By Annette McGivney, Cyril Manning and Larry Rice
 

 

Grand Canyon National Park

You’ve marveled at scenes like this on postcards and in coffee-table books, but when you actually lay eyes on the Grand Canyon—with its sea of red and orange rock towers rising from the abyss—it is almost too spectacular to be real.

Protected as a national park in 1919, the Grand Canyon exposes more of the Earth’s history than anyplace else on the planet. As you stand at various overlooks in the park, you can take in canyon views that are a mile deep and 18 miles wide, giving you a glimpse of more than 2 billion years of geology.

Tourists have been coming to gawk at this giant geologic phenomenon for more than a century, ever since the Grand Canyon Railway first made the remote landscape accessible to the general public in 1901. Today, with too many cars and too few parking spaces in Grand Canyon National Park, the train is still the ticket for getting to the heart of this natural wonder. 

Your journey begins at the Grand Canyon Railway depot in Williams, 30 miles west of Flagstaff. You’ll arrive at the national park’s historic Grand Canyon Depot around noon. You’ll have a little more than three hours of exploration time before boarding the train for the return ride. The depot is located in Grand Canyon Village and just a stone’s throw from canyon overlooks, shops and restaurants. Consider packing a picnic lunch and stretching your legs on the Rim Trail. This mostly flat path winds through pine forest and leads to spectacular overlooks. Keep your eyes peeled for ravens riding canyon thermals. 

For a pleasant three-mile round-trip hike, pick up the Rim Trail, due north of the train station, and follow it northwest to Maricopa Point. From the point—an excellent picnic spot—you can watch hikers directly below snaking down the switchbacks of the Bright Angel Trail. And about 2,000 feet farther down on the Tonto Plateau, you’ll see the cottonwood-lined oasis called Indian Gardens. If you peer some 5,000 feet down to the canyon’s bottom, you’ll catch the glint of the Colorado River’s green waters. Stare at this canyon panorama long enough, and it can play tricks on your sense of scale. Landmarks on the North Rim, 20 miles away, will look closer than features right next to Maricopa Point.

After your hike, get something cold to drink back in Grand Canyon Village. Or shop for Native American crafts, such as turquoise jewelry, at Hopi House, a pueblo-style building next to the rim just north of the train station. Before you know it, the whistle is blowing and it’s time to board the afternoon train.

Author Bio: Annette McGivney is the Southwest editor for Backpacker magazine.

Cape Cod National Seashore

On Cape Cod at this time of year, every smell says summertime—from the lobster rolls and clams served up at countless roadside shacks, to the sweet smell of coconut sunscreen and the cool, salty air that takes the edge off the sun-baked days. But Cape Cod National Seashore offers far more than beach umbrellas and sandcastles. These 40 miles of pristine coastline envelop a delicate, 40,000-acre ecosystem defined by its relationship to the sea.

Your gateway to the Seashore is a two-hour drive from downtown Boston. Salt Pond and Nauset Marsh introduce you to the beauty of this crooked peninsula, where more than 350 glacial freshwater ponds coexist with the rolling tides. Here you can pick up information on lighthouse tours and the area’s heritage of pirates, shipwrecks and sea rescues.

From here, take a leisurely hike along Nauset Trail and watch blue heron, osprey and other shore birds swoop through the grassy fields and swampy forest, plucking their meals from the streams and tidal creeks that cut through the land. By mid-morning, the trail will bring you to Coast Guard Beach, where you can survey the dramatic march of marshland toward the sea, enjoying the view in relative solitude.

Next, head to Wellfleet, where you can lunch on lobsters, oysters and clams at Beachcomber, just steps from the silky sand of Cahoon Hollow Beach. To explore this part of the shoreline, rent a kayak from Jack’s in Wellfleet and launch from the town pier. The mellow water here makes it easy to glide across the bay to Great Island, one of the park’s best-kept secrets. You won’t run into many other visitors as you skirt the sandy dunes and sloping stands of pine that mark this shoreline, but you’ll see plenty of shore birds, hawks and red-winged blackbirds.

You’ll also find plenty of quiet landings to beach your kayak, rest in the sun and hunt for fiddler crabs. This is the seashore at its most intimate; paddling back to town, now backlit by the dipping sun and framed against the immaculate harbor, your sense of the Cape is far richer than sunscreen and sandcastles.

Back on dry land, you’ll find no better place to wind down than at Race Point Beach, an old seafarers’ outpost at the tip of the Cape. Here, watch the setting sun wash the sky in tangerine and pink—locals and tourists alike attest that this is the most spectacular show on the Cape.

Author Bio: Freelancer Cyril Manning specializes in adventure, travel and health articles.

Rocky Mountain National Park

Heading northwest out of the Mile High City, you’ll soon reach the gateway
to “Rocky,” as the Rocky Mountain National Park is known to locals. The air is suddenly cool and sweet with the aroma of pine and spruce. And moving on—whoa, flatlander!—just as suddenly, you become aware that you’ve entered a very special place, a mountain kingdom to rival anywhere on this planet.

The temptation is to see everything—right now! But take some time to orient yourself before you set out to explore the park’s 416-square-mile wilderness.

First, stop in at the Beaver Meadows Visitor Center, near the park entrance. A free movie there gives an overview of the park’s features. Be sure to browse the bookstore for natural and cultural history books, as well as games and toys for the kids. (The Trail Ridge Road Adventure Sticker and Game Book is a favorite.)

Now you’re ready for the adventure to begin. Strap on those seat belts and get ready to take one of the most breathtaking drives in the national park system. Stretching 48 miles between Estes Park Village on the park’s eastern edge to Grand Lake on its western side, Trail Ridge Road (U.S. 34) is the highest continuous paved road in the United States. Eleven miles of this highway wind above the tree line, the elevation near 11,500 feet where the area’s evergreen forests come to an end, replaced by a rocky alpine world. Climbing to its high point at 12,183 feet elevation, Trail Ridge Road provides views of dozens of peaks, glimpses of animals (bighorn sheep, mule deer and elk are commonly visible), and dramatic wildflower displays, all from your comfortable car.

Set aside at least a half-day for the road trip, but leave time to stretch your legs. With 359 miles of trails, Rocky Mountain is a haven for hikers. The most popular trails begin along Bear Lake Road. Although most of the hikes in this area are short, the rewards are many. From the Bierstadt Lake trailhead, it’s an easy 1.5-mile jaunt to Bierstadt Lake, where the 19th century painter Albert Bierstadt created one of his dramatic images. Farther up the road is the Glacier Gorge Junction trailhead.

A lure here is Alberta Falls, a half-mile in. A little over one mile from the Bear Lake trailhead is Dream Lake, a favorite of photographers. 

Indeed, there’s so much to do in Rocky you will surely want to return on another day in the not-too-distant future, ready to renew your exploration of America’s mountain roof.

Author Bio: Writer, photographer and outdoor enthusiast Larry Rice has traveled to seven continents from his home in Buena Vista, Colorado. 

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.

Go slow
It takes three to five days to adapt to a hotter environment, whether you are vacationing in warmer climes or simply spending more time outdoors instead of in an air-conditioned home and office, says Dr. William O. Roberts, professor at the Department of Family Medicine and Community Health at the University of Minnesota and former president of the American College of Sports Medicine. Exercising in the heat puts added stress on the heart, which must not only supply blood and oxygen to the muscles but also shunt blood to the skin where it can be cooled.

Know the heat index
Consider the combination of heat and humidity when deciding whether it is safe to exercise outdoors. Avoid it when the dew point approaches 80 or the heat index rises above 90. A good rule of thumb, says Roberts, is to avoid or limit exercise when heat (measured in degrees Fahrenheit) and humidity (in percentage points), combined, total 140 to 160.

Minimize heat exposure
By exercising in the shade, early in the morning or in the evening, you can cut down on your heat exposure. Activities such as cycling or in-line skating that provide good airflow, and thus increase the evaporation of sweat, are good alternatives to running in hot weather. When in the sun, always wear a hat and sunscreen; sunburn limits the body’s ability to cool itself.

Stay hydrated
The goal is to drink enough fluid to replace what you sweat out. Ignore recommendations that specify drinking a certain amount every 15 minutes or so, “because there’s a huge individual variability in fluid loss,” Roberts says, “and drinking too much can upset your sodium balance.” He advises drinking “as soon as you start to feel thirsty and as long as you still feel thirsty.” Water is usually the best choice; sports drinks add unnecessary—and expensive—calories. Roberts cautions that you can become dehydrated even when exercising in water, so be sure to maintain fluid intake during brisk swim workouts. Travel and exercise do go together, even in warm weather, as long as you use common sense, listen to your body—and the weather forecast—and keep the water bottle close by.

Author Bio: Phyllis McIntosh has 30 years of experience writing on health-related topics.

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.

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.

I love this Country!
~Emily

 “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.”

READ
According to a Harris Interactive telephone poll, reading beats out TV watching, spending time with family and going to the movies when it comes to leisure time activities. When asked their favorite pastimes, 35 percent of the 1,014 adults surveyed made reading their top choice.

“We see a continued enthusiasm for reading,” says Leslie Burger, president
of the American Library Association. “Library visits have more than doubled in the past decade, with circulation of books and other resources now past the 2 billion mark. Add the increased number of communitywide reading programs, and reading is clearly a popular pastime.”

For business travelers, reading provides a distraction from less-than-ideal conditions. According to Dr. Thomas H. Crook, author of The Memory Advantage, reading is a way to give yourself space, especially when traveling in unknown territory with strangers sitting all around you. “Reading affects your mood and can impact your memory of the experience,” he says. “It takes our minds off the problems of today.”

To get the most out of reading on the road, author April Masini finds that wearing noise-canceling headphones reduces distractions and keeps her seatmate from chatting. She also carries a pair of non-prescription readers with her to reduce eyestrain. A book light is another way to protect your eyes from strain. And as much as she might be tempted to read work-related materials, she doesn’t.

The principle applies to children too, according to attorney Barbara Shaffer, who often travels with her 5-year-old, Anabel. “She’s just starting to learn to read, but we bring a lot of books and read to her,” Shaffer says. “Reading takes her mind off her surroundings, especially if we’re waiting in airports, and puts her mind into the story. And since it keeps her occupied and quiet, it benefits everybody.”

Sleep
Travel provides a nice change in your daily rhythm, which can be both beneficial and stimulating. However, it can also take a toll on your sleeping patterns, jarring your internal clock and causing you to feel—yawn—less than your best.

At home, stress levels and performance expectations on the job can make eight hours of sleep per night seem like a luxury. Studies suggest, however, that restful sleep is not an extra that we can live without. A good night’s sleep, or the lack of it, can have a tremendous impact on work life, memory, coordination, mood and health.

Shakespeare had a point when he called sleep the “chief nourisher in life’s feast.” The problems that arise from sleep deprivation are well-known. Lack of sleep reduces reaction time, impairs motor skills and impedes simple recall of newly learned information.

So what’s the good news? Sleep can truly be nourishing and restorative. Your body heals itself while you sleep, repairing cellular damage and cleansing impurities from your system. Blood pressure is lowered, and the body secretes cortisol and melatonin, hormones that can help the body fight off age-related illnesses and even cancer.

Now that you know what sleep means to your health and well-being, can you make up for lost time? Absolutely. You can begin to reap the benefits of good sleep habits by making a few simple changes:

•   Sleep on a schedule, allowing your body to set its internal clock.
• Get regular exercise, though not right before bedtime, to deepen sleep.
• Maintain a healthy diet that won’t leave you either hungry or too full before bed.
• Create a comfortable sleep environment, including a bed that conforms to your body and provides optimum support for your spine.

Whether you are at home or on the road, the wholesome effects of a good night’s sleep enhance everything you do.

“After September 11, people started checking bags to avoid security delays,” says Herman. “Now, passengers want to carry as many of their belongings with them as possible.” But airlines’ two-item carry-on rule is being strictly enforced.

Current luggage trends include an emphasis on weight distribution and easy access, compartmentalized and zip-on/zip-off pieces, and sturdier wheel configurations. The key to getting luggage that will keep you happy is selecting features that are most in line with the way you travel.

Do you always travel with a laptop?

Check out the new generation of rolling bags, like the Hartmann 22-inch expandable, which comes with a removable computer case as well as an interior sleeve to hold the computer when it’s not in use. Hartmann also makes an oversized leather “purse” that doubles as a laptop holder.

Are you the compartmentalized type?

If so, you’ll love the mesh and clear plastic dividers and zipped pouches built into bags such as the Travelpro 22-inch Rollaboard luggage. The see-through pouches allow security personnel to search the bags easily, speeding up security checks while keeping your unmentionables out of public view. “Since I always carry on, I travel with a compartmentalized laptop bag on wheels,” says Ann DiPietro, senior area manager for the Las Vegas–based software firm Tririga Inc and a frequent traveler. “This is much more convenient than trying to manage multiple bags.”

Do you rack up as many miles in airports as in the air?

If you frequently hoof it between far-flung gates, you might appreciate weight distribution advances such as the ProGrip, a handle incorporated into Travelpro’s Platinum series of wheeled luggage and garment bags. The ProGrip handle, which can be operated single-handed, changes the bag’s pivot point and saves wear on shoulders, back and neck.

Do you dress up for client meetings?

Then opt for multifunction garment bags with compartments to hold laptops, as well as dividers to keep clothes neat.

Are you rough on your stuff?

In that case, forget about ultrasuede and look for a stain-resistant “ballistic nylon” bag, available across most better brands. Just be sure you like it before you buy it, because this bag really will last forever.

Freelance writer Beth D’Addono has discovered the need for the right luggage during her frequent travels.

According to popular wisdom, yogurt induces sleep because it’s rich in tryptophan, an amino acid also found in turkey, figs and nuts. Foods high in calcium, carbohydrates, B vitamins and magnesium are also touted as sleep enhancers.

But as easy as it is to find people to bear witness to the power of foods that promote sleep, sleep researcher Dr. William C. Orr says scientific proof for such claims is elusive. As president and CEO of Lynn Health Science Institute  in Oklahoma City, Orr has studied sleep and digestion for more than 25 years. In his research, he has found that the link between diet and sleep has more to do with how much you eat and when you eat it than with the food itself. He has also found that solid food is more likely to make one sleepy after ingestion.

“To promote sleep, eat moderately,” says Orr. “Overeating is stimulating, and distention of the stomach can make you uncomfortable and prevent sleep.”

He also recommends you avoid hitting the hay until at least two hours after a big meal. This allows your stomach to empty sufficiently to prevent acid reflux or heartburn, a common cause of sleep disruption.

Eliminating certain foods from your evening meal, such as spicy dishes and tomatoes, also may reduce nighttime heartburn. “Chocolate is terrible for acid reflux because it decreases the pressure in the little barrier between the stomach and the esophagus,” says Orr. “The same is true of peppermint and garlic.”

Limiting caffeine and alcohol may alleviate insomnia, too. If you can’t live without your daily java, drink your last cup several hours before bedtime. As for alcohol, Orr says that while it does have a sedating effect initially, once it passes through your liver it produces a metabolite that acts as a stimulant. Thus, even a small nightcap can interrupt your sleep.

So what about Weakley’s yogurt cure? Orr says, “I would tell her, if it works for you, do it. But there is no scientific evidence that yogurt is sleep-promoting.”

For writer Melany Klinck, a late-night bowl of popcorn always seems to bring on the z’s.

“Before you go to an event, work-related or not, think about what you want to accomplish,” says Rachel Weingarten, president of the New York–based marketing agency Octagon Strategy Group.  “If you can, find out who’s on the guest list and do some quick Internet research on what they’re about.” It’s also a good idea to smarten up your small talk by being up on the latest in world, pop culture, sports and business events.

Jack Perry, a former sales manager with IBM who is now an executive with John Hancock and a leadership trainer, finds too often that listening is a lost art. “Never be a hard sell,” adds Perry. “That’s the fastest way to clear a room.” He’s also a big believer in dressing to impress, no matter what the occasion. Perry isn’t a fan of dressed-down or casual office attire. “Tailored clothes make all the difference,” he says.

Author Shel Horowitz (Principled Profits: Marketing That Puts People First, 2003, $17.50) finds that when someone gives you a card, it’s best to take time, right then, to jot a note on it that will trigger your memory when you look at it later.

As for what not to do, Weingarten says avoiding excessive alcohol is a good place to start. “And don’t say anything negative about the host or other attendees, or walk away from somebody midsentence when somebody ‘better’ comes into view,” she says.

After the event, follow up by e-mail or phone, and use the initial networking to move the relationship forward by suggesting a day for lunch. If possible, offer something helpful in your follow-up, such as a link to an article related to the other person’s business. “The initial follow-up should be about helping them, not you,” says Danielson.

Finally, apply what she refers to as the airplane test: “Never pursue a relationship with anyone, business or social, you wouldn’t want to sit next to on a cross-country airplane flight. It will feel forced, and that’s not the way to start any kind of a productive relationship.”

Beth D’Addono is a food and travel writer based in Belmont Hills, Pennsylvania. Her latest travel book is a networking success story.

If you plan to travel by car, there are a few things you can do to maximize your mileage and save money:

• Pack light. The more you pack, the heavier the car is. That makes the car have to work harder and use more fuel.
• Tire check. Make sure your tire pressure is accurate so that the gas is spent efficiently.
• Cruise it. Cruise control helps the engine run efficiently and save gas.
• Grade Gas. You probably don’t need premium grade fuel. Use only the grade level of gas that your owner’s manual calls for, nothing more.

If you’re not taking your own car, consider using public transportation to get around your vacation spot. You can often check local bus and light-rail schedules on line. And some cities offer inexpensive day passes.

Keep an eye out for freebies. Some airlines and hotels have specials for children 12 years and under. Check out local restaurants for their kids-eat-free nights, too. And don’t forget the free activities in a lot of cities – get on the visitor website of your destination city and find out what’s free. They may even have a free coupon book to area attractions and restaurants.

Joining a hotel loyalty program can save you money as well. You earn points for every stay in the hotels, and those can add up to free nights and airline miles.  Visit www.goldpointsplus.com to join today! 

When you’re choosing a hotel, check their website for special promotions or packages. Visit www.countryinns.com and click on “Specials and Packages” to take advantage of dozens of special promotions in different areas.

Getting away doesn’t have to mean going far or spending a lot of money. You can have a  trip that won’t break the bank!

~Emily