Romance is in the air in February, especially in Denver metro, a cosmopolitan, yet laid back metro area that offer offers spectacular views of the Rocky Mountains, from just about anywhere. Perhaps that’s why I think the Denver metro area is so romantic. Check out these suggestions for creating a Denver metro romantic getaway any time of the year: 

Celebrate romance in downtown Denver

Celebrate romance in metro Denver    

Top 10 places to kiss in downtown Denver

Until next time, Diana Rowe
Check out more of my articles as the Denver Travel Examiner

With the economy putting crunches to businesses, many are opting to hold meetings in their own backyard.  I recently wrote an article for Corporate & Incentive Travel magazine on exactly that topic:

Meeting In Your Own Backyard
You can hear the groans now when you announce that instead of your annual January sales meeting in a tropical destination you’ll be meeting at a local hotel in your wintry backyard. You feel the pressure to pull off a highly successful event, yet how can you create an over-the-top meeting experience when your meeting isn’t in an exotic setting?

To read more, click here.

Until next time, Diana Rowe

There are 30 million rodeo fans in the United States, according to the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association, and more than 600 professional rodeos are held annually throughout the U.S. and Canada. Pick one or pick ‘em all, but take a look at this article on 14-must see rodeos in Rodeo Travel, appearing in the December 2009/January 2010 issue of American Cowboy Magazine.

Here’s an excerpt of a rodeo in my own backyard, Denver’s National Western Stockshow:

National Western Stock Show, Rodeo and Horse ShowDenver, Colorado

By Diana Rowe

 

The first major rodeo of the year and held each January since 1906, the National Western is a Denver tradition. Filled to the brim with rodeos, livestock, and entertainment, this 16-day festival is more than just a rodeo. Considered the Super Bowl of livestock shows, the National Western is a major draw for serious stockmen. And spectators travel from near and far to view the thousands of cattle, horses, goats, sheep, and poultry competing for ribbons and prizes. Animals long associated with the Rocky Mountains are also on display, including bison, elk, llamas, and yaks.

Click here for more about National Western Stockshow

Until the next time,

Diana Rowe

Surprisingly, I’ve never made the sojourn to Yellowstone National Park,  and Wednesday I’ll take a quick flight to Jackson Hole and trek my way to a national park that has been on my bucket list since I was a youngster.

I’ll be staying at several Xanterra Parks & Resorts: Old Faithful Snow Lodge, Old Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel, Old Fathful Snow Lodge & Hotel Terra, riding in Xanterra Snowcoach, taking guided tours, checking out Lamar Valley for wolf watching & other wild animals under the guidance of Yellowstone Association Institute, plus more! 

And this 40-something-year-old grandmom is even taking ski lessons again at Jackson Hole.� Hopefully my knees will hold up.

Even though I’m not a fan of the cold, I’m bundling up, packing my long underwear and warm overcoats and taking one for the team. Everyone tells me this will be a trip to file in the memories bank.

Am I the only one that hasn’t been to Yellowstone? Anyone else out there? Any suggestions on what not to miss?

Read more about my Yellowstone winter adventure.

Until next time, Diana

I blogged about my trip to Tequila, Mexico, land of the spiky agave plants and  producer of my favorite spirit, tequila — which is most definitely a spirited drink.  Check it out here:

I admit to a fondness for tequila…but read about my October adventure to the Mexican town of Tequila and the agave fields — and my discovery of a new boutique hotel at La Cofradio distillery.
  Tequila, Mexico — Not Just a Day Trip Any More « Tripatini: The Blogblog.tripatini.comTequila — the liquor, not the town — has picked up a bit of a bad rap even as it’s grown increasingly popular throughout North America, Europe, and beyond. As in, margaritas and shooters, a cheap and surefire way to get — how can I put  this — majorly wasted.    (Thanks David at http://www.tripatini.com)Cheers to a Happy Holiday!Until next time, Diana

I’m so excited to announce that I will be joining the TravelMom Blogger Network as the new (and only!) TravelingGrandMom. I’m excited to share my personal travels as a young baby boomer and GrandMom to my pride and joy, my two grandhildren, Kaydence (age 5) and Ryland (age 3).

What? You didn’t know I was a 40-something-year-old Grandmom? Ah yes, indeed! Here is a snapshot of those little darlings:
Traveling with grandchildren is hard work, even if it is hauling ‘em downtown Denver to enjoy what our own backyard offers: museums (see picture above: my grandchildren learning at Denver Museum of nature & Science), zoo, amusement park, and other fabulous entertainment.

So stay tuned..and I’ll keep you updated on traveling with grandchildren through my TravelingGrandMom blog at TravelingMom.com andI will also offer up travel tips with grandchildren!

Until then,
Diana Rowe

Nothing brings a bad-ass biker dude to tears quicker than a child in need. Bikers might have a bad reputation, but when it comes to kids, they’re suckers. Combine motorcycles and kids and you have one big fuzzy event.  We call this the Hope House Toy Run, and I’m happy to coordinate and participate in this feel-good biker event.  Click here for picture:  Bikers participating in the Hope House Toy Run

Delivering toys to kids in  needs is an amazing personal experience guaranteed to get everyone all warm and fuzzy — bad-ass biker dudes and chicks alike. We gotour holiday spirit going the Saturday before Thanksgiving during an annual poker run and toy run for Hope House of Colorado. 

This biker event works the same as any other poker run, with stops at bars (In The Zone Sports Bar, Firehouse Tavern, Hoffbrau & Jake’s Roadhouse) along the way where bikers socialize and draw cards competing for best poker hand.  However, bikers are given the opportunity to personally adopt a Hope House teen mom and her kid(s) by purchasing gifts — and giving them in person. Besides the residents of the house, Hope House supports more than 50 families along the Front Range.

With our small envoy of 20 bikes and 2 cars filled with toys, we rode to the church gymnasium to meet the families. The teen moms and their children stood outside in a greeting line, waving and smiling. The knew that the Santa bikers were on their way, loaded down with gifts, and many of the kids even jumped up and down in excitement.  Cllick here for picture:   Kids waiting for Biker Santas

For about 30 minutes, special moments took place as the auditorium filled with shrieks of laughter and paper ripping off the gifts.

Bikers silently watched, many wiped tears from their eyes. Why?  Because of the stories. Stories like one 18 year-old mom who cried because this was the first gift she’d received in her life. Because another mom cried because just 4 months earlier she and her toddler was sleeping in the park.

A tour of “Hope House” next door revealed a tight ship with rules created to form a stable home and future for the young families.

When we returned to the parking lot, one young boy, barely walking, was fascinated by the bright orange color of a chopper, so entranced that he reached out to touch it reverently. The guy who owned the chopper had that classic sterotyped biker look — tough, leather, tattoos, long hair, but talk about bad-ass biker turned to taffy as he smiled while the little boy drooled over his bike. 

Click here for picture: Biker watches little boy drooling over his chopper

Other youngsters wrapped their arms around their “adopted” biker squealing in delight as the bikers putted through the parking lot giving the little guys short motorcycle rides under the watchful eyes of the teenage moms. I wouldn’t be surprised if this was the first step to a future biker.

I couldn’t have asked for a better Christmas gift — and we donated nearly $1,500 in gifts and $700 in cash!  God bless the teen moms and their kids.

Until next time,

Diana Rowe

 

If the mention of the word “travel” has you daydreaming of days gone by, then explore the Online Travel Auction, open to the public, at www.satwauction.com, hosted by the Society of American Travel Writers. Now through Friday, November 20, you can make your vacation dreams come true by bidding on travel-related deals on goods, hotels, resort and vacation packages in the U.S., Canada and abroad. Download this interactive, colorful brochure of dozens of travel packages and deals from the SATW online auction.

Thinking of beaches? How about Mexico, Aruba, or Belize? Want to explore Europe? How about Germany or Belgium – or you can board the Eurail and explore 21 countries on your own!Prefer a vacation closer to home? We’ve got you covered! Choose from sea to shining sea in the U.S. of A., from Connecticut to California, Michigan to Texas and states in between. Looking for an adventure? We’ve got golf, skiing, hiking and biking. Gotta have spa? We have that too! Explore the world with a click of your mouse and bid on the vacation of your dreams.

The Society of American Travel Writers, the world’s largest professional association of travel journalists and photographers, and their annual online fundraising auction is open now through November 20, 2009 at www.satwauction.com. (Proceeds fund SATW’s professional development programming at future conventions.)

At the site, there are all sorts of vacation options from five star hotels and beautiful resorts to superb golf and ski getaways and even some gift baskets. Starting prices are often amazingly reasonable…and anyone can have a chance to bid. Values of the donated items range from $50 to $3,962.

How does the auction work?

Similar to other online auctions, browsers and bidders will log on to http://www.satwauction.com/ with a specially created ID and password and bid as often as they please. The auction will be updated in real time. Bidding closes at 10:00 pm MDT on Nov. 20.

Some of the items up for bid include:

· Your Germany getaway includes 2 roundtrip tickets on Air Berlin (www.airberlin.com) and a total of four nights for two persons at two Steigenberger Hotels (www.steigenbergerhotelgroup.com): 2 nights at the upscale Steigenberger Hotel in the heart of Western Berlin and 2 nights at the elegant Steigenberger Hotel de Saxe at the historic square in Dresden. Value $3,962, start your bid at $500

· Golf and wine merge together quite nicely; thank you, at the Silverado Resort  2-night Napa Valley package. The package includes two nights in a one bedroom suite; round of golf for two on a Robert Trent Jones Jr. Course, and wine tastings at four wineries. Value $1,500, start your bid at $300.

· We’ve more hotel stays and packages than you can click a mouse on: Hotel deLuxe (Portland; Ore.); Hotel Lucia (Portland; Ore.); Hotel Max (Seattle; Wash.); Hotel Murano (Tacoma; Wash.); Hotel Preston (Nashville; Tenn.); Royal Sonesta Hotel Boston & New Orleans; Westin Westminster (Colorado); The Broadmoor (Colorado Springs; CO); Silvertree Hotel and Conference Center (Snowmass Village, CO); Alderbrook Resort & Spa in Washington State; Chateau Chantal; Traverse City; MI; Fairmont Chateau Whistler; Fairmont Chateau Laurier; Fairmont Chateau Whistler; Fairmont Scottsdale Princess; Le Petit Hotel & Café; Montreal; Alexis Hotel; Seattle; WA; Furnace Creek Inn & Ranch in Death Valley; and West Baden Springs Hotel; French Lick (includes golf & spa treatments!). Values start at $109, minimum bids beginning at $25.

What are you waiting for? Your dream vacation awaits you…Log on to www.satwauction.com today.

For more information about the SATW Auction, contact Diana Rowe, 2009 SATW Auction online chair, diana@dianarowe.com.

For more informaton about Society of American Travel Writers, contact: Tim O’Keefe, President, mtimokeefe@gmail.com and/or Rich Grant, Publicity Chair, rgrant@denver.org

One of those crazy months where I’ve been chasing time zones. I began in Scotland for golf to England to visit my friend, to a stop back in Denver to re-pack and head to SATW’s convention in Guadalajara with a pre-trip to the lovely town of Tequila. That was October.

After 1 1/2 weeks at home, I pulled out my suitcases for a quick trip to Costa Rica for the opening of the first Riu, the Riu Guanacaste. (I left in the midst of Denver’s mini October blizzard and more than 2 feet of snow!)

Another re-group in Denver, picked up my man and now we’re in Mexico at THE ROYAL Playa del Carmen.  Love this resort, smack dab in the heart of Playa, just 2 blocks from 5th Avenue.

We’ve been here since Monday and now we’re heading to Gran Caribe Real Cancun for one night. 

It’s not much of an overview, but 1,000’s of miles in the air is why I haven’t posted to my blog.

Click on the following “snapshots” of my journeys in pictures:

MEXICO:

Room with a view: THE ROYAL Playa del Carmen

Room with a view Tequila’s La Cofradia

Now time to pack, Cancun is waiting — after one more walk on the beach.

Happy travels, Diana Rowe

Read more of Diana’s adventures as: Denver Travel Examiner

I’m gazing out my window, lost in the world of travels. My monitor is in front of me, but my mind is already on the plane heading to Scotland. (Click here for picture of Piper at Balmoral Hotel )

Truth is my mind always jumps to the next place, the next adventure, even while I’m enjoying the current one. It’s what my itchy travel feet and greedy eyes yearn for, the people, the culture, the lands, the sense of being somewhere for the first time or the tenth time. This time it’s Scotland on my mind.    

It’s been nigh on 18 months since I crossed the pond, with visions of championship golf swinging across my mind, the place where the game actually began. Come this Saturday I’ll be folding myself into another coach class seat (this time on Continental) and winging my way across the Atlantic to Edinburgh.

I’ve checked the weather forecast, and I’m already adding layers for the blistery 50+F and rain. But what’s a girl to do when in Scotland settling in for a wet 9 holes on the famous championship golf course of Ailsa at Turnberry. Their web site teases me with a slideshow of “glints of lights on gorse,” “lighthouses,” and “castles” — be calm, my tortured mind. Maybe the luck of hosting the recent ‘09 British Open Championship will rub off on me?

Yes, I did have to torment my tortured mind even more by viewing this YouTube video – to show me exactly the challenges of the course, although I don’t think this video included the forecasted rain.

By now you’re probably feeling quite sorry for me, but really the schedule is grueling and includes a visit to St. Andrews and Gleneagles before returning to Edinburgh. Come back again as I tell you more about it.

For a walk down memory lane, here’s a review I wrote about my stay at the Balmoral Hotel in Edinburgh:

http://www.travels.com/destinations/europe/review-balmoral-hotel-edinburgh/

The clock tower of The Balmoral

EXCERPT review: With a view of this capital city’s historic landmarks, a clock tower reigns atop Rocco Forte The Balmoral, a luxury, 188-room hotel in the heart of Edinburgh and across from Waverly Station. Its long history began in 1902 as the North British Hotel (or NB), catering to the passengers from two now-demolished train stations.

Stay tuned for more from Scotland.

Diana

Denver Travel Examiner