HOWL WITH THE WOLVES IN YELLOWSTONE THIS WINTER
Yellowstone National Park Lodges has announced its line-up of Winter Getaway and Adventure packages for the 2011/2012 season.
The park’s winter season begins Dec. 18, 2011 with the opening of the Old Faithful Snow Lodge. The Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel opens Dec. 20, 2011. The lodges provide the only wintertime accommodations within the park. Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel will close for the season March 5, 2012, and Old Faithful Snow Lodge will close March 4, 2012.
Each package includes Xanterra’s “Snow Card” good for 10 percent off meals, in-park transportation, tours, ski shop services and select retail items. Rates quoted here are per person, double occupancy, plus tax and utility fee.
Adventure Package
“Trail of the Wolf” provides travelers with an opportunity to explore the park’s interior with a guide and learn about its abundant natural features in places such as the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone as well as to observe wildlife in the Northern Range of the park. The package includes guided snowmobiling in the interior of the park and wildlife watching by van in the park’s Northern Range. Also included are three nights of lodging split between the two lodges, round-trip guided snowmobile tour between Old Faithful and Mammoth, “Wake up to Wildlife” tour of the Lamar Valley, two breakfasts per person, welcome gift, one-hour hot tub rental, unlimited ice skating and skates and Snow Card. Rates start at $439 per person
Ellen Barone is an American writer and wanderer. She co-founded and publishes the group travel blog YourLifeIsATrip.com and is currently at work on her first book "I Could Live Here".
AUTUMN ADVENTURES TURN A NEW LEAF
Why take a drive to view the fall foliage when you can soar above it? Or would you prefer viewing the autumn colors by trotting down winding paths on horseback? Bed and breakfasts are offering unique ways of enjoying the time of year when the deep greens of summer are replaced by brilliant reds, golds, oranges and yellows in a stunning canopy of color. This trip will be one for the photo books.
“Crisp, cool evening air or apples and pumpkins reaching ripeness are certainly signs of fall,” says Mary White, founder of BnBFinder.com. “But nothing announces the arrival of the season like the foliage. It’s a stunning visual spectacle and should not be missed.”
BnBFinder inns are bringing the season’s colors into full view for travelers looking for something a little out of the ordinary. Here are a few highlights:
The View From Above. The Mayhurst Inn (www.BnBFinder.com/MayhurstInn) in Orange, VA, will arrange a fly over the Blue Ridge Mountains and Shenandoan Valley in a Biplane. Package includes two nights accommodations, a full breakfast each morning, and champagne and strawberries in the room along with a post-dinner dessert.
Up, Up and Away! The HideAway Country Inn (www.BnBFinder.com/HideAwayCountry) in Bucyrus, Ohio, also offers guests a view of the foliage from above but this time during a hot air balloon ride over the heart of Ohio’s farm country. A complimentary bottle of champagne is included in this package.
Ellen Barone is an American writer and wanderer. She co-founded and publishes the group travel blog YourLifeIsATrip.com and is currently at work on her first book "I Could Live Here".
by Marti Mayne with travel expert Eileen Ogintz
Where should we go?
With so many options the decision can send enlightened travelers either into a quandary or an adventure. From resorts and hotels to campgrounds and hostels, travelers have a myriad of accommodations options. Value is the buzz word in travel today, and when it comes to finding plenty of value, a B&B or country inn makes a lot of sense for some, but not all travelers.
The Avon Chambers at Manor on Golden Pond. Photo provided by Manor on Golden Pond, Holderness, NHWhen to B&B?
“If you thought B&Bs weren’t for you, think again,” says syndicated travel columnist Eileen Ogintz.
Of course you’ll find everything you need to celebrate romance at inns and B&Bs from king and queen beds with luxurious linens to deep double whirlpool tubs, double showers and ensuite fireplaces.
But they can also be a terrific place to visit with kids. Some inn owners welcome children with special dress up corners, children’s books and more. And they are a lot more homey than staying in a big hotel.
You’ll get a lot of bang for your vacation dollar too since homemade multi-course breakfasts, afternoon refreshments and evening innkeepers’ receptions at many inns are part of the deal. The extras can add up to more than $100 in value over the course of your stay. Add in fee-free wi-fi, parking, bottled water, DVDs and movies, and much more, and savings add up. “You won’t find those annoying resort fees,” said Ogintz.
Ellen Barone is an American writer and wanderer. She co-founded and publishes the group travel blog YourLifeIsATrip.com and is currently at work on her first book "I Could Live Here".
a guest blog by Marti Mayne
Thoughout May, Distinctive Inns of New England, a collection of luxury New England Bed & Breakfasts and Country Inns, is offering the perfect reason to celebrate love with Date Your Mate Packages.
From cocktails to roses, bubbly and massages, and breakfast in bed, Innkeepers across New England are ready to help you celebrate romance and rekindle the excitement of your dating years.
Ellen Barone is an American writer and wanderer. She co-founded and publishes the group travel blog YourLifeIsATrip.com and is currently at work on her first book "I Could Live Here".
Now through Dec. 31, 2011, a selection of hotels and resorts near turquoise beaches and in bustling cities throughout the Caribbean and Latin America deliver the star treatment with the Red Carpet package featuring: • Three-night suite accommodations
• Luxury airport pickup
• Indulging daily spa treatments
• Rejuvenating facial
• On-property, celebrity-style, photo shoot
• Gourmet dinner for two
Each hotel (listed below) also has its own star appeal, welcoming Mothers to enjoy everything from a poolside concierge at Hilton Los Cabos Beach & Golf Resort to helicopter transfers at Hilton São Paulo Morumbi.
And for Moms who’re looking for the best in wellness and relaxation, there are new spa treatments available to guests of two Hilton resorts in Latin America.
Ellen Barone is an American writer and wanderer. She co-founded and publishes the group travel blog YourLifeIsATrip.com and is currently at work on her first book "I Could Live Here".
With the exception of the “Roosevelt Rendezvous” and “Yellowstone for Families” programs, all Lodging & Learning packages are designed for a maximum of 12 people and for participants who are a minimum of 12 years old. Members of the Yellowstone Association receive $10 off the price of each program. Rates do not include tax or utility fee. Reservations for all programs can be made by calling (1) 307-344-7311 or toll-free 866-GEYSERLAND (866-439-7375). Online information is available at www.YellowstoneNationalParkLodges.com and www.yellowstoneassociation.org.
Ellen Barone is an American writer and wanderer. She co-founded and publishes the group travel blog YourLifeIsATrip.com and is currently at work on her first book "I Could Live Here".