Tag Archives: rainbow springs state park

Your Next Vacation

Are you ready for a vacation? Today, January 28, is National Plan Your Vacation Day!

Spend some time away from the city lights and daily frenzy!

Here are your top 15 Guest Services, Inc. vacation destinations. From pet-friendly lodging to snowy recreations.

  1. The Lodge at Wakulla Springs, FL: Enjoy a unique stay beside the world’s deepest freshwater spring. Hiking trails, boat tours, swimming. Visit The Lodge at Wakulla and book now!
    wakulla springs
  2. Everglades Florida Adventures, FL: We offer a 10,000 Islands tour so you can see a variety of birds, manatees, dolphins and other wildlife native to Florida. Whether you go on your own in one of our canoes or kayaks or join our guides as we show the beautiful and mysterious Everglades nature will reward you with its treasures. Book your 10,000 Islands Tour!
    boat tour
  3. Weeki Wachee Springs State Park, FL: If you’re coming from the West coast or chilly North, plan your escape and visit mermaids down south! Mermaid Shows are scheduled 365 days a year, at 11 a.m., 1:30 p.m. and 3 p.m. (Seating is on a first-come basis). Learn More! ?
    kayaking in weeki wachee
  4. Rainbow Springs State Park, FL: One of Florida’s largest springs, the headsprings of the Rainbow River starts in this beautiful 1,472-acre park. Rainbow Springs State Park is open 365 days a year to dazzle and delight your entire family! Plan your visit!
    rainbow sprnigs
  5. Flamingo Adventures at Everglades National Park, FL: Flamingo Adventures is the ONLY place in the USA where you can stay in a Houseboat, Eco-Tent (now OPEN!), or both as your one-stop adventure spot! Feel free to bring Buddy or Daisy at no charge while you camp in an Eco-Tent under the palm trees or hook up your RV to the group site. Reserve now!
    eco tents
  6. Bear Mountain, NY: Traveling to escape the city? Bringing your pet? We have a limited number of canine-friendly guestrooms in our Overlook Lodge.  To reserve, please call the hotel directly at 845.786.2731 or Bear Mountain Inn.  Our pet fee is $45 for the first night and $5 for each additional night
    Bear Mountain Inn
  7. National Mall, DC: Come out and visit our Nation’s capitol! Get ready for an active day while visiting the Sculpture Garden or National Gallery of Art or paddling the paddle boats at the Tidal Basin.
    national mall kiosks
  8. Giants Ridge, MN: Giants Ridge has 35 downhill ski runs, over 60 km of Nordic ski trails and a snowboarding terrain park for all your tricks! We offer a variety of lodging for you and friends! Visit Giants Ridge to find the right accommodation for you.
    giants ridge
  9. Echo Bluff, MI: Explore the Sinking Creek by fishing pole or the Current River Trail by boots while you bring your pet companion for the journey. Be sure to call ahead for one of the pet-friendly cabins and pay the pet fee $20 per dog, per night, two dogs maximum. Reserve a lodge room, cabin, or campground today ?
    echo bluff lodge
  10. The Lodge at Breckenridge, CO: Canine companions are welcome so long as they don’t jump on the furniture, don’t go for a walk in the fitness center or treat themselves to a spa day! It costs $30 per night for up to two dogs. Treat yourself and loved one(s) to an outdoor adventure or couples retreat.
    lodge at breck
  11. The Lodge at North Cascades, Stehekin, WA: While there’s so much great outdoors to explore, from Lake Chelan to the Cascade Mountains at your footsteps, there’s only so much hotel lodging for your furry friend. Pet fees are $25 per day (plus tax) per dog, for a maximum of two dogs. Book with us today!
    lodge at stehekin
  12. Mount Rainier National Park, WA: Have your snow gear ready? We have cross country skiing, guided snow walks, and snow tubing! Start planning your stay at the National Park Inn today and enjoy the mountains.
    mount rainier
  13. Big Sur, CA: Use your vacation day to unwind and experience nature. Take a weekend out to visit “mini-Yosemite”! As a Lodge guest, you receive a complimentary day pass to all three state parks in Big Sur: Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park, Andrew Molera State Park, and Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park. Check room availability.
    big sur
  14. DoubleTree Suites by Hilton Hotel Naples, FL: Stay at DoubleTree Suites for the comfort, amenities and great location to Miami and the Everglades National Park! It’s only a 1.5 hours’ drive. It is the perfect destination to get away from the hustle and bustle of the Miami scene.
    double tree naples
  15. Boating In DC: Ready to experience DC on the water? We’ve got kayaks, canoes, paddleboards, sailboats, rowboats, dragon boats, boating lessons, yoga classes, monument tours and more! After spending the day as a tourist at the museums, float around the national mall and row in the memories ?
    boating in dc

 

Gifting Memories

We know how difficult it can be to choose the perfect gift for someone who means so much to you. So, why not gift your loved ones with something that will last them a lifetime?

Whether you are giving a gift for an adventurous wanderer, that special someone, or the whole family, we know there is something here for everyone.

Gifts for the adventurer:

  • Give a gift that lasts all summer long! Boating in DC and Boating in Boston both offer season passes, available to purchase at any time of the year, even the offseason. Visit the DC website or the Boston website for more information.
  • Giants Ridge is the perfect destination for a winter break ski trip with the family. Gift them ski lift passes, rentals, or season passes this Holiday season. Visit Giants Ridge’s website for more information.

  • Get them out of the house and on the water with Lake Roosevelt Adventures houseboat rentals. Check out the website to see all the options.

  • Send them down south to Flamingo Adventures in the Everglades to warm up their winter season. With beautiful weather, views, kayak and canoe rentals, their newly-built eco-tents, or houseboats, what more would they need? Visit the Flamingo Adventures website to book a room and rent their floats!

Gifts for the romantic:

  • Wakulla Springs dinner cruise is the perfect evening out for you and your loved one, or to gift to the happy couple in your life! For more details, Wakulla Springs’ website.

  • A night’s stay that will surely make memories is at the gorgeous Lodge at Breckenridge in beautiful Breckenridge, Colorado. Visit the website to see so many options for their next stay. (Best part? They are pet-friendly!)

Gifts for the whole family:

  • Need an activity to get the kids working together? Take the family down to East Potomac Tennis Center for junior tennis lessons. What a great way to get them outside and enjoying each other’s company! Visit their website to learn more.

  • Does your family love animals and the outdoors? Rock Creek Park Horse Center is the perfect location for riding lessons, trail rides, and even family volunteering! Gift the kids’ an experience and get the whole family out there! Visit the website.

Of all the presents, the best is the gift of knowing you gave the perfect gift without the stress of the stores!

Five Adventures for Labor Day Weekend

Labor Day has two main definitions: 1) a day off from work or school and 2) the unofficial end of summer. But, why is it on the first Monday of September? And why do we even celebrate it? Well, it was intentionally planned to be a break for those working men and women at the halfway point between the Fourth of July and Thanksgiving. (Crazy, but true – we looked it up!)

To celebrate our break from work, here are our five picks to sit back, relax, and enjoy nature at its finest before the madness of the holiday season commences.

Rock Creek Park Horse Center | Washington, D.C.

Rock Creek Park Horse Center is truly a gem in our nation’s capital. Deep in the woods of Rock Creek Park, you can find peace in the company of horses and those who love them. Now, we know you might be saying, “I didn’t even know there was a forest near Washington, D.C., let alone IN it.” Yes, it’s true! They offer boarding, camps, lessons, and trail rides for equestrians at all skill levels. The horses there project calmness and compassion to all people around them.

For Labor Day, we suggest experiencing the joys of riding the trained horses through the nature trails. The ride lasts about one hour and is led by an experienced Trail Guide at a walking pace. Riders must be 12 years or older. Visit their website for more information.

Pavilion Café | Washington, D.C.

During your day off, you might want to explore the city of Washington, D.C., without the hustle and bustle of people. Visit the National Gallery of Art’s Sculpture Garden and their Pavilion Café. The Pavilion Café has delicious food throughout the year, including flatbread pizzas, toasted sandwiches, hot entrees, and a Sunday brunch! Throughout the summer, it hosts a Jazz in the Garden event every Friday and then turns into an ice staking wonderland in the winter (just in case you want to plan a future trip).

Since most D.C. workers aren’t at the office on Labor Day, this is a prime opportunity to visit the Pavilion Café and enjoy the beautiful art pieces throughout the garden. Hours from Labor Day to Mid-November are Monday- Saturday: 10 am – 4 pm and Sunday 11 am – 5 pm. Visit their website for more information on their menu as well as group reservations.

food at pavilion cafe

Watkins Glen State Park | Watkins Glen, New York

Watkins Glen State Park is a part of the Finger Lakes State Parks and has 19 beautiful waterfalls and 833 steps to get to the top of them all. After hiking through the waterfalls, experience Watkins’ Olympic-sized pool and campsites throughout the park. For Labor Day, we would suggest it all!

If you are into racing, you might already know this place. Watkins Glen State Park is home to the Grand Prix, and when you visit their town, you can tell that it is just one of their many pride and joys! During the first weekend of September each year, there is a re-creation of the Grand Prix during the Vintage Grand Prix Festival. This year, it is on September 6th, so you have some time to plan your weekend getaway. Visit their website for more information.

Lake Welch | Stony Point, New York

What if we told you that within the wooded hills of the Ramapo Mountains in New York, you would find a half-mile-long sandy beach? Stay with us, because Lake Welch Beach within Harriman State Park could be your dream Labor Day weekend getaway that you didn’t know you needed. The park offers swimming, fishing, boating, picnicking, hiking, and camping in Beaver Pond Campground only a few minutes away.

On-site is a beach store for all your needs and a snack shack for all your food indulgences. Have we mentioned there is an array of alcoholic beverages available to enjoy – including White Claw! Enjoy the unofficial end of summer on a beach in New York; everyone would want to hear about it! Visit their website for more information.

Weeki Wachee Springs State Park | Weeki Wachee, Florida

Weeki Fresh Water Adventures is the only kayak and paddleboard rental facility located on the river at Weeki Wachee Springs State Park in Florida. Enjoy a three-hour, self-guided journey onto the gorgeous, clear waters of Florida’s most tranquil and popular Weeki Wachee River. The 5.5 miles on the river will leave you in awe of nature’s beauty, whether you are on a kayak or stand-up paddleboard (SUP). Throughout your excursions, see native Florida wildlife such as fish, birds, turtles, and the gentle giants of Weeki Wachee, manatees.

They are called Weeki Fresh Water Adventures for a reason – each time you kayak, it is truly a fresh new adventure unlike any other! Visit their website for more information.

And there’s more!

Though we did say five, we are giving you a bonus two! There are so many activities within Florida that are perfect for Labor Day weekend. Below are just a few suggestions on where to go:

Rainbow Springs State Park | Dunnellon, Florida

For Labor Day weekend, you must get outside and enjoy the beautiful weather – especially Florida’s sunshine skies. Rainbow Springs State Park has 1,472 acres of amazing azaleas that turn the whole park into a beautiful portrait with pinks, purples, and whites! The headsprings and campground have a variety of programs, such as ranger-guided walks, snorkeling expeditions, and kayaking. They also have picnic pavilions that are perfect for family reunions (or end of summer celebrations!)

For a place that is rich in natural beauty and cultural history, don’t wait to book your weekend getaway to Rainbow Springs State Park! Visit their website to do just that.

Everglades Florida Adventures | Everglades City, Florida

Everglades City sits perfectly at the end of the Wilderness Waterway that links the Everglades to Flamingo City. With activities such as kayak fishing in the backcountry, canoeing through tunnels, guided paddling excursions, hiking and biking around prairies and wetlands, or observing the diversity of the cypress hammocks from the perspective of a floatplane, many visitors and locals alike flock to Everglades City to experience it all! The most popular visitor attraction is the 10,000 Islands Boat Tour that lasts 90 minutes and takes visitors six miles out to the Gulf of Mexico through the islands in Chokoloskee Bay – the perfect way to spend the day!

These amazing activities are ideal opportunities to see the incredible animals found throughout the area, including manatees, bald eagles, roseate, ospreys, and spoonbills. Visit their website to book your adventure.