If you like snowboarding and you have never been to the Cooper Mountain Rocky Mountain Series, you have certainly been missing out. The series takes all disciplines of snowboarding, including slopstyle, boardercross, alpine, and superpipe, and combines them into the biggest amateur snowboard series for all of North America. The series lasts five weekends (December – March) of every ski season, and is concluded by the USASA National Championships. The Rocky Mountain Series has been hosted in Copper Mountain for 23 years, with the USASA National Championships reaching its 20th year now.
The Venues of the Rocky Mountain Series include the Main Vein Superpipe, Vein Glory Boarder Cross Course, the Catalyst Terrain Park, and Bittersweet. After the conclusion of the Rocky Mountain Series, the 2010 USASA Nationals will kick-off in early April. The Nationals are the chance for the nations fiercest competitors to come head to head for six days of Slopestyle, Superpipe, Slalom, and Giant Slalom. This years competition will begin on April 5th, with the closing award ceremonies concluding the evening of April 10th, 2010.
Rocky Mountain Series Hits Copper Mountain In April
15. March 2010 15:03Furniture as Art Auction Featured In Durango
15. March 2010 10:03
The Furniture as Art Auction on March 18th, 2010 from 5.30 – 9.30pm is a fun event for supporters of the arts in Durango in Colorado. The venue is the Durango Arts Center, (802 East 2nd Avenue), and it’s an opportunity to give support to local artists. It’s also a fundraising event for KDUR, the Fort Lewis College Community Radio station. The station plays music and broadcasts public affairs programs.
The 2010 event is the 8th one and it is always well supported. The idea for the artists is to take a piece of furniture and recycle it into a work of art. Beer, wine, and hors d’oeuvres will be served, donated by local businesses.
Doors open: 5.30pm
Auction begins: 6.30pm
Admission:
Tickets in advance: $10 (available from KDUR or Durango Arts Center).
Tickets on the door: $15.
A full list of participating artists and previews of their work is available on the website.
Latest Mexico Travel Advisory
14. March 2010 23:56
Photo Credit: J. Stephen Conn
A Mexico travel advisory has been issued due to increased drug violence in the country. Three recent murders on the Texas-Mexico border of those with ties to the U.S. Consulate have prompted the warning. U.S. Consulate employee, Lesley Enriquez, and her husband Arthur Redelfs were both shot to death in their car while driving from Ciudad Juarez to their home in El Paso. The couple's six-month-old baby survived the shooting.
While it is not certain if the couple was caught in cartel cross-fire or if they were targeted because of Enriquez's political status, 50 other drug-gang violence deaths occurred in Mexico over the weekend. Although this is one of the biggest seasons for travel to Mexico, U.S. residents are urged to avoid unnecessary travel to border towns.
Vail Film Fest Attracts Fans and Stars Alike
14. March 2010 13:53
If you are at all a movie buff, the annual Vail Film Festival is a perfect time to head up to the Rocky Mountains for some world-class skiing, top notch independent film viewing, and a chance to hobnob with some of your favorite stars. The Vail Film Festival was born on April 1st, 2004 by the Colorado Film Institute. It's first year drew in 5,000 guests, 60 films (including the premier of Before Sunset, starring Ethan Hawke and Julie Delphy), and received positive reviews from all those who attended. The festival continues to grow each year, with now over 1,000 film submissions, 12,000 attendees, 250 filmmakers, and 75 films packed into 4 full days of nothing but film screenings, receptions, parties, and concerts.
Some of the highlights over the previous Vail Film Festivals have include My Date with Drew (Drew Barrymore), Kung Fu Hustle, House of D (David Duchovny, Robin Williams), The Wendell Baker Story (Luke Wilson, Owen Wilson, Eva Mendes, Will Ferrell), The Oh in Ohio (Danny DeVito, Mischa Barton), American Dreamz (Dennis Quaid, Hugh Grant, Mandy Moore), and The Sasquatch Dumpling Gang (Napoleon Dynamite film-makers). Last years event brought in writer/director Kevin Smith (Dogma, Clerks, Chasing Amy) and actress Michelle Monaghan (Mission Impossible, Eagle Eye, Trucker) as honorary attendees, so you just never know who's going to show up.
Amazing Deals on Washington Vacation Rentals
13. March 2010 11:32
When browsing Washington vacation rentals, you’ll quickly find a variety of conveniently located properties with all the amenities that you need. But are they reasonably priced? To help narrow down your search, check out the following bargains.
Resort at Birch Bay
Any of your favorite relaxing activities can be found at Birch Bay. Vacationers love to take advantage of the massage services on the property. The Fitness Center and Game Room also provide on-site activities. Two world-class golf courses can be found just steps away from your suite, and the outdoor pool is a great spot to soak up the sun. Hiking and biking trails run throughout the property, and in the winter you’re in close proximity to skiing and snowboarding. Versatile rooms sleep two-to-eight people. The 24-hour front desk is ready to answer any questions that you may have. Located in Blaine, Birch Bay is close by many other major destinations. It’s easy to take a day trip to Seattle, Vancouver, or Mt. Baker.
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The Bizarre Propeller Island City Lodge in Berlin
13. March 2010 03:52
Propeller Island City Lodge is far from your average hotel. This sought after property in Berlin, Germany takes the concept of a design hotel to a whole new level. There are 42 unique rooms in the hotel that look more like art installations than travel accommodations. Still, every room that is open to the public can be slept in.
The owner and manager, Lars Stroschen, is the artistic visionary behind each creation. The Gruft Room contains coffins as beds, and the Flying Bed Room has a slanted floor and elevated bed than appears to be levitated off of the ground. The Upside Down Room has--you guessed it--furniture hanging from the ceiling. Propeller Island is Stroschen's notion of aesthetic sensation for the eye and ear. Naturally, the hotel is a tourist attraction that is more like an art gallery or museum.
Mobile Boarding Pass Options at American and United Airlines
12. March 2010 23:38
Photo Credit: afagen
Love your iPhone? Then you'll love new mobile boarding pass options from both American Airlines and United Airlines. American has already had the electronic system in place, but announced that 19 additional airports will now have the feature as an option.
United not only went paperless this week with the addition of the digital barcode system, but also added a wireless check-in option with their services. Once at the airport, you simply point the web browser on your mobile device to mobile.united.com and check in for your flight at the website. You can also check flight status and availability, as well as information about your United account. United plans to expand these new services to additional airports as soon as possible.
Foodies Flock to Taste of Vail
12. March 2010 15:47
Prepare your palate for an overload of aromas, tastes, and exotic flavors at the Taste of Vail. Each year, local restaurants and the nations top vineyards get together to showcase the best of the best in both food and drink in the Vail Valley.
This year is the 20th Annual Taste of Vail, and the festivities begin on Wednesday, April 7th at 9 AM. Later that afternoon from 3:30 to 6:30 PM, is the Lamb Cook-Off, featuring a sampling of some of the best lamb dishes the valley's chefs can dish out. In addition, there will be a heap of wineries offering the perfect complimentary wines to go along with each dish.
Thursday, April 8th, from 9:30 AM to 3:30 PM will be a series of various seminars open to guests. From 3:30 PM to 6:00 PM, is the Apres Ski Tasting Party, featuring wine tasting from all points of the world, including Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc, Shiraz, Reisling, and Zinfandel.
On Friday, April 9th, a seminar opens the early morning, followed by the Mountain Top Picnic from 12:30 PM to 3:00 PM. Some of Vail's finest restaurants will prepare an assortment of lunch menus served picnic style on top of the scenic 10,350 foot Eagles Nest gondola. Everything is served outdoors, so dress warm. There will also be a variety of wines on hand to wash down the meal and warm the belly.
New Panama City Beach Airport to Open in May
11. March 2010 23:54
Photo Credit: faz the persian
A new Panama City Beach airport will open on May 23 in Florida's panhandle coast. The Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport is the first international airport to open in over a decade. Panama City Beach condos aren't just for the spring break crowd anymore, so tourism officials in the area want to make the region accessible to a variety of travelers. As much a real estate project as it is a transportation development, the building of the new airport required a great deal of land. By converting the land into a functional travel hub, new possibilities are on the horizon for Panama City Beach.
The St. Joe Company donated the land for the airport and owns thousands of acres of land in northwest Florida. The company used to be in the timber and paper business but is now focused on development and real estate. They liken Panama City Beach to the Silicon Valley; once a difficult to reach destination, making travel to the Silicon Valley easier allowed it to be become the booming business area that it is today.
German Sausage Festival Hits Gulf Shores Mar. 27
11. March 2010 10:03
This traditional German Sausage Festival takes place in the spring and is a great excuse to load up on beer, delicious meats, and incredible baked goods! Make it an all day event with arts, crafts, games and activities for everyone in your party. The founding fathers of Elberta AL make each year’s German Sausage Festival phenomenal, and people come from around the region and across the nation just to taste what it has to offer.
They still use the original mouth watering recipe that had been developed by the founding fathers of Elberta many years ago. Now with their slow cooked secret recipe the fathers are passing down the tradition to eager (and hungry) participants of this German event. The German Sausage Festival in Elberta Town right in the Gulf Shores area of Alabama is one of the only traditional German annual festivals that keep the recipe true to its roots. This even will even have a fully stocked Bier Garten where you can choose from a wide variety of imported beers. Don’t miss out on your chance to taste some rare brews that only come around but once per year! You must be 21 or over to get into the Bier Garten and must be able to show proof of ID.
The German Sausage Festival is set to take place at the Elberta Town Park and is always free to the public. Preview tons of great foods from multiple vendors that will be offering both traditional German dishes and even some American favorites. There will even be a spectacular carnival section complete with rides, games, prizes, and plenty of things to do for the younger crowd. Walk the streets of the German Sausage Festival while listening to great live performances from traditional German bands and artists as well as local modern rock and country entertainers.
