With over 270 miles of paved roads and approximately 500,000 acres of beautiful mountain scenery, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is one of the best places in the country for a scenic drive.

Cades Cove Loop:

The historical Cades Cove Loop Road is an eleven-mile, one-way drive through some of the prettiest scenery in the Smoky Mountains. Following a winding river dotted with waterfalls and picnic areas, the road to Cades Cove is sure to provide a relaxing and scenic driving experience.

The beautiful valley, which is protected by the surrounding mountains, will provide you with a taste of everything that the Park is famous for. In addition to the post-card like views of the valley and towering mountains, expect to see local plant life, wildlife, historic churches, pioneer cabins, villages, and an operating mill. Even though Cades Cove is a driving tour, you will want to allow time to get out of your vehicle, stretch your legs and enjoy everything the Loop has to offer!

Although the road is normally open from sunrise to sunset, Cades Cove Loop is closed until 10 AM on Wednesdays and Saturdays in order to accommodate bikers and hikers. Depending on the volume of visitors, the 11 mile loop will take between 90 minutes and three hours.

Insider Tip: If you are hoping to encounter wildlife, the most likely time to see deer, wild turkey, black bears, wolves, bobcats, and other animals is within an hour of sunrise or sunset.

Newfound Gap Road:

The curvy 14 mile drive from Gatlinburg to Newfound Gap is full of stunning mountain views, waterfalls, picnic areas, and short hikes. During the short drive, your elevation will steadily increase from approximately 1,400 feet at the park entrance to 5,046 feet at Newfound Gap. As a result of the elevation change, you will encounter many different types of trees and plant life during the drive. Newfound Gap, which is the lowest drivable pass through the Smoky Mountains, has picturesque views in all directions, a short walking trail, and is the perfect spot for a picnic lunch.

Insider Tip: During peak seasons, this road can become VERY congested. If visiting during holidays or the fall, either start early or make the trip on a weekday.

Clingmans Dome:

Directly to the South of Newfound Gap is the turnoff for Clingmans Dome Road. During the seven mile drive to the summit, you will have amazing views of mountain ridges, a damp spruce-fir forest, and two states (Tennessee and North Carolina). Once you reach the end of the road, you will find ample parking, restrooms, and a gift shop. In addition to the other amenities, there is a half-mile paved hike that will take you to the highest point in the Smokies. The views from the 6,643’ summit can stretch for over 100 miles on a clear day!

Insider Tip: Due to dangerous road conditions, Clingmans Dome Road is closed between December 1st and March 31st each year and following any severe weather.

 Have fun!

Whether you plan to enjoy the scenery by yourself in an Audi A4, with a companion on a Harley, or with your entire family in an SUV, the three drives above are sure to please!

 Author Bio: The guest author, a native Tennessean who owns a Smoky Mountain cabin rental company, enjoys writing about the scenic hikes and drives of the Smoky Mountains National Park.

Every year for the past decade or so I visit my family in Stuart, FL, for the winter holidays. After many years of exploring, I’ve learned to love the area, and think it’s a hidden gem in terms of vacation spots in Florida, especially if you’re looking for a relaxing family vacation. From great fishing to charming restaurants and relaxing beaches, there is a little bit of everything.

Here are my favorite spots to visit:

The Ocean (off-shore fishing)

There is great fishing just a couple miles off-shore, where you can catch sailfish, tuna, dolphin (Mahi-Mahi, not flipper), and more. There are tons of charter boats you can hire, and rates are typically cheaper than you’d find in more touristy areas of Florida. The fishing is also better since the area isn’t as popular (and thus over-fished) as Palm Beach or Miami would be.

Bathtub Beach

Bathtub beach is a great place to relax. It is typically not very crowded and is very family friendly. It is also protected by a natural reef so the waves break long before hitting the beach, so the water is as calm as a bathtub (hence the name). You can also snorkel and check out the reef, which is nice, or you can go slightly north of the beach and go surfing if that’s more your cup of tea. I took the picture above on my iPhone on an overcast day and you can see the “bathtub” area that is really calm and the waves breaking further away from shore.

Downtown Stuart (shopping)

Downtown (Historic) Stuart is a really cute area with lots of nice boutique-style shops. You’ll find lots of great souvenirs & gifts such as nautical themed clothing & home decor, fantastic artwork, and unique accessories. I got the shirt above which I absolutely loved, and I think it’s a pretty representative item of the kind of items you’d find while shopping in downtown Stuart. There are also tons of great restaurants if you get hungry :)

Finz Waterfront Grille

Ever year we go to Finz by boat. They have great seafood, a huge menu (even if you don’t like seafood), and it’s right on the water so you can watch boats go in and out of the marina while you eat. They also have a vending machine (pictured above) where you can try to win a lobster which is pretty funny, and if you’re good at claw style games, could be a cheap way to get a lobster dinner!

Conchy Joe’s (happy hour)

We go to Conchy Joe’s every year for happy hour, and for one primary reason: $6 for a dozen raw oysters. You can’t buy them at the store and shuck them yourself for that cheap. They’re great too! The also have a nice variety of other seafood and non-seafood options, and as you might imagine their conch fritters are really good :) It’s definitely more of a locals hang out, which makes it even more fun in my opinion.

Stuart Marriott Resort (golf, tennis, etc)

The Marriott that is nearby is a great place to visit (or stay at) and is pretty much an all inclusive resort with pools, tennis, golf, a beach, and everything in between. They also have a tiki bar which was a lot of fun. Our guests this year stayed there and we had a lot of fun visiting.

Other notable places to wine & dine:

• Gusto’s – very high end and delicious Italian restaurant in downtown Stuart
• Gigi’s – we get carry out from here all of the time. Their portions are huge and the food is delcious.
• Duffy’s – it is fun to do happy hour here and sit outside and watch people shop & walk by as it’s right in the middle of downtown Stuart.
• Black Marlin – another great seafood restaurant in downtown Stuart.
• Sailor’s Return – a nice restaurant overlooking a marina with some great food.

I’m sure I’m missing a few other great places to check out, but the above should be more than enough recommendations to get you started once you’re in Stuart, whether on vacation, a business trip, or anything in between!

All photos taken by me.

Lake Tahoe, California, USA

I’ve been to Tahoe several times, and love everything about it. It’s super close to San Francisco, it’s got a great vibe to it, and the skiing is fantastic. Tahoe is tough to beat.

Apres-Ski Cocktail of choice: Beer & pizza from Le Chamois at the bottom of Squaw Valley

Jackson Hole, Wyoming, USA

I’ve been to Wyoming before to go fly fishing, but never taken advantage of it’s skiing. Known for it’s challenging slopes, rough terrain and steep drop-offs, Jackson Hole appeals to the thrill-seeker in me. I think I need to practice a little more before I’m up to the challenge, but one day I hope to conquer Jackson Hole…

Apres-Ski Cocktail of choice: The Million Dollar Cowboy Bar Beer at the Million Dollar Cowboy Bar

Vail, Colorado, USA

I’ve been to Vail before, but only a few hours. The runs are magnificent, and Vail Village is a ton of fun. I want to return and spend a few days here, both to take in all of the runs, as well as to hang out in Vail Village and do some shopping, eating, and drinking. Vail is an excellent place, you just need to have the money to afford it.

Apres-Ski Cocktail of choice: Hot Chocolate & 151 at the bottom of the slopes in Vail Village next to a fire pit

Whistler, British Columbia, Canada

They hosted the Winter Olympics recently, and Whistler is supposed to have the best skiing in North America. It’s also not far from Seattle, so I think you could make a pretty nice trip out of it. Whistler, you’re on my radar.

Apres-Ski Cocktail of choice: Whiskey at the Garibaldi Lift Co, located slope-side (ideal for people watching)

French Alps, France

Specifically, I’d like to check out Chamonix in the Savoy Alps, a favorite ski destination among Europeans. I think this would give the full experience, and nothing sounds cooler than skiing the French Alps.

Apres-Ski Cocktail of choice: Champagne, obviously.

Banff Springs

There are several resorts to choose from, great terrain all around, and situated within the Banff national park, which I’ve always wanted to see. The famous Fairmont Banff Springs is also there, which is definitely part of the experience.

Apres-Ski Cocktail of choice: Ice Wine

Zermatt, Switzerland

Beautiful & unique, I’d love to check out Zermatt – Matterhorn in Switzerland. Open 365 days a year, I’d like to go in the summer to tide me over between winters here in the US. This is where many of the European ski teams train, and it’s one place that nearly every travel guide recommends.

Apres-Ski Cocktail of choice: Irish Coffee at the Hotel Post

France is one of the most picturesque destinations to visit. It’s a country filled with culture, a rich heritage and breath-taking scenery. There are innumerable attractions and sites to explore across this vast countryside and it can become overwhelming. Some of the most remarkable sites you won’t want to miss are:

The Eiffel Tower

The Eiffel Tower is one of Europe’s most famous landmarks and the symbol of the City of Light. This magnificent structure was built for the World Exhibition in 1889 and was only meant to be temporary. It has now been around for over a hundred years. Once inside, purchase souvenirs, enjoy fine dining or take an elevator to the top and enjoy the glorious views of Paris at night. Photo Credit: Flickr

The Louvre

The Louvre is a famous art gallery that visitors must put on the top of their list when visiting France. It was originally built in the 12th century as a royal castle, and opened as a museum in1793. This gallery is home to some of the most famous masterpieces from the past that include Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa, Venus de Milo, and Whistler’s Mother. Photo Credit: Flickr

Arc de Triomphe:

This impressive monument is the world’s triumphal arch, conceived by Napoleon to commemorate the French Army victories in 1806. Inside the Arch, a small museum documents the construction and history of this landmark. Treat yourself to a spectacular view of Paris from the roof located at the top of the Arch. Photo Credit: Flickr

French Riviera:

The French Riviera is known for its exotic beaches, olive trees and glamorous night life. It’s a destination that moves slowly at its own pace and is a short ride from Paris. The Riviera is well known for its glitz and glamour of Monaco, The Cannes Film Festival and St. Tropez, but there are also lesser known attractions to this breath-taking place such as the quaint villages, local artists and amazing eateries. Photo Credit: Flickr

Lourdes:

Lourdes is the religious landmark famous where the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to Bernadette Soubirous. This popular tourist attraction is a pilgrimage to followers of the Virgin Mary. Some devotees say that in the right light, the Virgin Mary can be seen here. Photo Credit: Flickr

Vineyards:

No visit to France is complete without sampling the many extraordinary wines ever made on the face of this earth. Take a wine tasting tour where you can sample the delectable wines, enjoy festival celebrations and even help stomp on some grapes that will be used in next year’s wine production. Photo Credit: Flickr

My name is Nisha Sharma I work as the editor for Holiday365. I have been representing the business for the last 2 years now. Holiday365 offers some great deals in the UK, feel free to visit our site for the latest information on holiday parks.

Infographics are an increasingly popular way to display some cool information in a visual way. While sometimes the visual effect can be cluttered and confusing, when done right it’s a very effective way to communicate a message. They’re especially cool when they present facts about travel (or whatever the subject matter) that are unique, odd, funny, or just plain entertaining.

Here are some of my favorite travel infographics I’ve seen to-date – I’ll be sure to keep this updated as I find more that I like. If you’ve created a travel or hospitality related infographic, contact me and let me know!

1. Pigs, Planes & Urine – this infographic by TravelMatch.co.uk sums up some pretty crazy stats about the travel industry, and then presents those stats by relating them back to some pretty funny analogies & comparisons.

2. Mr X Goes on Holiday – here’s another cool one from travelmatch, which describes how the typical British family goes on vacation (holiday). Scroll below and you can see a similar one for US travelers as well!

3. How America Spends Travel & Leisure – this one from Bundle.com shows some trends for US travelers – while it’s not as nice as the UK one above, it’s still a nice & to-the-point infographic on how Americans travel.

4. The Social Travel Revolution – this is a cool infographic (to me, anyway) from Tripl.com because it shows how people use social media to make travel plans. I know I personally lean on friends for advice & suggestions on where to go & what to see, but its mind-blowing to see the aggregate numbers & just how influential social media is for making travel plans!

 4. 50 Most Popular Tourist Destinations – this one is simple yet really useful, made by luggagepoint.com. It lays out the top 50 travel destinations worldwide. I’d love to make this my “bucket list” of places I’d like to see before I die – I can cross off all of the ones in the US already, but very few of these internationally.

 5. How Do You Plan & Pay for Vacation Travel – here’s a great one from Ally Bank describing how people plan vacations & how they pay and budget for them. A cool take on the travel infographic idea that relates back to Ally’s core business of banking & finance.

6. Your Seat Prices Explained – here’s a funny one from comedy site Cracked.com explaining the differences in seat prices on an airplane. It really goes to show how much a ticket on the same plane can vary in price!

7. Travel Rudeness – this infographic is from Travelocity.com, which explains all of the different kinds of rude travelers you might encounter. It’s pretty funny and oh-so-true about all of the annoying types of people you might encounter in an airport!

I hope you enjoyed this post! As I said earlier, if you know of any that didn’t make the list, feel free to contact me or leave a comment below and I’ll give it a look!

Recently I had to spend roughly two months on the road to work out of our Chicago office – knowing I was going to be there for a while, I decided that staying in a typical hotel was going to be too expensive and lonely for my needs, so I checked out Execustay by Marriott. Unlike typical hotels, they offer Chicago furnished apartments that feel just like my condo back at home – full kitchens, a living room, TV, WiFi, etc.

The difference was night and day, and Execustay really made my extended trip to Chicago SO much more enjoyable. It was my first time trying corporate housing or furnished apartments, and I’m absolutely thrilled with my experience with Execustay, so I wanted to blog about it & share my good experiences with others.

Here are my favorite things about Execustay:

• Full Kitchen – they had really nice appliances and all of the pots, pans, silverware, etc that I needed to cook. I was able to eat healthy and make whatever I felt like on week nights, which was so nice and definitely kept me from eating poorly and getting burned out from restaurant fare.
• Tons of Lounging space – I’ve stayed in suites that have living rooms before, but this is way different – it’s the same size as an apartment and has a ton more living space than even an extended stay hotel or a suite. You have tons of room to lounge, lay out your stuff, and get comfortable.
• Value – it ended up being a better deal than paying a nightly rate for a hotel, especially for the area I stayed in. But more importantly than that, it was 100x nicer than a hotel, so in my opinion it would have been worth paying more than a hotel, but instead was cheaper. It was a great value, both for me and my employer.
• Feeling at home – the door man recognized me at the building, I slept in the same room every night, the building was secure  and didn’t feel like a hotel (because it wasn’t), all of my stuff was put away in drawers & closets, etc. This really felt like home, instead of a hotel. That piece of mind & comfort really helps out when you have to spend two months away from home. While I still really missed my girlfriend and dog, at least I had some sense of home while I was in Chicago.
• Marriott Points – I now have a TON of Marriott points. That’s awesome. I’m going to put them towards a nice vacation somewhere (I’m thinking Hawaii), which is a great perk to help make up for needing to be on the road for so long. After two months of being gone, a nice romantic getaway for me and my girlfriend sounds like exactly what I’d like to do.

I stayed in the building called One Superior Place and it was awesome – there was a Whole Foods on the bottom floor, which meant that I cooked for myself nearly every night and was able to eat healthy and not be forced to dine out every night like I typically do when I travel. The location was also just blocks from the Magnificent Mile and all of the great shopping there, as well as the L train so I didn’t need a car and could get anywhere I needed by foot or train, just like a local. They also had a super nice pool and fitness center – for all intents and purposes, I was living in a luxury condo, just like a local would be.

If you have an extended trip coming up, definitely consider Execustay for your needs – I know I will certainly use them again next time I need to be away from home for 30 days or more (their minimum stay is typically 1 month, so sadly I can’t use them for shorter trips!).

Photo Credit: the Marriott Flickr Page – this looked very similiar to my room only I didn’t keep my room quite as tidy, haha!