Travel Tips

In the classic fantasy series The Lord of the Rings, the author J.R.R. Tolkien gives us many enduring and imaginative images. One phrase that stands out in a passage concerning a dangerous passageway is, the runes were carved into the very living mountains You can almost envision those mountains having a life of their own and being able to somehow express themselves to the Hobbits who were on their noble quest.

The magic qualities of Tolkiens fiction are wonderful to read about. But when you go to spend some time on one of the great mountain ranges of America, you can actually almost see how a gifted writer could ascribe magical qualities to those amazing peaks and rolling hills.

Of the many mountain ranges that grace this great land, Colorado seems to have an extra blessing of mountains that have that magic that we are talking about. And whether you are vacationing in Colorado to enjoy her many great cities or if the mountains are your destination, there can be no question that you will find yourself gazing in silent wonder at the majesty of what God has made in the high lands of Colorado.

There are many delightful ways to make a trip to the mountains of Colorado a memorable and special event for you and your family. If camping is within your abilities, that is one of the finest ways to truly get a feeling of intimacy and oneness with theses powerful mountains. There is nothing like pitching your tent with the towering mountains all around you and the tall trees above knowing that soon you will be virtually alone with the wilderness as the sun sets behind those hills.

Sometimes it is easy to feel a bit fearful of wild beasts that might prowl the mountains. And to be sure, it is not at all uncommon to look up and see an Elk or a wandering family of dear drinking from that mountain stream that gurgles gently near your campsite. There are some camping precautions that you can take to assure that more aggressive beasts such as raccoons or even bear do not take interest in your campsite. But Colorado has some of the finest park rangers in the country. They will work with you to assure that you know how to camp safely to keep curious animals from coming too close.

In addition to camping, hiking can give you an up close and personal look into the wilds of the Colorado mountains in ways that are otherwise unattainable. The National Parks System works hard to provide hundreds of well maintained trails that you can use to explore these mountains in safety. You can easily come upon wildlife or witness a falling tree or tumbling rocks on a prepared trail as much as you can wild hiking on your own. But with a prepared trail, you never have to worry about getting lost and becoming one of those tragic stories we sometimes hear about on the news.

The mountains of Colorado offer many fun and exciting ways for you to explore to your hearts content and come away from your time in the mountains refreshed and feeling that you truly have communed with nature. If a bit of danger is in your blood, white water rafting tours are readily available all over the state. The risk level of these tours can vary from mild for a family with children to somewhat dangerous for the adventuresome in your party. And as your are hurled down the raging rivers that cut through the mountains in Colorado, not only will you be full of adrenaline, you will be having an experience that will bond you with these mountains for the rest of your life.

Along with these great options, fishing, picnics and searching for wild moose are other pastimes that fascinate many a Colorado visitor. You will have no trouble finding a great way for you to come close to the mountains. And as you watch the sun set behind those majestic peaks, it will be hard not to want to pour out your hopes and dreams to them. And when the Colorado mountains talk to you as well, they call to you to come back again and again. It is a call that gets in your soul and will be there forever until you comply and return for another great time in some of Americas greatest mountains.

Along with London, Paris and New York, Milan and Rome are on the list of the famous fashion centers of the world. When you are on your Italy vacation you may not be able to help yourself but to indulge a little in this aspect of Italian culture. By all means make sure you visit the rolling hills of Florence, take a gondola trip through Venice and visit a vineyard in Tuscany. But don’t forget that you are in the country of the likes of Armani, Versace, Fendi, Prada and Valentino. If this at all interests you do find out if your visit coincides with any fashion exhibits or public fashion shows in Rome or Milan.

When you are in Rome make sure you visit the Vatican City but you must go to the original stores of all the Italian designers. You will not only see little old ladies in Italian villages while on vacation in Italy but when you arrive you will quickly realize that Italians have a very high fashion sense, care very much about their looks and are very sophisticated especially in Rome and Milan. You must visit the famous shopping strip Via Montenapoleone in Milan. Here you will find boutiques for Chanel, Dolce e Gabbana and Fendi along with numerous others. Even if your budget does not allow you to purchase anything, this will make for an unbelievable window shopping experience during your vacation in Italy. Many of these boutiques are open from 10 am till 7 pm Tuesdays through Saturdays with shorter hours on Mondays and are closed on Sundays.

Italy is especially known for its high fashion industry or “haute couture” and the runway fashion shows that the designers use to debut their new collections each season. The houses of Valentino and Fendi originated in Rome while the houses of Prada, Versace and Armani originated in Milan. With near perfect craftsmanship, Italian fashions are said to rival those of France and many people even feel the Italian fashions are superior.

During your Italy vacation you may hear of AltaRoma, an organization that has been responsible for putting Italian designers on the map over the years through its yearly fashion shows. These fashion shows feature established designers as well as new designers. They are closed to the general public but AltaRoma also organizes another event that is open to everyone. If your Italy vacation is in mid July the Donna Sotto del Stelle is worth catching. It means “Woman under the Stars.” It is an open air fashion event that takes place at the Piazza de Spagna in Rome and features several newer designers.

To further take in the couture culture during your vacation in Italy, you should also visit the most prominent fashion school in Rome. This school has produced some very talented new designers and usually has fashion exhibits and shows open to the public. Valentino also opened a fashion school in 1990 which also hosts some fashion and art shows open to the general public.