San Jaun Snow Treks

When going on holiday, or even when going to a different city for work on a conference, it seems like family and friends always expect you to bring them back a souvenir.  However, finding the perfect souvenir can be difficult.  For one thing, it can be very hard to get some souvenirs back to your friends, especially if they’re very large.

The first souvenir idea isn’t that original, but it is easy to transport—a t-shirt.  T-shirts are usually inexpensive as well, plus you can always find a shirt that fits the personality of each family member or friend.

Another small, cheap souvenir is a fridge magnet.  Many people collect magnets, and most hotel gift shops sell some very interesting magnets.  Some are three dimensional, some have moving parts, and some can even be personalised with names or have a slot for a photo.  Magnets are also great gifts if you don’t have a lot of baggage space to devote to souvenirs.

Likewise, pens and pencils can be good gifts that don’t take up a lot of room and are fairly inexpensive.  They’re also useful, practical gifts since people are always looking for a pen or pencil to take message with or for taking notes.

Post cards can be a nice, inexpensive souvenir as well.  What’s great about them is that you can post them to your friends while you’re on holiday and write them a little note about your trip.  This can add a personal touch to your souvenir.  Just remember to take along stamps or find a place to purchase them early in your trip.

Local foods can also be a good gift, but you have to be careful about buying anything in breakable bottles.  The last thing you want is to purchase a bottle of local barbeque sauce, back it in your luggage, and then get home to find that it broke.  If you do purchase breakable souvenirs, try to keep them small enough to put them in your carry-on bag or wrap them in a paper sack if you’re putting it in your luggage.

Tags: holiday, souvenir

You just cannot visit Los Angeles or LA as it has become more commonly known, without going on a tour of the stars houses and taking a leisurely stroll along the Hollywood Boulevard walk of fame. Being able to stand in the hand prints and foot prints of some of the world’s most famous celebrities both past and present (even if you can’t afford to stay in the same Los Angeles hotels as them) is enough to simply blow the mind and is one of the main reasons why so many tourists come to this wonderful place in the United States.

Once the appeals of the stars have worn off however, you could always check out the Hollywood Bowl amphitheatre where the famous Philharmonic Orchestra is situated. Some of the most famous singers and performers of the world have graced the stage here and to miss it would be a shame!

The children could be bored at this point as they may not have an understanding or knowledge of some of the stars which you have pointed out, but that’s OK because you can take them to the Los Angeles zoo and amaze them with the many animal varieties they have on display. With over fifteen hundred different species of birds, animals and reptiles, the entrance fee is cheap and there is a tram to take you around the park as well as a small children’s zoo to keep them amused.

After all of the sightseeing and exploring you may find that you are getting hungry, but the good news is that there are plenty of places to eat to suit every budget. For French, Italian and Mexican cuisines, you should head down to 17th Street Cafe in Santa Monica, but if it is more American food that you are looking for then 26 Beach Restaurant is the place that you should look out for.

Whatever it is that you are travelling to Los Angeles for; there are a thousand and one things in which you can keep yourself occupied!

Tags: Hollywood Boulevard, LA, Los Angeles, United States

Family holidays are great adventures that everyone will long remember. Make those memories fond ones by planning ahead. Here are some tips.

1. Determine your budget. There are holiday opportunities for every budget. If funds are tight, look for attractions close to home. If you can afford a little more, determine how much it would cost to take that dream trip. Start saving now for ultimate trips such as cruises or theme parks.

2. Consider everyone’s interests. Make sure everyone has some input into where to go and what to do. Make sure everyone has something to look forward to.

3. Allow rest breaks. Small children especially need some down time every day. It’s well worth everyone’s sanity to forego some attractions if it means everyone will be well rested.

4. Start planning early. Many popular attractions take reservations months in advance. If this is your year to visit Disneyland, start doing your research as early as you’ve made that decision.

5. Pack adequately. There are many resources online to help you pack exactly what you need. Make sure you pack enough to meet your needs, but not so much that you will be weighed down with unnecessary junk.

6. Check regulations. In this uncertain world, travel restrictions and regulations change often. Make sure your documentation and immunisation records are in order.

7. Confirm all your reservations before your departure. Carry your documentation (US documentation guidelines) with you when you leave.

8. Be security minded: Stop your newspaper and your mail delivery. Notify local police you will be away but be guarded about your travel plans with everyone else. While on your trip, do not flash expensive jewellery or large sums of money.

9. Be patient. Mishaps are part of any holiday adventure. By handling the unexpected calmly, you will get through it more smoothly.

10. Enjoy yourself. This is your holiday. It’s a chance to grow closer with your family.

Tags: adventures, Disneyland, holidays

Now there are two structures with more to come that are located in the San Juan Mountains near Creede Colorado. The new Lime Creek Yurt is located on Fisher Mountain. The Yurt elevation is at 10,500 feet and is 5 skiing miles from the Fisher Hut.

The Fisher Mountain Hut is located on Fisher Mountain near the vast and awesome Weminuche Wilderness, it’s elevation is 10,860 feet. From the hut deck one has an excellent view of the headwaters of the mighty Rio Grande River in the canyons and valleys below the hut. The Fisher Hut has a spectacular view that is rarely observed out anyone’s front door. There is plenty of advanced and intermediate skiing terrain nearby. The hut provides a cozy and warm place to stay on cold winter nights. The two trailheads are located 1 mile apart.

The new Lime Creek Yurt is located on a forest service road 5 miles from the trailhead. The Lime Creek Yurt is located on Fisher Mountain also. The Yurts elevation is at 10,500 feet and is 5 skiing miles from the Fisher Hut. there is an excellent view of the beginnings of the Rio Grande river down in the valley below. It over looks the beautiful Lime Creek canyon and has excellent north slope backcountry skiing nearby. There are lots of open steep slopes near the yurt due to a 600 acre timber blow down which occurred a few years ago.
There is plenty of skiing terrain and a comfortable place to stay on cold winter nights. The huts trailheads are approximately five hours (270 miles) from Albuquerque, four hours (200 miles) from Santa Fe and Los Alamos, NM, and five hours (250 miles) from Denver.

Copyright 2008 San Juan Mountain Snow Treks, Inc.

San Juan Snow Treks Inc., is operated under a permit from the U.S. Forest Service in the Rio Grande National Forest.

The Fisher Mountain Hut is located 5 miles up Forest Service Road 527 off Middle Creek Road on Ivy Creek Forest Service Road 526. The trailhead parking is approximately 15 miles from Creede at 9500 feet elevation. The 5 mile ski is moderately difficult but is a very scenic ski indeed. There is a 1500 foot elevation gain during the 5 miles on a easily followed Forest Service road.

The Fisher Mountain Hut is a wooden cabin structure 12′ wide by 24′ long, and stands on a 16′ wide by 32′ long deck. The views off the deck are spectacular! It will sleep up to six people comfortably. The hut has a wood stove with plenty of wood to burn, propane lights and stove. There is an adjacent room with an indoor composting toilet! It also has beds, a table, chairs, pots and pans, all the utensils you need, and it is lighted with propane lanterns. You can melt all the snow you need for drinking and cooking.
The new Lime Creek Yurt is a 16′ diameter structure. The yurt sits on a 7′ high deck and has a composting toilet connected to the deck. It also has a wood stove with plenty of wood to burn, a propane stove, and propane lights. It has two bunk beds that sleeps four people, chairs, table, pots and pans, with utensils. Also you have all the snow to melt for water.
A person need only bring their food, warm clothing, and a sleeping bag.

The Lime Creek Yurt site was discovered in the fall of 1996. A temporary warming hut was installed in September of 1997 to evaluate the site. Skier accessibility, snow depths and availability of skiable terrain surrounding the site was found to be excellent.
In October of 1997, a tornado like wind blew down approximately 700 acres of spruce and fir trees. The blow down extended several miles at 11,000 feet in elevation but missed the newly constructed warming hut. After two winters it was decided to install a 16 foot diameter yurt with a composting toilet!. This yurt is a very welcome addition to the proposed named Weminuche Lynx back country ski hut system which was initially started with the Fisher Mountain Hut. New huts are planned to be installed starting with a Heart Mountain Yurt. The following year, a Cooper Mountain yurt is planned. the proposed Cooper Mountain yurt would be 4 miles from the Lime Creek yurt located at an elevation of 11,000 feet near 11,966 foot Cooper Mountain. The Heart Mountain yurt would be 8 miles from the Cooper Mountain yurt at an elevation of 11,000 feet near Wolf Creek Pass.