March 08, 2006
12 Distinctive Destinations
The National Trust for Historic Preservation has named its "Dozen Distinctive Destinations" for 2006. Two California communities were selected to appear on the list - Monterey and Palm Springs - out of a total of 93 nominated destinations in 39 states.
Monterey, California: Made famous in the classic John Steinbeck novel, Cannery Row, coastal Monterey offers not only a stunning setting but an endless supply of visitor delights, including a world-class aquarium, a bustling wharf, historic canneries and centuries of Native American, Spanish-Colonial and Mexican heritage sites.
Palm Springs, California: Long a weekend getaway for the rich and famous, Palm Springs boasts a near-perfect climate, a desert location ideal for golfing, swimming or loafing and a dazzling array of inspired buildings designed in the Modern style.
Since 2000, the National Trust has honored 84 Dozen Distinctive Destinations in 41 states. This year nearly 93 destinations in 39 states were nominated by individuals, preservation organizations and local communities.
The 12 winning communities met the following criteria: well-managed growth, a commitment to historic preservation with a protected historic core and meaningful context, interesting and attractive architecture, cultural diversity, activities for families with children, an economic base of locally-owned small businesses, and walkability for residents and visitors.
In each community, residents have taken forceful action to protect their town’s character and sense of place. Whether by enacting a local preservation law to protect historic buildings against demolition, rewriting zoning codes to prevent commercial sprawl, removing regulatory barriers to downtown housing, making downtown areas more walkable, enacting design standards, or taking some other major step that demonstrates a strong commitment to their town, residents have worked hard to preserve the historic and scenic assets of their communities, with rewards that transcend town limits.
Read more about the National Trust's Dozen Distinctive Destinations in the following Los Angeles Times article, or visit: http://www.nationaltrust.org.
A Dozen U.S. Places for Tourists to See
By CARL HARTMAN, Associated Press Writer
12:40 PM PST, March 7, 2006
WASHINGTON -- People looking for a new vacation spot might try one of 12 unusual places reachable without a passport, such as Lewes, Del., called "the first town in the first state," a town whose history goes back 375 years.
The suggestion comes from the National Trust for Historic Preservation, which, each year starting in 2000, has named a "Dozen Distinctive Destinations" appealing to tourists' taste for historic places.
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