Jetsettersblog

SHERIDAN, Wyo.- As the air turns crisp and the trees show their colors, it’s a reminder that Autumn is the perfect time to visit one of American Cowboy’s “Best Places to Live in the West.” In northern Wyoming, the historic town of Sheridan has an adventure for every taste.

Lovers of history and western culture will enjoy a trolley tour through the Historic Main Street District.

There are 46 buildings on the National Register of Historic Places including the Sheridan Inn, which was once co-owned by Buffalo Bill.

The Flemish Revival style mansion at Trail End State Historic Park shows a glimpse into the life of an early twentieth century cowboy turned Senator and Governor, John B. Kendrick. Frontier battle sites and forts show a different side of the Wild West’s past.

Just outside of town, the majestic Big Horn Mountains call to campers, hikers, hang gliders, horseback riders, photographers, and outdoorsmen.

Listed in Outdoor Life’s “Top 200 Towns for Sportsmen” for the last three years, Sheridan has an outdoor adventure for thrill seekers and naturalists alike. Fall is the perfect time to see the abundant wildlife, try one of these Wildlife Tour Itineraries.

Patrons of the arts will have plenty to see between Vaudeville-style shows at the WYO Theater, 30 sites of public art on the self-guided ‘Art on Display’ tour, and the paintings from famous American artists at the Bradford Brinton Memorial Museum. Of course the beauty of the area during the fall may inspire travelers to pickup paintbrushes and cameras themselves.

This fall take a trip to this historic, adventurous, artistic, and award-winning destination. Sheridan offers a variety of accommodations for quaint cottages and rustic camp sites to larger hotels and cozy B&Bs.

Media Contact: Penny Becker, 307-673-7120, stt@sheridanwyoming.org

BAR HARBOR, Maine- Highway 1 follows the coast from Portland through adorable New England towns to Bar Harbor.

The ocean flashes past the passenger windows and leaves in goldenrod, rust, and ruby are on the driver’s side. Est. distance 160 miles

Stop: Quaint farm markets offer local produce and flowers along the way- perfect for a quick lunch.

Stay: There are many beautiful B&Bs here, as well as private cottages, boutique hotels, and campsites. Chiltern Inn is a romantic B&B located on an historic Victorian estate and includes sophisticated touches.

Moseley Cottage Inn is a former summer home for a 19th century Boston Banker and now offers 9 cozy rooms. The Blue Nose and Bayview hotels offer special fall packages for couples and families.

Eat: Looking Glass Restaurant has extraordinary views of Acadia National Park and Frenchman’s Bay on a hilltop at the site of May Roberts Rinehart’s old estate.

For something different try Havana, which boasts one of Maine’s best wine lists.

Play: See Acadia from sea or sky take a bi-plane/glider or kayak/sail boat tour for a different view. If visiting September 22-26 make plans to join the fun at the Acadia Night Sky Festival. The festival includes activities such as night sky photography workshops, celestial navigation boat cruises, star parties in Acadia National Park, an inflatable sky lab, and ranger guided night hikes. Learn more at www.acadianightskyfestival.com
www.barharborinfo.com

JUNEAU, Alaska – Why go south when the weather cools? Travel north where the fall activities are still abundant in Juneau.

Mild temperatures and fewer crowds mean that you get more bang for your buck when you venture forth. September and October offer a multitude of things to see and do in and around Juneau.

Travelers to Alaska’s capital city can enjoy a vibrant arts and adventure destination during every season.

Most summer activities are available in September, such as canoeing and kayaking in the beautiful glacial lakes or calm ocean passages and ziplining through the lush forest.

Experience whale watching surrounded by spectacular scenery, an incredible floatplane flight to a remote lodge for a feast, or a helicopter ride to walk on a glacier.

During October, explore the beauty of this unique landscape by visiting the famous Mendenhall Glacier or hike through the mountains or along the coast.

Rather stay indoors? Juneau has a rich cultural community that is fully alive throughout the year.

Stimulate the senses and renew the spirit with an array of performing and visual arts.

Or learn more about the history of the area in the museums and the capitol. To round out the Juneau experience, great shopping and incredible dining are available year-round.

ESTES PARK, Colo.- Fall is a beautiful time in northern Colorado with mountains covered in gold and terracotta colored trees.

Imagine going on the annual company retreat somewhere spectacular, where sitting in a conference room could be exchanged for a waterfall hike through golden aspen trees.

A place where your family could come and enjoy their own vacation with an archery range, arts and crafts center, mountain biking trails, mini and disc golf courses, indoor pool, even a roller skating rink. Just outside Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado, YMCA of the Rockies two resort-style conference centers offer a natural setting for groups of all sizes.

YMCA of the Rockies staff can help plan custom programming with activities including icebreaker activities, team building on the high and low ropes courses, nature hikes and snowshoe trips in nearby Rocky Mountain National Park, a softball field, sand volleyball courts, family fun activities, and evening campfire rings. Depending on your group’s size, participants can share large family-reunion style cabins, enjoy the privacy of traditional hotel-style lodgings, or try the rustic yurt village. Larger cabins come with fully equipped kitchens while lodge rooms typically include meal plans at on-site dining facilities.

Learn more about YMCA of the Rockies 870 acre Estes Park Center and 5,100 acre Snow Mountain Ranch at www.ymcarockies.org

CODY, Wyo.- Now that the kids have gone back to school, it’s time for a grownup vacation.

Whether looking for a getaway with the girls, a bit of adventure, or a romantic retreat, specialty weeks and packages on dude ranches offer it all. Here are a few ideas to get the decision process started:

Wine Tasting- For a culinary excursion, try a Taste of the West Weekend at Smith Fork Ranch in Crawford, Colorado.

This three night weekend stay includes evening wine tasting, cooking classes with Chef Seth Bateman, five course dinners with wine pairings, and a half day adventure (to work build up your appetite).

Cowgirl Camp- Rancho de la Osa, just outside of Tucson, helps get the girls in a cowgirl state of mind during their annual Cowgirl Camp. Perfect for mothers and daughters or a group of gals looking for an adventure, this four night retreat includes horseback riding along desert trails, herding cattle, barrel racing, and building confidence on the ranch.

Romance- The first weeks of September and October are for couples-only at Red Reflect Ranch in Ten Sleep, Wyoming.

Couples can rekindle their romance with adventurous afternoons riding or at the range, relaxing with massages, sightseeing from a plane tour, or snuggling in the HD theater.

The toughest decision each day may be choosing from their extensive wine and beer lists during dinner.

The Dude Ranchers Association has been helping travelers find their perfect ranch match based on location, amenities, ranch style, and riding since the mid- 1920s.

Only ranches of the highest quality are invited to attempt the rigorous DRA membership application process. Today over 100 guest and working ranches across the western U.S. and Canada can proudly boast membership status.

www.duderanch.org

FRANKFORT, Ky. – Two Kentucky State Parks in Eastern Kentucky will offer guests a unique wildlife viewing opportunity this fall and winter – elk tours.

Visitors to Jenny Wiley State Resort Park and Buckhorn Lake State Resort Park can choose a weekend, stay at a state park lodge or cottage, and wake up early to enjoy one of these unique tours.

Participants should bring their cameras – there will be great photography opportunities.

The largest elk herds are located on privately owned lands that are normally closed to the public.

This is one of the few opportunities available for the public to see the greatest number of elk.

The return of elk to the region is considered to be one of Kentucky’s biggest wildlife management success stories.

The animals, after being gone from the state for 150 years, were returned in 1997.

They now number around 10,000.

For more information about these special tours, visit http://migration.kentucky.gov/newsroom/parks/elktours2011.htm

GRAND CANYON, Ariz.–The fall season brings good things for travelers who want to visit one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World—the Grand Canyon.

Spanning nearly 280 river miles in length and ranging from 10 to 18 miles wide rim to rim and dropping up to a mile deep in places, this is truly an awe-inspiring Canyon to behold, and visiting in September and October brings fewer crowds and cooler temperatures, making it an ideal time to visit.

Some like to hike it and others like to bike it, but taking a Grand Canyon rafting trip gives travelers the chance to experience the Canyon “from the bottom up”, a perspective that is simply not replaceable.

Aside from rafting exhilarating rapids and making new friends, the side canyon hikes are marvelous and camping under the stars is glorious—especially in the cooler fall air.

Arizona River Runners offers 3-day to 13-day Grand Canyon rafting adventures—some trips are still available for September and October 2011.

www.raftarizona.com

WELLINGTON, Colo. – The 2011 season has been a banner year for fly fisherman in Colorado, and the best is yet to come.

Autumn brings scenic displays of fall color, elk filled meadows, and prime fishing conditions in the alpine streams and lakes of Rocky Mountain National Park.

The expert guides at Atkinson Expeditions are ready to turn your dreams of a perfect fall fly fishing trip in the Rockies into reality.

With 400,000 acres and more than 147 trout-filled lakes and rivers, Rocky Mountain National Park is a true paradise for anglers.

RMNP is one of few places in Colorado where anglers can catch the entire “Colorado Grand Slam” – Greenback Cutthroat Trout (Colorado’s state fish), Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout and Brook Trout. Atkinson offers fishermen everything from scenic half-day wades to idyllic multiday horse pack trips through the backcountry, and they are happy to accommodate groups of any size, skill level, and age.

Every trip includes a highly qualified guide to help you find the best fishing spots, tie the right flies, improve your cast, and ensure a memorable experience on the water.

Atkinson Expeditions can build a Rocky Mountain fly fishing trip to suit any desire. Private day-trips start at $150 per person, multiday backpacking trips start at $200/day per person with a two person minimum, and horseback trips start at $330/day per person with a two person minimum. Atkinson provides a highly qualified certified guide, waders, meals/snacks/drinks, and a complimentary CD with photos from the day’s adventure.

For novice anglers, Atkinson partners with Elkhorn Rod & Reel for pre-trip fly fishing gear rentals and sales.

To book a trip call 970-568-9667, email wes@atkinsonexpeditions.com , or visit www.atkinsonexpeditions.com

County Kerry, Ireland–The cooler weather, fewer crowds, and great travel deals make fall an ideal time to visit Ireland, and Go Visit Ireland is now offering a 10% discount on their fall guided walking tours like their popular “Hidden Kerry” walking tour.

This unique tour takes travelers on an up close and personal exploration of Southwest Ireland in County Kerry to experience some of the best coastal scenery and National Park walks in Ireland.

Travelers will walk four legs of the famous Kerry Way walking trail, journeying on old coach and “butter roads”, which take them from the Atlantic Ocean on the shore of Dingle Bay, through the wild valleys of Mid Kerry and along to Killarney National Park.

The experience of travelling through Ireland on foot while conjure up images of a traditional culture and will be complemented by superb views, unique flora and fauna, and a landscape imbued with folklore.

Some highlights of this Ireland tour include exploration of Glenbeigh, a picturesque and vibrant village by the Atlantic ocean, a trip to award-winning Rossbeigh Beach, an authentic exploration of the town of Killarney, known for its famous national park and traditional music, absorbing the sights and sounds of Killarney National Park, and a boat trip on the Lakes of Killarney.

Other highlights include an optional visit to 19th century Muckross House and Gardens, a spectacular coastal walk that overlooks Dingle Bay, an optional boat trip to the ancient Skellig Islands, traditional Irish music, dance, and food, and much more.

For a limited time, Go Visit Ireland is eliminating the single supplements for tours on May, June, and September departures for this special offer. Departure dates are available through October. Prices start at: $925, before discount.

www.govisitireland.com

 This fall rafting enthusiasts can join Echo River Trips on an expedition down Nepal’s Karnali River.

The Karnali is world famous for its scenery, culture, and adventure, with raging class IV rapids, interesting people, and lush forests full of deer, leopards, tigers and monkeys.

Rafters will get to experience 7 days in the pristine ecosystem of the Karnali river, a beautiful river fed by snowmelt from the Himalayan Mountains.

The river flows through beautiful Hymalayan landscapes and sparsely populated areas, providing plenty of opportunity for solitude and reflection.

When not on the river, the group will spend time taking in the fascinating and beautiful city of Kathmandu.

There will be plenty of time to meet with the locals, explore beautiful Buddhist temples, and venture into the local markets to go shopping for textiles and trinkets.

In 2011, ECHO River Trips will be offering a single departure on the Karnali, a 15-day Class III-IV trip departing October 1 – October 15, 2011.

The trip is priced at $2400 per person excluding airfare to Kathmandu.

The trip will feature 7 days on the river, 5 days on cultural tours in Kathmandu, and 3 days of travel. Visit http://www.echotrips.com/nepal/  for more information or to book a trip.
www.echotrips.com