Just a few Random and Amazing Photos from all over Cozumel! Cozumel has started to reopen after a complete Pandemic Shutdown! They are going slow and doing it right.
[Read more…] about Random and Amazing Photos from all over the Island of Cozumel!
#4TravelChicasinCozumel! Yes, indeed, that is our hashtag! Four travel bloggers who met online 3 years ago and who have formed a blog consortium of sorts, 4 Times the Fun, and 4 times the audience! with Adventures of Empty Nesters (Suzanne Stavert from Pasadena, CA), Travel with Sara (Sara Broers from Mason City, IO), Wherever I May Roam blog (Melody Pittman from Vero Beach, FL), and of course, me, Travels with Tam from Dallas, Tx! We are a support system, we share each other’s posts, guest blog, and promote one another whenever possible. We have met only a couple of times at travel conferences, but we have a connection and enjoy being together, so here we are, hanging out in Cozumel, at Villa Coronado, and having fun, often odd, adventures all over the island. There hasn’t been a dull moment! Check out the hashtag, #4TravelChicasinCozumel all over social media, and join in the fun we have had this week! It has been wonderful to see the island through the eyes of my friends! And it is a good thing they have a sense of humor (which is necessary when traveling with Tam). Stay tuned!
| Celebrate the holiday season with our FREE “Light Up Your Life” Gift. All guests who stay at St. Francis Inn or Casa de Suenos for two consecutive weeknights (Sunday thru Thursday) from November 20, 2017 to January 31, 2018* will enjoy more than two million tiny white lights sparkling throughout the ancient streets, historic buildings, and local businesses of St. Augustine. Downtown St. Augustine is described by National Geographic as one of the “Top 10 Places to See Holiday Lights” in the world!
This special includes these FREE Holiday Gifts: · Free Holiday Old Town Trolley Evening Tour around St. Augustine, to enjoy the magical “Nights of Lights,” at 7:30pm · Free Chilled Champagne in your room on arrival · Free Chocolate Sampler Box from our local chocolatier Claude’s Chocolate · Coupon for Free Hot Chocolate or Mocha at Claude’s Chocolate 
This exclusive offer is available at NO EXTRA COST to our guests During January 2018, the Inn tour is the only evening Nights of Lights trolley tour being offered midweek, helping Inn guests to extend the joyous season. IMPORTANT: You must MENTION this special when you make your reservation. Based on double occupancy. * Not available during these holiday dates: December 26-29, 2017. NOT AVAILABLE WITH OTHER DISCOUNTS!
ST. FRANCIS INN 279 St. George Street ~ St. Augustine, Fl 32082
CASA DE SUENOS 20 Cordova Street ~ St. Augustine, Florida 32084 |
Guest Post by Emma Grant
Whatever the time of year, there’s always something interesting to do in Wonderful Whistler. During the winter, Canadians head to the slopes for skiing and snowboarding. The same ones come back again later in the year when the weather picks up for hiking, mountain biking, and relaxing. If you like the outdoors and want to get some fresh air, search the best Whistler vacation rentals and start planning your dream trip to beautiful Whistler. Here are a few more reasons to visit for those who still aren’t convinced.
Expect various slopes to suit any level of skill or ability in the 8000-acre resort. Some hills are smaller for the beginners. Instructors can also give you skiing lessons before you hit the piste for the first time. Others, especially on Blackcomb, are for the more advanced on challenging terrain.
People from around the world come to use the slopes in Whistler, and you’ll meet everyone from family vacationers to the pros. Snow begins to fall from October and stays at a consistent level until the end of February. Because of this, Whistler’s snow is some of the best in all of North America.
Whistler Village is everything you would imagine an alpine wonderland to be like. Small cottages line the streets with the towering mountains in the background. When the snow starts to fall, this really becomes beautiful. White snow covers the picturesque village as tourists wrap in layers to keep warm. The cafes are bursting at their seams as people crowd around the cozy fire with a hot drink watching the snow dance down from the sky.
Even if you’re not into skiing, Whistler Village makes a perfect mountain retreat to soak up the atmosphere and enjoy the picturesque surroundings. Families from around Canada bring their children here for a Christmas vacation.
So, we all know that Whistler is the place to be for skiing or snowboarding. But, many tourists love the other seasons too. As the snow melts, buds flower on the trees giving the area a colorful and vibrant appearance. Walking through the forests at this time of the year allows you to view the rebirth of the trees and the wildlife starting to come out again. Likewise, as fall approaches, the leaves change from green to golden colors and slowly drop from the branches. Hiking gives a different experience depending on which season you visit Whistler.
And then there’s summer. During summer, everyone comes to this mild mountainous region to take part in their favorite outdoor activities. Some bring their dogs and hike for days on end around the trails. Others come and visit the lakes or try to climb the peaks of Whistler and Blackcomb Mountains. Other outdoor activities are available to keep everyone busy from kayaking to zip lining.
Regardless of when you’re in Canada, Whistler is sure to have something to cater for your needs and interests. Each season is different and gives tourists a different experience.
Zip-lining is growing in popularity for adrenaline junkies around the world. Mainly, the sport consists of a wire being attached between two points, with one being higher than the other. The Zip-liner stands at the top and straps themselves onto the small seat before plunging off the edge. As they race from the top to the bottom, they get their fix of adrenaline.
In recent years, Whistler is starting to take advantage of this mild version of an extreme sport. In some parts of the resort, you can take part on several lines, some are suitable for first-timers and others should only be attempted by the more adventurous. Spending an afternoon on the zip-lines is a great way to pass the time for the whole family.
A mountain resort that caters for skiers and snowboarders from around the globe should have a decent selection of food and restaurants. And this is the case in Whistler Village. The culinary experience at some of the restaurants ranges simple budget food up to world-class cuisine. You can find meals from a hot dog or spaghetti to veal.
Some cozy bars and cafes are in the village, where the skiers tend to hang out after a day on the slopes. You can find a selection of drinks from hot chocolate and tea to fine wine and top shelf liquors. Families are welcome too. Some hold shows in the evening, such as the fire and ice show, to entertain the children.
One of the advantages of having such a versatile array of cafes and dining options is that you can hit the slopes for a few hours while the non-skiers enjoy the facilities in the village. This also applies for the summer months when parents bring their children for a relaxing vacation. Several parks and playgrounds will keep the little ones busy.
Whether you want to come in the summer to hike to Whistler Mountain’s summit at 2182 meters or spend hours snowboarding down challenging slopes on Blackcomb, Whistler has something for you. Bring the family and enjoy the picturesque setting in the village before indulging in the wide variety of dining options later in the evening. Whistler makes the perfect retreat at any time of the year and visitors always want to return.
Here is your chance to see the museum exhibit, “Dressing Downton” at the Lightner Museum when staying at the St Francis Inn or Casa de Suenos in St Augustine, Florida this holiday season! I have stayed at Casa de Suenos and toured St Augustine, and I can tell you it is a beautiful, historical city and it is definitely worth a visit just on its own. During December, there is an incredible offer for you!
| As a midweek guest for two nights (Sunday thru Thursday) from October 4, 2017, to January 7, 2018, celebrate the phenomenal Dressing Downton™ Exhibition during its final stop, at St. Augustine’s Lightner Museum. The Exhibition highlights fashion from the widely acclaimed TV drama, Downton Abbey®.
The 2-night, 3-day stay with the Dressing Downton™ Special, a $60 value, at no extra cost includes: • Two “Golden” Admission Tickets to the Dressing Downton™ Exhibition, with entry at any hour of the date on the ticket. This awesome exhibition includes 36 costumes with jewelry and accessories, reflecting changing times from 1912 to the mid-1920s, displayed in the fabulous Gilded Age museum among vignettes of turn-of-the-century art and furniture. • Exhibition tickets include general admission to the entire Lightner Museum, the former posh Alcazar Hotel, home to one of the best collections of 19th century fine and decorative art in the U.S., built in 1888 by railroad tycoon Henry Flagler • Keepsake Tin of specially blended premium Downton Abbey® Tea • Fine Chocolate from Cadbury, a British company which has produced delicious specialty chocolate treats for nearly 200 years The Lightner Museum is the only stop for Dressing Downton™ in Southeastern US, and perhaps the best of all its stops! IMPORTANT: You must MENTION this special when you make your reservation. Based on double occupancy. * Not available during these holiday dates: December 26-29, 2017. NOT AVAILABLE WITH OTHER DISCOUNTS! |
Texans love the Hill Country! For non-Texans, the diversity of Texas scenery may come as a surprise. From prairie to mountains to coast to piney woods to desert, Texas landscape changes are frequent. The Hill Country encompasses Austin and San Antonio, Kerrville and Fredericksburg, San Marcos and New Braunfels. I have been to the region, driving through, enjoying the deer herds, the hills, the buttes, the college campuses, and exploring the quaint village of Gruene. However, I plan to visit the Hill Country, and other Texas destinations, much more frequently, so stay tuned for great locations and fun things to do under my new category ADVENTURES IN TEXAS FOR EMPTY NESTERS (and others, too!)
Visit the Hill Country, y’all!
