If you’re looking for a beach vacation that has it all, you might want to consider traveling to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. This beach paradise has something for everyone: championship golf, family attractions for all ages, and romantic hideaways for couples.

Myrtle Beach lies between the Atlantic Coastal Waterway and the Atlantic Ocean. It is 16.8 square miles in area, divided into the areas of North Myrtle Beach, Central Myrtle Beach, and South Myrtle Beach. Over 10 million people vacation in the Myrtle Beach area each year.

Myrtle Beach is home to South Carolina’s only casino ships, where visitors can gamble, eat at fine restaurants on board, and enjoy live entertainment. Information on casino cruises can be found at SunCruz Casinos (800-474-3423). Visitors can play blackjack, roulette, poker, and more.

Another popular pastime of travelers to Myrtle Beach is golfing. It is home to more than 100 golf courses. A listing of all golf courses in Myrtle Beach can be found at http://www.mbn.com/, which also lists available golf packages and tee times.

Nestled between Southern Chester County in Pennsylvania and Northern New Castle County, Delaware lies the beautiful Brandywine Valley. This area is filled with culture, antiques, art, history, and more. It provides a relaxing atmosphere for travelers who want to get away from city life for a while but still have plenty of options for things to do.
The Brandywine Valley includes parts of both Pennsylvania and Delaware, through which the 20 mile long Brandywine River runs. The “river” is actually a “creek” which is a tributary of the Christina River. The Brandywine River Museum (http://www.brandywinemuseum.org) (610-388-2700) lies in what is considered the center of the Brandywine Valley. This art museum is known as the home of the Wyeth family of artists'''' collections and also home to many American illustrations, landscapes, and still lifes.
Another popular attraction in the Brandywine Valley is Longwood Gardens (http://www.longwoodgardens.org) (610-388-1000). Located just off Rt. 1 in Kennett Square, PA, this indoor and outdoor arboretum contains 1050 acres of gardens, meadows, and woodlands. Over 11,000 types of plants can be found here. Cultural events, such as opera and ballet, are held here as well.
Nemours (http://www.nemours.org/mansion.html) (302-651-6912)is the 300-acre country estate of the late industrialist and philanthropist Alfred I. duPont. Located on the grounds of the respected Alfred I duPont Children''''s Hospital in Wilmington, Delaware, the mansion and gardens are open for tours from May through December.
If you''''re a history buff, the Brandywine Battlefield (http://www.ushistory.org/Brandywine) (610-459-3342) brings the largest battle of the Revolutionary War, fought in 1777, to life. It contains a visitors center, museum, Washington''''s headquarters, and Gilpin House. Visitors can drive or walk through the battlefield and learn about this important battle in our nation''''s history.
Wines are popular in the Brandywine Valley as well. Local wineries offering tours, tastings, and wines for sale include Chaddsford Winery (http://www.chaddsford.com) (610-388-6221), J. Maki Winery (http://www.jmakiwinery.com) (610-286-7754), and Va La Vineyards (http://www.valavineyards.com) (610-268-2702).
Those who like to shop during their vacations can enjoy the various antique stores scattered throughout the Brandywine Valley. Others might prefer the tax-free Delaware shopping at the outlets at the Shipyard Shops along the Wilmington Riverfront, including Coldwater Creek Outlet and Leggs/Hanes/Bali Outlet(http://www.riverfrontwilm.com/index.php?page=shopping); or at Concord Mall in Wilmington (http://www.concordmall.com/), which features Boscovs, Macy''''s, Sears, and many other stores.
Many comfortable choices of lodging exist in the Brandywine Valley. These include Days Inn (302-368-2200), where rooms average $99 per night; Courtyard by Marriot (800-321-2211), with an average room price of $120 per night; and the ritzier Hotel duPont (888-579-8658), which charges $230 per night on average. There are also a number of bed and breakfasts from which to choose, including Bancroft Manor Bed & Breakfast in Kennett Square, PA (http://www.bancroftmanor.com) (610-470-4297), averaging from $135 to $155 per night; and the Fairville Inn, in Chadds Ford, PA (http://www.fairvilleinn.com) (877-285-7772), with prices from $130 to $245 per night. With the plethora of restaurants available in the Brandywine Valley, you''''ll never go hungry. Whether you want a quiet dinner at the Chadds Ford Tavern (http://www.chaddsfordtavern.com (610-459-8453) or are craving a hamburger and milkshake at the Charcoal Pit (302-478-2165), you won''t be disappointed with the fare Brandywine Valley restaurants offer.
If you''re looking for casual, country hospitality but still crave more urbane attractions, the Brandywine Valley is a great place to visit.

If you’re looking for a slower pace for your vacation, why not consider the Lancaster County area of Pennsylvania? While it might not have the allure of the beach or the appeal of the mountains, there are still many attractions to delight young and old.

One of the “attractions” that captivates tourist are the many Amish living within Lancaster County. While this quiet religious order of people value their privacy, some open their homes and allow vacationers to tour or even stay on their farms during their visit. These are working farms, and you and your children can milk cows, collect eggs, and perform all sorts of farm duties. Most of these function like a bed and breakfast, with at least one meal offered per day.

Neffdale Farm (http://www.neffdalefarm.com) at Paradise offers rooms in the farmhouse from $70 per night, including breakfast, and gives visitors the opportunity to work on the farm if they choose. They are closed from December through March. If you would prefer the traditional bed-and-breakfast, there are many from which to choose, including Ben –Mar Bed & Breakfast (http://www.benmarfarmbb.com) in Gap. Breakfast is brought to guests’ rooms, and “well-behaved” children are welcome.

There are a variety of hotels and motels in the area as well. A comprehensive list of choices can be found at http://www.padutchcountry.com/lodging/hotel_motel.asp.

Amish buggy rides are a popular pastime for those who want to experience just a small piece of Amish life and not become immersed in it. Abe’s Buggy Rides in Bird-in-Hand (http://www.abesbuggyrides.com/) offer buggies large enough to accommodate parties of seven. Prices start at $10 for adults and $5 for children 3-12 (children 2 and under are free). You may also opt to visit the wide variety of Amish-run farm markets and crafts shops throughout the county.

Bargains can be found in Lancaster County’s many shopping outlets. You can choose from Rockvale Outlets Center (http://www.rockvaleoutletslancaster.com) on Rt. 30 in Lancaster, whose over 100 stores feature Pottery Barn Outlet and Jones New York; or Tanger Factory Outlet Center (http://www.tangeroutlet.com/lancaster), also on Rt. 30 in Lancaster, featuring Polo Ralph Lauren, Liz Claiborne, and Nike.

Other amusements that entertain visitors include Strasburg Railroad (http://www.strasburgrailroad.com), where you can tour a steam locomotive, take a ride, and even eat in a dining car if you choose. Dutch Wonderland (http://www.dutchwonderland.com) is an amusement park that will excite the younger set, with rides for approximately ages 3 to 12.

Good food is abundant in Lancaster County. There are many family restaurants, such as Good n’ Plenty (http://www.goodnplenty.com) in Smoketown and Stoltzfus Farm Restaurant (http://www.stoltzfusfarmrestaurant.com) in Gordonville. If you’re looking for “fine” dining, you can choose from the Olde Greenfield Inn (http://www.theoldegreenfieldinn.com) in Lancaster or the Iron Horse Inn (http://www.ironhorsepa.com) in Strasburg. All-you-can-eat smorgasbords are all the rage throughout the county. Some of the more popular ones include Miller’s Smorgasbord (http://www.millerssmorgasbord.com) in Ronks and Shady Maple Smorgasbord (http://www.shady-maple.com) in East Earl.

Tarpon Springs, located along the Gulf Coast of west-central Florida, is almost like visiting two different destinations in one. One area is a working seaport where you can see the boats used by the sponging industry, shop at quaint little shops for souvenirs and real sponges, eat a variety of authentic Greek dishes, or book a fishing expedition or sight-seeing tour. The "sponge capital of the world", this part of Tarpon Springs is still very much as it was in the early part of the 20th century when first settled by Greek sponge divers and their families.From the sponge district, journey over to the historic downtown area of Tarpon Springs, where you''ll find an assortment of museums, cultural art centers featuring displays of art, photography, and crafts along with musical programs and plays, Victorian homes and fine restaurants. Spend a day wandering along the tree-lined streets, enjoying the antique shops and art galleries and dining at a variety of cafes. You can even visit the manatees in Spring Bayou. For more on area cultural arts and events visit www.tarponarts.org or www.tarponspringschamber.org. One of the biggest events of the year in the sponge district is Epiphany, celebrated on January 6th. Young Greek boys jump into the cold waters to be the first to retrieve the Epiphany Cross. Or visit the Safford House Museum in downtown Tarpon Springs at 23 Parkin Court for a guided tour of the Anson P.K. Safford House restored to its original Victorian style. With an average of 361 days of sunshine a year, Tarpon Springs is the perfect choice for a year-round vacation spot.Lodging is abundant in the area and if an authentic bed and breakfast is what you crave, you may want to consider the Spring Bayou Inn, located at 32 West Tarpon Avenue, just a block from the historic downtown shopping district. A turn-of-the-century Victorian house with a wrap-around porch, it has six spacious rooms, each with its own bath. Some rooms include a kitchenette and outside private entrance, and the Hibiscus Room is even pet-friendly. At www.springbayouinn.com you can see them all or if you prefer to talk to these folks in person, call 1-727-938-9333. Of course, there are all the usual Inns, Holiday, Hampton, Days and Economy, available in the area as well.During your visit to Tarpon Springs, you will surely want to sample some authentic Greek cuisine and one of the best restaurants for Greek food is Hella''s. Family owned and operated and located at 785 Dodecanese Blvd., Hella''s menu features Greek choices such as Spanakopita (spinach pie), Mousaka, Dolmades (stuffed grape vine leaves) and Keftedes (Greek meatballs). For dessert, select a pastry from their on-site bakery. Go to their website at www.hellas-restaurant.com where you can peruse their menu while listening to some peppy Greek music or call them at 1-800-HELLAS-6 or 1-727-934-8400 for more information.