Traveling USA

Whenever I book a trip, I always opt for the travel insurance. I can never predict what may happen and, without adequate protection, all of the money I have paid for airline tickets, rentals, excursions, lodging and the like can just be washed down the drain and there’s nothing I can do about it.

For a long vacation or a trip overseas, this can amount to a significant amount of money that you cannot afford to lose. Perhaps you’ve been saving for a year or more to pay for the trip. Even worse is when you put it on credit cards and have to pay it off (plus interest) anyway, without ever enjoying it.

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I’m not a huge golfer, I havent ever understood the lure of chasing that little white ball around the lawn - but there are those in my family we are addicts.  Every time we talk vacation we have to talk golf courses.  I dont really whine much about it because I know that’s prime beach and shopping time for me. 

We were researching a vacation to Florida last year - and i had written some on shelling in the Marco Island area and ran across the information on golf on the Paradise Coast.  For those of you who dont know, the Paradise coast encompases Naples, Marco Island and part of the Everglades along the southwestern coast.

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It’s hard to imagine when you’re stuck in rush hour traffic on the Washington Beltway or creeping bumper to bumper through the Baltimore Harbor Tunnel that the serene small towns of the Chesapeake Bay are just a short drive away.

Maryland’s Eastern Shore is far removed from the urban corridor of the Mid Atlantic coast. Its Southern roots run very deep. This was one of the areas first colonized by the British and its people embraced the bucolic plantation culture that thrived prior to the Civil War.

Those who remain there live close to nature and move at a slower pace. Much of the work, culture and recreation revolves around the dominating body of water we call the Chesapeake Bay. Here a just a few of the interesting places to consider for a Chesapeake Bay vacation:

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Many of us think of Palm Springs as a destination for the rich and famous, but toss that mind set out or you’ll miss the exhilarating outdoor adventures you can have around this desert oasis. You don’t have to be a die hard to enjoy them, either. Here are just a few ideas to get the family outside during a Palm Springs vacation.

Big Wheel Bike Tour’s Earthquake Canyon Express is an unforgettable ride and it’s almost all downhill. Just about anyone who can ride a bicycle can enjoy this trip. Kids can be accommodated in tag-a-longs behind an adult bike. Descend 1200 feet in 20 miles through the heart of the San Andreas Fault on a quiet paved road that winds through narrow canyons down into the Mohave Desert. The rewards at the end are stunning views of Mt. San Jacinto and the Salton Sea and a unique and tasty date shake at the Oasis Date Gardens. It’s a great way to spend a day in the desert, see the sights and get some exercise, too.

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When leaving Denver in the rear-view mirror and heading up I-70 going West, one starts to see the Rocky Mountains in front and the plains behind.  After going through Eisenhower Tunnel and Loveland Pass one starts going down the other side only to meet Summit County head on.  There are three towns adjacent to each other, Frisco, Dillon and Silverthorne.  There are five ski areas that can

be accessed rather easily and those are Breckenridge, Copper, Keystone, A-Basin and Loveland ski area.  A-Basin and Loveland tend to be used by the locals but should not be overlooked by any skier or snowboarder.  Most of the skier traffic to Summit County comes from the Front Range and Denver just because it is so convenient and the ski area options are so great.

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