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The popular Sundance Film Festival is the largest independent cinema festival in the country. It’s a wonderful event to attend during a Park City vacation! The festival showcases new films from American as well as international, independent filmmakers. The festival includes competitive sections for American and international dramatic films and documentary films as well as out-of-competition sections.

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Photo Credits: Kyle Taylor, rasdourian

Just 35 minutes southwest of Salt Lake City, Park City, Utah is known for its spectacular mountain vistas, first-class ski resorts and the Sundance Film Festival. But it was the 2002 Winter Olympics that put this charming old mining town on the map and transformed it from a regional gem into a popular year-round international vacation destination.

Set against the scenic splendor of the Wasatch Mountains, outdoor activities are the main attraction during a Park City vacation. From luxurious Park City rentals, vacationers can admire the beautiful mountain views, breathe the sweet air and plan a day full of exciting activities. From hiking, biking, horseback riding and golfing in the summer to skiing, snowboarding, tubing, hockey and ice skating in the winter; you’ll find plenty to do in Park City.

No matter what time of year you visit Park City, you’ll want to visit the famous Utah Olympic Park. The site of Nordic jumping, bobsled, luge and skeleton events during the 2002 Olympics, today the 400-acre park is an Olympic training site. You might even get to watch athletes training!

Park visitors will find the Olympic Park tour and museums fascinating, but the real fun comes from trying your hand at downhill Olympic events. Winter and summer you can experience the Olympic rush of racing down a bobsled track. For a breathtaking bird’s eye view of the park, take the chair-lift 7,130 feet up to the top of the ski jump. In summer, the extreme zip line and alpine slide provide plenty of thrills. For a winter rush, sign up for luge or skeleton intro camps or learn how to ice skate.

With snow already falling in Park City, it’s time to start waxing your skis and book cozy Park City rentals on iTrip.net.

Bring the family and enjoy the winter wonderland of four million lights and more than 20 attractions and rides. Dollywood provides a variety of great activities and shows. The Dollywood Smoky Mountain Christmas Festival, offered from November 5th to December 30th, has fun for people of all ages. The sounds of the Christmas season fill the air as the wonderful lights illuminate the sky. The Dollywood Christmas celebration offers great shows and is with in easy reach of Pigeon Forge cabin rentals.

Visits with Santa: The kids have a great time watching the elves busy at work in Santa’s Workshop. It’s a giant toy store filled with larger-than-life toys, tons of activities and an opportunity for the kids to visit with Santa.

Dollywood’s Babes in Toyland Show: It’s Dollywood’s most elaborate stage show, featuring a cast of 20 performers along with a fully-orchestrated musical score. Visitors are escorted through a magical setting featuring high-flying acrobatics, fantastic puppets and more. This wonderful show entertains the whole family.

Stage shows: Dollywood offers entertaining hometown holiday favorites, Christmas story musicals, Christmas gospel hymns and songs and more.

Parade of Lights: This festive parade, happening twice every night, features enjoyable holiday characters as well as twinkling Christmas floats decorated with attractive, brightly colored lights.

Carol of the Trees: Families have a great time watching thousands of lights and pyrotechnics synchronized to delightful holiday music.

Christmas in the Smokies: The cast, accompanied by a seven piece band, plays the holiday favorites. The slow lasts for about an hour.

The Polar Express 4-D Experience: Kids enjoy a fantastic journey with the Polar Express 4-D Experience. It’s more than just a holiday movie, it’s an adventure.

Enjoy the fantastic Dollywood Mountain Christmas Festival on your Pigeon Forge vacation!

Photo: Baytowne Beer Festival

Known as the Best Beer Fest on the Emerald Coast, the Baytowne Wharf Beer Festival puts a modern twist on traditional Oktoberfest celebrations by shining the spotlight on more than 100 premium craft beers. The popular annual event will take place rain or shine on Friday and Saturday, October 21 and 22, in the village of Baytowne Wharf in the exclusive Sandestin Gulf and Beach Resort. Located on Emerald Coast Parkway West, Baytowne Wharf is just 8 miles east of luxurious Destin vacation rentals that provide sun-loving vacationers with easy access to the Gulf Coast’s many delights. Tickets to the beer festival are $20 and can be purchased online or at the gate.

Forty craft brewers will be on hand at the Baytowne Wharf Beer Festival to share their special brews and answer questions about beer and beer making. Beer lovers will be able to sample more than 100 domestic and international lagers and ales, including seasonal and specialty brews. Festival goers will also have the exciting opportunity to be the very first to sample brand new specialty beers that have not yet been released for sale.

The beer festival kicks off at 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday with a beer pairings barbecue on the Baytowne Wharf Events Plaza Lawn. Hosted by the Marlin Grill, the tasty event pairs succulent gourmet grilled meats and delicious side dishes with locally-brewed ales and favorite craft beers from the U.S. Southeast. Live music will regale guests as they quaff a few cold ones and fill up on great barbecue. Tickets for the BBQ are $35 and can be purchased online at Xorbia.com or at the Marlin Grill in Baytowne Wharf.

Don’t miss the fun; book your Destin beach vacation on iTrip.net today.

Building sandcastles is a fun way to spend a day at the beach. If you’re planning a fall vacation to sunny Newport Beach, California, you’ll want to start practicing now for the Newport Beach 50^th annual Sandcastle Contest to be held from 11:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Sunday, October 2, 2011 at Big Corona State Beach. Hosted by the Newport Beach Chamber of Commerce, the much-anticipated event draws thousands of spectators to watch professional and amateur sand sculptors vie for prizes and bragging rights. Families can join the fun for a $30 registration fee. So gather your family and friends, reserve one of our Newport Beach vacation rentals on iTrip.net and start honing your sandcastle-building skills.

To create an awesome sandcastle, follow these tips from the pros:

1. Castle building is easier with the right tools. The pros use architectural forms and sculpting tools to create incredible works of art, but plastic pails in several sizes, a couple of shovels, a squirt bottle and eager hands will get the job done. If you’re planning a more elaborate sculpture, you might want to scrounge around your Newport Beach rentals for the following: measuring spoons, plastic measuring cups, plastic ruler, putty knife, stiff brushes for texture, screwdrivers to draw lines or poke holes.
2. Compaction is the key to a successful sandcastle. Pile moist sand into piles with a shovel or your hands, then use your palms to tamp it down firmly before sculpting. Wet sand can also be pressed into buckets and other forms.
3. Use small shovels, spoons and your hands to carve, mold and smooth the sand into shapes.
4. Spray your sculpture with water frequently to keep it moist.

Need a little inspiration? Click here to see photos from last year’s sandcastle competition posted on Corona Del Mar Today.

Photo compliments of George M. Groutas

If you haven’t made plans for the upcoming July 4^th weekend you have some great options at some of the nation’s best, scenic seaside destinations. Enjoy the beach by day and fireworks at night. The kids will have a great time.

While staying at a Destin condo rental over the 4^th of July weekend, have a wonderful time at the Red, White &  Baytowne celebration  at the Village of Baytowne Wharf.  On July 4^th they’ll light up the sky over the lagoon with a fantastic fireworks celebration starting at 9:15 P.M. You can also have a great time fishing from the Destin charter boat Phoenix.

Stay at a Gulf Shores vacation rental and enjoy the Gulf Shores fireworks extravaganza,  starting at 9:00 P.M. The Gulf State Park Pier serves as the launching pad for the fireworks. The show includes a variety of specialty shell fireworks.

The Salute to Freedom at the Panama City Marina offers all day live entertainment and concludes with a $25,000 fireworks display on July 4^th. Have a good time while staying at your Panama City vacation rental.

Enjoy the 4^th of July celebration on the beach in Ocean City, Maryland.  A free concert begins at 8:00 P.M., followed by a fantastic fireworks display at 9:30 P.M. While staying at your Ocean City vacation enjoy tasty seafood at Phillips Seafood House (Philadelphia Avenue). The restaurant was voted Ocean City’s “Best seafood restaurant” by Metropolitan Magazine. Try the scrumptious all-you-can-eat seafood buffet.

Stay at a superb Charleston vacation rental on the 4^th of July weekend and enjoy the fireworks display at Folly Beach. Before the fireworks display, have fun at the wonderful beach or go fishing at the Edwin S. Taylor Pier (located at Folly Beach). Have dinner at one of the restaurants. 

Have a great 4^th of July weekend! Go to iTrip.net to find more great vacation rentals!

You may already know that Ocean City, Maryland is home to 10 miles of beautiful beach, a classic wooden boardwalk with nearly 3 miles of food, games and shopping, and it’s one of the East coast’s premier sport fishing destinations–the White Marlin Capital of the World.  But if you needed more reasons to get an Ocean City vacation rental and stay a while, we have it: Springfest 2011!

From May 5th to 8th, 2011, Springfest 2011 will celebrate spring and the coming of summer with four days of delicious food, live entertainment and arts and crafts under four huge big top tents at the south end of Ocean City’s famous Boardwalk.

Admission to the four-day event is free, and so is all of the continuous entertainment on two stages, with the exception of the headline acts. Those are reasonably priced from only $20 – $50 for top-notch entertainment. On Friday, May 6^th at 8 p.m. the headliner is country legend, George Jones. Saturday, May 7th at 8 p.m., brings one of the 80s top singer-songwriters, Richard Marx, to perform his hits accompanied by a full orchestra. All tickets are available through Ticketmaster and the Roland E. Powell Convention Center box office.

Plus, new to Springfest this year, family-friendly concerts hosted by Radio Disney the #1 radio outlet for kids, tweens and families. See performances by “Shake It Up” star Roshon Fegan and Radio Disney’s “N.B.T.” (Next Big Thing) season three winner Kicking Daisies, who will also host a meet and greet session following their performance.

You can also enjoy delicious food from famous Eastern Shore delicacies, and a wide assortment of ethnic food from over 30 food vendors. Springfest artisans will delight your eyes with their arts and crafts creations, your ears will be filled with music and your taste buds tantalized while the scents of the ocean breeze cool you. What more could you ask for?

Find the perfect Ocean City vacation rental and Ocean City condos at iTrip.net!

Calling all budding chefs, St. Rita Preschool in Santa Rosa Beach is hosting its 3rd Annual So You Think You Can Cook fundraiser from 7 p.m. to10 p.m. on Saturday, April 9. The popular cook-off will be held at the Alys Beach Amphitheater on Route 30A just a short drive from your Beaches of South Walton vacation rental. Residents and vacationers in the South Walton Beach area are invited to demonstrate their culinary skills, show off their favorite dish and compete for fabulous prizes.

This year’s So You Think You Can Cook fundraising event will feature cook-off competitions in the starter, main dish and dessert categories. Guests will get to taste all of the delicious entries and vote for their favorites as local amateur and professional chefs compete for a culinary grand prize, runner up prize and People’s Choice award in each cook-off category. A cash bar will be available, and music to cook and dance by will be provided by Cadillac Willy.

A unique fundraising event, the annual So You Think You Can Cook event benefits St. Rita Preschool. Providing early childhood education to children ages 2 to 5, the respected Santa Rosa Beach preschool is known for its premier educational curriculum, robust arts program, computer lab, small class sizes and exceptional teachers.

Vacationers who enjoy attending local events like the So You Think You Can Cook fundraiser will want to download the free Sinfonia Gulf Coast Fan iPhone app. This new mobile app is a handy way to keep abreast of local events, purchase tickets and get directions to event venues whether you’re relaxing in your Beaches of South Walton vacation rental, on the go on the exciting Sinfonia Gulf Coast or booking your next Beaches of South Walton vacation rental at iTrip.net.