Artistic director Jim Cooper has assembled an impressive and broad range of musicians and instruments consisting of horns (trumpets, saxophones and trombones), strings (violins, violas, harp, guitar, double bass, electric bass), percussion instruments (vibraphone, organ, piano, drums and congas) and vocalists. Get lodging for this event. Also see www.s-djazz.com/.

Thirty-seven years ago a group of Tahoe Yacht Club members and friends got together to share their passion for wooden boats. From this modest beginning, the Lake Tahoe Concours d' Elegance has grown to play a significant role in the wooden boat community, as well as the Lake Tahoe maritime community. Need last minute lodging?

Let there be no mistake, something extraordinary happens when you visit Telluride. More than a festival, the Telluride Jazz Celebration is a lifestyle stepped in beauty, intimate in nature and alive with character. Click here for last minute lodging.

"Dr. Beach" Stephen P. Leatherman's 2009 list of top 10 beaches was released today, with five of the top ten beaches located at RunAway GetAway Alliance member destinations. Hanalei Bay on Kauai received top honors, with beaches at San Diego (Coronado Beach) (#4), Maui (Hamoa Beach) (#5), Outer Banks (Cape Hatteras) (#7), and Cape Cod (Coast Guard Beach) (#9) appearing on the list. Leatherman based his selections on 50 criteria, including water quality and temperature, cleanliness, weather, sand, safety and facilities.

Santa Fe, N.M. (No. 1), Asheville, N.C. (No. 2), and Sedona, Ariz. (No. 3) all held on to their top rankings in the Small Cities & Towns category again this year, although some interesting shuffling has taken place within the list for places like Saugatuck, Mich. (5th place this year, up from 24th in 2008), Laguna Beach, Calif. (17th on this year's list, up two spots from last year) and Tubac, Ariz. (ranked 23rd in 2008 but failed to make the cut in 2009).

SMALL CITIES
1. Santa Fe, N.M.
2. Asheville, N.C.
3. Sedona, Ariz.
4. Taos, N.M.
5. Saugatuck, Mich.
6. Key West, Fla.
7. Berkeley Springs, W.V.
8. Boulder, Colo.
9. Carmel, Calif.
10. Corning, N.Y.
11. Sarasota, Fla.
12. Beaufort, S.C.
13. Chapel Hill, N.C.
14. Burlington, Vt.
15. Annapolis, Md.
16. Aspen, Colo.
17. Laguna Beach, Calif.
18. Northampton, Mass.
19. Eureka Springs, Ark.
20. Brattleboro, Vt.
21. New Hope, Pa.
22. Naples, Fla.
23. Cumberland, Md.
24. Berea, Ky.
25. Portsmouth, N.H.

Celebrating its 12th year, the CBMF kicks off the season with a free patriotic concert on July 4, and will continue for four weeks offering something for everyone, from opera, symphony and chamber music, to bluegrass, jazz and dance performances. Reserve your vacation home now for best selection.

Traditional Irish fare, live music and a bit of good cheer. Everybody can enjoy the luck of the Irish on St. Patrick's Day aboard the Verde Canyon Railroad! Toast your luck with a green beer as you ride the rails through the pristine beauty of the Verde Canyon. Get your last minute Sedona vacation rental for this fun event.

Get your lodging now for the Skinny Tire Festival in March, the first road cycling event of the year spans three days with rides through Arches National Park, along the mighty Colorado River surrounded by red rock cliffs, and out to Dead Horse Point overlooking the huge expanse of Canyonlands National Park and the Colorado River.

Colorado has more ski resorts than you can shake a ski pole at, but these powdery playgrounds aren't just for ripping up runs and laying tracks in deep powder. They're also hubs for entertainment around the slopes. Each year, when Fat Tuesday rolls around, these same ski and snowboard meccas become havens for some of the most boisterous Mardi Gras celebrations this side of the Mississippi River. Home to parades, parties, food, skiing and snowboarding, Colorado is the place to "laissez les bons temps rouler," or "let the good times roll!"

Pick a place and secure your vacation lodging now! ...
Aspen/Snowmass -- Keystone -- Breckenridge

Every spring since 1982, North Lake Tahoe comes alive with ten fun-filled days and nights, jam packed with events and activities for all ages. Get conveniently-located lodging from StayTahoe in Carnelian Bay now for this fabulous event.

This year, the annual favorites will be back, along with a host of great new ones! On and off the mountain, at North Tahoe's numerous resorts, and vibrant lakeside neighborhoods, there's something for everyone. Enjoy on-snow events at resorts like Squaw Valley USA, Alpine Meadows, Homewood, Diamond Peak, and Northstar-at-Tahoe; Participate in special events, parades, races, parties, concerts, theater; and of course, there's plenty of wining and dining to be had at North Lake Tahoe's fine restaurants and lively establishments.

Whether you like to plan ahead or make decisions on the fly, there are a number of ways to get tickets to the 200 dramatic, documentary, and short films presented at the 2009 Sundance Film Festival. Check here for all the info you'll need. Reserve your vacation rental now while selections are good for this acclaimed film festival!

Get your Aspen lodging ASAP for a wonderful Christmas. Events include...

-- Santa's Village & Carolers-a-Caroling, December 21-24th
-- Christmas Eve Storytelling at The Silvertree Hotel
-- Christmas Eve Church Service, Snowmass Chapel, December 24
-- Aspen Santa Fe Ballet presents The Nutcracker, Saturday, December 20, 21
-- Torchlight Parade, December 23 at 7pm, Snowmass
-- John Denver Holiday Concert, Friday, December 19 - Tuesday, December 23
-- and Belly-Up Aspen

Over the river and thru the Notch to the perfect old fashioned White Christmas. In the land of "Robert Frost" experience the first snows of winter, the thrill of cutting your own Christmas tree at the Rocks Estate and opening day at Cannon Mountain. For local lodging, try Franconia Notch Vacations.

Reserve your vacation home now for this special event, created to encourage visitors to Cambria businesses, learn more about Central Coast Wineries and as a fundraiser for the Cambria Chamber of Commerce and Allied Arts Association.

Friday: ART & WINE KICK OFF PARTY: Food & Wine Pairing by Local Restaurants & Wineries (coordinated by Moonstone Beach Bar & Grill), Art Show/Silent Auction Preview, Live Entertainment & Special Raffle Packages.

Saturday: GRAND HALL WINE TASTING & ARTIST'S STUDIO WINE TASTING; Gourmet Foods, Demonstrating Artists, Art Show/Silent Auction. "WINEMAKERS DINNER at Mustache Pete's" by the Rotary Clubs of Cambria, "WINE & HORS D'OEUVRES FETE" by the American Legion Women's Auxiliary, "PRIX FIXE DINNER" by Basetti Winery & Linn's Restaurant.

Sunday: SHOPPING SPECIALS & ARTISTS' FAIRE: Artists Demonstrating & Selling, Wine Tasting, Barbecue, Raffle Drawings

Teams often work around the clock on Thursday and Friday of the event to transform their 8' x 8' x 8' snow cubes into freestanding sculptures by the Saturday morning judging. An independent panel of judges critique the sculptures on their originality, creativity, and technical excellence. Also, parades, bonfire dinners, soup contest, fireworks over the weekend

You may run, walk, swim, paddle, pedal or swing one or more of the many events during Lake Tahoe Marathon Week of Events 5 day week. Need lodging? Consider Carnelian Bay.

The main marathon is run on Sunday starting on Commons Beach in Tahoe City and finishes on Pope Beach near South Lake Tahoe.

The RunAway GetAway Alliance offers terrific vacation destinations across the country. Have some specific vacation idea in mind? Search the Alliance for the best match.

Web RunAway GetAway

Picture yourself a short drive away from the state capital, trees at your back, and in front of you, across an iceberg-dotted lake, an enormous ice field flowing down the valley in a glacier that ends at lake's edge. Welcome to the Mendenhall Glacier, 13 miles from downtown Juneau, Alaska. For your lodging, check out Alaska Travelers Accommodations.

Please join us at Native Treasures: Indian Arts Festival, Santa Fe's only museum-quality Indian art show. Presented by the Museum of Indian Arts and Culture, Native Treasures features over 130 Native American artists, who are specially invited by the Museum to represent the best and brightest of the Indian art world. In fact, many of the artists at Native Treasures are included in the Museum's permanent collection.

And for your care-free vacation getaway in Santa Fe this summer, take a look at Run Away To Santa Fe Vacation Rentals.

Nearly 50,000 acres along the central coast of Maine are protected by the Acadia National Park. From the coastline to the mountains, Acadia covers a lot of rugged ground. Find your nearby Bar Harbor vacation rental at L.S.Robinson Vacation Rentals

When deciding on your Santa Fe vacation rental needs, it's helpful to understand these terms.

A "Casita" is the smallest of the three and is typically a cozy one bedroom, one bath structure with kitchenette. Often, a casita is a located on the same property as the casita owner's home, and sometimes is a converted garage.

A "Casa" is larger, usually a condo, and usually two bedroom with sleeping accommodations for four, sometimes more.

A "Hacienda" is the largest of the three, almost always a detached single family private home with three or more bedrooms and at least 2.5 baths. Any one of the three can make for an enchanting vacation in Santa Fe; select the one that best fits your needs!