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Hiking in the Roaring Fork Valley around Aspen and Snowmass, Colorado is a true wonder as it is located in the middle of the White River National Forest and just adjacent to the Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness Area and there are a large number of hiking guides available in town that can assist you with detailed descriptions of hikes and directions to the various trailheads.

Whenever you’re hiking in the area make sure that you have a map, sunscreen, much more food and water than you think you’d normally need, and the right kind of clothing since you can certainly expect drastic and sudden changes in the temperature.  The area is subject to afternoon thunderstorms, so ensure that your hiking day is either over by then, or that you have located proper shelter.

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One of the more popular hikes is Buckskin Pass Trail which is close to the Maroon Bells, and is a steep but well-used trail.  The trail begins at Maroon Lake and merges with the Maroon Bells-Snowmass Lake Trail.  From here you stay on this trail all the way to Crater Lake where you take the right fork, and then you will find yourself on a long steady climb through dense woodland all the way up to Minnehaha Gulch.

Keep on going for about a mile until the trail opens up into an expansive and gorgeous alpine meadow, and Buckskin Pass will be directly in front of you.  When you see the sign for the Willow Lake trail junction, take the left fork, pass through another stunning meadow and then start your steep and rocky climb to Buckskin Pass.  Take a while to truly savor the majestic views of the Elk Mountains and then get back on the trail by taking the right fork up and over Willow Pass to Willow Lake.

Discover outdoor activities with the Aspen-Snowmass Recreation Guide.

The East Maroon Trail nearby is almost twice as long as Buckskin at nearly 21 miles.  This marvelous wilderness trail which is also located quite near the Maroon Bells allows grand sweeping panoramas of Pyramid Peak.  The trail begins by crossing a bridge, then turn to the right when you will reach a fork.Stay left to keep on the East Maroon Trail.  About a mile farther on, you’ll see two charming old cabins, and then just past a huge avalanche area, you will have to undertake two stream crossings.  Be aware that during spring runoff, these stream crossings can be extremely dangerous as the water can be swift.

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Canada is such a vast nation that most people just fly from point to point and can never truly understand the soul and the spirit of this great land. Motor coach tours are the best way to truly experience Canada travel destinations and revel in the grandeur of this continent-straddling majestic land which borders on three oceans.

To relive the history of this country, you should start from the far eastern coasts, the misty harbors of St. John’s, Newfoundland, home to hardy, crusty people who live from the sea and still speak a version of 17th century English. Your romantic ferry ride takes you to Cape Breton, a chunk of the Scottish countryside dropped into the gray and moody Atlantic.

Then proceed onto Halifax, the metropolitan harbour town which is Canada’s Boston. The phenomenal highway wends its way inland through the rolling verdant hills of New Brunswick and across the continent-cleaving St. Lawrence River, where you may see albino-white beluga whales play. Your next stop is Quebec City, which represents the greatest culture shock you can experience in North America: An ancient Burgundian French city where the narrow streets pass grand cathedrals of stone and tiny bistros.

Quebec is a completely French city and you might want to brush up on your bonjour’s and adieus, as you will need them. The spectacular highway continues along the great river to the huge metropolis of Montreal, still French but with a 21st century flair. A city that never sleeps and parties with true joie de vivre. Onto astounding Toronto, a half-scale lakefront Manhattan which you can enjoy from the top of the world’s tallest freestanding tower.

North to the stunning, isolated wilderness of Lake Superior where bears and moose frolic along the roadsides as you speed by. As you pass the greatest of the Great Lakes the scenery flattens out onto the great prairie, a sea of wheat under infinite skies that will be your companion for the next 1,200 miles.

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Just as the snow caps of the Rockies come to view on the horizon, the booming oil metropolis of Calgary awaits to entertain you. Home to the world’s biggest rodeo and as many oil millionaires as Dallas, this is one cowtown that can really show you a good time. You ascend the heavenly mountains to Banff, a world-class winter sports destination among the finest on Earth, then wind your way through hundreds of miles of completely indescribable verdant snowy mountain magnificence and even some Nevada-desert valleys, to the city continually voted the World’s Most Livable, the staggering Vancouver jutting out into the indigo Georgia Strait on a backdrop of snowcaps.

Your last ferry ride takes you directly on a downtown Victoria sightseeing tour, after a life-changing 5,000 mile and six time zone journey, where you can ride a double decker bus and swear you’re on the English Seacoast. Canada is not just a destination. It is a journey. Experience it all by Motor Coach.

At any time of the year, the Arizona Grand Canyon is one of the most awe inspiring sights you’ll ever see.  If you go in the Winter months, you will reap the benefit of un-crowded solitude thanks to the lack of tourist crowds.  Here is scenic splendor that is only heightened by the addition of winter snows to the vista before you.  Be forewarned and dress warmly at this time of the year because it can be cold.

The size and scope of the Grand Canyon is almost incomprehensible if you stand at the top and peer into the depths.  It’s virtually impossible to describe in word or picture; you have to be there to fully understand.  The South Rim has an elevation of nearly 7,000 feet above sea level.  It can be snowy in winter and is quite cool even in the summer.  Below the rim, where superb hiking trails are available, is a different story.  At the canyon floor where the Colorado River flows, the elevation is only about 2,560 feet above sea level.  It’s delightfully warm in winter although summer hikers and river rafters can face temperatures as high as 120 degrees F. on a regular basis.  The North Rim, on the other hand, where the rustic Grand Canyon Lodge is located, has an elevation exceeding 8,800 feet, is closed in winter due to snow and not available to the public until after the spring thaw clears the road.

 Sightseeing from the comfort of a motorcoach - Grand Canyon Tours

If your taste runs to hiking, you won’t need a permit unless you plan to stay in the Canyon overnight.  If you do, you can apply for the necessary permit in advance at the Back Country Reservation Office.  Short or long hikes can be had via the trails and paths running from the Yavapai Museum to Hermit’s Rest, a distance just over 9 miles.  Also keep in mind that camping in the Grand Canyon is only permitted at official campsites and well-marked maps are available to point out the campsite locations..

Helicopter tours of the Grand Canyon are regular events but mostly in summer.  Mule trips can be had year-round.  You can also take side trips to other scenic spots like the red rock country of beautiful Sedona and other picturesque areas in nearby Utah.

What a splendid way to spend a winter vacation that will prove truly unforgettable.  Be sure to bring your camera.  You’ll take home lots of wonderful memories.  For more information on Grand Canyon Vacation Discounts.