Winter sports are huge in Germany. If you’re a fan of German cuisine, beer and schnapps and want to book your ski chalet in Germany, there is much more to German skiing than the large Alpine resorts of the northernmost slopes of the Alps.

If high-speed lifts and comfortable Apres-ski lounges are what you seek, then head to the Austro-German border in Bavaria. If you’d prefer smaller resorts with cheaper passes and less people, Germany has a lot to offer.

The Rhön is a mountain range that spans three Federal states: Hesse, Thuringia and Bayern (in English: Hessa, Thurintchia and Baveria). Because of this, the culture varies slightly depending which state you ski in: Bayern has a hearty, rambunctious culture, while Hesse and Thuringia are equally hospitable, but a little gentler.

The Rhön mountains are dome-shaped, offering gentle slopes for beginners. For the best groomed pistes head to Feuerberg. It’s also famed for the Germknödel – a jam filled dumpling covered in vanilla sauce. If you fancy some night skiing, visit Wasserkuppe.

Head east into Thuringia and just west of the city of Erfurt you’ll find the Thuringian Forest offering some seriously gentle slopes for the inexperienced skier.

Speaking of forests, Germany has one of the best: The Black Forest – fabled and beautiful, it lies deep within south-western Germany. If you have ever had a picture of a fairytale winter in your mind, it exists somewhere in the Black Forest. Even if you have no interest in skiing, this is a location you should visit once in your lifetime. For skiers it offers over 70 peaks above 1,000 metres. Most resorts are small with the emphasis on both ‘affordable’ and ‘family friendly’. Favourites include Todtnau, Stollenbach and Schauinslandbahn.

Head further east into the once dark east of the former communist state of the Deutsche Demokratische Republik, or the GDR, and you’ll come to the Erzgebirge – in English: Ore Mountains – deep in the heart of Saxony. The highest peak is called Fichtelberg and it reaches 1,206-metres. Travel south towards the Czech border and you’ll find two small resorts called Kiingenthal and Schöneck. It may surprise some to know that the former communist state has seen massive regeneration since The Wall fell. While it is still cheaper than western Germany, the cities of Dresden and Leipzig are among the most beautiful cities in Europe.

Saxony is in the former East Germany, while Lower Saxony is located in north-western Germany and is home to the Harz Mountains. Bocksberg-Hahnenklee is a small resort with five runs of varying difficulty. It’s an interesting place because it is quiet happy to make use of snow-making machines to defy global warming. If the planet does warm to temperatures that leave us without snow forever more — what a thought! — There will still be one place on earth to ski. The greatest variety of resorts in the region are clustered around the highest peak, the Wurmberg.

If you’ve ever fancied hurling yourself head first down a large sheet of ice while lying on a tea tray — known officially as Luge, or Skeleton Bob depending on whether you’re lying face-up or face-down – head to Winterberg in Sauerland. Located in the western state of North Rhine-Westphalia, it offers a rich array of skiing options. It’s also the centre for winter sports in the state.

If the Luge isn’t crazy enough for you and you wish to emulate Eddie-the-Eagle, head to Willingen; host to World Cup ski jumping. It has 25 ski runs, many of which are open for night skiing.

Germany may not be the first location to spring to mind when you’re considering a ski chalet break. What it will offer is plenty of good skiing in smaller family-friendly resorts. And great schnapps!

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About The Author: This post was contributed by Marie-Paule Graham, who writes for Chalet Finder, the independent website to help find unforgettable ski chalet holidays and dream ski accommodation.
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The ever changing shades of aquamarine are stunning as we skip over the waves.  Before long Captain Pat swings us around as he spots huge sting rays sweeping across the flats.  Next stop – an amazing coral grotto big enough for us to enter boat and all.  Our morning is spent zipping between one beautiful island to another, ogling at movie star’s private cays and trying to out-race the occasional squall.

Next stop… Staniel Cay Yatch Club where a row of brightly colored stilt homes welcome us into the harbor.  And conveniently, it’s lunch time!  Capt’n Pat makes up an impromptu cocktail of orange juice, pineapple juice and rum and we vote to name it ‘Walking On Water’.

Well fed and armed with a bag of food scraps, we’re off to find those famous swimming pigs.  OMG, here they come…. squealing all the way.
The story behind the swimming pigs is that wild pigs were becoming a menace on populated islands, so they were rounded up and put on a deserted island all their own.  Since that island has a lovely beach, boaters would anchor offshore for a swim and leave their food scraps for the pigs.  Before you know it, the pigs began swimming out to welcome boats and beg for food – and the rest is history.  This gives new meaning to salt pork…. step one, soak in salt water…..

We’re invincible now – Let’s Go Find Those SHARKS!
Zipping over the waves toward Compass Cay, everyone takes sideways glances at each other wondering if we really have the guts…..  Compass Cay is a beautiful spot with a welcoming dock and the prerequisite bar stocked with Kalik.  The sharks know we’ve arrived, dum-dum-dum-dum-dum,  here they come!!!

For the record, these are nurse sharks and they aren’t supposed to bite (just ask Mike who thinks he got a hickey on his leg from one shark!)… we were instructed to stay still, keep our hands out of the water and curl our toes into the sand.  Phew.  After so much excitement, a stop at another cay to feed iguana seemed tame.  And we’re off again to spend some down-time on a huge sand bar in the middle of the sea – simply gorgeous!

What a day!   Even though we didn’t get the chance to snorkel on the reef, dive for conch, and visit the Thunderball grotto because of rough seas, we had an incredible experience.

A BIG thanks go to Captain Pat of Four C’s Adventures (ExumaWaterTours.com) – this is definitely one of the best island excursions I’ve ever taken.

And let me say the Exuma and the Bahamas Tourism Board does a spectacular job to make sure your Out Island experience is unforgettable.  If you haven’t visited the Out Islands yet, you’re missing one of the best spots on the planet – and for most of you reading this article, these dazzling islands are a mere 1 hour flight from Florida and 3 hours from the Northeast.

You’ll meet the friendliest people in the Out Islands  – like our incomparable Exuma guide, Pet.  Thank you Pet for an unforgettable trip – We’ll definitely be back!

p.s.  If you missed Day 1 of our adventure – click here

Many times, when you travel a long distance, you want to grab every adventure you can while you are that far away. That’s what happened when we planned our family vacation this summer. Traveling with my husband, 10-year-old daughter and friends of the family, we decided to make it a double adventure and see Machu Picchu and then the Galapagos Islands off the coast of Ecuador.

The Ancient Inca Ruins & Machu Picchu
If you were to ask us what we enjoyed most about Machu Picchu, it would be virtually impossible to decide.  For example, the hike to the Sun Gate above Machu Picchu was up steep hills and narrow paths which made it much more exciting than your average hiking trip.  At the same time, I loved walking the market at Pisac where the local Indians meet to sell their wares, clothed in beautiful bright colors with babies strapped to their backs. Our first night in Lima, Peru was at the Country Club Hotel, an historic hotel located in one of the most exclusive residential and commercial districts in Lima, San Isidro. The hotel is considered a national monument and is decorated with over 300 pieces of original artwork of both classical and Peruvian Colonial styles. It’s like staying inside a museum and was an amazing place to start off our adventure.

The following day we flew just over an hour to Cuzco, which sits at an altitude of 11,200 feet, and started our tour of the Sacred Valley of the Incas. Our guide drove a Mercedes mini-bus for the one-hour ride from Cuzco to the colonial town of Pisac, where we toured the Inca ruins and colorful marketplaces. After that our route followed the meandering Urubamba River through verdant farmlands still in use today for the production of maize, fruit and vegetables for the city of Cuzco.

During our time in the Valley, we visited the village of Ollantaytambo, considered to be the best example of Inca city planning. The massive fortress at Ollantaytambo with its steep terracing occupies a highly defensible position on a rocky promontory above the village.  Every foundation was made of ancient stones and everywhere you look you could see antiquity.

We spent a night in an adobe bungalow at the beautiful Hotel Sol y Luna, and the next morning we boarded a glass-enclosed Vistadome train to travel the 90-minute journey to the village of Aguas Calientes below Machu Picchu. From here we took a 20-minute bus trip up the switchback road to the legendary “Lost City of the Incas” – Machu Picchu.

We took another guided tour of the ruins at the citadel of Machu Picchu. We hiked to the Sun Gate to see the sun rise over the mountains and trekked several hours to see the Incan Bridge, which is cut right into the cliff wall and was used as a secret entrance into Machu Picchu.

We had lunch at The Sanctuary Lodge with its sweeping vista views of the citadel. It’s the only hotel situated adjacent to Machu Picchu. The hotel is set high in the mountains. Both the citadel and this hotel are surrounded by a lush cloud forest. This city was lost to history until it was discovered in 1911, by American explorer Hiram Bingham. Today, it is considered one of the most renowned examples of Inca architecture still in existence.

We didn’t stay at the Sanctuary Lodge, but we enjoyed our night in Aguas Calientes below the mountain. While there we spent the night at the Inkaterro Pueblo Hotel, where 85 quaint houses resemble a typical Andean town surrounded by the rich ecosystem of the jungle which comes right up to the hotel.

After that, we returned to Cuzco on the train and stayed at Monasterio del Cuzco, a former monastery dating to 1592, situated right beside the lively Cuzco central square.  This amazing hotel is an attraction in itself, with all the feeling that you are in an ancient monastery. The walls are filled with beautiful tapestries and art from centuries ago. You could actually feel the hushed tone when you entered, giving you an impression of how the place must have originally felt. The atmosphere was unlike any of the other hotels in which we stayed.

We spent our last day in Peru visiting Cuzco, where we had more tours of ancient sites like the Cathedral, which dates back to the time of the monastery-turned-hotel, and put our hotel experience into an interesting context. We also visited Koriacancha, where the most revered Inca temple, the Temple of the Sun, has actually been built into the colonial Church of Santa Domingo.

On To The Galapagos Islands

After that we traded our mountain climbing for sea legs and headed to Ecuador’s largest city Guayaquil. After a brief stop, we took a 90-minute flight to embark on the National Geographic Endeavor, an expedition ship designed for discovery and active exploration throughout the Galapagos Islands. The Endeavor is a small expedition ship; originally a fishing trawler built in 1966, and converted to carry passengers in 1983. It has 56 outside cabins and accommodates 96 guests. The accommodations on the ship were tight, but comfortable and the service was wonderful and the food was great.  However, when you are taking a trip like this, it’s not about the ship, it’s about the adventure.

I would like to take just a moment to praise the ten guides on board the ship. They were so incredibly well informed about the islands and the wildlife. We learned so much about the history, the birds and the marine life on the islands that we felt like we were fully prepared for our excursions on land.

During the 9-day expedition at sea we stopped to explore eight different islands. Our ship was not allowed to dock at any of the islands so each day we took Zodiac boats. Some of the landings were wet landings, meaning you had to wade into the island, while others were dry and we would disembark onto rocky coasts.

On the first stop we went to North Seymour Island, a tiny uplifted seafloor which is home to sea lion colonies and blue-footed booby nesting colonies. It was quite a treat to walk along a beach and see a large rock in the distance only to find, once you got there, it was really a sea lion basking in the sun. The animals were so familiar with people on these expeditions that they allowed us to come very close. The animals are protected on the islands and have no fear, so they feel totally at home around you.  The island is host to one of the largest populations of blue-footed boobies in the world which offered us the chance to view their fascinating courting rituals. The males dance, showing off their bright blue feet, make noise and display their wings and feathers to try and attract a mate.

Every island we visited had another amazing thing to see. In one direction there were 100-year-old turtles on the beach and, in another, marine iguanas that looked like small dinosaurs and, in others, seemingly every kind of bird imaginable.

Off the coast, we were able to swim, kayak and snorkel and on board ship, we were treated to great presentations that taught us about the studies and work of Charles Darwin. On board our trip we had Pulitzer Prize winner Jonathan Weiner and his wife, who is also an author.  Mr. Weiner won the Pulitzer for his book, “The Beak of the Finch,” about evolution and scientific discovery and he could really speak with authority about Darwin’s work. His wife was a wealth of information about Darwin’s personal life, so the combination of the two really gave a us a great picture of Darwin’s work and life in the Galapagos while we were sailing between these islands.

While these fascinating educational presentations were being offered on board the ship, the children were kept entertained with a host of activities designed specifically for them. This allowed everyone in the family to fully enjoy the voyage.

It was a fantastic two weeks. This definitely isn’t your typical beach vacation, but for families who want to experience culture and nature it’s a vacation you will never forget.

If you decide to take an adventure like this, take every bit of advice from your travel agent or vacation planner. That’s what we did and everything was perfect and special. We had private guides that took us on each leg of the trip and we stayed at the most magnificent hotels and ate wonderful local food.

With a trip like this the guides make all the difference. You will get so much more out of the trip if you get a local English-speaking guide to make your trip worry-free and to explain what you are seeing each step of the way.

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About Author:  Elaine Osgood is CEO of Atlas Travel International, a travel management company out of Milford, MA.  For information about Atlas Travel or for assistance planning your own trip to South America visit their website at www.atlastravel.com.

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Our enthusiastic group of two dozen Travel Bloggers joined hands and slipped and dipped our way upward. We were fortunate to have arrived late in the afternoon and had the climb all to ourselves. Before long we were squealing and laughing as currents twirled us around and dunked us into free form pools. Winston, of course, heightened the adventure by pushing willing climbers down natural water-slides into deep aqua pools. We all learned quickly – never be the first one to try one of Winston’s dares – Ji Yoon, you should have seen your face after the first unexpected dunking!

As we reached the upper levels, I don’t know what ached more.. my legs from climbing, my arms from holding on, or my cheeks from laughing. One thing I do know.. the thrill of reaching the top with friends all around, and looking down to see where we had climbed from was incomparable. What a blast! Thank goodness I didn’t wimp out, and praises to Winston, our guide extraordinaire.

Admission to Dunn’s River Falls is a very affordable $15 for adults and $12 for children under 11. You absolutely need a pair of aqua socks (a.k.a reef shoes) or at least an old pair of sneakers. Flip flops are NOT a good choice as the current will whip them right off your feet. There are vendors within the park who will rent you a pair of snug fitting water shoes if you don’t have your own. You should positively use the services of a Dunn’s Falls guide. They know where all the foot holds are, will make sure you are following the least slippery path, take control of your camera so it stays dry, and will snap hysterical photo’s along the way. Of all the sites we saw in Jamaica, Dunn’s River Falls proved to be the most exhilarating and memorable experience I had – You won’t want to miss it!

Let’s get an idea of the setting first. Most of Borneo’s great caves are well away from major towns and cities in the middle of the jungle. The light-aircraft flight to the tiny airstrip that serves Gunung Mulu’s surprisingly luxurious cave resorts is not for the faint of heart but it does give visitors a wonderful view of a lush, dark green carpet of rainforest broken only by winding brown rivers. The rainforest seems to go on forever, but all of a sudden vertical white limestone walls rise straight up from the jungle floor. Spectacular isn’t a strong enough word.

The paths that take you to the cave mouths are usually boardwalks set slightly above the surface. It’s obvious that real efforts at sustainable eco-tourism are being made, and as you walk towards the cave of your choice you’ll almost certainly see huge butterflies in blue, white and green (don’t try to photograph them- you’ll waste hours and they’re very good at flitting away at the last second), countless rainforest birds, lizards, and insects. Lucky walkers might hear or even see monkeys, hornbills, and otters by the rivers.

The massive cave chambers are favorite daytime haunts for several species of bat. Deer Cave could comfortably accommodate about 40 747 aircraft but instead it’s home to about a million bats. It’s well worth walking up to the viewing platforms outside the cave mouth to see them spiralling skywards at dusk, hunted by hungry birds of prey.

You can walk through some of the caves yourself- Deer Cave is open to the public- or take a more adventurous guided tour through one of the wild caves- no non-slip stairs and even boardwalks here. Some of the wild trips involve swims through pools, scrambles up and down rock faces, squeezes through narrow passageways and every underground challenge an adventurous caver could hope for. A trip to River Cave is highly recommended. You’ll be taken to the cave mouth in a local river boat and explore the first part of a rushing underground river that flows for more than 100km under the mountains.

The giant cave systems of Borneo are only just being deeply explored. They’re quite new to science, but in most cases the efforts to encourage tourists are refreshingly sympathetic to the needs of the local population and the rainforest. It may be because the developments are so new. The tourist operators don’t have decades of bad habits to break and the boardwalks, in-cave lighting, and other facilities were installed with the latest and best understanding of cave ecosystems. Whatever the reason, visiting Borneo will let you see caves that are some of the biggest and most awe-inspiring in the world and also the most pristine.

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About The Author: Jess Spate is a keen caver and rock climber. She works as a consultant to websites in the travel industry, most recently with  Marriott timeshare points resale resources and Wyndham timeshare for sale sites.  She travels frequently in Europe, South East Asia, and Australia, but her experience in Borneo ranks as one of the best holidays she has ever taken.

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Rosewood Country Inn

Come summer, the rolling green hills of New Hampshire beckon ‘flat-landers’ to come explore its bucolic byways, picturesque villages, and historic attractions.  We’ve found an incredibly great Inn to Inn getaway package that is both fascinating and affordable. This summer the charming Rosewood Country Inn and the Candlelite Bed & Breakfast Inn invite you to explore the beautiful Lake Sunapee Region of New Hampshire on a 4 day ramble through the countryside.  Guests will stay the first two nights at the Rosewood Country Inn where they will venture off on bicycle to follow two preplanned routes of discovery, followed by two nights at the Candlelite Inn with two days of exploring by car.

The very affordable price of $429 per person (based on double occupancy) includes:

4 nights lodging (two nights at each inn)
4 delicious dinners
4 home cooked breakfasts
2 picnic lunches
Admission to The Fells
Admission to the League of NH Craftsmen Fair (in August)
Bike Rentals

Departing from the Rosewood Country Inn, Day 1 will find you biking through Hillsborough Center, where you will have the chance to visit a Pewter Smith at work and visit local shops and galleries.  You’ll pass historic colonial homes, waterfalls and stone bridges, as you make your way to the Franklin Pierce Homestead.  Biking this day is approximately 35 miles.  Day two has you exploring scenic back roads on your way to The Fells, an historic estate with beautiful gardens on Lake Sunapee.  Later you can cycle to the State Park beach for a refreshing swim.  Biking on day 2 is approximately 26 miles.  Both days have intermediate biking terrain.

Day 3 & 4 are explored by car, taking in Mt. Sunapee and Kearsarge area.  Visit the Kearsarge Indian Museum, and hike Mt. Kearsarge.  Of course you’ll want to stop and browse in the many local artisan shops.

The Inn to Inn Heritage Tours are available on two sets of dates:  June 29 – July 3rd, and August 10 to 14th.  Guests taking advantage of the July dates will enjoy an old time 4th of July fair in the town of Bradford, an evening barbecue at the Candlelite Inn, followed by the town fireworks.  Guests selecting the August dates will enjoy admission to the annual League of NH Craftsmen’s Fair at Mt. Sunapee Resort, which is one of the most prestigious craft events in the country.

For more information on this terrific getaway package and to book your reservations contact The Rosewood Country Inn at 800-938-5273 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 800-938-5273 end_of_the_skype_highlighting or visit their website www.rosewoodcountryinn.com

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Update: We’ve just received a notice that the inns will also be hosting fall foliage Autumn Hiking Adventures to take place in September.  Sounds like fun to me!

But for inexperienced boat captains (a.k.a Dad),  it may seem like a stressful and nerve-racking experience.  Let’s face it, no one wants to be the one to run the boat aground!!  Well put your worries aside, Lake Powell Resorts & Marinas has scheduled its second annual Houseboating University to take place April 29th, May 13th and May 20, 2011.  The two-day educational boating weekends give future houseboat renters all the basic skills they’ll need to pilot a houseboat on Lake Powell.  “Our students learn the ropes of houseboating with a licensed captain while enjoying time with a friend or loved one”.  Participants arrive on Friday to begin their two-night stay at the Lake Powell Resort in Arizona or the Defiance House Lodge in Utah.  Saturday will feature a six hour training course that will introduce visitors to houseboat systems, navigation and boating rules.  Participants will have the opportunity to practice beaching, anchoring and piloting, while taking in some sunbathing and photo opportunities.

This education weekend is offered at the very affordable price of $299, on a first come, first serve basis.  Check out all the details at LakePowell.com or phone 888-486-4665 and inquire about the Introduction to Houseboating Package.  Sounds like a whole lot of fun to me!

The 14 day land/sea vacation incorporates the best of Alaska’s experiences – cruising the inside passage and fishing from three exclusive Wilderness Lodges.  Anglers will experience three distinct fishing styles while traveling between Ketchikan, Juneau and Mt. McKinley.  The Fishing Cruisetour includes a seven-day Voyages of the Glaciers cruise, plus a two night stay at the Kenai Princess Wilderness Lodge, two nights at the Mt. McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge, two nights at the Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge and one night in Anchorage, plus scenic travel by Princess Rail.

Fishing excursions will include

• Angling for 4 species of salmon in the calm, protected waters of the Inside Passage near Ketchikan
• Bottom fishing for halibut, Pacific cod, and arrow-tooth flounder near Juneau
• Fishing for trophy-size sockeye salmon, Dolly Varden and rainbow trout in the upper Kenai River
• Boating in the shadow of Mt. McKinley to catch king, silver or red salmon

As someone who has fished for GIGANTIC fish in Alaska, I can say without hesitation that it’s an experience not to be missed.  The photos will hang proudly on your walls for years to come.

Fares for these amazing fishing adventures start at $3,248 per person based on double occupancy (for the two weeks).  Fishing licenses are not included in tour price.  To get full information contact Princess.com, call 1-800-princess, or your favorite travel agent.

All this winter indulgence is just $299 per person (double occupancy), plus tax.  Snow shoe rentals are available at $20 pp and all level of winter sports enthusiasts are welcome to participate – from beginners to experienced trekkers.  To make your reservation and receive more information call the Rosewood Country Inn at 800-938-5273.

To start planning your Iceland adventure, you’ll want to visit IcelandAir.us to download their free brochure and check out all their promotional packages.  Then click on over to the Iceland Tourist Board to learn about the many spectacular natural wonders that wait your exploration.  Don’t settle for hum drum this winter, get out and embrace the season!