Lauderdale is a favorite alternative to the big city, as is West Palm Beach  These beaches are cleaner and the vibe more laid back.  But not too laid back.  Monarchy, a club in West Palm Beach, will host legendary DJ Roger Sanchez on Sunday May 30th, while the Seminole Hard Rock Casino in Hollywood, Florida features plenty of entertainment options to go along with its gaming tables.

Fort Lauderdale also hosts the Great American Beach Party, a family-friendly version of the holiday events taking place to the south in Miami.  The event is free and features movie screenings, a classic car show, sand castle contest and plenty of musical performances.  The Beach Party will take place on Saturday, May 29th.

Museum Month runs throughout May in Miami.  Visitors to area museums are offered a buy-one, get-one-free deal until the end of the day on May 31st.  For those who really want to explore the city’s exhibit halls, there is also a deal that allows anyone who purchases an annual membership to any museum to visit every other museum in the city free of charge during May.  The museums involved in this promotion include the Miami Science Museum, Miami Beach Botanical Garden, the Children’s Museum, the Museum of Contemporary Art and the Haitian Heritage Museum.

Florida’s Gold Coast has something for everyone on Memorial Day.  Fans of urban culture, hip-hop and reggae will enjoy the scene in central Miami, while those looking for a more relaxed South Florida vacation will find what they are looking for in Fort Lauderdale, Palm Beach, and Hollywood.

San Francisco, is a diverse, sophisticated city, so it’s no surprise that there are events of many flavors taking place this Memorial Day weekend to celebrate the unofficial start of summer.

Whether you want to honor our nation’s deceased veterans at a historical ceremony or you want to dance the weekend away, make sure to check out this list of top 10 things to do in San Francisco this Memorial Day weekend.

1. Presidio Ceremony

The Presidio Ceremony is a Memorial Day tradition in San Francisco. The ceremony kicks off on Monday, May 31st at 10:30am with a parade at Montgomery and Sheridan streets. The event draws more than 2000 people, making it one of the largest Memorial Day events in the country.

The ceremony officially begins at 11am at Presidio’s National Cemetery. After the ceremony is completed, park rangers and volunteers take people on free tours of the cemetery. More than 35,000 veterans and their dependents are buried at this cemetery.

2. San Francisco Carnaval

The largest multi-cultural celebration in California, the San Francisco Carnaval boasts live music, artistry, food, and dance from cultures around Latin America and the Caribbean. If you want to party in style this Memorial Day weekend while learning more about the colorful heritage and cultural traditions from this region of the world, don’t miss the San Francisco Carnaval. It’s free of charge and will take place on Saturday, May 29, from 10am to 6pm on Harrison Street.

3. Lost Boat Memorial at the USS Pampanito

The USS Pampanito is a WWII submarine located in Fisherman’s Wharf. The Lost Boat Memorial takes place at the USS Pampanito at 5pm on Monday, May 31st. This famed ceremony honors the lost sailors of the United States Navy Submarine Service. It is free of charge and is followed with an echo taps performance.

4. Free Opera at Dolores Park

At Dolores Park, which is located on 18th and Dolores Streets in San Francisco, you can enjoy a free, live opera performance on Sunday, May 30 at 2pm. So, gather your friends and family together, grab a bottle of wine, and pack some cheese, crackers, and olives to enjoy a relaxing picnic while listening to great music in a beautiful setting.

5. Civil War Battles and Encampment

If you’re willing to take a road trip on Memorial Day weekend, visit the Roaring Camp Railroads in Felton to witness the reenactments of Civil War battles and view replicas of encampments belonging to Union and Confederate soldiers. The event only costs $5 a person and it’s a fun, educational way to commemorate the history of our nation.

For a cheap place to stay while you’re enjoying Memorial Day weekend, find a San Francisco Hotel Deal.

There is always a lot going on in New York City.  Memorial Day weekend is no exception.  There are parades, parties and event throughout the Big Apple.  These range from somber to fun to spectacular.  When it comes to parades, New York has more than a few to choose from, with each borough putting on multiple marches over the course of the weekend.  These offerings include some of the country’s largest Memorial Day parades.  The holiday is marked in the city’s iconic areas: from Times Square to the Statue of Liberty.

Here is the best that New York City has to offer on Memorial Day weekend:

Billed as the nation’s largest Memorial Day parade, the march through the Queens neighborhoods of Little Neck and Douglaston draws spectators and participants from around the city and the country.  This is the 83rd year that the Little Neck parade has taken place.  This quiet corner of NYC is surprisingly suburban-looking (not the type of landscape normally associated with the Big Apple).  It is a great opportunity to see an impressive parade while getting a behind the scenes look at life in the outer boroughs.   The parade kicks off at 2 p.m. on Memorial Day.

Memorial week is Fleet Week in New York.  Starting on May 26th, there will be demonstrations, tours and performances related to the sea-going branches of the armed forces.  A parade of ships on the Hudson River (best viewed from Manhattan’s riverside) kicks off a week of free events.  There are free daily ship tours on Staten Island, parades all day on Memorial Day, and performances by Navy and Marine marching bands.

Of course, there are plenty of non-military related activities and events in the Big Apple during late May.  Block parties and outdoor art shows take place around the city, with many of the most accessible happening in the borough of Manhattan.  These include the Waverly Place Festival and the Lower East Side Art Festival.  In addition to these two notables, a huge outdoor art gallery will be set up in Washington Square.

The end of May brings several high-brow entertainment options.  The most notable is the annual free Memorial Day concert given by the New York Philharmonic.  The event will be held in the Church of Saint John the Divine with seats being awarded on a first-come-first-served basis.  If the weather is dry, the concert will be broadcast to people on the lawn outside the  church as well.  The curtain goes up at 8 p.m. on Memorial Day, but would-be attendees need to arrive much earlier to assure themselves on a good seat.

For those who prefer pop to classical, the top two contestants on this year’s American Idol will be performing early on Friday morning (May 28th) as part of the NBC Today Show Summer Concert Series.  The show will take place at 7 a.m. on the plaza near Rockefeller Center.  There is no admission fee.  ABC’s Good Morning America offers a similar free option when they bring country stars Sugarland to the stage in Central Park at the exact same time that the Idols take the stage.

Of course, all the museums, shopping streets and theaters will be operating as usual during the weekend, giving visitors a virtually limitless amount of activities to choose from. If you plan on staying even longer, find some great NYC Hotel Deals that are currently available.

Austin is known for its music venues.  The city’s more-than 200 clubs and concert halls are filled to capacity during Memorial Day weekend.  The music even spills out onto the streets at the Austin Wine and Music Festival, which coincides with the holiday weekend.  But music is only one of the attractions in the culturally-rich capitol of Texas.  The aptly-named Capitol of Texas Triathlon takes place on the weekend, as do other events, including a floating, anything-goes party on scenic Lake Travis.

The Capitol of Texas Triathlon has become an institution in recent years.  Though racing is a possibility, many people simply come to watch competitors swim, bike and run past some of the city’s most recognizable landmarks.  Registered amateurs can  complete in all three sports, or compete in a single event as part of a relay team.  A kids race and sports expo, along with other events, take place on the days leading up to the triathlon itself.

Things get rather rowdy and bawdy in Devil’s Cove on Lake Travis.  Boats stocked with drinks and filled with swimsuit-wearing partiers join together as early as sun-up to create the world’s largest party barge.  Boats of all shapes and sizes join the flotilla, with people simply hopping from one boat to the next to socialize and drink.  This is one of the few non-family-oriented events in Austin during the holiday weekend, but it is a wildly-good time for of-age visitors who are looking for a party.  The drinking and dancing continue throughout the night at venues along the shores of Lake Travis.

The Austin Wine and Music Festival takes place in the hip Domain neighborhood during Memorial Day weekend.  This celebration of area wine, micro-brews, artists and musical acts has become popular because it combines all the things that Austin is famous for into a single event.  Drinking the wine (and beer) and listening to music will set you back $35 per day. An $80, three day pass can be purchased on the event web site.  Aside from the tunes and booze, there are seminars about wine, beer, cigars and food. For a place to crash after this great event, check out a great list of Austin Hotel Deals.

And of course, there are the concerts.  On any given weekend night, there are several good choices for music aficionados.  Memorial Day weekend is no exception.  The Charlie Daniels Band will fiddle their way through a set at the Nutty Brown Cafe on Saturday the 29th.  Tickets to see the famed musician are not cheap, at $35 a pop, and will be sold out early.  An assortment of DJs, jazz bands and roots rockers will be taking stages across the city on Sunday, with the Barenaked Ladies and Serena Ryder being the most notable names on the schedule.  A complete list of the weekend’s sonic happenings  can be found on the Austin Live Music web site.

There is plenty going on in Austin throughout the year, especially if you are a fan of music and the arts.  During Memorial Day weekend, it will be easy to take part in the activities and pastimes that make Austin famous.  But there will also be a variety of other choices, from raucous boat parties to sophisticated wine tasting events.

Rather than grilling hot dogs with your buddies in the backyard this year, why not honor our nation’s troops and heritage by attending a Memorial Day parade or festival? The following are some of the biggest events taking place around the country this Memorial Day weekend.

1.Downtown Chicago’s Memorial Day Parade

Chicago’s parade honors veterans and active duty personnel who serve in the US military. Attracting approximately 10,000 spectators each year, this huge parade takes place at noon on May 29. The parade begins at State St. and Lake St. to Van Buren and is preceded by a wreath laying ceremony, which begins at 11am at the Eternal Flame on Daley Plaza (Dearborn and Washington Streets).

2. Los Angeles Weekend Street Fair

This annual street fair, which takes place 3 miles west of downtown L.A., attracts a largely Latino crowd and features live music, food, carnival rides, and more. Wilshire and Alvarado streets will be closed off to accommodate this weekend street fair, which annually attracts a crowd of around 30,000 people.

3. Fleet Week, New York

New York City’s Fleet Week honors the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps. There is tons of stuff to do during this major event, from observing a parade of ships in the harbor and viewing musical performances by marines and sailors to playing in tug of war and watching eating contests. All of Fleet Week’s events take place in Manhattan from May 26 to June 1 and are free of charge.

4. The National Memorial Day Parade, Washington D.C.

This iconic parade, which is presented by the American Veterans Center, honors all of the men and women who have served our country. Since Washington DC is the headquarters of the US military, this parade is steeped in tradition and serves to educate the public about the true and oft-forgotten meaning of Memorial Day.

During the parade, which takes place on May 31 at 2pm, you’ll see floats, youth groups, military units, and marching bands. The parade will kick off on Constitution Avenue and 7th Street and travel along Constitution Avenue until reaching 17th Street.

5. Memorial Day Weekend Salute to the Troops, Atlanta

The Memorial Day Weekend Salute to the Troops takes place from May 29 to 31 and is Atlanta’s largest Memorial Day event. The patriotic celebration takes place at Stone Mountain Park and honors American troops and their families. If you are an active duty member of the military, you can enter the event free of charge. Stone Mountain Park offers tons of fun for the little ones. The park features a myriad of attractions, including the Summit Skyride, which offers stunning views of the Atlanta skyline, as well as adventure courses, a mini-golf course, a scenic railroad, and a fireworks display. For a great list of places to stay, check out some excellent Atlanta hotel deals.

Late spring is a great time to visit Chicago.  Warmer weather has set in and the city kicks off summertime with a handful of spectacular events.  Things get started on Memorial Day weekend with a large parade, some pro sports excitement and plenty of pyrotechnics.  Of course, Memorial Day visitors can still get a taste of the features that make Chicago a year-round tourist destination: the music, the food, the museums and the theaters.

Chicago’s Memorial Day Parade is one of the largest and oldest in the country.  It begins on Chicago’s famed State Street at noon on the Saturday before Memorial Day (May 29th).  Representatives from all branches of the military participate, as do the usual array of parade marchers: high-school bands, prominent organizations and political figures.  A wreath-laying ceremony (at 11 a.m. in Daley Plaza) is the highlight of this at-times somber, at-times entertaining event.

Navy Pier, the long arm that sticks out into Lake Michigan near Downtown Chicago, kicks off its summer fireworks series on the night of the Memorial Day parade.  The first explosion can be heard just after 10 p.m.  Aside from the pyrotechnics display, which is bound to be impressive, the Pier and its environs are a great place to see the skyline of Chicago’s iconic downtown.

The best aspect of both the parade and the fireworks: they are completely free to attend.

For something a bit quieter, try Chicago’s many summertime gardens.  The plants and flowers in the gardens at Chicago’s Grant Park will be in full bloom by Memorial Day.  There are 10 themed gardens in and around Grant Park.  Many of Chicago’s other parks also maintain summertime gardens.

Millennium Park hosts New Music Mondays each week.  Veteran alternative rockers Hum will be taking the stage on May 31st.  Millennium Park is in the vicinity of Downtown Chicago, making it easy to end a day of shopping or hanging out on the lakefront with an outdoor concert.  The concert, like all New Music Monday shows, is free.

In the days leading up to Memorial Day, many Chicago residents will be focused on their pro sports franchises.  The Chicago Blackhawks will be trying to qualify for the NHL’s Stanley Cup Finals on the Thursday before Memorial Day at the United Center.  The ever-popular, hard-luck Chicago Cubs will be playing a series at historic Wrigley Field on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Of course, visitors don’t have to limit themselves to these special events and forget about Chicago’s classic attractions.  The restaurant scene is as lively and exciting as it has always been, with new eateries and established kitchens serving everything from Chicago classics to experimental dishes to international favorites from every corner of the globe.

The Windy City’s theater scene, made famous by talents like David Mamet and the Second City Comedy Troupe, is still worth looking into, even for casual stage enthusiasts.  Plays like Hitchcock’s The 39 Steps (at Bank of America Theater) and Tobacco Road (at Victory Gardens Theater) will be running during Memorial Day weekend.  Cirque Shanghai begins its summer-long run at Navy Pier on May 28th.

Chicago is truly a great summertime destination, and Memorial Day is when all the fun unofficially kicks off. Find great Chicago hotel deals at BestTravelDeals.net.