Latest Travel Articles

Monday, August 09, 2010

The thrill and excitement of attending a world class sporting event is unsurpassed. This is more than a vacation - it's the opportunity of a lifetime!

Rather than buying tickets and then trying to secure hotel accommodations, consider booking a sports package.

• Packages including transportation, accommodation, event tickets and additional entertainment are often a good value and certainly make it easy to attend. On site event hosts act as your local concierge. There's a range of add-ons like upgrades and private transfers to make it even more special.
• If you're looking for custom arrangements, we can help you sort out the details with our network of local partners and sporting event specialists.
• Tickets to regular season games as well as world class sporting events can be arranged.

These are just a few examples of upcoming events you can attend:

• October 2-10th, 2010: Albuquerque...The New Mexico Balloon Festival is a treasured tradition and a world-renowned spectacle
• 2010 National Rodeo Finals, Las Vegas
• 2011 Rose Bowl Parade: Experience a festival of flowers and music now in its 122nd year on January 1, 2011 at 8:00 a.m
• BCS Championship game: January 7, 2010 in Glendale, Arizona
• 2011 Super Bowl, February 3-7, Arlington, Texas - Enjoy America's biggest sporting event complete with parties, festivals and entertainment.
• 2011 NBA All Star Game. Los Angeles, CA: The best players in the world - in one place, at one time.
• March 5-9, 2011: Experience Mardi Gras in New Orleans! The famous – perhaps notorious – annual Fat Tuesday festival.
• April 1-5, 2011: Final Four...College basketball at it's best. March Madness doesn't get any better than the Final Four.
• 2011 Masters Golf Tournament, April 4-10, Augusta, Georgia. Watch the world's greatest golfers compete for the Green Jacket. Flexible packages give you plenty of options for events and accommodation.
• The Kentucky Derby is run on the first Saturday in May - May 5-8th, 2011
• 2011 Calgary Stampede July 8-17th: The world famous Stampede, includes seats at the evening Grandstand Show and the famous Chuckwagon Races.
• 2012 Summer Games of the XXX Olympiad, July 26 - August 14, London, England - The ultimate in international sports, space is limited for high demand events and premium accommodation so pre-arrange early.

These events sound so exciting! Why not plan your next vacation around your favorite sporting event?

Thursday, July 29, 2010

New England's fall foliage is due to crisp, clear sunny days and long, cold nights. These special weather conditions halt the chlorophyll production in the leaves, and allow the brilliant golden and scarlet colors to be revealed.

Autumn is glorious in Canada and New England. The sun still shines on the Eastern Seaboard's many seafaring towns and the cool fall air turns the foliage a dazzling crimson and gold. A trip to Canada and New England uncovers the history and character that started a nation. With the quaint Colonial charm of New England towns and the spectacular Canadian coastline, history is everywhere you look. Discover the very fabric of the cities and towns that are woven with history and experience French Canada's unique flavor and culture.

Cruises and tours of Canada & New England both offer different styles of travel to enjoy all there is to see and do in the fall.

Fall foliage is unpredicatable, as we cannot predict Mother Nature, so keep in mind that the further North you go, the better chance you have of seeing the fall colors. Most often the last week of September through mid October is a good time to visit New England.

Although New England is known for fall foliage, there are other parts of the country that have equally stunning leaf color with mountain back drops, lakeside views or sprawling vineyards. Don't forget the amazing National Parks. Peak is usually mid-October. Sedona, Zion, Grand Tetons and Yellowstone all offer great fall folors. Napa Valley, Lake Tahoe and Yosemite national park usually peak later, around the end of October.

In the South, the Blue Ridge Parkway and Smoky Mountains are popular areas to see foliage, as well as Greensboro, Franklin and These areas tends to peak in early November.

Although several departures are sold out, there are still some foliage tours, cruises and train trips to view the fall foliage in 2010.  I invite you to visit our website dedicated to Fall Foliage trips if you want would like more information.

Thursday, June 10, 2010

 

 

 

 

One of the most frequently asked questions we are asked that pertains to fall foliage travel, is "When is the Best Time to see the changing of the leaves?" 

Witness the magnificent Fall Foliage of New England, starting in Boston and then traveling along Maine's rocky coast to Portland. Enjoy time in Bar Harbor on Mount Desert Island, picturesque Acadia National Park, and feast at a traditional Maine lobster bake. More stops in New Hampshire, Vermont and Connecticut will add to your unforgettable journey.

See oranges, yellows, reds, purples and browns burst into bloom in the autumn, painting a colorful backdrop to the white steeped villages of New England, the dramatic seascapes of Maritime Canada and the magnificent Rocky Mountains.

Keep in mind, fall colors can be affected by wind, temperature and moisture. Mother nature can be unpredictable, so try to make your trip for other sites & events around New England, as well as the changing of the leaves. The peak travel season is typically mid-September to early October. We normally suggest after September 23rd through mid-October. Peak fall foliage in New England works its way down from the north. The further north you go, the earlier the peak. Many popular tour itineraries include Vermont, New Hampshire (Kancamagus Scenic Highway) and Massachusetts (the Mohawk Trail.) 

Choose from various fall foliage tours, rail vacations and cruise itineraries to gain the full experience of what New England has to offer. As the season nears, there are many "Hotlines" to get up to date information on the changing of the season. Tauck has a foliologist/naturalist that gives updates on their hotline: 800-214-8209 starting in early September.

Tuesday, June 01, 2010

We all “feel” better getting away on vacation. Did you know it really is not just your imagination? Science and statistics show it is true.  Vacations can reduce risk of heart disease, depression and even slow down the aging process. How about this statistic… Two vacations can cut your risk of heart attack by 50%.

Vacations help reduce stress, which will always help your health. 

Here are some other  tips to reduce stress during travel.

• Get away long enough time to let go of your daily grind.  A week is recommended.
• Watch your time zones – too many time zones actually increase your stress on your body’s natural rhythms.
• Don’t over schedule your trip – Make sure you have quiet time each day.
• Be social – making new acquaintances has a restorative power.
• Enjoy physical activity – moderate exercise like swimming and walking are great energy boosters.

How sad that a third or us do not use all our vacation days!  Hopefully this will inspire you to take some time to better your health with travel.

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Friday, May 28, 2010

First time visitors to Europe hanker for historic sites and world-class museum's in Europe's most famous cities. Return travelers revisit their favorities for in-depth exploration. Here is my list of four must see European cities and things to do in each.

LONDON, ENGLAND:
Buckingham Palace: Changing of the Guards A ritual that is one of the most famous aspects of the royal residence, the Changing of the Guards features real military soldiers in their trademark red jackets abd bearskin hats.
The Tower of London is not only the home of the crown jewels, it also features permanent exhibitions of crowns and diamonds in the Martin Tower and armor and armaments in the Royal Armouries. Free tours given  by the Beefeaters are riddled with tales of the Tower's history. The Ceremony of the Keys, a 700 year old ritual performed every night at evening lockup must be requested in advance for viewing two to three months in advance.
The British Museum holds one of the world's greatest collections of antiquities-94 galleries worth. The National Maritime Museum's 30 galleries contain one of the world's largets collections of boats and navigational equipment, as well as the world famous observatory.

PARIS, FRANCE 
La Basilique du sacre Coeur de Montmarte & Montmartre cemetery Sitting atop the highest hill in Paris, the basilica is visible from all over the city. At the top of the steps leading up to the church, there's a plaza with a great view and just beyond the church around the cobblestones is the market square of Place du Tertre with shops, cafes and artists painting. Street performers regularly put on shows. Walled and shaded by trees the cemetery off Rue Caulaincourt near Palce de Clichy is famous for its hillside graves of composers, artists and authors. Notre-Dame de Paris is well known for its towera, flying buttresses and gargoyles. The inside glows with stained glass. The bell in the south tower is heard only on the most solemn occasions. The 11th century organ, which has 8,000 pipes, is played in concerts every Sunday except during Lent. Musee de Louvre needs several days to fully appreciate the museum.

BERLIN - This city's most beautiful plaza is called Gendarmenmarket with its three neoclassical buildings. Flanking it are two rebuilt 18th-century churches, Franzosischer Dom to the North and Deutscher Dom to the South. The French Cathedral has a museum chroniclng the history of the French Hugenots who sought refuge in Berlin following their expulsion from France and a viewing platform at the top of its tower. The German Cathedral houses an exhibition on the history of parliamentary democracy in Germany. Classical music and opera events are held in the square. Museum Berlin-Karlshorst is for history buffs interested in World War II. Dokumentation Zentrum, berlin Mauer is located opposite a preserved piece of the Berlin Wall and the adjoining death strip that constituted the border fortification. This museum gives an overview of the Wall's development and its fall. Alliierten Museum focuses on the history and role of the Western Allies in berlin, particularly during the Cold war.

ROME, ITALY- The piazza is the heart of Rome's most fashionable shopping area, familiar to residents and visitors because of its grand and distinctive steps. At the base sits a fountain by Bernini and the house of 19th century poet John Keats. At the top there's a grand view of the city. The Pantheon is a monumental round  ancient structure prserved very well. The painter Raphael and the first king of Italy, Vittorio Emanuele II are buried inside with hundreds of early Christian martyrs whose remains were transferred from the catacombs in the seventh century. Basilica di San Giovanni in laterano holds the distinction of being the highest ranked church - even above St. peter's Basilica in the Vatican- since it conatins the papal throne. The famous Scala Sancta are also at this piazza. Basilica di San Pietro is the spiritual center of the Catholic Church. St. Peter's is the ultimate destination for Catholic pilgrims, but it also drawss visitors with its masterpieces of art and architecture. When the Pope is in residence, he blesses th crowds in Piazza San Pietro at noon on Sunday.