Ranked as one of the Top 10 Big Money Sportsfishing Tournaments in the world, the Emerald Coast Blue Marlin Classic draws serious fisherman from around the globe to Destin, Florida to pit their skills against the Gulf of Mexico’s largest, wiliest fish. From Wednesday June 19 to Sunday, June 23 anglers will compete for cash prizes as they attempt to hook the tournament’s biggest dolphin, tuna, wahoo, sailfish and blue marlin.

Daily weigh-ins at the marina in the Village of Baytowne Wharf at the storied Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort always draw a crowd. Last year’s record catches included a 783.6-pound blue marlin and 190.1-pound yellowfin tuna. But the family-friendly event offers Destin vacationers more than monster fish. Plenty of crowd-pleasing live music, entertainment, food and daily activities for the kids make the Blue Marlin Classic one of the most popular events on Florida’s Gulf Coast.

The South’s top-ranked vacation destination, the Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort in Destin, Florida offers vacationers gorgeous white sand beaches coated in the finest sugar sand and clear emerald waters that are perfect for swimming, boating and, of course, fishing. Destin vacationers can also enjoy first-class dining, world-class shopping, water sports of all kinds, tennis, championship golf and an exciting night life.

Conveniently located Destin vacation rentals and South Walton beach rentals offer vacationers a front row seat to tournament action and all the exciting activities available on the Florida Panhandle’s scenic Emerald Coast.

One of our favorite Destin vacation rentals is the beautiful Islander Resort on Holiday Isle in Destin. Popular with both couples and families, this all-inclusive beachfront resort features two pools, two hot tubs, lighted tennis courts, shuffleboard courts, a basketball hoop, cable television, free high-speed wireless internet, laundry facilities, poolside barbecue grills, kayak and paddleboard rentals and much more. Book your Islander Resort vacation rental on iTrip.net today!

Vacationers can choose from more than 50 popular vacation destinations on iTrip.net. From the stunning mountain peaks of Park City, Utah to the sandy islands of Key Largo and Islamorada in the Florida Keys and from sunny Southern California beaches to the cobblestone streets of historic Charleston, South Carolina, iTrip.net offers beautiful vacation rentals to suit every vacation desire. All you have to do is decide where to go.

There’s the rub. With so many delightful vacation destinations available on one site, how do you choose? You could spend hours pouring over iTrip vacation rental listings and studying our helpful travel destination descriptions and still worry about making the right vacation choice. Take a deep breath; we’re here to help. First of all, there is no “wrong” vacation destination. You’re sure to have fun wherever you go. But if vacation decisions have you teetering on the fence post, follow our handy tips for choosing the perfect vacation destination to suit your vacation mood.

1. Start your vacation search by identifying why you want to go on vacation. Do you want to explore a new place or veg out and do nothing for a week? Do you love the excitement of city life or do you want to immerse yourself in nature? Identifying your vacation goals is a good first step to choosing a vacation destination.
2. Decide how much you want to spend on a vacation. Fortunately, iTrip.net offers affordable vacation rentals to fix every budget. Rent a cozy condo to trim expenses or splurge on a rental villa and take the whole family along. Vacationing just before or after peak season is another way to save on vacation rentals.

Wherever you decide to vacation, find the perfect vacation rental on iTrip.net.

The Photinus carolinus firefly isn’t much longer than your fingernail, but it puts on an amazing light display every June that draws thousands of vacationers to Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Tennessee’s beautiful Wears Valley. As dusk settles over the Smokies, the evening light show begins as the fireflies begin courting. Both males and females flash in a specific pattern at set intervals. What makes the Elkmont Firefly Viewing Event so spectacular is that the insects flash in synchronization, lighting up and going dark on cue as if directed by an unseen conductor. It’s one of nature’s wonders that brings vacationers back to the Smokies year after year.

The best place to see the firefly display is around Bearwallow Creek in the community of Elkmont within the national park. This year, the park service will be running firefly shuttles from the Sugarlands Visitor Center to Elkmont from June 6-13. Due to limited parking at the visitor center, vacationers will need to make advance reservations for a parking pass. Passes go on sale at 10 a.m. the day prior to each of the 8 viewing evenings and can be obtained at www.recreation.gov.

The firefly show is just one of the activities that make a Wears Valley vacation memorable. Bicycling, fishing, hiking, horseback riding and auto touring are favorite Smoky Mountain pursuits. On hot days, tubing down the valley’s streams and creeks is a fun way to cool off. For the thrill seekers in the family, Dollywood is in nearby Pigeon Forge. Nights in the Smokies are made for star-gazing or telling ghost stories around the fire pit.

Beautiful Wears Valley cabin rentals are the perfect place to chill out and relax during a Smoky Mountains vacation. Book yours today on iTrip.net.

St. Petersburg is a delightful study in color and contrasts. From the pastel pink confection of the beautifully restored Roaring ‘20s-era Vinoy Park Hotel to the ultra-modern geodesic glass domes of the Dali Museum, this sunny city on Florida’s beautiful Gulf Coast offers St. Petersburg vacationers a fascinating mix of historic elegance and modern sophistication.

As showcased in its art and architecture, St. Petersburg’s artistic breadth is as marvelously appealing as its gorgeous white sand beaches. The city offers several outstanding art museums, as well as a collection of galleries and studios in the Central Arts District west of the waterfront.

1. Dali Museum. A tribute to the surreal Spanish painter, the Dali Museum showcases the artist’s work from his more traditional early days to the monumental surreal works of his final years.
2. Chihuly Collection at the Morean Arts Center. An ode to the renowned glass artist Dale Chihuly, the downtown museum was built to house his immense glass installations.
3. St. Petersburg Museum of Fine Arts. The museum features works by some of the world’s greatest artists, including Monet, Renoir, Cezanne and Monet, as well as a nice sculpture garden. The size and arrangement of the galleries creates a feeling of intimacy that adds to the enjoyment of the art works.
4. Morean Arts Center for clay. Located in the historic Seaboard Train Station, the arts center has a display of pottery and kilns and offers potting and clay classes and workshops.

A beautiful St. Petersburg beach vacation rental makes the perfect home base from which to explore both St. Petersburg’s busy art scene and laid-back beach scene. Book your St. Petersburg vacation rental on iTrip.net today!

Miami ushers in summer with a giant blow-out bash over Memorial Day weekend. The biggest beach party in the country, the non-stop weekend of music, dancing, food, booze, skin and fun explodes from Miami’s many clubs into the streets and onto the beach. The Memorial Day celebration starts with summer kickoff parties that seem to be hosted by every club in the city, all winding up to the big event: the Best of the Best Concert on Sunday, May 26, 2013, at beautiful Bayfront Park in downtown Miami.

A 10-hour musical extravaganza of live Reggae, Hip-Hop, R&B, Soca, Caribbean and Urban beats, the Best of the Best is one of the largest international music festivals in North America, typically drawing more than 25 thousand fans to see A-list performers. On the schedule this year are Beres Hammond, Freddie McGregor, Sanchez, Bennie Man, Cocoa T, Elephant Man, Konshens, Patrice Roberts, Lyrikal and many more. Tickets are available online.

For tamer entertainment during your Miami vacation, head for the Wings Over Miami Air Museum at Kendall Tamiami Executive Airport (SW 137 Ave. and 128 St.) for a day of bluegrass music and classic cars at an open car show. Meet the famous Tuskegee Airmen and watch aerial performances as planes take to the air. The event also features a photo art exhibit and mini-photo workshops. Bring a lawn chair or picnic blanket, sunscreen and enjoy.

Miami beach rentals are the best place to stay if you plan to join the party in Miami on Memorial Day weekend. Luxurious condos with spectacular views of the city and Biscayne Bay offer the perfect respite from the crowds and give you a relaxing place to slip off your dancing shoes between parties. Don’t miss summer’s biggest beach party; book your Miami vacation rentals on iTrip.net today!

Dating back to the Civil War, Memorial Day commemorates the brave men and women who have died serving our country. But coming at the end of May with the weather heating up and the kids getting out of school, it’s not surprising that the three-day weekend also provides an opportunity to break out the shorts and flip-flops, head to the beach and indulge in some summer fun.

The unique combination of American history, remembrance and summer fun that is Memorial Day at its best makes Charleston, South Carolina a prime choice for a long weekend getaway. One of the earliest observances of Memorial Day took place in Charleston’s Hampton Park where a group of freed slaves gathered to give thanks in 1865 just weeks after the end of the Civil War.

Today, you’ll find plenty of summer fun along the flag-draped streets of this historic town as Charleston’s renowned Spoleto Festival kicks off the start of Memorial Day weekend. Running from May 24 through June 9, 2013, the internationally acclaimed performing arts festival showcases renowned artists and emerging performers in theater, opera, dance and chamber, symphonic, choral and jazz music.

A feast for the senses, this year’s Spoleto Festival features an excitingly diverse schedule of performances. From the Cajun honky-tonk sound of the Red Stick Ramblers to the mellow jazz of soul singer Gregory Porter and Johnnyswim’s soulful R&B to twice-daily chamber music programs, Spoleto showcases some of the world’s most renowned musical artists. A wealth of stage productions offers everything from the campy 1930’s set Intergalactic Nemesis to the American premier of Toshio Hosokawa’s ethereal new opera.

Claim your spot at this year’s Spoleto Festival by booking beautiful Charleston vacation rentals on iTrip.net today. As you plan your Memorial Day weekend, don’t forget to check our specials for great savings on last minute vacation rental bookings.

When you go on vacation, the relaxing doesn’t actually start until you get there. Until then you’re at the mercy of crabby TSA officers, mercurial weather fronts, jumbled airline schedules and all the other little annoyances that can crop up as you’re trying to get from here to there. Fortunately there’s an app for that. In fact, there are several handy travel apps designed to make travel less stressful that are worth downloading before you leave for your vacation rental:

1. GateGuru keeps track of your flight info and locates gate amenities at more than 100 airports. With GateGuru you can quickly find the closest snack bar, restrooms, ATM or airport kiosk where you can pick up some Tylenol or the latest magazine before your flight. This free app also updates flight status and links to rental car reservation desks.
2. Triposo is a free mobile travel guide that provides comprehensive information on more than 8,000 vacation destinations. Find continually updated information and reviews on restaurants, activities, beaches, parks, shopping, shows, festivals, cultural events and more. The app also provides health and safety tips for destinations in more than 200 countries.
3. Chimani is a must-have free app for outdoor adventurers. Detailed information on the nation’s top 10 national parks is provided, including maps, audio tours, sunrise/sunset and tidal times, ranger-led hikes and events, restroom locations and other tips for enjoying each park.
4. Postino is a free download that allows you to create instant postcards from photos you take while you are on vacation. Share special vacation moments with your friends and family via ecard or snail mail ($1.99 charge to print and mail).

Wherever you want to vacation, you’ll find the perfect vacation rental on iTrip.net. We offer beautiful vacation rentals to America’s top vacation destinations. Visit our website and book your next vacation today!

Known as the Las Vegas of the Midwest, Branson, Missouri serves up the glamorous excitement of Las Vegas dipped in family friendliness and topped with a dollop of down-home country charm. Fabulous Vegas-style shows by top entertainers, amazing magic shows, award-winning theme parks, championship golf courses, world-class spas and restaurants for every appetite offer all the color, sights, sounds and excitement of Las Vegas. But Branson offers even more. Set in the midst of Missouri’s scenic Ozark Mountains at the confluence of three beautiful lakes, Branson offers an exhilarating array of outdoor activities and water sports that are fun for the whole family.

From the high-flying Adventure Ziplines of Branson to the depths of Marvel Cave in Silver Dollar City, Branson has many unique attractions with plenty of family appeal. Marvel Cave, the earliest public attraction in the Ozarks is a must-see. Discovered by the Osage Indians in the early 1500s, tours of Marvel Cave put Branson on the tourist map in 1889. The cave’s Cathedral Room is one of the largest entry rooms of any North American cave. During the new evening lantern tour costumed guides recount the old legends and stories about the cave.

Branson vacation rentals on iTrip.net give your family space to gather and relax between activities. Enjoy a full kitchen for fixing picnic lunches for a day of hiking at Dogwood Canyon Nature Park where trails wind past craggy limestone bluffs and tumbling waterfalls. Plan a breakfast hike to see deer and other native wildlife.

Choose a cozy cabin in the woods, a lakeside home with a gorgeous view or convenient vacation condos close to Branson’s fabulous restaurants, shows and nightlife. You’ll find the Branson MO vacation accommodations you want on iTrip.net!

Named one of the Top 10 Islands in the U.S. in TripAdvisor’s inaugural 2013 Travelers’ Choice – Islands Award, Anna Maria Island is Florida’s not so best kept secret. A thin strip of white sand set against an emerald sea, Anna Maria Island is just an hour from Tampa on Florida’s Gulf Coast. Hiding in plain sight, the comfortable laid back ambience of this quaint barrier island attracts celebrities such as Jerry Springer, Stephen King and tennis star Maria Sharapova who enjoy the island’s seclusion and informality.

Flip-flops are the footwear of choice on the island, but you’ll see “Bare Feet Welcome” signs propped in the windows of shops in the island’s three small towns: Bradenton Beach, Holmes Beach and Anna Maria. The beach is the big attraction; but golfing, kayaking, fishing and other water sports are available. If you crave activity, the delights of Tampa/St. Petersburg and Sarasota are close at hand.

The South Florida Museum and Aquarium in Bradenton makes a fun rainy day trip. The cultural history museum has local fossils and archaeological artifacts. Watch a night sky program in the Bishop planetarium’s domed theater. Make sure you stop by the Parker Manatee Aquarium to say “hi” to Snooty, at 60 he’s the world’s oldest manatee living in captivity. For fun with the kids, play a few rounds at Fish Hole Miniature Golf.

When hunger strikes, here’s where to go:

1. Big Olaf Ice Cream Shop: Get your chocolate fix with a decadent chocolate fudge cone.
2. Anna Maria Donuts: Grab a sack on your way to the beach.
3. Banana Cabana Caribbean Grill: Authentic Jamaican cuisine served to a steel drum beat.
4. Gulf Drive Café: Incredible breakfasts.
5. Beach Bistro: Named one of America’s most romantic restaurants by Gourmet magazine, the food is superb and the setting elegant.

Find the perfect Anna Maria vacation rental on iTrip.net.

It’s hard to get off the beach during a Pensacola Beach vacation. The Gulf Coast beaches along the west end of the Florida panhandle are so inviting, the sand so soft and white and the water so clear and green, that it’s tempting to spend your whole vacation on the beach. But man must eat!

From elegant restaurants to quirky beachfront burger stands, Pensacola Beach offers plenty of great food to tickle your taste buds.

1. When you want to dress up, the Grand Marlin is the perfect choice: excellent service, lovely ambience and delicious food. Save room for the heavenly Key Lime Pie.
2. Open early, the Native Café is a great place to go for breakfast before you hit the beach. Friendly service and great pancakes make this a family favorite. If you stop by for lunch, try the fish tacos and berry cobbler.
3. The Wine Bar is an oasis of peace and calm on the boardwalk, the perfect place to nibble on appetizers and enjoy a glass of wine before a stroll along the beach.
4. When you have a craving for wings, huge wraps or truly amazing burgers, head for Riptides Sports Grill. Eat by the pool or order takeout and head for the beach. Don’t miss the garlic wings or beer cheese soup. Riptides also offers an excellent breakfast buffet.
5. Hemingway’s island Grill has a delightful ambience focused on its namesake author and wonderful fresh seafood.
6. An authentic beachfront chowder house, Flounders serves up seafood that is right off the boat, plentiful and delicious. The shrimp is worth the price.

When you crave a quiet evening at home, whip up dinner in the full-service kitchen of your Pensacola Beach vacation rental while you watch the sun set into the ocean. Start planning your Florida vacation by booking Pensacola Beach vacation rentals on iTrip.net today.