Even The Olympics Is Discounting This Year!

Cartan Tours,  the official tour company of the Olympic Games, has just announced last minute discounts on trips to the 2010 Winter Olympic Games beginning in February.  The discounts range in dates from February 11 – 26 which includes opening day on February 12th.  The games will take place both in the city of Vancouver and in the famed ski resort of Whistler, just to the north.  Both of these destinations are incredibly beautiful and immensely entertaining at any time of year, and during the Olympics their northern lights will surely be shining bright.  Read more

The World’s #1 Ski Resort Gets Even Better!

If you’ve never been to Whistler-Blackcomb in British Columbia, you’ve been missing a a lot!  In fact, it’s one of my favorite places in the world for heart stopping scenery, friendly folks, top restaurants and bars, great shopping and non-stop fun.  It’s no mistake that Whistler-Blackcomb has been voted the world’s #1 favorite ski resort for 12 years running.  But winter fun is only half the story, this resort rocks all year round, and is about to get even better!

On December 12th, Whistler-Blackcomb will christen its new ‘Peak 2 Peak’ gondola that traverses the 4 1/2 kilometer distance between the two mountain peaks in just 11 minutes.  This will be a record breaking ride, climbing 1,427 feet and floating over the worlds’ longest free span on the world’s longest continuous lift.  (With a price tag of only $52 million dollars.) Two gondola cars will feature glass bottomed floors for those brave enough to look down.  Let me tell you, these mountains are GIGANTIC.  Standing in the village below, you can’t possibly see their peaks climbing ever upward into the clouds.  I can recall hopping on a lift at the bottom of Blackcomb wearing shorts in 70 degree weather, and riding from lift to lift to gondola, to bus, to gondola, before reaching the top overlooking glacier fields with temps in the 30′s.  Definitely a ‘top of the world’ experience.  Now adventurous spirits (with and without skis) will be able to board the gondola at the base of one mountain, climb to the top, cross over to the adjacent  peak, and glide back on down to the village below – quite a ride! an> Read more

Fantastic Fall Festivals

For me, Fall is the best time of year to travel. The weather is fresh and brisk, the earth is bursting with abundant harvests, and airfares take a dip between the high summer season and outrageous holiday fares. There’s no better time to venture forth and find a fall festival to enjoy. Here’s a sampling of what’s going on around the country:

Head off to New Mexico for the famous Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta – the first and the greatest display of hot air balloons takes place from October 4-12th.

New York City ushers in even more stars than usual for the annual New York Film Festival from September 26 through October 12th. Or for all you gourmands, check out the New York City Food and Wine Festival – where all the Food Network stars you love so much greet the crowds – October 9-12.

For 44 years Boston has been entertaining fall crowds with the Head of the Charles Regatta – a lot more than row, row, row your boat!  Join the throngs of cheering college kids on October 18-19.

Chicago’s Soldiers Field is jumping this fall with the Country Music Festival on October 11 and 12th.

Head to Denver for the annual Great American Beer Festival where thousands sample over 1,600 American brews from October 9-11th – a whole convention center filled with Beer!

Get your sizzle on in California at the famed Monterey Jazz Festival from September 19-21.

Cruise on down to Daytona Beach Florida for Biketoberfest from October 16-19th.

And for the extreme wild and wacky, it’s got to be Fantasy Fest in Key West Florida from October 17 – 26.

A bit further afield is the Bermuda Music Festival from October 1-4, and the 2008 GPA Grand Slam of Golf from October 13-15.

Or laugh your way to Vancouver British Columbia for Comedy Fest 2008, from September 12-20th.

If none of these hit home, just click on over to What’s On When for a full calendar of events all over the world.  If Wine Festivals should be your desire, have a look at this Fall Wine Festival post on MainStreet.com that’s worth a read.

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