Tag: golf

Excalibur Hotel and Casino Brings Magic to Life

If you are harboring thoughts of bringing the family for a Las Vegas vacation, then perhaps you should seriously consider a stay at Excalibur Hotel and Casino. This hotel will have you feeling as though you’ve stepped into the fairy tales of your childhood. From the moment you cross the threshold from the outside world to the charmed existence of life in the hotel you will find that you have truly been charmed and are leading a somewhat enchanted existence.

Not only is there the magnificent casino to enjoy, there is also the wonderful pool, links golf, the castle walk for your shopping pleasure, and the midway where you can play all kinds of fun and exciting arcade and carnival games. Perhaps one of the most memorable and impressive of offerings is the Tournament of Kings dinner show. This show is offered nightly at 6:00 and 8:30 and you will eat in the manner of those in medieval times, without utensils while watching the evil wizard Mordred as he invades the evening festivities. This show is quite enjoyable and relies heavily upon audience participation.

Dining in the hotel and casino can be quite the adventure without the assistance of horses and actors as there are several dining options including the Roundtable Buffet, The Steakhouse at Camelot, Regale Italian Eatery, Sherwood Forest Caf, and how could we forget Sir Galahad’s Pub and Prime Rib House?

If you’re looking for the fairytale wedding of your dreams, then Excalibur has the package for you. You can even elect to rent medieval costumes in which to get married. There are many different packages available to fit various budgets and wedding needs. Wedding packages vary in price from around $400 plus $55 for the cost of the minister to around $1575 plus the cost of the minister. These are all rather basic packages and do not include extras such as costume rentals, extra poses for the wedding photos, or video and candle services.

Before your big day make sure you make liberal use of the spa services available at Excalibur Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. Of course this is a great idea even if you are just hoping to relax while on vacation. You remember relaxation right? That is what you did on occasion before you had children. You should definitely get the royal treatment that is available through the spa and enjoy every minute of your visit. Some of the spa services offered at Excalibur include: facials, wraps, Aveda facials, and various massages. There are add on services that can be purchased and packages available. This is a great way to spend an hour or three before your big day or any day.

Once you’ve finished getting pampered at the spa, step on over to Kristina’s Salon and get primped. You can enjoy everything from manicures to full service hair styling services. Whether you are preparing for your big day and saying “I do!” or simply for a romantic evening on the strip this is a great place to begin.

Excalibur also offers full service catering and convention services. Whether you are hosting a wedding reception or a company convention we have the facilities as well as the expertise to keep everything operating seamlessly behind the scenes so that all eyes will be on the things that are important. Projections and profits for the corporate conventions and the bride and groom for wedding receptions.

Excalibur Hotel Casino can meet almost any lodging and accommodation needs for those staying and playing in Las Vegas, more than that we can provide a great ‘fairy tale’ atmosphere for your family vacation or just your big trip in general. If you haven’t given proper consideration to the idea of staying here during your visit, I highly encourage that you do-especially if you have a little princess in your party that you are trying to impress.

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Mount St. Helens

Mount St. Helens
Mount St. Helens is most famous for its catastrophic eruption in 1980. The active volcano
is located in Washington State, about 90 miles south of Seattle and 50 miles northeast of
Portland, Oregon. The Mount St. Helens recreational area was re-opened in 1987.
The Mount St. Helens eruption of 1980 was the deadliest and most economically
destructive volcanic event in United States history. A series of small earthquakes were
detected starting on May 16, 1980. Two days later, at 8:32 on a Sunday morning, a
massive earthquake measuring 5.1 on the Richter scale violently shook Mount St. Helens.
The volcano violently erupted, its north face exploded, and lava poured fourth for nine
continuous hours. Minor explosive activity would continue for six years.
More than 1,300 feet of the mountains rocky summit were blown away, leaving a mile-
wide crater. The lava which was 1300 degrees Fahrenheit — incinerated the surrounding
forest and campsites, killing fifty-seven people and 7,000 large wild animals. It also
destroyed more than $1 billion in property. The lava coated 185 miles of highway and
230 square miles of forest. It incinerated 250 homes, dozens of bridges, and 15 miles of
railways.
In addition to the lava damage, the area surrounding Mount St. Helens suffered a massive
avalanche of mountain debris. Within fifteen seconds of the largest explosion, ash clouds
had formed fifteen miles up in the atmosphere. Ash was carried by wind throughout
eastern Washington. Two hundred and fifty miles away, residents of Spokane said that
daytime was as dark as night. After President Jimmy Carter surveyed the damage, he
commented, Someone said this area looked like a moonscape. But the moon looks more
like a golf course compared to whats up there.
Archaeological evidence suggests that many civilizations may have been impacted by
Mount St. Helens eruptions. Campsites at least 6,500 years old have been discovered in
the mountain vicinity. About four thousand years ago, aboriginal settlements were buried
in pumice. People seem to have abandoned the land for two thousand years, after which
hunters and gatherers returned for seasonal collection of food. These included members
of the Upper Chinook, Cowlitz, Klickitat, Taidnapam, and Yakama tribes. The tribes
developed many legends to explain the historic catastrophe and intermittent volcanic
activity.
Europeans may have first spotted the volcano in 1792 when the British Royal Navy
Commander George Vancouver and his officers surveyed the Pacific Northwest coast.
Vancouver named the mountain St. Helens in honor of a British diplomat, an Alleyne
Fitzherbert, First Baron St. Helens. Geologists later determined that starting in 1800, the
Goat Rocks area started erupting for 57 years!
Fur traders and missionaries started to settle the area around 1840. Starting in the wintry
days of 1842, they reported a Great Eruption. This produced ash clouds and was
followed by 15 years of small-scale steam-and-ash explosions.
By 1980, Mount St. Helens did not seem as threatening. The nearby Spirit Lake offered
recreational activities year-round, and the region was a popular boating, camping, and
skiing destination. During the 1980 eruption, the lake was dramatically uplifted.
Thousands of trees were uprooted and the lake sloshed water 800 feet upward. Once
Spirit Lake settled again, it was smaller and much shallower than before. The lake was
devoid of life, as volcanic gases removed all its oxygen.
The Mount St. Helens area was left to naturally recover. It has gradually changed from
gray to green. Some areas are thriving with new coniferous forests, and even the areas
coated with volcanic rock have seen vegetation emerge. By 1993, scientists reported
seeing fish in the once uninhabitable Spirit Lake. Barring another explosion, by the year
2200 the forest may look as it did before the 1980 catastrophe.
President Ronald Reagan and the US Congress established the Mount St. Helens National
Volcanic Monument in 1982. The park was reopened in 1987 and has only closed briefly,
though seismic activity is still evident. People can access visitor centers on the west side
of the mountain via State Road 504. Mountain climbing is permitted, and people can even
dare a climb to the new crater of Mount St. Helens.
PPPPP
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Skiing Vacations at the Fairmont Chateau Whistler

The Fairmont Chateau Whistler, in Whistler, British Columbia, is a gorgeous alpine resort in the shadow of Blackcomb Mountain. Rated as the number one ski resort in both Canada and North America in recent years, the Whistler Blackcomb resort is one truly not to be missed. British Columbia is home to many of the worlds best ski resorts, and Whistler Blackcomb certainly reaffirms this. The impeccable reputation of the resort is only further bolstered by the eight thousand acres of pristine skiing, and over thirty-five feet of powder white snow which falls every single year, making Whistler Blackcomb the destination of choice for savvy ski enthusiasts the world over.

When it comes to skiing facilities, youd naturally expect the Whistler Blackcomb resort to have it all. Catering for a broad cross-section of skiing abilities and tastes, there are over one hundred different runs to keep you occupied on your stay. The natural beauty of these resorts is obvious, and the facilities just add to the overall experience. In the lap of luxury, you can experience world class skiing, indulging in connoisseur black diamond runs, and lightening fast ski lifts. With an astonishing 57,000 skier per hour capacity, the Whistler Blackcomb resort is not only high quality, but also in high demand by those in the know across the world. And after youre active day, relax in the warmth and comfort of the resorts bars and restaurants, where you can share a joke or two over an open fire when its cold outside. For most people, it really doesnt get much better than that, and thats why the resort has attracted such acclaim, on top of its excellent skiing and snowboarding facilities.

But dont worry if you dont know how to ski – the resort also boasts activities like golf, a health spa, gourmet restaurants, attractive walks and hiking. There really is something for everyone at the resort. Additionally, if youd like to learn to ski, there really is nowhere better. The Whistler Blackcomb resort also employs a one thousand-strong teaching staff, making it one of the biggest skiing and snowboarding schools in North America, and indeed in the world. Whistler Blackcomb boasts an unparalleled number of world class instructors, which serve to ensure a high standard of training for all the schools participants. Additionally, with a range of training and tuition programmes available, the Whistler Blackcomb resort truly is one of the best locations in the world to improve your skiing skills.

The Fairmount Chateau Whistler is a truly unique skiing experience, making use of its beautiful natural resources, and a flair for quality and service. Any vacation at the Chateau Whistler will be an experience not to be forgotten, and with a wrought-iron reputation, youll find many skiers choose to go back year on year for their annual vacation.

If youre looking for a good tip for vacations to the Chateau Whistler, you could do worse than to book direct through their website. By cutting out the middle man you are paying only the hotel price and no commission, which means you can benefit from a much cheaper stay. Additionally, on the Fairmount website, you will find last minute bargains and offers which are simply unbeatable anywhere else, so you might just find that your once in a lifetime skiing experience costs a lot less than you had anticipated.

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