http://www.heatherdugan.com/blogBETA Travels and Journeys... Wed, 08 Feb 2012 19:41:18 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 2006-2010 heather@heatherdugan.com (Heather Dugan) heather@heatherdugan.com (Heather Dugan) 1440 http://www.heatherdugan.com/blogNEW/wp-content/plugins/podpress/images/powered_by_podpress.jpg http://www.heatherdugan.com/blogBETA 144 144 http://www.heatherdugan.com/blogNEW/?feed=podcast Footsteps Travels and Journeys... Travel, outdoors, adventure, Heather, Dugan, stories Heather Dugan Heather Dugan heather@heatherdugan.com no no http://www.heatherdugan.com/blogBETA/2009/07/13/hummingbirds-choose-the-marriott-bayview/ http://www.heatherdugan.com/blogBETA/2009/07/13/hummingbirds-choose-the-marriott-bayview/#comments Mon, 13 Jul 2009 16:55:07 +0000 Heather Dugan http://www.heatherdugan.com/blog/usacanada/hummingbirds-choose-the-marriott-bayview/ http://www.heatherdugan.com/blogBETA/2009/07/13/hummingbirds-choose-the-marriott-bayview/feed/ 17 0:01:25 The Marriott Bayview in Newport Beach holds all the expected perks and comforts of this hotel brand enhanced by a front row seat to Nature. Situated on the edge of the Upper Newport Bay Reserve and Ecological Preserve, it offers the traveler eas[...] The Marriott Bayview in Newport Beach holds all the expected perks and comforts of this hotel brand enhanced by a front row seat to Nature. Situated on the edge of the Upper Newport Bay Reserve and Ecological Preserve, it offers the traveler easy access to miles of recreational trails. Its on-site fitness center is small but adequate, containing weight and cardio machines as well as free weights. A nicely sized outdoor pool stretches from the upper patio to beneath a shaded overhang. The lower garden area features cushioned Adirondack chairs (perfect for morning coffee), a gazebo and a rock waterfall that attracts large numbers of hummingbirds. An attentive staff facilitated our smooth and enjoyable three night stay. I’m not a fan of hotel parking fees; the additional $18 per day charge was my only significant negative. Breakfast at the Marriott Bayview is a treat, due mainly to the smiling Javier. Javier cooks from the heart, and the savory results are splendid. His custom omelets are jammed with flavor, and in my case, jalapenos. He disarmingly insisted on presenting his creations tableside and surprised me one morning with an additional handcrafted pancake. It was one of those flourishing touches that makes the Marriott Bayview a pleasant stay in the Newport Beach area. View Upper Newport Bay Preserve and Ecological Reserve in a larger map Lodging, Wildlife Heather Dugan no no http://www.heatherdugan.com/blogBETA/2009/05/16/maybe-mexico-the-royal-playa-del-carmen/ http://www.heatherdugan.com/blogBETA/2009/05/16/maybe-mexico-the-royal-playa-del-carmen/#comments Sat, 16 May 2009 16:52:49 +0000 Heather Dugan http://www.heatherdugan.com/blog/adventures/maybe-mexico-the-royal-playa-del-carmen/ http://www.heatherdugan.com/blogBETA/2009/05/16/maybe-mexico-the-royal-playa-del-carmen/feed/ 12 0:02:23 Several Mexican resorts are offering a “flu-free guarantee” in hopes of stemming national tourism losses that could total 4 billion in 2009.  Travel to more than twenty resorts booked by June 30  for this calendar year is eligible for [...] Several Mexican resorts are offering a “flu-free guarantee” in hopes of stemming national tourism losses that could total 4 billion in 2009.  Travel to more than twenty resorts booked by June 30  for this calendar year is eligible for the offer of three free vacations should a traveler become ill with a verified case of swine flu. The Royal Playa Del Carmen is among the properties offering this incentive to hesitant vacationers with additional deep discounts and promotions listed on the resort website.  Having recently enjoyed the endless amenities of this luxury resort last December, I can attest to the excellent values of the current vacation offers -regardless of the money back (in the form of future travel) guarantee. The Royal’s palatial suites, most of which are ocean-view or oceanfront, include enormous in-room jacuzzis and terraces overlooking the Caribbean Sea.  Rose petals, artistic towel “swans” and daily aroma therapy embellished our already delightful room, but the prize was most definitely the view of ever-blue water framed by rippling sheers. All-inclusive resorts are the norm in Mexico’s resort areas; the quality of included fare can range from mediocre on up to exceptional.  We found the extensive beverage and restaurant service at the Royal Playa Del Carmen to be consistently very good to excellent.  We especially enjoyed our breezy lunches at Pelicanos on the beach and the fusian fare at Asianos.  The fresh fruit, Mexican cuisine and outstanding made-to-order omelets at Spice gave it our top vote for breakfast.  A well-equipped spa/fitness facility, watersports and a long beach -perfect for running and walking- made keeping up our exercise routines easy, and Playa Del Carmen was but a wander away -roughly a one block walk from the resort property. A billowing breeze, crescent of shoreline and clear blue sea are the only true essentials for a perfect beach day.  Add in a few unexpected delights such as frozen sugared grapes proffered on a passing tray and canopied beach beds -and one begins to understand the quiet joys of an adults-only resort. Note the inviting plank swings dangling in front of a beach side bar and know that the child lives on in many of these adults… More on Playa Del Carmen More on MEXICO Lodging, Snorkeling/Swimming Heather Dugan no no http://www.heatherdugan.com/blogBETA/2008/10/23/the-lodge-at-red-river-ranch-teasdale-utah/ http://www.heatherdugan.com/blogBETA/2008/10/23/the-lodge-at-red-river-ranch-teasdale-utah/#comments Thu, 23 Oct 2008 21:15:17 +0000 Heather Dugan http://www.heatherdugan.com/blog/taking-the-kids/the-lodge-at-red-river-ranch-teasdale-utah/ http://www.heatherdugan.com/blogBETA/2008/10/23/the-lodge-at-red-river-ranch-teasdale-utah/feed/ 20 0:03:06 Capitol Reef National Park Visitor Information and Map Isolation needn’t mean total sacrifice. And, The Lodge at Red River Ranch had all the right surprises to comfortably pad our relative seclusion outside of Capitol Reef National Park. It took [...] Capitol Reef National Park Visitor Information and Map Isolation needn’t mean total sacrifice. And, The Lodge at Red River Ranch had all the right surprises to comfortably pad our relative seclusion outside of Capitol Reef National Park. It took a certain amount of faith to drive past the kitschy mini-jumble of Torrey, Utah in hopes that neighboring Teasdale would eventually materialize along the vast expanse ahead. We carefully noted the food stops and gas stations along the way; the remote stretches of Utah had taught us to plan ahead for our “essentials”.   The tall-timbered ranch entry was our landmark; a sturdy “welcome” amongst the mountain-fringed pastures. I had been told to look for a grove of trees far off of the main road, and finally, there it was at the end of a long graveled drive. Our oasis. The Lodge is an elegantly and comfortably appointed mega-log cabin: a great destination for groups, both large and small family-sized. Our adjoining rooms, connected by both a generous bathroom and a hallway, were on the third floor and gave us plenty of privacy. Exposed beams, high ledges and deep teal-colored walls pleasantly counterbalanced some of the more dainty room furnishings. We had no need for the fireplaces in July but relished the breezes and mountain-views accessible from our private balconies. Some very personable kittens played on the east porch downstairs… …and a herd of bison roamed the front fields. There are six miles of private river for catch-and-release fly-fishing and pastures for horseback riding. A single wooden plank swing dangles charmingly from a cottonwood limb arched some thirty feet above the gravel front drive. Hannah and I found this to be a terrific “cool-down” after our morning runs around the property. Breakfast was always a plentiful plateful, with homemade nut breads and luscious fruits. We ordered “light,” ate very well, and always ended up with some “carry-up-for-later”. The dinner menu held some intriguing options but was definitely a more upscale affair than my group of hikers needed or wanted. Maybe next time… The dining room, with its decorative tin ceiling and massive pillared beams is a place to linger. Its bank of windows overlooks an expansive front porch edged with a profusion of swaying flowers and well-patronized hummingbird feeders. A basement rec room houses table soccer, a ping pong table, a TV, and an assortment of toys. It also has a community computer, but free wi-fi in our rooms was our better option.The Lodge was our most expensive accommodation but well worth the splurge. And happily, there was some flexibility on the published rate (It never hurts to ask!). Concerned that we’d be too crowded in the room I’d originally selected, the owner knocked enough off the rate of our larger suite to make it an acceptable option. On our second evening, we settled into the jumbo-sized hot tub on the late edge of sunset and watched the mountains cast long shadows as the sun dipped ever lower beyond the orchard. We talked. We laughed. The edges of the deck walk glowed with strings of light and stars dotted the blackened sky… Capitol Reef National Park: Visitor Information and Map Capitol Reef National Park (Torrey, Utah) 378 miles of colorful canyons and ridges… Slot canyons, rock arches and monoliths Pick-your-own fruit (June – Oct) HC 70 Box 15; Torrey, UT 84775 435-425-3791 x 111 Park Website Park Hours: Open year-round; see website for details Entrance Fee: $3.00/individuals or $5.00/private vehicle Valid for 7 days. Annual pass available. View Larger Map More on Capitol Reef National Park More on Utah… Lodging Heather Dugan no no http://www.heatherdugan.com/blogBETA/2008/09/05/smokey-the-bear-and-tibetan-monks-i-must-be-in-boulder-utah/ http://www.heatherdugan.com/blogBETA/2008/09/05/smokey-the-bear-and-tibetan-monks-i-must-be-in-boulder-utah/#comments Fri, 05 Sep 2008 17:45:17 +0000 Heather Dugan http://www.heatherdugan.com/blog/taking-the-kids/smokey-the-bear-and-tibetan-monks-i-must-be-in-boulder-utah/ http://www.heatherdugan.com/blogBETA/2008/09/05/smokey-the-bear-and-tibetan-monks-i-must-be-in-boulder-utah/feed/ 12 0:02:32 Boulder, Utah will never be confused with the bigger Boulder (that would be the more substantial map dot in Colorado), but we found it to be a charming stop on our journey through southern Utah. Renegade cows, a Russian waitress, Tibetan Monks and[...] Boulder, Utah will never be confused with the bigger Boulder (that would be the more substantial map dot in Colorado), but we found it to be a charming stop on our journey through southern Utah. Renegade cows, a Russian waitress, Tibetan Monks and Smokey the Bear all combined to make it a memorable over-night stay. We arrived late in the afternoon, damp and mud-splattered (courtesy of Bryce Canyon National Park), with a strong desire for room service. Our room at the Boulder Mountain Lodge was spacious with views of meadows and mountains and included a coffee table book that dissed “Smokey The Bear” in strong conservationist language. This was actually a hilarious bonus for my group who had been terrorized by Smokey’s gargantuan remote-voiced presence at our Ohio State Fair in their younger years. Personal greetings from an over-sized and overly-friendly bear statue are a bit unnatural and didn’t generate the warm “save the forest” feelings the Park Service was probably striving for. Which made the Smokey The Bear bashing book great environmental bed-time reading… Our initial exploration took us to the fenced pasture across the road, alongside the breezy flowers of a vast meadow and on to a charming enclosure that concealed a 12-foot hot tub and patio. We gratefully soaked our feet after rinsing them in the adjacent shower and laughed over our afternoon’s adventure at Bryce Canyon. When we quieted down, the whole world was perfectly still. The pond just beyond the decorative iron fence hosted a bird sanctuary brushed by dozens of butterflies. And further out, mountains emerged from the rolling meadows. As we crossed the drive to a restaurant, the Tibetan Monks were a bit of surprise. The purple-robed gentlemen arrived in minivans with minimal luggage and enormous smiles. The Drepung Loseling Monks were featured on the Hollywood soundtrack of “Seven Years in Tibet.” It seemed unusual to bump into them in southern Utah, but it turns out, Boulder, Utah is a yearly trek for them. We ordered surprisingly good carry-out from the Burr Trail Grill and chatted with another “Hannah” while we waited on our order. Home for the summer from school in California, she told us a little about growing up in an area canyon where they had to create escape routes with cut trees whenever heavy rains washed out the roads -and wear safety harnesses for the crawl above floodwaters to safety! We savored our quiet evening. Hannah and I planned to run in the morning, and then we’d hike Lower Calf Creek Falls in the Escalante National Memorial. Well, we got half of it right… Next: The Cows… More on Utah… Boulder, Hiking, Lodging Heather Dugan no no http://www.heatherdugan.com/blogBETA/2008/07/21/road-to-zion-national-park-utah/ http://www.heatherdugan.com/blogBETA/2008/07/21/road-to-zion-national-park-utah/#comments Mon, 21 Jul 2008 19:34:11 +0000 Heather Dugan http://heatherdugan.com/blog/taking-the-kids/road-to-zion-national-park-utah/ http://www.heatherdugan.com/blogBETA/2008/07/21/road-to-zion-national-park-utah/feed/ 19 0:02:01 The road to Zion extended from an Enterprise rental lot outside Las Vegas McCarran International Airport, past the Strip and well beyond tenacious Mesquite, Nevada. A “Welcome to Arizona” sign came as a complete surprise as we traveled northeast o[...] The road to Zion extended from an Enterprise rental lot outside Las Vegas McCarran International Airport, past the Strip and well beyond tenacious Mesquite, Nevada. A “Welcome to Arizona” sign came as a complete surprise as we traveled northeast on I-15, but a quick (frantic) check of our Google directions confirmed a “passing through Arizona” before Utah. Whew. That one scared me a little! The landscape did a rapid transformation from man-made glitz into stubbled desert southwest. This soon segued into ever-growing cliffs that edged toward our roadway and up towards a sky that bloomed blue. It was a windows down kind of drive even with triple digit temperatures. Once in Utah, we enjoyed the novelty of long stretches of nothingness dotted by municipal blips with names such as Hurricane, La Verkin and Rockville. The latter’s street lights consisted of a series of single light bulbs dangled from the wires periodically strung across Route 9.  A hand-lettered sign in La Verkin outlined a former business owner’s vehement discontent with city politics; I bet they have some interesting community parades there…  One of the town’s more easy-going residents had appended a cautionary “Watch Children” sign with “act like monkeys.” Zion National Park gave us tantalizing glimpses of its glory as we rounded bend after bend after bend. Our goal was Springdale on park’s edge, and more specifically, the Cliffrose Lodge which would be our base for the next few days. We passed a doggy day camp with little white tents and an organic orchard before finally rolling into the strip of civilization that has grown out of Zion’s popularity. The Cliffrose had luxurious views that made up for its average accommodations and was within easy walking distance of the park entrance. With the VirginRiver in its backyard and balcony views of Zion’s peaks fronted by the lodge’s lush gardens, we were happy to dump our bags and head out for our first hike! Matt’s choice sounded great to our hot and dusty group, a river walk through a gorgeous canyon suitably dubbed “The Narrows”. Hiking, Lodging Heather Dugan no no