The Best Ski Vacations

Looking for a great way to please the family? Consider a ski vacation. Everyone loves to ski, and there are many great locations to take the family to for a good time. Take a look at these locations.Sugarloaf, in the great state of Maine, is a ski resort sure to please your family. Located on a mountain named, appropriately, Sugarloaf Mountain, it has a grand history. In 1951 the first trail was cut by a group known as a The Bigelow Boys. It is today a premier ski area of the Northeast United States, second in elevation onto to the highest mountain in Main, Mount Katahdin. At the summit of Sugarloaf is a life to take the skier above treeline.New Hampshire offers fine skiing at Cannon Mountain, home of the New England Ski Museum, which contains the most extensive collection of historical ski equipment, literature, film, clothing, photographs, and artwork on the East Coast. The extensive archive is renowned by scholars and historians across the U.S., and the Museum is officially recognized by the United States Ski Association as a Regional Museum, one of only four in the country, and sure to please a ski enthusiast.On the south short of Georgian Bay in Ontario, Canada, Blue Mountain prides itself on being the largest ski area in the province. The resort offers several six man chair lifts and a pedestrian village is under construction. Enjoy your visit to Blue Mountain for a fantastic and unique experience.In upstate New York, Whiteface Mountain reigns king among ski resorts. The fifth highest mountain in New York State and one of the High Peaks of the Adirondack range Whiteface Mountain offers a 360 degree view of the mountains and on a clear day a visitor can see both Vermont and Canada. Near Lake Placid, Whiteface Mountain has a ski area with the greatest vertical drop in the eastern part of the country. In 1980 Whiteface hosted the alpine skiing competition of the Winter Olympics.Aspen Mountain in Colorado is world famous for fine skiing. Still called by the old name of Ajax by the locals, Aspen is a skier's delight, as are most Colorado resorts, including Vail. Another world famous western state resort is in Park City, Utah, home of the 2002 Winter Olympic Games. All of the resorts listed provide great skiing.Modern skiing evolved gradually from snow shoeing, and a Norwegian, Sondre Norheim, is thought of as the father of modern skiing. In the 1800's he invented the form of skiing he called Slalom, but which we know today as Telemark skiing. While skiing has practical transportation value in many colder climate countries, and many militaries train troops in skiing, most people think of the sport involving taking a ski lift to the top of a mountain for a fast and fun downhill ride. When engaged in this activity most people prefer to wear warm clothing and follow runs, trails or slopespatrolled ski routes that are checked for safety. Skiers also enjoy cross country skiing, but for safety sake most stay within the boundaries of the resort. In fact, most European countries have laws against cross country skiing outside of the resort's boundaries due to the danger of avalanche and the high cost of search and rescue operations.Skiing enthusiasts report a euphoria that comes from skiing, a feeling they liken to flying and many more people are engaged in the sport today than ever before, with many fine ski schools teaching the basics. Even if you've never skied before, the basic skills can be acquired quickly and you'll be on the slopes enjoying yourself in a way you've never experienced before. Skiing is a great way to get in good physical shape, and at the end of the day, sitting around a fireplace in the lodge, bundled up with a warm blanket, and your spouse sitting next to you, holding a cup of hot cocoa in hand for sipping. This is the perfect ending to a wonderful day, which you'll experience at any of the six great ski vacation resorts listed. So give a ski vacation a try, and be very glad you did.

Costa Rica - Your Place In The Sun

In Central America, just south of Nicaragua and north of Panama is Costa Rica. Costa Rica has the Caribbean Sea to the east and the Pacific Ocean on the west side. Therefore, the majority of Costa Rica's borders, sixty-five percent, are coastline. Although a relatively small area, about the size of Vermont and New Hampshire combined, it has everything one could want in a vacation. Beautiful white sand beaches, great surf, active volcanoes, natural hot springs, and towering rain forests are just some of the sites in Costa Rica. Site seeing in the area is relatively simple via rental car or public bus. A number of the principal mountain ranges are volcanic, and visitors can easily visit many of these areas. In the province of Cartago, for example, which is not far from the capital of San Jos, you will find Iraz volcano, which erupted in the early sixties. Pos volcano, located in the province of Alajuela, has one of the largest active craters in the world. In addition, Arenal volcano, in the northwestern region, delights thousands of visitors each year to a constant stream of red, hot lava rocks tumbling down its slopes.Picturesque forests grow in the crater of the dormant Barva in Heredia. Arenal, a young volcano in the northern part of the country is constantly active (and is the site of a spa with natural hot springs). The country's highest peak, Mount Chirrip, is not volcanic; it measures 12.412 feet. On a clear day one can see both the Pacific and Atlantic oceans from atop Mt. Chirripo.The capital of Costa Rica is San Jos and is a good starting place for exploring the country. It is conveniently located in the center of the country and all the bus lines stop here. The port of Limon on the Caribbean Coast has quite a different atmosphere from the capital. Life is easy going on the Caribbean coast compared to the city life in San Jose.San Jos is located in the Central Valley region of the country. Evenings in San Jos can be cool do to the high altitude, but you will not forget that you are in a tropical place even in this bustling city. The city itself is busy and filed with traffic. There are many things to do, but travelers often miss these sites choosing instead to head straight from the airport to beaches or rainforests. Although San Jos is not the most beautiful city in the world, it is generally safe and has a lot to offer tourists.

StaycationsA trend here to stay

Loosely defined, a staycation refers to a vacation spent at home where, instead of going away, you do short day trips"typically within three hours from your residence. The concept itself has enlightened many to the tourist treasures quite literally in their backyards. We get so hung up on traveling to far away places that we really do overlook gems that are pretty close to home"like those places you might see in a brochure or flyer at a rest area while youre traveling. A staycation makes it possible for you to schedule mini-vacations to those kind of places and keep your costs down, said Peter Hans, president of Resort Maps, creator of customized travel maps in more than 90 cities and towns across the U.S. and U.K. So, what can you do on your staycation? Thats the beauty of it, you can do anything. Some easy, low- cost ideas include: Visit a local water park " In most parts of the country, you can find a water park within a three-hour drive of your home. Pack a picnic basket or, better yet, take some coals and barbecue. Many of these parks have barbies you can use. Hike and picnic at a state or national park " Be a little daring and venture off to one you havent visited before. Outdoor music or film festivals " Free outdoor concerts are in abundance during the summer. For many, you can just spread out a blanket or prop up a lawn chair. Also, more and more areas hold film festivals. Foreign Cuisine Night " Maybe a trip to another county is not in the budget. A night out to sample some foreign cuisine can be the next best thing. For example, have a Mexican night at a nearby Mexican restaurant, Indian night at your local Indian establishment, etc. If youve never tried that kind of food, even better. Museum Day " Youve probably got several within a 45-minute drive from your home, yet how many times have you been to one of them? Take one day and hit as many museums as you can. Family Game Night " Lest you think its mandatory to go somewhere for your staycation. Hosting a family game night can be fun and relaxing"whether its a Wii golf tournament or board game marathon. Camp out in your backyard " Young kids especially will love the adventure of pitching a tent in the backyard. Plus, youve got the conveniences of your home without the expense of a campsite. Added Hans, Staycations provide a viable alternative to a vacation, allowing similar adventures you might experience on a vacation without the big expense. Who knows, you may even like them better. Especially when you can put your head down on your own pillow at the end of the day. Resort Maps offer a number of ideas on possible local excursions for your staycation. Colorful, hand-drawn maps of resort cities and towns across 20 states, as well as parts of the UK, Resort Maps advertise restaurants, accommodations, retail stores, factory outlets, recreation and attractions, real estate and other local services. With landmarks prominently displayed on the maps, Resort Maps are an easy and fun way to find your way around town whether you are visiting, new to the area or you just want to know what's happening around your town. For more information on Resort Maps or to inquire about ownership of a Resort Maps franchise, please visit www.resortmaps.com or call 802-496-6277. About Resort Maps Headquartered in the Green Mountains of Vermont, Resort Maps has been creating and publishing advertising maps in the northeastern U.S. since 1986. In 1993, Resort Maps expanded its reach by creating a franchise model for distribution of its colorful, hand-drawn maps of resort towns and cities. Today, that network of franchises grown to nearly 90 Resort Maps in publication in the US and the UK, with several more in the process of being published. Nearly 20 million Resort Maps will be printed and distributed in 2009. For more information on Resort Maps the company and/or the franchise opportunity, visit www.resortmaps.com or call 802-496-6277.

Summer Mountain Vacations

While skiing and snowboarding winds down each spring, ski resorts across the continent bend over backwards to attract summer visitors to the mountains. Pressure to maintain a steady flow of visitors means that North America's finest luxury ski resorts pull out all the stops for summer travelers, with concerts, festivals, elaborate summer mountain activities, and kid-friendly attractions. Best of all, dramatic lodging and lift ticket price cuts make summer the most affordable time to bring the family to the mountains. Check out cheap summer mountain deals at the following top ski resorts:Aspen/Snowmass, ColoradoWhile a trip to Aspen during prime ski season may beyond some travelers' budget, the summer is an ideal time to experience the beauty and luxury of Colorado's prized ski town without spending a fortune. The area boasts four stunning mountains offering summer mountain activities for the whole family, including biking, hiking, horseback riding, rafting and kayaking. Stroll through the picturesque town and be sure to catch a free bluegrass concert atop Aspen Mountain on Sundays.Smugglers Notch, VermontSmugglers maintains its family vacation appeal throughout the summer months, offering an endless list of activities to keep the kids happy while providing beautiful mountain activities the parents will love too. Kids will love Smugglers' eight pools, waterslides, and water playground, and parents can look forward to golfing and evening entertainment. Travelers of all ages will enjoy the Via Ferrata, a planned adventure sports hike involving suspensions, ladders, and cables. Keep an eye out for summer mountain specials in June.Big Sky, MontanaBig Sky is a great summer mountain vacation destination, located just an hour from the stunning Yellowstone National Park. Big Sky has its fair share of attractions, from world class hiking and biking, to white water rafting, rock climbing, golfing, and a brand new zip-line. An long list of children's activities promises to keep the kids entertained for hours if parents want to venture off for a day on the mountain.Whistler Blackcomb, British ColumbiaFor the avid skier or snowboarder who simply can't last through the summer without hitting the slopes, Canada's Whistler is your best bet. Enjoy summer mountain activities at the base and dramatically discounted lodging prices, with an option to take a lift to Whistler's summit for glacier skiing. Whistler is one of the very few North American mountains to offer skiing, snowboarding, biking, and swimming, all at one resort.

Evvie Meier is the marketing director of Trax.com, the leading travel meta-search engine, aggregating cheap airfare and hotel rates from across hundreds of travel sources. Find details at http://www.trax.com

Destination Wedding Planning

So, you're beginning to plan your wedding. Exciting, isn't it? First you have to pick the venue for your ceremony. Luckily you chose one that won't break the bank. Next there's the venue for the reception. Uh-oh, the bank's starting to bulge around the seams. That's okay; everything will be fine as long as you keep the guest list down. Hopefully Aunt Gladys' branch of the family won't mind if they're notOh, they do mind.And so does your cousin's ex-girlfriend's brother and his family. And your boss and her husband and three kids. Pretty soon your dental hygienist is perturbed that she's not invited. Don't look now, but your wedding budget's going to explode. It's about this time you wish you could just skip the wedding and go straight to the honeymoon on some tranquil island somewhere. Right?Hmmaybe you can. It's called eloping. Or, in some circles, a destination wedding with just the two of you.It seems more and more people are foregoing the traditional big wedding for a smaller affair in some exciting destination with just the bride and groom, or perhaps a small number of close family members. And, why not. With the high price of wedding planning these days, a destination wedding or eloping just makes sense.Of course, just because you've opted for eloping or a small destination wedding doesn't mean you can throw your wedding planning checklist away. It's just a smaller checklist. Let's review what might be on your destination wedding planning checklist:1. Choosing a DestinationThis is the fun part. You have many fun choices before you. You can get married:- In a hot-air balloon over Colorado.- At Disneyland.- On a beach in Southern California with just you, your partner, the wedding officiant, and a million dollar view that's costing you nothing.- On a roller coaster in New Jersey.- While snorkeling in Maui.- Overlooking Niagara Falls.- While bungee jumping in Las Vegas.- At a historic inn in Vermont.While planning the location for your destination wedding or elopement, do keep in mind the time of year you'll be getting married. You can keep the costs down considerably if you go during the off-season of the chosen location.2. Make the Travel PlansMaking your travel plan far ahead of time will also cut down on costs. Also, be creative when considering the mode of travel. Maybe you could travel by train instead of by plane. A train can add some more romance to your wedding plans.3. The Legal IssuesYou need to check on the laws governing marriage in your chosen location. If you're a U.S. citizen and you plan on getting married in another country, for example, be sure to research what documentation you might need. There might also be a longer waiting period from getting your marriage license to actually marrying. Also, make sure you have your passport up to date.4. The Wedding Officiant5. The Photographer6. Cake and ChampagneWhatever location you choose, be it a New England inn or bungee jumping in Las Vegas, you will probably find a company which will provide the wedding officiant, photographer and cake and champagne, as well as limousine transportation to the ceremony site. Be sure to ask if they're included in your package. If not, make sure you have them all lined up before your ceremony.An elopement or destination wedding can be good for your budget and your stress level. And, if your Aunt Gladys is mad because she's not invited, bring her back something from Maui. That should keep her happy.

Get Ready for That Ski Vacation

Planning a ski vacation doesn't have to be all that difficult. You pick a mountain that'll have snow when you arrive and you pack some articles of clothing that'll keep you warm and you're good to go. And you don't have to worry - unless you're heading off to ski uncharted territory, you'll most likely be able to purchase anything you've forgotten once you arrive at your destination. But why waste time tracking down convenience stores when you can be tracking down virgin snow? Here's what you need to know to get your ski vacation off to a good start.Most important to take with you on your ski vacation is your wallet and your paperwork. You need your travel tickets, hotel confirmations, maps/directions, passport (if traveling out of the country), and any pre-purchased tickets. Besides those important items, you'll need suitable cold-weather clothing to wear while skiing and aprs clothing. Bring along a swimsuit, a pair of slippers and shoes, a camera, and toiletries (including sunscreen and lip balm). And of course, don't forget your ski equipment. If you're staying at a vacation rental, your accommodations likely will provide you with everything else you'll need to feel right at home. Where will you be heading on your ski vacation? Your options abound and where you end up really depends on how far you're willing to travel. In the US, you can plan a ski vacation to Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, Alaska, California, Montana, the Rocky Mountains, or Lake Tahoe. You can head north to Canada or south to Chile or Argentina and find many desirable locations. You can ski the Swiss Alps or the mountainous regions of Italy, France, Austria or Spain. You can even plan a ski vacation at multiple locations in Asia! Ski vacations are fun because there's just so much to do on and off the slopes. So get going!Kent Krueger has been involved in the Travel industry for over 3 years. He has advised many people in the industry and the corporate world on travel ideas, savings and successfully marketing personally owned vacation home rentals. Kent is the President of The Rental Network, which owns and operates two websites to help both rental owners and vacationers alike. You can visit them at Vacation Home Rental and http://www.evaca.com

SEA TURTLES, FLYING FOXES, PUPPIES & CLOUDFORESTS

CONTACT DEBBIE JACOBSphone: 802-257-0152fax: 802-257-2784 EXPLORE@SOVER.NETHTTP://WWW.VOLUNTEERTRAVEL.COMPhotos available on requestFor Immediate ReleaseBrattleboro, VermontSEA TURTLES, FLYING FOXES, PUPPIES & CLOUDFORESTSVOLUNTEER PLACEMENTS ENHANCE THE TRAVEL EXPERIENCE Adults who want to contribute their skills to a worthy project, and others who want to discover more about a place than the average tourist would, are discovering that travel combined with service work provides a rewarding and enriching experience. Measuring nesting sea turtles in the Caribbean, clearing trails in the cloud forest of Central America, researching migratory bird populations in the Yucatan, learning organic farming techniques in New Zealand, teaching English to rural school children in Ecuador, and caring for orphaned flying foxes in Australia. These are a few of the opportunities available through Explorations in Travel's volunteer placement program. Placements for adults of all ages are available in Puerto Rico, Mexico, Belize, Costa Rica, Ecuador, New Zealand, Samoa and Australia. Volunteers work in forest reserves, coral reef conservation projects, migratory bird sanctuaries, sea turtle nesting projects, organic farms, animal shelters, rural schools, orphanages, environmental education programs, and wildlife rehabilitation centers. Stacey Morris from Redmond, WA, a volunteer at an animal clinic in Puerto Rico tells us, The work is not just answering the phone, it's hands-on. We often receive requests asking specifically for older or retired volunteers, Debbie Jacobs, the president of Explorations in Travel, informs us, organizations appreciate the experience and maturity they bring to the job. College students taking a semester off, or high school students taking a year off before university, gain valuable experience out in the field. Volunteers have opportunities to immerse themselves in the daily routines of another culture and improve their skills in a foreign language. When you go visit a country as a tourist you are fairly well insulated from real life' by the tour company, says Art Cartwright, a past volunteer now living in Costa Rica, they blanket the area around the lodges with insecticides, give you guides to protect you from yourself and not much happens. That's not the case when you travel as a volunteer.For more information interested volunteers can contact Explorations in Travel, 1922 River Rd., Guilford, VT 05301, phone: (802)257-0152, fax: (802)257-2784, email: volunteer@volunteertravel.com http://www.exploretravel.com