Why Both Genders will Love it…
My husband and I will soon be taking a trip down to Arizona; nothing special, just a quick weekend getaway to help us recharge and relax. We will be visiting one of our favorite restaurants of all time and my husband will do a little skiing at the nearby resort (yes, Arizona has some ski resorts).
However, we are changing things up a bit this time. We’ve decided to say au revoir to crappy hotel chains and are staying at a quaint Arizona bed and breakfast. While this isn’t really my husband’s cup of tea (for he is a manly man), I’ve convinced him to give it a try. What convinced me was the price and of course, the romantic setting. But really just the price; in fact, bed and breakfasts tend to be very little more than a hotel room. What convinced my husband? The fact that we will get an amazing home-cooked brunch the following morning. Can’t beat that…just ask any male.
Although I’ve enjoyed the outdoor nature of Utah, trying skiing, snowshoeing, biking, rock climbing, cave exploring (spelunking), base jumping, wakeboarding, water skiing, jetskiing, horseback riding, shooting, white water rafting, and other activites, I’ve just discovered a fun, new activity in Utah. This state is great for canyoneering.
What is canyoneering? Canyoneering is a mix of everything! It involves traveling through a canyon by different methods which can include walking, swimming, climbing, and rappelling. For this reason, it’s kind of like talking a hike, quick rock climb, and swim all in one.
I tried Utah canyoneering when I was in Zion National Park earlier this year. It was warm, and a fun sport to learn because unlike some other sports it doesn’t focus on nor require a lot of skill.
Try canyoneering for yourself and see what you think. Southern Utah, Colorado, and the Rocky Mountain Range are all great places for canyoneers. Research the spot first to make sure the spot is safe and easy for beginners (or you may get stuck in a small crack), and then you’re on your way.
Although it’s been a while since our trip, I’ve finally taken the time to write about it. A few months ago we took a Swiss hiking vacation. It was amazing! It was my favorite vacation by far, maybe even better than our honeymoon.
First, we took a long flight into Geneva, Switzerland. From there we traveled with our group into Zermatt. Switzerland was a breathtaking country with plenty of friendly people and a great mix of the city and country.
We were able to enjoy the festivities of the country before taking our first hike up to the famous Matterhorn. The views on the mountain were unparalleled. Next, we went to another mountain with glistening lakes that perfectly reflected the previous mountain we climbed, the Matterhorn.
We also visited historic mountaineering museums and went on several longer and shorter hikes over the next few days.
My favorite part was the amazing stairways we explored around one of the world’s highest waterfalls, called Staubbach Falls. We also visited Lauterbrunnen, which had 72 waterfalls surrounded by beautiful rainbows.
The hikes were exhilirating and we returned with glorious pictures of waterfalls and mountain views. I don’t think our next trip will be able to top this last one! I would recommend everyone make it a goal to climb the Swiss Alps at least once in their life.
My grandparents live in the scenic White Mountains of Northern Arizona. For months now they have been telling my husband and I that we need to take a vacation and come visit. While my husband agrees we need a vacation, a mountain backdrop wouldn’t be his first choice. He’s more of a beach and palm trees vacation personality. I, on the other hand, grew up in a quaint town nestled at the base of the Rocky Mountains so I absolutely love the mountains.
Anyways, they suggested we look into getting an Arizona cabin rental, which are apparently popular in the area. After doing some research online, I was pleasantly surprised to find that vacation homes in that particular part of Arizona are not your average one or two room cabins replete with out houses. Nope, these cabins are definitely luxury resorts complete with beautiful décor, spa treatments, and five star dining. We recently booked a room at Greer Lodge, in beautiful (no surprise) Greer, Arizona. And the best part about our trip? No kids! Only a few weeks away, we are definitely looking forward to some well-deserved R&R.
It’s officially fall and getting colder every day as it fades into winter. In just a few more days, the winter activities can begin! If you’ve read the previous post, you know that on Nov. 16-17, many of Utah’s big skiing and snowboarding resorts open to the public. In just two weeks from today Alta, Park City Mtn, Solitude, and the Canyons (my favorite) resorts will be open. I’m so excited to start using my rusty skiing skills again. Find out what other Utah outdoor adventure is available in the next few weeks. Get your calendars out and start planning for some cold, but seriously fun times!
Looking for a sweet outdoor Utah adventure? Utah experienced its second snowfall of the season on September 29th and it is only 44 more days until the official beginning of the 2008 ski season! Alta resort opens November 15th, Park City is November 16th, and Sundance is scheduled for December 7th. Time to plan your winter getaway and gear up, kids! The powder is on its way!
My husband and I try to travel somewhere different each year for our annual “romantic” getaway. With no kids and an entire week to ourselves, we like to travel to exotic, new places and try new adventures. Last year we went to New Zealand. This year it’s hiking the Haute Route in the gorgeous Swiss Alps.
My husband is an outdoor fanatic; I would not go so far as to describe myself the same, but I have definitely become very tolerable fond of nature, thanks to him. Actually, I am really looking forward to exploring the beautiful scenery amidst massive glaciers, peaks, and lush green fields and staying in quaint and charming inns at night.
We are having our luggage sent each day to the chalet we are staying at that night previous to our arrival. It surely is the only way to go! It will be so nice not to have to worry about hauling our luggage everywhere and to be able to leave from our final destination rather than having to travel back to our starting place.
If you are looking for an adventurous yet romantic trip, consider hiking the Swiss Alps! I will be sure to let you know all about our trip upon our return!
As the days and nights grow colder as fall turns into winter, I have to say good-bye to my garden and fun outdoor activities like hiking and barbequing.
Although I will definitely put away some of my summer clothes until next year, I am not packing away everything quite yet. I planned a trip to Machu Picchu this November so I will still have use for my shorts, my mosquito hat, and my swimsuit. The warm, sunny weather in South America will be a nice break from the snow this winter.
One great thing about America is the abundance of opportunities available to its citizens to choose from different types of jobs. Travel and work is a great combination - it’s great to see the country and get paid to do it.
There are many industries where you can travel and work - everything from blue to white collar work. If you’re a businessman, oftentimes business trips are required to meet with other offices, clients, etc. While this may be a good option for some, the open road calls to others.
Trucking is a great career path because the pay is good, and the work combines travel with business, but on a more relaxed level. While there are deadlines to meet, and stressful situations to deal with, you don’t have to deal with the hassles of security at airports, or renting cars, or finding transportation to your meetings. You can see the country on your company’s dime, and get paid to do it.
If you’re looking to get into the trucking industry, it’s not hard to find a Swift trucking job. Just look online, and the jobs are everywhere. Isn’t America great?
Looking for some all American fun for the family this summer? How about visiting some of the country’s scenic national parks? You can enjoy some of the most picturesque and pristine landscapes and natural wonders, such as the Grand Canyon, Niagra Falls, and Sequoia National Park.
Zion National Park is one of the most popular parks and offers a myriad of outdoor Utah recreation such as camping, hiking, and rock climbing. Walk among towering sandstone cliffs and through narrow slot canyons. Everglades National Park in Florida is the United States’ largest subtropical wilderness and is filled with rare species such as the American crocodile, the Florida panther, and manatees. Yellowstone National Park (stretching through parts of Idaho, Wyoming, and Montana) is some of the country’s most pictorial forest and woodlands with a variety of wildlife such as grizzly bears, elk, and wolves. The park also boasts some of the world’s most marvelous geysers and hot springs; the famous Old Faithful resides in Yellowstone.
Visit the official National Park Service website to start planning your getaway.