Let’s say you get the flu as soon as you step out onto the beach. Or, your romantic hotel room is right next to a family with screaming toddlers. Often, you can find hidden opportunities in these small tragedies. Maybe the flu that keeps you inside also keeps you from getting sunburned like the rest of your family. Or, the screaming toddlers later befriend you in the hotel pool and you spend a giggle-filled afternoon seeing the world through their eyes.

Just over three weeks ago, my friend Brooke and I set out from Denver for a Vail vacation. Brooke and I have known each other since college at U of M, and we spent much of the nighttime Rocky Mountain drive catching up with one another. One minute, we were laughing and reminiscing, and the next minute we hit a spot of black ice, lost control of the car, smashed into the left guardrail, spun across the interstate in circles, got hit by two other cars, and finally landed front impact in a snow bank. We were stunned, terrified, badly banged up and bruised, and very lucky to be alive.

Obviously, this wasn’t supposed to happen.

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Posted in Car Travel, Group & Companion, Guides & Planning, Spiritual & Religious
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When I think of Japan, I usually conjure up images of serene temples, delicate cherry trees, and of course that ever-so-delish dish of choice, sushi (although as a vegan, I’m more apt to prefer California’s version, the tasty avocado roll). Not to mention some of the most fascinating cartoon art and pop culture around (Maguro Parasite Museum, anyone?).

After reading an article in Outside magazine on ski getaways in Japan, though, I checked out Japan's Travel Info website--and man, is there ever some amazing skiing in this island nation. Nagano, the main city of Japan’s most mountainous region, is just a two-hour train ride away from Tokyo. It’s no wonder the city was selected to host the 1998 Winter Olympics: it’s got plenty of incredible ski resorts, including the largest one in Japan, and boasts 9,840-plus-foot peaks, perfect powder, and runs for all ski levels and tastes. Not to mention its incredible historical significance--it grew up around 1,400-year-old Buddhist temple Zenko-ji, one of the largest Buddhist temples in Japan. Nagano is easily the country’s best one-stop ski center.

Photo courtesy of IgoUgo member brunokyooshi

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Posted in International Travel, Ski & Sport, Spas, Spiritual & Religious
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Travelers have always followed guidebook advice religiously, scurrying from one historic site to the next, but for some Americans the book they’re taking their cues from has changed. Move over, Frommer’s. It’s the man upstairs’ turn.

Menlo Consulting Group found in a recent survey that one-third of Americans who travel abroad said they hoped to take a faith-based trip in the future and 9.5% of travelers polled had already completed a religious journey. This percentage encompasses 4.5 million travelers and means big business for travel companies, particularly those offering guided tours of holy sites around the world.

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Posted in Europe, France, International Travel, Spiritual & Religious
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