For Washington city dwellers looking for a beach weekend, look no further than Ocean Shores; a six mile long peninsula with two fresh water lakes, an old growth forest in the city center and over 250 different species of birds. Located 134 miles – about 2 hours 39 mins – west of Seattle the sparse beach town is known for its summer kite festival and its main attraction, six miles of sandy beaches that allow car access.
The family friendly town offers several places to stay, most being simple motels and vacation rentals. Touted as the #1 hotel in Ocean Shores, we chose the Shilo Inn to bring our family (the two of us, our preschooler and our 80lb 12 year-old Golden Retriever named Rico Suave.
The inn offers some guest services that you would not expect to see in a small hotel chain such as fitness center with wet and dry sauna, indoor heated pool that is actually a decent size, business center and guest laundry. Our Golden Retriever, Rico, was welcomed with open arms, a per night fee and grounded to only first floor rooms which limits the view from the balcony.
The restaurant is actually very good with breakfast being a hit for our family. The eggs were perfectly cooked, pancakes tall and fluffy and coffee/juice was fresh and delicious. Another big bonus of the restaurant was the waitress who had lived locally for 15 years and gave us local tourist information of the caliber of any visitor center or concierge.
The beach was just a few feet from the hotel with foot and car access. The town is filled with small independent shops and restaurants. An Ocean Shores pastime is kite flying and a two-time world champion kite team has a shop in town. Stop by Cutting Edge Kites (676 Ocean Shores Blvd NW Tel: 360-289-0667 360-289-0667 ) http://www.cuttingedgekites.com to pick up a kite and get some professional flying tips.
For eating in I recommend the Shilo Inn restaurant for breakfast, lunch and dinner. For eating out there are a few great choices that will please any budget or picky eater.
The best pizza in town is found at Dugan's Pizza (690 Ocean Shores Blvd. Tel: 360-289-2330 360-289-2330 ). The simple looking establishment cranks out glorious pies, packed with fresh toppings and perfectly cooked.
Many times beach side pubs are beer joints that are perfect for that get- sunburn -get -beer cycle but not so great for families with kids. A family friendly Irish pub with good food can be found at Galway Bay Irish Restaurant, Pub and Gift Shop (880 Point Brown Avenue Northeast Tel: 360-289-2300 360-289-2300 ) http://www.galwaybayirishpub.com . Live music on weekends and a family section with chalk board table to keep the kiddies busy was just perfect. The extensive menu featured traditional Irish fare such a Sheppard's pie or local favorites such as award-winning clam chowder served with hot Irish soda bread.
After a few days exploring the beach by foot, dune buggy, scooter or with your own car you will be ready to relax, lounge and eat. Ocean Shores offers visitors nature, simple beach life, good food and decent accommodations that will turn any simple weekend getaway into a surprising success.
Ocean Shores Summer Events (source www.tourismoceanshores.com)
Kite Challenge
Saturday, June 5 - Sunday, June 6, 2010
Sponsored by "Team Cutting Edge Kites" - 2005 & 2006 World Champions. Free kite flying lessons, stunt competitions, fun flies, displays and more. Come to the beach and watch the sky come to life with hundreds of colorful kites!
Sand and Sawdust Festival
Friday, June 25 - Sunday, June 27, 2010
Five Star Dealerships Sand and Sawdust Festival welcomes you to the beach! Master, Intermediate, & Novice Sand-Sculpting teams compete for over $5,000.00 in cash prizes.
For help in planning a trip to Ocean Shores or the Pacific Northwest call 1-800-554-5170 1-800-554-5170 or 425-355-3700 425-355-3700 . Send an email to info@travel4real.com
About Parma: Parma, city of traditional aristocratic cultures, rich with preciouys works of art and a capital city in its past, famous for its most illustrious children and for artists who work within her-from Benedetto Antelami to Salimbene, from Correggio to Parmigianino, from Bodoni to Verdi and Toscanini, from Stendhal to Proust- is totally unlike any of the many beautiful cities that attract visitors to Italy. 
About the Hotel Farnese: The recently renovated and upgraded 4-star hotel has always been one of Parma’s most cutting-edge. Its close location to the historical centre means guests can reach Parma’s Ospedale Maggiore, the Tardini Stadiumv, the Law Courts, all the museums, the Regio Theatre and the Paganini Auditorium from the hotel in just a few minutes. 
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Early in the afternoon transfer to Busseto. The Parma province is known as The Food Valley of Italy. It represents the motherland of a the greatest composer of Italy, Giuseppe Verdi, who wars born in Roncole di Busseto. This afternoon you will travel back in time by visiting his home, St. Agata , the Teatro Verdi and the Casa Museo Barezzi devoted to the artist's life. 
About Cervia: The Municipality of Cervia is located in Emilia Romagna, on a wonderful part of the Adriatic coast, 20km south of Ravenna. Its 10km shore characterised by fine sandy beaches and shallow water provides the setting for the resorts of Cervia, Milano Marittima, Pinarella and Tagliata. The office of Fondazione Cervia Ambiente was established here in 1973 for the improvement and protection of the environment. Cervia , the antique city of salt, is not just a seaside resort, but also a town steeped in culture and history. By strolling around the centre you will discover the charm of a city which was completely reconstructed brick by brick at the end of the XVII century. Milano Marittima is an exclusive and renowned resort on the Adriatic Riviera. In recent years it has become 'the place to be' for even the most demanding tourists.
About the Grand Hotel Gallia: The Grand Hotel Gallia has an excellent location, just a few metres away from the sea and from the Milano Marittima pinewood, an oasis of tranquillity and freshness. In just five minutes’ walk you can reach the centre of active social life and of the most famous and fashionable clubs and shops, and the convenience of having all the most interesting places at such a short distance makes this hotel one of the most famous ones in Milano Marittima.
About Ravenna: Ravenna is a treasure chest of art, history and culture of the highest order, a city with ancient origins and a glorious past and capital three times, of the Western Roman Empire, of King Theodoric of the Goths and of the Byzantine Empire in Europe. The basilicas and baptisteries of the city contain the richest heritage of mosaics dating from the 5th and 6th centuries and eight historic buildings included in the World Heritage List of UNESCO. If Ravenna was the most important political and cultural centre of the West during the centuries that saw the decline of the Latin civilisation, it is no less important in later ages, from the archaeology of the Domus dei Tappeti di Pietra to the vast Roman port of Classe. It is the city that guards the remains of Dante and keeps alive the memory of the great poet with important cultural events. The winding streets still reveal the past of a city built on a lagoon, the presence of water in the canals that cross it, closed during the period of Venetian rule and at the end of the fifteenth century opening the elegant space of Piazza Maggiore, now known as Piazza del Popolo. 
About San Marino: The Republic of San Marino was founded in 301 A.D. and is the most ancient European Republic. An enclave situated in central Italy, 15 km from the Romagna Riviera, the Republic sits at 700 meters above sea level on Mount Titano, a prominence which gives the first hint of the presence of the Central Apennine Mountains.
Faenza: Brief Area History: Faenza, along the via Emilia, is an ancient Roman city. Only a few architectural examples remain of the medieval period, for example: St. Hippolytus and the churches of St. Maria Foris Portam and the Commenda. The same cannot be said for what was one of the brightest periods of Faenza during the dominion of the Manfredi family. In fact, a thriving era began with the rebuilding of the Cathedral in 1474, with the influence of Tuscan renaissance art. Artists such as Giuliano and Benedetto da Maiano, Donatello, the Della Robbia, Biagio d'Antonio of Florence and others moved to Faenza to work. The Baroque period instead boasts many great architectural works that represent the current face of Faenza: the structure of the two main piazzas with fountain, the clock tower, the loggias and the arcade wings of the Palazzo del Comune (Town Hall) and the Palazzo del Podestà. Faenza's Ceramics: The ceramics of Faenza boasts a tradition of many centuries that also today continues to hold significant importance in artisan and industrial expression. The geographic location of the city makes it a meeting point between the Tuscan and Po cultures, becoming a ceramic centre of primary importance since the Middle Ages. The fame of these products of Faenza is such that the majolica is known throughout the world with the French name Faience.
About the Casa Paolo Teverini: Even though the exact date of foundation is unknown, there are written documents that it existed already in 1600 in the same position where it is now managed by the same family that still runs the business with big enthusiasm. Documents of the 18th century testify that the ancient inn included also a butchery with an attached stable for the change of the horses, the so called "posta". It was the only rest stop for travellers between Cesena and Florence. Nowadays the hotel became the destination of tourists that want to find the highest level of services but with a family management. 
About the Spa: An extraordinary experience and a pleasant holiday during which all your senses will be involved by the perfumes, colors, and sweet notes of a relaxing and energizing environment where it is easy to relax and let yourself be fondled with many proposals for a holiday characterized by vitality, fun, and a healthy sport activity in a fairy-tale like landscape. On an ancient sea giving us ancient thermal waters, in the peacefulness of a hilly landscape...a place for senses, body, and mind welcoming you with the delicate perfume of flowers and essential oils, among murmured musical notes, where nature, science, and experience harmoniously mix... for a complete list of spa services just ask. 
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Bologna: Brief Area History: The history of Bologna is so closely woven into its architectural structure that the monuments on the average tourist itinerary don’t even begin to tell the whole story. Visiting Bologna means losing yourself among the porticos and alleys, discovering stately old palazzi, and, yes, also visiting those monuments that have become the symbols of the city. The one real monument to Bologna is Bologna itself. 
About Hotel Tre Vecchi: Your hotel is located on the main street of Bologna in an old building with a characteristic portico. Zanhotel Tre Vecchi is in the heart of the city centre and it is easily reached by any means Its 95 rooms are perfectly and elegantly furnished, all with air conditioning, satellite TV, PAY TV, Internet wi-fi, radio, minibar, and safe. A very rich hot buffet breakfast is served every morning into the characteristic dining room of the hotel. 
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