7- Narrative- Travel and Tourism

BLACK WATERS LODGE The whole trip to Black Waters Lodge was amazing. The staff was friendly and the weather was beautiful. Each day our guide, Mark, took us into the forests around the lodge. Alaska in July was even more spectacular than we had hoped and every day we saw something new. We saw a large variety of birds including loons and eagles, as well as river otters and even some black bears foraging along the river some distance from us. That last day, Mark woke us in the pre-dawn darkness and guided us out into Black Water Sound to watch the sunrise. We paddled in the stillness until we reached the middle of the Sound and turned just as the sun was coming up over the horizon. Just a hundred feet away, a Humpback whale broke the surface. Twenty minutes later a pod of Orcas followed the Humpback into the feeding grounds the sound provided.

BLUE RIDGE MOUNTAINS If you’ve been lucky enough to see both the Rocky and the Blue Ridge Mountains, it’s difficult to imagine they were ever the same, but it’s true. Two hundred million years ago, when the tectonic plates began to split and form the Atlantic Ocean, the Blue Ridge Mountains might have been just as tall and rugged as the Rocky Mountains are today. So what happened? At the end of the ice age, the softer structures of the higher peaks were snapped and shaped by flowing glaciers and carved by the water when they melted. The warmer climate that followed allowed the forests and vegetation to take hold and accelerate the erosion process. What remained were the bones of a mountain range, surrounded by rich piedmont farmlands and sandy plains that would become the prosperous southeastern colonies of the United States.

BRYCE CANYON NATIONAL PARK Cool and quiet even at the height of the tourist season, Bryce Canyon is a summer hiking jewel. Entering the park you’ll be offered an official guide to the trails by the park rangers. This guide will tell you everything you need to know about your journey. Not only is every trail entrance listed here with distances and elevations, but a small insert is updated each week that tells you which features of the park are in season and which trails are closed. In the thin air of the Bryce Canyon National Park it's hard to pace yourself and see all the park's ravines unless you plan carefully. One of the most beautiful and isolated trails is the Fairyland Loop Trail. Cutting back and forth through caves and trail edge paths, this eight mile hike allows a more intimate look at the park's formations than any other trail.

CANCUN (kang-coon) Warm sun caresses the sandy beaches and crystal blue waters in a place where Mayan royalty journeyed to bask in its beauty. Today, it's one of the most popular vacation destinations in the world. This is...Cancun. Whether it’s just relaxing in the sun or dancing until dawn, Cancun has something for everyone. For sports enthusiasts there's jet skiing, water skiing, snorkeling, scuba diving, or just good old beach volleyball. If it’s adventure you’re looking for, excursions to the ancient Mayan ruins are available daily.

CARNAVAL Welcome to the joy and excitement that is Carnaval. You have never experienced anything like this before. Where else can you find a week of dancing, music, food, parades, exotic costumes, and non-stop partying. Visit Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo for our world famous parades at the Sambodromo, or travel to Pernambuco to see the world famous Galo da Madrugada. Whether your tastes swing more Samba or Axe’, you can get your groove on all through the night. Come and see what Carnaval is all about… it’s more than just another party.

CAVE DIVING IN FLORIDA The world of cave diving is so deadly that even the official warning signs feature a grim reaper and the text “death, even for experienced divers, lies beyond this point.” So why would anyone want to take the risk? To find the answer, you need to go to Florida. Riddled with underwater caves and home to a large population of diving professionals, it was only natural that someone would dive below the surface and the survivors would tell others of their adventure. Visitors to Wakulla Springs, enjoying a relaxing glass bottom boat tour, can’t imagine the journey researchers are taking some 200 feet below the surface. Scientists will dive for hours in dark, cold waters, scraping fragile tanks and hoses through narrow rock restrictions and pointed stalactites. Any damage to their equipment in one of these tight spaces will make rescue before death impossible.

CAVE DIVING THE CARIBBEAN Locked away in a Caribbean garden of mango and citrus trees, our cave diving tour begins in a privately owned cave that offers clear blue water, walls covered in sparkling crystals, and breathtaking limestone formations. With thousands of hanging stalactites and standing stalagmites, plus air spaces to dive up into, this adventure will stay with you for a lifetime. Your tour guides will lead you through a journey of unequaled beauty and show you sights you can't find anywhere else on the planet.

COLOMBIA When you visit Colombia, you are in for a world of excitement. Visit the Salt Cathedral, an ancient building carved inside a mountain. For fun and relaxation, visit our world famous beaches that feature warm water and white sand. For nighttime excitement, take part in one of our exotic festivals, such as El Festival Del Bambuco, which spotlights music, dancing, and costumes like you’ve never seen before.

CRUISING ADVICE What advice would I give to someone booking their first cruise? First, I’d recommend that they tell their travel agent exactly what kind of experience they’d like to have. There are hundreds of specialty cruises available and the agents at Anchors Away Travel can make finding the right vacation easy. Culinary aficionados will love the gourmet fare offered by La Carte Cruise Lines, and Fit Ships offer fun weight loss vacations. For lovebirds, why not book a stateroom on a Duet Cruise ship? They specialize in couples-only travel and their staterooms include a private balcony and room service for breakfast. When you're ready to take the whole family on an adventure, you’ll love the newly remodeled ships of Pirate Cruises.

DAY TRIPS Do you hate the thought of planning a vacation? Everything can be so expensive! Well how about taking a day trip instead? The Pennsylvania Tourist Board has produced a Day Trip brochure that's full of great ideas for fun outings, all of which can be found within a 100 mile radius of where you live. Find information on historical landmarks, amusement parks, restaurants, theaters, walking tours, bike trails... everything you’d do on a family vacation! So call the Pennsylvania Tourist Board, and ask for your Day Trip brochure today!

DUBAI Looking for the perfect vacation? Try luxurious Dubai, where you'll find some of the most sizzling nightlife on the planet. Our majestic nightclubs will give you some of the best nights of your life. We also host many world-class sporting events, such as the Dubai Desert Classic Golf Tournament and the Dubai World Cup. If shopping is your pleasure, be sure to participate in one of our shopping festivals, or explore our many malls. Stop in at the Mall of the Emirates and enjoy international shopping and cuisine, or witness one of the world’s largest indoor ski slopes. If you’re looking for something a little more beach inspired, check out one of our amazing water parks. Dubai: expect the unexpected.

FALLS BRIDGE, CT Protected and cradled by the rolling hills of the Connecticut River Valley, Falls Bridge is one of New England’s finest examples of picturesque beauty. From the tall maples that remain standing beside historical landmarks to the new galleries and cafes, Falls Bridge has something to interest everyone. Settled in 1692, the streets of early Falls Bridge were bustling with mill workers. The ship building industry also thrived, as most travel in those days was by water.

FINGER LAKES New York’s Finger Lakes region is an area rich in culture and history. Our rolling hillsides, beautiful mountain views and fresh air are the perfect backdrop for travel and relaxation. Take a day off and visit one of our many wine trails, where you can sample some of the finest wines in the country. If you’d like to extend your stay with us, please be sure to check out one of our many quaint and comfortable bed and breakfast establishments. We also have a large selection of entertainment choices.

GARDNER MUSEUM Boston’s Gardner Museum is a hidden treasure in a city filled with culture and history. Seen from the outside, the mansion seems like a fairly typical structure. But when the flamboyant Isabella Stewart Gardner opened the doors, the elite were floored by what they saw. Isabella had built an Italian palace in the middle of the city and created a whole new style for American museums in the process. Instead of putting her extensive collection of modern paintings into special viewing rooms, she had arranged them throughout her home. The overall effect was intimate and shocking. Vibrant colors and fine furnishings embraced paintings like Archer’s “Portrait of a Lady” and Sargent’s “Woman - An Enigma”. Works by masters of different eras hung side by side in arrangements that are still called genius by curators today.

GIANTS CAUSEWAY After spending time with the people of the Emerald Isle, don’t forget to visit the far north to see Ireland’s natural wonders. Credited by legend as the handiwork of Finn McCool, the Giants Causeway is a natural wonder not to be missed. Bridging Ireland to the Scottish island of Staffa, the causeway was said to be a path that giant Finn McCool built to reach his ladylove. It isn’t surprising in a land famous for its tradition of storytelling that a man or a giant, rather than nature, was said to have built the causeway. Today we are accustomed to monumental architecture, but to the ancient Irish, the more than 40,000 massive columns of basalt must have looked man-made. Each of the volcanic basalt columns is similar in size, one to two feet across, and most have the look of hexagons. Others with four sides or ten sides are still roughly the same size and shape and range in height from sea level to a towering 40 feet above the sea.

HAWAII There's no place on earth like Hawaii; this crown jewel of the Pacific will ease your troubles and soothe your worries. Its tropical climate, friendly locals, and beautiful landscapes welcome you as soon as you land on the lush, green shores. Home to one of the world's largest active volcanoes, the sights of Hawaii are like nothing you've ever seen. Year round sunny days and warm, gentle breezes allow you to take in the sights any time of year. Each of Hawaii's six main islands offers up something different, and there are numerous sightseeing opportunities for all kinds of travelers.

HAWAII There's no place on earth like Hawaii; this crown jewel of the Pacific will ease your troubles and soothe your worries. Its tropical climate, friendly locals, and beautiful landscapes welcome you as soon as you land on the lush, green shores. Home to one of the world's largest active volcanoes, the sights of Hawaii are like nothing you've ever seen. Year round sunny days and warm, gentle breezes allow you to take in the sights any time of year. Each of Hawaii's six main islands offers up something different, and there are numerous sightseeing opportunities for all kinds of travelers.

HERMITAGE Imagine a museum you can literally lose yourself in. Even if you were to gaze at less than ten percent of the museum's overall collection and just look at the 150,000 pieces of art on public display, it would still take nearly ten years to tour The Hermitage in St. Petersburg, Russia. Also known as The Winter Palace of the Russian Royal Family since the reign of Catherine the Great, The Hermitage is dynamic in its size. In a layout more Byzantine than the family tree of the royals who lived there, The Hermitage is an opulent maze consisting of 1,000 rooms. Many of the rooms are said to outshine the art itself, inlaid with gold, precious stones and patterned parquet floors. You can sometimes forget to look up at the beautiful ceilings and chandeliers or at the art on the walls in between. The size and quality of the art collected at The Hermitage is hard to perceive. In addition to the world's finest collection of Italian renaissance art, including works by Da Vinci and Michelangelo, the giants of other periods are included such as Picasso, Rembrandt, Rubens and Matisse.

HOMES OF THE ANTEBELLUM SOUTH If you want to stroll through a well-preserved piece of the Antebellum, go to the city that the Union army saved. The wealthiest city in the pre-civil war South was the port city of Natchez, Mississippi. Well situated for trade and agriculture, the citizens of Natchez grew nearly as wealthy as their commercial partners in Philadelphia, New York and Boston. In between cotton harvests, the lucrative sugar cane trade moved through the city, and slave labor markets were full as well. The profits from trade were quickly channeled into hundreds of lavish town homes and plantations intended to rival any mansion in the north. Ironically, it was occupation by the union army that preserved so much of the architecture that stands to this day. Knowing they would need a secure port city south of Philadelphia, the Union army moved in swiftly to occupy Natchez before the citizens could decide to destroy any of the buildings.

ISLE OF ANTIGUA If you can afford a five star beach holiday, Antigua’s luxury mega resorts are the hot place to go. But what if you’re an average tourist looking for an extraordinary location? Don’t worry, the rest of the island will be wide open for you. The best weather lasts from December to May, but we recommend visiting in April. The last few weeks of the month are beautiful and affordable. At the end of the month, any location with a seaside view will provide a great chance to see the yachts and sailing ships of the super rich in the Sailing Week Regattas. Bird watchers will enjoy observing some 400 species on the island, while the rock formations called the Megaliths of Green Castle are a must-see for adventurers.

ITALY This nine-day excursion through Italy will take you to all of the country’s most famous and fascinating landmarks. In addition to wine tastings and sightseeing, we’ll visit the Roman Catacombs and also take a special trip to visit the Vatican and Vatican City. We’ll tour Florence by train, and take day trips to the ruins of Pompeii and the Island of Capri. One of the tour’s most popular highlights is the visit to the Sistine Chapel, which is followed by a tour of St. Peter’s Basilica. Of course, what would a trip to Italy be without fine dining? We’ll sample some of the most famous and popular restaurants in Rome, ensuring that you encounter the finest cuisine Italy has to offer.

JAMAICA The first people to come to Jamaica were from Venezuela, known as the Arawaks. They are thought to have come to Jamaica in two waves, the first in 650 AD, and the second in 900 AD. They were then joined by the Caribs, who came from Guiana. The Arawaks were a peaceful people, but the Caribs were cannibalistic and fierce fighters, so constant fighting arose between the two groups. Christopher Columbus came to Jamaica in 1494. He named the island Jamaica because he heard the natives call it Xaymaca. He brought smallpox and other horrible diseases, to which islanders had no antibodies. Jamaican history says most of them died out soon after Columbus arrived, and that Columbus was an enemy to the surviving natives. He then left and returned several years later on his last voyage to the new world. During this voyage, he spent a year stranded on Jamaica trying to rebuild his boats.

JAMAICA TRAVEL Your journey into the heart of Jamaica begins in the capital city of Kingston. The epicenter of Jamaica’s arts and cultural landscape, Kingston also features the Historical Devon House, a must-see destination. Enjoy the delights of Jamaican cuisine at bistros, restaurants, and even quaint roadside stands. When you leave Kingston, you’ll travel to Montego Bay, where sun-splashed shores and crystal waters beckon all travelers. With five world-class golf courses, historical town homes, a gorgeous limestone forest, and bamboo rafting, Montego Bay will bring a little adventure to your vacation.

KINGDOM OF MUSTANG Surrounded on three sides by Chinese-occupied Tibet, the tiny fortress kingdom of Mustang may be the last stronghold of Tibetan culture. The tiny and mostly autonomous kingdom somehow escaped the worst of the cultural upheavals caused by the Chinese takeover of Tibet. Despite being nominally incorporated into Nepal, the kingdom of Mustang is still ruled by Tibetan royalty. Centered firmly on what was once the ancient trading routes leading from the east to the west, it is now isolated in its high desert valley. Recently opened again to tourists by the government of Nepal, visitors to the isolated fortress of Mustang are stunned by the rich, near-medieval culture preserved there.

MADELEINE ISLANDS ARCHIPELAGO Leaving Quebec City we drove north along the Saint Lawrence for the better part of the day until we reached the ferry landing for the Madeline Islands. The soft, rolling lands of this archipelago had been settled in the 1500s and it was easy to see why the land was appealing. When we stepped off the ferry, we stepped into spring. The mainland all around us was still brown from winter, but the fields of the islands were green around the brightly painted houses and flowers were in bloom. The first few weeks we stayed at different inns. We’d visit with locals, go hiking, take pictures and watch the land bloom. By June the water temperature had risen to a comfortable 64 degrees and we took to the beach. There are more than 300 kilometers of sandy beaches and Joseph wanted to wind surf off of all of them.

MADRID The history of the majestic city of Madrid will come to life on this privately guided tour. We begin with a visit to the world-renowned Prado museum. Among Spain’s contributions to world culture is its art, and represented here are three of its greatest masters: Goya, Velazquez, and El Greco. Then visit the magnificent Palacio de Oriente, commonly called the Palacio Real. After dark, a panoramic drive will lead you into the heart of Madrid’s nightlife at the world famous Sol de Madrid nightclub. Enjoy a fabulous tapas meal and a flamenco show, and end day one by dancing far into the night.

MODERN ART GALLERY The Modern Art Gallery, located in the heart of downtown Chicago, is known for providing visitors with a wide range of decorative and unique works. If you want an afternoon filled with colorful imagery, innovative thinking, and inventive artwork, the Modern Art Gallery offers exactly what you’re looking for. When you visit the gallery, you’ll enjoy our world-renowned walking tour and hear the unknown history behind every work of art.

MOUNTAINS TO SEA TRAIL One of the most ambitious trail projects under construction in the United States is the Mountains to Sea Trail. When completed, the trail system, which was originally proposed in 1977, will stretch nearly 700 miles from the forests of Clingman’s Dome in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park through North Carolina to the beaches of Nags Head in the Outer Banks. The effort has required massive coordination between federal and local government agencies. While many miles of the trail run alongside the scenic Blue Ridge Parkway, the finished trail is not expected to be one long continuous route. Some sections, which may be separated by gaps as large as 20 miles, will be made up of existing local trails and municipal parks.

MT. RUSHMORE Mt. Rushmore, a monumental sculpture facing out over the hills of South Dakota, features the solemn faces of four of our most revered American presidents: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln. Located in South Dakota, these 60-foot high faces are carved an astonishing 500 feet up on the side of the mountain. Creation of the mountain sculpture started in 1927, took some 14 years to complete, and cost over one million dollars. This was an astonishing sum in a decade that included the great depression. The Avenue of Flags uses a flag from every state and our U.S. territories to lead visitors up to the Grandview Terrace just below the memorial. Not to be missed at Mt. Rushmore is the spectacular Evening Sculpture Lighting Ceremony. When the monument is brilliantly lit it offers a breathtaking view of the presidents up above.

NETHERWORLD OF NAPLES Millions of visitors have strolled through the sunny, vibrant palazzos of Naples, but how many of them were aware of the alternate version of the city beneath their feet? The collective work of 2,500 years, subterranean Naples is just as chaotic and sumptuous as the metropolis above it. Chambers of every size and shape have been turned into lavish theaters and communal junkyards. Aqueducts and transportation tunnels big enough to drive a chariot through are carved into the limestone just a few feet above ancient Christian catacombs. The elaborate underground has created some challenges for the city. It’s been difficult to improve the city's aging sewer system and dangerous chasms and sinkholes can appear in the streets.

NEW YORK CITY New York City is not only the most visited city in the United States, it's also one of the oldest. Founded in 1624, when it was called New Amsterdam, the city continued to grow over four centuries to become the most populous city in the U.S, and also a crossroads of media, finance, and culture. Times Square, where the worlds of entertainment, media, and money all meet, is near the center of a city that's visited by an estimated 50 million people each year, making it the most popular tourist destination in the country. New York is also well known for its cuisine and even its numerous popular sports franchises, ensuring that everyone who visits the city can find something they'll love.

NJ STATE PARK Mountain biking in Northern New Jersey? Of course we have it! Some of the most exciting double and single track cycling trails on the east coast can be found right here in our State Park. Grab your bike and hit our trails! The terrain in our State Parks can be hilly and steep, with some rocky sections and riding surfaces varying from carriage roads to creek beds. You can get lost here, so make sure you pick up a map at the State Park entrance. Come on, what are you waiting for? Bike it! Northern New Jersey State Park.

PARIS PAVILION In addition to many lovely old mansions, the Garden District also provides the idyllic setting for one of the best restaurants in St. Louis, The Paris Pavilion. Originally constructed by the descendants of the Marquis de La Fayette for the 1867 World's Fair in Paris, the building was disassembled and moved to St. Louis in 1984. Known for its friendly, unobtrusive and accommodating service, the normally reclusive owner of the Paris Pavilion began campaigning actively for his restaurant to earn St. Louis’s first five-star rating. Years later, he was still campaigning. A five-star restaurant earns its rating by being more than just a beautiful place that serves an exceptional meal; it proves its excellence over time. The turning point came when world famous chef Pierre Martin brought his own blend of French and new world cuisine to the menu. Finally under the command of a world-class chef, the five-star reign of the Paris Pavilion began.

PEDALING THROUGH THAILAND Our whole tour of Thailand was stunning. The hotel we stayed at the night we arrived had a gorgeous view of a tropical rainforest with mountains off in the distance and a small mission just below. Every morning we’d get up and visit the local farmers market and enjoy the same foods the locals ate for breakfast. Then our guide would hand us the map for the day and we’d climb onto our bicycles and pedal off to the next city. The riding pace was slow and, without the roar of an engine pulling us along, we could hear the sounds of the wildlife and chat with each other. There was a planned excursion each day designed to break up the riding and we also learned to expect at least one unexpected detour, as road signs are non-existent in the more rural parts of the country. We learned quickly that a map and a bewildered smile were all you needed to break through the language barrier.

RESERVE SAFARI When you travel to the foothills of Mount Kenya and enter the vast private reserve of Borana wilderness, you'll see Africa in all her unspoiled glory. Be mesmerized as you climb each ridge and witness a new vista teaming with the wildlife and untamed beauty that is Africa. In addition to the luxury of our camps, our biologists and professional photographers will help you to appreciate and capture every moment of your safari adventure. With over 100,000 acres to explore and native trackers to guide you in daylight and nocturnal expeditions, you’ll rarely see another vehicle marring your perfect shot.

SAN FRANCISCO Alcatraz, the Golden Gate Bridge, China Town, the Mission District, the Presidio; San Francisco is a city overflowing with character and history. Beyond the famous landmarks, though, it's never hard to get off the beaten path in San Francisco. At different times of the year, celebrations go on all over the city. In the first weeks of winter San Francisco’s Chinatown, the world's largest Chinese community outside China, celebrates the Chinese New Year. Halloween is a chance to mingle with the artistic community or, if you prefer more sophisticated fall festivities, visit the numerous wineries of the region. The winemakers of the area also host classes on winemaking and tasting year round.

SCONE PALACE (Skoon) Scone is a place that breathes history like nowhere else in Scotland. Today, in the 21st century, it is the home of the Earls of Mansfield, and a major attraction to visitors from all over the world. 1500 years ago, though, it was the capital of the Pictish kingdom and the center of the ancient Celtic church. Poised above the River Tay, the Palace overlooks the routes north to the Highlands and east through Strathmore to the coast. The Grampian Mountains form a distant backdrop, and across the river stands the city of Perth. Two thousand years ago, the Romans camped here, at the very limit of their empire. They never defeated the warlike Picts, who later came to rule Scone, but the followers of St. Columba were more successful. Later it would become a seat of parliament and the crowning place of Kings.

SEATTLE The city of Seattle is almost completely surrounded by water. Glaciers were responsible for sculpting the hills and valleys in Seattle over 11,000 years ago. On the west side of Seattle is Elliott Bay, on the east side is Lake Washington, and to the North is Lake Union and Union Bay. The hills offer a breathtaking view of the Cascade Mountains in the East and the Olympic Mountains in the West. Mt. Ranier, the most iconic of the Cascade Mountains, is located 60 miles southeast of Seattle.

TAMPA Come to Tampa, where the old world meets the new, and enjoy all the excitement we have to offer! We have a long list of things to do! Enjoy exciting night life, shop at a variety of stores, and eat at some of the finest restaurants in the world. Stop in at the Tampa Welcoming Center and get the best advice from local experts. If it’s shopping you’re looking for, why not check the waterfront at Harbour Island? Just a short distance from downtown Tampa, Harbour Island offers you a chance to shop in the sun and relax in style.

TIBET EXHIBITION The Braxton Museum Association would like to welcome you to our exhibit on Tibet. Through photos, paintings, and videos, you are about to enter a world isolated by mountains and fierce weather. Located in southern central Asia, Tibet is famous for its high altitudes. Mt. Everest rises in southern Tibet within the Himalayas, while the north is bordered by the Kunlun, a mountain range that rises more than 20,000 feet. Gar, a town in western Tibet, is located more than 15,000 feet above sea level and is considered to be the highest town in the world. Even the bottoms of Tibet’s valleys are higher than most mountains in other countries.

TIPS FOR VISITING LIMA When you arrive in Callao, Peru you’ll be just twenty miles from the city of Lima. Outside the gates, licensed taxi drivers will be waiting to assist you and, thanks to the strong security presence, the immediate area will be peaceful. Be prepared, though; once you're out on the open highways, the traffic will be heavy and fast-paced clear into Lima. To avoid wasting time in traffic, it's worth it to book a hotel in the central tourist district. Lima, The City of Kings, has plenty of ancient sites and modern museums that are within walking distance of this district. Special tours of the city's many archeological sites can be arranged a week in advance through the Ministry of Science and Culture. At night the cafes, theaters, and dance halls of the central district come alive. Entertainment and camaraderie fill the streets with energy far into the night.

TOURING THE RHINELAND As soon as the weather cleared, we boarded the family houseboat and set off down the Rhine. One of the highlights of the tour was a visit to the Lorelei Rock. The infamous rock, surrounded by shallow rapids, had been the death knell for so many vessels on this river, that the legend of the seductive siren luring unsuspecting sailors in with her songs had been born there. All along the river's cliff we saw the overgrown remnants of medieval castles, vineyards and the occasional section of highway threaded along the river's edge. In the passages of the river where the current was strong enough to carry us, the captain would turn off the engines and we’d hear snippets of music and conversation drift down from the restaurant patios on the hills above us.

UFO MUSEUM Here at the UFO Museum, we hope to illustrate that visitors really are among us. While there has been a lot of discussion about whether alien beings have ever visited earth or not, signs pointing to otherworldly visitors date all the way back to ancient Egypt. On today’s tour, you’ll see our Wonderful Wall of Weirdness, which features a re-creation of the famous 1947 alien ship crash in Roswell, New Mexico, and a timeline that traces alien encounters back to the beginning of recorded history. After the tour, feel free to browse through our UFO Information Center and visit our gift shop for some extra-terrestrial souvenirs.

UTAH SKIING If you’re seriously into skiing, you need to hit the slopes in Utah. Skiing in Utah has moved to a whole new level since the Salt Lake City Olympics, and no less than 10 world-class facilities are now open. The whole family will enjoy a stay at the Park City Mountain Resort. With more than 3,000 skiable areas and the world's largest half-pipe, Park City welcomes skiers and snowboarders at every skill level. If finding untouched powder is your dream, head over to the Canyons. Underutilized for years because of a poor layout, The Canyons have undergone a multimillion-dollar expansion. Three new lifts link together the most skiable areas of any resort in the United States and until word gets out, they’ll be all yours. Headed out to the Sundance Film Festival? Deer Park Valley is close enough to let you get back to your next screening on time and posh enough that you may even see a few celebrities.

VERONICA GALLERY The Veronica Gallery is at the center of the town of Cooper’s blossoming art scene. Owned and operated by Veronica Swanson, a native of Cooper, the gallery specializes in modern oil paintings, art installations and small sculpture. The gallery boasts an active schedule of exhibitions, with three shows in the fall, three in the spring, and two during the summer season. While Swanson credits her success to her mother, nationally known sculptor Alicia Swanson, Veronica‘s own critical acclaim has been well earned over the past five years. The Veronica Gallery’s next exhibition will feature a retrospective collection of postmodern art.

WOODLAND MOUNTAIN SPA Relax, and float away in the mineral rich, natural thermal springs at the Woodland Mountain Spa and Resort. Nestled in the forests of the scenic Passaic Valley, the Woodland Mountain Spa and Resort is a luxurious private retreat where you can find the privacy and quiet you need to restore yourself. Famous for its therapeutic mineral springs, Woodland Mountain caters to discriminating travelers’ interested in health, luxury and the beauty of nature. The entire staff, from the world-class chef at the Woodland Table, the region's only four-star restaurant, to our fitness and activities coordinators, are dedicated to making your stay extraordinary.

WRIGHTSVILLE HALL Wrightsville Hall, the treasured 120-year-old heart of Skyland University, was recently treated to an exterior restoration. The three-year project began in summer 2002, with the majority of the work completed by December 2004. The local firm of Smith, Schlessinger, and Travis coordinated the construction companies who removed and replaced all of the mortar between the bricks, replaced the slate tiles on the roof, installed gutters, and repaired all of the windows. Workers often braved steep heights, high winds, and low temperatures on the scaffolding around the building.

YELLOW HORN RANCH If I had to pick one, I'd say the best vacation I ever went on was my summer at the Yellow Horn Ranch. I'd read every western ever written by Louis L'Amour and watched all the movies; my head was stuffed with romantic visions of cowboy life and one-horse towns. Driving through long, empty tracts of wilderness, I understood why they call it "big sky country" and was pleased to see the road to the ranch at last. The first of many surprises that summer came when I saw the cowboy foreman ride out with a baseball cap and sunglasses on. I had expected the cattle drive to be a fast-paced, loud rush. Instead, I woke up every morning to gorgeous sunrises, hauntingly beautiful views of mountains and valleys, and the soft morning calls the cowboys used to get the drive underway again.