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Kenwood neighborhood, in nearby Bethesda, MD, and Dumbarton Oaks, an estate in

DC’s Georgetown area, boast beautiful blooms

without the crowds.

Memphis Of course you’ll visit

Graceland, but then witness another

entertainment legend: the marching ducks of the

Peabody Memphis Hotel. They (and their ancestors) have been parading around the lobby fountain twice a day since 1932. Stay at the Hotel Memphis; it looks upscale, but king rooms start at $74 per night.

East Kemptville, Nova Scotia It’s lobster season in Canada, so take a class to learn how to cook them at the rustic-luxe Trout Point Lodge. Get a deluxe junior suite for $169 through late April when you book through slh.com.

Charleston, SC In May and June, the Spoleto Festival offers world-class performances, from steel guitar to Shakespeare. Take a break from all that cultchah with fried shrimp at the Wreck.

Oak Park, IL The Chicago suburb is celebrating the 125th anniversary of architect Frank Lloyd Wright’s home and studio. Tour it—and other glorious homes he designed—on the All Wright HouseWalk.

Got a travel bucket list? You’re going to need a bigger bucket. Our guide is packed with thrillingly unexpected destinations—and deals, deals, deals. bY Lisa Tucker MceLrOY

The best travel finds of 2014

spring

Can’t miss: Cooperstown, NY This upstate New York small town is famous for the Baseball Hall of Fame, but come in the spring to experience its full-on Norman Rockwell–ishness. The 1930s-style Main Street has a perfect general store and bakery, and the Farmer’s Museum, which opens every April, is an authentic throwback to butter-churning days. Enjoy brunch at the Otesaga Resort Hotel, then play a round of golf or sit in a rocker on the wide porch. (Stay at the hotel’s less pricey sister property, the Cooper Inn, for $178 per night.) Tear yourself away to visit a brewery—Ommegang offers free tours and $3 tastings.

Scottsdale, AZ (1) There’s more baseball

out in the desert—spring training!—but just relax at Kimpton FireSky, a boutique hotel and spa, where REDBOOK readers who call 480-945-7666 to book by February 28 can get a two-night deluxe stay with in-room yoga, spa add-on treatments, and a picnic outing for $375 (saving $193).

Orcas Island, WA (2) This small island is the least touristy of the San Juan chain, but one of the best places in the United States to see whales; mid-May is prime time. At West Beach Resort, a garden studio cabin starts at $125.

Washington, DC (3) You have to see the cherry blossoms in bloom at least once. Insiders know the

Main Street in Cooperstown.

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Can’t miss: Block Island, RIWant to vacation like a Kennedy on a clam-digger’s budget? Block Island, a dot in the sound near Rhode Island, Connecticut, and New York’s Long Island, is not as fussy as Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket but still has that irresistible New England style. The quietest place to lay down your towel is the north end of Scotch Beach, but save an afternoon for the gorgeous redbrick Southeast Lighthouse, which may or may not be haunted. In the evening, order a cocktail and watch the sun set from the porch of the oceanfront Atlantic Inn, then get the clams casino at the Beachead restaurant. Some of Block Island’s inns and rentals are

pricey, but the Harborside Inn is a find (they have AC, and not every place does), with rates starting at $119.

Hershey, PA (1) Yes, it smells like chocolate,

and you can get fresh-from-the-factory Kisses, but there’s more. Hershey Park has a new roller coaster this year, plus tamer rides for little (or timid) ones. REDBOOK readers get a fourth night free at the Official Resorts of Hersheypark and four park admissions between May 25 and June 30; mention REDBOOK when you call 800-HERSHEY.

Put-in-Bay, OH (2) Loyal summer visitors love that this outpost on Lake Erie has largely avoided joining the modern age. At the

end of June, islanders gather to defend against a pirate

invasion and race cardboard boats at the sixth annual Pyrate Fest.

De Smet, SD (3) Calling Ingalls family

superfans: Visit the Ingalls Homestead, open in summer, to

tour Laura Ingalls Wilder’s school and two houses from the pioneer

period, then stay overnight in a covered wagon for $50.

Hendersonville, NC Want a state-park-hiking kind of day, but a cushy-bed

kind of night? Here you can spot warblers in Chimney

Rock Park and scoot down a waterfall on your butt at Sliding Rock,

then crash in a hammock on the porch outside your room at the lovely Highland Lake Inn (from $159 per night).

Palmer, AK The Alaska State Fair, August 21 through September 1, schedules events you might not find in, say, Iowa. Practice your cow and bull calls—they’re different—watch Alaska native drummers and dancers, or munch on pieces of deep-fried halibut.

Quebec City, Quebec Love a leisurely five-course meal? So do the Quebecois. Panache is a must- dine (go for lunch for the $20 prix-fixe), but you can also have tasty eats on the go at Chez Ashton, where the poutine (brown gravy and cheese curds over fries) is legendary.

Rockaway Beach, OR Kite pros (who knew?) call the seven uninterrupted miles of sand here one of the best places in the U.S. to let loose and soar. After kite flying and swimming, stay in a two-bedroom suite with a kitchen at the Ocean Rogue Inn for $129 per night.

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The Southeast Lighthouse on Block Island.

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Can’t miss: Sandestin, FL

You’ve probably done Miami, maybe even Tampa. But what about the Florida panhandle? You gotta know, some of the best Florida beaches are right here, and fall brings the perfect 75-degree weather to enjoy the white sand and turquoise water. If you need a break from all that relaxing, rent a boat and visit Crab Island, a sandbar with a waterslide and floating restaurants, or take a family outing to the Village of Baytowne Wharf in the Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort. Kids can try a ropes course—and parents can grab a daiquiri. Spend the night in a beach rental, available through Frangista Beach Properties for cheap ($120 per

night for a two-bedroom, two-bath condo overlooking the gulf). Warning: You might never leave.

The Abacos, Bahamas (1) This chain of islands offers

great shopping and pretty beaches. Stay at the Abaco Beach Resort, with pastel cottages and good fishing, where REDBOOK readers who travel by December 15 can get a family excursion and two kids’ camp days (worth $500) for free when you book four nights online (abacobeachresort .com) with code ABRREDBOOK.

Traverse City, MI (2) Kids love this vacation retreat in the Mitten State for the apple orchards, hay rides, and corn mazes. Adults love the dozens of wineries and tasting

rooms. Don’t miss Black Star Farms, an old horse farm that makes cheese as well as wine, and the Willow Vineyards, where the hillside setting makes for “this is the Midwest?” vistas.

North Adams, MA (3) Bring color into your life with the Berkshires’ Fall Foliage Festival, complete with a parade and leaf hunt for the kids. While you’re there, hike the portion of the Appalachian Trail that runs through town, or the easy but lovely Cascade Falls path.

Hannibal, MO October’s the perfect time to take a ghost tour of Mark Twain’s hometown and enjoy the 1800s-themed Autumn Historic Folklife Festival, featuring old-fashioned crafts, street musicians, and fresh-pressed apple cider.

Meredith, NH Early holiday shoppers, this is the trip for you. Start in town with its vintage and artisan shops, then drive 30 minutes to Tilton’s 50-plus factory outlets. Why here, particularly? There is no sales tax in New Hampshire. Stay at the historic Mill Falls at the Lake, starting at $119 per night.

Acadia National Park, ME The park’s remote location makes constellations sparkle like you’ve never seen. In September, hit the Acadia night Sky Festival, which features art, music, and the aforementioned stargazing. If you’re not a cold-weather camper, stay at the Bar Harbor Inn, a waterfront find where many of the rooms have working fireplaces and rates start at $189.

Fayetteville, AR The home of the Arkansas Razorbacks is also 28 miles from the free Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art. The gems in this collection—including works by Andy Warhol and Georgia O’Keeffe—rival the art you’ll find in cities like new York and London.

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Baytowne Wharf in Sandestin.

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set of Dirty Dancing—except that Baby never

got to dogsled with an Iditarod competitor. You

can! Rates start at $195.

Cozumel, Mexico Our favorite way to get to this island city with a coral reef snorkelers dream of? On a Disney cruise, which is magic (of course) for Disney aficionados, but equally elegant and fun for everybody else. All-inclusive four-night trips that call in Cozumel start at $449 per adult.

New York City The secret to a good nYC vacation: a cheap place to stay. You’ll barely be in your room if you go during the holidays, because the streets are especially sparkly then. Book a suite right across the Hudson River at the Homewood Suites Edgewater for roughly $199, then

take a quick ferry ride (the views!). Or stay downtown at the Jane, where retro-chic rooms with a shared bath start at $99.

Las Vegas The Winter Carnival at the Vegas version of Venice lets you celebrate the chilly season without bundling up. Witness whimsical tree-lighting ceremonies, lovely decor—no Vegas cheesiness here—and a skating rink with a view of the Venetian’s Grand Canal. Romantic! Suites with special “Winter in Venice” extras start at $149 per night.

San Simeon, CA From november through February, San Simeon is home to 17,000 elephant seals. Wave to them on the rocks, then take the gorgeous five-mile drive up to Hearst Castle, a historic-landmark mansion with jaw-dropping interiors and grounds.

Can’t miss: Heber Valley, UTUtah’s famous for its skiing, but few out-of-staters know the trick to the perfect ski vacation on a budget. Heber Valley has lower-priced lodging within a half hour of the top slopes in Park City, so you can pop over to get your skiing fix. That is, if you can tear yourself away—there’s so much to do here that you may never hit the slopes. Kids go crazy for the Heber Creeper, a restored antique train that somehow manages to get “robbed” on every trip across the valley, and adults tuck into the cheese fondue at the nice-but-not-snobby Blue Boar Inn. The whole family can snorkel in a crater with a geothermal spring—yes, in winter. Stay at the Zermatt Resort, so Swiss you’ll be surprised to hear English as you head to your comfy, elegant room. Rates start at $195.

Green Mountain Falls, CO (1)

This picturesque town (think outdoor skating next to a historic gazebo) is home to the Outlook Lodge, where the art hanging in the rooms will knock your socks off. Rooms start at $109 per night, and REDBOOK readers get 20 percent off two or more nights between February 1 and April 30 with online code REDBOOK (outlookgmf.com).

St. Paul, MN (2) Yes, St. Paul is cold. Very. But the frigid air is perfect for cross-country skiing and the oldest winter carnival in the nation. Watch artists create intricate snow and ice sculptures as long as your toes can stand it, then hit Cafe Latté for tea or a glass of red.

Skytop Lodge, PA (3) This old-timey Poconos resort will make you wonder if you’ve wandered onto the

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