Photo: Barbara Bergwerf

Tomorrow, Charleston vacationers will have the opportunity to witness a truly amazing and heartwarming event. After 4 months of recovery in the Sea Turtle Hospital at the South Carolina Aquarium in Charleston, McClellan the sea turtle will return to her home in the Atlantic Ocean. At 1 p.m. on Friday, October 7, 2011, the adult female loggerhead will be released at the Isle of Palms County Park in Charleston, South Carolina to begin her journey home. The public is invited to join sea turtle rescuers in celebrating McClellan’s remarkable recovery. McClellan’s fans will want to arrive early to get a good view of the release and a good parking space (county park parking fees apply).

Joining several other rescued sea turtles, McClellan arrived at the South Carolina Aquarium’s famous Sea Turtle Hospital in late June. The 228-pound giant had suffered traumatic injuries while entangled in a crab trap rope. One of the loggerhead’s flippers had been amputated during her struggle to free herself, and she had lost a portion of her shell from repeated propeller strikes. McClellan’s brave fight quickly captured the hearts of Charleston vacationers and residents. All summer long, visitors to Charleston’s Sea Turtle Hospital have watched the massive loggerhead’s difficult rehabilitation as experts put her through her paces, preparing McClellan to return to the wild. On Friday, fans and well-wishers will gather at Isle of Palms County Park to cheer the final step in McClellan’s remarkable recovery.

A visit to the South Carolina Aquarium and Sea Turtle Hospital is a highlight of any Charleston vacation. Just a short drive from luxury Charleston vacation rentals, the aquarium is located at 100 Aquarium Wharf at the edge of historic Charleston Harbor.

To visit the aquarium and Sea Turtle Hospital and explore Charleston’s many historic sites and beautiful beaches, book your Charleston vacation on iTrip.net today.

The summer’s ending but the savings at iTrip.net don’t ever stop! If you’re longing for one last summer trip, book a vacation to the Smoky Mountains where you can save 20% on select cabins.

To enjoy breathtaking mountain views, attractions and relaxation, book & stay one of these Gatlinburg vacation rentals or Pigeon Forge cabin rentals by September 30 to receive the money-saving discount.  Use code: SAVE20 to receive the discount when booking.

In your cabin or chalet, you and your family can enjoy luxurious amenities such as hot tubs, wireless internet, whirlpool tubs, spacious master bedrooms and private balconies. The Gatlinburg cabin rentals have stunning views of the mountains and also are just minutes from the area’s best attractions, such as Dollywood and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

There is nothing more beautiful than fall in the Smokies when the trees slowly lose their summer green and don brilliant fall coats of red and gold. Enjoy the dwindling days of summer in the Smokies now.

Follow iTrip.net on Facebook and Twitter to be the first to find out about great money-saving offers on fabulous vacation rentals.

Revolutionary online vacation rental website iTrip.net has just added three new fabulous vacation sites to our line-up of popular vacation destinations: Siesta Key, Florida; Myrtle Beach, South Carolina and Park City, Utah.

Siesta Key, FL. A tropical paradise just offshore of Sarasota on Florida’s Gulf Coast, Siesta Key Florida ranks No. 1 on Dr. Beach’s list of Top 10 U.S. Beaches. World famous for brilliant white, sugar-fine sand that is nearly 100% quartz, the barrier island’s wide beaches are a magnet for sun worshippers and beachcombers. Turquoise water so clear you can see fish swimming along the ocean floor invites swimmers and snorkelers to play in the Gulf’s warm waters. A tropical paradise, Siesta Key is the perfect place for a relaxing vacation.

Myrtle Beach, SC. Wide sandy beaches lapped by the warm waters of the Atlantic Ocean, plenty of family-friendly activities, more than 100 golf courses, great fishing, exciting theater shows, and an incredible variety of palate-pleasing restaurants make Myrtle Beach South Carolina one of America’s most popular vacation destinations. Frequent travelers on TripAdvisor.com recently voted Myrtle Beach the No. 1 Beach in the U.S. and named it a Top 25 U.S. Vacation Destination and Family Award-Winning Amusement Park Destination. An incredible selection of vacation rentals also earned Myrtle Beach a spot on U.S. News’ list of Cheap Summer Vacations.

Park City, UT. Nestled in the majestic Wasatch Mountains southeast of Salt Lake City, Park City, Utah is a posh winter playground renowned for its challenging ski slopes, perfect powder, sumptuous resorts, and luxury vacation rentals. Spectacular scenery makes a Park City vacation equally delightful in summer. Exciting activities abound for outdoor adventurers. More than 150 miles of hiking, biking and riding trails offer magnificent mountain views. Rejuvenating spas abound, and Park City’s historic Main Street is lined with enticing boutiques and fabulous restaurants.

TripAdvisor®, the world’s largest travel site, just announced the winners of its inaugural 2011 Travelers’ Choice® Beaches awards. Top beach spots were named in the U.S., Europe, Asia, Canada, the South Pacific, the Caribbean and Mexico, and Central and South America. iTrip.net features three of the top 10 destinations, including North Myrtle Beach, Panama City Beach and Clearwater.

When people think of beaches in the U.S., expectations may have them guessing that California or Florida might hold the honors of the top rated beaches, but it’s actually Myrtle Beach, South Carolina that was named number 1 in the list of the Top 25 Beaches in the United States.

The Trip Advisor list explains, “Myrtle Beach boasts some of the best beaches on America’s East Coast, which are distinguished by panoramic views of the Atlantic, calm waters and soft white sand. Ideal for swimming and sunbathing, Myrtle Beach also offers plenty of family attractions, making it perfect for beach-lovers with kids.”

While Florida does hold six of the top ten spots, including Panama City Beach at number 3 and Clearwater at number 6, California makes a couple of appearances while other states like New Jersey, Hawaii, Virginia, Maine, Massachusetts, Delaware and Texas have their own representations in the Top 25. 

Unlike any other honors, TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice winners are based on millions of real and unbiased reviews and opinions from travelers around the world.

On the list of the Top 25 Beaches in the World, Myrtle Beach comes in sixth behind such world-renowned vacation spots as the Turks and Caicos Islands, the Philippines, Aruba, Jamaica and Mexico.

Want to find out more about Myrtle Beach, Panama City Beach and Clearwater? iTrip.net offers great Panama City Beach rentals and Clearwater, Florida condos.

Let’s face it: weddings are stressful, but saying “I do” doesn’t have to be so hard.

Enter Ocean City, Maryland. Perfect for destination weddings, it has everything you need for a beautiful, stress-free wedding, from wedding planners, catering services, full-service chapels and vacation rentals for your family and friends!

Leave the planning to the experts and just sit back, relax and enjoy the show.

If you need help planning or finding vendors, you’re in luck. The Ocean City Bridal Show from noon to 3 p.m. on Sunday, April 10, kicks off the wedding season!

The perfect backdrop for a romantic wedding, Ocean City’s sunny blue skies, golden sand beaches and soft Atlantic breezes draw thousands of wedding parties to Maryland’s Atlantic coast every year. Whether you’re a resident or considering a destination wedding, you’ll want to attend the Ocean City Bridal Show at Lighthouse Sound on the Bay, 12723 St. Martin’s Neck Road. Tickets are $7.50 online or $10 at the door.

The Ocean City Bridal Show gives brides an opportunity to meet with the many exceptional local wedding vendors available to help each bride create her own unique wedding experience. From wedding fashions and floral arrangements to caterers and wedding cakes to photographers and Ocean City vacation rentals, brides will find everything they need for the perfect wedding at the Ocean City Bridal Show. Complimentary appetizers, a bridal fashion show, raffles for fabulous free wedding services, music and much more make the Ocean City Bridal Show a highly anticipated annual event. Every bride will receive a gift bag, and one lucky guest will win a free Caribbean cruise for two.

Ten miles of golden sand beaches and one of America’s greatest boardwalks make Ocean City, Maryland a top vacation spot for both couples and families and an ideal place for a destination wedding. A wonderful selection of affordable Ocean City vacation rentals allows families to relax and enjoy themselves between wedding festivities. With great beaches, excellent restaurants, family-friendly attractions, water sports of every type and an exciting night life, everyone in your wedding party will have a memorable time when you plan a destination wedding in Ocean City, Maryland.

Find the perfect Ocean City vacation rental for you and your wedding party today!

The results of TripAdvisor’s inaugural Travelers’ Choice Family Awards for the Top 10 best family vacation destinations were recently announced; and American families voted overwhelmingly for sun, sand and fun. Sunny Florida dominated the Top 10 listings with more family-friendly vacation destinations than any other state. Millions of unbiased reviews posted to TripAdvisor by vacationing families were tabulated to determine the 2011 Travelers’ Choice Family Award winners. Vacation destinations were evaluated on outstanding attractions, family-friendly activities and affordable vacation rentals.

The sun-drenched, sugar-sand beaches that line Florida’s scenic Gulf Coast put Destin, Florida and Panama City, Florida in the running for favorite family vacation spots. But it was the Gulf Coast’s exciting variety of family-pleasing activities and wealth of affordable vacation rentals that earned these two vacation playgrounds inclusion on the list of America’s most family-friendly vacation destinations. Located in the heart of Florida’s famed Emerald Coast, Destin was also recognized as one of the Top 10 award-winning Great U.S. Destinations to Discover. Panama City earned rave reviews as an award-winning amusement park destination.

Mouse ears and wizard wands put Orlando, Florida on the “must-do” list of most American families and made it a top family pick for award-winning amusement parks,. But it was Orlando’s location at the heart of Central Florida’s outstanding variety of family-pleasing activities and eclectic attractions, coupled with a great selection of Orlando vacation rentals priced to fit any budget that U.S. families said kept them coming back to Orlando year after year.

Despite a lack of sandy beaches, the natural beauty of Tennessee’s Smoky Mountains, plenty of family-friendly outdoor activities and a heaping helping of down-home fun made Gatlinburg, Tennessee at the entrance to Smoky Mountain National Park and neighboring Pigeon Forge, home of Dollywood, favorite family vacation destinations. Although each town has its own unique personality, both were named to the Top 10 list of Great U.S. Destinations to Discover.

Discover one of these family-friendly vacation destinations for yourself. Book your vacation rental at iTrip today.

Super Bowl XLIV had plenty of cleverly concocted commercials, but it was the vacation rental industry that took audiences by storm. Beverly D’Angelo and Chevy Chase reprised their roles as the zany Griswalds, from the famous National Lampoon Vacation movies, in a short film like commercial showcasing what it’s like to be trapped in “hotel hell.” It was both nefariously comical and truthful, although, the Griswalds certainly didn’t find it too funny- and neither do the thousands of people who are put in the same situation every year.

Now, the vacation rental industry is striking again, grabbing another 30 second commercial spot for Super Bowl XLV.

WELCOME to the MINISTRY OF DETOURISM

The Ministry of Detourism is your friendly “secret government agency” tasked with saving vacations worldwide. The minister of detourism, who comes across as a visible Charlie’s Angels boss with a BBC comedian twist, “observes” vacations from the agency’s “high-tech monitoring facility in the middle of nowhere,” (shhhhh it’s a secret!)  and what he finds is despicable.

CONCLUSION

Travelers have been “duped” for decades by hotel chains- people are unhappy, because they are unable to truly enjoy their friends and family while on vacation. They have been forced to be separated, they’re cooped up and overcharged. But, with places like the Ministry of Detourism around, consumers can finally breathe a sigh of relief.

Here at iTrip.net, we strive to be the face of consumerism. We do this by saving you hundreds of dollars on unnecessary vacation expenses. Each of our vacation rentals have several thousand square feet, providing you plenty of space and privacy if you want it. There’s no need for spending extra money on food costs when you have your own kitchen to cook in! Amenities are also in high demand, and we have them all here for you- private indoor and outdoor swimming pools, jacuzzi s, game rooms, private theater’s, and more!

We know, it sounds to good to be true, but it’s not. Hotel costs always seem to mount up- so much so, that you end up paying the same price for an overcrowded room (with very few amenities) as you do for a luxurious vacation rental home.

Start the new year out right, and give yourself the the vacation you deserve!

Up until the tragic Deepwater Horizon (BP) oil spill, and the popular Concerts for the Coast series that was the spawn of BP’s mess, most people wouldn’t have associated the state of Alabama with the word beach, and especially not with the phrase, “beach retreat.” Still, even after the BP disaster, there are those who are oblivious to the wonders of Alabama’s Gulf Shores and its marvelous, sugary white, sandy beaches. But, locals and travel experts know better.

With winter’s chills setting in, travel lovers and experts are sounding off on which beaches are the best for the season. One such popular travel website has listed Orange Beach, AL in  ”America’s 10 Best Winter Beach Retreats,” Here’s what they had to say:

“Their Gulf Coast beaches are among the most beautiful in the country. The sand is 95 percent quartz, meaning its snow-white and sparkles in the sun, and the waters are as blue as any you’ll find in Florida. Nine-mile Orange Beach has everything you need-warm water, lots of room to spread out your beach blanket, and restaurants just off the sand. Dolphins love the waters around here so much that Dolphin Cruises aboard the Cold Mil Fleet guarantees sightings.”

The temperature in Orange Beach during the months of December and January is pleasurably warm, with average temperatures being around 62 degrees – a nice spring time vibe. And, while the water temperature is warmer than it should be for this time of year, (51/56 degrees) it’s not warm enough to swim in. But- boating, beach bumming, fishing, seafood catching, dolphin cruises, amusement parks, museums, arts, shopping, nature trails, wildlife refuges, parasailing, festivals, and concert series are readily available year round.

One of Orange Beach’s most popular attractions is The Wharf, where visitors can participate in almost all of the aforementioned activities in one place. Another popular and exhilarating attraction is Alligator Alley, where visitors can see over 150 alligators in their natural environment – and get this, if you can muster up the nerve, you could have the opportunity to feed them! Guests of Alligator Alley will also be able to enjoy bird watching and the exploration of a giant snake safari.

As for vacation lodging, we here at iTrip.net have a large selection of gorgeous beach-front condos for you to choose from, many of which are closely situated to a slew of desirable attractions.

So, what are you waiting for? See for yourself why Orange Beach, Alabama made the list of “America’s 10 Best Winter Beach Retreats.”

Ah, Newport Beach, California. It’s a gem of a city in Orange County (southern California) which is often overlooked by its larger and better known neighboring cities such as, Santa Ana, Costa Mesa, Corona Del Mar, and Laguna Beach. Newport Beach is indeed a hidden gem, but, we’re going to share with you why it’s the perfect vacation destination.

Nicknamed “The Real O.C.” for its connection to pop culture, (most notably the trendy TV series, The O.C., and later as an MTV reality show replacement for the hit teen series Laguna Beach: The Real Orange County, which spawned a new reality based show called Newport Harbor: the Real Orange County) Newport Beach is a unique and eccentric vacation location.

Here’s how one popular California travel guide describes Newport Beach:

“Newport Beach is like a French Impressionistic painting–it’s a magical place with views so stunning, they hardly seem real. Like the Rock of Gibraltar or the French Riviera, cars line up on weekends filled with visitors seeking opportunities to share the dream on a five-mile stretch of land referred to locally as the Newport or Balboa Peninsula. Intimate sand beaches, a jetty called “The Wedge,” where surfers test their skills, two piers, the Fun Zone, Balboa Pavilion, Newport-Balboa Ferry boat, harbor cruises, boat rentals and trips to Catalina Island are but a few of the attractions for people of all ages.”

The location of Newport Beach also makes it an enticing choice for a complete west coast vacation experience. Newport Beach is located just 50 miles south of Los Angeles and 85 miles north of San Diego. So,  if you suddenly get that urge to venture out into the wild and outrageously flamboyant big city lifestyle that is LA or San Diego, it’s just an arm stretch away.

But, the most alluring part of vacationing in Newport Beach, California is the seven islands that lie inside the Balboa Peninsula. These islands are part of Newport Harbor and include:

1. Balboa Island – the largest of the seven islands.
2. Little Balboa Island – a small ¾ mile strip of land that’s big on charm.
3. Collins Island – a private and exclusive island.
4. Bay Island – the only island in the Newport Harbor that doesn’t allow automobile traffic.
5. Harbor Island – a tiny, private island that can be walked end to end in 15 minutes
6. Lido Isle – a beautiful, unique and relaxing island environment
7. Linda Isle – a small guard-gated island with magnificent views of the coastline

Although it’s not an official island, visitors of Newport Beach must make a stop at Fashion Island, an up-scale, open air shopping mall owned by The Irvine Company. Fashion Island is Southern California’s premier coastal luxury shopping destination, and features over 200 department and specialty stores where you can find what you’re looking for while enjoying a shopping experience like no other.

Newport Beach, California is indescribable, a place that has to be seen to believe. This is one vacation destination that demands a great amount of exploration, and its well worth the time. Here at iTrip.net, we are proud to have Newport Beach as one of our new vacation destinations. Be sure to stay tuned for our upcoming Newport Beach vacation rental line-up.

One could argue that the Foster Grant Ironman World Championship 70.3 is the mecca for athletes world wide- and it’s returning to Clearwater, FL on November 13, 2010.

Over 1,800 domestic and international athletic competitors earn the right to compete in the Foster Grant Ironman World Championship 70.3 by being made to qualify at one of nearly 50 Ironman 70.3 events held around the globe. The 70.3 part of the Foster Grant Ironman World Championship stands for the number of miles competitors must endure in order to “win the gold”. Shocking right? But, how about breaking that mileage up into three parts? That’s exactly what these competitors do. Foster Grant Ironman World Championship competitors duel it out in a 1.2 mile swim, 56 mile bike and 13.1 mile run, all for the glory of being named the best athlete in the world.

This sporty event consists of 24 age group slots and 20 professional slots, with a $100,000 professional prize purse being offered. And, each age group winner in Clearwater this year will qualify for the 2011 Ironman World Championship 70.3 event.

The victors of the 2009 Ironman World Championship 70.3 were Michael Raelert (Germany) and Julie Dibens, (Great Britain) both of whom set records during the rigorous course. But, athletes aren’t the only ones in attendance, the rigors of this athletic event, and the magnitude of competition, bring thousands of spectators to Clearwater’s Ironman World Championship 70.3.

Like last year’s event, the 2010 race will begin and end at Pier 60.  Beautiful Sand Key Park will also host a number of pre and post-race activities.

Here’s another tidbit which will be of particular interest to journalists.

The Ironman 70.3 is now accepting applications from all media members interested in covering this year’s Ford Ironman Florida, Foster Grant Ironman World Championship 70.3. If you’re a journalist seeking an uncomparable writing opportunity, then you’ll want to go here for more information.

Whether you’re a journalist, or a spectator, this is one sporting event that is a must attend. Clearwater may be known as the heart of the Ironman World Championship 70.3, but that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Clearwater, FL boasts some of the most beautiful beaches in the world, and they didn’t earn the nickname “Emerald Coast” for nothing-Clearwater’s emerald-green waters are second to none.

So, come on down to Clearwater this November and cheer on the U.S.A. athletes as they trek 70.3 miles across Clearwater’s gorgeous landscape. Here at iTrip.net, we have the perfect Clearwater beach house vacation rental to accommodate your needs- including the close proximity to the Ironman 70.3 race.

See you there!