Wealthy Travelers

Winter offers a variety of outdoor winter activities including skiing, snowboarding, ice skating, snowshoeing, as well as sledding and sleigh riding.  Many popular vacation destinations for winter, of course, will be in mountainous areas or within a short distance.  One of my favorite winter destinations is Steamboat Springs, Colorado.

Steamboat Springs offers many ski slopes for skiers of varying skill levels, as well as snowboarding. in one of the most beautiful mountainous settings anywhere.  For the non-skiers, there is always a warm ski lodge or large hotel lobby looking out on the ski slopes where non-skiers can sit by a large stone fireplace, and enjoy the winter scenery from the comfort of a cozy overstuffed chair.

And after all the cold weather fun, you can warm up at in the Strawberry Park natural hot springs.  These hot springs boast a comfortably hot average temperature of 104 degrees in a beautiful natural setting.  And for those that want to find that special memento to take home, there is a variety of shops offering local crafts, as well as clothing, jewelry and many other items.  Enjoy winter!

As a young girl growing up on the southeastern coast in Virginia, I remember trick or treating at Halloween on cold, crisp evenings, and walking through the crunchy leaves.  But as soon as Halloween was over, it was time to think about Thanksgiving.  New England vacations at Thanksgiving would be a perfect time to experience the area where Thanksgiving began.  

The memories of Thanksgiving as a child was of cold, crisp, grey days; clouds hanging low as if snowflakes would be falling any moment.  The trees still had some dull, fall foliage, but there was an air of anticipation and excitement as preparation began for all the holiday fare.  And the aromas drifting on the breeze of roasting turkey and stuffing, pumpkin pie and all the other seasonal dishes cooking just added to the anticipation of this delightful holiday.  The words to the song “Over the river and through the woods, to grandmother’s house we go” fit Thanksgiving in New England….or for that matter….ANYWHERE in the U.S…..perfectly.  Enjoy the holiday season and consider celebrating Thanksgiving in New England.

Isn’t autumn wonderful?  I remember as a kid, living along the eastern seaboard, on a cool, crisp Saturday, walking down the street and playing in the yards of my friends, with a shower of leaves in their autumn colors falling all around me; gathering up piles of crisp colorful leaves in the yard with my friends, only to dive into them to wrestle and scatter the leaves, tossing them into the air and at each other; all the while with the sun shining brightly against a clear blue sky.

Hopefully I’ve painted a nostalgic picture of what was as a child, and can be again in my adult life, by taking New England vacations.  Visiting the east coast and the northeastern coast of New England at this time of year is truly a delightful color explosion of fall colors. 

Choose one of the New England states to visit during autumn, get yourself a map and look for a route that will take you through the rural roads, and off the high speed highways, so you can see and experience for yourself, the explosion of fall colors in the trees that line the road and sit in clusters in the fields and hills around you.  Take the time to get off the beaten path and the fast treadmill of life and delight your senses with the beauty of fall.  Stop at a roadside stand and buy some locally grown apples and homemade apple cider.  Stop and take pictures of the  colorful trees surrounding an old New England farm house; find a covered bridge over a lazy stream; or find a restaurant (it might also be an old, historical tavern from hundreds of years ago) where the locals eat, for a wonderful, home cooked type meal with all the comfort foods of fall.  Take time to slow down, even if only for a weekend, to drink in and enjoy the beauty of the autumn season.

Colorado, during the fall, is alive with colors of gold, yellow, orange and deep reds.  At this time of year, it’s ideal to take a vacation in Steamboat Springs, CO.  Steamboat Springs is located in the northwest corner of Colorado, on the western side of the Rocky Mountains.  The elevation is about 6,600 feet above sea level and is surrounded by national forest and wilderness.  The Yampa River, with headwaters starting in the Flat Tops Wilderness, flows right through downtown Steamboat Springs.

Steamboat Springs is known for it’s world class skiing facilities, with all but one of the USA 2010 Winter Olympic Ski Team hailing from Steamboat Springs.  Although before the snow flies, the fall colors in and around Steamboat Springs are nothing short of spectacular, with hillsides and valleys covered in a mosaic blanket of brilliant yellows, golds, reds and oranges swirled in among the dark green of Ponderosa pines.

Not only can you drive through the mountains to see the fall colors, but there are many other activities available to entertain you.  Mountain biking, camping, hiking, carriage rides, hot air ballooning, or take a stroll in downtown Steamboat Springs to visit quaint shops with crafts made by local artisans; go on a horseback ride on mountainous trails, and then soak your saddle sore body in the natural hot springs.  The fall weather is ideal for taking a quick weekend break, or a vacation for a week.  Enjoy the fall season, for it won’t last long.

With September upon us, we find the hot days turning into warm, and nights changing from pleasantly cool to down right chilly.  And with the cooler weather we begin to see the changing of foliage to hints of red, orange, gold, and yellow; a time when fall vacations in Colorado are at their best.

Plan a weekend road trip through some of the most beautiful fall foliage anywhere in the west.  To highlight a few areas, begin in the southwest part of the state traveling over Lizard Head Pass and Dallas Divide, traveling through Ridgeway, Montrose and Telluride.  Head down Highway 160 which takes across Wolf Creek Pass to see some large fields of golden aspen, and then continue down the highway west into Cortez and the four corners. 

For a unique trip to see Colorado fall colors, take a trip on the Pike’s Peak Cog Railway slowly winding your way to the peak at 14,000 feet through some splendid colors of gold, orange and yellow.  Or travel on the narrow gauge railroad through Georgetown over the Devil’s Gate bridge and wind through a scenic Rocky Mountain pathway with golden fall colors everywhere.  Just about anywhere you decide as a destination in Colorado, you will see spectacular fall colors.

The 4th of July is a time of celebration of our independence from England 234 years ago.  And what better place to celebrate than a vacation in Washington, D.C.  July 4th is also a half way point in the warm months of summer.  Just the mere mention of the holiday conjures up childhood memories of picnics in the park, running through the sprinkler on that hot summer day, homemade ice cream, and the highlight of the day….fireworks at dark in the backyard or at a community display that brings with it all the anticipation and excitement of a child waiting for Santa Claus at Christmas. 

I grew up in the Washington, D.C. area in Virginia.  I had the privilege once of sitting on the lawn around the reflecting pool on the grounds of the Washington Monument to watch fireworks in our nations capital, with the Marine band playing Stars and Stripes Forever and many other famous John Sousa marches.  And what a display it was!! 

I highly recommend that, if not this year, next year, you plan a vacation to our Nation’s Capital during the 4th of July celebration; plan at least a week to take in as many of the historical sites, monuments and museums as you can, including  the Capital, the White House, the Washington Monument, the Lincoln and Jefferson Memorials, the World War II and Viet Nam War Memorials, the Tomb of The Unknown Soldier, Arlington Cemetery with the statue of the raising of the U.S. flag at Iwo Jima as well as visiting John F. Kennedy’s grave; Robert E. Lee’s Mansion, the Air and Space Museum, the Museum of Natural History, and the Smithsonian Museum….JUST to name a FEW!  Enjoy the celebration of this wonderful holiday!

Summer!  Vacation!  Where can you go?  What do you want to do?  Can you afford it?  Well, the answer to that last question is….YES!  You CAN afford a great summer vacation!  And to help with the vacation budget, a travel club membership is also a great answer.

The reason is that a travel club membership gives you a chance to take a vacation in fantastic resorts at average hotel rates or cheaper!  There are thousands of destinations available.  But one of the best benefits to a travel club membership is that you pay one price up front, for a lifetime of discounted rates on resort condos, villas or cottages.

Of course, a lot of people think of the beach when they think of summer vacation.  But what if you could stay in a beautiful mountain resort/retreat with the green Ponderosa pines surrounding you with that outdoorsy clean pine smell in the air, a cool burbling mountain stream with rainbow trout just waiting for you to cast out the bait on the hook.  Or the warm summer sun dancing through the “quacking” aspen trees with their leaves swaying to the summer breeze.  Are you ready?  Well then, go get that travel club membership and enjoy your summer vacation!

No matter whether you go in the winter or the summer, or the in between seasons of fall and spring, Europe vacation destinations give you a choice of wonderful, relaxing and interesting destinations to choose from.  You may want to consider planning your trip around certain country’s festivals or celebrations which will add interest to your trip by helping you be part of that country’s culture and heritage; so it can also be an educational experience as well.

If you can, learn some of the basics of the language of the countries you intend on visiting.  To help, there are many programs, on CDs or books, that will help you, as well as the trusty dusty interpretors dictionary.  And there’s a good chance you will find a local who speaks the local language as well as English who can help you. 

Explore the history, the shops and villages and historical sites of the countries you visit.  If you can, get off the beaten “tourist” route and eat at a local restaurant and visit the locally owned quaint shops with their unique wares. 

Some of the destinations I would visit are the British Isles, France, Germany, will save you a lot of money on your accommodations to make your European trip more enjoyable.

Everyone these days has a tight budget.  So to help you gain a bit of wiggle room, we will highlight some of the cheapest vacation destinations available.  First, what kind of vacation do you want?  A relaxing one on a beach with the relaxing waves coming to shore?  Or would you prefer to visit a city bustling with activities, with plenty of museums and historical sites to explore?  Or do you want an outdoors adventure that will take you to the heart of nature?  Once you’ve decided on what interests you, it makes it easier to plan a destination.

If you choose to fly, consider destinations that the airlines might offer discounts for on your tickets.  If you decide to drive, you might consider a place near your home, or choose a destination where they offer discounts on your lodging.  An inexpensive travel club membership would be a great way ahead of time to find those destinations and get the lodging discounts. 

Let’s look at some of the cheapest vacation destinations available.

• Phoenix:  Airfares, car rentals and lodging have been, and remain some of the best for discounts.  There is much to do in Phoenix whether you’re a golfer, a shopper or enjoy outdoor activities of any kind.
• Washington, D.C.:  If you want to explore history, museums and monuments, this is the destination for you!  This destination gives you all of this in a concentrated area with the added bonus that most are free of charge or have a nominal fee.
• London:  Since London is the most popular destination over other European sites, it has the least expensive airfare.  London also has a wide variety of dining and lodging options to make it a lot more affordable.  Then you’ll be able to enjoy the sites that much more.
• Mexico:  If you love the beach for a relaxing vacation, then this is one of the best destinations for you.  Check out resorts that offer All-Inclusive packages, since in the long run, you’ll be saving money by buying a package that includes all meals, all drinks, and depending on the resort, some activities.
• Las Vegas:  If you want bling, glitz and action, this is the ultimate destination for you.  Gaming, shows, shopping and activities, (even for the kids!) are all available here.  And the best part, because the economy is down, there are less tourists visiting Las Vegas, allowing the hotels and resorts to offer great discounts and perks on your lodging.

So start planning your vacation!