Experience First Class Service

Need to travel on business or leisure, Rawhide Travel and Tours will make it happen. We will arrange your flights, rail, hotel, car rentals and cruises. Let us assist you in planning your upcoming business trip. We're also available to help you plan that exciting vacation.

Want a small hotel or a luxury resort? Let Rawhide Travel and Tours customize the perfect spot just for you! We have many choices.  Let Us Help You Get Lost.

Call us at (602) 843-5100. Check out our website: rawhidetravel.com or email us at flythis@rawhidetravel.com.

Presented By:
Rawhide Travel and Tours Inc
6008 West Bell Rd # F105
Glendale, Arizona  85308-3793
(602) 843-5100
rawhidetravel.com

In The News: Frozen Niagara Falls Drawing Tourists

Not enough snow, ice and cold for you? You say, you STILL need some more "Frozen" references in your life?

Well, this ought to quench that need for freeze: Ice has suddenly blossomed across the Great Lakes, with the ice pack nearly doubling in just a little more than a week. The lakes are now more than 85% iced over, according to the Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory, with Lake Erie leading the way at more than 98%.

For the first time in (not quite) forever, Niagara Falls looks pretty much frozen, too.

And here's the thing ... people are really going there! These folks are going voluntarily, despite the cold and the wind.

Niagara Falls has been doing steady business in recent days.

It's a stunning sight: Niagara Falls, the world's most famous waterfall, apparently frozen in place. The icy spectacle, brought on by weeks of severe cold, has drawn a steady flow of intrepid tourists. But is it really frozen? Not exactly. Here's a brief explanation of what really happens when the mighty Niagara River appears to form a crystalline cascade:

For the second straight winter, the frigid weather in western New York state and lower Ontario has frozen vast sections of the U.S. side of Niagara Falls, known as the American Falls, and the Canadian side, known as the Horseshoe Falls because of its shape. But the water never actually stops flowing underneath.

That is no accident: the Niagara River is an important source of hydropower, so a long ice boom made of steel catches any icebergs, while ice cutters work around the clock to prevent the Falls from jamming up. Once, in March 1848, a large ice jam upstream stopped the flow of the river.

Even then, he said, the Falls did not freeze over. There is simply too much water, and too much continuous movement, for that to happen.

If it's cold enough for long enough, an ice bridge forms along the river, connecting the U.S. and Canada. Day-trippers once enjoyed sledding and drinking on the ice bridge until 1912, when it broke up and three people died. A Canadian couple who became stranded on a piece of ice and an American teenager who tried to save them. Their story is the subject of an online graphic novel, Hecock, named for the Cleveland teen who died. Walking anywhere on the ice has been strictly banned ever since. An exception was made last month for a pair of Canadian ice climbers, Will Gadd, 47, and Sarah Hueniken, 34, who became the first to scale the Falls, climbing a 30-foot section of the Horseshoe Falls.

Let Rawhide Travel and Tours help you with all your reservation needs. Call us at (602) 843-5100 or visit our website: rawhidetravel.com.

Presented By:
Rawhide Travel and Tours Inc.
6008 West Bell Rd # F105
Glendale, Arizona 85308-3793
602-843-5100
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Off the Beaten Path: Virginia

They like to remind us that they are the Commonwealth of Virginia. Virginia is one of our oldest and most historic states and have many wonderful areas that are off the beaten path. 

They try hard to live up to their famous slogan “Virginia Is For Lovers.”

The John Smith Trail is one of their real Off The Beaten Path destinations. You can retrace Captain John Smith's journey by land or water, the James River trail extends from the falls of the James in Richmond to Hampton Roads and includes over 35 points of interest related to Smith's journeys and nearby sites that interpret the early colonial experience in Virginia.

A second trail to consider is the Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Water Trail, the nation's first water trail. As you retrace the adventures of Jamestown's storied hero, you will discover the Virginia he knew, its natural splendor and rich Native culture.

This portion of the water trail encompasses three rivers, from Yorktown on the York River, to Zoar State Forest on the Mattaponi and Williams Landing on the Pamunkey. The driving tour circles the York portion of the river on both sides, following a portion of the Colonial Parkway, and connects to two Indian reservations on the Pamunkey Neck. The water trail is divided into three maps, one for each featured river.

You can travel past towns, farms and forests, imaging the abundance that greeted Smith and his fellow Englishmen: Great schools of fish teamed in the clear river, trees grew broad and tall along the shore, and overhead birds flew in flocks so thick the sky darkened as they passed.

If you are looking to cut new paths in fresh snow this time of year the verdict is In: Virginia's Mountain Resorts are adrenaline junkie approved. The five major mountain resorts are Bryce, The Omni Homestead Resort, Massanutten, Primland and Wintergreen They are Virginia's - four-season havens offering a plethora of outdoor activities for the whole family or just the two of you. 

Each resort has its own feel, but the truth of the matter is that regardless of which you choose, you won't go wrong.  The snow sports resorts (all but Primland) offer the following during winter to create your perfect mountain wonderland:

100% snowmaking
Skiing, snowboarding, ice skating, snowtubing, snowmobiling, winter zip line
Ski schools for adults and children
Spas, indoor swimming pools, and even indoor tennis

Virginia has a bit of everything and fun for everyone.

Let Rawhide Travel and Tours help you with all your reservation needs. Call us at (602) 843-5100 or visit our website: rawhidetravel.com.

Presented By:
Rawhide Travel and Tours Inc.
6008 West Bell Rd # F105
Glendale, Arizona 85308-3793
602-843-5100
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Culinary Travel: Virginia

Get back to nature at Virginia State Parks, voted "America's Best." Enjoy camping, hiking, biking, fishing and wildlife watching. Do a little research to see if there are geocaching opportunities.  If you and your family love creature-seeking, you'll enjoy adventuring about Virginia's nature centers, zoos and Natural Area Preserves. Meet aquatic life at indoor aquariums, touch pools and in interactive living exhibits. Children are thrilled to visit the eerie worlds created by dripstone stalactites and stalagmites in Virginia's Caverns. Did you know that some of the caverns were discovered by curious children and their dogs?

Virginia Apple Pudding

"This is a wonderful old family recipe served warm, topped with vanilla ice cream."
     

Ingredients
 1/2 cup butter, melted
 1 cup white sugar
 1 cup all-purpose flour
 2 teaspoons baking powder
 1/4 teaspoon salt
 1 cup milk
 2 cups chopped, peeled apple
 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Directions
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
In a small baking dish, combine butter, sugar, flour, baking powder, salt, and milk until smooth.
In a microwave-safe bowl, combine apples and cinnamon. Microwave until apples are soft, 2 to 5 minutes. Pour apples into the center of the batter.
Bake in the preheated oven 30 minutes, or until golden.

Original recipe makes 6 servings Prep 10 mins Cook 30 mins Ready in 40 mins

Let Rawhide Travel and Tours help you with all your travel reservation needs. Call us at (602) 843-5100 or visit our website: rawhidetravel.com.

Presented By:
Rawhide Travel and Tours Inc
6008 West Bell Road # F105
Glendale, Arizona 85308-3793
602-843-5100
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Ski Mount Baker in Washington State

This ski area is the location for the world's greatest recorded snowfall in one season, 1,140 inches, recorded during the 1998–99 season. Mt. Baker also enjoys the unofficially highest average annual snowfall of any resort in the world, with 641 inches.

The Mount Baker Ski Area, Inc. is located in the Mt. Baker Snoqualmie National Forest and is operated under a permit granted by United States Forest Service.

Mt. Baker encourages families to ski and snowboard together. They offer lessons with the goal of getting families and friends to a level where they are able to ski together. Come learn with their friendly, trained staff of instructors. They are a member school of the Professional Snowsport Instructors of America - Northwest Division. They specifically hire instructors that are excited to help others get better at the sports that they are passionate about.

Their Kids Programs for ages 3-6 is targeted whether they are an all mountain rippers or trying skiing or snowboarding for the very first time, they’ve got a lesson package for them! Find the one that is perfect for your child & get them on the snow.

For ages 16 & up, from weekdays to weekends, they’ve got you covered. If you want ski lessons to sharpen skills or just learn how to ski or to snowboard, meet new people at the mountain or refine your skills they have a lesson tailored to your needs.

The base elevation is at 3,500 feet while the peak of the resort is at 5,089 feet. It is about 10 miles  south of the 49th parallel, the international border with Canada.

The ski area is known for numerous challenging in-bounds routes and for the many backcountry opportunities that surround it. The backcountry is accessible from several chairlifts, and access is permitted from the resort following the Mt. Baker Ski Area backcountry policy.

Started in 1985, this slalom snowboard race through the natural halfpipe has evolved into an international event. The Legendary Banked Slalom attracts many professionals from around the world as competitors and allows amateurs of all ages and abilities to compete on the same course over the same period with the professionals. The winner in each category receives a duct tape trophy and an embroidered Carhartt jacket.

Mt. Baker Ski Area is often featured in ski and snowboard films and still photography due to its picturesque setting, plentiful snowfall, and the availability of easily accessed advanced terrain. The Call of The Wild was filmed at Mt. Baker in 1934–35

Mount Baker Ski Area is located at the end of Highway 542, at the edge of the wilderness. The fascinating views and remoteness lends itself to an appreciation of the mountain environment. Business Office 1420 Iowa Street Bellingham WA 98229.

Call Rawhide Travel and Tours at (602) 843-5100 to book your skiing holiday travel today. Check out our website: rawhidetravel.com.

 Presented By:
Rawhide Travel and Tours Inc.
6008 West Bell Rd # F105
Glendale, Arizona  85308-3793
602-843-5100
http://rawhidetravel.com

Experience Full Service

Need to travel on business or leisure, Rawhide Travel and Tours will make it happen. We will arrange your flights, rail, hotel, car rentals and cruises. Let us assist you in planning your upcoming business trip. We're also available to help you plan that exciting vacation.

Want a small hotel or a luxury resort? Let Rawhide Travel and Tours customize the perfect spot just for you! We have many choices.  Let Us Help You Get Lost.

Call us at (602) 843-5100. Check out our website: rawhidetravel.com or email us at flythis@rawhidetravel.com.

Presented By:
Rawhide Travel and Tours Inc
6008 West Bell Rd # F105
Glendale, Arizona  85308-3793
(602) 843-5100
rawhidetravel.com

In the News: Disney Cruise Line's Star Wars Day at Sea

In a galaxy far, far away, in the Western Caribbean, actually, Darth Vader, Chewbacca, Boba Fett and stormtroopers party with Disney Cruisers around the pool deck. In early 2016, Disney Cruise Line guests can celebrate the legendary adventures and iconic characters of the Star Wars saga during a brand-new event of galactic proportions: Stars Wars Day at Sea. Marking the first official appearance of the heroes and villains of Star Wars aboard a Disney Cruise Line ship, Star Wars Day at Sea combines the power of the Force and the magic of Disney, for a day of fun more powerful than you could possibly imagine.

Parents eager to share their love of the fandom can enroll kids in the Jedi Training Academy.

Jedis in training, also known as Padawans, can learn from a Jedi Master to use the force and wield a light saber.

To pass the training, they'll have to face off against the Sith Lord, Darth Vader.

A stare of utmost defiance.
A stare of utmost defiance.
Sorry grown-up wannabes, this one's just for kids.

Jedi Masters can, however, drink and dance at Mos Eisley's dive bar, heavy on the "Star Wars" themed cocktails, lighter on the "wretched hive of scum and villainy" vibe.

The party continues on deck with "Star Wars" music, games and fireworks.

Star Wars Day at Sea marks the first official appearance of Rebel forces and the Empire aboard a Disney cruise.

The event will include a deck party, meet-and-greet with characters and "Star Wars" themed activities, including screenings of films and trivia.

Guests can revel in all things "Star Wars" during the daylong event aboard eight special sailings on the Disney Fantasy.

On each sailing, celebrities and insiders from the "Star Wars" galaxy will be on deck for Q&A and autograph sessions.

Until trips to the Death Star are possible, Disney Fantasy will do as a stand-in for the Empire's battle station.

The Star Wars Day at Sea is a one-day extravaganza during your cruise. For the rest of your voyage, you'll enjoy the jam-packed itinerary of excitement and adventure you can only get from a Disney Cruise Line sailing. From Broadway-style shows and innovative dining, to a fun-filled visit to the private island paradise of Castaway Cay!

Let Rawhide Travel and Tours help you with all your reservation needs. Call us at (602) 843-5100 or visit our website: rawhidetravel.com.

Presented By:
Rawhide Travel and Tours Inc
6008 West Bell Rd # F105
Glendale, Arizona 85308-3793
(602) 843-5100
rawhidetravel.com

Off the Beaten Path: Kentucky

When you think about Kentucky, your mind probably goes to horses, bourbon and caves. After a trip to Mammoth Cave or the Kentucky Horse Park, you may think you’ve done everything Kentucky has to offer. But you’d be wrong.

Kentucky is full of lesser-known attractions that are off the beaten path. “I’m hearing more and more from travelers, ‘We don’t want to go to the things that everybody knows about. We want to go where the locals are,’ ” says Scottie Ellis, communications manager for the Kentucky Department of Tourism & Travel. No matter where you are in the state, you can find a local attraction you may never have heard of before.

Western Kentucky
It may come as a surprise, but Western Kentucky has a fantastic art scene. You may never of heard of Paducah, a Kentucky city on the Ohio River, across from Missouri. But it was recently named a UNESCO Creative City of Crafts and Folk Art, and it’s easy to see why. Its LowerTown Arts District is a 26-block district listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is filled with studios and galleries featuring potters, jewelry makers, painters and printmakers. Paducah’s “Wall to Wall” Murals are life-size paintings on the city’s floodwalls done by renowned artist Robert Dafford. But what Paducah is most known for is its quilts. The city is home to the National Quilt Museum, which features classic and modern quilts in its 27,000-square-foot exhibition space.

Central Kentucky
The Bourbon Trail is a Kentucky staple, but you can take a trip into Louisville if you’re craving more. The city is ready to quench your thirst with its Urban Bourbon Trail. Instead of looking at how it’s made, you get a chance to taste how it’s used. Each stop is stocked with anywhere from 50 to 150 varieties. But even nondrinkers can enjoy this tour, since the bars and restaurants also serve plenty of food made with bourbon.

For those who want to explore Louisville’s Nulu district the way the locals do, try the First Friday Trolley Hop. You can jump on the trolley at any of its stops and visit the restaurants, shops, clubs and galleries along the way for free. The stops include Garage Bar, which features some crashed cars out front and lit-up table tennis in the back; Flame Run Glass Studio & Gallery, the region’s largest glassblowing studio and gallery; and Flea Off Market, a once-a-month outdoor flea market that includes live music and food trucks.

If you want to cool off during the day, take a trip underground to Louisville’s Mega Caverns. A massive limestone quarry created this underground cavern, but now adventurous visitors can take zip line tours or explore a ropes challenge course in the approximately 100 acres of caves. Have a fear of heights? Mega Caverns also offers an educational tram tour.

Eastern Kentucky
Both foodies and outdoor adventurers can rejoice in Eastern Kentucky. For those that like to get their hands dirty, Red River Gorge offers opportunities for climbing, kayaking and hiking. If you want to make a weekend of it, Natural Bridge State Park has the space for camping.

When you need a food break or some climbing advice, visitors can go to Miguel’s Pizza for both.

If you’re a lover of delicious beer cheese, a trip to Winchester for the Beer Cheese Trail is a must. Clark County is considered to be the birthplace of beer cheese, so it celebrates this heritage by serving it in new and fun ways at its many restaurants.

Let Rawhide Travel and Tours help you with all your reservation needs. Call us at (602) 843-5100 or visit our website: rawhidetravel.com.

Presented By:
Rawhide Travel and Tours Inc
6008 West Bell Rd # F105
Glendale, Arizona 85308-3793
(602) 843-5100
rawhidetravel.com

Culinary Travel: Kentucky

Kentucky, officially the Commonwealth of Kentucky, is a state located in the east south-central region of the United States. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth (the others being Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Massachusetts). Originally a part of Virginia, in 1792 Kentucky became the 15th state to join the Union. Kentucky is the 37th most extensive and the 26th most populous of the 50 United States.

Chocolate-Bourbon Pecan Pie

A rich chocolate bourbon pecan pie is the perfect recipe to end a Derby Day celebration.

Ingredients

1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar 
1/4 cup bourbon or water
4 large eggs 
1/4 cup butter or margarine, melted 
2 teaspoons cornmeal
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon salt 

Directions

Fit piecrust into a 9-inch deep-dish pie plate according to package directions; fold edges under, and crimp.

Sprinkle pecans and chocolate evenly onto bottom of piecrust; set aside.

Combine corn syrup and next 3 ingredients in a large saucepan, and bring to a boil over medium heat. Cook, stirring constantly, 3 minutes. Remove from heat.

Whisk together eggs and next 4 ingredients. Gradually whisk about one-fourth hot mixture into egg mixture; add to remaining hot mixture, whisking constantly. Pour filling into prepared piecrust.

Bake at 325° for 55 minutes or until set; cool on wire rack.

Let Rawhide Travel and Tours help you with all your travel reservation needs. Call us at (602) 843-5100 or visit our website: rawhidetravel.com.

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Rawhide Travel and Tours Inc
6008 West Bell Road # F105
Glendale, Arizona 85308-3793
602-843-5100
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Best Skiing Destinations: Alpe d'Huez

Alpe d’Huez is a true paradise for those who love snow and the great outdoors. The village has been developing since 1936 and sits perched on a full south facing plateau at 1860m altitude in the Grandes Rousses mountain range. The ski area called ‘Alpe d’Huez grand domaine Ski’ links up to the resort villages of Auris-en-Oisans, Huez, Ozen-Oisans, Vaujany, Villard-Reculas, La Garde and Le Freney. Its summit, the Pic Blanc is 10,925 feet at its highest point and offers an exceptional panorama stretching over one fifth of French territory.

Alpe d'Huez is one of Europe's premier skiing venues. The site of the Pomagalski's first surface lift in the mid thirties, the resort gained popularity when it hosted the bobsleigh events of the 1968 Winter Olympics. At that time the resort was seen as a competitor to Courchevel as France's most upmarket purpose built resort but the development of Les Trois Vallées, Val d'Isère, Tignes, La Plagne and Les Arcs saw Alpe D'Huez fall from favour in the 1970s and early 1980s.

L'Alpe d'Huez is climbed regularly in the Tour de France. It was first included in the race in 1952 and has been a stage finish regularly since 1976.

The race was brought to the mountain by Élie Wermelinger, the chief commissaire or referee. He drove his Dyna-Panhard car between snow banks that lined the road in March 1952, invited by a consortium of businesses who had opened hotels at the summit. Their leader was Georges Rajon, who ran the Hotel Christina. The ski station there opened in 1936. Wermelinger reported to the organiser, Jacques Goddet, and the Tour signed a contract with the businessmen to include the Alpe.

Call Rawhide Travel and Tours at (602) 843-5100 to book your holiday travel today. Check out our website: rawhidetravel.com.

Presented By:
Rawhide Travel and Tours Inc
6008 West Bell Rd # F105
Glendale, Arizona  85308-3793
(602) 843-5100
rawhidetravel.com

Happy Valentine's Day

Presented By:
Rawhide Travel and Tours Inc
6008 West Bell Rd # F105
Glendale, Arizona 85308-3793
(602) 843-5100
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Update: Rawhide Travel and Tours Holiday Tree

This month the little tree is all dressed up for Valentines Day. 

Did You know Valentine's Day was first associated with romantic love in the circle of Geoffrey Chaucer in the High Middle Ages, when the tradition of courtly love flourished. By the 15th century, it had evolved into an occasion in which lovers expressed their love for each other by presenting flowers.

The earliest surviving valentine is a 15th-century rondeau written by Charles, Duke of Orléans to his wife, which commences:

Je suis desja d'amour tanné
Ma tres doulce Valentinée...

At the time, the duke was being held in the Tower of London following his capture at the Battle of Agincourt, 1415.

The earliest surviving valentines in English appear to be those in the Paston Letters, written in 1477 by Margery Brewes to her future husband John Paston "my right well-beloved Valentine".

 This year we are planning something different for our tree.  We want to create three Honor Trees. One for Mother's Day, Memorial Day and Father's Day. We would like to have everyone send us a picture of the person they would like to honor along with the name of that person. Make sure that the picture you send is a copy because the pictures can not be returned. Send picture to : Rawhide Travel and Tours Inc, 6008 West Bell Rd # F105, Glendale, Arizona 85308-3793.

 Let Rawhide Travel and Tours help you with all your reservation needs. Call us at (602) 843-5100 or visit our website: rawhidetravel.com.

 Presented By:
Rawhide Travel and Tours Inc
6008 West Bell Rd # F105
Glendale, Arizona 85308-3793

Culinary Travel: Tennessee

Fifty-four state parks, covering some 132,000 acres as well as parts of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and Cherokee National Forest, and Cumberland Gap National Historical Park are in Tennessee. Sportsmen and visitors are attracted to Reelfoot Lake, originally formed by the New Madrid earthquake; stumps and other remains of a once dense forest, together with the lotus bed covering the shallow waters, give the lake an eerie beauty.

Easy to make delicious dessert.

Tennessee Berry Crisps

ingredients

3/4 cup quick-cooking rolled oats
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 quart fresh blackberries or raspberries, washed & hulled
2 tablespoons sugar

directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In medium bowl, combine oats, brown sugar, flour and salt. Cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Set aside. Place berries in a 10"x6"x2" baking dish. Sprinkle with sugar. Sprinkle crumb mixture on top. Bake for 40 to 45 minutes. Serve warm with cream or ice cream.

Let Rawhide Travel and Tours help you with all your reservation needs. Call us at (602) 843-5100 or visit our website: rawhidetravel.com.

Presented By:
Rawhide Travel and Tours Inc
6008 West Bell Rd # F105
Glendale, Arizona 85308-3793
(602) 843-5100
rawhidetravel.com

Best Romantic Skiing Destinations

There’s nothing more romantic than heading to the mountains for a high alpine respite with your dearest. A romantic ski trip provides couples with privacy they can’t experience on other vacations, plus, a laundry list of winter activities to experience side-by-side and, of course, plenty of opportunities to cozy up to the fireplace together. With the year’s most romantic day on the horizon, here are some ski resorts known for romance.

Telluride, CO - If escaping to a remote box canyon with your sweetie sounds like your kind of romantic getaway, Telluride ski resortwill fulfill that aspiration within your first glimpse of this incredibly beautiful mountain town. Boasting some of Colorado’s most breathtaking views and several on-mountain dining options that perfectly exploit the natural scenery, Telluride is the quintessential place to clink celebratory glasses to one another. Alpino Vino is a lovely little on-mountain dining hütte, reminiscent of a dining experience in the Dolomites of Northern Italy. Here you and your honey can cozy up with sheep skin blankets and experience an exceptional international wine list, with San Juan mountain views to match. Bon Vivant, an open-air, on-mountain dining patio, is another romantic spot to enjoy European Alpine fair, world-class wine and scenery.

Avon, CO — Glide around the Beaver Creek village ice rink hand in hand or grab an intimate—and memorable—dinner at Beano’s Cabin, which requires a romantic snowcat-drawn sleigh ride to access the high-alpine restaurant. Beaver Creek’s self-contained village is ideal for the couple looking to take the guesswork out of their romantic ski vacation. The village features a slew of incredible dining experiences, on mountain and off. Sure to keep energetic significant others busy, Beaver Creek offers plenty of activities like Nordic skiing at McCoy Park. Fine-dining lovebirds will enjoy an evening at the Ritz Carlton’s Spago.

Lech, Austria — Remote, exclusive, quaint and romantic are all things that describe a Lech ski vacation. Located in a box canyon abutted by Flexen Pass, this Alpine resort is a favorite among celebrities for its exclusivity and natural beauty. Just getting there is a romantic experience. Visitors drive, or take a bus, through steep valleys and 9,000-foot peaks which provide an unforgettable entrance. Because of its remoteness, you’ll hardly experience lift lines, which is not the case at nearby St. Anton, or even sister resort, Zürs. The skiing is truly world-world class both on-piste or off. Advanced and expert couples shouldn’t miss the chance to ski the “White Ring” off-piste ski routes together. Lech is a ski area that spares no expense—the chairlifts are heated and the many intermediate (blue or red) runs are manicured to perfection. The charming village features an ancient and beautiful Gothic church worth a visit.

Banff, AB, Canada — When you first visit Banff Lake Louise you’ll quickly understand why Canada has made serious efforts to protect the surrounding wilderness. Nature-lovers and lovers alike will be in awe of nearby Banff National Park’s pristine beauty. The park offers winter tours, and there’s nothing like experiencing nature in its purest form with the one you love. Banff Lake Louise ski resorts are great for a couple with differing levels of ski or snowboard ability. Sunshine Village is great for beginners and intermediates, while advanced intermediates will likely prefer Mt. Norquay, and advanced and expert skiers and riders can get their adrenaline kicks at Lake Louise. If you’re in town during Valentine’s Day, don’t miss Lake Louise’s Valentine’s Day Torchlight Dinner and Parade.

Call Rawhide Travel and Tours at (602) 843-5100 to book your holiday travel today. Check out our website: rawhidetravel.com.

Presented By:
Rawhide Travel and Tours Inc
6008 West Bell Rd # F105
Glendale, Arizona  85308-3793
(602) 843-5100
rawhidetravel.com

Plan Your Next Vacation With Rawhide Travel and Tours

Rawhide Travel and Tours with combined total of “75 years of travel experience" provides amazing deals for your dream vacation with experienced, friendly travel experts.

Services offered include booking domestic and international air travel, hotel and resort reservations, car rental and cruises for individuals, corporate, group and incentive travel. Also tour packages of every type from a weekend getaway, to San Diego or Disneyland to involved and detailed vacations worldwide.

Plan your next great vacation with Rawhide Travel and Tours. Call today (602) 843-5100 or email us at flythis@rawhidetravel.com.

Presented By:
Rawhide Travel and Tours Inc
6008 West Bell Rd # F105
Glendale, Arizona  85308-3793
(602) 843-5100

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In the News: SkyMall May Fly Again After Potential Buyout

The company behind the SkyMall in-flight catalog filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy January 22. Once stuffed into the back of many domestic airline seats, the magazine was slain, apparently, by smartphones.

In its filing, Xhibit Corporation's acting Chief Executive Scott Wiley blamed a "crowded, rapidly evolving and intensely competitive" market for direct market sales. And consumers spending more time typing on their devices, especially after the airlines decided to allow them on planes, didn't help either.

A former advertiser known for technology-friendly apparel is pursuing an acquisition of SkyMall days after the in-flight catalog filed for bankruptcy protection.

ScotteVest, based in Sun Valley, Idaho, has signed a non-disclosure agreement with SkyMall and intends to bid for the struggling catalog's assets either alone or in a partnership, CEO Scott Jordan told CNBC Digital Wednesday. "SkyMall was doomed to fail by its business model," Jordan said. "But I know how to fix it."

In a filing for bankruptcy protection last week, SkyMall blamed an increased use of electronic devices for the declining popularity of its in-flight catalogs, which are often placed in seat-back pockets. It also said that the availability of Internet access on planes opened the door to new competition from e-commerce retailers. SkyMall CEO Scott Wiley didn't respond to a request for comment.

Jordan said he believes the catalog failed to adapt to Internet shopping but can do so by directing customers directly to retailers whose products are in its pages. "E-commerce needs to be done by the advertisers," he said. SkyMall sells merchandise from a variety of sources, including its own curated selection of items. It also has allowed advertisers like ScotteVest to place paid ads in the catalog. But in all cases, customers are encouraged to make purchases directly through the magazine (by phone or Web site) rather than directly through the manufacturer.

Let Rawhide Travel and Tours help you with all your reservation needs. Call us at (602) 843-5100 or visit our website: rawhidetravel.com.

Presented By:
Rawhide Travel and Tours Inc
6008 West Bell Rd # F105
Glendale, Arizona 85308-3793
(602) 843-5100
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Off the Beaten Path: Mount Mitchell State Park, NC

There are a few places in the world that still stand apart from the ordinary. Rising more than a mile high, surrounded by the gentle mist of low-hanging clouds, Mount Mitchell State Park is one of these extraordinary places.

In the crest of the timeworn Black Mountains lies the summit of Mount Mitchell, at an elevation 6,684 feet it is the highest point east of the Mississippi. For those who ascend this mighty peak, what looms in the horizon is a feast for the eyes--breathtaking views of the Blue Ridge Mountains, rolling ridges and fertile valleys. Forested and forever misty, 1,946-acre Mount Mitchell State Park will provide you with some of the most tranquil moments you'll ever experience.

Located off of NC 128 and the Blue Ridge Parkway near Burnsville, North Carolina, it includes the peak of Mount Mitchell, the highest peak east of the Mississippi River. From the parking lot you can take a short hike to the summit which includes an observation tower and the grave of Elisha Mitchell, the professor who first noted the mountain's height. The old observation tower was torn down in Early October 2006. The trail leading to the summit has been paved, and a new observation platform was constructed and opened to the public in January 2009. The summit also features an exhibit hall with information about the mountain's natural, cultural and historical heritage.

The mountain was named in honor of Dr. Elisha Mitchell, an educator and scientist from Chapel Hill, who died while climbing the mountain in 1857 in his effort to prove it was the highest peak in eastern North America. The grave of Dr Mitchell lies next to the observation deck.

On the Mt. Mitchell trail proper, the climbing begins immediately. At this elevation, the forest is mostly cove hardwoods with a few hemlocks thrown in for good measure, though they are dead or dying. You are ascending through a small cove which is eating into Long Arm Ridge. Toward the back of the cove you'll bear right through the first of many switchbacks encountered along the way. The trail in this area heads generally north, though at any given moment you my be facing any of the cardinal directions due to the way it switches back upon itself. The trail climbs up the side of Long Arm Ridge.

Let Rawhide Travel and Tours help you with all your reservation needs. Call us at (602) 843-5100 or visit our website: rawhidetravel.com.

Presented By:
Rawhide Travel and Tours Inc
6008 West Bell Rd # F105
Glendale, Arizona 85308-3793
(602) 843-5100
rawhidetravel.com

Culinary Travel: North Carolina

Hatteras is best known as a fishing and vacation destination. This community offers visitors ample opportunities for recreation, sightseeing, and remote relaxation especially on its beautiful beaches.Watersports are plentiful on both the ocean-side and the sound-side of the village. Proximity to the convergence of the Labrador Current and the Gulf Stream result in the largest surf available on the East Coast. On the protected Pamlico Sound side of the island watersports such as windsurfing, kayaking, kiteboarding, and swimming are all readily available and accessible.

Hatteras Style Clam Chowder

"This is 'Hatteras style.' You can also use the bacon grease to saute the vegetables in. "

Recipe makes 8 servings

 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
 1 large onion, chopped
 5 stalks celery, sliced
 4 carrots, sliced
 4 cups peeled, cubed white potatoes
 2 (16 ounce) cans minced clams, with juice
 3 quarts clam juice
 1 teaspoon dried thyme
 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
 8 slices crisp cooked bacon, crumbled

Prep: 20 mins Cook: 30 mins Ready In: 50 mins

 Directions
In a large pot over medium heat, cook onion, celery and carrots in oil until they begin to soften. Stir in potatoes, clams, clam juice, thyme, pepper and bacon. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer 20 minutes, or until potatoes are tender

Let Rawhide Travel and Tours help you with all your reservation needs. Call us at (602) 843-5100 or visit our website: rawhidetravel.com.

Presented By:
Rawhide Travel and Tours Inc
6008 West Bell Rd # F105
Glendale, Arizona 85308-3793
(602) 843-5100
rawhidetravel.com

Best Skiing Destinations: Steamboat Springs, Colorado

Though it hosts one of Colorado’s largest and most well-known ski resorts, the town of Steamboat Springs, population 12,088, has a character that is unique in the state. Northern Colorado is ranching country, and Steamboat is still an authentic, working cowboy town that has evolved into one of the most important ski towns in America. You won’t find cutesy false-front stores here, but you will find the city-owned Howelsen Hill, the longest continuously operating ski area in Colorado, where the town’s Winter Sports Club practices on seven wooden ski jumps contoured out of the mountain. There’s also a Winter Carnival every February, when truckloads of snow are dumped on the town’s broad main street for ski-joring competitions and a high school band that comes through on skis.

Three miles away, rising high above the Yampa River Valley, is the Steamboat Ski Resort, spreading white ribbons across a forested massif of six rounded peaks. Though offering less puckering expert terrain than some areas in the state, what Steamboat does deliver is its signature light powder, world-class tree skiing, and snowboarding through endless groves of aspen. The ski school is considered one of the best in the country, and Steamboat claims to have produced 79 Olympic skiers and snowboarders, more than any town in America.

Like many of Colorado's most attractive towns, Steamboat Springs has great hot springs. The hot springs in Steamboat are down an adventurous drive north of town that brings you to a riverside canyon in one of the most perfect soaking settings imaginable.

In fact, the town got its name from its famed water works. Fur trappers who visited the area in the late 1800s heard the bubbling sound of one of the local hot springs and thought it sounded like a steamboat coming down the Yampa River.

Steamboat is known, also, for its long-standing Western heritage — with a more than 100-year-old summer rodeo — and deep-seated ski heritage. The town has two ski areas: Steamboat Ski Resort and Howelsen Hill, the oldest, continuously used ski area in Colorado and home to nearly 90 Winter Olympians.

Call Rawhide Travel and Tours at (602) 843-5100 to book your holiday travel today. Check out our website: rawhidetravel.com.

Presented By:
Rawhide Travel and Tours Inc
6008 West Bell Rd # F105
Glendale, Arizona  85308-3793
(602) 843-5100
rawhidetravel.com