GETTYSBURG, Pa. - The state of Pennsylvania has a history as rich and varied as any state in the Union, from the time when Delaware, Iroquois and other American Indians roamed its green wilds, through to the Civil War era.

LEWISTON, N.Y. – Western New York has a new destination that the golfing public is sure to notice. Representatives from the Seneca Nation of Indians, Seneca Gaming Corporation and the Town of Lewiston joined together recently to celebrate the ceremonial opening of Seneca Hickory Stick Golf Course, a $25 million public golf course that will officially open for play on July 2. The challenging par-72 layout was designed by renowned golf course architect Robert Trent Jones, Jr.

LAKE PLACID, N.Y. - Tooling along at 60 mph behind the protective glass windshield of an automobile on the freeway can seem kind of slow. Glacial, even. Pushing 60 in an open-topped bobsled down a track with more curves than Penelope Cruz and concrete walls with less padding than a steel cage match? When there's no snow in sight? That seems crazy. Snakes on a Plane crazy.

SPARTA, N.J. - It starts with a shot from a raised tee that's right below the clubhouse lawn. Turn your head as you set up for the tee shot and you might see the backyard grill sizzling and a business man talking into his cell phone.

Atlantic City is undergoing a makeover. The changing landscape of legalized gaming is forcing the legendary New Jersey resort to diversify. Golf courses, shopping and dining are all part of a transformation local officials hope will position Atlantic City to better compete with the expanding plethora of gambling destinations.

Over the last four decades Pete Dye has designed some of golf’s most famous courses. Known for their “Dyeabolical” traits, the insurance salesman turned master architect’s credits include TPC Sawgrass’ Stadium Course, Whistling Straits, the Ocean Course at Kiawah Island and Casa de Campo’s Teeth of the Dog. Dye’s reach has been so influential that last year he became only the fifth course architect elected to the World Golf Hall of Fame, joining luminaries Robert Trent Jones, C.B. MacDonald, Alister MacKenzie and Donald Ross.

Pebble Beach, Whistling Straights, Pinehurst No. 2: There are some American golf courses every golfer must experience at least once in their lifetime.  Pound Ridge Golf Club, just north of New York City, has earned itself a spot among these American classics on every golfer’s “bucket list.” 

Traveling with the family pet is becoming more and more common and the travel industry has responded. According to the Travel Industry of America, 14 percent of all U.S. adults (29.1 million) say they have traveled with a pet on a trip of 50 miles or more in the past three years. At an historic resort on the shores of Lake Champlain, there’s a long history of welcoming guests with their four legged family friends and seen the trend has increased significantly in the past several years.

My husband is awfully surprised when I ask him if we can go to Cooperstown for the weekend. After all, he’s the die-hard Red Sox fan; I just watch a game or two to keep him company. I don’t know the first thing about the legendary “Road to Cooperstown,” I’ve only vaguely heard that the Hall of Fame has started honoring players from the Women’s Professional and the Negro Leagues, and the Jim Rice controversy doesn’t even ring a bell.

Like peanut butter and jelly, ham and eggs, tea and crumpets, Sonny and Cher, Lennon and McCarthy, Brooks and Dunn, Tarzan and Jane, Donald and Daisy, David and Goliath, “Golf” and “Casinos” have entered the lexicon as ideal combinations. Las Vegas excluded, below are the five best casino golf course destinations we’ve played in the USA.