An Idyllic Natural Haven The rain was pouring when we left Montreal to begin our journey of touring the Lac Saint-Pierre Biosphere Reserve - a nearby natural part of Quebec preserved for the coming generations. It had not let up when, after an hour's drive, our bus stopped in front of a boathouse in the Lake Saint-Pierre archipelago at the merging of the St. Lawrence, Yamaska and Richelieu Rivers. Quickly our group of twelve scurried into the … [Read more...]
Columbia, CA
However, instead of continuing their journey, they elected to camp for the night under a large oak tree. The five men had traveled for months searching for gold said to be easily picked out of California's mountain streams. They had found plenty of streams but no gold. All five spent a miserable night on the ground as a rain storm drenched Tuolumne County. In the morning, the men decided to let their blankets dry out before continuing on … [Read more...]
Visit California
Are you planning a vacation, but can't decide where to go or what to do? If you are, then stop worrying, vacation in sunny California. California has a land area of over 155,000 square miles with almost 850 miles of coastline and beaches, 25,000,000 acres of desert, mountains, including Mount Whitney which at 14,505 feet above sea level is the second tallest mountain in the continental United States, numerous lakes, rivers and creeks, forests … [Read more...]
Visit Pasadena
No one thinks about the city of Pasadena, California, unless it is Rose Bowl or Rose Parade time, except for Los Angeles County residents and people who hear the song "Little Old Lady From Pasadena". When tourists think about visiting California they most often think about going to Disneyland or cities like Los Angeles and San Francisco or beach cities like Long Beach, Monterey, Newport Beach, San Diego, Santa Monica, etc.. Very few of them … [Read more...]
Whitewater Rafting Forges Bonds Stronger than the Rapids
Colorado River Rafting is a Trip Visualize the boat's brow cutting through the swirling, surging water; the sun sparkling on the frothy waves, making tiny rainbows; the abrupt lurch of the craft, as the surging waves suddenly shift direction. The adrenalin is pumping, all senses alert, with nature working overtime to orchestrate a thrill you'll never forget. That's what most people think a raft trip entails, but there's much more going on. … [Read more...]
Visit Santa Barbara
Ninety some miles north west of Los Angeles lies the lovely beach city of Santa Barbara, California where you will find some of the cleanest and best tended beaches on the west coast. The city of Santa Barbara which includes Hope Ranch and Montecito has a population of approximately 90,000 (not counting the students who reside at UC Santa Barbara.) yet it hosts millions of visitors each year. The residents of the city are, for the most part, … [Read more...]
Five Days in Vegas
Our plane touches down at eleven o'clock pm after a five hour flight from Fort Lauderdale, Florida. My wife and I start our five day vacation in-famous Las Vegas. For fifty-nine years I have been meaning to pay a visit to the city where anything goes and finally I have made it thanks to a little incentive from Hurricane Ivan. We jump into a taxi and right away the happy-go-lucky driver wants to know if we want to take the freeway or the strip … [Read more...]
How to Win Big in Vegas B4 You Even Get There
Most of us worry about trying not to lose our shirts once we get to Vegas, but what about before we even depart? There are dozens of ways to save money on your next Vegas vacation before you even leave home. Here are just a few. 1) Always order vacation packages. If you order the air, hotel and car separately, you almost always pay more. Many of these companies have partnerships and will lower the airfare if you plan to stay in one of their … [Read more...]
Las Vegas
One of the most exciting tours I have ever taken in my life was one of my Las Vegas grand canyon tours. Imagine floating in the air over the grand canyon, one of the wonders of the world. As we arranged for the champagne lunch tour, the helicopter company sent a limo to pick us up at the hotel. The ride lasted about five minutes then we were dropped off at the helicopter launch. Fellow passengers from all over the world chatted and waited for … [Read more...]
The Memorials of the Black Hills of South Dakota
A recent trip to the Black Hills of South Dakota has filled yet another page of this writer's ledger of beautiful places to visit. The rolling landscape of the Black Hills, the stark contrast of the nearby Badlands, and the memorials of the Black Hills area present a vacation experience that will not soon be forgotten. South Dakota is a sparsely populated state of only 760,000 inhabitants, averaging only 10 inhabitants per square mile. Proud … [Read more...]