Summer Travel & Festivals
2018
SUMMER TRAVEL & FESTIVALS
Log Home in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado!
Price Reduced! $525,000
Among the Evergreens and Aspens sits this luxurious log home on 6.20 acres! Gorgeous views of the San Juan Mountains and Black Canyon.
Beautiful touches throughout! Large deck to enjoy spring and summer days. 1 car attached garage, 2 car detached (with upstairs).
3 Bedrooms including a loft. Tile floors and awesome kitchen with dining area, log stair case, vaulted ceilings, pine doors, soaker tub in master, wood cook stove, wood and pellet stoves.
Located in a gated community bordering Uncompahgre National Forest, it’s the perfect sanctuary to call your “home away from home.”
TODAY
Kim Guthrie-Burch
Owner/Managing Broker
1109 Main Street, Delta, CO 81416
970-234-7563 (cell) 970-874-7563 (office)
Don’t Leave Hungry!
We are conveniently located between two national parks on Hwy 191 north of Moab.
435-355-0288
kimguthrie@remax.net www.kgbdeltarealestate.com
Each office independently owned and operated.
When you have time to hunt, fish, hike, camp, watch wildlife or volunteer, you can count on Colorado Parks & Wildlife to help you find adventure.
Colorado Parks & Wildlife A worldwide leader in conservation.
Buy your hunting license, fishing license or parks pass today! COMING SOON, THE CAMEO SHOOTING AND EDUCATION COMPLEX, CPW's 'WORLD-CLASS SHOOTING FACILITY,' LOCATED IN THE GRAND VALLEY!
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LEARN MORE AT CPW.STATE.CO.US Northwest Region Office - 970-255-6100
DON’T WASTE YOUR TIME ON PERFECT
November 29 – December 3, 2017 - OZARK MOUNTAIN CHRISTMAS ! Seven Branson Holiday Shows: Shoji Tabuchi, Lennons & Osmonds, SUMMER TRAVEL & FESTIVALS Branson Belle Showboat, Presleys’ Country Christmas…and more! A Jolly Good Way to begin the Holiday Season!
FULLY ESCORTED TOURS FROM GRAND JUNCTION
May 25 – June 6, 2018 - ALASKA CRUISE / TOUR Wonder at Alaska’s beauty on a 4 night visit to Fairbanks, Denali National Park, and Mt McKinley thenAVAILABILITY Sail-away for 7 — days down the InsidePLACE Passage on the LIMITED RESERVE YOUR NOW!! stunning “Coral Princess” visiting Glacier Bay, Skagway, Juneau & Ketchikan. LAST CALL! CRUISE THE NORWEGIAN FJORDS ONLY 2 SPACES LEFT!!
Most travelers carry too much baggage. One of the best pieces of travel advice I’ve heard is to pack and then leave half the stuff at home. Throughout my years of traveling, I’ve learned that the best thing to bring on vacation is a good attitude. But if you depart with the expectation of a picture-perfect vacation, you might be disappointed.
Traveling has its highs and lows. No matter what mode of transportaTerry Eakle Escorting Custom Tours tion you use, people get sick, luggage gets lost, cars break down, airline from Grand Junction service sucks and Yelp won’t always steer you to a great meal. Since 1985. But looking back on my most memorable travels, the lows seem to fade away. The memories I replay most often were generally unplanned, ordinary and ultimately sublime. On a Caribbean cruise with family and friends we stopped off in Grand Turk. After wandering the beach we ended up at Jimmy Buffet’s Margaritaville restaurant (a definite tourist trap). The hamburger and French fries were forgettable, the beer was Corona, and our large group dined by the busy poolside. While the afternoon was whiled away doing nothing special, we had a great time. I remember everyone in our group was laughing.
DELTARADO DAYS
Aug. 17 - Sept. 2. Call for details and pricing! Previously sold out tour! 14 night cruise aboard the Sapphire Princess.
SPACE IS STILL “BOOK NOW -- WHILENOT THE WEATHER OUTSIDE IS FRIGHTFUL—BUT IN HAWAII! AIN CHRISTMAS !
AVAILABLE!”
November 29 – December 3, 2017 - OZARK MOUNT & Osmonds, Seven Branson Holiday Shows: Shoji Tabuchi, Lennons s…and more! Branson Belle Showboat, Presleys’ Country Christma A Jolly Good Way to begin the Holiday Season!
Jan. 4-14, 2019. 7 Day cruise of the Hawaiian Islands Including a tour of Pearl Harbor and the USS Arizona May 25 – June 6, 2018 - ALASKA CRUISE / TOUR National Park, s, Denali (Skyline Building Wonder at Alaska’s beauty on a 4 night visit to Fairbank the Inside Passage on the Memorial and more! and Mt McKinley then Sail-away for 7 days down & Ketchikan. behind Juneau Skagway, Bay, Glacier visiting stunning “Coral Princess” WW Peppers) for details and pricing!
751 Horizon Court, Suite 249 Grand CALL FOR Junction, CO 81506 • 434-6494 DETAILS & PRICING!
Call
751 Horizon Court, Suite 249 Grand Junction 81506 • 434-6494 (Skyline Building behind WW Peppers)
DELTARADO DAYS Terry Eakle
Escorting Custom Tours from Grand Junction Since 1985.
751 Horizon Court, Suite 249 Grand Junction, CO 81506 • 434-6494
(Skyline Building behind WW Peppers)
July 26-29, 2018 Delta, Colorado July 26-29, 2018
In Rome, my oldest son, Lydon, and I were walking back from the city THURSDAY, JULY 26 Delta, Colorado Rancher Luncheon Sales Yard, 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. center through a small neighborhood. We happened across a delectable • Farmer THURSDAY, JULY 26 Confluence Park, 5:00-7:30 p.m. Barbecue little bakery with a large, beautiful cake in the window. The cake was way • Altrusa • Farmer Rancher Luncheon Delta, more than we could eat, but we bought it anyway, Colorado boxed it up and went • Color Run Sales Confl Yard,uence 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Park, 7:00 p.m. backTHURSDAY, to our hotel. JULY That night, • Altrusa Barbecue 26 a group of tourists from the hotel gath• Movie in the Park Confluence Park, Dusk
July 26-29, 2018
DELTARADO DAYSDAYS DELTARADO 26-29, July July 26-29, 2018 2018
Confluence Park, 5:00-7:30 p.m. ered around an outdoor table to talk and share drinks. (The p.m. hotel had Sales Yard, 11:30 a.m.-1:30 • Farmer Rancher Luncheon 27Run • Color no bar or restaurant.) LydonConfl anduence I contributed ourp.m. cake to the gather- FRIDAY, JULY Park, 5:00-7:30 • Altrusa Barbecue Confluence Park, 7:00 p.m. Roundup Club Arena • Rodeo ing—no• Color plates and utensils—just group of travelers sharing their Confl uence Park, 7:00ap.m. Runno Movie in the Park , 26 7:00 p.m. Bustin’ •• Mutton stories •and eating by theConfl handful. THURSDAY, THURSDAY, JULY 26 JULY uence Park, Dusk Movie incake the Park Confluence Park, Dusk , 8:00Rancher p.m. • Rodeo Sales Yard, 11:30 • Farmer Luncheon Yard, 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. a.m.-1:30 p.m. Luncheon Sales Yes,FRIDAY, the Eiffel Tower is cool, St. Paul’s Cathedral is beautiful, and Mt. Ev- • Farmer Rancher JULY 27 FRIDAY, JULY 27 Confl uence Park, 5:00-7:30 p.m. • Altrusa Barbecue SATURDAY, JULY 28 erest is •big. But trust me, it’sArena those silly, little, unplanned moments with • Altrusa Barbecue Confluence Park, 5:00-7:30 p.m. Roundup Club Rodeo Rodeo Roundup Club Arena Confl uence Park, 7:00 p.m. Color Run • Confluence 7:00 p.m. RunMain • •Color 7:00 p.m. memories. Bustin’ • Mutton people you love that bring the,fondest Street,Park, 10:00 a.m. Parade Mutton Bustin’ , 7:00 p.m . Park, Dusk Confl uence •• Movie in theuence Park • Rodeo, 8:00 p.m. Confl Park, Dusk • •Movie in the Park Confluence Park, 10:00 a.m. Car Show In this guide to Summer Travel & Festivals, we’ve included events both • Rodeo , to follow FRIDAY, 27uence Park, 10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. SATURDAY, JULYall28 FRIDAY, JULY 27 JULY Confl • Vendor Village great and small. Sure, the locals go to the Peach Festival, but why not SATURDAY, JULY 28 Roundup Club Arena • Rodeo Main Street, a.m. One thing I’ve been meaning to do is • •Rodeo ParadeButte Club Arena try the •Crested Arts 10:00 Festival? 4th & Main, 6:00-11:00 p.m. StreetRoundup Dance Mutton Bustin’ • • Parade Main Street • Mutton Bustin’, 7:00 p.m. , , 7:00 p.m. uence Park, a.m. Hundred Gold Mine Tour. • Carinto Show going deep theConfl mountain on 10:00 the Old Rodeo, 8:00 p.m. 10:00 a.m. , 8:00 • SUNDAY,Rodeo JULY 29•p.m. • Vendor Village Confluence Park, 10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. • Car Show Confluence For a little more adventure you can pack up your RV and head to Chama, SATURDAY, JULY 28 • Community ServicePark, • Street Dance 4th & Main, 6:00-11:00 p.m. SATURDAY, JULY 28Church 10:00 a.m. New Mexico, for a delightful ride aboard the Cumbres and Toltec Scenic • Parade Confluence Park 10:00 10:00 a.m. Main Street, 10:00 a.m. • Parade Street, a.m. SUNDAY, JULY 29 •Main Vendor Village Confluence Park, Railroad. This coal-fired steel beast will transport you in comfort along • •Car •Confl Car Show Confl uence Abraham Connection Fundraiser Show11:00 uence Park, 10:00 a.m.Park, 10:00 a.m. a.m.-4:00 p.m. • Community Church Service 64 miles ofConfl Rocky Mountain splendor. You’ll see the west as our forefaConfl uence Park, 10:00 • Vendor Village after church Luncheon uence4th Park,& 10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. a.m.-4:00 p.m. • Vendor •Village uence Park 10:00 a.m. StreetConfl Dance Main , thers did. 4th & Main, 6:00-11:00 p.m. • Street Dance 6:00-11:00 p.m.6:00-11:00 p.m. 4th & Main, • Street Dance • Abraham Connection Fundraiser Luncheon after church While I suggest seeing as much of the worldSUNDAY, SUNDAY, SUNDAY, JULY 29 JULY 29 JULY as possible, the stories and advertisements • Community • Community Church Service • Community Church Service Church Service Confl uence Park10:00 10:00 a.m. a.m. Confluence Park Confluence Park 10:00 a.m. in this special section show you that there’s www.deltacolorado.org •Connection AbrahamConnection Connection Fundraiser • Abraham Fundraiser Fundraiser plenty to experience nearby. Adventure can • Abraham 301 Main St.• Delta, CO • 970-874-8616 after church church Luncheon www.deltacolorado.org Luncheon after after church Luncheon begin right in our back yards—no passport 301 Main St.• Delta, CO • 970-874-8616 required.
Colorado Delta,Delta, Colorado
Kevin VanGundy Publisher, BEACON Senior News
www.deltacolorado.org www.deltacolorado.org www.deltacolorado.org 301 Main St.•• Delta, CO • 970-874-8616 301 Main St.• Delta, 301 MainCO St.•970-874-8616 Delta, CO • 970-874-8616 WWW.BEACONSENIORNEWS.COM | SUMMER 2018 |
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SUMMER TRAVEL & FESTIVALS
Full of hot air
Balloons take to the skies in Steamboat Springs Hot Air Balloon Rodeo Story and photos by Diana Barnett hen the wizard had trouble navigating his balloon in “The Wizard of Oz,” the spark was lit for me! It was my first introduction to hot air balloons. The wizard’s balloon looked dangerous, but beautiful, and fit perfectly with the other colorful, unusual objects and creatures in the movie. It may have started in Kansas, but it seemed straight from Oz.
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festivals across the country provide numerous opportunities. Each July, balloonists across the country visit Colorado for the annual Steamboat Springs Hot Air Balloon Rodeo. “The neat thing about balloons is that they have a magical influence on everybody, no matter what age,” said Debby Standefer, the rodeo’s balloonmeister.
This year’s rodeo, which takes place July 14-15, hosts 25-30 balloons. For Details & Availability Pilots inflate their craft at 6 a.m. in 970 275-5536 the field next to Bald Eagle Lake, dailyhomerentals@gmail.com dailyhomerentals@gmail.com dailyhomerentals@gmail.com and begin liftoff at 6:30 a.m., preVisit Our Website at... ailyhomerentals@gmail.com Visitpared a little competition. OurforWebsite at...
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They take part in a splash and dash event on the lake, where pilots float the balloons low enough to lightly dip their baskets in the water, some going farther than others. Other tasks involve throwing beanbags at a target in the middle of the field— whoever gets closest wins a prize. Then the balloons just float through the air, following the current. Ballooning is dependent upon gentle winds and balloons don’t do well in approaching cold fronts or rain. In the mountains, the winds tend to be varied, light and wispy. Each pilots is constantly watching the other balloons or looking at flags around the town below to see which direction the wind is blowing. Sometimes they’ll spit to check the wind, too. They don’t have control other than going up and down, but are able to use their intuition and experience to know what the winds will do to their craft. The Routt National Forest and its surrounding peaks provide a beautiful backdrop for this amazing event that is entering its 37th season. Red-winged blackbirds and Sandhill cranes lift off alongside the balloons, making for a truly sensory
John Seay’s Western Spirit has one of only 12 hand-painted envelopes (balloons) in the world. occasion. Several pilots return to the Steamboat event again and again. Pat Carter, pilot of Colorado High, has navigated a version of his balloon in the rodeo since 1981. The son of a Colorado ballooning pioneer, Carter travels to several festivals each year and said Steamboat is one of his favorites. “It definitely ranks up there with the absolute top places that I’ve flown,” he said. Another balloon, The Western Spirit, also makes regular appearances. Piloted by Jon T. Seay, Sr., the balloon’s envelope (the part laymen think of as the balloon) is one of only 12 hand-painted envelopes in the world. Seay owns two of them. The Western Spirit fea-
COME Come SEE see US us AT at OUR our NEW new LOCATION location 2122 Hwy. 6 & 50 (on the way to Fruita) HAPPY CAMPING
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SUMMER TRAVEL & FESTIVALS
BALLOON BUCKS
tures eight cowboys, each 40 feet high and created using airbrushing and dyes and took more than 2,000 hours to complete. “I really enjoy the quiet of ballooning and sharing it with people and friends,” said Seay. “It’s great to take people up in the balloon who may not have the chance to do so elsewhere.”
Pilots illuminate their tethered balloons beside Burgess Creek, taking advantage of the amazing views and cooler air. The Candle Stick Glow provides another amazing effect— burners in the balloon baskets ignite and make it look as if a candle is burning beside the creek.
The Smokey Bear balloon, sponsored by the U.S. Forest Service, is an annual favorite. Smokey is so large that he is inflated and launched in a separate area of the rodeo.
Steamboat is full of more than hot air that weekend. Besides the balloons, visitors can enjoy the city’s annual Art in the Park event, which includes more than 150 vendors in Lincoln Park, adjacent to the Yampa River.
The rodeo concludes with the Balloon Glow, a stunning event at the base of the Steamboat ski area.
For more information on events in Steamboat Springs, visit www. steamboatchamber.com. ■
Fridays and Saturdays in June & July 5PM-10PM
your chance to win $100,000 in cash! Rules apply. See Players’ Club for details. Sky Ute Casino Resort reserves the right to modify or cancel promotions at any time without notice. Must be 21 or better to enter casino.
SkyUteCasino.com 888.842.4180 Ignacio, CO YOU’RE A STAR IN OUR SKY!
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SUMMER TRAVEL & FESTIVALS
Verses by the side of the road Do you remember Burma-Shave Signs? By Pat Martin efore the interstate, commuters and travelers were amused by a sequence of clever road signs they saw as they traveled down two-lane highways in the 1920s-60s.
B
Each red sign was spaced about 100 feet apart on the roadside and contained lines of a short, humorous rhyme written in white lettering. The last sign was an advertisement for Burma-Shave, a brushless shaving cream. This advertising gimmick for Burma-Shave, which spanned 40 years, increased the product’s popularity and sales even during the Great Depression and World War II. Signs were positioned all over the country. At the height of the campaign, there were 7,000 sets of signs in 45 states. In addition to the advent of television advertising, the expansion of interstate highways in the 1950s caused signs to gradually disappear from the roadsides because motorists were going too fast to read them. The program came to an end in 1963. This iconic campaign became
Set of signs promoting Burma-Shave on Route 66.
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part of popular culture and was one of the country’s most successful advertising campaigns to date. Signs are now included in museum collections nationwide. For more information on Burma-Shave signs’ history and cultural impact, read “The Verse by the Side of the Road: The Story of the Burma-Shave Signs and Jingles” by Frank Rowsome and Carl Rose.
SPEED WAS HIGH WEATHER WAS NOT TIRES WERE THIN X MARKS THE SPOT AROUND THE CURVE LICKETY-SPLIT BEAUTIFUL CAR WASN’T IT?
Do these bring back memories?
NO MATTER THE PRICE NO MATTER HOW NEW THE BEST SAFETY DEVICE IN THE CAR IS YOU.
DON’T STICK YOUR ELBOW OUT SO FAR IT MAY GO HOME IN ANOTHER CAR
AT INTERSECTIONS LOOK EACH WAY A HARP SOUNDS NICE BUT IT’S HARD TO PLAY
TRAINS DON’T WANDER ALL OVER THE MAP ’CAUSE NOBODY SITS IN THE ENGINEER’S LAP
BOTH HANDS ON THE WHEEL EYES ON THE ROAD THAT’S THE SKILLFUL DRIVER’S CODE
DROVE TOO LONG DRIVER SNOOZING WHAT HAPPENED NEXT IS NOT AMUSING
THE ONE WHO DRIVES WHEN HE’S BEEN DRINKING DEPENDS ON YOU TO DO HIS THINKING
BROTHER SPEEDER LET’S REHEARSE ALL TOGETHER GOOD MORNING, NURSE
PASSING SCHOOL ZONE TAKE IT SLOW LET OUR LITTLE SHAVERS GROW. ■
SUMMER TRAVEL & FESTIVALS
Amazing Cave Tours
•
scenic tram
life is short. ride long.
•
mountain-top dining with a view
Let’s not mess around. Let’s get on board the longest and highest narrow gauge railroad in the nation. Let’s take America’s best scenic train ride from Antonito, Colorado or Chama, New Mexico. See the unspoiled West. Feel the rails underneath us. Listen to the steam whistle. The modern world can wait until we’re good and sooty and done.
•
Senior DiscountS and packages! (65 and older)
book now at cumbrestoltec.com 1-888-286-2737
Glenwood Springs, CO
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YOUR DAY INCLUDES THE RIDE, LUNCH AND A SOFT DRINK.
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SUMMER TRAVEL & FESTIVALS Mike the Headless Chicken
Fruita Farmers Market
Palisade Bluegrass & Roots Festival
Paonia Cherry Days
June 1-2 Civic Center Park, Fruita, CO 970-858-0360 www.miketheheadlesschicken.org
June 23-September 15 Civic Center Park, Fruita, CO 970-858-3894 www.fruitachamber.org/ fruita-farmers-market
June 8-10 Riverbend Park, Palisade, CO 970-464-5602 www.palisademusic.com
July 3-4 Paonia, CO 970-527-3886 www.paoniacherrydays.com
Country Jam
Colorado Lavender Festival
June 14-17 1065 Highway 6 & 50, Mack, CO 856-821-9210 www.countryjam.com
Strawberry Days
June 29-July 1 Veterans Memorial Park Palisade, CO 800-962-2547 www.coloradolavender.org
June 15-17 Sayre Park 1702 Grand Ave. Glenwood Springs, CO 970-945-6589 www.glenwoodchamber.com/ events-programs
Crested Butte Wildflower Festival
Telluride Bluegrass Festival
Montrose County Fair & Rodeo
June 21-24 Telluride Town Park, Telluride, CO 800-624-2422 www.bluegrass.com/telluride
Downtown Farmers Market June 21-September 13 Downtown, Grand Junction, CO 970-245-9697 www.downtowngj.org
Summ FESTIV
8 1 0 2
July 6-15 Crested Butte, CO 970-349-2571 www.crestedbuttewildflower festival.com
July 23-28 Montrose County Fairgrounds 1001 N. Second St., Montrose, CO 970-252-4358 www.montrosecountyfairand rodeo.com
Mesa County Fair
July 24-28 Mesa County Fairgrounds 2785 US Hwy 50, Grand Junction, CO 970-255-7107 www.mesacountyfair.com
Deltarado Days
July 26-29 Delta, CO 970-874-8616 www.deltacolorado.org
Carbondale Mountain Fair
Local Produce. Handmade Goods. Live Music. Know your Farmer, Know Your Food Saturday Mornings 8:30am-12:30pm
June 23rdSeptember 15th
Civic Center Park in Fruita, Colorado Follow us on Facebook @FruitaFarmersMarket Contact Us: 970.858.3894 fruitachamber.org • info@fruitachamber.org We are dog friendly as long as they are kept on a leash.
We proudly accept EBT/ Double Up Food Bucks
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July 27-29 Carbondale, CO 970-963-1680 www.carbondalearts.com/ mountain-fair
Garfield County Fair & Rodeo July 30-August 5 Garfield County Fairgrounds 1001 Railroad Ave., Rifle, CO 970-625-2514 www.garfieldcountyfair.com
Telluride Jazz Festival August 3-5 Telluride Town Park, Telluride, CO 970-728-8037 www.telluridejazz.org
Crested Butte Arts Festival
August 3-5 Crested Butte, CO 970-349-1184 www.crestedbutteartsfestival.com
Olathe Sweet Corn Festival
August 4 Olathe, CO 970-765-0481 www.olathesweetcornfest.com
mer VALS
Palis ade Peach Fe stiv
al
SUMMER TRAVEL & FESTIVALS
Palisade Peach Festival
August 16-19 Riverbend Park, Palisade, CO 970-464-7458 www.palisadepeachfest.com
North Fork Valley Art & Ag Tour September 1 Paonia, Crawford & Hotchkiss 970-683-0683 www.northforkcreative.org
Meeker Classic Sheepdog Championship Trials September 5-9 Meeker, CO 970-878-0111 www.meekersheepdog.com
Colorado Mountain Winefest September 13-16 Riverbend Park, Palisade 970-464-0111 www.coloradowinefest.com
Fruita Fall Festival
September 21-23 Downtown Fruita, Fruita, CO 970-858-3894 www.fruitafallfestival.com
Color ado Mountain Wine fest
Mountain Harvest Festival
September 27-30 Town Park, Paonia, CO 970-872-3226 www.mountainharvestfestival.com
Sneffels Fiber Festival
Delta County Fair
August 5-12 Delta County Fairgrounds 405 S. Fourth St., Hotchkiss, CO 970-872-2161 www.deltacountyfair.com
September 29-October 1 Ouray County Fairgrounds’ 4H Center 22739 US-550, Ridgway, CO 970-318-0150 www.sneffelsfiberfest.com
Downtown Art Festival
October 5-6 Downtown Grand Junction, CO 970-245-9697 www.downtowngj.org
Ridgway Rendezvous Arts & Crafts Festival August 11-12 Ridgway Hartwell Town Park, Ridgway, CO 970-318-8506 www.ridgwayrendezvous.com
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SUMMER TRAVEL & FESTIVALS
Come sail away
River cruise on the Rhine A Round & Cart for $35! AT THE UNIQUE & CHALLENGING CEDAREDGE GOLF CLUB
Bring in this ad and enjoy a round with your group for only $35 per person including cart.
Call 9 7 0 - 8 5 6 - 7 7 8 1 for Tee Times
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THAI FOOD
Coming Soon to Orchard Mesa! The best authentic Thai Cuisine served with a smile
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Walk-in, Take-out, Special Events and Parties OPENING IN JUNE
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I
belied its name. It was so lush and verdant that I wondered if the famed mountainous region in southwest Germany needed rebranding.
The plan? We’d travel on the Rhine through Germany from the gateway city of Basel, Switzerland to Amsterdam on the Viking Hlin (pronounced “lin”), covering four countries in eight days.
Motor coaches and river cruising go together like German beer and weinerschnitzel. When destination hot spots aren’t near a port, a motor coach gets you there. But European roads can be winding. If you’re prone to motion sickness, that’s where Dramamine might come in handy.
Story and photos by Sandra Gordon recently had the chance to sail with a friend on the Rhine Getaway, one of Viking’s most popular river cruises.
I imagined leaving my laptop behind, lounging on the deck, enjoying lavish meals and cocktails and maybe the spa. After all, cruising has that reputation and I was a newbie. But like siblings bestowed with slightly different sets of DNA, river cruising proved to be its own entity. While ocean cruises focus on the amenities of the ship, such as the pool and the fitness center, river cruises are more about the easy access the ship offers to the world’s top destinations, with accommodations, food and transfers taken care of for you.
SMOOTH SAILING
After setting sail in Basel that first night, the Viking Hlin traveled 60 miles overnight to Briesach, Germany. The Hlin, a longship designed for Europe’s grand rivers rather than an ocean, was like a duck gliding on the surface, with its four rudders and electric engine working hard below to quietly propel us forward. Other than seeing the passing riverbank outside my well-appointed stateroom, I couldn’t tell we were moving. On river cruises, motion sickness isn’t an issue. At every river cruise port, Viking offers a complimentary shore excursion, such as a guided walking tour. On our first day, the freebie was a trip by motor coach (Viking’s privately-owned tour buses) to Hofgut Sternen, a tourist village known for its cuckoo clocks and Black Forest cake. On the ride, the Black Forest
TASTE THE BEST OF ALSACE
The next morning, five of us motor coached from Kehl, Germany, where the boat had sailed overnight, to Strasbourg, France, in the historic region of Alsace just a few miles away. In Strasbourg, we met up with Valerie of Food and City Tours, who led us on a seven-hour Alsatian walking food tour through the city’s cobblestoned streets ($150 per person). On Viking river cruise ships, guests can book add-on excursions. Our foodie frenzy turned out to be a cruise highlight and well worth the splurge. After tasting dry and sweet Alsatian pinot noirs at a local wine shop, we sat down at a restaurant for tartes flames/flammenkuchen, the national Sunday dinner dish. The open-face tarte is made with thin bread dough traditionally topped with fromage blanc, onion and bacon, and baked in minutes in a 750 degree wood-fired oven.
HEIDELBERG: A COLLEGE TOWN ON STEROIDS
Day three brought us to Heidelberg, our next stop along the Rhine. Home to Heidelberg University, the town is Germany’s nerd epicenter, according to Will, an American philosophy PhD graduate candidate from Arkansas, and our prolific tour guide. Because Heidelberg wasn’t bombed during World War II, it’s a historic archi-
SUMMER TRAVEL & FESTIVALS tecture mecca. We toured Schloss Heidelberg, a castle with its grass moat, and imagined the tigers that once filled it over 300 years ago. Heidelberg castle is home to the world’s largest wine barrel, a 250-year-old vat shaped from 130 oak trees that once held 50,000 gallons of wine. Will said wine was safer to drink than water in the Middle Ages.
CASTLE CONVENTION
Midway through our cruise, the Hlin took us on a scenic tour of the castles along the Middle Rhine, from Koblenz to Rudesheim. It was a chilly and cloudy day on the upper deck, but Candi, our cruise director, brought the region to life with castle commentary over the loudspeaker. Day five took us to Marksburg Castle, a 700-year old hilltop fortress that offered fantastic views of the Rhine Valley from its 550-foot perch. We set out to imagine knights in armor and life in the Middle Ages by touring the citadel’s impressive rooftop herb garden and cavernous rooms, including its eerie torture chamber and impressive kitchen and bedrooms.
CLIMBING THE DOM
The next morning, we disembarked in Cologne, Germany’s oldest city. We followed our tour guide, Udo, to Cologne’s magnificent Gothic Cathedral (“Dom”), with its pointed arches, beautiful stained glass windows and two soaring spires, one deliberately higher than the other by seven centimeters “because the only perfect thing in the world is God,” Udo said. From the ground, the Cathedral’s spires appeared close to God and impassibly pointy. But Udo said the second spire was navigable—just 533 stairs from top to bottom so I took the challenge. With all the touring and now the cathedral climb, river cruising was turning out to offer plenty of exercise. The Hlin didn’t have a gym, pool or spa—though the top deck did sport a
walking/jogging track. But who needs it when the world is your workout?
AWARD-WINNING CHEESE
After sailing overnight, we docked in Gorinchem, the Netherlands, which turned out to be another favorite stop on the Rhine. It was an overcast day, the kind Dutch take in stride. Like rain on your wedding day bringing good luck, the Dutch have an expression: “As long as the sun is shining in your heart, the rain will stop.” Rainfall in the Netherlands averages 145 days per year. In the birthplace of gouda (pronounced “howda”), we motor coached through Holland’s lush countryside to Booij Kaasmakers, a family artisanal, small-batch cheese farm near Rotterdam. There, we met Marika, a young cheesemaker who took over her grandmother’s operation. Ten of us sampled her award-winning gouda, the product of a recipe that has been in the family for generations.
supremely convenient way to travel through Europe, we could focus on just taking it all in rather than on the trip’s logistics, such as hiring our own tour guides or getting from country to country. On the Viking Hlin, guests are typically aged 55-75. But don’t let that stop you if you’re older or younger. “When you share an interest in history and culture, it doesn’t matter how old you are,” said Armin Herman, the Hlin’s hotel manager. With so much to see and do, we didn’t spend much of our free time in our staterooms, which were as upscale as you might imagine on a cruise ship. They featured a streamlined Scandinavian aesthetic and nice
touches, such as a 40-inch flat-screen TV, Wi-Fi access, a refrigerator, hair dryer, a heated floor in the bathroom and a hotel-style bed with luxurious linens and pillows. The cuisine was gourmet. We ate most our meals on board. Viking Hlin chef Mladen Arezina orchestrated meals that included beautifully presented fish, meat and vegetarian options and a taste of the local cuisine. The cost of the Rhine Getaway itinerary started at $2,649 plus air travel. Discounts and promotions may be available at various times of the year. The Rhine River season runs from April to November. For information, visit www.viking rivercruises.com ■
Holland’s plentiful rainfall helps the grass grow, which keeps the milk cows happy and the gouda creamy.
THE WINDMILLS OF KINDERDIJK
After a short ride on our motor coach, we found ourselves in Kinderdijk with its 19 historic windmills. Twelve million people live on half the country, which is below sea level. In conjunction with the Delta Law, passed in 1959 to protect all Netherlands residents from floods, the windmills of Kinderdijk have an important job: to pump water from one side of the dike to another to prevent flooding. The windmills have a 90-foot blade span and spin at a max of 120 miles per hour. They’re also for rent. Families live in 16 of them, though the wait list is a decade long!
The Rhine River
CRUISE TRIP TIPS
Overall, the Rhine Getaway was geekier than I expected, which is not a bad thing—I learned a lot! I enjoyed this maiden voyage much more than I anticipated, and because it was a
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SUMMER TRAVEL & FESTIVALS
Friendships around the world By C.J. Payton
Travel abroad, broaden your thinking and step outside your comfort zone. These are principles that members of Friendship Force International (FFI) live by while promoting global understanding and bringing together a network of individuals seeking to make friends and overcome differences. › Right: Sue Palmer, left, with Russian FFI members in Moab. Below: Grand Junction FFI members with Austrian hosts in Vienna.
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n 1977, President Jimmy Carter endorsed FFI, asking governors to return to their state and choose a volunteer leader to serve as a state director for the nonprofit. First Lady Rosalyn Carter was an honorary chairperson of the national organization until 2002. Today, FFI has more than 15,000 active members in more than 60 countries.
OUTBOUND JOURNEYS The local FFI chapter was established in Grand Junction in 1986. Members plan an international journey every year, usually at a reduced rate, and stay with fellow FFI clubs to learn about their country or region first-hand. Sue Palmer took her first trip to Fortaleza, Brazil in 2005. Her hosts greeted her and a friend at the
airport and escorted them to their home. Palmer learned many things about Brazilian culture in the week she stayed there, like how it’s not uncommon for locals to sleep in hammocks to stay cool from the night’s heat because most buildings are without air conditioning. Breakfast and evenings are typically spent with the host, while daytime activities are spent with the group. The host club or family provides most meals and organizes a number of sightseeing activities based on the group’s list of desires and preferences.
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FFI members are considered ambassadors to their country and are expected to be courteous and respectful of the culture and customs of the host country. Prospective members are vetted, interviewed and screened to ensure the safety of all FFI ambassadors. “You don’t have to be an extrovert to be an ambassador,” Palmer said. “Just have an open mind to other people.”
MAKE NEW FRIENDS
Palmer, who travels with FFI almost every year, insisted there is no better way to learn about the history of other cultures, countries and people. Travelers don’t need to know the language of the country they’re visiting. Most people are able to communicate using hand gestures or translation books, but they can also look to the volunteer translator who accompanies every journey abroad.
Verna Bunn, an active FFI member for nearly 30 years, has learned through many exchanges that all people generally want the same thing.
INBOUND JOURNEYS
This year, local FFI members are traveling to Haliburton Highlands, Ontario, Canada, in June, and will host a group from Birmingham, Alabama in October. Annual membership is $35.
The local club also has opportunities to host visiting FFI members from other regions and countries. Typically, visiting clubs want to see the Grand Mesa and Colorado National Monument, travel to Moab and Mesa Verde, tour area museums and local wineries, and go shopping. One visiting club from Russia wanted to meet the mayor and local commissioners, while another group from Ukraine wanted
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to make nightly trips to Walmart.
“We want to raise our families, be happy and productive in the community, have great friends and work to get the things we would like and need,” she said. “We realize differences in our countries’ politics are somewhat beyond our control.”
To learn more, visit www.ffwcolo. com, call Palmer at 260-4653 or drop in at FFI’s monthly meetings at 6:15 p.m. on the third Thursday at First Baptist Church, 720 Grand Ave. in Grand Junction. ■
SUMMER TRAVEL & FESTIVALS
“You want to enjoy a vacation and know you’re not paying for it for years to come,” said Alexander Joyce, a retirement planner in Indiana. “Going for the beach vacation or somewhere special is always something wonderful, as is spending time with the family. But at the same time, if the budget isn’t friendly, maybe you should go somewhere closer and for a shorter time.” He suggested customizing your vacation with regard to both your current financial status and with an eye on not hurting your future. Joyce gives five ways to plan a summer vacation without wrecking your financial situation: Don’t touch retirement funds. “Stay away from those retirement savings accounts—401(k)s, IRAs— as a way to pay for expensive vacations,” he said. “As much as we like to say vacationing is a hot priority, so is saving long term.” Budget honestly. Many people do not vacation within their means, as the Experian survey shows. Joyce said planning and sticking with a budget is a must to avoid financial issues down the road. “You should be disciplined enough to build that budget and stay true to it,” he said. “It’s difficult to do,
Avoid spending traps. These often leisurely activities, such as dining out, massages and golf, happen all the time, and are often spontaneous.
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Joyce advised to plan ahead and decide on trade offs. “Consider eating at more affordable restaurants,” he said. “Have a good idea in advance what are some good-value family activities and what is wasting money.” Avoid using your credit card. The Experian survey showed families charge an average of $1,250 on their credit cards for summer vacations. “Try not to use your credit card the entire trip,” Joyce said. “If you do, pay it off with no interest. Going into debt for a vacation should never be part of your plan.” Skip the travel agent. Many people turn to travel agents at an extra expense to plan a trip. Plotting your every move may be difficult, but the more research you do ahead of time, the better prepared you are to experience the kind of vacation you can all enjoy and afford. “You know your budget better than a travel agent,” Joyce said, “and it’s fun as a family to explore what you want to do.”
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Joyce said a lot of people come back from vacation and are already filled with regret, wondering, “Why did we spend so much money?” “Trimming down one vacation smartly could mean you can afford the bigger one the next summer,” he said. “Now that’s worth it.” ■
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SUMMER TRAVEL & FESTIVALS
Surviving Disney with the grandkids Disney expert offers advice for planning the ultimate vacation By Jan Weeks
The grandkids beg, wheedle and whine: “Grandpa, I wanna go to Disney World!” Where they imagine princesses, thrill rides and suitcases full of mouse ears and T-shirts, visions of crowded flights, dollars flying out of your wallet, and placating exhausted little ones dance through your head. What to do? Sign up for Megan Englund’s class, “Your Ultimate Guide to Planning a Magical Disney Vacation.”
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nglund is no stranger to theme parks, either as a Certified Disney Planner or as a guest. “I’ve been going to Walt Disney World and Disneyland since I was a child,” she said. “We took my daughter on her first Disney adventure when she was 16 months old.” It’s obvious that Englund loves experiencing and teaching others how to make the most out of a theme vacation. In her classes, Englund shows adults, especially seniors, how to plan and take trips that everyone will enjoy. She personalizes the class by meeting with learners afterward to find out what they want out of the trip and offers advice based on their wishes. She’ll even give them a free quote. “As an authorized Disney vacation planner, I can help with booking their trips, giving them notice of sales and special promotions, as well as customized packing lists and other suggestions,” she said. And there is no fee to use her services. “When I help plan a trip for someone, it feels like I’m taking the trip, too,” she said. Disney World Resort is made up of several different theme parks, including Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, Hollywood Studios and Epcot Center. Disneyland and Disney California Ad-
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venture are two neighboring parks, and include themed lands that are included in the price of admission, such as Disneyland’s Main Street, U.S.A., Tomorrowland, Mickey’s Toontown, and Adventureland, and California Adventure’s Hollywood Land, Grizzly Peak and Pacific Wharf. So many choices, so little time! It’s easy to move from fun to overwhelming. Englund takes you back to fun by showing you how to navigate the immense parks and keep your sanity. “It’s important to know your kids’ limits,” she said. While it’s possible to take toddlers and younger children, it’s a lot of stress on adults to keep track of them. It’s more fun if they’re somewhat self-sufficient, she said, which they usually are when they’re at least 10 years old. Some of Englund’s helpful suggestions include buying a fast pass at Disney World, which lets you skip lines on three rides per day per park; go during cooler weather, usually between November and February; and prepay for dining at any restaurant in the park. She also recommends making plans ahead of time instead of just showing up and hoping for the best. The most important tip she offers is for adults and children alike to take time off in the afternoon to go back to the hotel, nap, have some food, recoup energy and perhaps take a dip in the pool.
She also has a lot of money-saving tips, such as asking for free ice water at any of the fast food places instead of buying bottles of water, and having food delivered to your hotel by Amazon or Garden Grocers, and stocking fruit, fixin’s for PBJs, and snacks in your hotel room. “I show people how to create the perfect vacation plan that allows them to truly relax and have fun. I can help them take the headache out of planning the perfect Disney vacation,” she said. Englund said the best thing about her job is making it possible for grandparents to take their grandchildren on a vacation that celebrates life. She said even though such a trip can be expensive, it’s worth it. She recalled working with a client who planned to leave a small inheritance and decided instead to make memories with his grandchildren. Money goes quickly, but memories last forever. ■
Your Ultimate Guide to Planning a Magical Disney Vacation The cost to take Englund’s class is $29. To sign up for any of the following classes or for more information, call Western Colorado Community College at 255-2600 or visit www.coloradomesa.edu/wccc/ community-education Saturday, June 2, 9-10:30 a.m. Saturday, June 23, 9-10:30 a.m. Tuesday, July 10, 5:30-7 p.m. Saturday, July 28, 9-10:30 a.m.
SUMMER TRAVEL & FESTIVALS
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