We here in San Francisco always groan a little when visitors rent a car. After all, Fog City is one of the few destinations in the U.S. where it's not necessary to have a car to see the sights. Why pay all that money just to leave the rental in the hotel's parking garage?

Often in the U.S. when we think about "car-free destinations," we think of big cities like New York City, Boston, and San Francisco. But what should you do if you want to go car-free and get away from the hubbub of urban life? I now have an answer for you: visit Santa Barbara.

While L.A. residents fight the smog and sit in traffic, many do not seem to know that just 24 easy miles away lies the island resort of Catalina. In contrast to the giant city that lies across the Pacific to the east, Catalina Island has always been something of an anachronism, where golf carts outnumber cars, the clocks move on “island time,” and a herd of buffalo still roams.

When people hear that I'm the manager of Travelocity's Green Hotel Directory, they often ask, What makes a green hotel green? Well, I'm glad you asked. There's a fair amount of skepticism about green certification programs and confusion about what it means to be eco-friendly. For instance, it takes a lot more than not washing the linens every day for a hotel to make it into our Directory.

That's why I thought it'd be interesting to profile one of our green hotel partners for a case study. The Portola Hotel & Spa in Monterey, California is making incredible strides on their path to going green and these measures add up to a big impact.

Travelocity’s 2010 Memorial Day Hotel Report shows summer travelers are planning on hitting the beaches in abundance this holiday, and it’s no wonder. Snowfall and cold weather set records in New York, Baltimore, Washington, D.C.  and even Miami – major feeder cities for many of the top beach destinations.  The good news is that from big-city stretches of sand to the turquoise waters of the Caribbean, the unofficial start of summer brings with it great hotel deals for travelers.

With the exception of South Florida, every one of the top ten beach destinations is showing a year-over-year decrease in Average Daily Rates (ADR) for Memorial Day, meaning travelers are actually getting a better deal this Memorial Day weekend than last -- no small thing, considering last year was the "year of the travel deal."

The last of winter’s rains are washing through the streets, but a sudden profusion of skirts and sandals says that San Francisco is ready for spring. I'm with the masses--Mother Nature needs to pick up the pace and get summery! But without the aid of a weather-controlling device, I've really only got two choices: wait out the chill, or drive south to SoCal.

It took me some time away from home to really appreciate Southern California. In fact, this has been the first year spring has really signaled an inner craving for a day on the beach. I've found myself flipping through swimwear catalogues, pricing tickets to the coast, and wondering how well those spray tans work--the whole pre-summer ritual. And every time I begin planning my escape, I start with Laguna Beach.

Today is Groundhog Day, which always seems the unofficial point at which most people take a look at Old Man Winter, shake their fists, and say, okay man, enough is enough. It’s clear to me, however, that none of those people have been to Mammoth Mountain, set in the Sierra Nevada, where the fun of winter is very much alive, embraced, and holding sway.

If there’s one thing women know about, it’s romance. And if there’s one thing the staff of The Window Seat Blog know about, it’s travel. With that in mind, the bloggettes came together and picked nine hotels in North America they would recommend for Valentine’s Day or a romantic getaway any time of year. For great deals on hotel stays for Valentine’s Day, visit Travelocity.com/romance.

Highly subjective and listed in no particular order, the Window Seat Bloggettes' most romantic hotel picks:

El Conquistador Resort & Golden Door Spa

Farjardo, Puerto Rico

Many a traveler has planned a trip simply to sample local tipples; the popularity of the Napa Valley wine trail is a testament to that. So how about blazing a brewery trail in one of the urban hubs leading the pack in American beer making?

These eight cities, known for their high concentrations of high-quality breweries, are perfect destinations for tasting beer, Napa-style. Channel your inner barfly and get ready for hops from brewery to brewery.

I knew I could make the move from New York City to San Francisco the moment I first laid eyes on Napa Valley. It felt like a wonderland to me, a spot of much-needed European charm and pastoral quietude just a quick hour down the road from the hustle and bustle of the city.

And now three years into my great California adventure, I have developed my way of enjoying Napa and Sonoma. Much like how Coloradans debate the relative merits of competing ski resorts, we here in the Bay Area enjoy holding forth about the "right way" to explore the wine country. There are two valleys to choose from, at least 10 quaint towns, and a huge variety of activities, including hiking, biking, wine tasting, gourmet dining, air ballooning, spa going, and more.