Photo courtesy of iStock / suesmith2

Go wildlife spotting

Visiting our country’s national parks puts you in the middle of stunning natural landscapes, but it’s the critters that call these parks home that really put the “wild” in wilderness.  Here are just 10 examples of amazing animals you can see across the nation.

The post You can find these 10 incredible animals in U.S. national parks appeared first on Travel Agent.

A quick glance at travel expenses from your last trip will likely reveal that one of the biggest line items is accommodation. A hotel is typically a travel necessity, but it’s also a whole lot more than just a place to stow your bags, take a shower and catch some ZZZs.

Hotels around the country are competing for travel dollars by offering a variety of amenities and creature comforts, ensuring that your time spent there is an enjoyable and relaxing part of your vacation or business trip. Some have even become destinations in their own right.

So, we need your help with crowning the winners in 15 categories for our sixth annual 10Best Readers’ Choice Hotel awards.

Click on each category below to vote:

Best All-Inclusive Resort

Leave money worries at home when you stay at these all-inclusives — Photo courtesy of iStock / borchee

We’re not sure which is more appealing: being in a stunningly beautiful place, or not having to think about money once you arrive. The combo of the two is a winning recipe for a relaxing vacation.

Vote: Best All-Inclusive Resort »

Best Budget-Friendly Hotel Brand

These 20 hotel brands offer wallet-friendly stays — Photo courtesy of iStock / Chinnapong

Hotels are often one of the biggest expenses when it comes to travel, but you shouldn’t have to blow through your budget or stay in a drab, personality-less room in order to save. These 20 hotel brands combine affordable rates, lots of amenities and frequent freebies to set the scene for a comfortable and wallet-friendly stay—whether for business or pleasure.

Vote: Best Budget-Friendly Hotel Brand »

Best Destination Resort

Sometimes a hotel is a destination in its own right — Photo courtesy of iStock / aceshot

Sometimes a hotel is simply a place to lay your head at night, and sometimes it’s a destination in its own right. Each of these 20 U.S. resorts, chosen by a panel of 10Best travel experts, is totally travel-worthy, complete with plush accommodations, world-class dining, relaxing spa treatments and a host of indoor and outdoor activities: a complete vacation in a single package.

Vote: Best Destination Resort »

Best Eco-Friendly Hotel

Feel good about protecting the planet with a stay at these eco-friendly properties — Photo courtesy of iStock / Kenishirotie

As Kermit the Frog once said, “It’s not easy being green,” but these 20 U.S. hotels have gone above and beyond to promote environmental sustainability. Along the way, they’ve earned certification in Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) by the U.S. Green Building Council or other industry awards in sustainability.

Vote: Best Eco-Friendly Hotel »

Best Family Resort

These 20 hotels and resorts are kid-approved — Photo courtesy of iStock / Halfpoint

These 20 American resorts cater to families with a host of awesome amenities, including programming just for kids, childproofed rooms (with multiple bedrooms), gourmet dining with child-approved kids’ menus and access to such essentials as cribs and baby swings while on the road.

Vote: Best Family Resort »

Best Historic Hotel

Take a step back in time at these 20 historic hotels — Photo courtesy of Mansion on Forsyth Park

In today’s travel landscape dotted with sparkling new resorts and ultra-modern skyscraper hotels, a bit of history is often welcome. Each of these classic lodgings – nominated for the title of Best Historic Hotel by a panel of hotel experts – has witnessed a great deal of history, and each has held true to its historic roots and unique sense of place.

Vote: Best Historic Hotel »

Best Hotel Bar

Pull up a stool and order your favorite cocktail at these hotel bars — Photo courtesy of iStock / MaximFesenko

Pull up a stool, and look over our nominees for Best Hotel Bar. These 20 bars win big for their ambiance, stellar mixologists, signature cocktails, food menus and happy hours, and at most of them, you don’t have to be a guest to enjoy.

Vote: Best Hotel Bar »

Best Hotel Pool

These 20 hotel pools make a big splash with guests — Photo courtesy of iStock / boonsom

For many travelers, especially during these hot summer months, the quality of a pool can make or break a hotel stay. Book one of these 20 hotels, nominated as having the best hotel pools in the nation, and your stay is sure to be a memorable one.

Vote: Best Hotel Pool »

Best Hotel Restaurant

You don’t have to leave the hotel for a good meal, thanks to these restaurants — Photo courtesy of iStock / triocean

Some of America’s best restaurants helmed by talented and often award-winning chefs can be found within hotels and resorts from coast to coast.

Vote: Best Hotel Restaurant »

Best Hotel Spa

These hotel spas know how to pamper — Photo courtesy of iStock / Moyo Studio

Vote: Best Hotel Spa »

Best Luxury Hotel Brand

Which luxury hotel brand offers the ultimate stay? — Photo courtesy of iStock / Jovanmandic

Best Pet Friendly Hotel

Four-legged family members are welcome at these hotels — Photo courtesy of iStock / NoSystem images

A family vacation isn’t complete without your four-legged friends, but finding pet-friendly accommodations isn’t always easy. 10Best teamed up with a panel of hotel experts to nominate the 20 top pet-friendly hotels in the U.S.

Vote: Best Pet Friendly Hotel »

Best Romantic Hotel

Turn up the romance with a room at these hotels and resorts — Photo courtesy of iStock / gilaxia

Vote: Best Romantic Hotel »

Best Waterfront Hotel

Waterfront views are just one of the perks at these nominees — Photo courtesy of iStock / borchee

Vote: Best Waterfront Hotel »

Best Wellness Retreat / Resort

These 20 resorts and retreats put the focus on wellness — Photo courtesy of iStock / monkeybusinessimages

Vote: Best Wellness Retreat / Resort »

Remember, you can vote once per day in each category. The 10 nominees with the most votes in each category will be announced on 10best.com on Friday, August 7.

The post Vote for your favorite hotels and resorts across America appeared first on Travel Agent.

Photo courtesy of iStock / JohnnyGreig

Welcome to Rio

Look at Rio de Janeiro from just about any angle, and it’s easy to see why it’s nicknamed the Cidade Maravilhosa. Surrounded by tropical mountain landscapes and white sand beaches, this city of over six million people enjoys views known the world over and a joie de vivre that’s hard to match.

The post (Virtually) visit Rio de Janeiro through these stunning photos appeared first on Travel Agent.

Photo courtesy of Joanne DiBona

Pretty to look at, but also great to eat

Travel opens our eyes to art, history, and culture – but it also introduces us to culinary adventures we may have never imagined otherwise. On our first trip to Sicily to discover our family roots, we noticed the local markets were filled with huge yellow flowers and we were curious as to what could be made of these lovely blooms (besides attractive flower arrangements).

Our relatives gave us a step-by-step tutorial in how to stuff and fry zucchini blossoms, and we’ve continued this tradition in our home kitchen now for decades.

The post How to make stuffed zucchini blossoms, Sicilian-style appeared first on Travel Agent.

Painstakingly slowly, he would extract each piece of nutmeat from the broken shells. I would sit on his footstool to help, but most of the pieces I pulled out went directly into my mouth. After what felt like hours of shelling the nuts, a small bowl of both pieces and whole pecans waited to be incorporated into a favorite recipe.

Although shelled pecans are much easier to purchase recipe-ready, shelling pecans brings a fresher product alongside a tradition reminiscent of slower times. Luckily for home chefs, the United States, the southern parts in particular, is the largest producer of pecans in the world. With access to a bounty of pecans, Southern cuisine revolves around this tasty, versatile, and seasonal food.

Candied pecans — Photo courtesy of Nicky Omohundro

Not your average nut

This succulent, slightly sweet nut from the hickory genus is the only nut tree native to North America. Technically, it’s not truly a nut, but rather a drupe – a fruit with a single stone or pit, surrounded by a husk. They grow in abundance in the southern states – Georgia, Alabama, Texas, New Mexico and Oklahoma are all large producers.

They’re so bounteous in the South as the trees like long, hot summers with harvest generally in mid-October, just in time for Thanksgiving pies and topping sweet potato casseroles.

Pecans are also in the category of “good” fat, mostly monounsaturated, low in carbs, high in fiber, and thus especially popular for low carb snacking. The nuts are nutritious providing 19 vitamins and minerals, high in B vitamins and manganese. And they may just be a heart-healthy addition to any diet.

If you’re not snacking on them whole, favorite recipes using the pecan include pecan pie, praline candy and cookies.

The word “pecan” is an Algonquian word, meaning “a nut requiring a stone to crack.”

Oak Alley Plantation — Photo courtesy of Theresa McKinney

The history of the pecan is just as fascinating. Theresa McKinney operates a travel blog called Fueled By Wanderlust and says touring a plantation gave her a new insight into the pecan and its history.

“While visiting the Oak Alley Plantation in New Orleans, I gained new insight into the pecan. In the early 19th century, a slave named Antoine, who lived on the plantation, became the first person to successfully graft a pecan tree. Thanks to his discovery, pecans were able to be cultivated on a large scale, while consistently producing the crop with its most desired traits. It is thanks to Antoine’s discovery that you can find pecan pie on every table at Thanksgiving, or that these nuts are such a common pantry staple,” says McKinney.

Southern pecan growers

Georgia is the largest national producer of pecans, generating about 30 percent of annual pecan production in the U.S. but New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas and nine other southern states grow pecans commercially as well.

In central Texas, San Saba calls itself the “Pecan Capital of the World” and is home to the world’s largest and oldest pecan tree, known as Mother Pecan. The tree is close to 200 years old.

You can go pecan picking in San Saba, Texas — Photo courtesy of Jessica Serna

“As a pecan lover, I traveled out to the Pecan Capital of the world located in the Texas Hill Country,” says Jessica Serna, travel blogger at My Curly Adventures. “In San Saba, Texas, I got to visit the grandfather of pecans, the Millican Pecan Co, who helped create the modern pecan. I love how there are so many different varieties and that they’re full of rich nutrients.”

Starting a commercial pecan business isn’t for the grower in a hurry. It takes between seven to 10 years before a pecan tree begins to produce a full supply of nuts. It’s worth the wait, though, because once the process starts, a tree can sometimes produce for more than 100 years.

Pecans and Southern cuisine

Lemon pecan pie — Photo courtesy of Kelly Kirkendoll

As great as pecans are when simply shelled and eaten whole, the pecan – with its availability and versatility – has found its way into many treasured southern recipes.

Kelly Kirkendoll is a Texas food blogger and the owner of Kitchen Gone Rogue. Her favorite recipe using pecans puts a new spin on the traditional pecan pie. “The Lemon Pecan Pie is one of my personal favorites because the lemon is subtle but cuts the sweetness of traditional pecan pie, letting the pecans shine (and not just the sugar).”

Georgia is known for delicious pecan pies. At Jaemor Farms, this family-owned 350-acre farm serves traditional sweet and gooey pecan pies. Or taste the bourbon-infused Southern Pecan Pie at Chester Brunnenmeyer’s.

For the love of pecans: A celebrated nut

Florence, South Carolina celebrates pecans with the South Carolina Pecan Trail. Pick up a Pecan Trail Passport and follow the trail to visit 20 restaurants serving pecans in various incarnations.

Nicky Omohundro, family travel writer and digital content creator at Little Family Adventure says of the trail: “Stop off at Julia Belle’s inside the Pee Dee State Farmers Market for a slice of their signature White Russian Pecan Pie which is unlike any other pecan pie you’ll ever eat.”

Pecans still in their shells — Photo courtesy of E+ / pelicankate

Many who grew up in the South have cherished memories about pecans. Jayda Atkinson grew up in New Orleans and remembers, “When I hear ‘southern pecans,’ I think back to happy childhood memories, growing up in the neighborhood of New Orleans – like watching old ladies sit on porches cracking pecans open, the pie man or pie lady, for that matter, who had all of us gathering coins to come up with a dollar to purchase a mini pecan pie or pecan candy to split, the big pecan trees we would play hide and seek under or find refuge from the sun. Today, I witness kids in these same neighborhoods, experiencing the sweet joy all over again.”

The post Everything you want to know about pecans appeared first on Travel Agent.

Photo courtesy of The St. Regis Aspen Resort

Adorable animals in residence

Nearly a century ago, a stray cat wandered into the Algonquin Hotel in Manhattan and decided to stick around. Hamlet might not have been the first animal ambassador, but he was certainly one of the earliest. The hotel has had cats ever since (seven male Hamlets and three female Matildas).

Fairmont Hotels & Resorts launched a canine ambassador program in 2001, and since then, more and more properties – from luxury hotels to museums to airports – have been adding animals to their staff to create a sense of homeyness and promote guest enjoyment.

Take a look at some of the world’s most endearing animal ambassadors.

The post These cute animal ambassadors will make you smile appeared first on Travel Agent.

Madeline Hotel & Residences, Auberge Resorts Collection

If a Rocky Mountain getaway sounds tempting, Hotel Jerome, Auberge Resorts Collection in Aspen and Madeline Hotel & Residences, Auberge Resorts Collection in Telluride are now accepting reservations for overnight stays. A slew of new outdoor adventures (there’s a three-day climbing immersion camp in Telluride), culinary experiences (Aspen gets a Noma pop-up), and enticing amenities have all been designed to welcome guests.

“We are thrilled to welcome guests back to Hotel Jerome and Madeline this summer,” said John Volponi, Regional Vice President, Auberge Resorts Collection. “From our new elevated outdoor adventures and kid itineraries, to live music at Hotel Jerome and beloved Golden Retriever Ajax at Madeline, guests will feel right at home at these two iconic Colorado properties.”

Hotel Jerome, Auberge Resorts Collection

Hotel Jerome: The Quintessential Aspen Experience

A glamorous getaway for the rich and famous since the 1950s, thanks to a robust culinary scene and upscale shops, Aspen has more than just scenic hikes going for it in summer. And the best place to stay? Hotel Jerome. Constructed in 1889 the landmark local property boasts 94-rooms, including 15 suites, one of which, the Bixby, has private access to the outdoor heated pool. It’s also home to the notorious J-Bar, a favorite of Hunter S. Thompson, where the atmosphere is still very much Old West-inspired. 

Upon arrival, there’s a virtual check-in option and individually packaged treats, including water bottles and homemade granola bars, handily located on each floor. New 4x4s included a refined wine, whiskey and cigar tasting for groups of four guests on the hotel’s balcony. Grab a “J-Roaming Around Aspen” cup filled with a classic cocktail or wellness drink from the new courtyard Better Bar or belly up for a High Noon Margarita, from which a portion of the profits goes directly to the Aspen Fire Department. 

Fans of new Nordic cuisine who have never scored a reservation at the world-renowned restaurant Noma should block their calendars for fall when chef and co-founder Mads Refslund is returning to Hotel Jerome to host a foraging-focused pop-up experience, September 4 through 13.

Hotel Jerome, Auberge Resorts Collection

Auberge Resorts Collection X Black Tomato

Also new this summer is a seven-night road trip starting at Hotel Jerome that winds its way through Colorado and Utah. Created in partnership with the award-winning luxury travel company, Black Tomato, highlights of the private guide-led tour itinerary include hiking the Maroon Bells, biking the Rio Grande, and a private flight over Aspen. A day spent discovering hidden gems around Aspen with a local outdoor enthusiast and owner of one of the town’s most famous luxury boutiques, also features.

Madeline Hotel & Residences, Auberge Resorts Collection

Madeline Hotel & Residences: Totally Telluride

From mining town to ski-hippy haven now low-key celebrity enclave, Telluride’s mountain town playground is equally buzzy during summer – if not more so now – than in winter months. One of the flagship hotels in Mountain Village, the 130-room Madeline Hotel & Residences is located a short gondola ride from Main Street – the rooms here are big and luxurious with marble bathrooms and oversized soaking tubs.

With high-country hikes, bike rides, fly-fishing, and whitewater rafting all major draws, adventure and exploration are synonymous with the San Miguel Mountains. Madeline guests interested in learning about the world of climbing can sign up for the new three-day immersion program run by Mike and Selah Schneiter. Not for the faint of heart, it culminates with a climb of Telluride’s Via Ferrata – an iconic 14,000-foot peak or ’14er’ to locals. 

On the culinary side, newly appointed executive chef Bill Greenwood is helming the hotel’s signature restaurant, Black Iron Kitchen + Bar, and has a series of pop-ups planned over the coming months, including one with Matt Lewis’s quaint Brooklyn-based bakeshop, Baked NYC, and Michael Myers’ award-winning Colorado Springs Distillery 291. Part of the Awaken with Auberge escape series, guests at both properties can pick up a luxurious picnic to-go or kick back with a DIY cocktail kit for an in-room happy hour.

Madeline Hotel & Residences, Auberge Resorts Collection

Enhancements and Special Offers

To ensure the safety and comfort of guests and team members Hotel Jerome and Madeline Hotel & Residences have implemented enhanced health and cleanliness protocols in line with the CDC, the State of Colorado, and local guidelines. Both resorts are offering a Summer Longer promotion where guests can book four nights or longer and enjoy the fourth night free, with flexible cancellation and rebooking terms for reservations through December 31, 2020. Summer rates begin at $525 (Jerome) and $395 (Madeline). 

The post Two Celebrated Colorado Resorts Welcome Guests Back This Summer appeared first on Travel Agent.

For starters, most jars of shelf-stable fruit spreads – your jellies, jams and the like – are filled with a combination of three chief ingredients: fruit, sugar and pectin.

Pectin – the only ingredient you might not have heard of – is a type of starch called a heteropolysaccharide that occurs naturally within the cell walls of fruits and vegetables, giving them form and structure. When heated to 220°F, exposed to a bit of acid (think lemon or other citrus juice) and left to cool, pectin reforms as a gel.

The firmer a fruit, the higher the pectin content. This is why jellies and jams made from soft fruits like strawberries, raspberries and grapes often still rely on pectin gathered from fruits like apples, pears, apricots, plums, quince or oranges. In the case of oranges in particular – and lemons, grapefruits and limes as well – the majority of the pectin content is found in the firm rind of the fruit, but more on that in just a bit.

As fruit ripens on the vine, branch or bush, the pectin within is broken down by enzymes naturally present in the fruit itself. As the pectin content diminishes, the fruit softens and eventually rots. Because of this, fruit spreads are created using under-ripened (or just barely ripened) fruit still rich with pectin.

Jellies, jams and preserves are all variants of this fruit, sugar and pectin trifecta, each with a specific formula.

Jelly

Fruit juice is what gives jelly its smooth texture — Photo courtesy of Getty Images / leyaelena

Jelly is made from cooked, clarified fruit juice, sugar and pectin. After cooking, but before it has had time to cool, the mixture is strained through a fine mesh jelly bag to remove impurities and solids.

Once it has cooled and solidified, you are left with a firm, transparent fruit spread. Jelly is notable for its dense gel, its gemstone-like clarity, and for the fact that it is made with fruit juice instead of fruit.

Jam

Unlike jelly, which only uses fruit juice, jam is made from fruit and fruit pulp — Photo courtesy of Getty Images / RonBailey

Jam, like jelly, contains both sugar and pectin. It differs, however, in that real, crushed fruit or fruit pulp is used instead of fruit juice. The crushed fruit is cooked down, usually with a bit of acid, until the fruit loses its shape and consistency. Then sugar and pectin are added to the mixture.

Once cooled, jam takes on a translucent quality. Light still passes through it, but visible bits of fruit are suspended throughout.

Because of jam’s inclusion of real fruit instead of juice, it may seem like the healthier option of the two. However, to qualify as a jam under the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) guidelines, a product must still contain more than 55% sugar. Sugar, after all, is the preserving agent in each of these mixtures, drawing out moisture from the fruit.

Preserves

Think of preserves as a jam with whole fruit or chunks of fruit mixed in — Photo courtesy of Getty Images / bhofack2

Preserves take things a step further than even jam, suspending fruit within the sugar-pectin-cooked fruit mixture before it has had time to chill. Though preserves are something of a catch-all term, true fruit preserves critically contain within them either whole fruits – think cherries, blueberries or currants – or uniformly cut pieces of larger fruits like apples, peaches or guava.

Preserves are impossible to see through, with light being obstructed by countless tiny pieces of fruit.

Marmalade

Similar to preserves, marmalade incorporates pieces of fruit; this is commonly done with citrus fruit where the rind is mixed in — Photo courtesy of Getty Images / olgakr

Marmalade may seem similar to preserves or jam, with the tiny pieces of suspended fruit present within, but it is actually more closely related to jelly. Marmalade is made by adding tiny pieces of fruit rind – most famously, orange – to a jelly mixture made from citrus juice, sugar and pectin.

Citrus rind, remember, is rich in pectin. When preserved in marmalade, it provides both a tartness and texture unlike its canned cousins.

Conserves

Conserves are usually made from multiple types of fruits — Photo courtesy of Getty Images / LenkaPrusova

Another fruit spread related to jam is conserves. In fact, like squares and rhombuses, all conserves are jams, but not all jams are conserves. That’s because conserves are specifically made from multiple types of fruit.

That mixed berry jar of jam on the shelf of your refrigerator? It’s actually a conserve. Likewise, jars of fruit mashups like raspberry-peach or cranberry-apple are all technically conserves.

Compote and coulis

Compote and coulis are fruit reductions that are meant to be enjoyed right after making — Photo courtesy of Getty Images / zia_shusha

Two further types of cooked fruit spreads, albeit ones you’re unlikely to find preserved in a jar, are compote and coulis. Both are mixtures of fruit and sugar that eschew pectin in favor of a drawn-out, slow cooking method. Compote is a textured reduction containing pieces of the fruit, while coulis takes an added ride through a food processor until it is made perfectly smooth.

Both compote and coulis are usually made for immediate consumption.

Fruit butter

Apple butter is a commonly enjoyed type of fruit butter — Photo courtesy of Getty Images / bhofack2

Finally, there’s fruit butter. That’s what you get when a processed-until-smooth coulis continues to be slowly cooked down until much of the moisture is evaporated out. The puree that remains takes on a thick, almost creamy consistency that we call fruit butter. That is, if it’s made from one of just eight fruits.

If your butter isn’t made from apples, pears, peaches, grapes, apricots, plums, quince or prunes, then it cannot technically be labeled fruit butter under FDA rules.

The post What’s the difference between jam, jelly and preserves? appeared first on Travel Agent.

Tschuggen Grand Hotel

Yoga is an excellent way to practice physical, mental and spiritual wellness, especially while traveling. Here are some Om-mazing yoga settings and spaces at hotels around the world that offer exquisite surroundings for a memorable flow. 

Tschuggen Grand Hotel

The Tschuggen Grand Hotel, located in the Alpine region of Arosa, is known for its uniquely designed Tschuggen Bergoase Spa and the various wellness experiences they offer, including yoga classes. Taking place both at the spa overlooking the spectacular Alps and outside in a secluded spot on the Tschuggen Mountain, guests are invited to begin their morning or unwind after spending the day on the hiking and biking trails by becoming one with nature and taking in their peaceful and stunning surroundings. Directly following their yoga class, travelers can indulge in a relaxing spa treatment or take a dip in one of the Tschuggen Bergoase’s indoor or outdoor pools, bringing their experience to the next level.

Tschuggen Grand Hotel

Fregate Island Private — Seychelles

Located in the beautiful Seychelles, Fregate Island Private is one of the most revered hideaways in the Seychelles. Surrounded by sparkling Indian Ocean, Fregate Island Private offers guests a complimentary yoga session and welcome ritual to help them become attune with the island’s rhythm. Yoga sessions are held every morning during the week where guests can join the island’s instructor for group class at Fregate’s peaceful Rock Spa. Yogis can also book private session to practice their favorite kind of yoga anywhere on the island. Locations range from the lush jungle to the pristine sands of Fregate’s seven beaches.

Fregate Island Private

Fregate Island Private

Hotel Lou Pinet — Saint-Tropez

Hôtel Lou Pinet is a luxury hideaway in Saint-Tropez embodying the bohemian charm of the iconic village and perfectly located between Place des Lices and the peninsula’s most sought-after beaches. Far from the crowds, but still near everything, Hôtel Lou Pinet strikes a perfect balance for the ultimate Saint-Tropez vacation and was designed for those looking for an equilibrium between the thrill of partying and peaceful refuge. Each morning a yoga class to start the day is offered to guests  in the hotel’s secret enchanting garden with the sound of cicadas, a natural Zen sound to help block out other noises that might disturb focus. The carefully curated lush and secret Mediterranean garden of the hotel also provides pure and raw scents as it includes a lavender field, orange and lemon trees, and herb garden along with large outdoor art installations. The garden serves as a majestic backdrop to the hotel’s grand emerald green swimming pool, spacious terrace and the hotel’s three houses — a lovely space for yogis to meditate and practice yoga. For additional wellness experiences, just a short walk from the garden is an intimate spa and fitness center.

Hotel Lou Pinet

Pangkor Laut Resort

Located on its own 300-acre private island off the west coast of Malaysia, Pangkor Laut Resort invites guests toregain their physical and mental harmony by exploring the resort’s yoga ortai chi quan morning sessions amidst the fresh ocean breeze and soothing sound of the waves. Featuring therapeutic breathing, postural and moving exercises,tai chi quan develops inner stamina and circulates energy while yoga unites the body and mind. Travelers are sure to feel re-invigorated, relaxed and ready to start the day following their session set against a backdrop of wild rainforests, sandy beaches and turquoise waters.

Pangkor Laut Resort

The post Hotels for a Nama-stay to Remember appeared first on Travel Agent.

Summer is here, and to help you plan that perfect family vacation (whether for this summer or in the future), we’ve enlisted the help of our readers to find the country’s best amusement parks and water parks, as well as theme park hotels, restaurants and entertainment.

Click on each category below to vote:

Best Amusement Park

Which amusement park is at the top of your summer wish list? — Photo courtesy of iStock / itsskin

North America is home to more than 400 amusement parks and attractions, drawing in some 375 million visitors annually, according to the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions. That’s an overwhelming number of options when faced with planning that perfect family vacation.

Vote: Best Amusement Park »

Best Amusement Park Entertainment

You don’t need to be a thrill seeker to be entertained — Photo courtesy of Disneyland

America’s amusement parks offer a whole lot more than thrills. Some of the best parks also provide plentiful entertainment opportunities ideal for taking a break between rides or celebrating the end of a great day at the park. From parades to fireworks shows, these 20 entertainment options were chosen by a panel of theme park experts as the best in the U.S.

Vote: Best Amusement Park Entertainment »

Best Amusement Park Hotel

These 20 hotels set the scene for a perfect theme park vacation — Photo courtesy of iStock / Rawpixel

A day at a theme park is undeniably fun, but it can be exhausting as well. Staying on property means all your favorite park offerings lie practically right outside your front door, and getting back for an afternoon swim in the pool or to crash in the evening is easier than ever.

Vote: Best Amusement Park Hotel »

Best Amusement Park Restaurant

Which park offers the best eats? — Photo courtesy of iStock / RicardoImagen

Gone are the days when amusement park food consisted of overpriced hot dogs and cotton candy. These 20 amusement park restaurants were chosen as the best in North America by a panel of industry experts for their food, atmosphere and service.

Vote: Best Amusement Park Restaurant »

Best Non-Roller Coaster Ride

Which ride do you line up for again and again? — Photo courtesy of iStock / Imgorthand

Amusement park thrills and chills don’t always come in the form of a roller coaster. Sometimes the most memorable and immersive ride experiences take the form of dark rides, 3D simulators, log flumes or drop towers.

Vote: Best Non-Roller Coaster Ride »

Best Outdoor Water Park

Where do you go for fun in the sun? — Photo courtesy of iStock / Imgorthand

When the heat of summer descends, millions of visitors head to America’s water parks to cool off. We asked a panel of experts to nominate their favorite outdoor water parks in the country for the ultimate day of sun and fun.

Vote: Best Outdoor Water Park »

Best Roller Coaster

Get ready for an adrenaline rush on these top coasters — Photo courtesy of iStock / PKM1

While thrill rides come in all shapes and sizes these days, nothing beats the adrenaline rush of a well-designed roller coaster. A panel of theme park experts chose these 20 coasters as the best in the U.S., and we need you to crown our winner.

Vote: Best Roller Coaster »

Remember, you can vote once per day in each category. The 10 nominees with the most votes in each category will be announced on 10Best.com on Friday, July 31.

The post Vote now for the best theme parks and water parks in the U.S. appeared first on Travel Agent.