Visit Telluride, Colorado

A FRIEND OF MINE WHO IS A PART OF THE BLUEGRASS BAND, FIRESIDE COLLECTIVE, EMBARKED ON A JOURNEY A COUPLE MONTHS AGO FROM THE OUTER BANKS TO THE GREAT STATE OF COLORADO WITH THE FINAL DESTINATION BEING TELLURIDE.

THEIR MOTIVATION: TO PLAY FOR THE DEVOTE BLUE GRASS FANS AT THE FAMED BLUEGRASS MUSIC FESTIVAL.

MISSION ACCOMPLISH, THEY ROCKED THE HOUSE AND LIVED OUT THEIR DREAM - ALL WHILE PLAYING GIGS FROM NASHVILLE, WICHITA, TO KANSAS CITY!  I AM SO INCREDIBLY PROUD OF YALL :) YOU CAN LEARN MORE OF THEIR ADVENTURE HERE.

As I followed their adventure to the Centennial State, my desire to visit Telluride, Colorado has only increased and I want to share with you all the beauty of Telluride!

Two Towns. One Amazing Experience.
It is a place of legend, nestled at the end of a lush canyon and surrounded by some of Colorado’s most rugged peaks. Nowhere else in the country, or perhaps the world, does such a place exist.  To some, we are known for incredible alpine skiing. To others, summers full of cultural events and endless outdoor activities.  By everyone, we are embraced for our authentic mountain character, unpretentious attitude, and celebration of four seasons of adventure in the most beautiful spot of the Rocky Mountain high country.  source

TELLURIDE, COLORADO IS THE EPITOME OF ADVENTURE FOR ALL OUTDOOR ENTHUSIASTS, AND ALSO THE MECCA FOR ARTS AND CULTURE.

Telluride, Colorado go to list:

Hike or climb Telluride 

Telluride Weather 

Maps and Directions 

Accommodations 

Travel loans to Telluride 

NO MATTER THE SEASON, A VACATION TO TELLURIDE WILL BE SURE TO PROVIDE YOU WITH A NEW FOUND APPRECIATE FOR LIFE.

For a winter escape...

If skiing is your thing, you can go alpine, nordic, or helicopter and cat skiing - and the best part of Telluride is there are no lift lines!

If you rather stay off the slopes take part in winter fly fishing, glider rides, horseback and sleigh rides, ice skating, art classes, snow shoeing, and/or snowmobiling!

For the best summer of your life - visit Telluride, Colorado...

After all the snow has melted, you will find the picture perfect town has much more to offer than just winter activities!  I think the official Visit Telluride website says it best...

Ask any local on the gondola and they’ll probably tell you, they came to Telluride for the skiing and stayed for the summers. There is no place quite like Telluride in the summer. You can find a lifetime’s worth of outdoor activities to do. Kids float through town on inner tubes, while cyclists and hikers head off in every direction. People wander the galleries and shops, or park themselves on the benches along Main Street and watch the bustle of daily activity flow by. And above it all, incredible azure skies inspire you to breathe life in full. It’s a good reason the days are long because that’s the only way to fit everything in.

If that doesn't have you itching to go....or move there - you must be just flat out crazy!  There is a little bit of everything for everyone, making it a fantastic family vacation.  The kids can swim, hike, shop, play...and the best part of all that is the adults will enjoy it too!

Are you a festival junkie?  Do you plan trips you entire vacation around them?  

Either way, the name Telluride has been synonymous with festivals for the past 30 years.  Whether you are interested in music, art and culture events, culinary, health and wellness, scientific, or athletic - Telluride, Colorado offers it all.  Check out all the festivals here!

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CONTACT UNITED MILITARY TRAVEL TO BOOK YOUR LIFE CHANGING VACATION TO TELLURIDE, COLORADO!  

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How To Explore The Adriatic Region in 7 Days

I HAVE A SLIGHT OBSESSION WITH THE ADRIATIC REGION...MAYBE IT IS THE ROCKY COAST LINES THAT PROVIDES SHELTER AND ADVENTURE, THE WAY YOU CAN SEE CLEAR TO THE BOTTOM OF THE SEA ON ANY GIVEN DAY, OR MAYBE THE BEAUTIFUL COUNTRIES THAT CALL THE ADRIATIC HOME.

WHATEVER THE REASON, IF I COULD, I WOULD BUY A ONE WAY TICKET TO MONTENEGRO AND NEVER COME BACK.

BUT....SINCE I CAN'T DO THAT I WILL HAVE TO BE HAPPY WITH A QUICK VACATION.

HOW TO EXPLORE THE ADRIATIC IN 7 DAYS

Lets explore the different ways of how to explore the Adriatic in 7 days.

Specifically, how to get from Croatia to Greece. 

First, there is plane travel.  The fastest way but most expensive.

You could book a multi destination ticket all the way from the United States.  It would look a little something like this: USA > Split > Podgorcia > Tirana > Athens > USA.  There are very few direct flights linking Split with Athens, however Croatian Airlines operate flights from Athens to Split on Saturday, Sunday and Thursday nights and from Split to Athens on Saturday nights, Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday mornings.  Check with your United Military Travel travel consultant for more detailed options between Croatia and Greece, Flights also operate from Thessaloniki in northern Greece to Zagreb and Split.  By flying from country to country you defiantly make the most of your time, but you lose out on seeing the rest of the country.  If visiting just the major hubs is your fancy, this option is for you.

 Second, you could take a train.  

This is what I like to call the sightseeing way, because you get to sit back and enjoy the views of mainland Croatia, plus coastal views of Montenegro and Albania.  It is also extremely affordable - ranging somewhere between $60 - $100.  This method of travel I feel is primarily for the adventurous because it will require not only train travel but also buses, and mini buses.

 Third, a cruise.  

For me, this would be my preferred method because there is no work involved whatsoever!   You literally board the boat and relax the rest of the time....no navigation is involved, waiting on trains, connecting times, you have scheduled meals, and you get to stop at all the lovely ports.  There are a number of cruise lines out there, I suggest Googling Adriatic cruises and starting your research there.

Fourth, a road trip.

For the ultimate Adriatic adventure, do a road trip plus camping!  Croatia is one of the most beautiful countries in Europe for camping, and majority of the campsites comes with their own beach.  Rent a car from the airport in Split, make sure you have an up to date GPS, camping gear, and head off down the coastline hitting Bosnia, Montenegro, and Albania.  This also, would be my preferred method because....even with a baby!  You may be wondering if it is safe to camp, especially in Albania and the answer is yes.  All four countries are extremely friendly to Americans and also offer excellent campsites.  Albania is still a little new to tourist so they still get really excited to them, and will treat you like royalty!  Reports say you can do the drive in four days, basically seeing one country a day.  But take it slow, you have 7 days....slow travel is the best travel!

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Shark attacks on vacation

WHAT WILL YOUR NEXT VACATION BRING YOU?

Well, hopefully not a shark bite :)

I WAS IN THE OUTER BANKS THIS PAST WEEK AND NO MATTER WHERE I WENT I COULD NOT ESCAPE THE CONSTANT WHISPERS THAT THERE HAVE BEEN SHARK ATTACKS.

SHARKS ON VACATION, SAY IT ISN'T SO!!!

For the state of North Carolina, the past two months have been record breaking for shark attacks, eight attacks in less than a month, and while it may alarm some we really are not experiencing a Jaws situation.  What we are going through is what National Geographic called the "Perfect Storm" for shark attacks.

When you combine drought conditions, warmer weather, bait fish, coastal anglers, and global warming you will get higher salinity warm water that brings the bait fish closer to shore, making fishing more enticing to anglers, all of which entices sharks to come closer to shore.

So it really is not the Attack of Jaws, but rather a mix of environmental and human issues that have caused all these shark attacks.  We need to always remember that we are entering their world, and that they are more threatened by us then we are them.

There are a few simple, keystone rules to follow when swimming in the ocean...

HERE ARE MY PERSONAL TIPS TO AVOID A SHARK ATTACK

1. Do not swim near piers or fisherman.  

Sharks can smell the tiniest amount of blood from miles away so doesn't it make sense to avoid places that have hundreds of pieces of bait in the water??

2. Splashing is like a dinner bell to sharks.

Unless you are serving up a side of arm or leg, I would avoid splashing around as much as possible.

3. Avoid bright colored swimsuits, jewelry, and surfboards.

The shininess closely resembles the scales of a fish....make sense???

4. If murky - stay out

If the water is murky, it will not only impair your ability to see whats in the water, but also the sharks.  You may become an accidental snack for a shark that was just having problems seeing.

5.  Do not swim in these places....

River mouths, channels, deep drops, far offshore, and areas between sand bars as these areas tend to attract sharks.

6.  Think like a shark.

Basically, use common sense.  If you see a lot of fish or seals in the water, that is a tell-tell sign that sharks are nearby.  Try to understand what and how a shark would eat, and that will help you avoid being dinner.

7.  Bleeding.....

If you are bleeding in any sorta of way, including menstrating, just stay out of the water.  You may as well put a hook through you and dangle yourself off a pier because that it was you become when you enter the water bleeding......bait.

8. Swim in a group in clear water

Try to only venture out on clear days and in a group so you all can look out for each other.

9.  If you are in a shark attack zone, stay out of the water.

If you enter the water where a shark attack just happened that is your fault if you get bit.  Sharks are creatures of habit and the chances are they have not been caught from the attack.  Meaning, they were still hanging around...

10. Sharks feed at night 

So please, please refrain from swimming at dusk later.

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Summer Vacation To Greece!

 

SHOULD YOU TAKE YOUR SUMMER VACATION TO GREECE? 

THAT IS THE MILLION DOLLAR QUESTION AMONG TRAVELERS RIGHT NOW, AND MY ANSWER IS YES; I WHOLE HEARTILY THINK THAT YOU SHOULD TAKE A SUMMER VACATION TO GREECE.

Why?  Well, for starters the bookings for summer vacation to Greece are down so there are real bargains to be had all over the country.  Also, the crisis has dented the strength of the Euro.  Meaning, you dollar will be stronger and go further....this is rarely the case so I suggest taking advantage of this situation.

Due to the crisis, the one thing that Greece is counting on to keep their country afloat is tourism, so all hospitality groups are doing whatever they possibly can to get customers and make their experience as perfect as possible.

They want us, and they want us now!

WHAT KINDS OF INCONVENIENCES SHOULD YOU EXPECT???

I would bring cash as the ATM may possibly be out of money, the avoid the potential long lines at the ATM, and especially if credit cards are not being accepted. Many experts are advising travelers to bring cash to cover their entire trip.   CASH IS KING.  If you are traveling from Europe, the Euro will still be accepted even if Greece drops out of the Euro.

I suggest purchasing good insurance to cover themselves should they get stranded, so that is an added expense but well worth it.  Also, in way of contingency plans the co-founder of Discover Greek Culture Tours, Sophia Antoniadou, told CNN, "that travel operators did not foresee emergency scenarios and were confident the fiscal crisis would not seriously impact the travel industry - - at least not this summer."  source

Even with the recent demonstrations by the locals and the political unrest, experts and locals say that experiencing criminal activity or danger is highly unlikely.  Grecians are extremely peaceful people, and understand the tourists are helping their country so it is more likely you would experience warm, welcoming smiles than danger.  The Greek Islands are far away from the capital so if you are planning on heading there, you will still have a peaceful and calming vacation!

"We Greeks are famous for our hospitality and we're proud of that," says Yorgos Geniatakis, general manager of the Minos Imperial Luxury Beach Resort in Crete. "Of course Greek people will be happy to see tourists.

"First and foremost because it's our culture dating back to ancient times and no political situation could affect that.

"Secondly, Greece depends on tourism, so tourists will be welcome."

"If tourists arrive positive they will leave positive," he adds. "It is the time to enjoy Greece."  source

Here is another quote from a fellow travel blogger, Adventurous Kate, who just left Greece.    

So, what's it like to travel in Greece during an economic meltdown? So far, here in Santorini, there are zero differences whatsoever. While parts of the country have empty ATMs, Santorini has plenty of working ATMS, as do many other tourist-oriented regions of Greece.

I've talked to travelers in tourist zones and even in Athens, and none have had any problems.

Greeks are limited to withdrawals of 60 EUR per day. International bank account holders can take out as much as they want. Credit cards are working.

Of course, the situation could change at any time. But if you're worried about your upcoming trip to Greece, DON'T BE. Bring a lot of cash, lock it up (ideally with this http://amzn.to/1INg8YR), and stay up to date on the news.

As for implications for costs in Greece no, this has made no difference in prices, and if things take a turn for the worst, you wouldn't see a difference for months. (Once that happens, you might see hotels reduce their rates, but everything else should be about the same.) If Greece loses the Euro, that would not be implemented for a long time. So there is no difference at the moment.

I've spent time in Bangkok during two different times of protests, I've flown to Mexico at the height of swine flu, and now I've been in Greece during an economic crisis. All have been remarkably normal. Don't believe everything you see on TV. source

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SO IN SHORT, UNITED MILITARY TRAVEL WOULD LOVE TO BOOK YOUR SUMMER VACATION TO GREECE.  SEIZE THE DAY AND TAKE ADVANTAGE OF A BAD SITUATION TO VISIT ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL COUNTRIES ON THE PLANET.

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