Escapemaker Scoop

	August 2010
	Dear EscapeMakers, Our staff recommends The Warren County Farmers’ Fair and Hot Air Balloon Festival in New Jersey! Take your family and friends for a good old-fashioned small town country fair: cotton candy, Elvis impersonator show, tractor pulls, demolition derby, rides, crafts, did we mention cotton candy? Accessible by bus, it’s only a 90-minute ride from NYC. Plus, there’s a Hot Air Balloon Festival and launch at sunset! (New this year - The Monster Balloon!) The fair takes place August 1st - August 7th. Enter to Win a FREE Hot Air Balloon Ride, Fair Passes with Tickets to Special Fair Shows and get more info about the event! Click here. Get Fit & Active! Enjoy a fun-filled outdoor adventure close to home. Westchester County, NY has 18,000 acres of parkland, wooded hiking and biking trails, lakes, streams, the Long Island Sound and the Hudson River! 11 hotels in Westchester County are offering packages for every budget (starting as low as $116 per night), with a variety of amenities including breakfast, bike rentals, movie tickets and four-day passes to Playland Amusement Park in Rye. No car? Take Metro-North or Amtrak. For more info on Westchester’s Great Outdoors and packages, Click here.
	Don’t forget to Enter for Amtrak’s Green Getaway Sweepstakes! ENTER HERE Prize Includes: • 2 Roundtrip Amtrak® passes from NYC to Rochester • 3-day hybrid rental car to explore the area  • 2 nights lodging at the all new MINTY WELLNESS - an organic and vegan hotel getaway in Darien Center, NY • Rejuvenating Massage for 2 and use of spa facilities • Full Breakfast for 2 both mornings • $250 Towards your choice of shopping, dining and attractions in Genesee County, New York Leave the car at home! Book a getaway on Amtrak to New York State and receive 20% off! Mention code V557!

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We’ve been talking about this fun promotion for weeks, but in case you’ve missed it…there’s just nine days left to write a hotel review on EscapeMaker for a chance to win a $100 iTunes gift card!
If you have stayed at any of the hundreds hotels, motels, inns or bed and breakfasts listed on our site, we want to hear about your experiences! Share the good, the bad, and the “insider scoop” with the rest of us!

All you need to do to start is log on, or register for a new account here. Then…

Search for the hotel you want to review by clicking on the Hotels and B&B’s tab at the top of the screen.
Once you find the box with the hotel’s description, click Read More to bring you to the detailed information page.
Scroll to the bottom, where you can click on Comments / Reviews to write your review.

There! You’re instantly qualified for the drawing for the $100 iTunes gift certificate! As our thanks, we’ll also send everyone who posts an EscapeMaker magnet and bumper sticker.

Don’t know what to write? Here are two examples of properties for which I wrote reviews. Yes, I really stayed at both of them. No, I’m not eligible to win the gift card. Each review only took me five minutes to write!

For the Hilton Mystic in CT:
Family-friendly and conveniently located!
Comment/Review: Mystic is a fantastic getaway destination for both couples and families, any time of year. While couples may want to stay at an inn or B&B (there are plenty in the area), families will be more comfortable in a full-service hotel like this one.
Pros: The property is located directly across the street from the Mystic Aquarium, one of the largest and most popular attractions in the area. It’s also convenient and easily accessible, right off I-95.
Cons: This is a cookie-cutter hotel chain. So while it’s a reliable product, there isn’t going to be the charm you could find at an inn or B&B. However, it is nicely decorated, and looks like it has been recently refurbished.
Tips & Recommendations: Ask for a AAA rate if you’re a member. Consider going in the off season (not summer) for more affordable rates.

For the Courtyard by Marriott in Ronkonkoma, NY:
Nicely appointed, modern, clean and comfortable
Comment/Review: This looks like a brand new property, with modern decor and clean, comfortable, spacious rooms. Conveniently located just off the Long Island Expressway.
Pros: There’s a cafe in the lobby which serves Starbucks coffee products and other light fare. Rooms have a mini-fridge and microwave. Free wi-fi in the rooms!
Cons: This is a property mainly serving business guests or wedding parties; this isn’t a resort destination. The outside grounds and views aren’t great.
Tips & Recommendations: You can earn points on your Marriott account if you have one by staying here. There’s a Red Lobster and Smokey Bones (barbecue) restaurant next door.

You’re not the only one with a hankering to hit the open road. Fido and Felix need a change of scenery, too! Consider these tips while planning your trip. Then, once you have packed some essentials and taken them to the groomer, you’ll be free to take off on an adventure with your furry family.

Pick a Place with Your Pet in Mind

What are the most pet-friendly destinations? Animal Fair, the lifestyle magazine for pet owners, is a good reference. Certain destinations, like Portland, ME and Nantucket, Cape Cod and Martha’s Vineyard in MA, are well known as pet-friendly places, with more than a fair share of lodging and dining options, parks, trails, and even pet boutiques.

Several chains have pet-friendly policies which include everything from oversized pet pillows, plush doggie robes, to check-in gift packages that include a pet toy, dog treat, ID tag, bone and turn down treat. Others have pet-friendly perks like menus, day-care and playgrounds.

These accommodations in the northeast are pet-friendly. Their EscapeMaker.com listings, found here, provide other information, too.

In its latest pet traveling guide, the PetBook® , AAA lists more than 13,000 AAA-approved hotels, campgrounds and attractions that accept pets, an amount which increases every year.

Certain major hotel chains are well-known for their pet-friendly policies, including Best Western, Red Roof Inn, and Holiday Inn. Be forewarned that most will charge a nonrefundable fee for pets, and many have a size limit.

Campgrounds generally offer more flexible pet policies, provided that guests show a considerate amount of “petiquette,” and make sure their pet is well-behaved.

Luckily, pet owners are more than willing to share their travel experiences and recommendations online. There are several web sites that list pet-friendly hotels, beaches, restaurants, and attractions, including PetFriendlyTravel.com and DogFriendlyHotels.org

What to Pack?

Ask your pet’s veterinarian for a copy of your pet’s records, including certifications, allergy info, medical history, and vaccination records.

Then, head to the pet store with this list of travel products in hand:

1. Animal first-aid kit – Include bandages, antiseptic cream, antidiarrheal medication, prescription medication, tick removal tool, etc.
2. Travel tag — Add one on your pet’s collar with information on where you’re staying and your cell phone number.
3. Extra leash
4. Sleeping bag or travel bed
5. Travel sizes — Wash, rinse, bar soap, and collapsible water bowl
6. Buckle safety system — Adjustable harness that attaches to a seat belt
7. Vehicle ramp — To facilitate getting in and out of SUV’s, RV’s, trucks, etc.
8. Car seat cover – Look for odor repellent, machine washable fabrics
9. Weather gear – Coats to wear in rainy or cold conditions

New York, NY – Looking for a great way to kick off the 2010 football season? I LOVE NEW YORK, EscapeMaker.com and the Finger Lakes region of New York are teaming up to make your gridiron dreams come true with the ultimate VIP Football weekend. Enter the “Football in the Finger Lakes Sweepstakes” now for a chance to win a once-in-a-lifetime up close and personal preseason football experience in New York State’s gorgeous Finger Lakes region!

One winner, along with three guests will receive passes to New York Jets Training Camp at SUNY Cortland, VIP access to the camp’s hospitality area before practice, and VIP seating during practice. Also included is transportation, provided by Amtrak, Fly Ithaca Regional Airport and Avis rental car; lodging at Hope Lake Lodge in Cortland; plus an exciting Finger Lakes Vacation Package, which you can use either the same weekend or at a later date!

In 2009 Sherman’s Travel rated the Finger Lakes region as the number one lakeside retreat in the world. Travelers from around the globe are enchanted by the region’s miles of unspoiled forests snuggling along steep, grapevine-covered hillsides and cold streams racing through deep gorges bursting into sunshine at thundering waterfalls. But that’s just part of the experience. The region’s natural beauty is perfectly complemented by state-of-the-art museums and the historic Erie Canal, and serves as the perfect backdrop for the largest wine region east of the Mississippi – and one that was recently voted the most beautiful wine region in the world by readers of Budget Travel.

Cortland County, host to New York Jets Training Camp, is made for the summer outdoor enthusiast. The county boasts 22 miles of warm-water rivers and over 25 lakes and ponds which provide an abundance of fishing opportunities. 30,000 acres of state forest land are available for hiking, biking and enjoying, while golfers will want to enjoy a round on one of the county’s five public courses.

New York Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez recently teamed up with I LOVE NEW YORK during a filmed appearance for an upcoming New York State tourism campaign. You can check out the Behind the Scenes video’s and pictures at I LOVE NY’s pages on Flickr and YouTube http://www.youtube.com/OfficialILOVENY.com and http://www.flickr.com/photos/officialiloveny

For more information on the sweepstakes and to enter, simply visit http://www.iloveny.com or http://www.escapemaker.com/contests/ilovenyjets

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About Hope Lake Lodge

Hope Lake Lodge & Indoor Waterpark at Greek Peak Mountain Resort offers 106 condominium units in nine distinctive designs, providing quarter-share owners and resort guests with luxurious accommodations in a family friendly, “green” Northwoods style lodge. Hope Lake Lodge guests and owners have exclusive access to the 41,000 square foot Cascades Indoor Waterpark, with over 500 feet of slides, including a three-story tube slide, a 500 gallon deluge bucket, a wave pool, activity tower, and hot tubs. Waterfalls Spa is unique in its Feng Shui design, the level of treatment customization and privacy. The spa caters to guests of Greek Peak Mountain Resort as well as the public. Visit http://www.greekpeakmtnresort.com for information on quarter-share condo sales, hotel and spa reservations, skiing or the many other programs offered at Greek Peak Mountain Resort.

About EscapeMaker.com

EscapeMaker.com is an online guide to local hotels, B&B’s, vacation rentals, events and festivals, and weekend getaway and day trip destinations within a day’s drive or train ride of New York City. For more information visit: http://www.escapemaker.com.

About New York State

New York State features 11 beautiful vacation regions. New York’s attractions span from landmarks such as Niagara Falls, to the wine trails of Hudson Valley and treasures like the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown. Whether it’s wide-ranging outdoor activities for the whole family like fishing, hiking and boating, culinary wonders and farm-to-table fresh foods, or the rich history and culture of one of the 13 original colonies, New York State offers diverse activities for all travelers. For more information visit http://www.iloveny.com. Media can find press releases and more at thebeat.iloveny.com.

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