Jetsettersblog

SWEETWATER COUNTY, Wyo.—If they’re lucky Travelers racing across Interstate 80 as it cuts across Wyoming’s Sweetwater County can get a distant glimpse of the colorful buttes and magnificent spires of the Red Desert.

But for adventurous families willing to take the back roads of “The Cowboy State,” the rewards are many.

One is the chance to see ancient drawings left behind by the area’s earliest known inhabitants. North of the city of Rock Springs, on U.S. 191, signs point the way to the White Mountain Petroglyphs.

Etched into sandstone cliffs long ago by a people far preceding European explorers are the artful drawings of elk, buffalo, horses and other inhabitants of the artists’ world.

About five miles from the White Mountain petroglyphs, Boars Tusk comes into view. The core of a once active volcano, Boars Tusk is one of many striking rock formations named by early pioneers of this high desert region, mostly American trappers and mountain men.

The early explorers found them comforting landmarks.

The spire rising straight out of the ground appears to stand sentinel over the Killpecker Sand Dunes. The dunes are largely unknown by many outside of Wyoming, yet this is the largest active dune field in North America, providing habitat for rare desert elk and bands of wild horses.

Today, explorers willing to venture a bit off the beaten path still find huge tracts of some of the country’s most unspoiled and unusual wilderness in Sweetwater County.

www.tourwyoming.com

GRAND CANYON, Ariz.;– The Grand Canyon is considered hallowed ground for many—especially naturalists and people who love to explore the natural splendors of this majestic American icon.

And there is no better way to explore the Grand Canyon than from “the bottom up” on a whitewater rafting trip. Many travelers think that Grand Canyon whitewater rafting trips take place only in the summer, but these trips which run May-October, are fabulous experiences during the shoulder seasons.

May often brings cooler temperatures and gives explorers the chance to see the Grand Canyon in full bloom—a simply glorious experience.

Botanists would be fascinatd to know that there are 1737 known species of vascular plants (such as ferns, flowering plants, conifers, clubmosses and other gymnosperms), 167 species of fungi, 64 species of moss and 195 species of lichen that are found in Grand Canyon National Park.

The park is home to the rare Tusayan Flamethrower,with approximately 1000 plants identified in 10 small populations; and the park has one Federally-listed endangered species called the sentry milkvetch, a perennial mat-forming herb.

Arizona River Runners offers all nature-lovers the chance to get a birds-eye view of all of the plant life, geological phenomena, and wildlife that can be found on a Grand Canyon whitewater rafting trip. www.raftarizona.com

Dude Ranchers Association
CONTACT: Colleen Hodson
PHONE: 307 587 2339
EMAIL: info@duderanch.org
WEB: www.duderanch.org

CODY, Wyo.- Summer is fast approaching and with it the opening of many Dude Ranchers Association dude ranches.

The summer season is scheduled for many ranches in mid-May.

While operating seasons vary by ranch depending on location and activities, summer is the most popular time for dude ranch vacations.

Dude ranches have dramatically changed over the past few decades adding a wider range of activities, special programs for children, specialty clinics and retreats, culinary programs, and even spa services.

Guests can choose to enjoy a traditional western vacation complete with cattle drive and daily trail rides or mix in a bit of relaxation with morning yoga and a round of golf at sunset.

Most ranches offer all-inclusive packages for multi-day and week-long stays.

The 85 year-old Dude Ranchers Association, DRA, has over 100 member ranches which have met strict standards in areas such as horsemanship, hospitality, and honesty.

Member ranchers are primarily located in the western U.S. and Canada and range from traditional working ranches to luxurious resort-style guest ranches.

The DRA also assists future guests in finding their dream dude ranch vacations. Guests can visit the DRA website to learn more about individual ranches or call their main office where friendly staff are personally acquainted with every DRA member ranch.

For more information about the summer dude ranch season or to find your dream dude ranch vacation contact Executive Director Colleen Hodson at info@duderanch.org  or visit www.duderanch.org

www.traveljuneau.com

JUNEAU, Alaska— Jetaway to  uneau, Alaska for a long weekend this summer and enjoy all of the legendary glaciers, wildlife and wilderness experiences that distinguish Alaska.

Just a quick 2-hour flight from Seattle on Alaska Airlines, transports you to the middle of the 17-million-acre Tongass National Forest and just beneath the 1500-square-mile Juneau Icefield, which creates an environment unparalleled in beauty and adventure.

The 38 glaciers of the Juneau Icefield drape themselves over the coastal mountains just behind the city, giving Juneau the most accessible glaciers in the state.

Alaska’s capital is also a humpback whale haven with over 700 whales inhabiting the region.

Enjoy hiking, biking or ziplining through the forest or kayaking in the quiet inlets along scenic Lynn Canal.

And the best part of any trip to Juneau is that everything you want to do and see is close by –

no long drives or day-long cruises are needed to find the Alaska.

BAR HARBOR, Maine- Bar Harbor is well-known as a vacation destination for the wealthy and well-known.

From the Rockefellers to the Obamas, American aristocrats and presidential families travel here for a bit of relaxation, rejuvenation, and recreational adventure.

Now the spectacular beauty and charms of Bar Harbor are available to all who wish to travel.

During the day visitor’s may wander through the quaint shops and galleries of the Village Green, bike the Carriage Roads in Acadia National Park, take a cruise or paddle on Frenchman’s Bay in search of pelagic birds and whales, soar overhead on a bi-plane tour.

At meal times restaurants offer spectacular views, fresh local seafood, delicious wines, and Maine hospitality.

After the sun sets the stars and Milky Way are on display thanks to Bar Harbor’s efforts to protect the night skies.

While here visitor’s can relax at a historic and elegant bed and breakfast, local inn, or rental cottage.

This summer everyone can travel like royalty in Bar Harbor.

www.barharborinfo.com

PORT ANGELES, Wash- While visiting the Olympic Peninsula this summer make sure to learn a bit about the largest dam removal in U.S. history on the Elwha River. The removal of the Glines Canyon and Elwha Dams will hopefully restore this area of the peninsula to its former beauty and splendor. Here are a few ways to experience and learn more:

• Examine the visitor center’s Elwha interpretive exhibit, which details this outdoor “living laboratory” of large-scale ecosystem recovery.

• Take a walk along the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe’s Warrior Path, a .7-mile loop along the mouth of the Elwha. A carved wooden gate marks the path, which starts near the end of Lower Elwha Road on the Tribe’s reservation.

Interpretive signs along the path provide insight into Tribal culture and history, and the estuary is a popular destination for bird-watchers.

• The Elwha River Bridge, completed in 2009, and the pedestrian /bicycle deck that runs beneath it both offer excellent views of one of the Pacific Northwest’s most picturesque rivers. The pedestrian and bicycle bridge is
part of the multi-use Olympic Discovery Trail. The bridge is on Elwha River Road, just off Highway 112.

• In downtown Port Angeles, visit the Feiro Marine Life Center and learn about how dam removal on the Elwha River will help restore the river’s natural flow of sand and gravel and bring new life to the coastal environment of the Strait of Juan de Fuca. New exhibits and a scale model of the Glines Canyon dam and Lake Mills reservoir help illustrate the powerful benefits of dam removal.

• Enjoy Altair or Elwha campgrounds, both located in the scenic Elwha Valley area. Elwha Campground is open year round. Altair is open from Memorial Day through Labor Day, but will be closed for the month of July to allow for dam removal-related construction activities.

At time of this posting, details of visitor access to the Elwha Valley during dam removal have not been finalized. Park visitors are encouraged to stop at the Olympic National Park Visitor Center (3002 Mount Angeles Road) in Port Angeles, check online at www.nps.gov/olym or call the park’s current conditions and road information line at 360-565-3131.

PORTLAND, Maine–Experience an insider’s view of the stunning Maine coast in the saddle of a bicycle.

On this tour, offered by Summer Feet Cycling, travelers will cycle through fishing villages, and famous towns while absorbing the breathtaking coastal Maine scenery.

Guests will see Maine as it really is and discover the flavors, colors, and characters that make it totally unique.

Cyclists will dine on delectable lobster and seafood freshly caught from the ocean, sample artisan cheeses, and catch the sunset from the deck of a restored schooner.

Summer Feet’s expert guides lead guests through Acadia National Park, around a picturesque island, and through lush forests to the charming farms that surround Rockport.

There’s also plenty of time off-bike to give travelers the chance to taste, touch, see, and do everything that makes Maine great.

Cyclists can pedal at their own pace, and alternative routes are offered for cyclists based on skill level.

Price: $2195 pp ($500 Single Supplement).

Available Dates: June-October.

www.summerfeet.net

Visiting Brazil in one trip is like visiting the United States in one trip—it’s simply impossible.

For travelers who are on a tight schedule, Southern Explorations has paired two of the country’s most dazzling experiences in a short, but very sweet six-day Brazil tour.

In three glorious days, travelers will experience the grandeur and the glitz that make Rio de Janeiro so fascinating to visit.

Guests will tour the city’s most famous landmarks and get a taste of its cosmopolitan nightlife, spending enough time there to understand why Rio de Janeiro so richly deserves its glamorous reputation.

Travelers then take in Brazilian and Argentine views of Iguaçu Falls, one of the most breathtaking sights in all of South America, that attracts nature photographers from all over the world.

The 275 extraordinary waterfalls of Iguazu, surrounded by lush subtropical rainforest, is a magical place.

These Brazil tours are sure to whet the appetites of the most avid travelers.

www.southernexplorations.com

Dates: February-December. Starting at $2640 per person.

BOZEMAN, Mont–This amazing girlfriend getaway, offered by AdventureWomen, Inc., takes travelers just a short 4.5 hour flight from Boston to explore Iceland’s natural and exotic treasures in the saddle–from the back of an Icelandic horse.

Boasting majestic landscapes, deep fiords, active volcanoes, thundering waterfalls, steaming hot springs, huge glaciers, and ancient Viking history, Iceland is also the home of the free-roaming Icelandic horse, and there is no better way to explore this enchanted land than in the saddle.

Highlights of this tour include experiencing the pleasures of riding the wondrously gaited and friendly Icelandic horse; accommodations in a traditional Icelandic farm/guesthouse in the countryside while savoring hearty, Icelandic food;

riding through dramatic landscapes born of volcanic eruptions and carved by glaciers; exploring the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Thingvellir National Park, where the world’s first parliament was held in the year AD 930;

spending an afternoon at the famous mineral hot pools of the “Blue Lagoon”; and much more. August 14-22, 2011. $3895 ($800 deposit).

For more information visit http://www.adventurewomen.com/trips/tripOverview.aspx?id=86

www.adventurewomen.com

Massages and body treatments are reserved for a treat from the local spa once a year.

Award-winning travel outfitter, Myths and Mountains gives people a reason to get royal treatment on a ‘spacation’ to Ecuador.

Jet off to one of the lushest countries in South America and prepare to be rubbed and scrubbed into complete bliss for nine days. Myths and Mountains accommodate guests in hottest boutique hotels in South America’s oldest capital, Quito.

Travelers can roam the cobblestoned streets visiting architecturally stunning structures of this colonial city.

Venture into the jungle and stay in a luxurious cabin where bubbling thermal pools are steps away.

Then off to the acclaimed Arasha Spa and Resort.

From having a stress relieving aromatic massage, to participating in any one of the many educational eco‐tours, to making chocolate out of cacao seeds, Arasha is an experience that appeals to all senses.

Recognized several times by prestigious international tourism organizations as the finest ecoresort in Ecuador, Arasha is also famous for its impeccable personalized service, exquisite cuisine and exceptional accommodations.

To top it off, travelers have the opportunity to meet with a local jungle shaman to have a very unique spiritual experience. Guests are sure to come home completely refreshed after nine days of R&R.

www.mythsandmountains.com