Tourism Brandon

You know the saying “a picture is worth a thousand words?”  Well, pictures cannot begin to convey the actual beauty and splendor of a Swiss hiking tour.  One must actually experience the Swiss Alps personally in order to appreciate its richness and magnificence.

 Going on a tour with a guide is certainly the best way to explore the Swiss Alps.  Doing so will not only enable you to travel safely but to enjoy a spectacular view, fine wine, and charming chalets with new found friends. 

While the Alps are timeless, each tour is distinctive, with new faces, exceptional hiking, and phenomenal views.  Sounds perfect, right?

With October just a few days away, Halloween plans are starting to take shape.   So where are the best haunted houses in the country?  One place may surprise you…

Colorado!  Surprised?  I’ll admit I was too, but Colorado haunted houses are known to be some of the most popular in the states, especially with the folklore and ghost stories of the old mining towns from the 19th century. 

So if you are looking for an adventure this Halloween season, consider some Colorado fun!

I am happy to report that Utah, where the “greatest snow on earth” is and famous winter resort towns abound (think Park City and Sundance), just had the first snowfall of the season!  Ok, well…the mountain tops did (it really was still about 65 degrees down in the valley).  But it’s a good sign!  It means the winter season is just around the corner…so you better start planning your Utah outdoor adventure to enjoy the amazing winter season in one of the world’s most popular winter destinations.  

If you love to mountain bike, Utah may be your dream place. Utah has plenty of places for biking, from the ski slopes in Wasatch Canyon amongst the wildflowers to the slickrock trails in Moab surrounded by red rock formations. So next time you plan a vacation, remember Utah mountain biking, because Utah is so much more than just snow!

A few months ago I traveled to Brazil for two weeks with my family. It was the most amazing vacation I have ever been on. I don’t think you can get more adventurous than alligator hunting and piranha fishing in the middle of the Amazon.

I was just thankful that I had researched ahead of time, making sure that I had my malaria pills and vaccination shots. (I was especially cautious because my brother had dengue fever and stomach problems after spending several months there.)

I even bought DEET mosquito repellant and a bug hat, which came in handy during the humid days in the rainforest. I was definitely stylish during those day hikes through the jungle. But seeing all those huge bugs out there, my precautions were definitely worth it.

We traveled throughout Brazil, visiting Manaus and the Amazon jungle, then heading down to Belo Horizonte, Sao Paulo, and Rio de Janeiro. We even saw the second largest waterfall in the world, Igacu Falls.

Overall, the experience was one that I will never forget, particularly the friendly Brazilian people and the amazing views from the Christus statue in Rio de Janeiro, Ipanema Beach, and the rainbows surrounding Igacu Falls. Luckily, I didn’t get sick while there and was able to appreciate America even more when I returned home.

Travel and vacationing is what I love to do, and I do a lot of it. My goal is to explore, at some point, each of the continents. I’ve been to 3 so far, and I’m hopeful to increase that number soon.

My latest adventure lead me to Switzerland. Realizing that I really don’t know the Swiss Alps very well, I decided to hire a guide. I’m an adventurer, but I didn’t want to get in trouble in a place I didn’t know much about.

Hiking is one of my passions - I’ve been all over the United States, but this was my first hiking adventure in Europe. Switzerland is a beautiful country, and had always been at the top of my list. The guide that lead me on my adventure took me to two of the top Swiss hiking destinations - Zermatt and the Jungfrau. Not only did I have a superb guide, but my meals, accommodations, and transportation were included in the great price.

I think one of my favorite parts of Swiss hiking was the fact that the air was so pure, and the terrain was so untouched. Being with a guide that knew the area so well really made the trip worthwhile, since I was able to see so much more than I would have on my own.

If you’re looking for a grand adventure in Switzerland, consider taking a swiss hiking tour. It is one of my top travel spots. Perhaps next time I’ll attempt to conquer the Matterhorn. No, not the Disney version with the snow monster - the real thing.

At any rate, you can’t go wrong going hiking in the Swiss Alps. The beauty is unsurpassed, and the adventure is once in a lifetime. Or twice for me, I hope!

How does a gardening hat fit in with travelling?

When most people think of gardening (or mosquito) hats, they think of gardners wearing them to keep the pesky mosquitos, bees, and other insects away from their faces while cultivating their flowers or veggies. Why would you ever take one while travelling?

Well, I have learned why. Let me explain.

As a seasoned traveller, I realize that there are bugs everywhere. Especially in the warmer and more humid climates.

I returned from a trip to the rainforests of South America not too long ago, and I was thanking myself for packing my mosquito hat, because the entire trip I was nearly consumed by mosquitos. The hat provided the needed protection to my face and neck, and it also kept the sun off my face.

If you’re planning on travelling anywhere where there is a high probability of mosquitos or bugs, I would advise you to bring the mosquito hat with you. It will save you from being eaten alive by some of the worlds largest and most annoying mosquitos.

Since my Dad turned the big 60, my parents wanted to go on an adventurous vacation to celebrate. They decided to travel the Haute Route in Switzerland, the classic traverse across the Swiss Alps. Their tour took them across the highest peak in Western Europe, Mont Blanc, to the famous Matterhorn. The strenuous route covered over 100 miles, crossed 11 passes, and took them to levels over 9,000 feet. They even saw 10 of 12 of the highest peaks in Europe.

They showed us hundreds of digital pictures of the beautiful meadows, glaciers, glistening lakes, and lush forests that they saw along the hiking route. They said the view was amazing throughout the hikes, not just at the top.

I was surprised that they were able to hike the trails, but they explained that their group was small and went at a moderate pace for everyone.

Although they had adventurous days, they said they were able to stay in chalet-style inns along the paths, with comfortable beds and food that tasted homemade. They gushed about the friendliness (and cleanliness) of the Swiss during their stay.

Their week long trip sounded so fun that I am scheduling one of my own. I am taking a trip for 12 days hiking the Swiss Alps. I’ll post an update on my experiences when I get back!

If you happen to be traveling to the Mile High City (Denver, that is) over Halloween, you definitely should visit some haunted houses.  A Denver Halloween is known deliver some of the best, most frightening, and exciting Halloween adventures, with a number of popular and immense haunted houses focused on Colorado’s mining and cowboy eras.  Up for a scare?

So I have to rave real quick about the most fabulous trip: a Machu Picchu tour. My husband and I decided to do something different from the cliché Caribbean trip for our annual getaway.

We signed up to go on a guided tour, which was probably the best decision we made. The all-inclusive price included meals, transportation, and lodging. Traveling with an experienced guide allowed us to safely enjoy the fascinating ancient citadel while minimizing our impact on the delicate ruins.

The trip was beyond extraordinary: we explored the ancient ruins, hiked to fortresses and terraced villages built by the ancient Incans, and had the amazing experience to meet and interact with the natives who now inhabit the Andes.

If you are looking for an adventure like no other, consider visiting the magnificent and fascinating Machu Picchu.