This week, I've had a chance to visit Abilene, Texas for the first time. I've already seen and experienced so much, which I'll write about shortly, but so far, the highlight of the trip has been attending the 15th Annual Big Country Balloonfest this morning.
The day started at about 6:30am (before sunrise) as the pilots of about a dozen hot air balloons prepared for take off and went for a flight.
I was lucky enough to be a passenger aboard the "Blew Bayou" hot air balloon, owned by Beau Hand and piloted by James Tucker. Needless to say, this was an exciting and truly amazing experience.
From my hotel room (at the Courtyard Marriott in Abilene), I put together a short video and photo montage using my new iPod Nano and photos I took using my regular camera...Please take a look below, and enjoy!
More details from my trip will follow shortly. In the meantime, if you're thinking about vacationing in Texas, check out the website for the Abilene Convention and Visitor's Bureau at www.abilenevisitors.com or call (800) 727-7704.
Many people, including myself, often travel with a pet. While it's easy to pet-proof your own home and keep things that could be dangerous for your dog out of his reach, the task can be more difficult when visiting hotels, for example.
If you travel with your pet, keep the phone number to the Pet Poison Helpline handy...just in case. This hotline is available 24/7. If your pet eats something poisonous or dangerous, and you can't reach your own vet immediately, this hotline is staffed by veterinarians who can help by providing life-saving guidance.
Call (800) 213-6680, or visit The Pet Poison Helpline's website at www.petpoisonhelpline.com. There is a flat fee of $35.00 per incident, which includes a follow-up phone consultation. The group which operates this hotline has handled more than 750,000 cases involving pet poisoning.
When traveling with your pet, do some research in advance. Determine where the closest veterinarian office and animal hospital is, based on where you'll be staying. Also, be sure to pack a copy of your pet's medical records. Help4Pets.com is an excellent (annual fee based) resource for finding nationwide referrals for all of your pet's needs.
My article about buying and selling airline frequent flier miles appeared today within the "Your Money" section of the New York Daily News newspaper. To read the article online, click here.
One of the perks of being a travel writer is that I get to travel...a lot. Over the years, I have had the pleasure of staying at thousands of hotels and resorts across America and around the world. (Yes, it's a tough job, but someone has to do it.)
Anyway, one of my all-time very favorite resorts continues to be The Broadmoor Resort & Spa in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
There are several reasons why The Broadmoor is among my favorites, and a resort that I consistently recommend and rave about.
First, the resort is located about 6,000 feet above sea level in the beautiful Colorado mountains, so the surroundings are visually breathtaking. Using its surroundings as a picturesque backdrop, the resort's landscaping team does an amazing job making all of the resort's public areas look like beautiful parks - complete with a lake, plush green lawns, colorful flower beds and an abundance of trees. No matter what the season, strolling around the grounds of The Broadmoor is always a pleasure.
Combined with the beautiful setting, The Broadmoor offers extremely luxurious and spacious guest rooms and suites, all of which utilize the very best of amenities to insure absolute comfort. This is a five-star resort for good reason, and from the moment a guest checks in, it's easy to see why.
The resort's restaurants are also top-notch, featuring award-winning chefs, diverse menus, and one of the most extensive wine lists in the country. For example, I had dinner tonight at The Tavern, which is considered one of the resort's more casual restaurants, and the food and service was amazing. In fact, this "casual" restaurant is vastly superior to what most five-star resorts consider their fine-dining restaurant. (Yes, it's that good. But, the formal restaurants here are even better.)
Oh, and speaking of service, you won't find more personalized, friendly and attentive service anywhere. The Broadmoor has a long history serving very famous and prominent guests. It has developed a reputation for its superior service.
So, to sum things up, The Broadmoor offers a visually stunning setting, top-notch accommodations, extremely memorable dining experiences, and consistently personalized service and attention to all of its guests....but that's just the beginning.
The Broadmoor is also home to three championship (and beautifully manicured) golf courses, which golfers come from all over the world to experience. There's also a world-class day spa (The Spa at The Broadmoor, 719-577-5770), a tennis club (Tennis at The Broadmoor), a fully equipped fitness center, multiple indoor and outdoor swimming pools, a specialized (supervised) children's program, a movie theatre, and countless other indoor and outdoor activities designed to make anyone and everyone's stay a memorable one.
For business travelers, the resort has full convention, catering and meeting facilities which are state-of-the-art and able to handle groups of almost any size, plus a business center.
With all that it offers, The Broadmoor is literally the perfect destination for a romantic getaway, family vacation, destination wedding, honeymoon, business gathering, or golf vacation. It's ideal for "girls only" getaways that fully utilize the spa, or "guys only" weekends which include golf and spending time at the upscale and sophisticated bars and lounges. It's also a wonderful place for extended families to come in order to celebrate any holiday or experience a reunion.
In addition to the organized kid/teen activities hosted by the resort, The Broadmoor is just minutes away from an impressive zoo and other attractions that are ideal for families. Oh, and getting to The Broadmoor is extremely easy from virtually anywhere in America. It's located just minutes from the Colorado Springs Airport, and about 90 minutes (by car) from the Denver Airport.
This weekend (until Tuesday), I am enjoying my second visit to The Broadmoor, and so far, my stay has been every bit as enjoyable and comfortable as my first experience here was a few years ago. This time, however, I brought along my Yorkshire Terrier, Rusty. This is a very pet-friendly resort. In fact, when we checked in, waiting in the suite was a plush dog bed, a food and water bowl, gourmet biscuits, and a special "Guest of The Broadmoor" dog tag for Rusty. When it comes to pet-friendly resorts, The Broadmoor understands how to make dogs and their owners comfortable.
For more information about this very special and award-winning resort, visit www.broadmoor.com, or call (800) 634-7711 or (719) 634-7711. Obviously, being an ultra-luxurious resort, the standard rates are high (but worth every penny). However, throughout the year, especially during non-peak travel periods, The Broadmoor offers special rates and promotional packages which make staying here much more affordable. Check the resort's website to learn about promotional rates and when they're available.
...More to come as the weekend continues!
Photos (c)2009 Jason R. Rich. All rights reserved.
I am a bestselling author of more than 52 books, as well as a frequent contributor to numerous national magazines and major daily newspapers. I am also an accomplished photographer. You can view my work at www.JasonRichPhotography.com and visit my main website at www.JasonRich.com.
This week, I've had a chance to visit Abilene, Texas for the first time. I've already seen and experienced so much, which I'll write about shortly, but so far, the highlight of the trip has been attending the 15th Annual Big Country Balloonfest this morning.
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