Eugene, Oregon

Eugene Skyline, TravelLaneCounty.com photographer Jamie Hooper

Eugene-Springfield, Oregon

Stretching from the scenic shores of the Oregon Coast, through the lush Willamette Valley, to snow-capped Cascade Mountains, Lane County’s diverse landscape is a recreation and sightseeing paradise, filled with cultural and historic wonders.

At the center of Lane County, in the southern portion of the Willamette Valley, is Eugene-Springfield—an inviting metropolitan area with a friendly character, strong academic influence, acclaimed arts community, sustainable consciousness, and passion for sports and outdoors.

One of America’s most livable communities, the metro area is a lively blend of arts and culture, numerous parks and gardens, culinary offerings and miles of running and bike trails. The area’s bike bridges that span the Willamette River are more numerous than those for vehicular traffic, making Eugene consistently ranked among the top running and bicycling destination in the country.

Performing arts centers, galleries, music and cultural festivals, museums, as well as the dynamics of the University of Oregon’s intellectual and athletic inspiration keep the area thriving with vitality. Many area restaurants specialize in serving up seasonal menus to capitalize on the harvest from the abundance of local organic farms, complimented by local award-winning wines.

From intimate tasting rooms to grand European-style chateaus, residents and visitors like sip and savor their way through Lane County’s wine country. In and around the southern Willamette Valley’s wine region, dozens of distinct, award-winning wineries are tucked in the area’s beautiful, scenic rolling landscape.

With the most covered bridges in the West, the surrounding countryside provides a passage into the past. Farms, ranches, vineyards and artists’ studios dot the landscape. Many are open to the public through two innovative tour routes known as Oregon Crafted and Oregon Country Trails.

Visit www.TravelLaneCounty.com  for more information.

Bradenton, Florida

Aerial - courtesy www.floridasgulfislands.com

Florida’s Gulf Islands of Anna Maria, Longboat Key, and the mainland areas of Bradenton and Lakewood Ranch offer a rich variety of budget-friendly vacation experiences unique among Florida destinations. Its stunning natural beauty, long, sandy beaches and Old Florida charm combine to give the area a character all its own. Adding some international flair to this character is a new arts festival, British-owned accommodations, and a mix of restaurants and attractions with global appeal.

Ideally located between Sarasota and Tampa Bay, Florida’s Gulf Islands form a magical margin along Florida’s beautiful west coast. With its small town, Old Florida charm, breath-taking scenery, funky dining and shopping districts, and miles of sugar-white sands, Florida’s Gulf Islands are a stunning, year-round showcase of Florida at its summertime best.

Visit www.FloridasGulfIslands.com for more information.

Houston, Texas

Space Center Houston - NASA Tram Tour
A 90-minute journey behind-the-scenes at Johnson Space Center
includes stops at several NASA facilities including
Mission Control, the Vacuum Chamber, the
X-38 Development Building and Rocket Park.
courtesy: Greater Houston Convention and Visitors Bureau

Fun for the Family in Houston

Whether you're experiencing a space shuttle landing at Space Center Houston or splashing around in more than two million gallons of water at Six Flags SplashTown, Houston's attractions are full of adventure. Explore the world's oceans from inside Moody Gardens' 12-story Aquarium Pyramid, then appreciate science and nature in the Rainforest and Discovery Pyramids. Place bets on horses at the Sam Houston Race Park or greyhounds at the Gulf Greyhound Park. Or visit Traders Village on the weekends for food, fun and great finds from more than 800 vendors. For history buffs, visit the San Jacinto Battleground Complex, which marks the spot where Texas won its independence from Mexico, or the Lone Star Flight Museum, a large collection of restored aircraft and photo archives housed in a hanger. Step back in time at the George Ranch, a working ranch, where visitors can experience more than 150 years of Texas history.

www.visithoustontexas.com

Montreal, Canada

Montreal Architecture
Courtesy: Canadian Tourism Commission, Pierre St-Jacques

Is it any wonder that a city as creative and stylish as Montréal was designated UNESCO City of Design? Places such as the Quartier international, a showcase of modern design, art and architecture at the heart of downtown, testify to Montréal’s avant-garde character. Hundreds more examples of their innovation and free-spiritedness flourish in fashion boutiques and interior and industrial design spaces all over the city.

In 2007, Montréal was the first urban centre to sign the National Geographic Society’s Geotourism Charter. One look at the compact downtown that hums 24/7, with wonderfully preserved Old Montréal at its feet and beautifully landscaped Mount Royal Park as a backdrop, provides a hint. Encircling the “Mountain” lie cozy, charming neighbourhoods, each with their own commercial centres and three-storey row housing. The Métro easily services this area and beyond. Their four seasons provide the typical northeastern changes of scenery, and they have the facilities for every summer and winter sport imaginable.

Renowned for its sensational and original restaurants and as a centre for French cuisine par excellence, Montréal is part of a select group of 15 cities to join the prestigious World Good Food Cities Network in 2007. Over 80 different kinds of food are served in 6,000 restaurants, from 5-star to soul-comforting smoked-meat counters.

Montréal is the most bilingual metropolis in North America and the second largest French-speaking city in the world after Paris. Located on an island 499 km2 in the middle of the St. Lawrence River, it was colonized by the French and later the British. Today the population of Greater Montréal is approximately 3.6 million, with 53% of its inhabitants bilingual (French and English).

www.tourisme-montreal.org