Park City, Utah, is a year round destination that is home to the ever popular Sundance Film Festival. This is an upscale community with a rustic feel. It is popular with celebrities, especially during ski season. Here are some top things to do while you’re in Park City.

1. The Sundance Film Festival – Everyone has heard of Sundance and this is the film festival where many independent films get noticed. Robert Redford’s annual event is a favorite of locals and visitors. It is held each year during the second half of January.

2. Hot Air Balloon Ride – This has to be the absolute best way to start a morning. Get a bird’s eye view of Park City while enjoying a continental breakfast and a glass of Champagne. You’ll even get a flight certificate commemorating the event.

3. Bobsledding – If weren’t already familiar with this Olympic Winter Sport, then maybe you’ve seen Disney’s Cool Running, featuring the story of the Jamaican Bobsled Team. Yup. You read that right. Jamaican Bobsled Team. This attraction is open to the public, and yes, I’ve tried it out. It was an exhilarating experience at this site of the 2002 Winter Olympic Games. The 75-mph ride shouldn’t be missed.

4. Skiing and Snowboarding – Park City is home to three world-class ski resorts: The Canyons Resort, Park City Mountain Resort, and Deer Valley Resort. Deer Valley is for skiers only, but The Canyons and Park City Mountain Resorts welcome skiers and snowboarders. The over 9,000 acres of snow in Park City welcomes beginner and expert runs.

5. Shopping – Park City is full of boutiques and eclectic little shops for when you want to take a break from all the outdoor activities. There are eight shopping districts to choose from for those with varying interests.

6. Dining – There are more than 100 bars and restaurants to choose from, with a variety culinary choices from around the world. I recommend Morning Ray Café for breakfast, lunch at the mid-mountain Red Pine Restaurant in The Canyons Resort, and an upscale dinner at any of Main Street’s award winning establishments.

7. Nightlife – The après ski party scene in Park City is funky and fun. There are wine tastings to be found, dance clubs, and jazz bars. Whatever your poison, it can be found in Park City.

Park City isn’t just a winter destination. The Sundance Film Festival may bring in the celebrities, but the summer months are when families can enjoy hiking and biking and even a few bargains. Don’t forget to use the FREE transit system to get around Park City. Check out the routes and schedules for this biodeisel fueled transportation at Park City’s Official Visitor’s Site. For ski information in Park City and the rest of Utah, visit SkiUtah.com.

These tips aren't just for parents, but anyone seeking out potent libations at the House of Mouse. For more travel tips, check out my blog.

Check out Epcot’s International Food and Wine Festival that occurs annually each fall. If you can’t make it, there are plenty of adult beverage opportunities throughout Walt Disney World Parks and Resorts.

Picture yourself at Walt Disney World, pushing a stroller around, possibly on a multi-generational family trip, and you find nap time is quickly approaching – for everyone. You just want a little Me Time. There’s nothing wrong with that. Parents need to stay sane and take advantage of down time, or even treat themselves to a visit to the parks WITHOUT the kids. Family travel can get crazy, so why not ask a family member to watch the kids, so you and your spouse can have a few moments of adult time.

Did you know here are nearly 400 places to dine across Walt Disney World Resort? And that’s not counting the portable food carts. In all, more than 6,000 different food items are available. And chances are, if the restaurants aren’t in the Magic Kingdom, they just might have an adult beverages on the menu for you to enjoy. If wine is your poison of choice, then you’ll want to know that more than 600 sommeliers have been awarded the Court of Master Sommelier Introductory Certificate at Walt Disney World Resort, with more than 300 sommeliers currently in restaurants.

With so many restaurants and dining choices, where should you go for that “special” drink? Here are some top choices for a cocktail, beer, or wine while at Walt Disney World.

Epcot’s World Showcase

United Kingdom – The Rose and Crown Pub and Dining room brings visitors into Victorian England with its etched glass panels, dark mahogany bar and authentic dart board. If you are looking for hearty ale, this place offers specially designed ale warmer can heat your Guinness to 55 degrees, the temperature favored by Brits.

Mexico – The pavilion features a festive and colorful celebration of the beauty and culture of Mexico that is fun for guests of all ages. “Gran Fiesta Tour Starring the Three Caballeros” is an excursion by tour boat through the vibrant, eye-filling sights and lively music of Mexico. This will get you in the mood to grab a delicious margarita from one of the nearby stands. I’ve heard rumors of a tequila bar in the works for 2010.

Japan – In the Matsu-no-ma Lounge, visitors see a majestic view of Future World across the lagoon while sampling sushi, Japanese pickled vegetables, tempura and exotic specialty drinks.

Germany – Biergarten, an indoor German “courtyard” featuring a German Oktoberfest buffet. At lunch and dinner time, yodelers, dancers and other lederhosen-clad musicians perform an Oktoberfest dinner show. Guests are invited onstage to join in the musical fun. The wine shop nearby offers samples of Ice Wine for a few bucks. Definitely worth a try.

Other Potent Venues at Disney

Victoria Falls at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge – Down a flight of stairs from the lobby, this mezzanine lounge serves wine and spirits imported from Africa, including Windhoek beer from Namibia and Imoya Brandy from South Africa. The specialty drink is a Victoria Falls Mist, with tangerine, melon and banana liqueurs. Animal Kingdom Lodge has the largest offering of South African wines anywhere in the US. Be sure to check out Jiko, The Cooking Place, too!

The Wave at Disney’s Contemporary Resort – Trendy cocktails are served for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Start the day with a Pomegranate Splash (vodka, pomegranate liqueur, cranberry juice and soda water) or the Ultimate Bloody Mary (organic vodka, Bloody Mary mix and a dash of red chili sauce). The Pure-tini mixes organic vodka with organic mango and passion fruit liqueur. The Antioxidant Cocktail features wild berry vodka, black raspberry liqueur, açai juice with agave, lychee, aloe juice and freshly squeezed lemon juice.

Tune-In at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, next door to 50’s Prime Time Cafe, looks like a family den from the ’50s, with black-and-white TVs and campy retro furniture. You can choose kitschy drinks from “Dad’s Liquor Cabinet” like Uncle Tim’s Melon Margarita, Scooter’s Long Island Iced Tea or an Electric Lemonade. Beer and wine is offered, too.

Dawa Bar adjacent to Tusker House Restaurant at Disney’s Animal Kingdom – Sit in the shade and sip a hard-to-find Tusker Beer from Africa or Safari Amber, brewed just for Disney’s Animal Kingdom and Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge. South African wines are on the drink menu, too, along with cocktails like Lost on Safari with rum and fruit juices.

Mizner’s at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa - A live orchestra plays nostalgic Big Band sounds just outside the doors of this lounge tucked away on the second floor of the hotel. The lounge’s namesake is architect Addison Mizner, whose designs launched a “Florida Renaissance” in the 1920s, so the sophisticated drinks are apropos: champagnes, caipirinhas, mint juleps and cosmopolitans, along with nine vodkas, seven different single malt scotch whiskeys and after-dinner cognacs and ports.

There are more than 50 lounges in Walt Disney World hotels and three theme parks (no alcohol in Magic Kingdom. Again I stress. No alcohol in Magic Kingdom), making this list just a sampling of the many great place for big kids like parents to have their own magic time at Walt Disney World. If there’s a place you like others to know about, be sure to leave a comment, helping readers discover new places to sample alcoholic libation.

If you find yourself wandering around looking for a place to buy alcohol at Disney, all you have to do is ask one of the friendly cast members, who can point you in the right direction. Be sure to drink plenty of water while you’re in the parks also, as alcohol is dehydrating. Designate a driver or take advantage of Disney’s resort transportation. Cheers!

Dr. Stephen P. Leatherman (aka Dr. Beach), Director of Florida International University’s Laboratory for Coastal Research released his list of Top 10 Beaches for 2009. He uses a multitude of criteria to evaluate beaches, which includes water and sand quality as well as safety, facilities and environmental management.

I have to admit that I love Hawaii, but I’m also a big fan of beaches. Period. I’m a mom who loves to take the kids to the beach, but here’s a secret: I like going without the kids after school starts because the crowds have disappeared and I find the experience much more relaxing. Here’s Dr. Beach’s official list. Some are great for families, others are perfect for that romantic escape, but all are perfect for relaxing and getting some sand between your toes.

1. Hanalei Bay Kauai, Hawaii

2. Siesta Beach Sarasota, Florida (Check out Sarasota’s Hotel Indigo or Holiday Inn Sarasota-LIDO Beach)

3. Coopers Beach Southampton, New York

4. Coronado Beach San Diego, California (Holiday Inn San Diego Bayside is just across the bay from this beach)

5. Hamoa Beach Maui, Hawaii

6. Main Beach East Hampton, New York

7. Cape Hatteras Outer Banks of North Carolina (A good base while visiting the Outer Banks is HI Express Kitty Hawk)

8. Cape Florida State Park Key Biscayne, Florida (There are numerous IHG Properties in Miami)

9. Coast Guard Beach Cape Cod, Massachusetts

10. Beachwalker Park Kiawah Island, South Carolina (a close alternative is Holiday Inn Folley Beach Oceanfront)

Do you disagree with Dr. Beach’s list? Have you stayed at any IHG properties near any of these beaches? Keep in mind that past list leaders are ineligible for inclusion. The annual top beach pick by Dr. Beach has always been in either Florida or Hawaii, with the exception of 2007, which was in the Outer Banks of North Carolina.

My personal pick for top beach of 2009 would have to be Nannygoat Beach on Sapelo Island, a Georgia barrier island. You can only get there by boat or the residents’ ferry and the closet city is Darian, GA. There aren’t any hotels on the island. It is undeveloped, pristine, fantastic for shelling, and the first time I’ve ever actually seen the beach shimmer with gold flecks. Simply breathtaking.