And Dick Jackson knows adventure. He has spent most of his professional life climbing and skiing in the mountains of Colorado. With wife Paulina and daughter Tashi, Dick calls Aspen, Colorado home and is an active hands-on owner of Aspen Expeditions. Dick is an internationally certified IFMGA/AMGA Mountain Guide. He is IFMGA/AMGA certified in all disciplines of Rock & Ice Climbing, Ski Mountaineering and Alpine Mountaineering. He has guided climbing expeditions and ski trips extensively around Colorado, Utah and the West as well as Chamonix, the Himalaya, Alaska and Ecuador.

Most working professionals just don’t have the time or the experience needed to arrange an international trip. The logistics involved can be rather time-consuming, says AE’s Worldwide Manager Andy Crisconi.  
Dick has climbed and skied extensively in the Colorado Rockies, the Himalaya, Alaska, and the European Alps. His first ascents include the Voie Jackson in Chamonix, France in 1976. He was on the first American summit ascent of Himulchuli, Nepal in 1984. Dick has several first technical ascents to his credit in Colorado and Chamonix, France. Dick was a board member and President of the American Mountain Guides Association from 2001-2005.

Jackson states that “Aspen Expeditions distinguishes itself by its full commitment to formal guide training and certification through the American Mountain Guides Association (AMGA). We emphasize this commitment and our 30 plus years of experience, together with the best equipment available in the industry, offer our students and clients the safest, finest and most enjoyable service possible! A student’s well-learned skills apply to an outing here in the Elk Range or when trekking and climbing in Nepal. What we teach are the building blocks for safe and fun worldwide adventures.”
    
With busy schedules and limited vacation time, more and more people are opting to arrange their adventure trip through a reliable tour operator. “Most working professionals just don’t have the time or the experience needed to arrange an international trip. The logistics involved can be rather time-consuming, says AE’s Worldwide Manager Andy Crisconi. “What we provide at Aspen Expeditions is a professionally guided trip and quality service at a competitive price.”

Whether rock climbing, ice climbing, backcountry skiing, trekking or alpine mountaineering, time in the mountains will rejuvenate one’s spirit. “And it’s not just about the mountains”, says Andy. “It’s immersing oneself in the entire experience. The moment you land in a Third World country, you are overwhelmed by the unfamiliar sights, sounds and smells. Once we let go of the hustle and bustle at home, we can truly start living in the present.”

Aspen Expeditions takes pride in the service it delivers and this is confirmed by our high percentage of repeat clientele and referrals. Our commitment to guides’ AMGA certified or trained status is Aspen Expeditions’ credentials. Come join us for a memorable experience. More at www.aspenexpeditions.com.

Captain Spencer Slate of Atlantis Dive Center, mile marker 106.5 oceanside in Key Largo, is to host the annual Underwater Easter Egg Hunt in the warm, clear waters off Key Largo on Sunday, March 23.

The fundraiser for Kids In Special Situations, which provides gifts and holiday cheer to the area’s needy children, is to launch from the Atlantis dock at 8:30 a.m.

Florida is popular destination to British visitors and for good reason, the diversity of holiday destinations in Florida range from theme parks to beaches and beyond with plenty to see and do. Online booking companies like On The Beach Holidays to travel services.

Divers seeking underwater eggs are to check in at 8 a.m. at the Atlantis dive shop. There is no charge to participate in the hunt, and the dive charter fee is to be discounted to $60 per person.

Once divers are aboard, the Atlantis boat will head out to a secret location on one of the Keys’ pristine reefs. The scuba-equipped Easter bunny, bearing an uncanny resemblance to Captain Slate himself, is to submerge to hide his eggs, followed soon after by the egg-hunting divers.

All Easter egg hunters are to win prizes, with a dive trip for two awarded to the diver who finds a specially colored egg. Real eggs and non-toxic colorings are used to prevent any negative ecological impact.

Consequently, the tour company has created unique tour packages for 500-plus special people who want to enjoy Mardi Gras and feel safe at the same time. Each tour package includes a chartered 2 ½ hour riverboat cruise on the Mississippi River, complete with live jazz music and New Orleans cuisine on the Steamboat Natchez and an invitation to the ‘Lundi Gras Music Festival’ at the foot of Canal Street and the river front on Mardi Gras Eve; hosted by the Zulu Social Aid & Pleasure Club. This music festival event will feature local and renowned entertainers performing on two main stages outside. Everyone in the group will also experience a nostalgic one hour horse and buggy ride through the historic French Quarters and dinner at the world famous Court of Two Sisters Restaurant on Bourbon Street. The activities within the tour packages are reserved for the group and pre-paid. All a person has to do is: GO.

Dottie Travel has designed a Mardi Gras 2008 Tour to New Orleans for 500-plus fun loving people with ’safety’ in mind. The company believes there’s ’safety in numbers’. The tour includes 4-star hotels on the Mardi Gras Day parade route, chartered riverboat cruise, dinner at the Court of Two Sisters Restaurant and more! Organize a small group of 11 people and you can travel free. Want to ride a float on Mardi Gras Day?

All of the tour package hotels are located on the official Mardi Gras Day Parade Route. This means that all of the Mardi Gras Day Parades will pass ‘in front’ of the selected hotels. You won’t get lost looking for the next parade! The promotion hotel headquarters will be the Marriott on Canal Street with its ‘back door’ to the French Quarters. You will be able to see all of the parades from Canal Street and be in walking distance to the nightlife in the famous French Quarters.

The Staybridge Suite Hotel has been selected as the luxury hotel for triple or quad occupancy choices or for adults traveling with children. Their studio suites are larger and have full kitchens to accommodate children and store that delicious food brought home from the many restaurants in the area.

For the ‘Elite’ Mardi Gras traveler, the company has selected the Hilton New Orleans on St. Charles Avenue. This Hilton property is considered to be an intimate ’boutique’ style hotel with special features; such as ‘Private Reviewing Stand’ seating on Mardi Gras Day. This means that you have a reserved seat in a reviewing stand, away from the crowds jumping all over you. All of the floats and bands STOP in front of the reviewing stand to entertain you and throw loads of beads and other Mardi Gras stuff to you. In other words, you are treated like ‘Royalty’ because you are in a private reviewing stand. This tour package is called the ‘Ultimate’ Tour package.

Last, but, not least, Dottie Travel & Tours, can, for the first time, cordially invite 100 prospective float riders to ‘Ride with Zulu!’ on Mardi Gras Day. This means riding in full costume and make-up on a Mardi Gras Float on Mardi Gras Day and throwing lots of beads, coconuts & things to thousands of parade revelers from all over the world. All float riders will be staying at the Hilton New Orleans Riverside Hotel located on the banks of the Mississippi River. This luxury hotel is the official headquarters for all of the Zulu Social Aid & Pleasure Club activities such as the ‘Lundi Mundi’ Music Festival on Mardi Gras Eve. In addition, all of the Zulu Parade entourage will be staying at this hotel. All of the float riders get ready to ride (put on costume & full makeup/mask), have Mardi Gras Day breakfast together, and depart together enroute to the Superdome to board the Mardi Gras Floats for the Zulu Parade. Remember, the Zulu Parade starts Mardi Gras Day.

This is ‘pure’ fun. The locals know that to ‘Ride with Zulu’ in the Zulu Parade is a ‘coveted’ honor, along with the ‘coveted’ coconut ‘throw’ and the special theme beads to be thrown on Mardi Gras Day. All interested parties should go to: dottietravel.com. As an extra promotion boost, Dottie Travel & Tours will be launching ‘Ride with Zulu! Mardi Gras 2008′ radio promotion with a local ’smooth’ jazz radio station @ 95.5FM. The radio station will be giving away a trip for 2 to, not only, go to Mardi Gras 2008 in New Orleans, but the winners will be riding in the Zulu Parade on Mardi Gras Day on a float in full costume. All interested parties can register to win this trip by going to the radio station’s website @ www.wnua.com.

St Augustine, FL - Located in Northeast Florida and south of Jacksonville, St. Augustine is the oldest European established city in the U.S. Years before St. Augustine became a vacation paradise for families, it became St. Augustine in 1565. The settlement was already forty-two years old when Historic Jamestown was founded, and today as the oldest European town in the United States. Now St. Augustine is one of Florida’s favorite travel destination with attractions, beaches and historical significance.

The beaches of St. Augustine located on Anastasia Island home of Anastasia State Park. There is pier that is a favorite of fishermen and those who want a panoramic view of the beach. The beaches here are a favorite and considered by many the best Florida beaches.

The Castillo de San Marcos, the historic Fort was built after the city was attacked by Pirates. The fort was never taken by force, only by treaty and was built of coquina rock, native to the area. The entrance to Castillo de San Marcos is heavily fortified and was surrounded by moat. Six different flags have flown over Castillo de San Marcos and you can view the Spanish and English barracks. On weekends, they fire the cannons in a demonstration.

With so many places to see in St. Augustine, the historic district is full of restaurants, coffee shops and small shops with craftsmen who are knowledgeable in the trades of the period. The small narrow streets are a excellent for taking a romantic stroll. Trolley tours offer transportation along a route with over 100 points of interest throughout Saint Augustine.

There is also lighthouse on Anastasia Island which favorite for history tourist. It’s 219 steps the top, you’ll get a spectacular view of the surrounding area as the observation deck is 165 feet above sea-level. St. Augustine Lighthouse is one of the most popular Florida Lighthouses.

Families and couples will find many things to keep occupied with the attractions like The Alligator Farm, San Sebastian Winery, Ripley’s Believe It Or Not Museum and The Fountain of Youth. St. Augustine is a perfect place to spend a vacation.

Kirby Collins performs Web Design on Florida’s Space Coast and maintains a web site about Places in Florida.

TeeBone expects continued inventory growth and plans to add 200 more golf courses in the next 90 days. “We are proud to be able to offer this kind of inventory to both local and traveling golfers. Reaching a thousand golf courses gives our consumers more choices and our corporate clients better ways to service their own customers,” says Rob Larsen, CEO of TeeBone.

TeeBone is a forerunner in the centralized tee time reservations industry. Since 1996, it has been a trusted provider of personalized tee time and golf vacation packages at competitive rates. In addition to its comprehensive course inventory, TeeBone also offers reliable information about golf courses with essential details such as golf course descriptions, maintenance schedules, proximity to airports and hotels, availability of a full-service restaurant and driving directions — a service that saves golfers both time and money.

There are two ways to book with TeeBone: Instant Times and On Request. Instant Times allows golfers to click and buy online in real time at reduced rates. Golfers save 10 percent to 50 percent off regular rates and can instantly confirm online with a major credit card. On Request, on the other hand, is ideal for advanced bookings, group and vacation planning. It allows reservations up to 180 days in advance at highly competitive rates.

For corporate clients, the company also offers promotional credits and gift cards. TeeBone’s turn-key golf products are ideal gifts for loyalty and rewards programs.

Find out more about TeeBone’s services and selection by visiting http://www.teebone.com

The Blog serves as a way for those who have been on a recent Niagara Falls vacation to post their own photos and experiences–simply sharing their good times with others and offering suggestions about Niagara Falls attractions. Blog visitors may read the entries chronologically or view them based on categories including: Celebrity Sightings, Falls Fun, Family Time, From the Past, Niagara Falls, Videos, Weddings and What to Do.

From photos of Marilyn Monroe during the filming of her 1953 movie Niagara to a black-and-white video of a couple on their honeymoon circa 1930, the Blog illuminates Niagara Falls’ significance as a cultural icon as much as a natural phenomenon. More than entertainment and reminiscences, though, it is chock full of interesting and useful information–currently including photos and history of the nightly Niagara Falls illumination as well as tidbits about Journey Behind the Falls.

Anna Pierce, Executive Director Niagara Falls Tourism, notes, “The Visitors Blog will take on a life of its own and as more people learn about it, the information will be almost entirely driven by what our visitors consider important or interesting about Niagara Falls. We are part of an important new wave in providing travel information.”

With the “Visitors Blog,” FallsTV and a compelling new design, the new www.niagarafallstourism.com offers visitors something of the compelling sights and sounds they will experience on their Niagara Falls vacation. Enhancing this virtual experience is practical information about Niagara hotel packages, restaurants, shopping and special events.

Colorado Springs, CO – As if the beautiful views of the Rocky Mountains aren’t enough, this year’s Colorado Balloon Classic will add colorful hot air balloons to the sky. From September 1-3 the event will be held at Memorial Park in Colorado Springs and will include approximately 90 hot air balloons. This year Michael Glen, the first and only paraplegic balloon pilot in the world will fly his hot air balloon at the Colorado Balloon Classic.

Mass ascensions are scheduled for Saturday, Sunday and Monday mornings. Large groups of hot air balloons will lift off together to form a panorama of colors and patterns in the sky. Live music, character performances, remote control vehicle demonstrations and more are part of the entertainment line up for the three days. Food and game concession stands will be set up and will provide the traditional fair feel to the Balloon Classic.

As darkness settles on the park Saturday and Sunday evenings, balloons will be set up, inflated and held in place for a luminous Balloon Glo®. The colorful balloons fill up and glow, appearing like decorated light bulbs in the night.

The Colorado Balloon Classic was organized in 1977 and has grown to be the largest and the longest continuously running hot air balloon festival in the Rocky Mountain Region, as well as the State of Colorado. This free, annual family event is held each year over Labor Day weekend to provide enjoyment and to raise money and awareness for non-profit organizations and charities.

After enjoying the daily excitement, retire to the Colorado Springs Marriott just eight miles away and wake up with Pikes Peak outside your window. In addition to the fabulous views, the guest rooms at this luxury Colorado Springs hotel are also very pleasing to the eyes. Warm colors and modern amenities make this hotel the perfect place to stay during the 2007 Colorado Balloon Classic.

About the Colorado Springs Marriott Hotel
This luxury Colorado Springs hotel nestled in the foothills of Pikes Peak offers guests a breath of fresh air and spectacular mountain vistas. Recently renovated, the Colorado Springs Marriott boasts upscale amenities, delectable Southwestern dining, and elegantly appointed event space. A warm Colorado Springs, CO hotel great room greets visitors with a glowing brick fireplace and a rich wood décor highlights guest rooms featuring plush bedding packages and dual screen plasma televisions. Settle in at this tasteful hotel in Colorado Springs, Colorado with a flavored tequila cocktail from the Lobby Lounge before succulence is served at Zebulon’s Grill and Tequileria. Spice things up in a 7,000 square foot ballroom or picturesque courtyard area, which provides beautiful backdrops for phenomenal corporate functions and unforgettable social gatherings. Destination area attractions are accessible from this centrally located hotel in Colorado Springs, CO where fabulous accommodations are in season year round. For more information or to make a reservation, call (719) 260-1800 or visit http://marriott.com/hotels/travel/cosmc-colorado-springs-marriott/

The package includes three nights accommodations in a spacious one-bedroom villa, unlimited free shuttle rides from Sea Trail to the beach, and a Sunday poolside party that includes two tickets for free drinks. Featuring live music, the poolside party will be held from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. During that time, an assortment of traditional picnic foods will be served, including barbequed chicken, grilled hamburgers and hot dogs, baked beans, corn on the cob, cole slaw, potato salad, pasta salad and watermelon.

The Labor Day Celebration Package is $69 per person per night, based on double occupancy and a minimum three-night stay. Space is limited and reservations will be accepted on a first-come first serve basis.

More information on the Labor Day Celebration Package is available by calling (800) 624-6601 or visiting www.seatrail.com.

About Sea Trail Golf Resort & Convention Center
Sea Trail is a 2000-acre golf resort and residential community with three courses of distinction and the largest convention facility on the North Carolina coast. A popular location for meetings and conventions, Sea Trail has over 60,000 square feet of meeting and function space. Sea Trail was the host site for the 2003 and the 2007 Governor’s Conference on Tourism.

The recreational heart of Sea Trail is its three courses designed by Dan Maples, Rees Jones and Willard Byrd. Other amenities include a Village Activity Center with indoor and outdoor pools and whirlpools, an on-staff licensed massage therapist, supervised children’s activities and Magnolias Fine Food & Spirits. Sunset Beach, known for its extraordinary beauty and serenity, is a short drive east of Sea Trail. In addition, a huge variety of entertainment, shopping, nightlife and cultural opportunities are just south of Sea Trail along the Grand Strand.

Sea Trail is located in Sunset Beach, N.C., which is between Wilmington, N.C. and Myrtle Beach, S.C. More information is available online at www.seatrail.com or by calling 888-675-9237.