Ciclismo Classico cycling mama Lauren Heffron & kids in Copenhagen.Attention husbands, children, brothers and fathers! What do “cycling mammas” want most for Mother’s Day? Sure, cards or flowers are appreciated, but what she covets most of all might be time to bicycle with her family.
Sign up the Mamma in your life on a Ciclismo Tour by May 13th and receive a $250 discount on her trip! (They’ll give you the discount too. Valid on all trips except More Miles for Less, cannot be combined with any other discounts.)
Suggested Mom escapes from the ultimate cycling mama, Ciclismo Classico director, Lauren Hefferon:
La Bella Puglia Enjoy laid-back cycling, delicious cuisine and mystical cities of stone
Swept Away in Sardegna (Lauren’s personal favorite) Explore dramatic coastlines, mesmerizing scenery and a rich, vibrant culture
The Grand Tour D’Italia Experience the Best of Italy on this stunning 15 day North to South, six-region, cycling portrait of Italy - a Ciclismo exclusive
Lovely Lofoten For peaceful pedaling on a Norwegian Paradise that ventures over the Arctic circle and pedals along soaring mountains and the crystal sea
Vietnam For sensory cycling overload of lush scenery, intense cultural experiences and smiling, super friendly natives
Provence For a glorious spin in France’s most famous and magical cycling region.
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".
Celebrate National Park Week, April 17-25, 2010!
If you’re planning a trip to the nation’s capital, you may be able to name a number of stops on your itinerary without even cracking a guidebook. Memorials to presidents; museums devoted to natural history, air travel and space exploration, and the visual arts; the White House; the U.S. Capitol—these sites or some combination of them draw many visitors. But you might look at your schedule and wonder if several days of marble monuments, glass display cases, rooms of paintings, and iconic buildings will have you hankering for a break.
Slate a day or two to get away from the Mall and explore a much different national park—a pocket of America’s great outdoors within the boundaries of the District of Columbia. Rock Creek Park, located in northwest D.C., offers a mixture of scenery, tranquility, adventure, and activity.
Among Rock Creek’s slopes, trees, and slabs of rock, and near its eponymous body of water, you can ride on horseback, take a run, bicycle, or rollerblade. This week’s Getaway destination also beckons to hikers and kayakers, although, equipped with multi-use paths, it more than accommodates those seeking the proverbial stroll in the park.
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".
One of my most memorable holidays was a summertime heli-hiking vacation in the Canadian Rockies with Canadian Mountain Holidays. And, it delights me when a company that’s already great, does something even better. Case in point, the new “CMH Summer Adventures” (formerly CMH Heli-Hiking). As if heli-hiking wasn’t exciting enough, they’ve added ropes courses, zip-lining, via ferrata, yoga getaways and women’s weeks-and brand-new for this year, painting and cooking workshops, cancer survivors’ retreats and exclusive trips with great Canadian explorers to their summer lineup. The CMH Summer Adventures season will run from July 6 to September 7, 2010. See details below.
The new Summer Adventures for 2010 will include a unique opportunity for active and creative types to participate in a Painting Workshop with Liz Wiltzen in the Bugaboos (August 31-September 5). Liz combines 10 years of guiding experience in the Bugaboos with 20 years of painting, to provide guests with real-time hiking experience in the storied Bugaboos, as well as hands-on artistic guidance in the painting of them.
With CMH’s new Stretch & Stir cooking workshop, guests can join sisters Sandra Davis and Julie Sagan in an alpine experience that mixes yoga, cooking and Heli-Hiking in the iconic Bugaboo Mountains (August 20-23). Chef Sandra Davis creates mouth-watering delights from her catering business The Saucy Gourmet, while her sister, yoga master Julie Sagan, stretches her clients at the Bikram Yoga West Edmonton Studio.
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".
Ski New Mexico announces EXTENSIONS
Skiing in New Mexico is the best it has been all year. The snow is great, the days are longer, and the sun makes for warm days. All of the resorts are receiving new major snow falls every other day. The public response to the outstanding conditions has helped the resorts to extend their closing dates and hours of operation. There is still about a month of great skiing remaining. Now is the time to get out and enjoy the best skiing of the season.
Resort Updates:
1. )SANDIA PEAK SKI AREA:
Sandia Peak Ski Area will once again be extending the 2009-2010 season through March 28, 2010. 14” inches of new snow overnight and a 79” inch base has provided the best skiing and riding conditions at Sandia Peak in years. The area will be open Wednesday March 24 through March 28 for the “final week of skiing and riding for the 2009-10 season”.
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".
Snowshoeing in the snowy woods of New Mexico isn’t an adventure possibility that many visitors know exists. But the wilderness near the town of Taos is thick with inviting public trails. One of the most scenic is a 2.5-mile trail thru lush forests of spruce and fir up to Williams Lake, nestled in a glacial basin in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains.
Local Wisdom: “At Williams Lake, you are at tree line, with incredible views of Wheeler Peak. Look for the Bighorn Sheep on your way!” says Stuart Wilde of Taos Snowshoe Adventures.
Getting There: From Taos, follow US 64W 4 miles north to Jct. of NM 150. Turn right, and follow NM 150 to Taos Ski Valley. At the upper parking, turn right on Twining Rd., and follow sign for Williams Lake Trail/Bavarian Lodge. The road switches back and climbs above the Village to the trailhead (4wd recommended). Park in the Williams Lake Trail lot and gear up. Elevation at the lake is 11,000 ft. so pack appropriate winter gear, and check local conditions before you go. Never snowshoe or hike alone.
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".
There’s nothing more discouraging than not booking that trip-of-a-lifetime because you’re not in shape. Unfortunately, I know what it feels like. Fortunately, FitforTrips.com can help make your dream vacation a reality.
© Ellen Barone.I’m just off the phone with Marcus Shapiro, the brains, and brawn, behind FitforTrips.com. He’s helping me get in shape for some upcoming adventures and he’s offered to do the same for EllenBarone.com readers for 25% off thru February 28th. YAY!
Just so you know, there’s no compensation in this for me, other the pleasure of sharing. But to get your discount, be sure to use the promo code: barone (good thru February 28, 2010)
Bon voyage,
Ellen
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".