travelwriter

New Mexico offers an abundance of choices for travelers.  Wonderful cities like Albuquerque, Santa Fe, and Taos, where you can explore to your heart’s content.

There are unlimited activities to pursue including hiking, biking, camping, fishing, golfing, skiing and you can also visit the Carlsbad Caverns and see the lava fields in Southeast New Mexico. 

North Central New Mexico is visited more than any other region of the state.  Driving the 84-mile Enchanted Circle is a popular way to explore the small towns along the route where visitors can enjoy local foods and great shopping.

Here you can find more information or you can order your FREE New Mexico travel planner.

Cindy23 is the lucky winner of the Ski & Stay PA prize package.  Congratulations Cindy23!

As a reader of my blog, Cindy23 submitted her comment answering my question: ‘what’s your favorite vacation destination and why.’  Her comment was randomly chosen from all entries received.

Cindy23’s prize package includes a one night stay a free night’s stay (while supplies last), discounts to book a vacation & bar tab credits, a Ski & Stay knit ski cap and a Ski & Stay vest.

Once again, congratulations Cindy23 and a big thank you to all my readers!

Connie

Only two hours north of Philadelphia, PA, is some of the best winter fun in the area, better known as Ski & Stay Headquarters in the Lehigh Valley. 

Comprised of Blue Mountain Ski Area in Palmerton and Bear Creek Mountain Resort in Macungie, here you will find both fun and affordable skiing, snowboarding and tubing.  Along with having the highest vertical peak in Pennsylvania at 1,082 feet, Blue Mountain offers 3 terrain parks and 9 lifts covering 33 trails of all abilities.  Bear Creek has 21 trails with everything from a large beginner area to the 50% slope black diamond trail known as Sasquatch.

The Holiday Inn Lehigh Valley in Allentown offers guests spacious rooms and Jacuzzi suites, pool, room service, laundry facilities, free airport transfers and complimentary hotel activities.  The America Restaurant & Tap Room serves up breakfast, lunch and dinner and features a wide variety of brews.  The Courtyard Bethlehem Lehigh Valley/I-78 provides guests with a smoke free environment, spacious rooms with wireless high-speed internet access, a full service bar and free on-site parking.

Packages are available for the Ski & Stay Experience, the Tube & Stay Experience or the ever popular Brew-Ski Package consisting of one night’s accommodation, 2 all day/all night lift tickets, micro brew sample pack, $20 food & beverage voucher, breakfast for 2 plus exclusive VIP benefits like the S’mores making event and no line-up direct-to-slope ticketing access.  Packages start at $199 USD per night.

To learn more about the Lehigh Valley Ski & Stay Experience, visit www.SkiStayPA.com or connect with Ski & Stay Headquarters on Facebook, Flickr and Twitter.

The Ski & Stay prize package includes a free night’s stay (while supplies last), discounts to book a vacation & bar tab credits, a Ski & Stay knit ski cap and a Ski & Stay vest.

The free Spring/Summer 2009 edition of Travel Oregon Magazine is now available.  Explore Oregon and plan your next vacation with this planner chock full of travel tips and fun things to do in Oregon.

In this issue, learn about the Owyhee River, living the dream life at Lake of the Woods, and go along for a ride on the back roads of Oregon with the Motorcycle Gourmet. 

Order your FREE copy of Travel Oregon Magazine in print or download it here.  Also up for grabs is the Travel Oregon Trip Planner plus Ski Oregon Magazine, Oregon State Highway Map and the Official Kids Guide to Oregon.

On Monday, a cruise ship travelling up the St. Lawrence River from Montreal, Quebec, Canada, to the Gaspe Peninsula, became trapped by ice.

The 300 passengers onboard the CTMA-Vacancier were on their way to a winter skiing trip in the Chic-Choc Mountains, an extension of the Appalachians.  The coast guard sent an icebreaker to free the ship however it got stuck as well.  A freighter was also stuck which made for a total of three ships and 500 passengers trapped by the ice. 

A spokesperson for CTMA reported that there were no injuries.  The cruise ship was released from the ice and continued on its way late Tuesday afternoon.

Who knew?  Japan is a country where almost 80% of the landmass is mountainous.  And where there are mountains, there is awesome downhill skiing.

Shiga Kogen is one of Japan’s largest ski resorts.  Located in Nagano, there are several mountains with 21 resorts in total where skiers can interconnect by buses and ski lifts but you only need one lift pass for the day.  Check out the view from one of their live web cams or cameras here.

At the Furano Ski Resort located on Hokkaido Island, skiers and boarders alike can enjoy world-class runs with 2 high-speed quad lifts. 

When I think about it, I guess these mountains are why the Winter Olympics were held twice in Japan.  According to Japan Tourism, Nagano and Hokkaido are Japan’s most popular ski resorts where the powder is rumored to be amongst the best in the world.