Tip #1  Maine Inns & Arts Spring Festival

One of the reasons I love Spring so much, is that all of a sudden there are dozens of house and garden tours, artist open studios and antiques festivals to temp me away from my ho hum winter routine. This year I've found a new offering (well new to me anyway) in beautiful Kennebunkport Maine.

From June 4-8, 2008, Kennebunkport is celebrating it's 4th Annual "Arts In The Inns Festival". If you're not familiar with Kennebunkport, you haven't been paying attention - it's where the Bush family has their summer home, and it is a quintessentially stunning New England coastal community with grand Victorian weathered gray homes and Inns. The festival begins on Wednesday with dinners at featured Inns with Chefs and Artists, which continue throughout the festival weekend. Saturday, June 7th, is the highlight with a tour of 16 Inns and Hotels which have artist's works on display. There are Artist in Residence Cocktail Parties, and (my favorite) Lobster Rolls and Blueberry Pie at The Seaside Inn and Cottages. Famous Hinckley Yachts (even Martha has one) has engaged top Chef Sam Talbot to create his version of a traditional Maine clambake. Get all the information you'll need to have a spectacular spring weekend on the coast of Maine at the Arts In The Inns website.

Anyone want to run away to Maine in June? Send me an email and we'll all have a great time together.

Tip #2 Quebec City is a Great Deal This Summer

Visiting the old world charm of Quebec City is always a treat, but this year it gets even better. This grand walled city has proudly graced the banks of the St. Lawrence River for four centuries - Yes, that's 400 years since Samuel de Champlain established the first permanent French settlement in North America. In 2008 Quebec City celebrates its 400th birthday and has planned crowd pleasing events all summer long. Here are just a few reasons to make this the year you plan a vacation to Quebec:

1 - Your dollar goes further in Canada. The slide of the US Dollar against the Euro means many of us will forgo a trip to Europe this year. But I'm happy to say the Canadian Dollar and the US Dollar remain about equal in value, making a visit to Quebec to indulge in it's European ambiance, sidewalk cafes, narrow cobbled streets, and top notch cultural venues, an exceptional value.

2 - Festive 400th Birthday Celebrations. From June through October 2008, Quebec will uncork the bubbly to launch memorable Birthday celebrations throughout the city.

At the Musee de la Civilisation, famed visual artist Franco Dragone (think Cirque du Soleil) will recreate the exterior of the museum.

The Beaux Arts due Quebec will showcase exhibits from The Louvre Museum in Paris, focusing on the Oriental, Egyptian, Greek, Etruscan and Roman Antiquities collections.  (MORE)

Tip #3 Live Your Baseball Road Trip Dream!

The boys of summer are back and it's time to head out to the ball park to make life long memories of battles well fought and won (or lost). I can almost hear the the cheers and jeers raining down from bleacher seats and sky boxes alike. Beach balls bouncing off outstretched hands, ice cream vendors hawking their treats, and the ever present call of "Beeea Heeea". All is right with the world on a sunny baseball afternoon.

Tip # 4 All Upper Class Airline Seats Are Not Created Equal

We've found a terrific site for comparing airline's upper class seats, so you can see in advance exactly what kind of luxury or torture you're buying in into. FlatSeat.com will help you be a smart, and comfortable, flier.

What is it that would entice you to pay three times (or more) as much for an airline ticket or pledge a bundle of frequent flier miles? Sure the food choices are better in first or business class, but for most people it's the promise of a seat that is actually comfortable for a long flight and has enough space so you won't be jabbing elbows with your seat mate. And for overnight flights, the prospect of being able to actually lie flat and get a few hours of solid sleep seems almost too good to be true. Well you know the saying, if it's seems too good to be true - better check what that seat actually looks like before throwing all that money in the pot!!!  (MORE)
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Tip # 5 10 Ways to Save Money On Board a Cruiseship

You'll need these money saving tips while on board your next cruise because we all know the cruise reservation price is just the beginning! The cruise lines are hoping you'll spend twice your initial expenditure on fine wines, pool side drinks, shore excursions, at the gift shop and in the casino. It's all about finding ways to help you spend your money on impulse purchases. Here are ten common sense strategies to keep more money in your pocket and not there's.

#1 Drink Passes - Most cruise lines will offer to sell you drink passes when you go through the check in process (both for soft drinks and/or cocktails). Now, if you're traveling with children who will be downing sodas and Shirley Temples all day long, the soda pass is probably a no brainer. For everyone else consider your drink consumption carefully and do the math. So with that in mind, I usually wait until I'm on board and see how much my cocktails of choice actually cost and then make my decision at leisure. Typically any waiter or bartender can also sell you a drink pass. Take advantage of free cocktail receptions on the ship. There will always be a Captain's welcome party, a dressy night reception and an art preview cocktail party. Forget the shots with dessert - they're just trying to pad your bill!  (MORE)