Copper canyon

Sierra Tarahumara, popularly known as Copper Canyon is situated in Mexico. The area is a favorite destination among those seeking an adventurous vacation. Copper Canyon is one of the six gorges in the area. Although the name suggests that the gorge might have some relevance to copper mining, this is not the case. The name is derived from the copper and green lichen covering the canyon. Copper Canyon has two climatic zones. The region features an alpine climate at the top and a subtropical climate at the lower levels. Winters are cold with frequent snowstorms at the higher altitudes. Summers are dry and hot. The capital city, Chihuahua, is a high altitude desert where weather ranges from cold winters to hot summers. The region is unique because of the various ecosystems that exist within it. Another unique feature of Copper Canyon is the presence of the Tarahumara Indian culture. These semi-nomadic people live in cave dwellings. Their livelihood chiefly depends on farming and cattle ranching. Apart from the native population, the local wildlife is also a major crowd puller. Several migratory and native birds, mammals and reptiles call Copper Canyon their home. The exquisite fauna in this near-pristine land is also worth checking out. A traveler may choose to explore the area by hiking around the canyon or venturing into it. Detailed planning is required for those who wish to venture into the depths of the canyon. There are a number of travel companies that specialize in organizing tours to the region. Visitors can fly to Copper Canyon using a tourist visa, which is valid for 180 days. Travelers can also drive from anywhere in the United States and acquire a visa at the Mexican customs station at the border. A holiday to the Copper Canyon promises to be an exciting mix of relaxation, culture, history, wildlife and hiking.

Green valley spa

Green Valley Spa is the ultimate destination for eco-adventure travelers who want to exercise more than their major muscle groups. In addition to all the latest fitness techniques like Cardio La Cha Cha (a total body exercise derived from Latin Merengue, Salsa, and Samba dance moves); fitball; Pilates; and Tai Chi, Green Valley Spa takes guests on a spiritual workout. Get started with an Aura & Chakra Field Analysis, which uses color therapy and energy medicine to measure, analyze and display an accurate representation of your emotional-energetic state, and aura and chakra energy centers. You'll get a 24-page report, complete with your aura and chakra photos, plus a detailed account of your current energetic state, and personal profile. Energize your body and mind with a guided "spirit hike" among the red rocks, trees, water, and flowers of Southern Utah. After you're done getting all worked up, come back down to earth with Rapunzel's Secret Hot Oil Treat. Green Valley Spa do their treatments right; for this heavenly treatment you'll rest under a willow tree"that's right, a willow tree" while your head, neck, and shoulders are gently massaged with a special cream, scalp tenderly stimulated with fingertips, and a warm pack applied to the hair. While the marvelous ingredients work wonders, you get to bask in the warm breeze of the fresh outdoors. Supposedly when it's over you'll feel like a fairy godmother brushed you with her magic wand (maybe sitting under a willow tree has something to do with it?). Want something more substantial? Try a Painted Desert Clay treatment for enlivening dull skin. Allowed to dry and then brushed away, the clay reduces excess water weight and strengthens skin tone. When you're not getting rubbed down or worked out, spend time enjoying the views from your suite or learning something new. Sure, you're on vacation but why not broaden your horizons? Learn to cook the "Green Valley Way" or take a golf lesson. Concerned about longevity? Of course you are! Why else would you be at a health spa in the middle of nowhere getting wrapped in clay? Take a class presented by Dr. Gordon Reynolds, where he'll share strategies for longer, healthier living. After such an amazing experience you can't go home empty handed. Take home a piece of Green Valley with the salt, clays, sand, and vegetation used in your treatments.

Philippines travel gentle giants of donsol sorsogon

Donsol used to be a sleepy coastal town in Sorsogon—a province in the southernmost tip of Luzon. Nobody knows Donsol except for, of course, its local inhabitants until a few years ago when tourists from all over the world began to flock this remote place to get a look-see at the largest fish on earth: the whale shark. Before, fishermen in Donsol were ignorant of the ecological (and tourist) value of whale sharks. They used to hunt, slaughter and sell the poor gentle sea creatures to Japanese traders. Local folks call them “butanding” or “big fish” in the vernacular. Early sightings of the butandings were reported in the Visayan seas in Bohol further south. It was said that massive slaughtering caused their migration to Donsol waters. Although, according to stories, the first butanding that was netted out in the area was also butchered. A marine biologist witnessed it and instantly recognized the fish as a rare marine specie. The biologist immediately reported the incident to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), an international organization promoting the preservation of the wildlife. WWF wasted no time and launched an education campaign about the giant creature. After coordinating with the Department of Tourism, whale-watching soon became a tourist activity that allowed extra income for the people of Donsol. Whale sharks can grow up to 50 feet in length. It has a rather wide mouth with hundreds of pointed teeth. It usually comes in grey or greenish brown color with white or yellow spots all over its body. It earned the label gentle giant of the sea because of its harmless nature, considering it is of the shark family. It has nothing in common with whales except for its size, thus the name. Divers can swim and interact with them and are only known to sink deeper into the ocean when it gets upset. There has been no known attack on humans of whale sharks. Scientists are still baffled with the large migration of whale sharks in Donsol. These fishes are known to prefer the cold waters, not the tropical seas that we have. One explanation would be the flourishing of planktons in the area. Planktons are organisms that fill the diet of the whale sharks. It is also hard to record the number of whale sharks that now thrive in Donsol. But early studies show that whale sharks can travel 14,000 miles in 40 months and is capable of breeding in different sea environments. Whale sharks swim on the surface of the water especially during the morning and early afternoon. It opens its mouth rhythmically when feeding on the planktons and visitors may be treated to this wondrous sight if they spot the fish at the perfect time. But don’t expect them to jump up and down the water like the whales or dolphins. That’s actually another beauty of the whale shark experience because this makes it perfectly east and safe to get near them.

Themed boutique hotels

If you really want to stay in a memorable hotel, choose one with a strong design theme. Far more than having room names with a common link, a strong design runs through everything the hotel does, and makes the whole guest experience more interesting. Choosing a definite theme can be a risk though and only those who have planned, researched and marketed properly pull it off. The theme A hotel can base its design around any theme, and most of the obvious ones have been done: books, music and artists, for example. Ideas for a theme need to be matched with a market for that theme, to ensure that the hotel can maintain profitable occupancy rates without having to compromise on its design principles. This is easier said than done, and some hotels have to tone down their original designs in order to attract a wider market. The planning Once a theme has been settled on, a great deal of planning is required in order to ensure that the design is properly thought through rather than just based on a couple of colours and a few pieces of artwork. Creating an individual hotel through themed design is a challenge and the planning process needs to be organised and well-managed to ensure that the eventual design runs clearly through all the hotel’s rooms and spaces. The execution Once the design has been approved, the project moves on to execution. This usually includes some architectural and building work as well as decoration, furnishings and fittings. For a themed design to work well, everything has to be from authentic sources, so hotel owners and designers often spend some time finding exactly the right furniture, art and accessories to create the themed look they are looking for. It is this attention to detail and finish that often distinguishes a boutique hotel from a run-of-the-mill hotel. The marketing Once the hotel is nearing completion, the owners need to market it. The best way to do this often depends on the theme, but a target market should have been established at the very beginning and this market now needs to know about the hotel and what it offers. From magazines to online advertising, the hotel needs to use its strong theme to attract attention and from that, to attract bookings. A strongly-themed hotel usually narrows its market, but if the design and execution are properly planned and managed, the hotel can fill a niche and enjoy high occupancy rates.

Travel south confessions of a first timer

: Entertainment, food, nonstop activities and people willing to talk your ear off were on the menu del dia, and the waitstaff just kept coming. This year’s showcase, hosted by the Richmond Metro CVB, managed to pull my heartstrings more than a little and threaten to stretch my waistband a whole lot. I was one of 35 media representatives from all over the US and Canada and, as a neophyte to both Travel South and to trade shows in general, I felt both privileged to be invited and more than a little humbled in the face of all the experienced journalists and photographers attending, not to mention all the sales reps, VPs, various directors, managers and other professionals who were all a lot more experienced than me. I even found myself, at one point, wearing a little more makeup than I usually wear so that I would look older. I became more comfortable, though, as I spent time with everyone on the various activities the showcase had planned for us. Every meal was sponsored by one of the suppliers and each had its highlights. West Virginia’s luncheon on Tuesday featured a local actor performed a synopsis of a famous colonial survival story and a children’s choir performed. Louisiana sponsored a Louis Armstrong jazz band Monday morning and talked about the development in the state. I had to grab for a tissue a few times, and was not the only one. Saturday evening was the first event I attended. Four hundred years of Virginia music and culture in two hours was not a short order to fill. Native dancers, bluegrass bands (both experienced players and up-and-coming talents) were featured, along with a shag band complete with gubernatorial harmonica support (Va. Governor Mark Warner made a surprise appearance to sing and play harmonica during the evening’s very confettied finale). Sunday featured daytrips to different parts of the city (complete with performances by historical actors). It was a fun way to bring the city alive in a ‘multicenturial’ way, and a great introduction for those of us who had never visited the city. Monday was all business for attendees. While suppliers, tour operators and buyers networked in the booth area, the reporters and photographers started the day at a press conference. A big topic was the redevelopment in the Gulf Coast area. The representative from Mississippi had to pause for a second, admitting that talk of the topic made him very emotional. After lunch, press continued with another tour of the city (with snacks and local wine samplings). Afterwards, we continued onto a cooking class, where we made snacks and drank local wine samplings. After our cooking class, we went to dinner and, well, you get the idea. It felt like on-assignment Thanksgiving (but without the familial drama). Great food, fun activities. (I then understood Joey in Friends’ Thanksgiving episode. I wanted my fat pants, too.) By the evening, everyone was feeling more comfortable with each other. After dinner, there was more food and drinks at the Mardi Gras party (at this point, I couldn’t even look at the snack table), along with great music and dancing. It was a fun finale to my voyage to Travel South. In April’s issue of Leisure Group Travel ( leisuregrouptravel), look for what’s new in the region in our Travel South/Southeast regional feature. Be sure to tell us your stories from Travel South this year. Post a blog, or email me at Kelley@ptmgroups This article is sponsored by: grouptravelblog

How to play animals

: While sitting around with friends this weekend I discovered the greatest card game ever. The name of the game is Animals, and the game is very easy to learn, easy to play and a great source of entertainment. The game is not a gambling game but gambling can be done easily enough, but I would not expect to see this game in your local casino anytime soon. I suspect the game started out as a memory game for children, then was taken you young adults and turned into a drinking game, but it does not matter if you are gambling with this game, drinking with this game or just trying to have a fun evening with friends, because it is fun whatever you are playing for. The best way to play the game is with at least 4 people but no more then 8. You will also need 2 or 3 decks of cards to play Animals and a table for everyone to sit around. Before the game starts each player must choose an animal noise and a hand gesture to represent them in the game and going around the table each player must announce the name of their animal, the sound the animal makes and its hand gesture. An example of this would be to say I am a cat, meow and the hand gesture may be wiping your face with the back of your hand. In this game the dealer remains standing the entire round. The dealer will go around the table continuously dealing 1 card to each player until all the cards have been dealt. The dealer must stay at a steady pace and go not too fast and not too slow. the players must continuously scan the other players top cards and when someone has the same number card on top of their pile as you, you have to make that persons sound and hand gesture. If you do it before they do you get all their cards. That person is not out of the game the next time the dealer goes around they still get another card. The person with the most cards at the end of the game winds, and is the dealer for the next round. For kids this is a great game because they have to remember everyone's noise and gesture, this is a fun way for them to help develop their memories, and a great way to get them away from the television for a little while. For those looking to gamble this game may not earn you as much as playing Blackjack but it is a lot if fun to sit around and make fools of yourselves and make a few bucks. All you have to do is set an amount and everyone puts their money into a pot and the winner gets the pot. It does not get any easier then that. The drinking game has an extra rule or two. If you make someone's noise and gesture before they do yours, besides getting their cards they need to drink and at the end of each round all the losers need to drink.