Area descriptions:

• Asheville, NC
• Beaver Creek, CO
• Biloxi, MS
• Gulf Shores, AL
• LaGrange, GA
• Lake Hartwell, GA
• Lake Lanier, GA
• Maggie Valley and Waynesville, NC
• Myrtle Beach, SC
• Ocean Springs, MS
• Orlando, FL
• Panama City Beach, FL
• Punta Gorda, FL
• South Walton Beach, FL

Asheville, NC

Ashevile, NC is encircled by the breathtaking Blue Ridge and Smokey Mountain ranges. Clean mountain streams, lakes, rivers, and waterfalls abound so naturally, giving Asheville some of the best white water rafting and kayaking available. Outdoor enthusiasts flock to Asheville to enjoy the well-marked walking trails and challenging mountain hikes. Mountain ranges around Asheville have elevations from Mt. Mitchell’s 6,684 feet to Chimney Rock's 1,300 feet and it is this variation in altitude that provides for one of the longest and most colorful fall seasons anywhere.

Downtown boasts buildings of diversity and beauty. Art galleries and museums intermingle with parks, boutiques, restaurants, and nightspots. One of the gems of the area is the famous Biltmore Estate. “America's Largest Home,” has 250 rooms decorated with priceless antiques and art, 65 fireplaces, a bowling alley, and an indoor pool. Sitting on 8,000 acres, it includes extraordinary gardens, a winery, hiking, biking, rafting and horseback riding.

Restaurants abound with everything from down-home cooking and barbecue to exotic ethnic foods, vegetarian delights, and five-star meals. Shopping at two malls and loads of specialty stores are a quick drive from downtown. Shops downtown and surrounding towns alike provide a unique selection of merchandise, much of which is handcrafted and one-of-a kind.

If live music is your passion, Asheville NC won't disappoint you. From local blue grass, country western, jazz, Celtic, and rock groups to big name internationally known bands, you will find it in Asheville. Downtown's larger venues like Asheville NC's Performing Art Center, and The Orange Peel bring in the kind of crowds that overflow into many smaller clubs and pubs. Asheville’s multiple theaters and music, arts and craft, and cultural festivals provide visitors to Asheville, NC with a vibrant, yearlong entertainment season.

Beaver Creek, CO

Beaver Creek is a truly special resort destination, billed as the "local's mountain" in the region. Beaver Creek Mountain features a long ski season (November to April) and an average annual snowfall of over 300 inches, making its 1600 acres of skiable terrain and 140-plus trails an attractive destination all season long.

The natural beauty of Beaver Creek and the nearby villages of Arrowhead and Bachelor Gulch provide many leisure options no matter the season or weather. Diversions abound in this rugged corner of Vail Valley: book a "seat" on a hot air balloon and soar high over the Rockies, join up on horseback for a trip through White River National Forest, or even catch a Broadway-caliber show at the Vilar Center for the Arts.

Award-wining spas—many of the area's leading hotels offer deluxe spa packages. Rounding out the summer activities are challenging golf courses designed by Robert Trent Jones, Jr. and Tom Fazio. They offer a variety of tough terrain elements, from large rock outcroppings and dense groves of trees to fairways carved into narrow ridges and others that feature dramatic elevation changes. In addition, if you can muster the energy, there's great shopping, dining, and nightlife in Beaver Creek, Bachelor Gulch, and Arrowhead Villages, as well as the nearby towns of Edwards and Avon. Perhaps you'd better plan for a few extra days.

Biloxi, MS

Take a five-minute video tour of Biloxi and south Mississippi and meet some of our most colorful characters by clicking here.

[This video presentation was produced by the Mississippi Development Authority and the Mississippi Gulf Coast Convention and Visitors Bureau.]

Gulf Shores, AL

A great getaway is closer than you think. A visit to Orange Beach and Gulf Shores offers the perfect balance of non-stop activity and lay-around-doing-nothing time. Putter around a bit on one of our championship golf courses. Cast your line for deep-sea adventure on one of the Gulf Shores and Orange Beach fishing charters. Travel back in history with a visit to Fort Morgan, the site of the Civil War Battle of Mobile Bay. Commune with Mother Nature as you hike wildlife trails gazing at shorebirds.

Gulf Shores / Orange Beach is a place where you can slow down, let loose, rediscover yourself and savor your loved ones. It's the Alabama Gulf Coast, and it will cast its spell over you.

LaGrange, GA

It still retains a rich, historic flair which includes Lafayette Square - featuring a dramatic fountain and statue. Additionally, six of America's top Fortune 500 companies (Wal-Mart Distribution, Exxon Mobil, Caterpillar, Emerson Network Power, Kimberly Clark, and Duracell) have facilities in LaGrange.

It is less than an hour south of Altanta and 20 minutes from Callway Gardens.

>>> View "The Settings of West Point Lake" Video

Lake Hartwell, GA

Each year, millions of people utilize the many public parks, marinas, and campgrounds conveniently located around the lake to pursue a variety of outdoor recreational experiences -making Hartwell one of the most visited Corps lakes in the nation.

Lake Lanier, GA

Lake Sidney Lanier is one of the most visited lakes in the country. Built by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, it's nestled in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains and just a short drive from Atlanta. Lake Lanier covers 692 miles of shoreline and comprises 39,000 acres of water. Lake Lanier encompasses five counties—Forsyth, Hall, Lumpkin, Dawson, and Gwinett—although the majority of the lake is in Forsyth and Hall counties.

Lake Lanier offers fishing, sailing, skiing, golf, hiking, camping, resorts, and lakeside dining. More than 8 million people each year choose to visit Lake Lanier for daytrips, weekend getaways, and extended vacations.

Although Lake Lanier’s busiest season is the summer, Lake Lanier can be enjoyed year round. The fall color in the foothills is spectacular while the spring azaleas and dogwoods are blooming with color. During the winter, Lake Lanier lights up during the holidays with its Magical Nights of Lights, which features a 6.5 mile driving tour of more than one million lights.

Maggie Valley and Waynesville, NC

Maggie Valley is a charming mountain town situated in North Carolina’s Smoky Mountains. It’s only 40 minutes from the vibrant city of Asheville and 15 minutes from historic Waynesville. Waynesville, which was established in 1810, is a quaint small town filled with fine shops, galleries, and restaurants.

Besides having an ideal year-round climate and spectacular mountain views, Maggie Valley and its neighbors offer a variety of activities including horseback riding, golfing, hiking, fishing, whitewater rafting, and snow skiing.

Myrtle Beach, SC

If limitless vacation options are what you are looking for, then Myrtle Beach has them and Myrtle Beach.com has the information about them, giving you finger-tip access to information on Myrtle Beach hotels, golf courses, restaurants, shopping and everything there is to know about the "Grand Strand".

Myrtle Beach is blessed with year-round sunshine and cool ocean breezes, Myrtle Beach offers premier opportunities for recreation – whenever you visit. The Myrtle Beach CVB provides a comprehensive list of exciting South Carolina events — from arts and crafts fairs to cultural celebrations. Attend a professional baseball game or a college basketball contest. Grab a blanket, and enjoy a soulful concert under the stars.

Ocean Springs, MS

Like the rest of the Mississippi Coast, Ocean Springs was severely affected by the strong wind and huge surge of Hurricane Katrina.  And like the rest of the Coast, we’ve endured.  Today we’re rebuilding and improving our city.  Visit our historical and growing commercial districts for unique shopping experiences.  Enjoy City services and facilities that are in operation, and spend time in one of our many parks and green spaces. 

Orlando, FL

The city has numerous tourist attractions in the area, in particular the nearby Walt Disney World Resort, which is located in Lake Buena Vista about 20 miles (32 km) south of Orlando city limits via Interstate 4. Other notable area attractions include SeaWorld and Universal Orlando Resort. The region sees an estimated 52 million tourists a year. Orlando is known for its wide array of golf courses, with numerous courses available for any level of golfer.

Despite being several miles away from the main tourist attractions, Downtown Orlando is undergoing major redevelopment with a number of residential projects, commercial towers, and major public works projects including the Orlando Events Center and the Dr. P. Phillips Orlando Performing Arts Center.

Panama City Beach, FL

Alys Beach

Alys Beach is a planned community along Scenic Highway 30A in South Walton Beach, Florida. Renowned town planners Duany, Plater-Zyberk and Company master-planned the 160 acres, which includes 1500 feet of beach front and a 20-acre nature preserve. When completed, it will include up to 800 courtyard homes, rowhouses, villas, and family compounds, 60% of which will be north of 30A.

The architecture of Alys Beach is inspired by homes in Bermuda, Antigua, and Guatemala. All of the homes are designed of white stucco and take advantage of water views and gulf breezes. The white walls and roofs reflect sunlight keeping the homes cooler. It is the first entire community in the world to be designed “Fortified...for safer living” by the Institute for Business and Home Safety (IBHS).

The Caliza Pool, designed by town architects Erik Vogt and Marieanne Khoury-Vogt is surrounded by buildings and garden walls. Each building is designed as an open-air loggia. Completion is scheduled for April of 2007.

The rowhouses have also begun selling in the preconstruction phase. They are currently scheduled for completion in mid to late 2008.

Prices for homes north of 30A currently vary from about $1 million to more than $2 million. Please call for more information and to find out which home style may best suit your needs.

Punta Gorda, FL

We are blessed with Florida sunshine year-round and attract both tourists and new residents alike, who come to Punta Gorda to enjoy the lifestyle that we have become famous for. It is a paradise for fisherman, boaters, sun-worshippers and shoppers alike.

Many consider Punta Gorda to be one of Florida's last remaining subtropical small towns. Punta Gorda's charming, historic downtown still features the Royal palm trees, gas streetlights and cobblestone streets contributed by its earliest settlers. The streets are lined with boutiques shops, spas, fine dining restaurants and cultural interests, such as, visual arts, theater, dance and music, making Punta Gorda a very popular destination for residents and visitors.

In addition, Charlotte Harbor’s natural amenities include miles of pristine beaches; more than (70) parks and preserves; and world-class fishing, and sailing. The immediate area is home to (16) championship style golf courses and numerous annual sporting events and recreational facilities. Golf and life are so fabulous in Punta Gorda, FL that Golf Digest recently ranked the Punta Gorda area as “The Third (3rd) Best Place in America to Live and Play!”

South Walton Beach, FL

South Walton Beach, located between Destin and Panama City Beach, comprises 13 beach communities and 26 miles of sugar white sand beaches. Renowned planned communities such as Seaside, Rosemary Beach, Watercolor, and Alys Beach are all found along this stretch of road. Each community along the 26 mile stretch offers unique qualities including rural dune beaches, dune lakes, upscale beach communities, five state parks including Grayton Beach which has frequently been voted as one of the best beaches in the world, bike trails, five-star restaurants, boutique shops, and family oriented beaches.