Life Is A Highway: Stylish Road Tripping Ideas From Concierge At Large, Inc.

Feb. 10, 2009 - PRLog -- As fuel prices hit a five-year low, transportation costs are down almost half from last year's highs. As a result, the classic road trip is making a glorious comeback, highlighting vintage Americana routes and shunning airport headaches. Concierge At Large, Inc. an affiliate member of leading travel network, Virtuoso (www.virtuoso.com), shares their insider knowledge on the best places to improve one's 'Return on Life™;' a way for families, couples, friends and even independent travelers to disconnect from day-to-day stresses of life and reconnect with each other or their inner peace.

Packing up and heading out on the open road for the weekend is a trend that 2009 travelers are set to embrace - discovering destinations that are within a day's drive from home. And, each offers exceptional value with   complimentary services or amenities. These nearby resort towns, mountain lodges, national parks and coastal inns are in the luster of the travel spotlight - choose from a half-hour drive to an all-day escape with a selection of top-notch spots within an odometer's reach from US cities:

* In the Northeast: Lenox, Massachusetts is host to Blantyre, a 1902 Tudor mansion on 110 acres in the Berkshires - activities range from croquet to swimming (or more seasonal ice skating), and nearby hikes that include part of the Appalachian Trail. Exclusive for Virtuoso guests: fourth night free and a $200 spa credit (valid until May 31, 2009). From Boston: Two hours / From New York: Three hours. Ten miles North of Woodstock, Vermont, the original 1795 farmhouse and cottages of the five-star Twin Farms sit on 300 acres of wildflower meadows, ponds and streams is the antidote to the city.  Exclusive for Virtuoso guests:  $300 spa credit, bath and body gift basket and a romantic dinner in the private wine cellar when staying three nights (valid throughout 2009). From Boston: Three Hours, Thirty minutes. From New York: Five Hours.

* Outside Washington, DC: In Blowing Rock, North Carolina, the Westglow Resort & Spa is a Greek Revival mansion built as a summer home in 1917, with incredible views of the Blue Ridge Mountains.  Exclusive for Virtuoso guests: upgraded accommodations, full breakfast for two each day, a complimentary Signature Service spa treatment and a VIP gift. From Washington DC: Seven Hours / From Atlanta: Five Hours.

* Wild West Retreats: Nestled in at the base of Vail Mountain, along Gore Creek, the luxury Vail Cascade Resort offers ski-in/ ski-out luxury Rocky Mountain style with a plethora of year-round activities, from rock-climbing and whitewater rafting to pristine ski and snowboard trails. Exclusive for Virtuoso guests:  Daily breakfast for two at the new Atwater on Gore Creek restaurant, Aria Spa Welcome basket, $50 Aria credit and an upgrade at the time of booking.  From Albuquerque, NM: Seven Hours / From Denver, CO: Three Hours. The 25,000 sq ft spa at the Lake Austin Spa Resort provides a private escape in Texas Hill Country - with over 100+ treatments to choose from, and a view of the soothing lake. Exclusive for Virtuoso guests: daily breakfast and either a gift credit or spa treatment when staying two or more nights. From Austin, TX: 30 minutes. From Dallas, TX: 4 Hours.

* Northwest Wilderness: Along 7 miles of the Blackfoot River of "A River Runs Through It" fame, The Resort at Paws Up in Greenough, Montana mixes luxury accommodations with endless activities in the rugged surroundings. Exclusive for Virtuoso guests: daily breakfast for two, a $150 adventure and activities credit and a bottle of wine. From Salt Lake City, Eight Hours / From Boise, ID: Eight Hours.

* To the South: In Natchez, Mississippi, Monmouth Plantation is a historical Federal-style Antebellum mansion on 26 acres, dating back to 1818. With just 30 rooms, and extensive gardens to wander through, touring the nearby working cotton plantation is a step back through time. Exclusive for Virtuoso guests: full Southern breakfast each morning and a horse-drawn carriage ride through downtown Natchez. From New Orleans: Three Hours / From Houston, TX: Five Hours, 30 minutes. In South Carolina's lowcountry, along the banks of the May River, Auberge Resort's The Inn at Palmetto Bluff is a classic Southern getaway: charming, graceful and romantic, with pine floors, fireplaces and screened verandas. Exclusive for Virtuoso guests: a three-night package includes two rounds of golf per person, a 60-minute spa treatment per person, breakfast daily and an hour-long cruise aboard the resort's 1913 historic yacht.

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Since 1997, Concierge At Large, Inc. has specialized in supporting high net worth corporate and private clients with world-class service assistance. Clients have access to the most exclusive, professionally screened resources available.

Virtuoso® is the industry's leading luxury travel network. This by-invitation-only organization comprises over 300 agencies with more than 6,000 elite travel specialists in 22 countries in North and South America, the Caribbean, Australia and New Zealand, as well as over 1,000 of the world's best travel providers and premier destinations.