San Jaun Snow Treks

When in Vienna, one of the sights any history buff must see is the Schonbrunn Palace.  It’s one of the top cultural locations in Austria, and it’s an incredible sight.  The palace was actually built to be Austria’s answer to the French palace of Versailes, so you know it’s going to be massive and opulent.  However, because the Austrian rulers lacked the funds that the French had, Schonbrunn isn’t quite as large as Versailes.  That doesn’t mean it’s not impressive, though. Schonbrunn was the home of Emperor Franz Joseph, one of the most important historical figures.  He was born at the palace in 1830 and lived most of his later life there.  While the palace was privately owned for quite some time, it eventually became the property of the government in 1918.  While the building was used for official business for some time, today, the palace and its gardens are mainly a tourist attraction and historical sight. You can take a tour of the palace and see amazing bedrooms, huge ballrooms, and more.  In Empress Maria Theresia’s apartment, you’ll see the room in which Mozart, age six, played for the Empress and her ladies in waiting.  While wandering amid the crystal chandeliers, paintings, and other artwork, you may want to pace yourself—Schonbrunn Palace has 1441 different rooms! Outside, you’ll find the Tirolian garden, an orchard and farm that surround Schonbrunn and its park.  The palm house, a tropical greenhouse, features plants from rain forests from around the world, and it’s one of the few places in the world that you can see certain plants together. The Schonbrunn Palace can take up an entire day of sightseeing, so when you head out from your hotel in the morning, plan to spend the whole day at the palace exploring its many rooms and the surrounding gardens.

Tags: Austria, Emperor Franz Joseph, hotel, Schonbrunn Palace, Tirolian garden, tourist attraction, Vienna

If you’re in New York, you may want to check out the Empire State Building, one of the tallest buildings in the world.  It rises 1,453 feet into the air and features 102 floors.  From the top, it’s possible to see over 70 miles of New York.  The building is located at 350 5th Avenue, but you don’t need to book New York hotels near the Empire State Building to visit it—a number of subway lines have stops near the building. If you plan to visit the Empire State Building, there are a few things you should consider.  First, there is the weather.  Obviously, you’re going to want to visit the building on a clear day so you can see for miles around.  Check the weather before you head to the building.  Also, remember that the best views from the building are from the outdoor balcony.  Be sure to dress warmly—it tends to be colder on top of the building than on the ground because there’s no protection from the winds.  Likewise, it’s usually warmer in the summer. The Empire State Building offers an amazing view of the harbour, the Statue of Liberty, and more.  During the day, you can see many different buildings and ships.  However, if you visit the building during the night, you’ll be treated to a view of New York City all aglow with thousands of lights.  Both views are amazing.  In fact, you may want to visit the building near sunset so you can see both. Finally, you may actually want to avoid the Empire State Building on holidays.  On the Fourth of July, for example, there are so many people who want to see the fireworks show from the top of the tower that unless you get there really early, you’ll find the building is sold out.  Likewise, Valentine’s Day is the only day of the year that weddings are allowed at the top of the Empire State Building, and it tends to be booked.

Tags: 5th Avenue, Empire State Building, hotel, New York, Statue of Liberty

One of the most famous and interesting sites to visit while in Edinburgh is Edinburgh Castle, the old stronghold that can be seen from just about anywhere in the city because of its location on Castle Rock.  People have lived at the site since the 9th century BC, although most of the castle that currently stands only dates back to the 16th century.  One of the oldest structures is St. Margaret’s Chapel, a building that has been dated to the 12th century.

While the castle has served as the political and military centre of Edinburgh over the years, today Edinburgh Castle is run by Historical Scotland, an agency under the Scottish government.  The agency is tasked with both maintaining the site and operating it as a tourist attraction.  While the castle is mostly maintained as it was when built, some changes have been made.  The castle now includes shops, some displays, an educational section that details the history of the castle to school tours, and two restaurants.  Actors in historical costumes are also positioned throughout the castle to explain the various rooms and provide interactive history lessons.

Edinburgh Castle is also home to the Edinburgh Military Tattoo, a musical parade featuring drums and pipes and performed with military precision.  They perform during August of each year, and while originally all performers were Scottish, the group now often invites international performers to join them.  Over 200,000 people attend the performance each year, plus it is broadcast on television, so you’ll want to a hotel in Edinburgh early to make sure you have somewhere to stay.

Tags: Castle Rock, Edinburgh, Edinburgh Castle, Edinburgh Military Tattoo, Historical Scotland

Rome is the capital city of Italy, and it’s one of the most historical cities in the world.  There’s a ton of different things to see in Rome.  In fact, you’re going to need a few weeks just to see the most famous sites in the city.  Here are some travelling tips for taking a holiday in Rome. If you’re visiting Rome during the summer, be ready for a sunny, hot trip.  You’ll certainly want to pack a hat and some sunscreen.  Some don’t expect to get sunburn in Rome, but it is certainly a possibility in summer.  To avoid the heat, do what the native Italians do—go out in the morning and late afternoon/early evening.  Around lunchtime, get in out of the sun and then take a nap.  Rome has an amazing nightlife, and a lot happens after the sun goes down. During the tourist season, you’ll find Rome is incredibly crowded.  In addition to its large population, many visit the city during the peak months.  However, there are many hotels in Rome and restaurants, and it can easily accommodate the crowds.  You should book your hotels early, however, because many of the top ones fill up quickly.  For eating, you’ll find wonderful Italian restaurants that serve pasta, pizza, and great wine. While lunch is usually a light meal eaten indoors, dinner is a slow, more formal appeal.  Few rush their meals, so don’t expect speedy service in any restaurant.  In Italy, dinner is seen as a chance to unwind, discuss your day with your friends and family, and generally relax.  Rushing your server or complaining about slow service will get you nowhere.  In fact, if you try to rush things, you’ll likely get even slower service.  If you want something quick, go for fast food or pizza, not a sit-down restaurant. The treasures of Rome are almost endless, which is what makes exploring the city so much fun.  Take some time to wander off the normal track of highlights to find places like the two at the right edge of this page. Be prepared to take the good with the bad.  For example, Rome has dense traffic, sometimes circling stunning works of art, like the Bernini Triton;!

Tags: Italy, Rome, tourist season

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

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.