Each year Telluride Colorado attracts thousands upon thousands of fans that love bluegrass music, the summer season and the town itself. The Telluride Bluegrass festival put on each year by Planet Bluegrass started in 1974 and attracted a little more than 1,000 participants. In recent years the cap limit on festival participants has been placed at 10,000 people. People love this event because they are actually able to camp in the town park. The trick is to look online early because the lottery is often closed many months before the event is scheduled to take place. This event is for people of all ages, and is not to be missed if you are in the area in mid to late June.

What you may not know is that Telluride is known for more than just this wonderful event. Telluride is definitely a four season town with more emphasis on summer and winter activities. In the winter world class skiing can be found in the gorgeous San Juan Mountains. In the summer, you can enjoy miles of pristine waters to raft or fish on. The spring and fall are typically a little less busy, but this is also the best time to get some great deals on lodging in great hotels.

Let’s take a look at some of the many activities that you can participate in by season.

WINTER ACTIVITIES

Skiing
Telluride Ski Resort is a hidden gem nestled in the gorgeous San Juan Mountains. The skiing here is world class and the snow is always good. This ski resort offers two types of town atmospheres. The actual town of Telluride resembles a rugged town that was once famous for mining. Unlike most ski towns, Telluride is not pretentious and is definitely not a see and be seen town. From downtown Telluride you can take the free gondola up to Mountain Village. Here you will find a more refined town with everything you need for a perfect vacation. Perched just above 9,000 feet, this town offers luxury hotels, condos, a spa and world class dining. To choose between the two towns can be a difficult choice, but you will not be disappointed with either choice. If you are looking for more of a challenge to test your skiing ability, you have come to the right place. Telluride offers the only place in Colorado where you are able to go Heli-Skiing. The Heli-Skiing tours offer intermediate to advanced skiers untouched powder with 12,000 to 14,000 vertical feet skied per trip. These guided trips are a great way to see the San Juan’s and the best way to enjoy skiing.

Telluride offers many other activities besides skiing. If you need a break from skiing, or you are the family member that doesn’t ski you will not be bored. You can take a snowmobile tour, much a team of dogs from your dog sled, go shopping, snowshoeing or cross country skiing. These are only a few of the many activities that Telluride offers, so for more information please visit http://tellurideskiresort.com/TellSki/info/act.aa.aspx .

SPRING AND SUMMER ACTIVITIES

Fishing
Once the snow starts to melt, the runoff flows into the many rivers and ponds surrounding this town. Once the water clears up in later spring, these gold medal rivers and ponds erupt with some of the world’s best fishing. These waters are great for the experienced angler, or the beginning novice. There are many shops in the area that can guide your next trip, or give you some pointers on where to go, or what kind of tackle to use.

Golf
The golf is good, and the views are spectacular! This championship mountain resort course offers some of the most stunning views and challenging play around. The Telluride golf course is surrounded by the highest concentration of 14,000 ft peaks in the Untied States. The resort is perched at about 9,000 feet and will do wonders for your distance. At this altitude, expect your ball to fly about 15% farther than at a sea level course.

Hiking and Biking
Because of Telluride’s unique location, many hiking and biking trails can be accessed right from downtown. Each hike or bike trip offers unique views of the San Juan Mountains and surrounding area. There is no need to worry if you are inexperienced because there are many trails for beginners as well as more difficult trails for more experienced hikers and bikers. There are even trails near town that are suitable for families with children.

Rafting and Kayaking
Spring and summer is a great time to come to Telluride to enjoy the many miles of rivers. Kayaking and rafting trips can be booked through local tour companies, or if you have your own equipment and are experienced, there are many public access points along the rivers. To check where these access points are, it is wise to check with one of the many shops in town, and they will be willing to give you some good advice about what to expect on the water.

Above are just a few choices for spring and summer activities. For more information about these activities please visit http://www.telluride.net/ .

FALL ACTIVITIES
Fall is a great time to visit Telluride. Many of the activities you can enjoy in the spring and summer can still be enjoyed in fall at more of a discount. Lodging deals tend to be easier to find, golf courses are less crowded, and the fishing is still world class. Many people enjoy ski towns in the fall because they are less crowded than any other time of the year. Not only is it cheaper to stay and play here, but the colors on the trees that are changing are spectacular.

Telluride Hotels
Telluride offers some great choices for your lodging needs. You can stay in the rugged original town of Telluride, or you can reside in the slightly luxurious Mountain Village. Each town offers a distinct choice for your Telluride lodging needs. You can choose from a full service 5 star hotel to a more family oriented slope side condo. Many of the hotels have a spa, concierge, bell staff and other amenities you want for your next vacation.

Telluride is a wonderful town and should not be missed for your next ski vacation. In the famous words of Warren Miller: “If you don’t do it this year, you’ll be one year older when you do.”

Michael Buczek
http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/telluride-colorado-not-just-a-bluegrass-festival-71606.html

The east shore of the Dominican Republic is a long stretch of white sand beaches, celebrity villas and exclusive resorts known as Punta Cana. Although Punta Cana is an actual city, the title refers to the entire 63 kilometer beachside region from Bávaro to Cabeza de Toro. With a plethora of all-inclusive resorts and countless ocean activities right out the front door, this tropical paradise is the ideal getaway for honeymooners, anniversaries, families and singles alike.

Travel to Punta Cana and experience the absolute final word in tropical vacation destinations. The Punta Cana International Airport handles over two million travelers per year, more than the airport in the capital city of Santo Domingo. Secure your airfare to Punta Cana this season and lock yourself into some of the most reasonable resort rates in the entire Caribbean!

The Exclusive All-Inclusive Punta Cana Experience

Resorts in Punta Cana are second to none and the all-inclusive experience is certainly the way to go. With airfare to Punta Cana, transportation and numerous activities and amenities included in the nightly/weekly rates, all you need to do is pack your bags. For the adventure seekers, most resorts include water sports, lessons and equipment as well as guided trips to various historic or commercial destinations in the Dominican Republic. The capital city of Santo Domingo and the smaller city of Higuey are only a short drive away and offer souvenirs as well as necessities at a fraction of the cost of the Punta Cana resort region.

Some resorts even include the opportunity to swim with dolphins or fly high on a circus trapeze. Snorkeling, jet skiing, and wind surfing are all very popular activities as well. Luckily, the entire point is protected by coral reefs that make the ocean calm enough and accessible for all level of swimmer. For those who wish to relax throughout the vacation, full service spas and beauty centers can be found in many of the hotels and resorts. Also, full service is offered by many establishments out on their beaches. Grab a palapa by the waves and place your drink or meal order any time of day without moving a muscle. For families, you will find organized kids clubs that provide all-day activities so you can get your own rest and relaxation!

Punta Cana Style and Sophistication

Travel to Punta Cana for some of the most luxurious beach, spa and dining experiences in the Caribbean. Oscar de la Renta and the Clintons have been known to frequent the white sand and turquoise water. Others come for the best deep sea fishing in the world. Foodies will find some of the most sophisticated and intriguing gastronomical offerings ranging from European fare to Caribbean tradition. Any way you like to travel, Punta Cana is at your service.

John Binder
http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/prime-palapas-in-punta-cana-punta-cana-travel-information-96598.html

Long before winter’s blustery chill begins to sting the bones, plans are being made by people in Canada, the Northeast and Midwestern United States to seek the warmer climes of the south. It’s an interesting phenomenon that occurs each year and mimics the migration ritual of our feathered friends.

These “snowbirds” (as they are affectionately called) flock to Arizona, Florida and other places along the Sunbelt to avoid winter’s bite and inconvenience. Northern Europeans also are known to head to warmer places in the U.S., adding to these second communities of seasonal residents each year.

Snowbirds are typically retirees or business owners who can afford to be away for extended periods of time. Many have a second home in a warmer location, while others take their home on wheels with them in the form of an RV or camper.

Jack and Ethel W. have been making the trip for 18 years. Pulling out of their snow-banked driveway in upstate Ohio, their 28-foot Fleetwood Southwind RV is loaded with rations, lighter clothes than they would have needed had they stayed home, and Phantom, their four-legged, eight-year-old. That’s right, more and more people travel with their pets these days and snowbirds are no exception. The couple wouldn’t dream of leaving behind their special member of the family, a Lhasa Apso. He’s like one of their children. They’ll stay gone five or six weeks in southern Georgia, while taking several side trips to explore new places.

Rick S. pulls his 38-foot Prowler fifth wheel from Connecticut to Florida each year. His only passengers are Harley and Davidson, two 80-pound German shepherds who earn their keep by sharing “navigator” duties as Rick mans all the driving. He heads south in early November, not to return until mid-April. He enjoys the warmer weather fishing with his pals at his modest lake house until the last signs of the northern winter dissipate.

Traveling with pets long distances and for long periods of time presents challenges not only for snowbirds but also for the pets they take along. According to Dr. Mitch Spindell, site vet on PetTravelCenter.com, the first thing one should always consider is how physically able a pet is to travel. Some senior, pregnant, injured, or otherwise physically impaired pets do not travel well. Besides making sure your pet is physically fit and comfortable to make the trip, here are some tips to consider:

1. If your pet has any chronic conditions, take all pertinent medical records. It’s a good idea to have your pet’s records with you any time you travel long distances.

2. If your pet is on any long-term medications, be sure to have plenty to last your entire stay.

3. If you are driving north or south of the U.S. border, be sure to check all local regulations and have your pet’s current health certificates with you.

4. Establish a local vet in the area as soon as possible in case of emergency. Go to PetTravelCenter.com and click on Emergency Tips for more information.

5.Ask a local vet about any diseases or parasites that may be present in that part of the country (Lyme disease in New England or year-round fleas in Florida, for instance). Your pet may not be protected against these if they are not present where you live.

Just as your passengers’ safety is vitally important when you travel, don’t forget about your pet’s safety as well. As unrestrained 25-pound dog, for example, becomes a 1,000-pound projectile in a 40 mile-per-hour crash. This type of mass flying uncontrollably around a vehicle could be deadly not only to your pet but also to you and your passengers.

Look out for your precious cargo by providing your pet with a car seat equipped with a restraining device (for smaller pets) or a vehicle pet harness that is secured with a seat belt. Cats should be kept in a carrier suitable for traveling, also secured with a seat belt.

A travel tag on a pet’s collar will help someone locate you locally should you and your pet become separated. The travel tag should contain information about where you are staying (while away from home), including addresses and phone numbers. A cell phone number is also a good idea to have on the tag since most people have one with them, especially when they travel.

Another item to consider is a pet first-aid kit. It’s important that you are not only familiar with the items you pack in the kit but know how to use them.

So, as Anne Murray sings in the popular song, “Snowbird”:

“Spread your tiny wings and fly away

And take the snow back with you

Where it came from on that day

…

So, little snowbird, take me with you when you go

To that land of gentle breezes where the peaceful waters flow…”

Happy travels!

Tom James
http://www.articlesbase.com/home-and-family-articles/a-look-at-snowbirds-and-their-pets-102561.html

The simplest way to catch more trout than you ever imagined is to do the opposite of what most other anglers do. I realize that this might sound like advice that comes directly out of an episode of Seinfeld, but it’s true. Most anglers are like sheep and do whatever it is that the crowd does. If that means using the same rod and reel for all of your fishing, so be it. If that means not walking any farther than the worn trail goes, so be it.

If you’re going to be successful as a trout angler, you need to have a trout rod and reel. That rod and reel should be light action (at the biggest). I personally prefer ultra light action rods and reels for trout, but light action will work. The rod should be no longer than six feet. For trout fishing rods, I prefer five footers but it’s not necessary for the rod to be longer than six feet. An ultra light reel that matches the rod will work fine, just nothing too big. This reel should be spooled with line no heavier than six pound test line. Six pound is the maximum. Again, I prefer four pound test line, but nothing larger than six pound, certainly not for good fly fishing anyway.

Now that we’ve covered the size of our gear and the size of our line, the next important aspect of catching trout, is the size of your hooks. Most anglers use hooks that are entirely too large for trout fishing. I’m of course speaking of regular fishing here, not ‘flea flicking’. ‘Flea Flickers’ aren’t afraid to use small hooks, hell they have to fleas aren’t very big. I’m speaking to all of the normal anglers out there and most of you use hooks that are entirely too large. I personally use size 10 hooks, and in order to catch more trout than you ever imagined, don’t use a hook larger than a size 8. I suggest using a set of gang hooks (which is simply two hooks tied in tandem). If you truly want to catch more trout than you ever imagined, I suggest using the good old earth worm for bait. A worm baited on a set of #10 gang hooks is deadly. You see the small hooks eliminate the dreaded “worm ball”. The “worm ball” is whren an angler uses a single hook that’s too large and threads the worm on to said hook, thus creating a “worm ball”. There is nothing natural about presenting a worm like this, and the amount of trout caught is directly affected.

If you begin to employ the tips outlined in this article (rod and reel size, line size, hook size, and type of bait) you will catch more trout than you ever imagined. Never forget what Steven Wright said, “There’s a fine line between fishing and just standing on the shore like an idiot.”

Steven James
http://www.articlesbase.com/sports-and-fitness-articles/how-to-catch-more-trout-than-you-ever-imagined-possible-105573.html