Still Look At Fall and Halloween

Halloween is celebrated throughout the world, with different traditions, names and beliefs. While typical Halloween activities include trick-or-treating and costume parties, there are a few places around the world where Halloween is so much more than that. From the witch trials in Salem, to the country where Halloween is believed to originate from, to a transformed theme park; these 10 places around the world are by far the coolest places to be when October 31st falls. Some of the events will have you screaming in fear, others will have you partying with thousands of people and others will have you taking part in elaborate costume parades; whatever you decide though, we promise it will be unforgettable.

It is not too late to visit great locations around the country.  You may be too late to celebrate Halloween but not to late to celebrate fall.

Salem

You can visit Salem anytime during the month of October and get the full Halloween experience here. It was here that twenty-six people were once tried and put to death for being witches and Halloween is when the town celebrates witches in the coolest of ways. Visitors here should expect guided tours of haunted and infamous spots, trial and hanging re-enactments, fireworks, parades and a witch’s circle. Don’t miss out visiting the Witch House Museum, which was once home to Judge Jonathan Corwin, one of the judges in the trials and one of the remaining buildings left in Salem that has direct links to the trials.  On the night of Halloween there are magic shows, witches balls, séances, fireworks and more to choose from. With plenty of accommodation options, dining options and interesting shops there will be no shortage of things to do in this town.

Disneyland

This hair-raising tour through a creepy haunted estate that’s home to ghosts, ghouls and supernatural surprises returns in early 2017. Three hitchhiking ghosts stick their thumbs out to catch a ride through Haunted Mansion. Edge into a dimly lit foyer and climb into a gloomy Doom Buggy for a supernatural journey through a tangle of frightful chambers. Blending giggling ghouls with things that go bump in the night, this classic attraction promises to send chills up and down your shivering spine. Once an abandoned residence in the center of New Orleans Square, the Mansion has been home to 999 unearthly specters since August 9, 1969.

Transylvania, Romania

The entire country of Romania has a creeptacular reputation, with is stunning Gothic architecture and enveloping forests.  But it is the impressive Bran Castle that draws most visitors here, as it was once said to be the home of Vlad the Impaler, the inspiration for Bram Stoker’s famous Dracula. The castle is where tens of thousands of enemies were impaled on stakes, Vlad leaving their bodies to rot. Today for brave visitors the castle is open to the public and nothing seems creepier than touring through here on the night of Halloween, learning the truth about the terrifying legends.  Visitors here can choose to book a guided tour and stay in nearby accommodations or to join one of the specialty Halloween tours that includes Romanian cuisine, live medieval and Romanian folk music, lives shows and the infamous Count Dracula wedding at the Hunyad Castle. Just don’t forget about your costume.

Call Rawhide Travel and Tours and start planning that special vacation or event today. 602-843-5100 or visit our website rawhidetravel.com.

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Vacation Planning Is Half The Fun... Let Rawhide Help

Rawhide Travel and Tours with combined total of more than “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.

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Culinary Travel: Hawaiian Spam Sandwich Recipe

Spam is a brand of canned precooked meat made by Hormel Foods Corporation. It was first introduced in 1937 and gained popularity worldwide after its use during World War II. By 2003, Spam was sold in 41 countries on six continents and trademarked in over 100 countries (except in Middle East and North Africa). In 2007, the seven billionth can of Spam was sold.

According to its label, Spam's basic ingredients are pork shoulder meat, with ham meat added, salt, water, modified potato starch as a binder, sugar, and sodium nitrite as a preservative. Natural gelatin forms during cooking in its tins on the production line. Many have raised concerns over Spam's nutritional attributes, in large part due to its high content of fat, sodium, and preservatives.

By the early 1970s the name "Spam" was often misused to describe any canned meat product containing pork, such as pork luncheon meat. With expansion in communications technology, it became the subject of urban legends about mystery meat and other appearances in pop culture. Most notable was a Monty Python sketch portraying Spam as tasting horrible, ubiquitous and inescapable, characteristics which led to its name being borrowed for unsolicited electronic messages, especially spam email.

Hawaii consumes more Spam than any state in our union — in total, 7 million cans a year. According to the SPAM website, the island's love affair with Spam began in World War II, when GIs were served the salty luncheon meat because it didn't require refrigeration and had a long shelf life.

Ingredients

1 (12 ounce) can Spam, classic cut into 8 slices

1 (8 ounce) can pineapple rings, drained

4 slices American cheese

4 hamburger buns, split and toasted

8 tomato slices (optional)

Directions

 Brown SPAM slices in skillet over medium heat.

Place 2 SPAM slices on each bottom half of hamburger bun.

Top with pineapple ring and American cheese slice. Just in case you want it more mainland than tropical you can replace the pineapple rings with tomatoes.

Cover sandwich with top half of bun.

Why, yes you can, add mayonnaise

Servings 4

Call Rawhide Travel and Tours and start planning that special vacation or event today. 602-843-5100 or visit our website rawhidetravel.com.

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A Relaxing Spot the Four Seasons Resort Lanai Hawaii

Formerly the Four Seasons Manele Bay, this transformed luxury hideaway -- owned by tech billionaire Larry Ellison -- re-opened in February with 217 rooms and suites. There's plenty to try out, including new dining venues such as Nobu and One Forty for steaks and Hawaiian seafood, a Jack Nicklaus-designed golf course now exclusively available to hotel guests and island activities including scuba diving, horseback riding and UTV tours.

They were voted one of Travel+Leisure readers’ Best Beach Hotels, our oceanside resort boasts endless opportunities for fun in the sun. Explore this season’s special offers and find out more about our exceptional activities and services. An unforgettable Hawaii vacation awaits!

The hotel borders a marine preserve perched atop a rugged red-lava cliff above a white-sand beach, our ocean-side luxury resort in Lanai, Hawaii, will make you swoon – and the spectacular golf course with three cliff-side fairways will take your breath away. Perched overlooking beautiful Hulopoe Bay, Four Seasons Resort Lanai offers an innovative vision of a Hawaiian resort, a perfect base to explore your own 90,000 acre island. Experience modern luxury at its most sophisticated, discover remarkable variety for dining and drinks and explore an astonishing range of landscapes with activities to match. There’s so much to do, you can create the Lanai that’s perfect for you.

Whether you crave a day at the beach or an upcountry adventure, Lanai offers a range of activities both on land and on the water – from hiking and 4x4 off-roading to scuba diving, snorkelling and sailing. The Chef Concierge at Four Seasons Resort Lanai shares tips to make your stay memorable, including the best place to try authentic Hawaiian food to the many ways you can explore the island. Lanai is an intimate and quiet island several miles west of Maui. Here, crystal-clear waters and white sand beaches ring the coast, which is set off by rugged red lava cliffs and misty highland forests. To help plan your next trip, we asked Annalyn Alcantara, Lanai Ambassador at Four Seasons Resort Lanai, to share her tips for experiencing the best of island’s adventure, culture and romance.
Lanai City, past and present

Charming Lanai City is more like a very small town, a clear reminder of how the spirit of old Hawaii has been preserved on this unspoiled island. Just a handful of mom-and-pop shops and restaurants surround Dole Park, where you can shop for fashionable island apparel, souvenirs and art. Don’t miss the Mike Carroll Gallery, where the work of the island’s finest artists is displayed in a traditional bungalow. For lunch, join locals at Lanai ‘Ohana Poke Market, which serves the classic Hawaiian hors d’oeuvre, poke – bite-size pieces of fresh raw fish mixed with seaweed, relish, nuts, tofu, vegetables and more. Then discover the rich history of “the Pineapple Island,” once Hawaii’s largest pineapple plantation, at the Lanai Culture and Heritage Center.

Let Rawhide Travel and Tours help you arrange and plan your stay at the Four Seasons Resort Lanai. Call Rawhide Travel and Tours and start planning that special vacation or event today. 602-843-5100 or visit our website rawhidetravel.com. 

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Off The Beaten Path: Washington D.C. Memorials

Monuments and memorials, eclectic neighborhoods, true local flavor – Washington, DC is a place unlike any other. It’s your home away from home with free museums and America’s front yard. Plan your trip to the nation’s capital by checking out all the things to do, places to eat and ways to stay.

5 Must-See Memorials on the National Mall

According to the American Institute of Architects, half of Americans’ top 12 favorite architectural gems line the National Mall. There’s no denying the significance of the Mall for its symbols to American history and for its uniquely designed marvels.

Thomas Jefferson Memorial

Frequently ranked by visitors as their favorite piece of architecture on the National Mall, the Jefferson Memorial serves as the site of many annual events and ceremonies including memorial exercises, an Easter sunrise service and the National Cherry Blossom Festival.

The memorial, which stands as a symbol of liberty, was designed as a smaller version of the Roman Pantheon with marble steps and monumental Ionic columns; its interior holds a bronze statue of Jefferson and the walls are inlaid with excerpts from his letters, speeches and the Declaration of Independence.

Vietnam Veterans Memorial

This memorial honors members of the U.S. armed forces who fought, died in service or were labeled MIA in the Vietnam War. It is divided into three separate parts: the Three Soldiers statue, the Vietnam Women’s Memorial and the well-known Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall.

 Controversy surrounded the wall’s unconventional design for its dark color and lack of decoration.

But the wall quickly became a place of grieving, pilgrimage and healing; today it stands as one of the most visited and moving memorials on the National Mall, as visitors have made a tradition of leaving mementos, letters and photographs of loved ones lost in the war.

The memorial itself is based on a line from Dr. King's famous "I Have a Dream” speech, which was delivered from the nearby steps of the Lincoln Memorial during the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom in 1963: "With this faith, we will be able to hew out of a mountain of despair, a stone of hope." The memorial depicts King as the “stone of hope” and the two pieces of granite placed near him as the “mountain of despair."

World War II Memorial 

The World War II Memorial, which honors the spirit and sacrifice of the 16 million men and women who served overseas and the more than 400,000 that perished, opened to the public in April 2004. The memorial built to celebrate the the heroes of the Greatest Generation remains one of the most visited sites on the National Mall, with more than 4.2 million visits in 2014.

Each year, more than 300 Honor Flights bring World War II veterans, as well as those who served in the Korean and Vietnam wars, to the memorials dedicated to their service.

Washington Monument

This monumental obelisk was built to honor George Washington, America’s first president, and stands today as the world’s tallest freestanding stone structure.

Construction began in 1848, but a lack of funds, political squabbling and the Civil War interrupted the work from 1854 to 1877. A clear change in the color of the stones can be seen about one-third of the way up the monument; the slightly darker stones at the bottom were placed before construction paused, while the lighter stones above it were brought in from a different quarry following the Civil War.

The Washington Monument is currently undergoing repairs. Check the National Park Service's website for updates before you plan your visit.

Lincoln Memorial

A perennial visitor favorite, the Lincoln Memorial stands at the west end of the National Mall as a neoclassical monument to America’s 16th president. A 19-foot statue of Abraham Lincoln sits overlooking the Reflecting Pool and the Washington Monument from his permanent seat on America's front yard. Dedicated in 1922, the Lincoln Memorial has been home to many defining moments in American history. Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered his "I Have a Dream" speech from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in front of 250,000 attendees.

Call Rawhide Travel and Tours and start planning that special vacation or event today. 602-843-5100 or visit our website rawhidetravel.com.

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Culinary Travel: Mustard-glazed Roast Chicken With Stuffing

This should make a great dinner for a Halloween feast. Yes this is an adult dinner, so if you have children figure something special just for them.

Ingredients

    1 large chicken about 4 pounds
    2 Tablespoon butter
    1 Tablespoon wholegrain mustard
    roast potatoes and vegetables,
    
    For the stuffing
    3 celery stalks, finely chopped
    2 red apple cored and finely chopped
    4 ounces walnuts chopped
    4 ounces fresh breadcrumb, handful reserved for the topping
    1 pound sausage meat (6 sausages)
    1 medium egg
    handful parsley chopped
    2 Tablespoon wholegrain mustard
    2 Tablespoon butter plus extra for greasing

Directions

Heat oven to 375 Fahrenheit. To make the stuffing, mix together all the ingredients, except the butter, in a large bowl with some seasoning. Mix with your hands until well combined.

Season the chicken all over and put in a roasting tin. Smear with the butter and put on the middle shelf of the oven for 50 minutes.

Meanwhile, grease a 6 X 9 inch roasting tin. Press in the stuffing, then sprinkle with the reserved breadcrumbs and dot with the butter.

Brush the chicken with the mustard, transfer it to a lower shelf and roast for 40 minutes more until cooked through and the juices run clear. Put the stuffing on the top shelf at the same time and cook for 40-50 minutes until golden and crisp.

Leave the chicken to rest for 10 minutes, then serve with the stuffing, along with roast potatoes and vegetables, if you like.

Call Rawhide Travel and Tours and start planning that special vacation or event today. 602-843-5100 or visit our website rawhidetravel.com

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What Vacation Travel Are You Ready For?

Rawhide Travel and Tours would like to remind people that we can book 11 months ahead, because special dates, like spring break, and especially holidays, can get booked up very quickly.  

We have clients that come in and think that 2 months in advance is “really early”.. and they may pay higher rates for air, cruises, hotels, and even car rentals. Just saying... plan ahead as much as you can.

Whether business or pleasure, Rawhide Travel and Tours delivers. Internet Travel sites list hotels and destinations, but offer little or nothing in the way of advice. Our many years of experience in the industry will help you design the perfect traveling experience. From romantic getaways to large events, our experienced agents will handle all the details. Traveling does not need to be stressful. You can count on us for great value and dependable service.

We arrange travel air, land and sea. We can create the perfect destination package including, resorts, conference rooms and meeting locations, special events, and attractions.

Rawhide Travel and Tours hopes you have a Great Day!

Call us and start planning that special vacation or event today. 602-843-5100 or visit our website rawhidetravel.com


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 rawhidetravel.com

In The News: Louvre Museum Reopens After Flooding

The world-famous Louvre and d'Orsay museums reopened their doors to the public as French insurance companies announced their initial estimates for the cost of the natural disaster. Visitors once again flocked to see the Mona Lisa and the Nike of Samothrace in the Louvre, five days after flood waters forced an emergency shutdown of the French capital’s premier museum.

The D'Orsay Museum (Musée d'Orsay), home to one of the world’s best collections of impressionist masterpieces, also began welcoming sightseers after the temporary closures. The two huge art complexes, both of which stand on the banks of the River Seine, closed last week to move tens of thousands of priceless works to higher ground as the river surged to near-record levels.

Damage estimates may exceed 1.4 Billion euros.

The two huge art complexes, both of which stand on the banks of the River Seine, closed last week to move tens of thousands of priceless works to higher ground as the river surged to near-record levels. Louvre officials said 35,000 pieces were moved from storage and low-lying exhibition areas between Thursday and Saturday, when flood waters finally began to recede. Only the museum’s Islamic Art wing, which saw many works removed from their display cases, remains closed until the exhibitions can be fully reinstalled, Louvre officials said.

 The museum’s forced closure resulted in the loss of 120,000 visitors, representing around €1.5 million in revenue, the statement said.

Flooding around Europe killed at least 19 people over the past week, including five in France. As waters gradually receded, French authorities and insurance companies have also started adding up the financial toll of the catastrophe.

France’s AFA (the French insurance industry association) said on Tuesday that the cost of torrential rains and ensuing floods ranged between 900 million and 1.4 billion euros.

Flooding was spread across France, with an estimated 150,000 people directly affected by the deluge, the AFA said in a statement. The government on Wednesday declared a natural disaster in 782 town and cities in 16 different departments across France, paving the way for faster compensation for flood victims. Under the law, insurance companies have two months to provide partial compensation to victims in natural disaster areas, and three months to pay it in full.

Call Rawhide Travel and Tours and start planning that special vacation or event today. 602-843-5100 or visit our website rawhidetravel.com

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Off the Beaten Path - Catacombs Of Paris

The Catacombs of Paris (French: Catacombes de Paris, About this sound) are underground ossuaries in Paris, France which hold the remains of over six million people in a small part of the ancient Mines of Paris tunnel network. Located south of the former city gate "Barrière d’Enfer" (Gate of Hell) beneath Rue de la Tombe-Issoire, the ossuary was founded when city officials were faced with two simultaneous problems: a series of cave-ins starting in 1774 and overflowing cemeteries, particularly Saint Innocents. Nightly processions of bones from 1786 to 1788 transferred remains from cemeteries to the reinforced tunnels, and more remains were added in later years. The underground cemetery became a tourist attraction on a small scale from the early 19th century, and has been open to the public on a regular basis since 1874 with surface access from a building at Place Denfert-Rochereau.

The Catacombs are among the 14 City of Paris Museums managed by Paris Musées since January 1, 2013. The catacombs are formally known as l'Ossuaire Municipal or Catacombes officiels and have been called "The World's Largest Grave" due the number of individuals buried. Although the ossuary covers only a small section of the underground "les carrières de Paris" ("the quarries of Paris"), Parisians today often refer to the entire tunnel network as "the catacombs"

Paris' earliest burial grounds were to the southern outskirts of the Roman-era Left Bank city. In ruins after the Roman empire's 5th-century fall and the ensuing Frankish invasions, Parisians eventually abandoned this settlement for the marshy Right Bank: from the 4th century, the first known settlement there was on higher ground around a Saint-Etienne church and burial ground (behind today's Hôtel de Ville), and Right Bank urban expansion began in earnest after other ecclesiastical landowners filled in the marshlands from the late 10th century. Thus, instead of burying its dead away from inhabited areas as per usual human customs, the Paris Right Bank settlement began its life with cemeteries at its very center.

The most central of these cemeteries, a burial ground around the 5th-century Notre-Dame-des-Bois church, became the property of the Saint-Opportune parish after the original church was demolished by the 9th-century Norman invasions. When it became its own parish under the "Saints Innocents" church from 1130, this burial ground, filling the land between today's rue Saint-Denis, rue de la Ferronnerie, rue de la Lingerie and the rue Berger, had become the City's principal cemetery.

By the end of the same century "Saints Innocents" was neighbor to the principal Parisan Les Halles marketplace, and already filled to overflowing. To make room for more burials, the long-dead were exhumed and their bones packed into the roofs and walls of "charnier" galleries built to the inside of the cemetery walls. By the end of the 18th century, the central burial ground was a 6 foot  high mound of earth filled with centuries of Parisian dead from disease, famine, and wars, plus the remains from the Hôtel-Dieu hospital and the Morgue; other Parisian parishes had their own burial grounds, but the conditions in Les Innocents cemetery were by far the worst.

A series of ineffective decrees limiting the use of the cemetery did little to remedy the situation, and it was not until the late 18th century that it was decided to create three new large-scale suburban burial grounds on the outskirts of the city, and to condemn all existing parish cemeteries within city limits.

The catacombs in their first years were a disorganised bone repository, but Louis-Étienne Héricart de Thury, head of the Paris Mine Inspection Service from 1810, undertook renovations that would transform the underground caverns into a visitable mausoleum. In addition to directing the stacking of skulls and femurs into the patterns seen in the catacombs today, he used the cemetery decorations he could find (formerly stored on the Tombe-Issoire property, many had disappeared following the 1789 Revolution) to complement the walls of bones. Also created was a room dedicated to the display of the various minerals found under Paris, and another showing various skeletal deformities found during the catacombs' creation and renovation. He also added monumental tablets and archways bearing inscriptions (that some found of questionable taste) that were warnings, descriptions or "poetic light" about the nature of the ossuary, and, for the safety of eventual visitors, it was walled from the rest of the Paris Left Bank already-extensive underground tunnel network.

Call Rawhide Travel and Tours and start planning that special vacation or event today. 602-843-5100 or visit our website rawhidetravel.com.

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Culinary Travel: Coq Au Vin

Are you thinking about making the famous French recipe for chicken called Coq Au Vin. You may have heard it pronounced CoCo Van. But this is the real deal recipe.

Ingredients

24 to 30 pearl onions
4 chicken thighs and legs, or 1 (5 to 7-pound) stewing chicken, cut into serving pieces
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1/4 to 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons water
6 ounces salt pork, slab bacon, or lardon, cubed
8 ounces button mushrooms, quartered
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
2 (750-ml) bottles red wine, preferably pinot noir
2 tablespoons tomato paste
1 medium onion, quartered
2 stalks celery, quartered
2 medium carrots, quartered
3 cloves garlic, crushed
6 to 8 sprigs fresh thyme
1 bay leaf
2 cups chicken stock or broth 

Directions

Cut off the root end of each pearl onion and make an "x" with your knife in its place. Bring 2 to 3 cups of water to a boil and drop in the onions for 1 minute. Remove the onions from the pot, allow them to cool, and then peel. You should be able to slide the onions right out of their skin. Set aside.

Sprinkle the chicken on all sides with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper. Place the chicken pieces, a few at a time, into a large (1 or 2-gallon) sealable plastic bag along with the flour. Shake to coat all of the pieces of the chicken. Remove the chicken from the bag to a metal rack.

Add the 2 tablespoons of water to a large, 12-inch saute pan over medium heat along with the salt pork. Cover and cook until the water is gone, and then continue to cook until the salt pork cubes are golden brown and crispy, approximately 8 to 10 minutes. Remove the salt pork from the pan and set aside.

In the same pan, using the remaining fat, add the pearl onions, sprinkle with salt and pepper, and saute until lightly brown, approximately 8 to 10 minutes. Remove the onions from the pan and set aside. Next, brown the chicken pieces on each side until golden brown, working in batches if necessary to not overcrowd the pan. Transfer the chicken into a 7 to 8-quart enameled cast iron Dutch oven.

Add the mushrooms to the same 12-inch saute pan, adding the 1 tablespoon of butter if needed, and saute until they give up their liquid, approximately 5 minutes. Store the onions, mushrooms and pork in an airtight container in the refrigerator until ready to use.

Pour off any remaining fat and deglaze the pan with approximately 1 cup of the wine. Pour this into the Dutch oven along with the chicken stock, tomato paste, quartered onion, carrots, celery, garlic, thyme, and bay leaf. Add all of the remaining wine. Cover and refrigerate overnight.

The next day, preheat the oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit. Place the chicken in the oven and cook for 2 to 2 1/2 hours, or until the chicken is tender. Maintain a very gentle simmer and stir occasionally.

Once the chicken is done, remove it to a heatproof container, cover, and place it in the oven to keep warm. Strain the sauce in a colander and remove the carrots, onion, celery, thyme, garlic, and bay leaf. Return the sauce to the pot, place over medium heat, and reduce by 1/3. Depending on how much liquid you actually began with, this should take 20 to 45 minutes.

Once the sauce has thickened, add the pearl onions, mushrooms, and pork and cook for another 15 minutes or until the heated through. Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary, remove from the heat, add the chicken and serve. Serve over egg noodles, if desired.

Note: If the sauce is not thick enough at the end of reducing, you may add a mixture of equal parts butter and flour kneaded together. Start with 1 tablespoon of each. Whisk this into the sauce for 4 to 5 minutes and repeat, if necessary.

Call us and start planning that special vacation or event today. 602-843-5100 or visit our website rawhidetravel.com

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Have You Always Wished To See Paris? Why Wait?

Tourism in Paris is a major income source for Paris and the city ranks in the world's most visited cities. In 2013, the City of Paris welcomed 15.6 million international visitors, the largest number of whom came from the United States. The Paris Region received 32.3 million visitors in 2013, putting it just ahead of London as the world's top tourist destination region, measured by hotel occupancy. In the Paris region, the largest numbers of foreign tourists came in order from Britain, the United States, Germany, Italy and China.

In 2012, 263,212 salaried workers in the city of Paris, or 18.4 percent of the total number, were engaged in tourism-related sectors; hotels, catering, transport and leisure. In 2014 visitors to Paris spent 17 billion dollars (13.58 billion Euros), the third highest sum globally after London and New York.

Arc de Triomphe

The Arc de Triomphe de l'Étoile is one of the most famous monuments in Paris. It stands in the centre of the Place Charles de Gaulle (originally named Place de l'Étoile), at the western end of the Champs-Élysées. It should not be confused with a smaller arch, the Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel, which stands west of the Louvre. The Arc de Triomphe (in English: "Triumphal Arch") honours those who fought and died for France in the French Revolutionary and the Napoleonic Wars, with the names of all French victories and generals inscribed on its inner and outer surfaces. Beneath its vault lies the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier from World War I. The Arc de Triomphe is the linchpin of the historic axis (Axe historique) – a sequence of monuments and grand thoroughfares on a route which goes from the courtyard of the Louvre, to the Grande Arche de la Défense.

The Musée du Louvre

The Louvre Palace, originally built as a medieval fortress in the year 1190 by King Philippe Auguste, was transformed by successive governments, since the French Revolution it hosts the Musée du Louvre one of the largest museums of the western world. It houses some of the most popular and culturally ethnic form of art. The doors to The Louvre opened to the public on August 10, 1793. Since the 12th Century, The Louvre has undergone several infrastructural changes due to a change of reign after every century. On March 3, 1989, I.M. Pei inaugurated the Glass Pyramid. This also serves as an official entrance to the main exhibition hall, which in turn leads to the temporary exhibition halls. The Musée is divided into 3 separate wings: Sully, Richelieu and Denon, which showcase 35,000 pieces of art, dating back to the Middle Ages. Some of the most renown pieces of art showcased at The Louvre are the Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa, Venus of Milo, Nike of Samothrake, and the Dying Slave by Michelangelo.

Notre-Dame de Paris

The Notre-Dame de Paris, is one of the largest cathedrals in Paris. It was started to be built in 1163 by Maurice de Sully, the then appointed bishop of Paris. The construction campaign was divided into 4 parts, and was done by well-known builders of that era: Jean de Chelles, Pierre de Montreuil, Pierre de Chelles, Jean Ravy, Jean le Bouteiller. It took over 100 years for the Notre-Dame to be built completely. It was built in honour of Virgin Mary, making it a bishop’s church, a canon church and a baptistery. It is one of the main symbols of Paris. It is located at Île de la Cité, a small island in the heart of the city. There have been several historical events that have taken place here, including the marriage of King Henry IV and Marguerite de Valois, in 1594.

The Eiffel Tower

The Eiffel Tower is acknowledged as the universal symbol of Paris and France. It was originally designed by Émile Nouguier and Maurice Koechlin. In March 1885 Gustave Eiffel, known primarily as a successful iron engineer, submitted a plan for a tower to the French Ministre du Commerce et de l'Industrie. He entered a competition for students studying at the university. The winning proposal would stand as the centerpiece of the 1889 Exposition. Eiffel's was one of over 100 submissions. Eiffel's proposal was finally chosen in June 1886. Even before its construction, the Tower's uniqueness was noticed. The Eiffel Tower was finally inaugurated on March 31, 1889. Currently about 6.9 million people visit the Eiffel tower each year.

Call Rawhide Travel and Tours and start planning that special vacation or event today. 602-843-5100 or visit our website rawhidetravel.com

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Glendale, Arizona 85308-3793
(602) 843-5100
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Fall Vacation Specials Just For You

Rawhide Travel and Tours would like to remind people that we can book 11 months ahead, because special dates, like spring break, and especially holidays, can get booked up very quickly.  

We have clients that come in and think that 2 months in advance is “really early”.. and they may pay higher rates for air, cruises, hotels, and even car rentals. Just saying... plan ahead as much as you can.

Whether business or pleasure, Rawhide Travel and Tours delivers. Internet Travel sites list hotels and destinations, but offer little or nothing in the way of advice. Our many years of experience in the industry will help you design the perfect traveling experience. From romantic getaways to large events, our experienced agents will handle all the details. Traveling does not need to be stressful. You can count on us for great value and dependable service.

We arrange travel air, land and sea. We can create the perfect destination package including, resorts, conference rooms and meeting locations, special events, and attractions.

Rawhide Travel and Tours hopes you have a Great Day!

Call us and start planning that special vacation or event today. 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

In The News: Fall Foliage

Are you still thinking that this fall is when you are going to see the very best colors are country has to offer? Here are some locations that will be riot of color.

Minnesota

Leaf-watchers, rejoice: Peak fall color season has arrived in northern Minnesota. Leaves are 75 to 100 percent turned in the northwest corner of the state, as well as portions of north-central and northeastern Minnesota.

If you don't want to drive all the way up north, you can stop in central Minnesota — a pocket in the St. Cloud area is also at peak.

Fall colors generally peak between mid-September and early October in the northern third of Minnesota. In central Minnesota, it's between late September and early October. The southern third of Minnesota can expect peak fall colors between late September and mid-October. Peak fall color typically lasts about two weeks, but that can vary widely, depending on location, elevation and weather.

New England States

Columbus Day weekend is traditionally the time leaf peepers take to the roads to seek out the beauty of New England's fall foliage. How brilliant the foliage will be this year is debatable since a wet growing season is considered key to fine foliage. Sunshine and temperatures also play a part in determining fall color. 

For those in Western Massachusetts, the leaves are just now turning in Hampden and Hampshire counties. Moderate foliage is reported in Berkshire and Franklin counties. To find peak foliage this weekend, the best bet is to head north of the Bay State. Foliage is at its peak right now in parts of Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine.

Colorado

West Elk Loop

This 205-mile loop is a ways away from Denver, but the views are worth the haul. The route gives access to the White River and Gunnison National Forest, the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, Curecanti National Recreational Area, and Crawford and Paonia State Parks. Heads up: The 31-mile gravel section over Kebler Pass is closed in winter.

Dallas Divide via Last Dollar Road

If you find yourself in the southwest portion of the state, this unpaved route spanning from Telluride to Ridgway is not to be missed. Last Dollar Road is about 5 hours driving from Denver and you can begin your journey (the road is about 40 miles) at either end of the road. Highlight: A clear view of Wilson Peak, recognizable to anyone who’s ever examined the label on a Coors bottle.

Castle Creek Road

This is a 13-mile paved road in Aspen and Ashcroft, a little less than 3 hours west of Denver.  It dead ends, but people who have made the drive encourage you to pack a lunch and have a picnic at the end.

Trail Ridge Road

According to the National Park Service website, this is the Rocky Mountain National Park's heavily traveled highway to the sky. A 2-hour drive from Denver, this road crests at 12,183 feet. Heads up: This road does close during the winter, so get your leaf-peeping in early. Be sure to check here before making the drive, as the NPS says the status of Trail Ridge Road can change quickly and at any time.

Call Rawhide Travel and Tours and start planning that special vacation or event today. 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: Fall Foliage

Every year, autumn delights us with grand displays of color. And every year Americans flock to prime places to see magnificent landscapes filled with reds, oranges and yellows. This year, we invite you to go on an adventure to locations where there are less crowds but just as many radiant trees.

Black Hills, South Dakota

I went to high school in the foothills and enjoyed the beauty of the area. In autumn, the scenic Black Hills in South Dakota transform into a sea of gold-draped cottonwoods and aspens. The towering mountain range stretches across thousands of acres is best-known for containing Badlands National Park and Mount Rushmore. However, it's also one of the best places to chase the changing leaves. Stop into Custer State Park to view the leaves against a backdrop of granite spires, rolling mountains and 1,500 bison grazing. Most tourists visit the park in late September to watch the Buffalo Roundup, so if you want to enjoy the scenery without heavy crowds, arrive in October. Embrace the magnitude of the mountains with a bike ride, run, hike or walk on the crushed stone surface of the George S. Mickelson Trail, which yields epic views of the leaves. Another favorite viewing spot is Spearfish Canyon, where limestone cliffs meet dense forests of red, yellow, green and orange birch, aspen, oak and cottonwood trees. Minneapolis - St. Paul

Upper Peninsula, Michigan

Home to over 20 forested state parks and 4 million acres of smoldering aspen, beech, birch, maple, oak and sycamore trees, Michigan's Upper Peninsula comes to life in a spectacular array of fiery fall colors each October. What makes this area especially striking at this time of year is the contrast from the sapphire waters of the Great Lakes, the eroded white limestone of the cliffs and the brightly painted leaves. For a memorable hotel stay, retreat to one of the state's largest lighthouses, Sand Hills, which also happens to be an eight-room inn.

F.D. Roosevelt State Park, Georgia

My daughter lives in the area and sure enjoys the beauty of Georgia. Fall is easily one of the most beautiful seasons in the South, especially in Georgia. Just south of Atlanta in the rolling hills and mountains of Dowdell's Knob you'll find F.D. Roosevelt State Park, the largest park in the state. From late October through early November you'll be greeted with bright bursts of yellow and gold throughout the park. The best way to take in the color display is by hiking, biking or picnicking along the 40-plus miles of trails.

Pine Creek Gorge, Pennsylvania

Stretching across nearly 50 miles, Pennsylvania's Pine Creek Gorge features a breathtaking fall display of deep reds, yellows, oranges and purples in early October. For show-stopping views of the trees splendor, hike or bike the historic 60-mile Pine Creek Trail. The path winds through the gorge, offering up-close and personal views of the ever-changing colors of countless trees. Another local favorite is Colton Point State Park, which covers 368-acres and offers impressive views of the canyon and river. 

Door County, Wisconsin

Though many residents would argue Door County's crisp fall foliage is no longer a secret, the scenic 75-mile Wisconsin peninsula still welcomes tourists with small-town hospitality. Nestled between Lake Michigan and Green Bay, this peninsula erupts in eye-catching shades of orange and crimson. What makes Door County even more splendid in autumn is the plethora of activities happening all over the county, from harvest festivals to roadside hot cider stands to farmer’s markets, lake cruises and more. For sweeping views of the trees from above, book a scenic airplane tour over the area. 

Call Rawhide Travel and Tours and start planning that special vacation or event today. 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