1. Travel Brain. Boasting 82,431 Facebook users, this application allows people to place virtual pinpoints on each destination they’ve ever traveled to in the world. By doing this, users receive a personalized analysis of the kind of traveler they are. After receiving a travel personality anaylsis, Facebook users can then recommend restaurants, hotels and attractions to others.
2. Travel. This application is as straightforward as its name. Here, the 11,517 active users simply post travel tickets in discussion forums. Different travel deals are posted by users from all over the world. Here, CVB and tourism bureaus have the opportunity to market their destination by posting travel deals with links to their Web sites.  Travel agencies can post their Web sites easily on this social networking site to generate more traffic.
3. Travel Calendar. This application allows Facebook users to post all of their travel dates and view everyone else’s who uses this application. That way, people can see where their friends are going and it may be easier to visit each other in different cities around the world. This app is also available on iPhone or smart phone by visiting www.travelbuddies.mobi.
4. Travel Blog. Have you ever wondered where the best bakery is in Paris? Well, this application allows you to read the blog of someone who has visited or is visiting there so you can read a daily account of where people visit, eat and sleep in different travel destinations across the world. The parent site, www.travelblog.com, allows everyone to be a journalist and photojournalist, giving them the opportunity to post a day-by-day account of tourist destinations they visit.
5. Travel Journal. When Facebook users add this application to their profiles, they notice that Facebook automatically updates Travel Journal on their profiles the second they post travel blogs. This application only works with a SIM card (Facebook recommends Passport Lite, Passport, Passport Plus or SIMple Calling), and when users make a journal entry, their location and timestamp is recorded via their cell phones.

When you sign on with Simple Tourism for our social media optimization package, you have the option of customizing a social media presence as it suits your business or bureau. Want to attract a specific demographic? We will find the right platform for you.

Jessica Swink is a freelance writer specializing in articles about SEO for travel Web sites and professional SEO and Internet marketing services.

After months of saving, planning, and packing, you’re finally ready to embark on your vacation to North Carolina’s beautiful Outer Banks. You have the itinerary memorized – days and day of play on the beach, with maybe an excursion to the Currituck Beach lighthouse or the Wright Brothers memorial in Kitty Hawk. The trip promises to be wonderful, but if you are a fan of the grape it could be enhanced with tours of area wineries.

Yes, wine is made in the Outer Banks. One might never expect this area to be associated with good wine, but if you plan ahead you will be able not only to enlighten your palate during a vineyard tour, but perhaps join the locals and other wine aficianados for an evening of tasting, food, and fun. Consider these additional stops on your tour of the Outer Banks.

Moonrise Bay Winery

Set against the calm waters of the bay in Knotts Island, Moonrise Bay has produced a number of tasty vintages since the turn of the century. Here visitors are offered a selection of dry reds and whites, and sweet whites from the ever popular Muscadine. Among the wines available are Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Nebbiolo, Norton, Syrah, Chambourcin, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc. Tours run daily from noon to five, or by special appointment.

Sanctuary Vineyards

If you are visiting from out of state, best to buy your Sanctuary wine here, as they only ship to North Carolina and Virginia. Sanctuary not only offers wine from other area vineyards, but also sells unique blends under their own label. If you enjoy full-bodied blended reds with a peppery finish, or perhaps a semi-dry combination of Chardonnay and Sangiovese with a sweet finish, find sanctuary in a tour of this vineyard. For directions and more information on area vineyards, be sure to visit http://www.VisitCurrituck.com and request free brochures.

Martin Vineyards

The sandy soil of Knotts Island produces great wine, and at Martin Vineyards one will find acres of Muscadines waiting to be picked. In addition to a variety of dry and sweet table wines, guests at the vineyard may also pick seasonal fruits from the surrounding orchards. July is especially welcoming, since the vineyards hosts the annual Knotts Island Peach Festival. Bring the family for a picnic by the sea.

Mother Vineyard

Like a bit of mystery with your wine? Well, more than likely you won’t find anything to sample at the Mother Vineyard, because the vines are on private property, yet visitors flock to this area near Manteo anyway if only to catch a glimpse of the oldest grapevines in North Carolina. It isn’t known who planted these vines, believed to be over 400 years old, but the sheer enormity and thickness of the vines (to say nothing of the sweet Muscadine grapes growing from them) always leaves visitors in awe, and thirsty!

A vacation in the Outer Banks is wonderful, yet one enhanced by tours of area wineries adds a sweetness one is certain to savor.

Kathryn Lively is a freelance writer who contributes site content and articles to various travel websites, including VisitCurrituck.com (http://www.visitcurrituck.com), the official site of Currituck County Travel and Tourism.

Having lived in Jacksonville most of my life, I can remember a time when the speed limits on the roads were not as high as they are now. It seemed it always took forever to get somewhere when on vacation, even via the interstate. Fortunately, the turn of the century brings more technology to the road trip, and anybody in the Jacksonville area looking for a quick getaway will be happy to know that the city is not so large that you can’t go anywhere for a day.

So if you have a weekend free and are looking for a change of scenery, a day trip around North or Central Florida provides the fun and relaxation you want. You won’t have to spend too much time in the car, and there is always something to look forward to, coming and going. Here are just a few suggestions for your itineraries:

St. Augustine: Depending on where you are in Jacksonville, you’re looking at a minimum of forty-five minutes to an hour to get to the nation’s oldest city. Here you can tour the historic Castillo de San Marcos, which guarded this part of the new world from sea-faring invaders, then enjoy a stroll through the historical district and enjoy the eclectic shops, boutiques and restaurants. The secluded beach areas also provide serenity that stays with you on the trip home.

Gainesville: Contrary to popular belief, there’s more to this town than the Florida Gators. Gainesville’s historic downtown offers a great opportunity for leisurely lunches and antiques browsing. Nature lovers can take in the lush Kanapaha Botanical Gardens or Marjorie Kinnan Rawling State Park for an intimate nature walk. Depending on where you are in Jacksonville, getting to Gainesville may take a mere one to one and a half hours on I-75.

Amelia Island: For the adventurer, Amelia Island is the perfect North Florida getaway. Kayaking, nature walks, fishing, and exploration of historic Fort Clinch are just a few of the activities that await you here. Afterwards you can enjoy some of the best seafood on the east coast as you watch the sun set over the Atlantic Ocean. Amelia Island is less than two hours from most parts of Jacksonville, and some parts are so compact you may not need your car for most of the day.

Nature and history, fine dining and romantic scenery are yours for the price of a short drive from Jacksonville. Take a weekend and enjoy a neighboring town for a refreshing and exciting mini-vacation.

Kathryn Lively is a freelance travel writer specializing in articles on St. Augustine vacations and Gainesville bed and breakfasts.