Taos New Mexico: a sovereign nation, an ancient culture, a millennium away from urban life and one of my favorite places on the planet. Continuously inhabited for more than 1,000 years, the Taos Pueblo houses an American history few know. El Monte Sagrado Living Resort & Spa, a well-known leader in alternative energy and luxury eco-friendly hospitality, has now opened the doors to you with the People of the Pueblo educational experience an inspirational and educational Native American adventure.
Included in the experience is:
- Dinner for two at the resort restaurant, AAA Four-Diamond De la Tierra
- Two Tickets to the Millicent Rogers Museum
- 60-minute Aromatherapy massage for two
- 2-hour instructional pottery class at Taos Clay for two
- Breakfast for two daily
- Valet parking for one vehicle
For more information, visit www.elmontesagrado.com, or call 800.724.3392.
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".
“Spring has sprung, the grass has ‘riz, I wonder where the tulips is?” No need to look too far for beautiful flower gardens. For travelers looking for their flower-fix, the Lamplight Inn in Dublin, Ohio might just make the perfect tulip-filled spring road trip in April or May.
From cities throughout the U.S. simply fly to Cleveland, OH, and rent a car for a beautiful drive through Ohio’s Amish countryside to the Lamplight Inn, where tens of thousands of tulips will usher in spring and shoo away the winter doldrums.
For more information and to view photos of the tulips, click here.
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".
INNKEEPERS KISS CUPID GOODBYE AND OFFER SPECIAL PACKAGES FOR THE 89 MILLION SINGLES ON VALENTINE’S DAY
BedandBreakfast.com members have romance covered. Stay at a B&B or inn for Valentine’s Day and immediately the beautiful beds, romantic breakfasts, and plenty of pampering amenities makes the heart grow fonder. Fortunately, singles need no longer fear this dreaded “couples” holiday. With 89 million singles in America, it’s no wonder that inns and B&Bs are kissing cupid goodbye and welcoming singles for Valentine’s Day adventures.
BedandBreakfast.com, the largest online B&B directory and reservation network worldwide is the best resource for Valentine’s Day getaways for both singles and couples. Visit www.BedandBreakfast.com and click on the roses and champagne photo on the home page for an extensive list of romantic Valentine’s Day packages. Read on for five fabulous packages that come to the rescue of singles on Valentine’s Day. Listed alphabetically in order by state, all rates are per room, including breakfast, and do not include tax or gratuities (unless otherwise specified.
- Celebrate “Me-dom” at Montgomery Inn, Versailles, KY: Singles, celebrate freedom and “me-dom” by pampering yourself with movies, wine, chocolates and dinner. Select a DVD, magazines, music or books from the inn’s extensive library, then go soak in an oversized whirlpool tub. Enjoy dinner for one and complimentary snacks and beverages too. Offered February 11-17, this package includes a complimentary glass of wine or sparkling cider, a red rose, the inn’s signature chocolate bourbon truffles, and dinner for one for $139 in the Colonial or Maple Suites; add a second night for just $75 (no dinner).
- Find the ski bum of your dreams at Chairlift Speed Dating and Whitney’s Inn, Jackson, NH: They say Valentines Day is just for lovers… but that doesn’t mean they’ve met yet! Those looking for the skier of their dreams may just find him or her on a five-minute chairlift ride at Black Mountain during the third annual Chairlift Speed Dating Event, and then at Whitney’s Inn afterward. Singles, enjoy three-nights lodging, a singles welcome reception on Friday night, entry into the speed dating event on Saturday, a bottle of wine and goodies upon your return (to enjoy with new friends), and dinner for two in the Shovel Handle Pub for Saturday night and breakfast each morning. If you introduce the innkeepers to your new mate, you’ll be treated to a free sleigh ride for two on Sunday. The three-night package, offered February 12-15, including all extras, starts at $459 per person in a queen-bedded room.
- Get over him with help from voodoo dolls, ice cream, and a Southern Comfort tour at the Avenue Inn, New Orleans: Looking for a cure to get “over” him or her? Broken heart recovery takes about one long weekend at the Avenue Inn! Grab a friend and enjoy three nights in a room with two double beds and a private bath.
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".
Winter is a good time for a Santa Fe-cation because winter is value season in Santa Fe. All of the city’s historic charm, attractions, and timeless appeal remain, even as lodging is at its lowest cost of the year. Whether skiing in the Southern Rockies just outside of town, exploring the city’s diverse shopping and art districts, or simply taking some time out, Santa Fe’s warm hospitality and bright winter sun are in place to welcome travelers.
The past year in Santa Fe saw a number of highpoints; the New Mexico History Museum opened its doors, the city’s 400th Anniversary began 16 months of commemoration, and American Eagle introduced service to the Santa Fe Municipal Airport with 3 daily flights–2 from Dallas and 1 from Los Angeles. With the onset of winter, the city’s relaxed pace slows even more as we welcome the holidays and move into a new year.
If it’s a couple’s escape you’re thinking about, setting the mood for a romantic get away comes naturally to this old town. The city is filled with pampering accommodations, nurturing spas, and perfect tables for two. Santa Fe’s intimate scale embraces every couple and walking is the best way to get around town or soak up the snow-covered mountain vistas. On a day when storms roll down from the Rockies, it can’t get any better than curling up next to a kiva fireplace.
Find some time for yourself this winter and let Santa Fe help you get in touch with the inner, relaxed, you. Look for lodging specials and everything that’s going on in town at www.santafe.org. View an updated calendar of Santa Fe events or ongoing winter savings and deals check in and stay current at www.santafe.org with ways to save on lodging, ski packages, spa treatments, and more.
2010 Winter Events in Santa Fe
January 1: Pueblo Dances at most of the Pueblos surrounding Santa Fe celebrate community and tradition.
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".
Is traveling with your sister on vacation a recipe for disaster? It doesn’t have to be as long as you lay down some ground rules first. Here are a few travel-tested truths for keeping peace in the sister hood.
- Leave the baggage at home. Traveling with sisters should be easy. You carry the same DNA. You’re alike. Right? Wrong. Sibling relationships can be fraught with the peril of childhood roles, divergent interests and unspoken resentments. So, no matter if you’re the big sis used to being in charge or the baby accustomed to being indulged, leave the birth-order baggage at home. Commit to appreciating each other as you are NOW and let the magic begin. The bonds born out of the shared experience of upbringing is like nothing you can ever have with a friend, partner or coworker. Let it blossom.
- Privatize: Allow for private time in your itinerary. Even if you and your sister(s) are BFF, heading off on separate adventures gives you something to chat about when you regroup. Compare wish lists and decide which activities are best suited to individual exploration. If you love tromping through museums and castles and she thinks the perfect vacation is watching life from the seat of a café table, then one of you is going to be disappointed or resentful. Make time to break away and do your own thing. It will enhance your experience and the quality of time spent together.
- Get thee to chocolate. Not much sweetens a disagreement or hurt feelings better than chocolate. If you start to get snarky, or she does,
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".
Their trips to Chile & Argentina, New Zealand, and Vietnam are sure to make you forget about your winter blues and have you start doing the cha cha. Make like the birds and head south this winter where summer is in full swing. There’s still plenty of time to plan a winter vacation. This could be the perfect gift to yourself this holiday season. Chile & Argentina - 8 days (+2-day post-extension)
Discover an unspoiled and often less-visited countryside in the Andes and Chile’s Lake District, just north of Patagonia. The area’s landscape has been sculpted over millennia by glaciers and volcanoes and has created the backdrop for riding-tranquil lakes, coastal cities, ancient forests, snow-capped mountains, waterfalls and thermal springs. By bike, you will explore the Andes, cruise across Pirehueico Lake and meet the largest group of indigenous people in the area. You will also have the option to extend your stay on a three-day Santiago and Chilean Vineyard Tour, including a visit to Chile’s capital, sommelier lectures and three private winery visits.
Trip Info | Request a Detailed Itinerary
New Zealand - 10 days (+4-day post-extension)
Cycling New Zealand’s South Island is like soaring through a virtually untouched microcosm of the natural world.
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".