When snow starts falling in December, outdoor enthusiasts in Canmore, 60 miles west of Calgary, get ready for a busy season of winter sports that extends through March. While the famous ski resorts of Banff National Park are within striking distance for day trips from Canmore, this mountain town is better known for recreation that puts you closer to nature. But don’t worry: Even though you’ll be sharing the surrounding wilderness with elk, deer and lynx, there’s plenty of room for everyone.

Developed for the 1988 Winter Olympic Games, the Canmore Nordic Centre (Spray Lakes Road; 403-678-2400) is a world-class cross-country skiing facility with 42 miles of groomed trails radiating from a day lodge, where visitors can pick up a trail map and warm themselves with a hot drink. The trails are geared for every ability level, from an easy riverside loop to an experts-only descent through the wooded lower slopes of Mount Rundle. The staff at Trail Sports will set you up for a day of skiing with rentals for all ages and levels. Rent snowshoes and you can leave the marked trails behind.

If driving a dog team sounds like something you’d like to try, book a trip with Snowy Owl Dog Sled Tours. Guests have the choice of sitting back and letting an experienced guide lead, or taking the reins themselves.

For anglers from southern latitudes, ice fishing is another winter experience to remember. Employing a guide from Wapiti Sports has many advantages—local knowledge, equipment supply and more—but none will be more appreciated than the use of this company’s heated hut that sits atop a private fishing hole drilled through the ice of Spray Lake.

INSIDER’S TIP:

When the sun sets on a day of snowy sports, enjoy a drink in front of the fireplace at the non-smoking Miner’s Lamp Pub (1101 Bow Valley Trail; 403-678-3439), then head to Zona’s http://zonascanmore.com/ for creative cooking in a funky setting. Still feeling energetic? Bands play at the Drake Pub http://www.thedrakepub.com/ most nights.

You may not know it, but all gumbo and jambalaya start with the holy trinity: chopped celery, green pepper and onion. Learn why these three veggies are so important to this “hot” cuisine.

 Fun Facts

 1. For any cuisine, the holy trinity is the style’s three key ingredients. 

 2. The Cajun/Creole trinity is based on mirepoix, the French trinity of celery, onion and carrot.

3. Creole cuisine is a mix of African, French and Spanish influences. Cajun combines those with Italian and American Indian flavors.

4. In the 1980s, Cajun food became trendy when chef Paul Prudhomme blackened a redfish. Not traditionally Cajun, blackening is now synonymous with the style.

5. Cajun food definitely has a bite to it, but customarily it is a heat that sneaks up on you. If a dish burns your mouth, then it has too much pepper in it.

6. The trinity is sautéed over low heat to slowly “sweat” out the natural sugars and give a dish additional seasoning and zest.

7. Throughout the centuries, celery has been used medicinally as a blood purifier. It originated as a wild plant in marshes from Sweden south throughout Europe.

8. In 1493, pepper seeds were taken from Central and South America to Spain. From there, they later spread to other European and Asian countries.

9. More calories are burned digesting a piece of celery than the piece contains.

10. The sulfuric compounds in onions are what cause your eyes to tear up. To cut down on this unpleasant side effect, chill the onion and cut into the root end last.

Kitchen Tips

• Most recipes say to sauté the trinity until the vegetables are translucent.
• To go the extra mile, cook the ingredients longer, until they are almost a paste.
• A good, basic stock for soups or stews starts with the trinity. Simmer the vegetables
  along with some garlic and parsley in water for an hour.

Most ski towns are lucky to have one world-class mountain: Park City, Utah, has three!

Deer Valley Resort is a luxury mountain with immaculate grooming and the best on-mountain cuisine in the industry, but it allows only skiers, so don’t bring your snowboard. Beginners, intermediates and those who love perfect corduroy conditions flock to the resort, which added a new lift, 75 acres and 1,000 feet of vertical drop for this winter.

The Canyons Ski Resort is the newest of the trio and the largest in Utah, with modern lifts, minimal lift lines and maximum terrain. Park City Mountain Resort  bridges the gap with plenty of terrain for all abilities. It is also the closest to Main Street with a town lift, but all three are linked by a network of free shuttle buses.

Park City also has a lot of unique off-slope experiences for winter sports fans. The public facilities at the Utah Olympic Park are the nation’s best: You can try half-day camps in luge, skeleton or even ski jumping. When your heartbeat settles down, tour the Alf Engen Ski Museum.  Advanced intermediate and expert skiers should not miss the Ski Utah Interconnect Adventure Tour, a guided back-country excursion that departs from Deer Valley four days a week and links runs at six alpine resorts in a day, all connected by hiking and traverses on alpine equipment. Whichever activity you choose, at the end of the day you may find yourself on Main Street, perhaps starting with a beer at the Wasatch Brew Pub, followed by a visit back in time to Shanghai’s decadent 1930s at Wahso, which replicates the setting and has innovative Asian fusion cuisine.

INSIDER’S TIP:
Park City is home to the Sundance Film Festival, the U.S. answer to Cannes. With A-list celebs filling the town the last week of January, many come for the Hollywood star sightings and industry atmosphere. But the secret is to pop in the day after the festival ends, when the winning films are shown for free and the slopes are virtually empty.

Download adventure

Want to create your own sports-focused getaway? Whether it’s kayaking in Europe or golfing in Mexico, these sites offer tips, equipment and information on places to play around the world. Check them out and ski, dive, bike, surf, hike, paddle and swing your way to your next vacation.

• Global Surfers http://globalsurfers.com
• Dive Travel Information Network http://www.divetravel.info/
• International Mountain Bicycling Association https://www.imba.com/
• Great Outdoor Recreation Pages http://gorp.away.com/gorp/activity/hiking.htm 
• World Golf.com http://www.worldgolf.com/ 
• Playak.com http://playak.com
• Ski Central http://www.skicentral.com/

There’s still time to go on a getaway – and there are ways to keep costs down and get more out of your travel dollars.
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For all of Katrina’s dousing destruction, the floodwaters could not extinguish the bright light that is, and always will be, New Orleans. Although the city is still in recovery mode, the heart of what made it one of America’s most popular tourist attractions is still beating strong. The dining, architecture, music, nightlife, shopping—it’s all here, waiting to be rediscovered or experienced for the first time. By Beth D’Addono.
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It’s Travel Tip Tuesday!  Read on for helpful hints on how to stay sane on the road!

Happy trails!
~Emily

Traveling can be stressful and can be made worse when you have to deal with other travelers who are also stressed. The key to making any trip better—for yourself and your fellow travelers—is to remember that you are not alone.

Whether you’re stranded in an airport, stuck on a long flight, or staying in a full-to-capacity hotel, keeping your cool and using the Golden Rule is essential. Remember, it’s easier to be treated well if you treat others the same.

 In the spirit of great hospitality, Country Inns & Suites By Carlson offers these tips on making travel a better experience for everyone.

 In the air

• Carrying-on: If you can’t lift it, check it. With a true carry-on, try to stow it in the general vicinity of your seat. Don’t insist that the overhead bin directly above your seat is yours. As long as your bag is close by, you’ll be able to retrieve it with minimal intrusion on other passengers. Carry on valuables, one set of clothes and important medicines, but be sure to follow TSA rules on liquids.
• Look before you lean: One of air passengers’ biggest pet peeves is having the person in front suddenly shove the seat back. This causes spilled drinks, flying laptops and a great deal of ill will from the person getting squashed. If you really need to recline your seat, politely let the person behind you know.
• Armrest wrestling: To make sure everyone has at least a little arm support, the passengers in the window seat and aisle seat should each get one outside armrest and the passenger in the middle seat gets access to both of the middle ones.

 At the hotel

• Check it out at check-in: As soon as you get into your room, check to see whether you need more pillows, towels, blankets, etc. If you do, call housekeeping right away. If there are any issues with your room, contact guest services immediately. Calling late at night when there is a reduced staff may cause delays.
• Disturbing the peace: If you arrive late at night or leave early in the morning, be considerate of those still sleeping. If there is a disturbance late at night, don’t try to straighten it out yourself. Call the front desk.
• Booking a hotel with a fitness room and pool for exercise helps alleviate stress and promotes a good night’s sleep. Just make sure you apply the golden rule and limit your time on equipment like a treadmill, or workout at times when room is less used. 

 It doesn’t take much – a little courtesy toward your fellow stressed-out travelers can go a long way toward making the journey better for everyone.

 Here are some of the sensory experiences that are part of north Georgia:

Sight
Near Cartersville, you’ll find the Etowah Indian Mounds, which were constructed sometime between the 1300s and the 1600s.

Sound
If the day’s warm enough, consider a walk on one of the many trails that crisscross North Georgia. Once you’re in the woods, you’re likely to hear little more than the wind or the occasional bird call.

Taste
Stop by Colonel Poole’s Bar-B-Q , just south of Ellijay on Highway 515, for some tasty pork barbecue or Brunswick stew.

Touch
Feeling adventurous? Take a white water rafting trip on the Chattooga River with Southeastern Expeditions.

Smell
Near Helen, take in the smells, sights and sounds of Nora Mill Granary, where grits are ground from corn on stones that were first used in the mill in 1876.

 Road Rules

If you’re from outside the United States and visiting for less than a year, Georgia recognizes your valid driver’s license as long as it hasn’t expired. Motorists are required to carry liability insurance. Rental agencies can advise you concerning Georgia’s insurance requirements.

For Starters and Stay-Overs

Nearby cities such as Atlanta, Georgia; Huntsville, Alabama; and Chattanooga, Tennessee, make excellent starting points for exploring the towns and back roads of north Georgia.

Last year, “buy 1, get 1 free” promotion was so successful that we’ve decided to offer it again!  Visit our website to learn all about our fabulous spring getaway offer — and make sure to check back here often to follow some of our favorite bloggers as they share their adventures on the road… and tell us all why two nights isn’t as good as three!

Book now!  We’re taking reservations right now, and valid stays must be completed by May 15!

Wheeeeeeeee!

I love this Country!
~Emily

You don’t have to trot the globe to be an eco-friendly traveler. While green travel usually is associated with visits to tropical retreats in places like Costa Rica or Belize, it’s possible to be a responsible guest much closer to home.   Country Inns & Suites new property in Tuscon, AZ is a great example of how you can live green a bit closer to home.  Read on for more details about this exciting new property, and information about what you can do as a hotel guest to positively impact the environment!
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Welcome to the Country Inn & Suites, one of the newest hotels in Princeton, WV. A visit to our hotel places you amidst the beautiful Appalachian Mountains, where you can enjoy the ski slopes, scenic views, hiking, horseback riding and golf activities nearby. Guests can enjoy our Princeton hotel’s convenient services and amenities, including a complimentary breakfast every morning, high-speed Internet access, indoor pool and hot tub, Fitness Center and Business Center. Visit the Country Inn & Suites and see what sets us apart from other hotels in Princeton, WV.

Visit http://www.countryinns.com/princetonwv or call 1-800-596-2375 to book your stay today!
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