Posts Tagged ‘ski’

Booking A Christmas Skiing Holiday – What To Think About

It’s coming up to Christmas, vacation time is booked and you want to take your family on a Christmas ski vacation. As with all family vacations, it is imperative that you plan your trip to the last degree. Below is a list of points you must consider.

Location – So where do you want to go? There are a huge number of destinations around the world that are suitable for family ski vacations, from Canada, to Scotland, to Japan; ultimately the decision you make will come down to your personal budget.

Accommodation – After you have decided where in the world you want to go, you must now decide what kind of accommodation you want to stay in. Do you like nightlife, close proximity to restaurants and bars and easier access to transport links? If so, accommodation in the center of town is your best bet. If you would prefer a calmer, more relaxed atmosphere where you are closer to nature and enjoy only the company of wildlife as opposed to other holidaymakers, then a chalet on the edge of town would be ideal.

Transportation – How are you going to get to that beautiful, slope side bungalow that you have booked? You must decide what arrangements you can make within your budget for transportation to your booked accommodation. Can you fly? Is there a nearby airport? If so, how much will the transfer costs from the airport? Is there a bus service? Of course, you could always drive yourself, but it is a holiday after all! Regarding transportation to the ski slopes; is there public transportation? Does the hotel offer free transport? Is it within walking distance?

Clothing – Making sufficient allowance for clothing rental is something that many people fail to consider with ski vacations. Hiring clothing can be expensive, especially if you are paying for the whole family! The chances are that you will always be within 5 minutes walk of a shop offering ski clothing for rent in towns famed for their slopes. It is vital that you wear the correct clothing for the activity that you will be doing; as an example, did you know that you need different types of socks for snowboarding than for skiing? Make sure you select clothing that is easily visible and keeps you warm. As with many things, you generally get what you pay for, so be prepared.

Equipment – The last major factor you must consider is what equipment you need. Depending on what discipline you chose, you will need suitable equipment. Any boots you choose will have to be a snug fit as you can easily damage your feet and ankles if the wrong size is chosen. Also, remember that there are different ski types for different abilities and activities also. Get some advice from a trainer or the proprietor of the shop you wish to rent from before making any decisions.

If you have made all possible plans and provisions listed above then you will surely be on your way to an exciting and problem free Christmas ski vacation.

Find Out More : Ski Deals

Come And Stay: BC Summer Activities

Whether you enjoy relaxing with a glass of wine in your hand or challenging yourself to the rigours of rock-climbing, BC summer activities provide something for your. Tour the province to witness for yourself a breathtaking variety of eco-systems including desert, rain forest and meadow. Hire a houseboat, kayak or bicycle so you can get close to the wonders others have only read about in tourist brochures.

These wonders include the marvelous animal life one can spot with a little patience and research. Whale watching from Vancouver Island or norther BC provides a popular attraction. Pods of Orcas travel from Alaska to Mexico each year, so find a guide or just spend some time in the water in a pleasure craft or ride the Ferry from Twassen to the Island. You might see a whale without even trying. Bears offer a similar attraction, these beautiful creatures who remind us of our teddy bears yet possess a strength you do not want to mess with. On the other hand, bears rarely approach humans. In fact, they prefer a solitary life. Find a hide from which to view their salmon-catching antics or travel Highway One. Your best opportunity of seeing a bear is by watching the road. They appear out of nowhere, only to disappear into the bushes once more like ghosts.

Explore aquatic scenery and a rugged coastline around Vancouver and further north up the channel in a sea kayak. This affords another chance to get close to whales and marine birds. Hire a kayak inland and explore lakes such as Postil, Hidden Lake and Gardom Lake, all in the Shuswap and Okanagan.

Consider golf vacation packages, play eighteen holes at The Harvest Golf Club in Kelowna before heading to one of numerous wineries. These include Tinhorn Creek, a carbon neutral winery boasting a fabulous product. For a wine festival come in August to the Okanagan Summer Wine Festival held at Silver Star Mountain near Vernon. Other festivals include Roots and Blues with its eclectic mix of musical acts held in Salmon Arm annually.

There is little mystery as to what brought people to places like Salmon Arm or Barkerville. Gold, building the railway, farming: these were all important attractions for immigrants from other parts of the country or from Europe. Visit places like Three Valley Gap near Revelstoke to see restored buildings such as the general store, the smithy or the one room school house. Some places even feature costumed actors and re-enactments of court proceedings.

Royal BC Museum is a large and fascinating establishment where visitors can explore the changing shape of the province. Take a look at natural history, indigenous cultures, the progress of the railroad and more. Other museums to check out include the Canadian Military Education Centre in Chilliwack, near Vancouver. Explore the military history of the country with some hands on displays and historic machines. Be sure to golf during a BC vacation.

River rafting is just one of the many water-sports attracting those who love to experience the wildness of provincial waterways. Choose your timing carefully to get the highest class of rapids or a gentler ride. Your fastest water in summer will likely happen early in the season, not long after the heavy spring run-off. Look into Adams River or Thomspon River tour companies, or just take yourself out onto one of numerous lakes for tubing and water-skiing.

Rock climbing makes another popular attraction for those unafraid of heights. Combine your interest in natural scenery with some vertical exertion. Once at the top of the cliffs at Skaha Bluffs near Penticton or Liard River in northern BC, do a bit of bird watching and let the world go by way below you.

It’s not surprising that BC is considered Canada’s golf capital. BC golf condos are attracting golfers from all over the world, With the beautiful mountains and picturesque natural scenery, take time to enjoy the magnificent BC real estate.

BC Summer Activities: Come And Play

For the active holiday-maker, choose western Canada as a place to settle yourself for a summer of fun. BC summer activities take you on the water or out onto rock bluffs. Take a golf club or a wine glass in your hand. You are sure to find something to enjoy about this beautiful province.

Not only do people love BC, returning again and again, but whales love the province too. Take a guided tour or just hop on a ferry heading for Vancouver Island and keep looking. You have a good chance of spotting a pod of Orcas, especially from locations like Tofino, Victoria or Telegraph Cove on Vancouver Island, or Prince Rupert in Northern Canada. Bear watching makes for a popular pastime too, just be sure to know your bear safety rules. Most of the time bears take no interest in humans. Watch out your window while driving east along the Trans Canada Highway. Prime spotting points include the area from Golden to the Alberta border.

For those who want to get closer to the water, the lakes and coastal waters of the province are ideal for kayakers. Tour the many islands between the mainland and Vancouver Island, putting in at inlets and little bays rarely reached by other tourists. Paddle the lakes inland at Wells Grey Provincial Park, Clearwater, or Shuswap Lake at Salmon Arm.

Festivals draw visitors from all over the world to this vast province, including wine festivals. During the month of August head to Silver Star Mountain Resort near Vernon for the Okanagan Summer Wine Festival to learn about and taste numerous wines. Combine wine with golf vacation packages, perhaps trying The Harvest Golf Club in Kelowna for eighteen holes on a championship course. Various communities host a festival for children to celebrate Canada Day on July first. These festivals often include music and draw well-known performers, feature information and safety booths. Buy a hot dog and get your face painted red and white.

Canadian history may not seem to go a long way back, but places such as RJ Haney House in Salmon Arm and Three Valley Gap near Revelstoke make the most of the early days. View restored buildings set-up to recreate nineteenth-century towns. These might have housed railway labourers, gold-panners, or immigrants looking for a new way of life through farming.

BC history goes much farther back than a couple of hundred years when viewed through the eyes of its indigenous people. Explore their early lives and the impact of European settlement at Royal BC Museum in Victoria. Fort Langley, about an hour from Vancouver, takes you back in to a time when people traded animal hides for iron pots or blankets.

Thrill seekers might want to make a few exciting memories for themselves with water sports. River Rafting gives them the perfect opportunity, especially in early summer when the spring run-off has not yet run out of steam. Get very wet, even flipped over, or take a break for a short interpretation of the flora and fauna you ride between at Adams River or inside the desert canyon of the Thompson River.

Follow a day of rock climbing on the Skaha bluffs near Penticton with a more relaxing escape. All skill levels can take part at the bluffs by climbing the up to 250 foot cliffs or merely hiking for a good view. Relax at a Penticton restaurant over some beautifully prepared local food. All in all combining BC golf vacations with exploring the beauty of British Columbia makes for an ideal adventure or family holiday.

It’s not surprising that BC is considered Canada’s golf capital. BC golf condos are attracting golfers from all over the world, With the beautiful mountains and picturesque natural scenery, take time to enjoy the magnificent BC real estate.

An Introduction To The World Of Snowboarding

In 1994, the International Olympic committee approved snowboarding as an Olympic event. It made its debut in 1998 at the Winter Games in Nagano, Japan. No doubt this approval was due to the hugely growing popularity of the sport all over the world since the 1960s. In fact, during the middles of the 1980s, fewer than 10% of all ski areas in the United States allowed snowboarding. In 2010, it is allowed in more than 95% of them.

The snowboard is fairly similar to a surf board or skate board and is built to ride down a slope covered with snow. Boots are worn that are mounted with flexible bindings to the board, sort of perpendicular to it. This is unlike skis, in which boots are facing forward.

The largest demographic for snowboarders is 18-24. The main reason for this is probably cost. While a pair of startup skis could run from $400-$600, an entry level snowboard with boots and bindings can be found for around $200. Another reason is its perception. Snowboarding is considered “cool” with all its creative athleticism. A big focus for the sport is the various tricks that can be done as well as having one’s own personal style and technique.

For newcomers to the sport, the most common form of snowboarding is called freestyle. A freestyle board is generally wider, lighter and more stable and flexible so beginners have an easier time dealing with turns and terrain. Few or no tricks are performed in a freestyle run.

The style most loved by enthusiasts is free ride. These boarders are not limited to terrain type and can adapt to various snow conditions like powdery snow cover or icy cover. There are many tricks in the free ride repertoire. These include surface, aerial and half pipe. A free ride board is usually stiffer than a freestyle board as it helps navigate hard turns.

Another form of snowboarding is free carving. The goal in this style is pure speed. Thus, few or no tricks or jumps are done. The best condition for free carving is hard packed snow since it usually entails hard turns while racing downhill. A free carve board, which is also called an Alpine board, are typically the longest and narrowest of all boards. Since advanced control of the board is so important, this style is not intended for beginners.

One of the many things that make snowboarding so exciting is the chance to do many different tricks. Like skateboarders, snowboarders include spins, twists and jumps in their tricks. Some of the best known of these tricks are the Canadian bacon, Japan air, ollies, nollies, poptarts, melons and flails.

Popularity of this sport continues to soar. It has been featured in 4 Winter Olympics including Nagano, Japan, Salt Lake City, U. S., Turin, Italy and most recently, Vancouver, Canada. Thus the sport has received great television coverage. Additional TV coverage for other events and competitions has increased as well. While once considered an extreme sport, it has worked its way into becoming among the mainstream pastime sports. If you enjoyed this article why not look up blue mountain rental and learn the proper wat to snowboard.

With breathtaking scenery and boundless recreational facilities, the Blue Mountain cottage accommodations provide the ideal vacation experience. Enjoy the vibrant culture, exciting tours, luxurious chalets, lodging rentals, spa packages, and more!

BC Summer Activities For Everyone

One thing you hear people from BC saying is that they have no need to leave their province for a holiday. There is plenty to do without boarding a plane or renewing their passports. Whether you like rock climbing, rafting or a glass of wine, come for some BC Summer Activities.

Mention the west coast of Canada and many minds instantly turn to wildlife sightings. Though the best times to see bears is spring and autumn, you can still find great look-out spots during your summer holidays in places like Kicking Horse near the BC/Alberta border. Any time you drive past Kamloops towards the next province you have a chance of spotting bears close to or even on the Trans Canada Highway. Whale watching from Victoria or Telegraph Cove on Vancouver Island is another popular pastime. Boarding a zodiac, cruise ship, or even just taking the ferry between island and mainland will offer the opportunity to spot a pod of Orcas making their majestic way.

Try ocean kayaking to get even closer to whales, or choose kayaking on one of many clear, freshwater lakes. Bowron Lakes in the Cariboo Chilcotin Region makes a popular destination. Get down low in the water and really see the loons, grebes and numerous other native and migratory aquatic birds which frequent these waters.

Annual festivals across the province include Roots and Blues in Salmon Arm, featuring acts from around the world performing everything from rock and roll to African drumming. Drive a little way south east and explore the Okanagan wine region. Here you can taste an number of reds, whites, or fortified fruit wines from wineries that make this glorious region their home on a self-guided tour or enjoy the annual Okanagan Summer Wine Festival at Silver Star Mountain near Vernon in August. While you are in the area, try golfing at one of the numerous Okanagan Golf Clubs. These include Championship courses such as Black Mountain, a public course with a par of 71. BC real estate is thriving, so make sure to check out some of the fabulous investment opportunities.

History comes alive in places like Three Valley Gap near Revelstoke or Barkerville in the Cariboo. Look for restored buildings taking you back to cowboy days and the gold rush. At Barkerville, costumed interpreters re-enact scenes from daily life such as a realistic criminal trial.

Stop in at a BC museum to see collections from the natural and cultural world around us. Aboriginal artifacts include masks and totem poles, some of which can be seen at Royal Museum in Victoria. Revelstoke Railway Museum houses many train engines and carriages showing what train travel was like during different eras throughout the past century.

Thrill seekers may want to try rafting on one of many rivers suitable for the sport. Guides will take you safely over everything from a class one to class four. Your summer rafting trip will likely reach highs of class three since most of the spring run off will have passed through, but anything can happen in the wilds of BC so come prepared.

Mountaineering and rock-climbing provide popular challenges for the fit and prepared visitor. A visit to the north offers locations such as Cassiar, Omineca and Terrace for those looking to get off of the well-worn path and see natural wonders up close, including glaciers. Alternatively, tavel east to enjoy some of the wonderful Kimberly real estate. Follow an arduous day with a trip to Liard River Hot Springs Provincial Park along the Alaska Highway. You do not have to climb there, only walk the boardwalks to one of two pools boasting tropical temperatures.

It’s not surprising that BC is considered Canada’s golf capital. BC golf vacations are attracting golfers from all over the world, With the beautiful mountains and picturesque natural scenery in British Columbia. Plan your next golf vactaion package, and be the next to tee off in beautiful BC.

How to Find the Best Park City Hotels

Many vacationers to the resort town of Park City Utah ask the question, “How do I find a place to stay”? While Park City does have a few brand name hotels like Marriott and Best Western, the majority of accommodations are made up of privately owned rentals.

These privately owned homes and condos are available for rent through professional management companies or directly through the homeowner. You may even make a reservation through a booking company or central reservations agency which typically takes a commission of up to 25% from the property manager or homeowner.

Experienced visitors often visit the Park City Chamber website to search for information on property managers who offer condos and homes for nightly rental. The chamber is a great resource but they only display the name of the property manager and the user has to search each manager’s website individually and compare potential rentals from one site to the next.

Precisely because there are so many different companies offering rentals, many visitors end up booking through booking agencies or central reservations services. While making a reservation in this fashion definitely saves time; it is doubtful that you are getting the best deal possible since these companies have such high commissions built into the rental rate.

I found the website www.localtourist.com while doing research for this article. Local Tourist is a business directory, not a booking service, and they offer the best search that I have seen for locating the perfect rental. Local Tourist allows property managers to list individual properties along with pricing including taxes and fees. Since Local Tourist provides you with the property manager’s direct phone number and website you can book direct. Who knows, you might even be able to ask for a discount.

Local Tourist doesn’t just help with lodging; the site also helps you research the three ski resorts, activity vendors, and restaurants. The restaurant search has all of the standard search functionality you would expect as well as a detailed neighborhood search so you’ll be able to find the perfect restaurant close to where you are staying.

Park City has become a destination for foodies as well as adventure seekers. The town now boasts over 100 restaurants and many are highly acclaimed so you’ll definitely want to do some research before you plunk down your hard earned cash while on vacation. Local Tourist does a great job with their restaurant search feature but you should also check out the Park City Chamber’s website www.parkcityinfo.com because they have a nice restaurant search as well.

Park City, Utah is one of the top ski destinations in the country and is a must visit if you are an avid skier. Even if you are not a skier or snowboarder, the town offers so many activities and dining options it is worth a visit. The destination is becoming increasingly popular in the summer due to the food and wine festivals, summer outdoor concert series, art festivals, and above all clean, crisp, mountain air. It really won’t matter when you choose to visit; Park City will definitely provide a memorable vacation experience.

Barry Borenski is a Travel and Leisure columnist who currently lives in Lake Placid New York with his wife and two kids. Barry recommends the website Local Tourist for vacation planning to Park City UT.

Ski Vacations for Beginners

Selecting a Resort

For the novice skier, it is advised to select a ski vacation in a location that is suitable to all levels of expertise: That way all members of your group, no matter their level, can make the most out of the vacation. Most destinations do offer various ski runs, ranging from wide, smooth beginner’s runs, to expert courses, which can be to be complicated and a little dangerous.

Beginner skiers should obtain ski lessons from ski tutors at the resort. Ideally, the new skier should take lessons before the vacation to learn the basics. A beginner should lease their ski equipment because purchasing it before learning what one requires from the equipment may be a costly error.

What to Take with you

Novice skiers often underrate how essential correct ski clothing is: An average jacket and gloves are not going to be appropriate. Gloves should be waterproof with a grip, jackets lightweight and wind-proof and pants (“salopettes”) designed for the needs of skiers.

In addition, skiers should purchase thick socks, a warm hat and scarf, sunglasses (the glare off the snow can be strong) and sunblock (it is easy to get sun burnt). For the best comfort and safety, a new skier should wear thin layers that allow for movement, rather than one extremely thick layer. Many ski resorts stores accommodate ski-clothing rentals.

Lift Passes

A lift pass is needed to give access to the ski slopes. They can be purchased as part of a vacation package or purchased in resort each day (though you may experience long lines at popular resorts). Costs are dependent on where you are, but many deals can be found by looking on the internet, asking the hotel concierge, purchasing in advance or buying for a group.

Always know what time the last lift leaves the slopes each day and set up a meeting place and time with your friends. It is also a good idea to have a mobile phone with you for any emergencies.

A ski holiday for a beginner can be a great experience provided that they do a bit of research to make sure that the Thomson ski resort they have chosen is the right one for them. Get some tips from travel writer Lawrence Gilbert from Travel Bites

A Great Ski Destination You Must Visit

If you are a fan of skiing then you should appreciate the exhilarating expectation of a skiing holiday in one of the great ski resorts in France. Whether you desire to take advantage of some of the better downhill runs in the world or travel cross country a trip to France is an ideal destination for any good winter sports enthusiasts. There is some exhilarating scenery and outstanding skiing opportunities for skiers of all degrees and it is barely surprising that individuals head to France for their skiing vacation.

If you are planning to go skiing in France the principal region to head for is the renowned ski resorts located in the Alps. If you pick the correct resort close to the border with Switzerland you may split your holiday and see Switzerland as well.

France is also where you will find the famous Val d’Isere ski resort which attracts skiers from all over to experience not only the skiing but also to savor the party atmosphere. There are lots of places to eat and drink and the area also features excellent facilities and runs for skiers of all abilities.

Check on the web for the best prices and do not forget to contact a few different travel agents to discover what they can find for you. Try to stay to the ones that specialize in ski vacations as they are more likely to find the better ski holiday deals for you and provide the greatest advice.

During particular times of the year there are great deals on offer that may include cheaper travel choices to get you there. However make sure you look out for offers that could offer you a discount on lift passes or ski hire as these could save you far more money in the end.

France is also famous for its food and wine so combined with outstanding skiing France is definitely an ideal country to visit for not only a good ski vacation but also an outstanding one as well.

If you are looking for a first choice ski deal check out the great advice given by travel writer Camille Moreau of Travel Bites