AP9 Companies Offer A Few Ideas for Memorable Summer Vacations

It’s possible, AP9 Companies report, to create a summer vacation for the ages out of nothing more than a local beach and a week away from the office. All the same, most of us are usually tempted by vacation dreams that involve a little bit more than sunscreen and half a tank of gas.

While the quest for an all-time favorite summer vacation memory often puts a crimp in one’s budget, AP9 Companies members can access savings on a wide variety of travel needs, entertainment interests, seasonal apparel, home furnishings and a whole lot of other items and services that can keep the fun coming throughout the summer.

AP9 Companies know that your ideal summer getaway depends entirely upon who you are. A camping trip in the Pacific northwest, for instance, can be a riveting adventure for a woodsman or an ongoing source of agony for a socialite. Similarly, a tour of the great malls of America can send a serious shopper into spasms of joy while making a cycling enthusiast want to bang his helmet repeatedly against a wall.

Recognizing that one man’s dream vacation is another woman’s journey into the heart of boredom, AP9 Companies nevertheless propose a few destinations that can help make summer 2007 a vacation season to remember:

-- Head to the Hamptons. Everyone who’s anyone in New York social circles tends to summer in the Hamptons — and why not? With sun, sand and surf during the day and pre-planned parties at a wide range of hotspots at night, the glitterati take the concept of “summer hours” to a whole new level. Joining them can be a pricey decision, but finding a time share (or a friend who has one) can make Long Island’s south shore affordable enough to offer you entry into the world of high society, if only for a short time.

-- Get a glimpse of a glacier. As our planet heats up, glaciers are melting away at speeds not usually associated with them. While there’s still time, book a trip to Glacier National Park in Montana, where you can hike over 700 miles of eye-opening trails. From pristine forests to glistening lakes, from rugged terrain to inviting meadows, from grizzly bears to alpine wildflowers, Glacier National Park offers a range of sights and adventures that you can’t find anywhere else on Earth.

-- Make it a Smoky Mountain summer. America’s coolest mountain ranges aren’t all in the north. The Smoky Mountains offer half a million acres of recreational fun, from hiking and fishing to bird-watching, golf, swimming or simply lounging around and enjoying the view. Located in Tennessee and North Carolina, the Smoky Mountains provide an elevated taste of southern hospitality and culture.

-- Leave it to Las Vegas. If the vacation decision is a toss-up between civilization and a natural setting, enjoy the best of both worlds — Las Vegas. Not only does Vegas offer the latest and greatest in man-made entertainment, it’s also within a day’s reach of spectacular natural beauty, including the Grand Canyon, Red Rock, Lake Mead and a host of other sights that have to be seen to be believed.

With summer fast approaching, it’s time to start booking your vacation accommodations before they’re all snapped up. Wherever you end up, be sure to send yourself a “wish you were here” postcard to remind you of the fun you had, suggests AP9 Companies.