Colorado Resort Courts Family Reunions

Glenwood Springs has always been a go-to destination for families: affordable, accessible and jam packed with activities and attractions that suit relations of every age. This four-season Colorado resort area is located between Aspen and Vail, 165 miles west of Denver or 90 miles east of Grand Junction on Interstate 70 off exit 116. Popular soft adventures like the Glenwood Hot Springs Pool and Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park combine with activities like rafting, horseback riding, ziplining and Vaudeville shows to entertain everyone attending a multigenerational vacation.

“There are so many options for family reunions in Glenwood Springs – we really do have it all – accommodations, attractions, activities – and we make it simple to plan. We have something for everyone, of every age and interest,” said Lindsey Lewis, VP of Tourism Marketing for the Glenwood Springs Chamber Resort Association.

Local Resorts Set Up Reunion Planning Websites

Glenwood Springs’ newest properties, the Residence Inn and Courtyard by Marriott, make it easy for planners by offering customized web pages to aid families in organizing the upcoming event. Groups can personalize pages with photos, insert agendas to keep everyone apprised of the schedule, and even include links to relevant websites like Ancestry.com.

Families and other large groups of people such as school reunion and military groups often need a place to gather. The newest addition to Glenwood Springs’ inventory of meeting rooms is the Hotel Denver’s spacious third floor room overlooking the Colorado River called The Loft. With Glenwood Canyon Brewing Company located at ground level, catering is easily arranged.

Several Denver area families have been returning to the world famous Glenwood Hot Springs for over half a century, not only because of the allure of the natural hot springs themselves, but also excellent service, value and the proximity to so many great amenities. An overnight stay at the Glenwood Hot Springs Lodge includes unlimited admission to the world famous hot springs and continental breakfast at the poolside restaurant.

Less than two miles from town, reunion-goers can gather on the banks of the Colorado River at Glenwood Canyon Resort, which is also the home of Glenwood Canyon Zipline Adventures and Rock Gardens Rafting. Here guests can choose from tent and RV sites to cozy cabins or luxury suites, then head off to the adventure of their choice without leaving the property. It offers ideal indoor/outdoor meeting spaces, diverse catering options and accommodations that will meet each family member’s requirements and budget.

Another scenic setting in Glenwood Canyon ideally suited for a family reunion is High Canyon Adventures guest ranch, a family-owned working livestock ranch which has operated continuously since 1919. The ranch encompasses over 5,500 acres, surrounded by Colorado wilderness, offering miles of trails and access to the Colorado River. Guests can overnight in a teepee, cabins or a 3-bedroom vacation home. There is plenty to do on the ranch, including fishing, jeeping, ATV tours and horseback rides.

Colorado Outdoor Adventures Mean Something for Everyone

Try a new experience to reconnect with relatives. Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park is a perfect place to start. Take in the expansive views of the Roaring Fork Valley beginning with a ride on the Iron Mountain Tram to the park entrance. Thrill seekers will find two new rides set to open in May, 2011: the adrenaline-pumping bungee jump will feature a 70-foot drop from a tower overlooking the valley, while the zip ride will carry two riders at a time 625 feet down the mountain in a comfortable seat. Other popular attractions include the alpine coaster, giant swing, bungee trampolines, laser tag, 4-D movie theater, and of course-- guided tours of the magnificent Glenwood Caverns and Historic Fairy Caves.

Another valuable resource for family reunion planners is Glenwood Adventure Company in downtown Glenwood Springs. They specialize in customizing activities; for example, very young children and grandparents can comfortably float downriver on a raft, while older kids get thoroughly soaked riding inflatable kayaks or inner tubes. Teens and adults can raft the rigorous Shoshone rapids on the Colorado River, then stop and pick up younger or older family members at a convenient point further downstream; together the group can enjoy the remainder of the float into Glenwood Springs. In addition to whitewater rafting, options include fishing, horseback riding, cycling, ATV trips, off-road jeep tours and more.

For more information about family reunions and other group events in Glenwood Springs, check out Glenwood Springs Tourism information. By phone, reunion planners can request assistance with activities at 970/945-6589 and with lodging reservations at 888/888-445-3696.

Chocolatistas! Indulge Your Passion in Vegas

Las Vegas has many one-of-a-kind attractions and the School of Pastry Design is only one of them. But oooohh, so delicious a destination!

Having seen the documentary "Kings of Pastry" and eaten tons of chocolate, we are masters at all things pastry and dessert. But actually, nowhere near the mastery of a professional like Chris Hammer, who creates colorful, edible, life-size pastry or chocolate art for a living.



The School of Pastry Design is this celebrity chef's masterpiece. Hanmer, the youngest world pastry team champion ever, is a former pastry chef for multiple AAA Five Diamond hotels, and he is a frequent face on the TV Food Network. He is the popular creator of “flexible chocolate,” a technique he invented while in the midst of a Food Network Challenge.

That's what makes his Chocolate Class Series 1 so enticing.

In just 8 hours, and for a fee of $400, Hammer says he can teach any beginner how to temper, maintain and work with chocolate as well as contemporary techniques including flowers and colors. Every participant will end the class by making an "artistic showpiece" designed by Chef Chris.

Hanmer also welcomes visitors into his new Las Vegas show kitchen, while continuing to teach all things dessert. For the more casual pastry experience, he offers chocolate tastings, chocolate parties, creative cooking competitions for parties and showers, a unique “chocolate laboratory,” and light-hearted pastry classes for groups. But like most things Vegas, this isn't really child's play.

The School of Pastry Design is located at 6627 Schuster Street, Las Vegas, NV 89118-4420. Visit their School of Pastry Design site or call 702/523-9390 for information on the most delicious activity for your brood.

Los Cabos Whale Watching Tours & Resort Stay from $104/N

Set against the breathtaking backdrop of azure waters and dramatic desert, Los Cabos on Mexico's Pacific coast, boasts diverse eco-systems and a variety of eco-adventures.

Offering an array of eco-adventure activities, ranging from whale watching in the Sea of Cortes or swimming with dolphins in Cabo San Lucas, visitors to the tip of the Baja Peninsula are offered a number of opportunities to reconnect with nature and create incredible memories.

Through March 31st, several Los Cabos hotels have introduced travel packages specifically for those interested family-friendly, eco-adventure activities such as dolphin swims, snorkeling in the Sea of Cortes, also known as the "Aquarium of the World" and seasonal whale watching tours.

At the Tesoro Los Cabos (+52/624-173-9300), for example, for just $104 per night per room, families can spend a night in this hotel and enjoy a 4-hour boat ride out on the Sea of Cortes for whale-watching, with an hour break to enjoy snorkeling. The Tesoro Los Cabos is in the heart of Cabo San Lucas along the marina (pictured above), so there's always something going on.

In addition to the bargain rates of the "Under the Big Blue Sea" deal, which go into effect with a 2-night minimum stay, the resort has reasonably priced meal plans that almost turn it into an "all-inclusive." Getting there is cheap and easy for our West Coast families, and a bit more challenging for others, but there are a lot of flights available.

Full details and pricing for a variety of offers can be found at the official Visit Los Cabos website.

Israel Welcomes Thousands to Site of Jesus' Baptism

Travelers, Christian pilgrims and religious leaders from around the world will visit the Qasr el Yahud holy site on the Jordan River to celebrate the annual Feast of the Epiphany, January 18, 2011.

The festival, which celebrates Jesus' baptism in the Jordan River as stated in the New Testament, also takes place at the site where the ancient Israelites crossed the Jordan River when entering Canaan, approximately 3,500-years-ago.

The site, which receives tens of thousands of visitors per year, is considered the third most important holy site for Christians. Qasr el Yahud has undergone renovations to improve access and navigability for travelers and is now open to individuals and groups 365 days per year.

However, because of its location on an international border, group baptisms are done at another location on the beautiful Sea of Galilee.

Families interested in a Christian themed itinerary can do their planning on the Israel Tourism website, which plans routes to all the country's many attractions so that visitors can experience their religious roots, if that is their interest.

Get Kids Outdoors: U. S. Fish & Wildlife Service Hiring

The  U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has increased youth employment more than 50% in fiscal year 2010, exceeding the Department of the Interior's goals.

Tyler Hotten, 18, a high school senior in Underwood, North Dakota, is just one example of a teen who wanted to work outdoors last summer.

After two months of mowing, weed trimming, goose banding and other labor at Audubon National Wildlife Refuge, he also came away with something more: an interest in a career in wildlife conservation. "If you like being outside, it's the job for you," he says.

The Service hired 2,434 people ages 15 to 25 to work on national wildlife refuges and other sites — up from 1,535 in 2009 and 515 more than the 2010 target of 1,919 set by Interior Secretary Ken Salazar's "Youth in the Great Outdoors" program.

New employees included 771 hired through the Youth Conservation Corps (YCC); 551 through the Student Temporary Employment Program (STEP) and Student Career Experience Program (SCEP); and 254 through permanent and temporary positions.  Partnerships with more than 70 organizations — such as the Student Conservation Association, The Corps Network and refuge Friends groups — brought 858 young people into the Service fold.

The jobs were varied and often physically demanding. At Baca National Wildlife Refuge in Colorado, YCC crews removed 13 miles of barbed wire fence. At Bitter Lake National Wildlife Refuge in New Mexico a youth crew improved access for visitors with disabilities.

At William L. Finley National Wildlife Refuge in Oregon (pictured above), YCCers helped build a boardwalk, maintain trails, install landscaping and hand-pull invasive English ivy, tansy ragwort and oxeye daisy. "It's very labor-intensive, bending over in the heat, pulling plants up by the root," says refuge biologist Jock Beall. "The idea is not to dig or disturb the soil because that causes more seeds to germinate."

To learn more about these and other fun opportunities for our kids to connect with the environment, visit the U.S. Fish & Wildlife employment page.

Snowsports Savings at Vail Resorts: Lift Tix & Lessons Bargains in January

January is Learn to Ski and Ride Month and Vail Resorts is offering great deals on Ski and Ride School lessons at Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Keystone, Heavenly and Northstar-at-Tahoe.  Here are some of the great offers on hand for 2011.

 Kids' learning zones on Vail mountain make glades skiing a real treat.

Beaver Creek Learn to Ski/Ride Package starting at $278

Beaver Creek celebrates Learn to Ski Month with a package that includes four nights of lodging, three days of beginner lessons, lift tickets and rentals starting at $278 per person per night valid Jan. 3-31, 2011. Some restrictions may apply. Book online at www.beavercreek.com or call 800/404-3535. Families visiting Beaver Creek also enjoy daily complimentary activities including ice skating, rail jams, on-hill story time, snowshoe tour, tubing and more now through early April.

Keystone Resort Learn. Improve. Do more:

Group Lessons starting from $109 per day or Keystone also offers buy two group lessons, get the third free from $218. For more information visit www.keystoneresort.com

Breckenridge First Time Discovery Series: Three Days of Lift Tickets, Lessons and Rentals for $300

Three full days of exciting discoveries, lift tickets and rentals. You’ll make great strides—all in a comfortable atmosphere that’s been known to turn beginners into avid, life-long enthusiasts. Registration is non-refundable, and reservations are strongly recommended to make sure you get a spot. The First-Timer Discovery Series includes Beginner Lift-Lesson-Rental for $300. For more information visit www.breckrenridge.com

Vail Mountain 3-Day Ski and Snowboard Lesson Package
 Buy three consecutive days of adult group lessons for the price of two. Available to skiers and snowboarders of all abilities and levels. $270 per person (lesson only) $465 per person (lesson and lift tickets). For reservations, please call (970) SKI-VAIL or visit www.vail.com

Heavenly Resort Adventure Sessions - Special ‘Get Schooled’ Price only $80!
For Levels 3-9 Green, Blue and Black terrain skiers and riders, this full-day session is geared toward improving your skiing or riding skills, having fun and exploring the mountain with your instructor. Topics are determined by each group's experience level, goals and preferences – allowing the group to customize their on-mountain adventure! Regular Price: $120. To Book your reservation, please call (530) 542-6904and give the promo code: GET SCHOOLED

Northstar-at-Tahoe Resort Two Parents, One Lift Ticket.

For the same price as an adult all-day lift ticket, guests can purchase the Parent Predicament ticket and take turns on the slopes. As one parent takes a few runs, the other stays with the child until they’re ready to switch. Kids are king at Northstar Resort as all children’s single-day lift tickets are valid for two out of three consecutive days. The savings continue with the kids’ Double Whammy season pass – for just $119, kids ski or ride both Northstar and Sierra-at-Tahoe Resorts all season long and also receive complimentary Kids’ Club Membership with pass purchase, entitling them to discounts on lessons and more. And, children enrolled in a 2-day lesson at the Kids’ Ski & Snowboard School save 50 percent on the second day of lessons. This offer is not available during holiday periods and is applicable on all-day lesson packages only.

Ski and Stay at Vail Resorts

Take advantage of the great lodging deals at Vail Resorts throughout this period.

Free Night on Us. Stay at a RockResort and receive a free night, a complimentary $50 gift card and a free hydration backpack! From powdery Rocky Mountain slopes to sun-drenched Caribbean beaches, RockResorts offers elegant luxury in spectacular destinations.  With this offer, what amounts to a 30% discount at the most luxurious of properties, travel must be booked by Jan. 31, 2011 and completed by April 3, 2011. Visit www.rockresorts.com for more information.

You can also checkout www.snow.com for great lodging packages at Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Keystone, Heavenly and Northstar-at-Tahoe.

Rent Equipment Online & Save up to 20% Off: Reserve your ski and snowboard rentals online and save up to 20% off our 2010-2011 walk-in rates. Rent everything you need at your convenience – online – and it'll be waiting for you the rental shop at Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Keystone and Heavenly Resorts. Visit www.rentskis.com for more information.