If you're looking for something unique and entertaining for all ages, head toward Vermont for the 27th annual Stoweflake Hot-Air Balloon Festival.

Voted a Top Ten Event of Vermont, the Stoweflake hot-air balloon festival kicks off Friday, July 12, 2013 at 4 p.m. with festivities and a twilight balloon launch at 6:30 p.m. The event will continue with two additional launches on Sat., July 13th at 6:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. and a final launch on Sunday, July 14th at 6:30 a.m.

Watch as more than 25 decorative balloons take flight July 12-14, 2013. Tethered rides are available for $10 per person. Or, you can lift up with the other balloonists for a New England hot-air balloon ride for $275 per person, plus tax (advanced reservations are required for these rides).

Finding the best wine and the best price is always a fascinating hunt for oenophiles, but a few sommeliers west of Boston are hoping to make things easier for you.

The Berkshire Tasting Panel, an experienced group of sommeliers at hotels and restaurants in The Berkshires, kicked off the “Berkshire Summer Wine Challenge” - a challenge to choose a white, rose or red wine, retailing under $20, "that represents all the Berkshires has to offer…artistry, history, poetry, purity, relaxation and lastly great taste."

The panel members were Sommelier Dan Thomas from the Red Lion Inn, Kollin Kozlowski CSW and Wine Director at Kelly’s, Blanytre’s Sommeliere Christelle Cotar and Front End
Manager of Mezze, Caitlin Harrison.

The judges participated in two roundtable blind tastings where each judge selected a rose or red wine out of a group of over 100 samples. On April 22 at Blantyre in Lenox, the judges revealed their choices and announced the “Quintessential Berkshire Summer Wine”
selections.

Here's what the panel had to say about the winning wines, both of which hailed from Spain:

The most surprising choice, our #1 red wine, a Cannanou (Grenache) which the group agreed/guessed was a southern French red, maybe a Grenache, Mourvedre, Syrah, Cinsault blend because of its earthy, ripe and mature character. Much to our surprise it was from Sardinia (I guess you could call that “extreme southern France!”). Grenache is a great summer choice, fresh and fruity, with minerality and acid backbone. The same descriptors could be said about Albarino, or even Chacoli for that matter. Ultimately our white wine choice was the Chacoli, produced not far from Rias Baixas, the “green” land of northern Spain. This wine stood out for its purity, lively personality and true sense of terroir.

Some of America's finest beers are crafted here in New England. To help bring beer lovers together, the BrewInn was created - an opportunity for beer lovers to embrace travel while taste-testing their way through different brews.

New England Inns & Resorts is made up of nearly 250 properties, many of which have their own breweries or pubs, or have tapped into the local craft beer movement in their area. The BrewInn offerings vary by property, but sample packages include:

The Nantucket Wine Festival is one of the nation’s most celebrated wine and food events, and a favorite escape for Boston wine enthusiasts.

The festival kicks off its 17th year on May 15 for 4 nights, featuring a schedule filled with celebrity chef cooking demonstrations, tastings, seminars, symposia, auctions, world class wines and a special charity gala.

The place to be Nantucket's landmark hotel, The White Elephant, which will host many of the wine festival events including The Grand Tastings (new for 2013) and Harbor Gala. The White Elephant and sister properties White Elephant Village and The Wauwinet are offering weekend packages including overnight accommodations, event tickets, dinners at Brant Point Grill and TOPPER’S, as well as Bloody Mary-fueled brunches.

It's never to early to plan your vacation. Some of the best rates are often off-season, so if you can escape before school vacation and avoid holiday weekends, you could take advantage of some great pre-season summer packages on Nantucket.

Nantucket’s The Veranda House and Chapman House are currently offering a special "Countdown to Summer 3-2-1" package available from May 27 through June 27. The package includes two complimentary round trip passes on the Steamship Authority’s FastFerry service from Hyannis (valued at $158) and a three night stay and one complimentary pass for a two night stay.

Rates for the pre-season package start at $199 mid-week and $249 on the weekends at The Veranda House, and $169 midweek and $209 weekends at Chapman House.

View from the deck of an Ocean View room in the Main Inn at Chatham Bars Inn, Chatham.

While the rest of the world flocks to Cape Cod for the summer months, local New Englanders know the beauty that Cape Cod beholds in the off-season.

Snow-covered beach walks, hot chocolate strolls, slow-roasted dinners, after-dinner drinks by the fire in the bar. These are the things that make Cape Cod worthy of a winter escape. Add to this the discounted hotel and resort rates, and relatively empty stores and restaurants (read: no waiting in long lines or reservations necessary), and you've got yourself a great weekend getaway at a fraction of the price.

I took a quick trip to Chatham this weekend to check things out. Yes, it was cold. Yes, it was quiet. Yes, it was perfect. And shouldn't every day, regardless of the weather, start with a walk on the beach?

A few things you should know before you go:

• Cape Cod is unvisited in the winter months, which means a lot of shopping and restaurants you would frequent in-season are shut down from November - February or March. This is your time to try something new. Make a reservation somewhere you would normally have a hard time getting into during the high-tourist season and enjoy a leisurely dinner.
• Regardless of when you visit the Cape, the beach will be hard to resist. Enjoy a morning or afternoon walk in the snow-sprinkled sand. You'll see plenty of people walking their dogs, going for a jog or taking photos. Bundle up and join the fun.
• While many bars and restaurants are open, the hours are varied to accommodate to the slower season. Call ahead before you go to make sure your favorite hole-in-the-wall bar is open or that the restaurant you want to dine in is accepting reservations.
• The nice thing about visiting the Cape off-season is the opportunity for more hotel amenities, like easy upgrades, thanks to low occupancy. However, low occupancy means there might be fewer staff on call, so be patient. Just kick back and relax.

If "eating healthy", "travel" and "spending more time with friends" were on your New Year's resolution list, then this hotel t is going to help you maintain your goals - all in one weekend.

The first-ever Women's Wellness Weekend takes place in Pennsylvania's scenic Allegheny Mountain region at the Omni Bedford Springs Resort & Spa from April 5-7, 2013. The weekend is led by Editor-in-Chief Peg Moline of Natural Health magazine and features a weekend full of special guests, including leading experts and best-selling authors. The three-day, all-inclusive program is "designed to inspire and rejuvenate women" with a focus on fitness, beauty, healthy eating and overall wellbeing.

The new hotel boom of 2013 is underway with the first new hotel in New England ready to open its doors this Spring.

The luxury boutique hotel will open its doors on Cherry Street in Burlington, Vt., complete with high-tech amenities and a James Beard Award nominee chef leading the restaurant. The 125-room hotel is locally developed, owned and operated with Burlington-based teams, and is working toward a LEED-certification.

According to hotel management, Hotel Vermont will ensure an authentic "Vermont" experience.

"This project is a first for Burlington," said Hans van Wees, general manager of the hotel. "We are bringing an independent, luxury boutique hotel to the city so travelers can enjoy our destination and locals can use this as a meeting place."

The press release announcing the opening said the hotel was built from all things "Vermont". Guests will see furniture made from white oak indigenous to Vermont, stone countertops with Vermont marble, and flooring made from reclaimed antique red oak, local to Vermont. There will be specially-designed indoor and outdoor public spaces and the hotel lobby will feature a wood-burning hearth.

Still looking for that perfect holiday escape? Stay close to home and take part in some of these hotel packages perfect for the holiday season.

The annual Christmas Prelude takes place in Kennebunkport, ME, this year from Nov. 29-Dec. 9. Complete with a lobster trap tree lighting, Firehouse lobster bake and Santa's arrival on a lobster boat, Kennebunkport takes a twist on the traditional Christmas parade and offers residents and a guests a new way to usher in the spirited holiday.

To help commemorate the start of the holiday season, The White Barn Inn is offering a special package for both weekends during the Prelude that includes accommodations in a Superior Queen room, breakfast and afternoon tea, 4 course dinner at the White Barn Inn restaurant, cocktail reception on the Friday night of your arrival and a welcome gift from the hotel. Rates start at $690 a night.

If there's one thing we can all agree on about fall, it's the fun of Halloween. You might not enjoy the cold weather or the seasonal allergies, but who doesn't love a spooky jack-o-latern, a bag full of candy, or a creative costume? Or, maybe you're into the spookier elements of Halloween.

Throughout New England you'll find plenty of hayrides, haunted houses, spooky mazes and fright-night events. For those brave enough, you can extend your fear by staying overnight at a haunted hotel. That's right – it seems the ghosts of New England's past aren't ready to truly depart, and like to make sure guests at hotels in the area are aware of their influence.

Are you brave enough to stay the night? Think you'll sleep soundly? I'll admit I couldn't do it and yes, I think you're insane for wanting to – but I applaud your efforts. If you're willing to brave it for a night, I found a few hotels that will test your fear limits:

The entrance of the Boston Omni Parker House, said to one of the most haunted hotels in America.