Cancer Survivors Can Enjoy A Free Weekend In Stowe, Vermont

Between May 1st and 3rd, 2009, the 9th Annual Stowe Weekend of Hope will take place in Stowe, Vermont. It's being dubbed as a "celebration of life and learning for survivors of all cancers and those who love them." 

Registration to participate begins on February 29, 2009. For first-time attendees to this get-away weekend event, Stowe hotels is donating complimentary guest rooms, plus is offering discounted guest rooms for returning guests.

Throughout the weekend, free workshops and seminars will be offered, which are designed to be both educational and inspirational. The event's keynote speaker this year will be Joanna Bull, founder of Gilda's Club Worldwide.

According to the Stowe Weekend of Hope organization, "This unique event addresses the complex challenges and needs of people with cancer at any stage in their disease. Cancer presents families with many challenges – physical, emotional, spiritual, and financial."

Last year, the event attracted more than 300 cancer survivors and their families. To learn more or to register, visit www.storehope.org

or call (888) 247-8693.

The Equinox In Vermont Offers Unique Activities For Vacationers

So, I just returned from three days as a guest at The Equinox resort in Manchester Village, Vermont (800-362-4747 / 802-362-7873 / www.equinoxresort.com). While the leaves haven't started changing colors yet, the area was still stunningly beautiful. The resort itself was luxurious and showcased a rich history (it was established in 1769).

As you'd expect from a top-rated resort, The Equinox offers several upscale dining rooms, a full-service spa and tennis courts, plus a golf course that avid golfers travel from around the country to experience. For people who enjoy hiking, the resort is also surrounded by an assortment of trails.

What really sets this resort apart, however, are the unique activities that are offered. For example, affiliated with the resort is The British School of Falconry, which is the world's first school dedicated to this unusual sport. Here, you can experience the rare opportunity to handle and interact with hawks. One-hour introductory lessons ($89.00 per person) are available, as are hawk walks ($149.00 per person), and hawk hunting expeditions ($299.00 per person). There's also a three full-day course and various other packages available to introduce participants to this sport in a very hands-on way.

The Equinox is also home to The Archery School at the Equinox and has teamed up with Orvis (www.orvis.com) to offer a fly fishing instruction and excursions.

For people looking for a bit more action-oriented fun, The Equinox offers the Land Rover Experience driving school (802-362-0687), which provides the opportunity to take a fully-equipped Land Rover on an off-road expedition, complete with instruction by a licensed and certified instructor. The off-road driving takes place on a custom-designed, 80-acre course which provides for a variety of terrain challenges. Price: $225 per vehicle, per hour. For advanced off-road drivers, a full-day program is offered.

If you're looking to experience a luxurious and memorable trip to Vermont, plus experience a handful of activities not available elsewhere, a visit to The Equinox is well worth it. While the resort welcomes kids, this is more an upscale resort catering to adults. Manchester Village, Vermont is located about 189 miles from Boston and 204 miles from New York City.