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Traveling With me

By resortsandgreathotels.com

 

Although it is winter and many of us are counting the days to spring/summer, or planning your vacations in the Islands, there are some who enjoy the winter weather.  So, if you are planning your vacations around the winter months, here are some favorable towns to accommodate you.

 

9 Great Ski Towns

 

1.         Sun Valley, Idaho

2.         Aspen, Colorado

3.         Cortina, Italy

4.         Lillehammer, Norway

5.         Murren, Switzerland

6.         Stowe, Vermont

7.         Vail, Colorado

8.         Chamonix, France

9.         Taos, New Mexico

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Niagara Falls is a must see! 

     It is amazing what man
     and God can create when
     working together.  I went
     to Niagra Falls with my
     husband and my 
     sons Pierce (2), Alex (8),
     Robert (18), Steven (24)
     and my nephew Justin.

    

Melissa Smith


There are a number of attractions to enjoy, including a ferry that takes you on a tour of the falls; a rain coat is provided. 

If nature and the outdoors are not your idea of fun there are also casinos that are quite nice. What you may not find mentioned in the travel brochures is the rich Indian and European culture that has settled in the area. 

Many of the markets and restaurants serve
traditional Indian
and Yugoslavian food.  Before crossing the
border into
Canada, you
will almost sense
you are in a different country. 

The weather this time of year is perfect and you are close to cross the Canadian border to tour Toronto.  Just make sure you and each person in your group has a birth certificate, and if you are over18 a photo id.  Beginning in 2009 a passport will be required.  

 



Definitely worth the trip.

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How to Travel on a Weak Dollar

My girlfriend and I are well behind planning our girls getaway trip to celebrate our 40th birthday next year.  It’s been our intent to bask in sun along Italy’s coast with the gals.  However, with the value of the American dollar continuing to fall in Europe my research for an alternative destination that will allow us to have a luxurious vacation has my eyes sent on other parts of the world.  “Living it up for less!” 
 

For full story >> 
 

  

 

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The Beaches Destination Resort & Spa - Thailand’s first integrated resort in Bang Saray Bay, Thailand

With the support of the Board of Investment of Thailand and the Tourism Authority of Thailand, The Beaches will be the new shining symbol of the country and will be the benchmark of destination resorts in Asia.

It has also joined with True Corporation, one of Thailand’s largest technology companies, to create Thailand’s first wireless lifestyle convergent communities which will feature state-of-the-art technology throughout the entire project.

The masterplan architect and designers behind the success of The Beaches Resort & Residences are award winning world class design firms – Carl Ettensperger of C&C Studio and Terry Henriksen of Henriksen Design Ltd, who have worked on 5-star hotel projects such as Mandarin Oriental, Hyatt Hotels, Ritz Carlton, Siam Paragon Bangkok, Huvafen Fushi Maldives (2008 Worlds Best Beach Resort, Harpers Bazaar Travel), Hard Rock Hotel – Universal Studios, Florida, and many more prestigious resorts.  

Set over 88 rai of landscaped gardens, man-made beaches, and water lagoons, The Beaches private community will have four grand 5-star hotels, stunning water villas and Private Residences. The Beaches Resort has the best of everything – International Waterpark and Surf Park, The Beaches Longevity & Wellness Spa, state-of-the-art fitness club, a Grande Promenade with an international village with over 20 restaurants and retail, tennis academy and a Watersport centre. It is also centrally located in the heart of Thailand in Bang Saray Bay, a tropical oasis – 10 minutes from Pattaya and only 90 minutes from Bangkok.  

For more information and great pictures click here http://www.soho-properties.com/thebeachesthailand/  

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The Homestead
Camelback Inn
The Hotel Of South Beach

For years my college friends and I had been meaning to plan a girls getaway.  Between growing our families and our careers we just couldn’t find the time.  One day we were all chatting/gossiping about some of the fun we’ve had over the past couple of years and realized that we had actually been away together consistently more than we thought.  
 

In the summer of 2005, one of us celebrated turning 40 along with her husband and planned a trip with 30 close friends and family to the Dominican Republic.  In the fall of 2006 we had a cozy upscale spa bridal shower at the Homestead (www.TheHomestead.com ).  Nestled in the mountains of Virginia we reminisced and relaxed all day at the spa. Then in December 2006 we celebrated the nuptials of one our crew at an “all white” Miami Beach style rooftop wedding at The Hotel (www.thehotelofsouthbeach.com) and lavished in its art deco and luxurious style.

Even though all of these vacations included others that were not part of our “I know where you been and I know all your dirt so don’t get new sister circle,” like the little girls we have of our own now, we huddled together and “hooped and hollard” as if we were the only ones there.

 

  

So, finally we planned our true girls getaway this past September and stayed at the JW Marriott Camelback Inn (www.camelbackinn.com) in Scottsdale, AZ. Surrounded by its desert landscape, we all needed and deserved some ‘me’ time and took full advantage of its signature spa.  I highly recommend a trip to Scottsdale just for the ‘smell’ of it. The air was clean and the picturesque views will leave you speechless. 

Between us we are three attorneys,  a safety engineer and a university executive.  We have seven children between us (with one on the way) and ‘40’ is knocking at our door.  Each vacation was different.  In the Dominican and Miami Beach we took full advantage of the “all you can drink” selections and partied like were still “young (which we are) without a care in the world.”  At the Spas we were a bit more mellow, taking full advantage of doing things that we hadn’t done since college …like taking an afternoon nap every day.   Wherever and however you plan to spend your girls getaway, just make sure you do it.  Email your girls and get a date on the calendar.  All that laughing and relaxing will do the body good. 

 

Travel With me is the girlfriend’s guide to discovering great places to vacation.  Since we are a community of sisters, we want our readers to send in their vacation stories and pictures of some of their most unique and/or fun vacations.  Give us your insider tips from a working mommy perspective. Whether it’s just with your significant other or the entire family, share with us the inside scoop about your vacation.  Just click here to send in your photos and a description of what you were doing in each picture, where you were, who with and what were the ups and downs.