Love the beach? If you have yet to explore the beaches of Currituck County’s Outer Banks, here are a few ideas for your getaway there.

The northern Outer Banks beaches of Currituck County include several distinct beach and vacation rental communities, each with something special to offer visitors.

Take your four-wheel-drive vehicle for a cruise along the coastline, or watch the famous herd of Spanish Mustangs roam freely here as they have for generations.

The beaches are quiet, clean and peaceful, yet still close enough to the area’s attractions, restaurants and activities to keep the whole family entertained.

— Stuart Chamberlain, Currituck Outer Banks Travel & Tourism

In 2004, the International Air Transport Association began pushing airlines to issue electronic tickets. Prior to that, most passengers received their tickets through the mail from a travel agent or from an airline ticket office.

Soon we may not even need electronic tickets or scans on our smartphones. Delta is testing a pilot program at Reagan National Airport for SkyMiles members to use their fingerprints to check bags and board their flight.

JetBlue is testing facial recognition technology that uses images verified through the US Customs and Border Protection database to allow passengers to board flights from Boston to Aruba.

– Jan Schroder, Girl on the Go

As the travel season is just around the corner and the travellers and the tourists are mapping out their routes and holidays, it is important to know how to leave behind a positive impact.

With the increase in demand for travel, it is essential to be mindful while travelling. Sustainable or green tourism merely means maintaining not only the environment but also the local culture, traditions, heritage, local businesses, and the destinations’ resources.

Here are a few tips to travel green: buy locally made products, give back, honor the local customs, be respectful, and leave as little trace as possible.

– Waad Kibeda, The Dubai 100

You don’t have to travel out of state for some family fun this summer.

Sliding Rock is a natural mountain water slide located in the Pisgah National Forest near Asheville. The slide is fueled by 11,000 gallons of water flowing each minute down the 60-foot, smooth, sloping boulder. The ride ends in a chilly 8-foot-deep pool of water to ensure a safe landing.

This is an extremely popular one-of-a-kind thrill that people from all over the world come to experience. The cost is just $2 per person. It opens on Memorial Day weekend.

– Amber Lawrence, S&A Communications

Preyer Brewing is a local family-owned brewery in downtown Greensboro.

This unique bar has a relaxed atmosphere and offers a variety of craft beers. While Preyer brews several classic beers, it is known for its innovative and rotating creations like the jalapeno lime-infused IPA and the Butterfinger IPA.

The brewery constantly hosts events, including Sunday $5 flights, Tuesday Trivia Night, and limited-time and holiday specials. Preyer does not serve food, but Crafted – The Art of Street Food is next door. It offers a service window where you can order and enjoy your meal from inside the brewery.

– Taylor Bartorelli, The North Carolina 100

Treehouse Vineyards, nestled in rural Monroe, North Carolina, is one of the state’s truly unique tourist destinations. Just as the name sounds, Treehouse Vineyards is a family-owned-and-operated winery that also happens to have treehouses you can rent for a night or two.

The 200-year-old farm that opened to the public in 2010 offers cabernet sauvignon, merlot, dry white blend, and its award-winning native muscadine wines. Visitors who are not staying in the treehouses can attend a tasting and tour for $8. Live music and other events are offered almost every weekend throughout the summer.

– Zach Huffstetler, S&A Communications

Years ago, travel agents were the ideal way to book vacations. Today, with online resources coupled with our ever-growing desire for personalized service, we need a new kind of partner to help with our holiday plans; we need a travel advisor.

Travel advisors use personal relationships to learn about exclusive offers and design holidays specific to individuals’ needs. They ensure it’s a candid, two-way conversation and that they can understand each person’s preferences, expectations and budget. Travel advisors add an additional layer of personalization for vacations, from specific VIP experiences to added value that matter to every traveler.

– Stephanie Miller Murphy, The New Orleans 100

How we love to collect frequent flyer miles. Approximately 7% of flights are booked with points or miles.

WalletHub compared 11 domestic airlines using 23 metrics to find the best frequent flyer programs. The top five are Delta Air Lines, Alaska Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines, Virgin America and United Airlines.

Hawaiian Airlines gives the most rewards value ($21 per $100 spent), with Alaska Airlines coming in a close second ($20 per $100 spent). Delta and JetBlue are the only two major airlines whose miles don’t expire due to inactivity, and 45% will credit you up to 12 months after your flight.

Visit here for more on the best frequent flyer programs.

– Jan Schroder, @GirlontheGoJan

Most Savannah visitors stick to the city’s popular downtown area, strolling River Street and hopping through historic squares. I’ve done that routine before, so on a recent trip, I sought a new experience in the artsy Starland District.

Developed in the 1920s for streetcar commuters, Starland is now a hub for arts and culture. From our charming solar-powered Airbnb, we walked to locally owned restaurants and shops, like Back in the Day Bakery for homemade buttermilk biscuits and Graveface Records to browse vinyl.

If, like me, you enjoy the quirkier parts of cities, Starland just might steal your heart.

– Tyler Killette, B2 Communications

Conde Nast Traveler’s 2016 Readers’ Choice Awards rated The Umstead Hotel and Spa as the sixth best in the US. The Cary hotel is situated on 12 acres of wooded and landscaped grounds, and features an award-winning spa and Herons, a five-star restaurant. Accommodations are available for corporate and private events.

The hotel also rose from seventh on Top Hotels in the American South to the number one spot this year.

Other NC hotels to make the best in the South list were The Ballantyne in Charlotte at sixth and The Fearrington House Inn in Pittsboro at ninth.

– Deneen Bloom, S&A Communications

It fit the picture in my mind perfectly of a cozy New England inn. The Inn by the Sea in Cape Elizabeth, Maine, has fireplaces in the rooms, wonderful views of the Atlantic Ocean and plenty of outdoor seating in the well-landscaped, plush green yard.

Don’t be surprised by a friendly dog behind the front desk. The inn’s adopt-a-dog program has placed 63 dogs in permanent homes.

Stroll down the boardwalk and along the mile-long Crescent Beach, then head into Portland, just 20 minutes away, for a delicious brown-butter lobster roll at Eventide Oyster Co.

– Jan Schroder, @GirlontheGoJan

A gift of land from the Broyhill family in 1934 has made the annual Blowing Rock Charity Horse Show possible for the last 82 consecutive years.

Its foundation is renaming the Blowing Rock Equestrian Preserve in honor of the Broyhill family’s long history of support for the show. In response, Paul Broyhill recalled riding in the show as a young man, and said the family is very excited to have their name “associated with an event that enjoys nationwide renown as one of the oldest and most finely regarded horse shows.”

It is now known as the Broyhill Equestrian Preserve.

–Leah Brown, The North Carolina 100

When I fly I start with very low expectations. They are always met. I don’t have a list of travel pet peeves, and try to just be grateful I get to travel. That works sometimes. If not, I drink gin.

According to a survey done by MissTravel.com of over 35,000 people, the biggest pet peeve (31%) for travelers are Snapchatters. Apparently people find them annoying for taking too long to take a photo.

Other pet peeves include flight delays (13%), paid wifi (13%) and smelly food on airplanes (7%). I’ll take smelly food over smelly people any day.

– Jan Schroder, @GirlontheGoJan

“Hey Siri, adjust the temperature to 72 and turn off the lights.” It’s as easy as that to control the temperature and lights in your hotel room at two of Starwood’s Aloft Hotels.

When guests enter their rooms at Aloft Boston Seaport or Aloft Santa Clara, they’ll find an iPad running a custom Aloft app that will guide them through a quick set-up process so Siri recognizes their voice and can answer questions about local attractions, in addition to controlling the guestroom environment.

It’s like having an in-room assistant. And you don’t even have to share the bathroom.

For more on The Aloft app, see the Girl on the Go blog.

– Jan Schroder, @GirlontheGoJan

“Don’t look down before you get on,” our photographer advised as we gingerly stepped onto the glass-enclosed balcony in Willis Tower in Chicago, the tallest building in the western hemisphere. We were in Skydeck Chicago, the highest observation deck in the US.

We were stepping “out” of the building onto The Ledge, which extends 4.3 feet from the 103rd floor. While we had seen photos of people jumping and doing gymnastic feats, we took a few quick shots and stepped off, daring a glance down.

I love walking the streets of Chicago, then getting this birds-eye view.

– Jan Schroder, @GirlontheGoJan

A trip to the High Country wouldn’t be complete without visiting Grandfather Mountain State Park. 

With 11 hiking trails, seven wildlife habitats, and the 228-foot Mile High Swinging Bridge – the country’s highest suspension footbridge – there’s something for all ages and interests. 

Formed over 750 million years ago, Grandfather Mountain is one of earth’s oldest geological formations, and its 5,945-foot peak is the Blue Ridge mountains’ highest point. Its original name was “Tanawha,” meaning “a fabulous hawk or eagle.” Pioneers later named it “Grandfather” after recognizing an old man’s face in the cliffs.

– Jessica Wight, S&A Communications

From bluegrass to gospel to country, the South is the birthplace of nine distinct musical traditions. Visit the points of interest with five curated road trip guides that make up the 1,500-mile stretch of highway known as Gold Record Road, part of the Americana Music Triangle.

Visit more than 30 sites in five states, including the home of Muddy Waters in Clarksdale, Mississippi, jazz halls in New Orleans, and the famous music studio in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, where musicians including The Rolling Stones and Aretha Franklin have recorded.

Visit the website for road trips and upcoming events along the trail.

— Jan Schroder, @GirlontheGoJan

Just a three-hour flight from Charlotte, Cancun has beautiful white-sand beaches and access to adventures like exploring ancient ruins, cave-rappelling, snorkeling and zip-lining.

After those activities, I relaxed in luxury at two all-inclusive Palace Resorts. For adults-only relaxation and butler service, try the 260-room, Le Blanc Spa Resort, voted Mexico’s #1 all-inclusive. Rates start at $463 per person.

For a livelier, family-friendly scene, head to Moon Palace Golf & Spa Resort. This 1,316-room resort has 10 restaurants, seven pools, nightly shows and a FlowRider. Rates start at $323 per person.

For more on Palace Resorts, please visit the Girl on the Go blog.

– Jan Schroder, @GirlontheGoJan

“So which of these 15 ingredients would you like on your Bloody Mary?” the cute server asked. The answer was easy. “All of them!”

We were heading to Sunday lunch at High Hampton Inn in Cashiers, North Carolina, when this towering concoction caught my eye. After ordering, I watched the server skillfully add each item, including olive, cucumber, artichoke heart, baby corn. But what really elevated this “Full Pale Sail” Bloody Mary to legendary status were the addition of shrimp and bacon. Those really captured my heart.

It’s practically a meal in itself. But a delicious fried chicken buffet awaited.

For my top three reasons to love High Hampton Inn, visit here.

– Jan Schroder, @GirlontheGoJan

Take advantage of two short cruise specials with MSC Cruises. Depart from Miami on the 4,345-passenger MSC Divina on a three-night cruise July 2 and sail to Nassau and Cape Canaveral. Or depart July 5 on a four-night cruise and visit Cozumel. Prices start at just $279 for an interior stateroom.

The July 2 cruise features a Fourth of July deck party with digital fireworks and dance party, while the July 5 sailing includes two special performances from The Voice UK contestant, Murray Hockridge.

Contact your travel agent or MSC Cruises at 1-877-665-4655.

Nicholas Sparks is famous for his beautifully written romantic novels. One of Sparks’ novels was brought to life with the movie, Nights in Rodanthe, featuring Richard Gere and Diane Lane, and was filmed right here on the coast of North Carolina.

The movie’s famous inn is still standing today in Rodanthe and available for weekly rentals. After suffering significant damage from coastal storms, the house was bought and renovated by fans and moved to a safer location. Local police stopped traffic, and utility workers removed power lines as the inn traveled to its new site.

Click here for more information.

– Leah Brown, S&A Communications

The Kilimanjaro Safari at Animal Kingdom is my favorite Disney attraction. And seeing it at night gave it an entirely new dimension. Spotting zebras lurking in the shadows and watching rhinos swim silently in the dark, muddy waters gave the experience an additional air of mystery.

Starting in May, Animal Kingdom will be staying open at night, offering guests a chance to go on the night safari, watch a light show on the Tree of Life, and later in the summer, the Rivers of Light show on the lagoon.

For more on what’s new at Disney this summer, click here.

– Jan Schroder, @GirlontheGoJan

Attend a tea party hosted by the Governor General’s wife in Nassau, feast on a home-cooked meal, listen to their famous rack and scrape music, or enjoy a fish fry with locals. These are just a few of the things available when you get off the typical tourist path with the Bahamas People-to-People Experience.

The Ministry of Tourism pairs tourists with friendly Bahamian ambassadors eager to share their culture and way of life.

This complimentary program is available on 10 islands. Register online, visit a Bahamas Tourist Office or ask at the tour desk of your hotel.

– Jan Schroder, @GirlontheGoJan

Mount Mitchell Golf Club, ranked a top 10 public course in the state, boasts gorgeous greens, a pristine river and stunning mountain views. Believe it or not: the player-friendly par 72 course earned 4.5 stars from Golf Digest.

Located just off the Blue Ridge Parkway, northeast of Mt. Mitchell, the highest peak in mainland eastern North America, Mount Mitchell Golf Course is an hour from Asheville.

Stay the weekend at a variety of housing options: townhouses, condos, or various sized single-family homes and relax for delicious bites and beverages at Teo’s Restaurant & Pub after your round.

– Deneen Bloom, S&A Communications