Get Back to Nature

Fall is coming much sooner than we all hoped, but as this article points out, there's never been a better time to get out and enjoy a great national park.  With this national park finder,  you can pack your bag and get back to the great outdoors.  Plus, with hotelbook, you can stay at cool boutique accommodations nearby famous parks like Glacier, Grand Teton, and Yellowstone.

A Windy City Wedding

One of my very best friends is tying the knot in Chicago in August, so my girlfriends and I are heading to the city to celebrate her last few days of freedom. We booked rooms at The Hotel Blake, which we found on hotelbook.com. The hotel was built in the early 19th century and has recently undergone a renovation, but it still maintains its old-fashioned charm - and the best part about it is the location. Situated in the center of the Printers Row District, it is adjacent to the arts district and hundreds of luxury shops. While we're there, we'll be attending the Arlington Million, one of the most famous horse races in the world! We've also heard a little about the Chicago Underground Film Festival and the Summerdance - does anyone know whether these are worth attending? We love music, so any suggestions in that direction are great, too. We just don't know where to begin...so calling all Chicagoans - we need your help, please!

Walking Tour Travel

Check out this recent article about walking tours starting a new travel trend.  Young adventurous backpackers are inspiring travelers of all ages to stretch their legs and see destinations by foot.  Take a look at Forbes' slideshow of the most popular walking tours.  It's definitely a way to have a more "authentic" travel experience.  Plus, with hotelbook, after you embark on foot in any of these destinations including New Zealand, India, Croatia, or Ireland, you can rest your feet at a unique hotel to keep your experience real.

TripAdvisor's Top Ten US Attractions

TripAdvisor has just released the latest Top Tens for their large online traveler community.  This time, the list includes the top ten U.S. attractions Plus, they even name the top ten European attractions as well.  The best part is, hotelbook features an independent hotel in or nearby each destination.  Here's the list of the top US attractions:

1. Orlando, FL - Universal Studios, DisneyWorld, Discovery Cove & More
2. Las Vegas, NV - Cirque de Soleil
3. Maui, Hawaii - Hawaii 6-0: Hana Highway
4. Grand Canyon National Park, AZ
5. Park Place - Central Park - New York City, NY
6. Alcatraz Island - San Francisco, CA
7. Top of the Rock Observation Deck - New York, NY
8. Monterey Bay Aquarium - Monterey Bay, CA
9. Bellagio Fountains - Las Vegas, NV
10. San Diego Zoo - San Diego, CA