Now that summer’s in full swing, it’s time to put on those hiking boots or sandals, gas up the car and head for the outdoors. America’s parks are top recreational destinations, and with more than 520 U.S. national parks and forests to choose from, you can easily find one that’s right for you, whether you have in mind a drive, a hike, a swim beneath a waterfall or a frolic at a beach. Be sure to take a picnic or try some local eats, and stop in the souvenir shop, too. To jump-start your vacation plans, Voyageur’s correspondents explore three parks, which represent a cross-section of natural settings—desert canyon, mountain peaks and sandy beaches. You’ll find each holds the promise of adventure.

By Annette McGivney, Cyril Manning and Larry Rice
 

 
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Although travel is a rewarding and fun experience, jet lag, exotic foods, and long hours sitting on a plane or cooped up in business meetings can take their toll. Clearly, this is not the time to stint on exercise. But exercising in the summer heat, especially in an unfamiliar climate, requires special vigilance. Here are some guidelines.  By Phyllis McIntosh.
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The first time Stephanie Haase organized a trade show for her company, Tunnell Consulting, Inc., of King of Prussia, Pennsylvania, she forgot to order nametags. “I didn’t realize I needed them,” she recalls. “I was literally learning as I went along.”

If you’re not a professional event planner, staging a corporate seminar, company party or team-building session can send your stress level through the roof. That’s where the five W’s come in, says Jodi Wolf, co-author of Event Planning Made Easy (McGraw-Hill, $24.95) and president of Paulette Wolf Events & Entertainment in Chicago. Wolf says you should “ask yourself, ‘Who are your guests? What is your event? Where and when is it? And why is it happening?’” Once you answer those questions, you can put together a budget and what Wolf calls an “event blueprint,” which she recommends organizing in a binder—something Haase now does religiously.

A detailed event checklist is a lifesaver, says Anya Grottel-Brown, vice president, management supervisor for Dentsu Communications Inc. Grottel-Brown, who has organized events for 50 to 500 attendees, also recommends allowing 15 percent of your estimated total budget for miscellaneous expenses. “There’s always something you’re going to forget,” she says, “like the time I was organizing a photo exhibition and had to buy $400 worth of Velcro at the last minute.”

Here are a few more tips from the pros:

·  Don’t forget signage. When your guests, speaker and panel members show up,
will they know where they’re going?

·  Send an electronic invite when possible. It’s cost-effective, and chances are attendees
will ask for information to be e-mailed to them anyway.

·  Unless you’re having a sit-down meal, order food for half the number of attendees. “Most people come to nibble and make contacts,” says Grottel-Brown. “They are not expecting a full-course meal.”

·  Staff up. Have assistants on hand before and on the day of the event.

·  Always have a backup plan. Once all the details are in place, imagine what could go wrong. Then solve the problem.

Haase now works from a template she designed herself, complete with a calendar for deadlines, e-mail reminders to participants and an exhaustive list of trusted vendors. “Since I still have to do all of my other job duties,” she says, “being organized—and coming into the office on an occasional Sunday afternoon—is the only way I can stay sane.”

 Author Bio: The last big event writer Beth D’Addono planned was her husband’s 40th birthday.

It’s said that families who play together, stay together, and that holds true for all kinds of groups. Fun activities can strengthen bonds between colleagues and teammates. So how do you infuse fun into ordinary occasions or meetings? Organize your event around a creative theme, says Sherri Morrow, a Nashville, Tennessee, freelance graphic designer who’s planned numerous thematic events. Here’s how: 

Choose a theme that fits your group’s objectives. For instance, an employee recognition event could be set up as a “Night at the Oscars,” with managers dressed in formal attire or impersonating celebrities presenting awards. Looking for theme ideas is part of the fun. Morrow finds inspiration in movies (Pirates of the Caribbean, Star Wars)eras (Wild West, 1920s), holidays (Mardi Gras, Cinco de Mayo) and unique venues (casino, circus). 

Brainstorm ways to carry out the theme. Themes can be incorporated into a logo, invitations, decorations, food, background music, giveaways, group activities, clothing, presentations and entertainment. At a sales training event, Morrow’s team designed a “Road Warriors” logo and printed it on T-shirts, nametags and folders. 

Set the stage. For a tropical-themed meeting, serve luau-type food, cover tables with ocean-blue linens and use centerpieces made with shells and exotic flowers. Rent palms to enhance the ambience. “If you have a small budget, concentrate your decorations in one or two areas,” advises Morrow. “I like to make a big splash by the entrance, and then do something by the food table or speaker’s podium.” For a European theme, Morrow created tablescapes using English teacups, French baguettes and Italian wine bottles. At a mock Academy Awards dinner, she rolled out a red carpet and flanked the banquet room door with 6-foot-tall cardboard Oscars. 

Plan fun activities and giveaways. Morrow recalls organizing a United Way pledge drive on the office lawn that simulated a county fair. 

“People lined up at the ring toss and beanbag toss to win cheap plastic toys,” she says with a laugh. “And the dunking booth with company executives was a huge hit.” 

It takes careful planning to make themed events run smoothly, says Morrow, but with planning, you can create events that encourage networking, team-building and creative thinking. 

Author Bio: Melany Klinck is a freelance writer who once turned an office into a submarine with a control panel, portholes and scuba gear.

What better way to show your favorite Dad or your favorite Grad how much you love them than by sharing your love of the Country — visit http://www.countryinns.com/destinations to choose from dozens of destinations and packages to plan the perfect getaway.  From golf weekends to spa and sporting trips, we’ve got everything you want to thrill your favorite guy.

I love this Country!
~Emily

Patience isn’t Ray Parrillo’s strong suit. A sportswriter for the Philadelphia Inquirer, Parrillo travels frequently covering professional and college sports. And some of the “things people do on planes” really annoy him. Which is why he always travels with a book.

 “I always read when I’m on a flight, usually a novel or something biographical,” Parrillo says. “It’s the only time I sit in one place without being distracted. Reading blocks out my surroundings—an added benefit, aside from the joy of reading something good.”
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 Does your luggage really work for you in these days of tighter airport security and carry-on regulations? Tougher TSA (Transportation Security Administration) rules since January 1, 2003, require that all bags, checked and carry-on, brought into America’s 429 commercial airports be screened. This change further muddies the waters, according to Dave Herman, president of Tennessee-based Hartmann Luggage. By Beth D’Addono 
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Many people are quick to embrace dietary solutions for a range of health problems. Naturally, when Lou Ann Weakley complained about insomnia and a friend suggested eating yogurt, she gave it a try. And it worked. Now, instead of tossing and turning in bed, Weakley gets up, tucks away several spoonfuls of yogurt, and she’s off to the Land of Nod.  By Melany Klinck
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Whether she’s having dinner at a hotel bar or heading out to a social event, Diane Danielson has business networking on her mind.  By Beth D’Addono
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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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