Godot

Orlando Vacation Homes near GOOD EATS!

2008-10-30T10:10:00.002-06:00

Looking for a reason other than the obvious to vacation in Orlando? While the children will be plenty happy enjoying Disney World, Epcot, Sea World, Universal and the likes, what will Mom and Dad look forward to?

Never fear, for Orlando has an abundance of fine restaurants. Just in the Disney Village, you’ll find over 150 restaurants ranging from Asian to Mexican sprinkled with some fast food in there. But that’s not all the Orlando area has to offer, that’s just a scratch on the surface. There’s over another 100 restaurants in the downtown area and much much more.

While you are planning your vacation in the area, look for Orlando vacation homes. You can save up your money for the good eats by finding the right priced stay. You won’t be disappointed by the myriad restaurants you can enjoy while staying in the area.

For some truly great suggestions on where to eat in the area, look at the Fodor’s Guide choices.

Coolest Thing Since The Internet

2006-12-29T10:59:00.000-07:00

Okay not really but its pretty a niftyidea. An idea from the Hilton's that is much better than letting Paris sing. Homewood Suites by Hilton Hotels is doing something pretty revolutionary in terms of staying in hotels. More specifically is booking a room. Everyone is used to the idea of booking a room online. Normally you get to choose the dates you want to stay and maybe the size of the bed. Well according to the Hotel Industry News Hilton plans on making it so you can choose the specific room you want to stay in.

This seems to be a great idea that has been missing for far to long. I was a volunteer firefighter and do not like staying above the 6th story in a hotel (100 foot ladders can only go up to the 6th floor because of the angle that they are placed at). Plus I like being close to the emergency exit. All of this my wife hates because it makes checking into a hotel a nightmare for her. Well now I can choose the specific room I want including its location in the building and its floor plan.

I was recently staying at a hotel, that shall remain nameless ... but rhymes with Sheraton, in the Denver Tech Center. I had a king suite. Normally a fairly big room. Little did I know that I would be staying in the corner room that has a curved exterior wall which effectively cut the room size by about half. I felt like I had to crawl over the bed to get to the desk. In early 2007 that won't be a problem with the Homewood Suites.

Now if only we can get Paris to shut up.....

Wedding in Providence Rhode Island

2006-08-28T09:30:00.000-06:00

My brother finally tied the knot in Providence last weekend and my family and I raced to the east coast for the big event. Since he and his now “wife” have been dating for nearly 9 years, we were all wondering if they would strap on the ole' ball and chain. They both attended Brown University, so having the wedding in their college chapel was a first choice for the couple. The ceremony was emotional (this coming from a guy!) the reception a blur (haha) and an overall great time was had by all.

Since this was a special occasion, we decided to splurge a little on lodging. We stayed at this fantastic Providence Rhode Island Bed and Breakfast in the heart of downtown, but with a country, cozy feel. As with any bed and breakfast, the true test is indeed the morning meal. This place passed the test and could accommodate even the most finicky of children's taste buds. Great culinary confections to be had!
Providence is an amazing city to walk around. I can't say I've ever had a reason to visit this place, and never did until the special event took place here. However, spending 2 extra days here proved a most stimulating experience. History and culture are alive here - we took some great sights. We even took a day trip to Narragansett Bay, and relaxed as we watched the sailboats breeze by.

A Brief Madison Wisconsin Jaunt

2006-08-11T15:41:00.000-06:00

Since my niece attends UW-Madison and is staying in the cheese head state over the summer, we thought we'd take a trip to see her. As with most college students, living in a dorm doesn't provide a lot of room for guests, so we made arrangements to stay at this Madison hotel. It was wonderful for a family of four. We reserved a 2-bedroom suite and it had a fully equipped kitchen and HUGE breakfast daily. Our niece even joined us for a few of those. They also had this fairly large backyard that we grilled out at and, of course, an indoor pool that usually occupies my kids for hours. The hotel was kid friendly, the staff was accommodating, and it was an overall terrific lodging experience.

Did I get fishing in? Of course! The Midwest lake region might be full of mosquitoes at night, but the fishing is great during the day. I caught 4 northern pike and some walleye on Lake Monona. This lake is your typical freshwater fisherman's paradise. We also made a visit to Devils' Lake State Park, a 45 minute drive, and did some amazing hiking. The scenery is spectacular; 500 ft cliffs and a great lake for swimming.

Bridges Golf Course also provided me with some great golf. Their 18 holes of authentically landscaped greenery was amazing, although it did start to rain a bit, it didn't stop my wife and I from finishing our game. My niece was spending time with our kids that day, so it was nice to have time to ourselves. They did meet us back at the course for this amazing fish fry dinner. You must try it if you are ever in Madison.

Vail Colorado Nature Center

2006-07-10T10:11:00.000-06:00

Vail Colorado, well known for the great skiing in the winter offers a great vacation in the summer sometime with much lower prices. There are great golf courses in the area, challenging hiking and mountain biking trails and summer events.

Since June, regular wild flower walks in the area have been available with the folks at the Vail Nature Center. Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday from June 26th through August 18th take a hike. Wildflowers abound in the summer high country and the leisurely one-hour walk will help you identify many of the flowers you see on your hikes in the area.

If beavers are more your idea of fun and you would like to see them at work then join the Nature Center in the evenings on Tuesdays and Wednesdays at dusk to lean about this industrial animal. Then, after the beaver hunt (Tuesdays only) you can enjoy toasted marshmallows and stories of woodland adventure by a warm campfire. Stroll along trails looking for owls and other night creatures and then head back to the camp for s’mores and story telling.

Book your trip with a stay in a Vail vacation home rental so that you can come and go as you please and feel like you have a home away from home.

Family Vacation in Bend Oregon

2006-05-29T16:14:00.000-06:00

Bend, Oregon is a small community that delivers big on adventure and excitement. While in the area, you should take the time to visit a national monument. Created in 1990, the Newberry National Volcanic Monument includes 50,000+ acres of lava flows and spectacular geological features. At the summit of the Newberry Volcano you can find two alpine lakes stocked with salmon and trout. Newberry is both seismically and geothermally active and throughout the area visitors can see many cinder cones, miles and miles of basalt flows and rhyolite flows of obsidian.

Check the website before going as they are working on upgrading much of the visitors center and some access might be restricted. Also be sure to check for the areas that need a Recreation Pass - around 17 in all.

The Lava Lands opens weekend of May 3rd through to the fall. Newberry Caldera Contact Station opens May through October 1st. And the Lava River Cave opens May 24th (Weds - Sun) and then is open through to October. Again, check the website as opening times and days change in the summer months.

For Bend Oregon lodging take a look at the vacation rentals in Bend at the Seventh Mountain Resort, it has long been a Oregon destination for families and groups looking for adventure in the area.

Fishing in Cabo San Lucas Mexico

2006-05-18T10:13:00.000-06:00

Some go for the golf, others go for the white sandy beaches but many go for the deep sea big fish fishing. Fishing is what put Cabo San Lucas on the map. The area is known as the “Marlin Capital of the World” and the article Fishing in Cabo San Lucas by Tracy Ehrenberg in the Los Cabos Magazine has some great advice to offer. Tracy authors a weekly fishing report for publications including the Los Angeles Times and Western Outdoor News and has this to say about fishing in the Los Cabos.

“Decide ahead of time when you plan to fish. These days Cabo is so popular that reservations are usually necessary. Highly sought after boats and crews can be booked months ahead of time. Most major fleets have stateside booking agents with Internet sites and toll-free numbers, or you can call the fleet office in Cabo. (You will generally get more complete and accurate information from the fleet offices.) Doing a bit of research can really pay off and reserving as far in advance as possible will get you the boat you want on the dates that fit best with your travel plans."

The full article offers great advice from the type of fish you can expect to catch as well as the cost and how to tip.

Here are some other sites to check out for big fish sports fishing and where to stay in Cabo

Do We Really Need That?

2006-05-08T12:58:00.000-06:00

Where you have great skiing in the winter, you usually have great mountain biking, hiking and fishing in the summer. More and more ski resorts are open in the summer offering gondola rides and alpine slides.

Many times you (we) end up dragging so much stuff along for every occasion possible summer activitiy; bikes, fishing tackle and rods, a canoe, some camping gear, golf clubs, climbing gear, sleeping bags, hiking packs and anything else you can cram in at the last minute. You need a Suburban with a trailer and that is before you get the kids and the wife in!

There was one trip we made where we were gone for a couple of weeks and we were VERY tempted to bring along the trailer. We didn’t, but decided to compromise and take along the things we knew we were going to use more than once. It worked out well; we rented other equipment and did just great. In fact the mountain bikes we rented were newer and more updated than the ones we left at home. When we went fishing, the guide that took us out on the river, brought along all the gear we needed. We even took a horse back ride – no we don’t have horse or saddles, but if we had we would have probably tried to pack them too.

Anyway, all I am saying is that you should take a look around the area before you go, check out some lodging, some fishing guides, some rental shops and you will be hauling a much lighter load.

Here is a start – from our trip to Park City:

Mountain Bike Rentals Cole Sports in Park City – have both road and mountain bikes.

UBike trail ideas visit Utah Mountain Biking

Rocky Mountain Outfitters – Rocky Mountain Outfitters set us up with both horse back riding and Orvis Endorsed Guided Fly Fishing

Park City condo – stayed at Trails End Lodge, was great with the kids. Large rooms, kitchens – very flexible .

Hot Dogs Hawaii Style

2006-05-01T13:46:00.000-06:00

On your next trip to Hawaii, skip the kitchen chores at your Kauai condo rental and make at trip to the little blue hut in Kekaha (they also have a location in the shopping center at Poipu Village) for a ‘Puka Dog’ a Hawaiian style hot dog.

First off in Hawaii, ‘Puka’ means ‘Hole’ so now you are wondering what on earth a Hole Dog is? Bread from a special recipe is baked into a hot dog bun size loaf, then a ‘puke’ is pierced from one end part way through most of the bun and toasted, it is then filled with the ‘secret sauce’ or relish and then a perfectly grilled Polish type sausage is pushed into the Puka!

What is great is that both the veggie dog and the Polish sausage dog can be greatly enhanced with some of the most wonderful tropical relishes. Choose from the Coconut Relish, or the Pineapple, or Papaya or Banana Relish. The sweet and savory will send you back for more.

Myrtle Beach, SC Golf Deals & Packages

2006-04-25T14:34:00.000-06:00

The Barefoot golf resort in Myrtle Beach, just added a number of golf package specials and package deals to their website for stay and play golf vacations in South Carolina at their Myrtle Beach condo resort. Myrtle Beach is one of those places that you love to escape to for a while. White sandy beaches, lots of things to keep the family amused while you get a nice round of golf in.

Golf is a way of life in South Carolina because of the great weather you can play year round. It is estimated that there are more than 120 courses and that Myrtle Beach is the 'golf captial of the United States'.

At the Barefoot Resort there are 4 distinctive golf courses.

The Dye Course, which borders the sand and is infamous for the wayward shots that have become synonymous with Pete Dye, make time to have lunch in the clubhouse – very good.
The Norman Course, with seven holes along the Intracoastal Waterway. Uses natural vegetation and resembles a course in the Southwest.
The Love Course has a traditional Lowcountry character and incorporate the ruins of the old plantation home around holes 3-7. A really fun course to play.
Then last but not least you have the option to play the Fazio Course. Routed through the heart of the Barefoot Resort very much like European courses it does not return to the clubhouse after nine holes. Filled with oak, pine and sand with lots of natural grassy areas as well as quite a few lakes.

Playing any of these courses makes for a great day out.

Festival and Concerts in Deer Valley Utah

2006-04-12T13:58:00.000-06:00

Festival season is fast approaching. The concert calendar for Deer Valley Music Festival includes all kinds of great acts and concerts. While in Utah last weekend we picked up some info on what the summer Music Festival is all about. For a full list visit the Deer Valley Music Festival site. Big Bad Voodoo Daddy are playing July. A fantastic end to the festival that is great for the whole family has to be the 1812 Overture on August 19th. The Mormon Tabernacle Choir will brings the hills alive on July 28th with the Utah Symphony.

So much going on it is hard to know when to go.

Check out some great lodging deals at the Caledonian for downtown Park City Utah condos. They are very centrally located within walking distance of the great restaurants and bars –yep you can get beer & wine at local restaurants if you are eating, in fact in the Caledonian, Restaurant & Bar they serve a delicious lunch or dinner with wine or beer.

Brew Pubs In Vermont

2006-04-06T16:50:00.000-06:00

When traveling around the country it is nice to visit some of the winemaking regions and try out the winery tours. In addition to the wine tours there are also some great brewery tours that you could take in.

While staying in at a little Vermont Bed and Breakfast we were able to tour the following Vermont brew pubs.

Long Trail Brewing Company – try the Double Bag, a little on the strong side with a 7.2% alcohol content but a great smooth brew.

The Harpoon Brewery - Try the Harpoon Munich Dark a dark malty Bavarian beer.

Otter Creek – loved their Vermont Larger.

Utah Ski Deals

2006-03-29T14:21:00.000-07:00

Just 25 miles from Salt Lake City is some of the best ski resorts in Utah. We managed to get a pretty good Utah Ski deal through the people at Premier Resorts. We chose this place because it is in a pretty good location for three world class Utah resorts, Deer Valley Resort, Park City Mountain Resort and The Canyons. It was also ranked #8 in North America and # 5 in the USA by the readers of Conde Nast Traveler in the list of the Top 25 Ski Resort Lodges. In addition, we also liked the fact that the property is serviced by a complimentary Park City area shuttle so we don't have to try and figure out parking at the resorts.

Seems that the town has a lot going on, we booked tickets to see Pink Martini a Cuban dance orchestra - we heard them on NPR not that long ago, they sounded great, they are playing while we are there at The Eccles Center. Great snow and a fun concert who could ask for more?

Sqaw Valley, Tahoe For Spring Break

2006-03-14T16:55:00.000-07:00

With the recently end of the 2006 Winter Olympics you might be tempted to get out and try out some winter sports for your own. Colorado has had some great snow, but Utah has been dumped on and March and April are the best months for the spring snows. Lake Tahoe gets plenty to keep snowboarders and skiers happy.

Squaw Valley has had more than 4 Feet of fresh Champagne Powder in the last week and more is on the way. With a 233’ base there is lots of skiing and snowboarding to be had at this California resort. Kids under 12 ski or ride for only $5 and March and April have some great upcoming events.

Every Saturday night at Squaw Mountain is Kids night Out, AKA Parents Night Off – where you can drop off the kids for an evening of rock wall climbing with dinner included while you go off and have a nice grown up evening alone. Runs through March.

For the competitive folks, in April there is the Squaw Valley Challenger Finals, a culmination of the season long series with great prizes in ski, board and telemark divisions.

Get out for a good cause on April 9^th when they hold the 17^th Annual Billy Dutton Uphill. Get up and out to ski, run or snowshoe over 3.2 mile to High camp and raise money for the North Tahoe High School Nordic Team.

Spring Jam week is April 15^th – April 23^rd when the Squaw Valley is alive and rockin with on-mountain competitions, live music, spring skiing and lots of wacky events.

On April 29^th hang out or participate in the 4^th Annual Push, Pull or Pedal Eco Parade. The theme is recycling and participants should think about making floats out of recycled materials, will make for a fun parade.

Every Saturday night is the Original Après Ski Party at Squaw Valley with live Dj’s, karaoke, and Sumo wrestling….

Book early to get the best deals for Lake Tahoe Lodging.

Maryland Chesapeake Bay Fishing Guide & Luxury Hotel

2006-03-07T15:08:00.000-07:00

The Chesapeake Bay in Maryland offers great year round salt-water fishing. With many tributaries feeding into the bay there are all kinds of fish to be had; sea trout, spanish mackerel, flounder, croaker, white perch, bluefish, and striped bass - some of which can get pretty big. Most of the time the fish are pretty close to shore and in the middle of the Chesapeake Bay. Local guides can take you out to some pretty good fishing offshore. At this time of the year, ‘spring’, ask about the catch and release season on the Susquehanna Flats this is a great opportunity to catch some pretty large striped bass on light tackle.

While staying at this luxurious Maryland Hotel we were able to take a fishing charter out to the Chesapeake Bay. We caught some pretty fine fish, no record holders though.

We went out with Fishsticks Charters - Captain Kurt Freund - they offered a personalized guide services for all levels from beginner to expert. Light tackle and fly fishing trips for up to four on the 23' Jones Brothers Cape Fisherman. Couples are a specialty. Catered box lunch is available and fly fishing lessons on or off the water to hone your skills are also available.

They also offer kayak fishing, while we did not have time for this on the trip it was something we were pretty keen to do, maybe next trip.
Trying to fit all the things to do into a long weekend was tough, but we managed to get in some fishing and some great massages at the luxurious Maryland Hotel where we stayed in a waterfront suite.

Internet Offers for Family Vacations in Hilton Head

2006-03-03T15:15:00.000-07:00

Right now there are all kinds of Internet contest and completions you can enter to win all kinds of neat things, I know that a lot of sites offer contests to build email databases so that they can send additional information out to you, but hey when something is free for the asking how could you not resist. Some of the deals are pretty lame but there are a number that if you were thinking of heading out to the place then getting more information and the chance to win something is a good thing, right?

I just ran across this contest being offered by the Hilton Head Island Chamber of Commerce. You can enter to win a family adventure for four. The winner will get seven nights accommodation for four provided by Beach Properties of Hilton Head, a two hour dolphin tour with Low Country Nature Tours, dinner for four at the Wreck of the Salty Dog and four passes to the Sandbox Children’s Museum.

Hilton Head South Carolina in particular, is just a great place for a family vacation, we have friends who go every summer and spend a month. The kids have loads of fun on the beach and the Mom and Dad just relax. They absolutely love it.

If you miss out on the contest or think that maybe your chances of winning are slim, there are lots of family vacation homes and Hilton Head condos to choose from that can offer wonderful amenities, ocean front homes and luxury accommodation for a family of four up to a large family reunion.

Miami's Fairchild Botanical Gardens

2006-02-27T14:56:00.000-07:00

Miami is known for the white sandy beaches and tropical climate, but the sea and the sand is not all there is to this area. A day away from your Miami beach hotel should include a trip to the Fairchild Tropical Botanic Gardens, located on Culter Rd, Miami only about 20 minutes from downtown Miami it is one of the world's premier botanical gardens and has been welcoming visitors to since 1938. The gardens have a well-documented collection of tropical plants, palms, cycads, flowering trees, vines and fruit trees. The collections at the Botanic Gardens are of world significance as many have been collected from the wild.

Learning is at the heart of the Fairchild Tropical Botanical Gardens and includes kids programs such as "How does light sustain life?" and “Can you combine reading maps, discovering art and using technology in a garden?" a program where students use GPS units, compasses and or maps to find glass and plants in the gardens. If you can bring along 5 students, then the accompanying adult gets in for free.

For adults, programs include all kinds of summer classes, with art, photography, cuisine, health and cooking. While many of the classes run for a number of weeks and are not very conducive to a vacation, there are a number of fun classes that are one session. Such as the

"Where’s There Smoke There’s Fire"

"Learn the secrets of real BBQ, Chef Rudy will teach the techniques of grilling and hard wood smoking. As we will prepare our own dry rubs for juicy Beef Brisket, succulent Chinese Char sui Pork Ribs and Kansas City Style Ribs, Boston Baked Beans and BBQ Tofu. Bring an apron and an appetite."

This class is one Tuesday in March from 10:00 am - 1:00 pm. Enjoy some great BBQ and then when you get home, try out your newfound skills on your neighbors.

While on vacation, one of the best ways to find out about an area is to participate in the local events, with a little fore planning before you leave, you can have a fun packed holiday and go home from Miami with more than a sunburn.

Wine Auction of Napa and Sonoma Wines

2006-02-23T12:21:00.000-07:00

The best-kept secret in the Napa Valley is the upcoming Justin-Siena Wine Auction. Trying to find anything about this auction is pretty impossible, as you have to be in the know to even have heard of it, and ColoGuy has the scoop. If you love great Napa and Sonoma wines then your should treat yourself to a trip to the area and attend this auction.

The auction benefits the academic and scholarship programs at the Justin-Sienna High School in the Napa Valley from which many of the vintners of the Napa Valley graduated. Started and co-sponsored by the Dominican Sisters of San Rafael and the Christian Brothers of the San Francisco District, the school is dedicated to offering a college preparatory curriculum to young men and women from diverse backgrounds.

The auction is on April 8th, 2006 and is held at the Silver Oak Cellars in Oakville, Napa general admission is $125 and $200 VIP. You need to contact Beth Fox at the Justin-Siena High School for tickets. The interesting lots that have sold over the past 6 years at this closely kept secret auction, have included some rare wines and interesting wine groupings that appeal to wine collectors all over the country.

Book early if you plan to visit the auction, most Napa Valley Bed and Breakfast’s get booked early on the weekends and finding great accomodations in downtown Napa or a Sonoma Bed and Breakfast gets more difficult during the summer months.

Ozark Mountains Fly Fishing Trip

2006-02-20T14:14:00.000-07:00

The Ozark Mountains offer all kinds of opportunities for fly-fishing. The White River and the North Fork River offer some of the best trout catches in the world. Fly-fishing in this area is not just limited to trout but many other fish species.

The White River and the North Fork river are best known for their big fish with average trout sizes up to 14 inches and the largest one on record weighing in at 38.9 pounds an Arkansas record until it was beaten by an other Arkansas Brown that weighed in at 40.4 pounds and was taken from the Little Red River. These big guys are some of the smarter fish and are a challenge to capture.

Local guides will tell you that the best times to try and catch some of these bigger fish are at night in the summer and during the fall and spring. Trout like the cooler waters in the rivers. Not native to the area many of the fish were and are still introduced by the Game and Fish Commission & the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service which in a combined effort restock over 13 million fish in public waters in Arkansas. According to the site “Fishing the Arkansas Ozarks”

“What makes it possible for trout to exist in our state are the cold tailwaters below the large, deep reservoirs of Bull Shoals Lake and Lake Norfork. The White River, and the North Fork of the White River were dammed in the 1940’s by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for flood control and hydropower generation. The water used to generate power comes from deep in the lakes and is always cold. This makes for excellent trout fishing all year.”

Guided Arkansas and White River fishing trips can be found all over the area. For couples that like to fish together then Lisa Mullins and Custom Adventures has great knowledge of the local conditions and offers trips for Bear Lake Cabin guests with shore lunches. All the fishing gear is supplied so you will not need to bring it along.

The cabins on the lake at Beaver Lake also a opportunity for visitors to Beaver Lake Arkansas to fish right off the deck of their cabin.

Winter Park offers More than Ski and Snowboarding

2006-02-15T16:04:00.000-07:00

In order to appeal to a wider base of clients many of the ski resorts now offer other activities in the area beyond ski and snowboarding.

In Colorado people that stay at Winter Park can find numerous companies that specialize in snowmobile rentals with guided tours and maps. Snowmobiles that follow the historic Moffat railroad that trains used up until about 78 years ago, will find themselves looking out over the Continental Divide.

For a slower pace of travel for the more romantics a sleigh ride through the backcountry on a starlit evening will create just the mood for a quiet romantic evening. Speeding things up a little with a Dog Sled Ride will create and exciting and interesting stories for evenings around the fire with friends.

After a day in the cold a trip to the hot springs will warm you up and take away the chill and sooth acing muscles that have spent a day on the bumps at Mary Jane. Just 30 minutes from Winter Park the hot mineral springs are best when a gentle snow is falling. The snow will melt before it even hits your face, joining the warm mists off the water.

Family lodging in Winter Park can range from a private Bed and Breakfast to a large hotel however many families find that a vacation rental is the best option especially when traveling with kids.

2006-02-10T09:02:00.000-07:00

The Chula Vista Resort offers the best for families in the Wisconsin Dells. This Wisconsin Dells resort is now offering an all-inclusive package that will make it easy for you to budget and arrange for a great family vacation.

One of the main things you will notice about this family friendly Wisconsin lodging is that everything is on site and you will plenty of time for relaxing while the kids play in one of the two water parks. The day spa offers the best in Swedish massage, facials, manicures and deep tissue and hydro-water therapy.

For those that want to play a round of golf, the golf course next door, Cold Water Canyon is a well established 18 hole golf course with lots of native grassy knolls, and wide rolling fairways. Golf with the kids at the 18-hole mini-golf fun factory and then cool off in the summertime at the Outdoor Waterpark. The Chula resort is a kid’s paradise and all the different activities will send them to bed tired every evening. So you can relax and enjoy the stars from your patio.

Crested Butte Lodging for Hikers & Mountain Bikers

2006-02-09T17:01:00.000-07:00

The Crested Butte area is well known for all kinds of great outdoor activities for all levels of activities. An area rich in history from the old mining days there is a plethora of things to see and do and hikes that will take you from mountain meadows up over 14, thousand feet into the thin air of Colorado.

For hikers this area is has an amazing Colorado hiking trail system that offers all kinds of different levels of hiking from the mundane to the extreme. I discovered the area many years ago when we went in search of the Maroon Bells. From Crested Butte there is a trail that takes you up and over to the Maroon Bells into Aspen, and you can stay the night in Aspen and then hike back the next day, it is not for the faint of heart as it goes over some pretty high passes. For those that can’t hike you can drive a mountain 4-wheel drive road over or ride your mountain bike. The window of opportunity is pretty short though and you usually have to wait until about July or August for the snow to melt, right before the next winter snows.

The last time I was in the area, and I have been a few time, we were a group of girls hiking together. We chose to stay at the Nordic Inn, which has a couple of Crested Butte vacation homes. We rented the Nordic Chalet and that was just perfect for us; we could sit up in the evenings and chat and visit, it felt just like a home away from home. The best part was that morning we would head out to the local bakery and picked up warm croissants and fresh coffee then with the fruit we had in the fridge we would munch out on a great breakfast before taking to the trail. The little kitchen made it possible for us to make our lunches for the trail and we were glad of the wine in the fridge when we came home. The living room was large and sunny and had great views of the mountains all around the area. We vowed to come back again and stay with some family in this Colorado vacation home.

Galveston Texas, Convention Center

2006-02-08T08:15:00.000-07:00

The company is sending is on a trip down to Galveston Texas for a sales meeting at this Galveston Hotel, Spa and Convention Center; the Moody Gardens Hotel. The rooms we will be staying in look nice and luxurious, and because we need a family vacation we decided that we would all go together and take advantage of the nice weather down in southern Texas. We have booked into one of the Jacuzzi Suites

".....with an expanded living area, green marble bathroom and a balcony overlooking the Pyramids and Galveston Bay."

The convention is for a couple of days and so we are staying on a little longer to soak up some sun and so we can explore the area. The rather large pyramids that we can see from the room house different types of tropical rainforests, and aquariums.

" Moody Gardens® invites guests to dive into four oceans of the world...... Large touch tanks and jewel tanks feature the vivid beauty of the ocean world and provide underwater classrooms and learning opportunities for people of all ages"

The rainforest pyramid is 10 stories high and studies the diverse rainforests of the world. They are full of birds, fish and mammals in a tropical environment. The Bat Cave sounds pretty interesting.

There is a lot for the kids to do and see as well. With a 4D there that is currently playing Spongbob Squarepants, kids camps with lots of different programs going on throughout the year.

Sounds like we might be able to leave the kids at camp for a day while we enjoy the beach or even the spa at the hotel.

Downtown San Francsico Hotel Next to the New Bloomingdales

2006-02-03T15:30:00.000-07:00

If you are wondering what the new Bloomindales in San Francisco looks like, Ok so maybe you are not, but this video is pretty cool. Take a look at this fly though of the new mall.

The new Bloomindales, set to open in the fall of 2006 this state of the art shopping center will have a mix of 200 specialty stores and boutiques. This downtown San Francisco hotel is right next door to the new Westfield San Francisco Center. Go check it out and take a look to see if it really is a good rendition of the new mall.

Wildlife Expeditions in the US

2006-01-30T15:58:00.000-07:00

Jackson Hole, Wyoming — The Rusty Parrot Lodge and Spa and Wildlife Expeditions offer the opportunity for a wildlife adventure without leaving the U.S. The Rusty Parrot, in conjunction with the non-profit Teton Science Schools' Wildlife Expeditions, offers a Wolf and Grizzly Safari Package, predator fans get an insider’s peek into the real lives of wolves and grizzlies. The four-day, three-night spring safari package allows guests to walk on the wild side in Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks’ prime predator territory while enjoying all the Rusty Parrot’s trademark comforts. Dates for this popular package are April 23-26, April 30-May 3, May 7-10, May 14-17,
May 17-21, May 22-26, 2006.

The Rusty Parrot Lodge & Spa was built in 1990 by owner Ron Harrison who envisioned a different type of lodge near the shopping, art galleries, and restaurants of Jackson’s Town Square. The Rusty Parrot Lodge and Spa has been featured on the weekend edition of the Today Show, and was named as one of the World’s Best Hotels in the January 2005 issues of Conde Nast Traveler and Travel & Leisure, and “best romantic getaway” by Mountain Living Magazine. The Lodge has been rated Four-Diamond by AAA for 13 consecutive years.

For additional information, contact The Rusty Parrot Lodge & Spa at 800.458.2004 or visit www.rustyparrot.com.