Top Snow Tubing Travel Destinations Revealed by IgoUgo

Photo courtesy of IgoUgo.com

Not ready for a black diamond run or maybe not even up for the bunny slope? Do not fret; there are other winter sports to ensure travelers enjoy fresh powder this winter season. Many winter resorts offer great add-ons or alternative winter activities to savor the landscape ranging from ice skating to horse drawn carriage rides or cross country skiing to snowmobile riding. Another favorite that does not requires skill is snow tubing. This exhilarating activity provides a fun alternative for non-skiers or boarders yet ensure wild thrills for all ages (especially at night).

To help first-time tubers prepare for the experience, IgoUgo editors have come up with some tips and its five destination recommendations to ride the slopes.

“Tubing is a great way for people of all ages to get out and enjoy the winter,” said Michelle Doucette, content manager at IgoUgo.com.  “Because there’s virtually no skill required, all you need to do is get yourself to the mountain and go.”

Photo Credit: Steve Shaluta

Alexandria, Virginia based couple David and Sharon recently escaped to Snowshoe Mountain Resort in West Virginia for a romantic escape. Staying on top of the mountain in the village was purposely selected for access to offered winter activities. “My husband is a black diamond skier and I barely ski,” Sharon explains. “When selecting a winter escape, I looked at offered alternative winter sports we could enjoy together. Snow tubing at night was a highlight of our trip.”

Snowshoe’s Tubing Park costs $17 per person for a 2-hour tubing ticket. Tubing participants must be at least 4-years-old and 36″ tall.

IgoUgo.com Tubing 101

Wherever you’re headed this winter, Doucette has tips for first timers:

Tip #1: Keep your bum up: The snow may be soft when you touch it, but not when you’re going fast. To avoid a sore bum, rest your legs over the front of the tube, hold onto the loops and keep your bum up.

Tip #2: Dress for success: You may not be skiing, but you’ll still be out in the snow so wear appropriate clothing. Winter boots, a snug-fitting hat and waterproof clothing like snow pants, a snow jacket, and gloves will make your tubing experience a dry and fun one. For an even better experience, bring sunglasses with you to keep the wind off your eyes. Note: Travel Advocate recommends you have proper snow boots (note ski boots are not allowed when tubing).

Tip #3: Stay on the trail: If your tube starts to veer off the trail as you go down, lean back into the tube and you’ll slide back into the middle. 

Tip #4: Avoid the crowds: To avoid the lines, plan your session for early in the morning or closer to closing time.  If the venue accepts reservations, make one, as the lanes can get busy.

Tip #5: Check the weather: Like skiing, tubing relies on the weather. Make sure you check with the park to confirm it is open before you head out.

Now that you are prepared and ready to hit the slopes in a different fashion, where should you go?

Five Top Tubing Spots:

1. Jackson Hole, WY: This upscale resort town is famous for its world-class skiing, but there’s plenty of fun for non-skiers too, as evidenced in member journal Snow King Resort Is Absolutely the Best!: ” Go snow-tubing while you are there! For all ages and sizes, snow-tubing is a blast!”

2. Lake Lure, NC: The family-friendly Moonshine Mountain Snow Tubing Park in Lake Lure was a big hit with one member’s brood as reported in Mountain Delight Extraordinaire: “We had more fun than it should be legal for a family to have. As we went with our children, ages 6-17, this was the perfect place to go and have fun. The older ones made friends and formed huge trains to go down the hill while the little ones and mommy enjoyed the sissy slope. We highly recommend this activity for its value, level of fun and family-friendliness.”

3. Massanutten, VA: “No skill is required and anyone over 36 inches tall can have a great time,” writes an IgoUgo member in his journal A Week at Massanutten. Another tubing fan and IgoUgo member agrees, “Snow tubing was great. The lanes were fast enough to be thrilling but not scary. Having divided lanes made it feel more secure knowing that you were going in one direction.”

4. Smuggler’s Notch, VT: Known for family friendliness and a seemingly endless array of activities, it seems fitting that Smuggler’s Notch would offer snow tubing in the winter months. In the journal Springtime in Smugglers Notch, one member writes that tubing is just one of the great peak-season perks.

5. Winter Park, CO: Fraser Tubing Hill in Winter Park, CO gets rave reviews from IgoUgo members, including one who writes in Winter Park Ski Trip, “Before this trip, the only tubing I knew of was on water. It’s even better on snow! I would suggest taking a camera with you. My digital camera has video on it and I recorded us going down the hill, it is the funniest video I have ever recorded.”

What is your favorite winter sport to participate on when traveling?

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When you think of Skiing, you typically think of Aspen or one of the many other skiing villages in Colorado, but if you’re not interested in driving or flying into Colorado, there are a number of other options that are closer to the major urban areas of the west coast that offer equally pristine skiing opportunities but with much less travel involved. One of these locations is Heavenly Mountain Resort, located conveniently on Lake Tahoe.

Heavenly offers several different skiing and snowboarding trails of varying difficulties, so there’s something for everyone. If you want to do some Lake Tahoe Skiing or Lake Tahoe Hiking and are just a beginning, there are several green level slopes for you to go down, and if you’re more advanced, there are a number of black diamond trails that go as high as 10,000 feet in altitude up on the mountain.

Heavenly is the largest resort in California (it borders the CA and NV borders), with over 4800 acres. It also features the longest vertical skiing drop of over 3,500 feet. The mountain has 30 different lifts, has a fleet of Prinoth350 Snowcats to handle any emergencies that come up, and has the world’s largest and most powerful snowmaking system.

If skiing or snowboarding isn’t quite your thing, Heavenly also offers a number of different entertainment opportunities to visitors.  The town of Heavenly has over 100 different bars and nightclubs for you to visit, offering musical experiences in just about any genre that you can think of. If you’d like to do any sort of gaming, there are 6 nearby Lake Tahoe Casinos which will accommodate you, including Harrah’s at Lake Takoe, MontBleu, and many more.

The miraculous outcome of the recent US Airways emergency landing in the Hudson River provides the opportunity to reflect on safety issues when flying.  When flying, have travelers become complacent? It appears that the first major airline incident of 2009 has heightened awareness of the importance of airline and travel safety.

TripAdvisor® just announced the results of its airline safety awareness survey of more than 2,100 U.S. respondents, conducted from January 16 - January 20, 2009. Sixty-eight percent of U.S. respondents said they frequently pay attention to the in-flight safety presentation, with of this compilation nearly a third said they always do. Of the 32 percent who said they rarely or never pay attention to the in-flight safety presentation, 81 percent said it is because they already know it by heart, according to TripAdvisor’s survey results.

Half of travelers surveyed said they have read the seat-back instruction card in the past, but following last week’s “Miracle on the Hudson,” 62 percent are more likely to read it in the future, TripAdvisor’s survey reveals. Seventy-three percent of respondents said they always check the locations of the exits on the plane, while 20 percent often do.  

Related to the US Airways “Miracle on the Hudson,” 31 percent of travelers said they had concerns about bird strikes even before this incident.

According to TripAdvisor survey respondents, the two best ways to recognize the heroic efforts of the US Airways pilot and crew are with monetary compensation, and medals of honor.

“The events of last week gave us all–even frequent flyers– a renewed awareness of the importance of airline safety precautions and procedures. It’s clear that the majority of travelers are paying attention,” said Michele Perry, vice president of global communications for TripAdvisor.

As reported in an official US Airways statement, “US Airways is extremely proud of the professional Crew of Flight 1549. All five of these outstanding aviation professionals performed in an exceptional way under extraordinary circumstances.”

Other TripAdvisor survey findings include:

• Twelve percent of travelers avoid booking in the emergency exit row because they don’t want the responsibility of opening the doors and assisting the crew in an emergency.
• Sixty-seven percent of respondents said that during a flight, they feel prepared in the event of an emergency. In the event of a water landing, 75 percent of travelers believe they would know what to do.
• Fifteen percent of travelers said they have experienced an emergency landing. Five percent of travelers said they have been on a flight where the oxygen masks were deployed, and two percent have had to pull the life jacket out from under their seat.
• Ninety-one percent said they always keep their seat belt fastened for the journey.

When flying with children, other issues arise. Louie Delaware, the Home Safety Guru, provides a few helpful hints to keep kids safe when flying.

1. Bring Your Own Car Seats - It is tempting to have a child that is under 2 years of age sit on your lap during your flight.  But it is much easier and safer for everyone if the child has their own seat.  “It is very difficult, and most likely physically impossible, to hold a child during turbulence,” Delaware says.  All children less than 40 pounds should be a car seat and older children in a booster seat.  Make certain that yours has the designation “This restraint is certified for use in motor vehicles and aircraft” as many car seats do not have this.  For best fit in aircraft seats, use a car seat that is less than 16″ wide.  Follow the manufacturer’s instructions to make certain that the seat is properly installed with the airplane buckles.  It is a requirement on many international flights that every child have their own seat. 
2. Consider Using an Aviation Child Safety Device (ACSD) Strap - This is a restraint device that is allowed on airplanes for children between 22 and 44 pounds.  It attaches to the back of the seat works in addition to the lap belt.   These are much easier to carry as they are just straps.  And they install very easily.   You can order these at www.KidsFlySafe.com. 
3. Booster Seats - Also, be aware that booster seats are not allowed on many airlines.   
4. Oxygen Masks - If during your flight the oxygen masks drop from above, put yours on first as you will quickly loose your ability to deal with the emergency.  Once yours is properly on, put one on your child.  What is not communicated is that if there is a sudden loss of cabin pressure that your will possibly lose consciousness within 15-20 seconds without oxygen.  So it is very important that you can get yours on before dealing with your children’s mask.  You will not be of any assistance to them if you pass out after putting theirs on before yours. 

Take time to prepare for a dreaded “what if” scenario occurs when traveling to ensure you are ready if a crisis arises. Next time you board an aircraft, give proper attention to exit rows, safety information and demonstrations. You never know when you might need to employ these life-saving tips.

With the economy on the ropes, fewer people are traveling and it’s much easier to get a deal on your plane tickets and hotel room, so it’s a great time to travel if you can afford to do so. There will be fewer lines at the airport, and your destination will likely be much less crowded, but how do you get the very best deal? There are a ton of plane ticket comparison sites out there, but they’re often difficult to navigate for the non-travel savvy individual.

If you’re looking for high-quality resources that will help you find the best deals on travel, checkout BootsnAll Travel. The site might have a peculiar name, but they have written specific guides about how to get the best travel deals to foreign countries that tourists frequently like to visit. You might not know it, but the process to get the best deal on Tickets to Japan are likely very different from those to get to the United Kingdom. BootsnAll helps you navigate the waters and get you the best deal. They make it extremely easy to figure out how to get the best deal on your next set of plane tickets.

Another feature of BootsnAll is their travel comparison search engine. It’s very easy to use and you can find some great discount airfare rates on their website. If you’re not technically savvy and want someone to find the best deal for you, they have an 800 number that you can call, and they’ll do the searching for you!
BootsnAll might not be the biggest travel site on the web, but they have great information about specific destinations and how to get the best deal to get there. Their travel search engine is also incredibly useful and easy to use, and you can use it to get some great deals.

Photo Credit: Denver Brown

The blue green waters off the Florida gulf coast are home to some of the most sought after table fare in the oceans.  Those seeking the thrill of bent fishing rods, screaming reels and varieties of fish need only select a vessel and skilled Captain to satisfy their cravings. The Southwest coast offers offshore action for both novice and diehard anglers within an hour’s run from the dock.   

Captain Jack’s Charters is located at the Englewood Bait House in Englewood, Florida, a small waterside town on the intercoastal waterway located approximately an hour’s drive north of Ft. Myers. Offshore anglers can charter one of three boats depending on their party size and budget to target a variety of reef species. The Mimae-Too has an old salt of a Cap’n named Bunny Davids whom has spent his entire life harvesting the bounty of these local waters.

Photo Credit: Denver Brown

The Mimai-Too is a 34′ custom charter boat or a “Six-Pack” in waterman terms. Cap’n  Bunny at the helm, a mate and license for up to six anglers, this vessel is built to handle the multitude of water conditions in this area.  Trips start at $600 for four hours on up to $1,100 for 10 hours and include all licenses, bait, tackle and beverages. To secure your spot on one of Cap’n Bunny’s fishing charters, click here.

Most offshore trips venture out between five-30 miles into the Gulf of Mexico and may make several stops at various locations to put anglers on the fish. Time of year, season of targeted fish and weather conditions are all important players for adventurers to consider before chartering any vessel.

December and January tend to be cooler months in Southwest Florida with the grouper and snapper action offshore taking the bait. Boats head out of the many passes leading from the back bay waters into the Gulf of Mexico and search for the right bottom conditions holding keeper fish.  Anglers should consult the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commision’s Web site for research as to species length and limits to help manage their own expectations from a trip.

A few additional items for anglers to remember are sunscreen, insect repellant, sunglasses and a sack lunch or snacks for the ride out and back. Depending on time of year and weather conditions biting flies can be a nuisance even several miles offshore. Seasickness medication may also be a good idea for those who tend to get bouts of motion sickness. Port-a-potty type facilities are a standard on most of the smaller boats with more updated facilities for the larger vessels. 

Photo Credit: Denver Brown

The reef fishes of Florida’s gulf coast are colorful, hard fighting and are arguably some of the best eating around. These fish have sharp teeth and gill plates that require caution while handling. For the safety of the fish, venting tools are required. These allow the air built up during ascent of a fish to be purged for a quick return to its reef habitat. A little conservation goes a long way and will provide enjoyment for tomorrow’s anglers in this wonderment of Southwest Florida.

Photo Credit: Jake McGuire

Traveling often for business in December and January, there is one distinct change I have noticed with airline travel and that is the abundance of great ticket prices, even on short notice. These flying deals are being offered amongst many airlines and even a few such as AirTran have announced New Year’s deals starting as low as $39 each way. Not to mention the weekly sales and opportunities to scoop up a flight on Spirit Airlines for as little as $1 at times (plus taxes and fees).

In my particular instance, the big airlines were offering the best availability in terms of flight times and pricing. I scored a round-trip non-stop flight to Washington, DC for under a $150 from southwest Florida. In addition, I secured a round-trip flight to Los Angeles (LA) for about $300 again from southwest Florida. I can remember flying to LA regularly for work and paying $600 on average.

Even with the reduced capacity, the seat availability was not bad on my selected airline routes. However, on two instances for my DC flights, I was unable to select a seat on my return flight. Instead the message stated “airline is assigning seats upon check in”.

A few road warrior tricks I have learned through navigating the friendly skies include:

1. Act Fast: Some online consumer booking sites will clearly state that there is only one ticket remaining at that price. I cannot tell you how many times that I have paused and did one more double-check of a competitor site just to click to purchase and find that the airline ticket price has changed.
2. Use a Travel Agent: Researching different flight options can be consuming to say the least and end up in frustration. A travel professional is an expert at quickly identifying availability, placing tickets on hold even through their technology systems, and securing a desired flight. Yes, some travel agents do charge a fee, but think about how much time you lose in terms of productivity and the travel agent just might save you additional monies on the actual airline ticket - more than making up for a fee levied.
3. Consider Alternatives: If you have some flexibility in your schedule, look at staying an extra day, which might result in a lower airfare or qualify you for some other supplier promotion offered by a car rental agency or a hotel. As an example, on one of my DC business trips, I opted to stay over on a Friday night my car rental price ended up being 50 percent less than if I had flew back the day earlier. Another example is my trip to LA where if I had taken the red eye home, my hotel would have cost me about $100 more as I would not have qualified for the 3-night sale and there were no differences in airline pricing.
4. Seasonal Travel: If your travels require you to select a flight with a connection, look at all of the different airlines and their connecting cities. If you are traveling to California in January and connections are offered through New York, Dallas or Charlotte, or St. Louis, as was the case with my flight, consider where winter weather might have the least effect on your travel plans. For me, I chose Dallas (even though an odd winter storm just crippled the Dallas area, I felt the odds were less that they would be hit twice compared to my other choices).

What are your road warrior tips when making airline travel arrangements?

Standing in front of Cinderella Castle, Mickey Mouse greets guests at the Magic Kingdom, a vacation classic where magical storybooks come alive. Combining classic favorites and exciting additions, a day at the Magic Kingdom is an essential part of a Walt Disney World Resort visit.

Disney has kicked off 2009 with many free firsts. Not only is 2009 the year of “What will you Celebrate?” promotion, providing a free ticket to guests on their birthday, but they have trumped their own offer by extending a complimentary five-day park hopper (with water parks) ticket to military personnel in 2009 valid at Walt Disney World or a three-day park hopper pass valid at Disneyland. Further enhancing this military travel offer, Disney is also allowing eligible service members to purchase tickets for family at a heavily discounted price.

With the “Disney’s Armed Forces Salute” offer, active and retired U.S. military personnel, including active and retired members of the United States Coast Guard and activated members of the National Guard or Reservists, can enjoy complimentary, multi-day admission into Disney’s U.S. theme parks, great rates at select Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland Resort hotels, and additional special ticket offers for family members and friends.

“For so many of the men and women who serve in our U.S. military, time together with their families is cause enough for celebration,” said Jay Rasulo, chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts. ”We are grateful for their service and hope ‘Disney’s Armed Forces Salute’ will allow our troops to create wonderful, magical memories with their family and friends.”

At the Disneyland Resort in Southern California:

Through June 12, 2009, each eligible military member can receive one complimentary three-day “Disney’s Armed Forces Salute” Park Hopper ticket valid for admission to both Disneyland and Disney’s California Adventure parks. During the offer period, the military personnel member also may make a one-time purchase of an adult or child three-day “Disney’s Armed Forces Salute Companion” Park Hopper ticket for up to five family members (including spouse) or friends for the price of an adult 1-Day Park Hopper ticket.

Disneyland Resort hotels are also offering special room rates for active or retired military personnel. For example, at Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel, active or retired members of the military and their families may find hotel rooms starting at $119 per night during value season, with great savings during other times of the offer period. This offer is available through June 12, 2009, and the number of rooms available at these special rates is limited.

For information regarding “Disney’s Armed Forces Salute” at the Disneyland Resort, or to make reservations, military personnel may call 714/956-6424.

At Walt Disney World Resort in Florida:

Through Dec. 23, 2009, each active or retired member of the U.S. military may obtain one complimentary 5-day “Disney’s Armed Forces Salute” ticket with Park Hopper and Water Park Fun & More options. This ticket is valid for five days of admission into the four Walt Disney World theme parks, plus a total of five visits to a choice of a Disney water park, DisneyQuest Indoor Interactive Theme Park or certain other attractions. During this offer period, active or retired U.S. military personnel may also make a one-time purchase of up to a maximum of five 5-Day “Disney’s Armed Forces Salute Companion” tickets (one theme park per day) for $99 per ticket, plus tax, for family members (including spouse) or friends. Although this ticket for family members and friends does not include either the Park Hopper or Water Park Fun & More options, this ticket can be upgraded to add either such option, or both, for an additional $25, plus tax, per option. All tickets and options are non-transferable and must be used by Dec. 23, 2009. 

Select Walt Disney World Resort hotels may also be offering special rates for active or retired U.S. military personnel during this offer period.

For information on the “Disney’s Armed Forces Salute” offer at Walt Disney World Resort or the Disneyland Resort, or to make reservations, active and retired U.S. Military personnel may call the ITT office on their base. Information about “Disney’s Armed Forces Salute” offer at Walt Disney World Resort is also available at www.disneyworld.com/military.

Sea World and Bush Gardens have also offered a regular promotion targeting military members titled “Hero Salute” for a free one-day pass for eligible personnel and up to three family members, which is generous in itself and welcomed in a tight economy. Valid for one complimentary single-day admission per person, per year, to one of the following Anheuser-Busch Adventure Parks: SeaWorld Orlando, San Diego, or San Antonio, Busch Gardens Tampa Bay or Williamsburg, Sesame Place, Water Country USA, Adventure Island. Not valid at Discovery Cove and Aquatica. To register, visit: www.herosalute.com

Military families can leverage both promotions to create a longer vacation, particularly in Orlando and Tampa area.

Kudos to Disney and other theme parks and suppliers offering special travel promotions as a thank you to our valued military members, especially in a tough economic time and during a time when many families have been separated for long periods due to deployments. Spending time together at Disney is a great way to reconnect and to truly enjoy each other!

A skier getting some powder turns on extreme terrain at the Breckenridge Ski Resort. Photo Credit: Vail Resorts

American travelers are resilient and having weathered bankrupt airlines, gas prices nearing $5 a gallon, fuel supplements, new fees for checked bags, additional fees for airline amenities, reduced airline capacity and other news-making issues in 2008, these vacation warriors are preparing their 2009 vacations. 2009 predictions might be lower than a fairly stable 2008 vacation travel market, but travel suppliers are pulling out the red carpet in terms of deals and incentives to keep Americans traveling.

The Travel Industry Association (TIA), now known as the U.S. Travel Association, recently released its annual travel forecast indicating that an uncertain economic climate is leading American and global travelers to change their behaviors.

“Consumers are responding as we might expect during an economic slowdown,” Suzanne Cook, senior vice president of research for TIA, explains. “But travel should not simply be viewed as an economic indicator; it should be seen as a part of the solution to our economic woes. There’s no doubt that if we can spur travel, we can help to turn the economy around.”

Despite current economic conditions and lagging consumer confidence, the forecast shows that leisure travel volume remains stable for 2008 (-0.2%) and is expected to decline modestly in 2009 (-1.3%). According to the latest travelhorizons^TM survey co-authored by TIA and Ypartnership, seven out of 10 (71%) respondents intend to take an overnight trip of 50 miles or more from home during the next six months. Fully half (48%) of all respondents stated they were not planning any changes to their future travel plans as result of the recent turmoil in the financial markets.

One family out of Omaha, Nebraska just planned a ski vacation to Breckenridge, Colorado. Ski resorts have been offering incentives including a fourth night free or for a dollar to entice visitors.

This year you’ll find about twice as many price breaks and promotions on the ski slopes at Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Keystone and Heavenly for March and April with discounts of 50 percent or more on lodging and even at top-rated restaurants, as reported by Vail Resorts.

According to Scott Donovan, Vail Resorts vacation planning manager, spring is one of the best times to visit, especially this year. “Spring snow is historically deep and the savings will be even deeper this year with a flurry of new offers and 50 percent off deals,” he says. “Plus, there are the traditional 2-for-1 restaurant offerings and end-of-season ski gear sales.”

Historic Main Street Breckenridge in the Winter with the slopes of the Breckenridge Ski Resort in the background. Photo Credit: Vail Resorts

One such ski vacation deal at Breckenridge in 2009 is its “Spring Back to $85 room rates at Breckenridge”. Breckenridge is celebrating spring in style with $85 room rates (per night) from March 29 through its closing day of April 19. www.breckenridge.com or 800.404.3535

According to Peter Yesawich, chairman of Ypartnership, “The results corroborate what we have been preaching now for several months: American travelers are trading down, but not out.”

Consumers are likely to plan and purchase vacations differently with the pursuit of a “good value” as the primary reason why. Three quarters (76%) “expect to book a packaged vacation to save money” and six out of 10 (58%) “plan to comparison shop for prices and rates specifically on the Internet.” Seven out of 10 (67%) “plan to stay fewer nights” and a comparable percentage expects to “spend less on food, beverages and entertainment” when traveling.

Have your vacation travel plans changed for 2009 due to the economy?