Taking off Travel blog

Today is Patriot Day, when we remember those killed on September 11, 2001. The day has been observed since 2002, making today the 10th anniversary of its observance. Here’s a collection of Patriot Day photos to mark the occasion.

To celebrate National Golf Month, we’ve found some photos of golf courses with some interesting features.

Golf on an Island

To start off, here’s a photo of a golf green that is on its own island.

Next, here’s a different type of island. There’s a great view on this course on Grand Cayman.

Old Tees

Could these tees be as old as the game itself?

Obstacle Course

There’s just no way you can play through this obstacle – the elk wins this round!

Snow and Ice

Finally, here’s what the Buffalo Thunder Resort course looks like in winter.

Here’s a bit of fun for this Friday – five photos that embody the spirit of summer.

1. Summer Shoes

Nothing says summer quite like a pair of sandy sandals.

(Photo: Klearchos Kapoutsis)

2. Summer Light

This photo evokes the scent of summer flowers.

(Photo: Digimist)

3. San Antonio Summer

Sitting at a cafe is the perfect way to spend a hot day.

(Photo: Thomas Depenbusch)

4. Summer

This photo by Moyan Brenn is absolutely beautiful.

(Photo: Moyan_Brenn)

5. Olympic Summer

How could we leave out the Summer Olympics? Here the US take center stage.

(Photo:  ISAF Media Library)

Which one do you like best?

I don’t know about you but I always take tons of photos every summer. I might upload a few of them but many just languish on my hard drive, never to be seen again. If the same thing happens to you, then consider entering some of your best photos into a summer photography contest instead. Here are a few to get you started.

1. CheapAir SPF 31 – 31 Days to Show Us Your Summer Photos

CheapAir is holding its SPF31 summer photo contest. Here’s what the company says:

“One of the best things about summer is the memories that come with it. From barbeques, beach days and family vacations to the Fourth of July, pool parties and road trips—summertime presents endless opportunities for epic fun. To celebrate the magic of summer, CheapAir is hosting a photo contest and giving away fantastic prizes to five winners, including a free flight, beach gear and more! “

Deadline: July 31 Entry details and full T&Cs are on CheapAir.com’s blog.

2. Viator’s Summer Photo Contest

Viator’s Summer Photo Contest has a whopping $5,000 grand prize, with chances to win $200 every two weeks. Here’s what Viator says about the contest:

“Every 2 weeks, we’ll post a video of one of our Dream Travel Job finalists announcing a new photo contest topic and prize. You’ll then have 14 days to submit a photo related to that week’s topic. We’ll select one winning photo for each topic (6 winners in total), all leading up to the end-of-summer grand prize of a $5,000 Dream Vacation!”

Full contest details available here.

3. Aperture Colors of Summer Photography Contest

This contest is already open, but it runs till the end of August. After that there will be a month of public voting before the announcement of the winners. The prize package is worth $245 and includes a Zenfolio website. See the details and some of the current entries on the Aperture site.

4. Klehm Summer Photography Contest

Klehm’s first ever digital photo contest started on June 25 and runs till September 21. If you enjoy taking photos of nature and are planning on visiting Klehm Arboretum, then this could be a good bet. Check out the contest details here.

5. Other Summer Photo Contests

Of course, these aren’t the only photo contests out there. There are several more with due dates ranging from July to September. The Photography Competitions site has a list of photo contests that are free to enter, so why not try your luck there?

Traveling this summer? Enjoy summer savings with Park Ride Fly USA’s discount airport parking coupon. (Image courtesy of CheapAir.)

What’s Spring Break without a little beach time? We’ve picked out some of our favorite beach photos from spring breaks past and present. If you want to share yours (keep them clean and sober, please), then drop a link in the comment box.

First up, yes, this frozen new Hampshire beach is actually a Spring Break photo. Cold, but beautiful all the same.

Camp Notre Dame, Spofford, NH - Photo by Michael Hebb

Next, a nice shot of the birds on Myrtle Beach.

Myrtle Beach, SC - Photo by Curtis and Eric

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