The Genius of River Cruising: My Viking River Cruise Experience

Awhile back I took my first river cruise on Viking River Cruises and instantly fell in love with this burgeoning mode of escape from the ordinary.  As a quick aside, over on my own blog site at Travel By Terry, you will find a couple of posts (January 22, 2013 & January 24, 2013) where I talk about several entertaining aspects of that enriching experience not mentioned in this post.  If you are among those who have never had the pleasure of seeing the world through a Viking River Cruise, let me share with you why I personally find the experience so satisfying. (By the way, this is not one of those all too frequent cases when my tastes run counter to the rest of the known universe.) I must be in respectable company because river cruising is one of the fastest growing travel industry segments.

Step on and Settle into Luxury

Like many of you, I  previously visited various parts of Europe utilizing the “planes, trains and automobiles” approach (a great movie, by the way.(  You are not going to find me disparaging train travel because it is a highly romantic way to roam around Europe.  However, unless your wallet or purse is considerably more bulbous than mine and you can afford to ride the rails on the Venice Simplon – Orient Express or the Royal Scotsman, you are never going to mistake a normal train’s sleeping or dining cars for a suite at the Dorchester in London.

However, when you board your Viking river cruise vessel, you are stepping onto a floating luxury hotel with appealing accommodations, sumptuous cuisine, convivial traveling companions and stellar service.  Like all cruise experiences, it affords the opportunity to unpack one time, stow away your gear and nestle in for the duration.   This is made to order for those of us who despise living out of an open suitcase.

A great thing about river cruising is the small, intimate ships.  I was on Royal Caribbean’s Oasis of the Seas a while back and had a great experience.  The ship offered a world of amenities but it was larger than some shopping malls I have frequented.  With 6,000+ passengers, it is the polar opposite of being on a vessel with less than 200 guests. The latter greatly increases the likelihood of establishing new and lasting friendships and trust me when I say, I can use all the help I can get.  I suspect posting candid blog pictures of the few friends I do have may not be aiding the situation.

Step Into Another World

When you step off the gangplank of your river cruise vessel, you are quite literally stepping into another world, (that is, unless the houses up and down your street happen to resemble this one.) It is amazing what a skilled pastry chef can do with gingerbread!  Even the cars look realistic!

If you happen to be as much of a history buff as I am (please note, not history in the buff . . . for that see cruises / nude), there is enough knowledge disseminated by genuine local experts to have your head spinning like Linda Blair in The Exorcist.

For others, a history lecture may conjure up suppressed memories of a tyrannical college professor who wouldn’t recognize a brilliant essay if it was inserted crossways up his . . . ahem . . . robe all the way to his goofy mortar board.  Sorry, I digress.  Some memories die hard.  Anyway, If history is not your cup of tea, the great thing is you can sit on the deck with a literal cup of tea and gaze for hours at fairytale palaces, captivating castles and picturesque villages.

Step Off and Enjoy

And when I say step off, I mean that quite literally.  In many cases culture and history, art and architecture, music and museums are all a short walk from the ship.  When you disembark, typically you are in the heart of a great city.  Viking is well-known for their informative walking tours complete with headsets for easy listening.  And for those with more mundane interests, well, there are always plenty of these establishments.  I was escorted out of this particular shop for excessive drooling.

Finally, here is a little insider’s tip.  There are two brand new Viking itineraries that are going to be very popular when they launch in 2014.  However, the early bird can book the elusive worm if you act now.  Don’t let another raptor beak you to it!

1)  Châteaux, Rivers & Wine – (Bordeaux – Saint-Émilion – Bordeaux)

2)  Memories of Mandalay – (Bangkok – Mandalay – Yangon or Bangkok – Yangon – Mandalay)

Thanks for stopping by.  I hope you have caught a raging case of river fever.  It is highly contagious and the only known cure is booking your own magical river cruise experience, preferably before the sun sets today.  You don’t even want to hear about the night sweats and hallucinations.

About Terry Denton

Inveterate traveler, proficient writer, avid golfer, unremarkable person. Co-owner of Travel Leaders / Main Street Travel of Fort Worth, Texas

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10 Myth-Busters About North Korea

North Korea has earned itself quite a few names: a member of the Axis of Evil, the Hermit Kingdom, and the Iron Walls. Better known as the Democratic Republic of Korea (DPRK), it is one of the most isolated nations in the world, having closed its doors to the outside world since its split from South Korea during the Korean War in the 1950s.

Since then, DPRK has usually been covered in a negative light by international media – but is it all true? I decided to find out.

A recent trip to North Korea gave me a rare glimpse into a world that few people know about. Although we barely scraped the surface of the country – having spent just five days visiting the capital of Pyongyang, the ancient city of Kaesong and the DMZ (demilitarized) border, it gave me a peek that none of the news or TV documentaries could.

North Korea surprised me in so many ways, here are some of them. As a word of advice, don’t make judgment based on what you see and read on the news; go see North Korea and find out for yourself.

Sharp contrast in the two Koreas

Having visited both South and North Koreas, I was overwhelmed by the stark differences despite being mentally prepared for it. Visiting North Korea is the closest thing to actual time travel – I felt like I had gone back in time to the Korea of the 1950s, from our first step off the Air Koryo flight at Pyongyang Airport to the museums and soviet-style buildings and scenes of people dressed in comrade caps and buttoned suits.

Our group with our guides

Our group with our guides

Cult-like Juche regime

When Kim Jong-Il passed away, scenes of North Koreans wailing on the streets were all over the news. Many were skeptical about the authenticity of it. There’s no doubt that North Koreans worship their supreme leaders but only after seeing for myself did I realize the extent of it. The locals spoke of their supreme leaders with utmost respect – almost as if they were of heavenly status. At Mansu Hill, where the larger-than-life statues of Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il stand, we were required to bow in front of the leaders as if it were a religious site.

Statue of Kim Jong-Il

Statue of Kim Jong-Il

Propaganda, propaganda and propaganda on the streets

Walking on the streets of Pyongyang and Kaesong, there was an obvious absence of posters and billboards (only one can be found in Pyongyang from the local brand of cars). I had somewhat expected that, but it was also strangely bizarre to not see any movie poster or circus ads. In their place were colorful mosaic art and hand-painted banners from the Korean Workers’ Party, used to promote the socialist regime.  Many of them used representations such as the sickle for farming, the brush for education and hammer for the industry.

Impressive Soviet-style architecture

I’ve seen Soviet-style architecture in Russia and China, but honestly none are as impressive as those in Pyongyang. Massive grey blocks of imposing government buildings dominate the public squares of the North Korean capital, all of them adorning images of Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il, as well as the national flag. In the heart of Pyongyang stands the “Arch de Triumph”, that’s even bigger than its French namesake. Other impressive works of architecture include the Juche Tower and Workers’ Party Monument, both of which are enormous and impressive in scale and grandeur.

North Koreans are just as curious about the world

North Korea is completely closed to the outside world — there are only local channels on TV, they don’t watch any foreign shows and only intranet exists in the country (internet is available to ambassadors or approved journalists). Prior to going there, I had the impression that they would be very wary and suspicious of foreigners. But I was pleasantly surprised to find locals smiling at us, even waving and talking to us. On the subway, we even interacted with them, showing them photos on our cameras and laughing with them. We played guessing games with children in the park and danced with groups of ladies who were having a picnic and drinks.

 

North Korean Boys

North Korean Boys

They are not ignorant

Since foreign information is so inaccessible to the North Koreans, I didn’t expect them to know much about the outside world, but there were a few exceptions that surprised us. We met a group of 10-year-old boys who were on their way to soccer practice and we stopped to chat with them. We asked them if they knew footballers from Europe and much to our surprise, they could name plenty of them. They could even understand some English.

Tasty cuisine and home-brewed beer

I had no expectations when it came to food in North Korea. I have had my share of bad, lousy food when backpacking in developing countries and somehow expected that to be the case in North Korea. I was clearly wrong. While the food wasn’t Michelin standard, there was plenty of decent home-cooked Korean food. Besides kimchi and rice, we also had traditional Korean barbecue and even beer in microbreweries (that were surprisingly good). No doubt we were brought to the tourist-only restaurants in town and these foods are doubtless a rarity for ordinary people, we were surprised that they even existed in DPRK.

The deepest subway system in the world

It’s a surprise to many that there is public transport in Pyongyang, not to mention that its subway system is the deepest in the world, at 110 meters (360 feet) underground. Having started its operation in 1972, the subway system was designed based on the Moscow metro system. Most of these trains were bought over from Berlin after the wall fell and haven’t been updated since. Their green velvet seats, old wooden carriages and shiny steel railings reminded me of the 1970s. Each station has a different theme, with impressive mosaic propaganda art and sparkling ´60s chandeliers to add to the atmosphere.

Subway in Pyongyang

Subway in Pyongyang

A surprising sense of normality

Despite all the negative portrayal of DPRK, the biggest surprise for me was just how normal everything felt in DPRK — people went about their daily business, the public subway system was busy, streets were wide but empty, and children hung out in the park just like we do. It was nothing like how you would imagine a ‘dangerous’ place. Besides the soviet-style attire and grim-looking buildings, there was really little to remind you that this was a country considered by many as evil.

It’s not all choreographed

Before visiting North Korea, I knew that we would be chaperoned around our guides and we were not allowed to leave the group or our hotels at any point. I had many friends who had serious doubts if we were being shown the ‘real’ North Korea. While it was true that we only visited places that the government approved and our movements were restricted, I didn’t feel controlled in any real sense of the word. We were free to interact with locals, we drove by farming lands, we saw shabby alleyways and we were obviously allowed to have our own opinions, which our guides respected as long as we didn’t try to impose our ideas on them.

Nellie Huang

With an eye for adventure and a thirst for the unknown, Nellie is a travel writer and blogger who loves to veer way beyond the conventional trail. Her blog, WildJunket is the child of all her adventures (and misadventures) around the world. Since the success of her blog, along with her photographer/designer husband, she has also launched a digital flipbook magazine, WildJunket Magazine.

You can find her online on Twitter, Facebook, Google+ and YouTube.

 

Touring the Axis of Evil: 5 Extreme Adventures

Travel is about getting out of my comfort zone and exploring places that make me hold on to the edge of my seat. But these days it’s getting harder and harder to find untouched destinations – places that remain relatively raw and non-commercialized.

That’s why I like visiting less conventional destinations. More often than not, the places I enjoy most are those with slightly negative connotations.These are also the most ethically challenging places to visit – the “extreme adventure” destinations that confront our beliefs and world views and help us to learn more about our planet and its people.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not silly enough to put my life at risk for bragging rights. But even Tony Wheeler, the founder of Lonely Planet who recently wrote a book on his tour of the axis of evil, poised it eloquently, “In almost every bad land I am moved by the outgoing friendliness of ordinary men and women. I have come to see that bad is a relative term, and that there are always two sides to every story.”

Forget about holiday brochures – get your atlas, find somewhere you’ve never heard about before, and go there. I promise you nothing will make you feel more alive.

North Korea

Pyongyang – photo courtesy of WildJunket

It comes as a surprise to many that anyone can visit North Korea as a tourist. Notorious as one of the “axis of evil”, North Korea (better known as Democratic People’s Republic of Korea) is often sullied by negative perceptions.

Since the end of World War II, the DPRK has closed its doors to the outside world. Only local channels are shown on TV, there is no internet access and only 2,500 foreign tourists (not including the Chinese) visit the country each year.

North Koreans are taught to think that anything foreign is a threat – yet, I was surprised to find how curious locals were of us. On the subway, we interacted with people, showing them our photos and laughing along with them.

We even had the chance to play with Korean children at a park, through charades and guessing games.

In fact, the DPRK actually appeared rather tame until we saw the stern soldiers at the DMZ (demilitarized zone.) They confiscated a camera from a member of our group.

Albania

Another member of Tony Wheeler’s “axis of evil”, Albania is intrinsically associated with the Cold War even today. More than 40 years of communist rule (under the dictator Enver Hoxha,) followed by a period of extreme mid-90s capitalism, the country is still struggling to get back on its feet.

During my visit in May 2010, Albania surprised me with the hospitality of welcoming locals (I lost my wallet and a local brought me to the police station and even lent me some money), local cuisine that easily tops anywhere else I’ve been, and clusters of beautiful towns tucked high in the mountains.

Of course there are always things to be wary of in Albania – such as petty crime on public transport and safety on the streets at night. But all in all, Albania is definitely a unique place to visit.

Myanmar

Myanmar

photo courtesy of WildJunket

Due to decades of political conflict, travel to Myanmar (formerly Burma) presents an ethical decision – are we encouraging the regime by visiting? While Myanmar remains a troubled country, things are definitely looking up. Following the election in 2010, a civilian government took over, Aung San Suu Kyi was released from house arrest, and the tourism boycott has since been lifted.

Traditional and surreal at the same time, visiting Myanmar allows you to travel back to a time when paved roads were non-existent and creaking buses throttled along packed with hundreds of passengers. It is a country that stirs my soul with its thousands of sacred stupas, poetic Buddhist towns, and mystical lakes. It remains one of my favorite countries to date.

Perhaps it’s because of years of isolation, perhaps it’s the deep-rooted Burmese culture, Myanmar remains pure and untainted – for now. Today’s Burma is still struggling with poverty and its tourism infrastructure is almost non-existent, but as long as you’re prepared for the bumpy rides and harsh conditions, you’ll be in for a rewarding journey.

Guatemala

Stories of violence, kidnapping, and drug trafficking incidents are all too common in Central America. Based on a CNN report on Guatemala, 6,500 people met violent deaths in 2009 and nearly 6,000 were slain in 2010. 41% of these deaths were associated with drug trafficking. Worst of all, more than 96% of all crimes go unpunished.

When I was in Guatemala several years back, I was stumped by my fellow travelers’ tales of mugging and rape.

Danger may be lurking in certain corners, but that doesn’t stop Guatemala from being a popular backpacking spot. It didn’t take me long to fall for the charms of this diverse, rustic nation. I traversed the country from the charming colonial city of Antigua to the impressive Tikal ruins in the north, and never got mugged once or felt like I was in any sort of danger. But then again, I steered clear from Guatemala City – the most potent part of the country where crime and violence are part of daily life.

Zimbabwe

photo courtesy of WildJunket

Like the others on the list, Zimbabwe has been making headlines for the wrong reasons. Since Robert Mugabe took ruling power in 1980, the country has spiraled into a series of racial conflicts, human rights abuse and violence. Although the country’s economy is slowly recuperating, millions of people are still living on food aid and struggling with disease outbreaks.

Behind this dark history lies a gorgeous country waiting to be explored. From the wilderness of Mana Pools to the chaos of Harare, Zimbabwe shows Africa at its best.

Granted, dodgy streets in the cities are best avoided and crowded markets remain off the tourist radar. But thankfully, I got a chance to know its people – who all warmly welcomed me into a country clearly misunderstood by the world.

I’m not saying that these countries are “easy” travel destinations, either in terms of comfort or ethics. But to me that’s what travel is all about.

by Nellie Huang

Nellie Huang

With an eye for adventure and a thirst for the unknown, Nellie is a travel writer and blogger who loves to veer way beyond the conventional trail. Her blog, WildJunket is the child of all her adventures (and misadventures) around the world. Since the success of her blog, along with her photographer/designer husband, she has also launched a digital flipbook magazine, WildJunket Magazine.

You can find her online on Twitter, Facebook, Google+ and YouTube.

Family Vacations 2013: 10 New Ideas for Fun Family Holidays

New Year’s resolutions come in all shapes and sizes. Here’s a new idea for 2013: Improve  relationships, expand your kids’ horizons and make family vacations count.

Need some suggestions beyond the vague notion of “we’re going to travel this year?” Check out these helpful tips.

Plan a Family Vacation Together

Studies show that moms make most family travel decisions, so make it a team effort. Pull out a map and discuss locations or ask the kids to make a list destinations the research online. The kids may surprise you and have ideas you would have never considered.

Personalize Your Activities

After your destination is set, ask every family member to choose a “thing to do” or personalize one day. Get creative. Maybe one day can be spent exploring a regional park chosen by dad, a theme park day chosen by the kids or mom’s choice of afternoon zip-lining. Allowing every family member to have a “day” or activity will build family respect and make everyone feel special.

Start a Family Piggy Bank

We all know travel isn’t cheap. Start a family piggy bank (maybe a cute airplane or cruise ship) and start contributing dollars and quarters. The kids can portion their allowance money. Create special vacation-style chores or tell them to contribute money from completing acts of kindness. When the family vacation arrives, you can use the money for activities or souvenirs. The best part? The entire family feels a sense of pride since everyone contributed!

Save Money: Plan your Family Vacation in Advance

While the piggy bank is a fun idea, it’s best for the parents to plan the trip long before take-off. Make this the year you avoid charging the trip to credit cards. Shop for travel deals and specials, weigh the cost between driving and flying and compare hotel prices.

Plan A Charitable Trip

Global Citizens Network, based here in my state of Minnesota, is just one of many organizations that invite families to travel to remote destinations and assist needy communities. Taking a charitable family vacation will be memorable, educational, and will teach your kids about the greatness of giving.

Educational Trips

Visiting a new country, (for example Mexico,) can offer an array of opportunities for families to learn new languages through immersion classes. Take day trips to the various Mayan Ruins or learn about ocean life through aquatic adventures.

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Family photo in Puerto Vallarta by Rick206

Create a Family Reunion

Sometimes extended families are dispersed across the globe. Reconnect with a family reunion-style vacation. Ensure you try new food, attend festivals and visit historic locations. Live the culture!

Smell the Roses and Slow Down

Remember, you don’t have to do everything on your family vacation. It is okay to let the kids sleep in or stay up late and it’s also acceptable to take some alone time with the spouse. My kids love resort kids clubs. If your kids are the same, let them have their kid-fun while you enjoy a few hours alone.

Try Something New

Do you always go to the same destination year after year? This year, try something different. Instead of the beach, head up to the mountains. Rather that the same theme park, try a dude ranch.

family photo in Smokey Mountains

User CMeekins03 and their family at Cataract Falls in the Great Smokey Mountains of Tennessee

Start a Vacation Photo Collection

Finally, remember to capture your memories! Snap photos every chance you get (just don’t get obsessed) and instead of letting the vacation photos sit on your hard drive, make a cool scrapbook and share your photos. There are a number of brands that offer fantastic photo book options and they’re very user friendly.

Most of all enjoy your family! The kids are only with you for so long; so cherish every moment with them… even when you’re not traveling.

by Beth Blair

Beth Blair

Based in Minnesota where she lives with her husband and two kids, Beth is a professional traveler, as a flight attendant as well as a professional travel writer and co-founder of award-winning blog TheVacationGals.com. Beth’s won several notable travel writing awards, including Best Travel Blog at the 2012 Lowell Thomas Travel Journalism Competition sponsored by the SATW Foundation.

You can follow Beth on Twitter, Facebook and Google+.

Secrets The Vine Knows How To Shine

Excerpt: Travel Agent Terry Denton tells us about his “preferred” stay at Secrets the Vine resort in Cancun, Mexico. 

Those familiar with the resort destination Cancun probably know that Cancun proper is roughly shaped like the number seven. Here is a rather tightly compressed picture of Cancun looking south showing the seven inverted.

Cancun Coastline

The Cancun Coastline

Also, those who grew up playing Monopoly are very familiar with the prized pieces of real estate called Boardwalk and Park Place. Sadly, these board locations are the scene of several avaricious and ultimately disastrous monopoly plays on my part. Notwithstanding Gordon Gekko’s famous assertion, trust me, dear reader, greed is not always good!

So how are these two seemingly random facts connected?  About midway down the hotel corridor (i.e., the middle part of the seven) is a stretch of prized real estate that constitutes the Boardwalk / Park Place of Cancun. Within a short distance, you will find such upscale resorts as Ritz Carlton, Sandos Cancun and J.W. Marriott.  In the midst of these iconic names is the brand new (opened August, 2012) Secrets The Vine, part of the Secrets Resort and Spa collection owned by AMResorts.

Does Secrets The Vine truly belong in such lofty surroundings?  I just returned from a personal stay there and after reading this blog post I hope  you will agree with me that Secrets The Vine is every bit a worthy neighbor.

Why I Prefer To Be Preferred

While upgrading to Preferred Club status is by no means necessary for a very enjoyable stay, having sampled the preferred category, I would have to say it is well worth the modest cost.  Using my favorite currency equivalent, for a four night stay it is no more that a couple of weeks worth of Grande, French Vanilla, Skinny Lattes at Starbucks.  Think of it as taking luxury up a notch.

For example, when you step off the elevator on your preferred floor, you are greeted by a smiling butler.  I tried to explain to Jonathan that it was not necessary to stand up and salute each time I entered the floor.  The modest red carpet I supplied him to roll out and his occasional reference to me as “Your Eminence” were quite sufficient. As you can tell, I don’t like a big fuss made over me.  In fact, I take great pride in my humility.

A personal butler to cater to your every whim!

When you are initially  led to your room, your butler provides you a detailed description of the services available to you such as garment pressing, shoe shining, complimentary hydrotherapy privileges at the spa, the private infinity pool on the twelfth floor and the private lounge on the twenty-first floor.   For a full list of benefits and options for the Preferred Club status, click here.

Where The Wine Is Divine and the Dining Is Fine

At the risk of being labeled a wine tease, I am going to postpone for a moment telling you where to find out more about the incredible wine experiences available at this resort.  Let’s focus first on the dining options.  There was a time, thankfully long since past, when eating at an all-inclusive resort meant three endless buffets a day.  Now, deluxe properties like Secrets The Vine afford a wide variety of venues and cuisine. Click here for a quick list of the choices available at this resort.

I must admit that on more than one occasion I savored the ceviche at the Sea Salt Grill.  They offer several varieties of ceviche all enhanced by the smell of sea salt wafting over from the nearby beach.

The most touted restaurant by some accounts is the Bluewater Grill. While the food was savory I almost made a fatal mistake, for a man of my limited means anyway, when the waiter offered our table a special selection of wine. While almost everything is included at Secrets The Vine, they do offer the option of special wines by the bottle in the fine restaurants. In my giddy exuberance at being away from the daily drudge, I almost ordered a $110.00 bottle of wine.  While that would hardly make some of you blink, I confess it made me blanch! Do you have any idea how many boxes . . . ahem; I mean bottles of wine that would buy back home?  I quickly recovered my composure and ordered something a little more modest.

My personal favorite dining spot, however, was Ólio Mediterranean Cuisine.  When they say Mediterranean, they don’t just mean the northern half of that great sea.  In addition to samplings from Greece and Spain, they provide delicious offerings from Tunisia and Morocco as well.

Olio Med Cuisine

Olio Mediterranean Cuisine

One of my very favorite moments from my trip was reposing beneath the canopy of a brilliantly lit cloudless sky in this stunning twelfth-floor setting, being caressed by a light ocean breeze while enjoying a fashionably late repast surrounded by convivial companions and lighthearted conversation.

How To Learn More

It just so happens that I have written a couple of other posts regarding other aspects of this little sparkling gem set among other jewels. You can also read the naked truth about my visit to the spa, or you can learn about the guilty pleasures of being ever so slightly over-served.

So next time you find yourself planning a Cancun getaway and the Ritz Carlton or JW Marriott come to mind, take my sage advice and split both the difference and the distance and select the incomparable Secrets The Vine.

Written by Terry Denton, President of Travel Leaders / Main Street Travel

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Love Wine? Forget Napa and Head to the Colorado Wine Country

Mike Richard of Vagabondish tells us why Napa is “out” and the Colorado Wine Country is “in.”

Aaaahhh, Napa Valley. Breathe it in … roll the words around your tongue… It’s legendary! Can’t-miss! Bucket list worthy! America’s Mount Everest of Vino for oenophiles! Blah, blah, blah… If you ask me, it’s also staid, pretentious and (most important for budget-wise travelers aka normal people) it’s overpriced. When celebrity chefs can bilk their clientele for $500+ dinners per couple without wine (I’m looking at you, Thomas Keller) when the classic, once venerable Wine Train becomes little more than a rolling fish bowl for mildly intoxicated, purple-toothed tourists dropping $120 per lunch aboard “Napa’s most unique restaurant”, while stumbling from one predictable, mediocre winery to the next; when an over-hyped, well-to-do vintner constructs a monstrous, Disney-esque replica of a 13th century Italian castle (complete with moat, drawbridge and torture chamber!) along the Valley’s rolling hills, it’s safe to say that Napa has finally “jumped the shark”. For travelers seeking an up-and-coming, affordable, back-to-basics wine country experience, look no further than…

Western Colorado Wine Country

Wine-Tasting-Room “Colorado wine country, eh? Wait … did you say Colorado?” If you’ve never heard of the Grand Valley or West Elks AVAs (American Viticultural Areas), you’re not alone. Most out-of-staters are blissfully unaware of these vast, rolling expanses of Western Colorado viniculture. (Hell, most Coloradans are too.) While best known for a thriving beer scene, the state is also home to a growing number of excellent vineyards and wineries – more than 80 small, family-owned estates in total. Be forewarned though: if you fancy your adult beverages “neat”, have ever considered purchasing an ascot, or routinely use the word “zeitgeist” in passing conversation, you’re probably not Colorado Wine Country material. This area is for wine lovers looking to eschew uppity, pinky-up tastings in favor of a no-frills tour with a laid-back vibe. If you can’t have fun and catch a cheap buzz on excellent local wines here, you’re doing it wrong.

Getting Around in the Colorado Wine Country

A handful of “official” trail will guide you through the area’s best wineries, but I highly recommend the Heart of Colorado Wine Country Trail. Those fortunate enough to travel this entire loop beginning and ending on I-70 in Glenwood will have seen where almost every grape in Colorado originates. Make sure to pack your drinking shoes though! This massive trail covers both of the aforementioned federally designated AVAs. Allow two days minimum, three to really enjoy yourself. The area is most easily traversed by car as most of the wineries are on or near major highway routes. However, the region also offers some of the best biking trails in North America. So, if you’re feeling particularly adventurous, hop a mountain bike and pedal the entire route. Or, if you’re feeling adventurous but a little lazy, hop a pedicab ride with Palisade Pedicab (call: 970-250-1654) and pay someone else to pedal it for you.

Where to Taste

I’ll be so bold as to say that virtually every winery and vineyard along The Trail is worth a visit (although it’s worth noting that I spent the tail end of my two days babbling semi-coherently about the dearth of In-N-Out Burger joints in Colorado. But that’s another story for another post…). Allow me to present a brief selection of my favorite Western Colorado wineries:

Sample a Cherry Pie at Carlson Vineyards The fun, knowledgeable staff here pours generous samples of more than a dozen varieties with names like Laughing Cat, Pearadactyl (Pear-Apple), and Prairie Dog Blush. While they’re most famous for their Rieslings, don’t miss their cherry wine. It’s served in a small, plastic cup with a chocolate dipped rim and described as “cherry pie without the crust”. Or their Cherry Lemonade – a blend of cherry wine and frozen lemonade. (Napa snobs, turn back now. It doesn’t get any prettier…)

Get High at Terror Creek Winery This oddly named winery is located high above the town of Paonia on Garvin Mesa. At an elevation of 6,400 feet, it is “the highest estate bottled winery and vineyard in the northern hemisphere” (just in case you were hoping to finally check that one off your bucket list). The tasting room boasts excellent views of Terror Creek’s vineyards and the West Elk mountains. Inside, winemaker and sole proprietor Joan Mathewson is happy to chat about each of her Alsatian-style wines, including a smooth chardonnay vinted without oak and a spicy gewurztraminer.

Help Yourself at Colorado Cellars Winery Colorado-Cellars-Winery The folks here have been producing wine since 1978, making it Colorado’s oldest winery and the only one legally allowed to use the state’s name. It’s also the largest and (in their words) “most award-winning”. The best part: they offer most of their 23 varieties in a self-serve, imbibe-as-much-as-you-like setup. Oh, and it’s free. And there’s often food samples, including fruits, salsa, and gourmet cheeses. Don’t miss their meads – light, soft bodied wines with rich, sweet honey flavors. (Come to think of it, you might just want to stay here and skip the rest of the trail.)

Sample Cabernet and Peaches at Colterris Wines Opened in 2010, Colterris (literally: “from the Colorado land”) is the new kid on the block. They’ve taken to doing one thing and doing it well: red wine blends aged in French oak barrels. For two dollars per, grab a sample of their 2010 Cab Franc or Cabernet Sauvignon (currently 2009 or 2008). The tasting area is a small, open-air patio where the winemakers themselves are happy to serve you and chat about their unique blends. Don’t miss: the small fruit stand next door. The peaches are out-of-this-world good!

Taste Specialty Seasonals at Grande River Vineyards Grande-River-Vineyards-Colorado-Wine-Country The ambiance of the polished wine shop here might feel more like a gift shop to some. But the selection of wines is solid and the tastings inexpensive – first three are free, and just $3.50 for the next five. The real win here is the specialty offerings which vary by season. During my summer visit, I couldn’t get enough of the Late Harvest Viognier – like a full fruit basket upfront with a mellow, not-too-sweet finish. Don’t miss: their outdoor summer concert series featuring everything from jazz to Latin, bluegrass to classical … and of course plenty of food and vino. Well there you have it. Who needs the Napa Valley now we’ve got Western Colorado to play with?

 

Mike-Richard

Mike Richard

Mike Richard is a Rhode Island native, professional web designer and travel junkie with an unhealthy addiction to backpacking, hiking and seeing the world. Since 2006, he has edited, written for, and kept the gears running behind the scenes as founding editor of his blog, Vagabondish. He absconded from corporate life in 2010 to travel full time and hasn’t had a permanent residence since. He has spoken professionally as a featured panelist at the annual TBEX (Travel Blogger’s Exchange) conference. Other noteworthy credits include “Woman’s World magazine contributor” and having once been interviewed by Tyra Banks (seriously). Find Mike on Google+. Follow @vagabondish.

Stephanie-Yoder

5 Terrible Travelers

I’ll never forget the most horrible traveler I’ve ever met. He was skulking around the Full Moon Party in Koh Phangan, a sort of haven for obnoxious party animals, but this guy rose above the rest. It wasn’t just his blindly neon outfits or his constant inebriation that made him stand out- it was the incredible rudeness and entitlement that oozed from everything he did. He was rude to the locals (he called the hostel owner’s baby a monkey!) and inconsiderate to his fellow travelers. His antics culminated in him peeing in the corner of our dorm room one night. I don’t think anyone was disappointed to see him slink off the next morning. There’s just something about South East Asia that attracts people with all the worst reasons for traveling. For the most part I don’t really care WHY people travel, just that they DO. Yet, there are some really terrible reasons to travel, and if you recognize yourself in these, you’d be better off staying home:

“The World is my Night Club”
The guy I mentioned above should NOT have been traveling. He should have stayed home and learned some manners before inflicting himself on the world. He didn’t care much where he was, he just wanted to have a good time and if he could do that on the cheap down in Thailand, then all the better. You don’t have to travel solely for culture, and it’s fine to party it up overseas, but at a bare minimum you should show some respect for the country you are visiting. The world is not your no-consequence-playground.

“I Want an Exotic Girlfriend”
You’ll find these guys hanging out at expat bars in across South East Asia with a very pretty, usually much younger, local lady (or ladyboy if they’re not careful) glued to their side. They’ve figured out that supply-side economics is on their side and over here they can attract women who wouldn’t look twice at them at home. C’mon guys, if nobody wants to date you back at home, please don’t inflict yourself on the locals somewhere else. Plus, don’t you want to be more than someone’s pocketbook with legs?

“I’m Running Away”
Probably not from the law (although I’m sure it happens), but from problems at home. One girl I met in Vietnam was in debt up to her ears back in the UK, and was simply puttering around Asia until her money ran out. “And then?” she shrugged and downed another shot of rice wine. The problem with this method is that it simply doesn’t work. You can run from your problems, you can put oceans between you and the issues, but you can’t escape them.

“I Don’t Want to Grow Up”
Okay Peter Pan. I know being part of the real world is scary, with all of its pressures and responsibilities. I don’t blame you for wanting to defer that as long as possible. The thing is, you end up growing up anyways- you can’t escape the real world forever. Eventually you’re just the old guy at the bar with no self-awareness.

“I Want to Get it Out of the Way”
Every once in awhile I stumble across one of these naïve career-oriented souls. “I’m just getting my travel out of the way now, then I’ll go back home and get a real job,” they say earnestly over Beer Laos. Well, good luck with that. The thing they haven’t bargained for is that travel is insanely addictive. It’s not something you just “get out of your system” before you go back to real life. The more you see, the more you discover there is to see. You’ve opened a Pandora’s Box of wanderlust and going back to work won’t just close it up.

Which brings me back to the actual good reasons to travel. There are far more of them then there are bad ones: curiosity, a restless heart, a love for the world and everything in it. A view of travel as a challenge to be discovered and explored and not a panacea or convenient escape from acting like a real human being. The reasons to travel are as broad as the sun – and the rewards are too.

Just don’t be a jerk.

by Stephanie Yoder

Stephanie is a girl who can’t sit still. Since graduating she has spent her time either roaming the earth or saving up for her next trip, until finally quitting the rat race for good to become a full time writer, blogger and owner of Twenty-Something Travel.

A Romantic Escape to Bahamian Sandals

In our last installment on the best of the Bahamas, Eileen Ogintz of “Taking the Kids” describes a luxurious kid-free stay at two of the couples-only resorts.

Where’s my butler?

That’s right. Not only are there no kids anywhere, but we have a personal butler to satisfy our every whim.

Emerald Bay

Welcome to the away-from-the-crowds Bahamian island of Great Exuma and Sandals Emerald Bay, an hour’s flight from Miami. This is a grownups’ getaway – no one under 18 admitted.

That means we don’t have to feel guilty about leaving our kids behind because we won’t see any one else’s kids building sand castles on the beach or doing cannon balls in the pool.

It is kind of unnerving at first to have someone cater to my every wish but I get used to it-fast. Sparkling water with lime?  Glasses for martinis? (Since this is an all inclusive, the room is stocked with liquor.)  No problem.  He even stops by the pool to see if we need anything.  Some chips and guacamole, perhaps, he suggests. We joke with other guests that it’s hard to think of things for the butler to do for us.

If you prefer Nassau, you have another romantic Sandals Option– the Sandals Royal Bahamian that was voted the Top Spa Resort by readers of Conde Nast Traveler and back in the day was a playground for British royals.

It’s home to spectacular Nassau beaches as well as cottage-style suites and a private offshore island where you can pretend to be a castaway. (One with access to a swim up bar, though.)

There is something to be said for an all-inclusive resort where you don’t need to pull out your wallet whether you want a Piña Colada pool-side, play tennis, snorkel or enjoy a wonderful meal.

Sandals Royal Bahamian

Gorgeous pool views at the Sandals Royal Bahamian

Sandals Royal Bahamian, for example, has 10 restaurants to choose from and eight bars serving premium brand drinks—take your pick of fresh seafood on the outer island at Stew fish, made to order Teppanyaki at Kimonos or  the antipasti bar at  Casanova, among others.  Dig in! You’ve already paid for your food, drinks and activities.  Even better when you can snare a deal that includes free nights and an air credit.

My favorite dinner at Sandals wasn’t at any of the resort’s restaurants.  Mine was one that cost extra at  an elegantly set table for two in a private “tower” overlooking Sandals Emerald Bay pool . We could also have opted for the beach (too windy) or the Wedding Gazebo (taken) but this proves perfect, complete with champagne. We’ve chosen a decidedly Bahamian menu–conch fritters,  Bahamian conch salad,  cream of carrot soup, roasted Jerk Chicken and lobster, ginger crème Brule and bittersweet chocolate parfait.

Earlier, the hardest thing to decide is how should we spend all of our well-earned idleness? We thought we’d go scuba diving but the waters were too rough. We didn’t mind, actually. After a breakfast on the terrace), we go for a long walk along the beach dotted with palms and grasses.

We could play beach volleyball or join in the “name that tune” games around the pool bar but we are content to adjourn to our yellow-striped cabana and read. Our “pool butler” comes by every so often to see what we need — water…Bloody Marys…a snack?

We only move from our beach chairs for lunch at the Barefoot Restaurant—yes our toes are really in the sand while we eat conch salad and conch chowder.

Did I mention there were a pair of swans fashioned of towels on our bed with flower petals scattered around them when we checked in, that our butler greeted us when we arrived?

Towel Animal

No Bahamian vacation is complete without….a towel animal

One night, there was a bubble bath drawn for us, complete with candles and flower petals, when we returned from dinner. Love was spelled out in flowers on the bath mat.

OK a little hokey but it made us smile. And that’s why we were there, after all.

I sure missed my butler when I got home.

EILEEN OGINTZ

Eileen Ogintz is a leading national travel expert, syndicated columnist of the weekly column Taking the Kids and the creator of TakingTheKids.com whose special sections including the latest 50-plus places to Light Up the Holidays and Fun in the Snow have become a go-to resource for families planning getaways.

She is regularly quoted and featured as a family travel expert in newspapers, magazines and websites across the country. Eileen is the author of nine travel books, including the most recent The Kid’s Guide to New York City, and The Kid’s Guide to Orlando.

Follow @takingthekids.

Where to Eat In Nassau

Local lobster or grouper?

Maybe you want to try some conch fritters. (They’re delicious!) But if a burger or pasta is what you are in the mood for, you can find that too. The restaurants of Nassau offer virtually every type of cuisine—Chinese, South American, Italian, Steaks, Mediterranean, Sushi, even Indian (at the appropriately named and popular Taj Mahal).

Nassau, after all, is a city of 170,000-plus people—the capitol of the Bahamas and one of the most popular cruise ports in the world less than 200 miles from Florida.

The Fish Fry at Arawak Cay is famous for Bahamian delicacies like conch salad and fried fish as well as the traditional drink of coconut and rum, while the stalls at Potter’s Cay dock serve up scorched conch – all made in front of you.

One night we ate overlooking the sea at the terrific Dune at the One&Only Ocean Club where Chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten developed the menu. Think pumpkin soup, roasted grouper, sweet rice in a banana leaf. How about banana cake with salted caramel ice cream for dessert?

Dining at Nobu

Dine in style at Nobu Paradise Island

The island’s famed Atlantis Paradise Island, of course, boasts 21 different restaurants, including the famous Japanese restaurant Nobu.  We loved Bobby Flay’s Southwestern cuisine with a Bahamian twist at Mesa Grill with dishes available only here. (How about Bahamian spiced chicken Crispy Squid and Cracked Conch Salad with Orange-Chipotle Vinaigrette, Bahamian Lobster Tail with Red Chile-Coconut Sauce and Green Chile Rice.)

The Bahamian Club at Atlantis is considered one of the Bahama’s leading restaurants. (You’ll think you’ve time traveled back to British Colonial times.)

At Atlantis We also loved Virgil’s Real BBQ and Carmine’s—both welcome imports from NYC.

Graycliff Hotel

The gardens of the Graycliff Hotel

Another night we were treated to a gourmet feast at the historic mansion hotel Graycliff that has become Nassau’s first five star restaurant known for one of the most extensive private wine cellars in the Caribbean—from escargots to tenderloin to  cappuccino cake. I loved the dining rooms set with candles and overlooking the gardens. There is also a cigar factory here where you can make your own or buy one for after dinner.

While you are in Nassau, sample peas and rice, a Sunday dinner staple, with peas, bacon, celery hot peppers and rice.  Remember that beyond Nassau, the outer islands like the Abacos, Exuma and Bimini boast some of the best fishing sites in the world, delivering fresh fish to restaurants and hotels there and on Nassau and Paradise Island. Have you ever tried grouper fingers? (Think fish sticks but a whole lot better!)

One of the most memorable meals I’ve ever had was a beach barbeque on a deserted island off of Green Turtle Cay where our host free-dived for spiny lobsters and conch, cooked the lobsters over an open fire and prepared a fresh conch salad.  Yum!

Frommer’s recommends Sun and… originally built in the 1930s as a private home and now serving international cuisine in Red Mill House in upscale residential neighborhood. Have you ever tried grilled octopus? Go for the Bahamian fisher’s platter—all local fish.

Other foodies suggest Café Matisse, an Italian restaurant in a century-old Nassau house.   Eat in dining rooms  decorated with Matisse prints  or outside at tables with candles. This may be the place to splurge on local lobster.

For down-home Bahamian food at modest prices, you can’t beat Bahamian Kitchen located next to Trinity Church in downtown Nassau.  This is the place to try fried red snapper, curried chicken, okra soup and peas and rice. You can get take out here for a picnic.

Cable Beach

Looking for a fresh catch at Cable Beach!

If you’d rather have lunch with a view of Nassau’s famous harbor, try  The Poop Deck, a fixture here since 1972 just across the bridge from Atlantis and Paradise Island. (There is a second location SandyPort on the beach with ocean views just west of the Cable Beach hotels. Here’s the place to eat fish or Bahamian lobster caught the same day you are eating it.  Try conch fritters, cracked conch and conch chowder.  But you can also get a grilled cheese sandwich, burger or fried chicken here. This is also a great spot for dinner.

Pass the grouper fingers please.

EILEEN OGINTZ

Eileen Ogintz is a leading national travel expert, syndicated columnist of the weekly column Taking the Kids and the creator of TakingTheKids.com whose special sections including the latest 50-plus places to Light Up the Holidays and Fun in the Snow have become a go-to resource for families planning getaways.

She is regularly quoted and featured as a family travel expert in newspapers, magazines and websites across the country. Eileen is the author of nine travel books, including the most recent The Kid’s Guide to New York City, and The Kid’s Guide to Orlando.

Visit Southfork Ranch in Dallas to pay homage to Larry Hagman

IgoUgo’s Social Media Manager, Julie Janak, reports on memorial events being held at Southfork Ranch this weekend in honor of Larry Hagman’s death.

Photo credit The Hollywood Reporter

When Larry Hagman’s character, JR, was shot on the television drama “Dallas”, it was the shot heard round the world.  The question of “Who shot JR?” is almost as famous as Ayn Rand’s “Who is John Galt?”  The beloved “Dallas” actor lost his battle to throat cancer last weekend, and thousands across the globe will be remembering him fondly.

Hagman was pivotal in the success of “Dallas”, which subsequently garnered a cult following and put the city of Dallas on the map.  As many of you know, the show was set on the sprawling Southfork Ranch, which is in fact, an actual house and very popular tourist attraction to this day! Just a few days after his death, the gates of Southfork are already being adorned with mementos and flowers in honor of the late “JR”.

Located in Parker, Texas-26 miles Northeast of Dallas proper- the mansion was originally procured by the TV production company in 1978. The original owners actually lived in the home when filming first began, however once the show’s popularity soared, they clearly weren’t able to live comfortably in the privacy of their own home. The ranch grew, an external building was erected in order to house special events and conventions and tourists have been flocking to this iconic destination ever since.

In honor of Hagman’s death, the ranch will be opening its doors this Sunday, December 2nd for free tours between 2-4pm. Following the touring hours, there will be a memorial service for mourners to leave flowers or mementos.

Tell us: did you watch Dallas? Or do you watch the new rebooted version?

Find Julie on Google + and Twitter