Hana, Maui

Everyday is Earth Day at the Hana Maui Hotel

photo - courtesy Simoneink PR

The Hana Maui Hotel is highly sensitive to the fragility of its tropical environment. Its comprehensive program to protect it includes features ranging from donating its shredded office paper to local flower growers for packaging their delicate exports, to recycling the cooking oil from its restaurants for use as bio-diesel.

Hana Maui’s Food & Beverage operations are committed to purchasing local when ever possible (currently about 90%,) and the hotel was recently honored with the Mayor’s “Friends of Agriculture” award.

Bed and bath linens are all organic cotton, and laundered every other day to cut down on energy and water use. Soaps are made by hand and even jams and jellies are house made, to limit the consumption of little glass jars – after all, when you’re located in paradise, you have special incentive to keep it that way.

www.hotelhanamaui.com

Leavenworth, Washington

Celebrate Spring Break

photo courtesy Leavenworth Chamber

With its 300 days of sunshine, blue skies and unlimited outdoor recreation, year round festivals and stunning Bavarian architecture no wonder it's such a great place to enjoy your Spring vacation. Leavenworth was just chosen as one of the top 100 Towns in the United States.

Spring weather is unpredictable in Leavenworth. Yesterday we had snow flurries and cold weather. In two days the prediction is for 50 degree weather. So pack for the unexpected. You could be playing in the snow one day and having a picnic in the sun the next. Don't forget the camera!

visit www.leavenworth.org

Fort Worth, Texas

Break for Spring Beauty in Fort Worth

Perennial Garden - courtesy FW Botanical Garden - Fort Worth, Texas

Fort Worth Botanic Garden – The oldest botanic garden in Texas, this gorgeous attraction contains more than 21 specialty gardens, including the European-designed Rose Garden, which features more than 3,400 roses and the 10,000-square-foot Conservatory, which houses lush tropical flowers and foliage from around the world. 3220 Botanic Garden Boulevard at University Drive. Hours: Grounds are open 8 am to dusk. www.fwbg.org

Special spring break deals at Fort Worth area hotels are also available. Some of the special deals include: the Omni Fort Worth Hotel is offering a special of buy 2 nights, get 1 night free; the Holiday Inn Express Fort Worth Downtown is offering a $99 rate all week; the Hyatt Place Historic Stockyards is offering a $99 rate Monday through Thursday; and the Stockyards Hotel is offering weeknight rates starting at $99.

For additional information on Fort Worth hotels, visit www.fortworth.com.

Lincoln, New Mexico

Lincoln Fandango Celebrates Billy the Kid Trail Ride

Photo courtesy New Mexico Tourism Department

Get a hands-on, seat-in-the-saddle look at New Mexico’s Western heritage up close and personal with the folks in Lincoln, NM when they celebrate completion of the seventh annual Billy the Kid Trail Ride May 16, 2009.

The Billy the Kid Trail Ride begins in Ft. Sumner May 9, 2009 and travels 125 miles to Lincoln over the same route that Billy the Kid used to move between Lincoln and Ft. Sumner after his infamous escape from the Lincoln County Jail in April 1881. With historically accurate reenactments, story telling, chuck wagon dinners and safe horsemanship, the Billy the Kid Trail Ride, through its host ranches, offers a true western experience while preserving lands and landmarks.

After the riders hit Lincoln May 16 – and after a well-earned opportunity to freshen up – they will join Lincoln residents and their visitors in the fun of an old fashion Fandango at the Lincoln State Monument Visitor’s Center, beginning at 5 p.m. Green chile stew, frijoles, tortillas and homemade cobbler with ice cream are on the menu; and story tellers and musicians will provide the entertainment.

“This is a great way to share in the legend that is Billy the Kid,” said Michael Cerletti, Secretary of the New Mexico Tourism Department. “It is incredible how everyone has came together to create this living monument to Billy the Kid, Pat Garrett and the Wild West of southern New Mexico. The Billy the Kid Trail Ride is an unforgettable eight days of starry skies and campfires, history and memories to last a lifetime.”

Lodging is available in Lincoln for the riders and other visitors are welcome to participate in the Fandango.

Find more info at www.newmexico.org