American Traveler Magazine Nov/Dec 2008

AmericanTraveler Enriching Your Journey

November/December 2008

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Contents

Inside 6

Cody, Wyoming

4 | Positive Space

Ice Climbing in the Rockies Adventure writer Mark Bedor contemplates the beauty and danger inherent in ascending one of the many frozen cascades that draw an international climbing crowd to this Western town.

20 | On the Fly

22 | Safe Keeping: News from TSA

24 | Carry On

10

5 Smart Destinations Why These College Towns Make Top Travel Picks

Art, culture, sporting events and a lively entertainment scene spill from campus to community as Amanda Bjerke offers insight into Gainesville, Florida; East Lansing, Michigan; Bozeman, Montana; Eugene, Oregon and San Luis Obispo, California.

26 | First-Class Destinations

40 | Top Flight Art

48 | Ski Adventures

54 | Happenings

16

Business Class

How to Own Your Dream Vacation Home A softening real estate market makes now the ideal time to invest in a vacation home. In fact, expert Christine Karpinski explains that the financial benefits of secondhome investment rival the built-in fun factor.

56 | Crossword Puzzle

58 | Kids’ Games

59 | Kakuro

On The Cover

Remembering the Greatest Generation Cover artist Lane Timothy salutes the DC-3 era of passenger service in this 48” x 60” oil painting. To read more about the inspiration for Timothy’s evocative work turn to page 40.

2 | American traveler November/december 2008

64 | Journey’s End

gators: Alachua County Visitors and Convention Bureau

40

60 | Travel Games

For event or activity information and lodging, contact:

TwinInFalls the middle of everything!

Centrally located in South Central Idaho, Twin Falls is the perfect home-base from which to experience all that life has to offer around the region.

Parks, golf courses (yes, they’re available during our mild winter months, too!), and developed trails follow the majestic Snake River as it winds through the region—the steep canyon walls framing the setting for fishing and boating. Head for the nearby hills and mountains to take in snowmobiling or skiing after the snow flies.

208-733-3974 866-TWIN FALLS www.twinfallschamber.com

Small-town America lives on here with friendly faces meeting you at every turn.

Discover antique stores and museums. Enjoy a family adventure by taking in a planetarium show or gazing at the wonders of the universe at the Herrett Center for Arts and Science. Urban delights amuse you. Enjoy gallery openings, concert halls, wine tasting, retail centers and quaint shops.

Whether it’s adventure you’re seeking - or a quiet refuge - Southern Idaho is the place to be!

Watch, listen, or download video and audio podcasts about things to see and do in the Twin Falls Area at www.twinfallschamber.com or at iTunes.

www.twinfallschamber.com

Positive Space

“ Happy Thoughts Can Lift You Up”

— James Barrie

T

he goal of this publication is simple. We want to enrich the air travel experience. If your eyebrows are shooting skyward right now, know that you are not alone. The notion—that we, the traveling public, can somehow improve our high-flying lot—has drawn more than a few quizzical looks.

What’s a magazine going to do about luggage restrictions, the high price of fuel, and a reduction in services? Plenty. While we can’t change the circumstances, we can help you meet them in the best possible way. In these pages you’ll find insight and information to streamline your journey. Look for expert packing tips, travel advice from frequent fliers, the latest news from the Transportation Safety Administration and more. There are stories about great adventures and lovely destinations and plenty of photos of America’s best places. These beautiful images serve to remind us that this nation has much to offer, and air travel is still the best way to traverse a continent in less than a day. All this helpful content is presented in a design that harkens back to a simpler time—an era when air travel was imbued with leisurely sophistication.

Much is made of those early days, when fliers dined sumptuously with white linen and crystal, and flight attendants waited on their every whim.

In truth, back then, planes were much slower, prone to chop through turbulence and inspire motion sickness. Airports were bare-bones facilities, typically relegated to major cities and only the wellheeled could afford the price of a ticket. While nostalgia is nice, the truth is we’ve still got it pretty good right here at this place in time.

So, in light of ancient wisdom, I’d like to encourage you to focus on the upside and think about the benefits we enjoy. There’s plenty that remains absolutely remarkable about travel in the 21st century. At what other point in history could 4 | American traveler November/december 2008

you breakfast in New York, lunch in Los Angeles and take a nap in-between? Whenever I start to get antsy about schedule changes, weather delays or long lines, I remind myself that my ancestors spent the better part of a month traveling by steamship from Europe to Ellis Island and that during World War II it took more than a week on a train to cross the country. Today, under the worst circumstances the journey spans less than 24 hours by plane. Air travel is still the fastest, safest, most rewarding way to get where you want to go. The next time you start to think otherwise remember Peter Pan’s advice: “Happy thoughts can lift you up”. Positive thinking may not help you take wing, but there is an aircraft waiting to do its job. Contemplating the wonders of this form of transportation does much to make your spirits soar.

Happy Skies,

Colleen Colleen Birch Maile Editor-in-chief American Traveler magazine

P.S. Once you’ve established your positive attitude, take it one step further. Do something nice for the other guy. We’re all in this together. Try putting others first and see how good you feel. And, should you observe a particularly positive attitude or action or develop a great travel tip, write and tell us about the experience or idea. We’ll publish the best of the bunch. Send your uplifting email to:

info@gopubinc.com. Please type “American Traveler Positive Space” in the subject line.

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President Kelly D. Coles Editor-in-Chief Colleen Birch Maile colleen@gopubinc.com

Reach the affluent frequent flyer in a whole new way!

Art Director Janie Williams Budell janie@gopubinc.com Publication Director Julie Molema julie@gopubinc.com Copy Editor Jeanette Germaine Proof Reader Anna Bierman Tatro Contributors Tony Banning | Mark Bedor | Amanda Bjerke Anna Hobart | Christine Karpinski | Lexie Wright

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susan@gopubinc.com for all other locations call: 208-333-9990 American Traveler magazine, (ISSN 1945-2047) the nationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s premiere publication devoted to air travel is published bi-monthly by Go! Publications. The opinions expressed by authors and contributors to this publication are not necessarily those of the editor or publisher. Acceptance of advertisements does not imply official endorsement of the products or services concerned. While every care has been taken to ensure accuracy of content, no responsibility can be taken for any errors or omissions. No part of this magazine may be reproduced without the express permission of the publisher. Limited copies are available for $10 each.

This magazine assumes no responsibility for safekeeping or return of unsolicited manuscripts, photographs, artwork or other material.

Email is the preferred method of communication with this staff. Š 2008 Go! Publications Inc. All rights reserved.

For reprints of articles in this issue of American Traveler magazine, please call 208-333-9990.

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5

A true West Adventure

Ice Climbing in the Rockies

By Mark Bedor

Jackson Hole Mountain Guides Kenny Gasch

6 | American traveler November/december 2008

Ice Climbing feature images: Mark Bedor

F

ew things in the natural world are as lovely or as dangerous as a waterfall.

I’m acutely aware of both alluring qualities as I embark on my first attempt at the very adventurous sport of ice climbing. On this pleasant winter day, ice-climbing instructor Kenny Gasch and I are just outside Cody, Wyoming, on the South Fork of the Shoshone River. Here, high canyon walls are home to hundreds of frozen waterfalls, some of them hundreds of feet high.

“The ice is world class,” beams my guide. “We have the largest concentration of frozen waterfalls in the U.S., and climbers come here from all over the world.”

His

enthusiasm

reminds

walk flat-footed like a duck,”

me of a Danish climber I’d met

Kenny advises. “And use your

earlier in my hotel’s lobby. Line

tool [ice ax] as a cane.” The

Antoft and two friends had

frozen creek heads right up

crossed the ocean to climb Cody.

into the wall of the mountain.

“I’ve never seen so much ice

We’re soon climbing higher

before,” she said. The 31-year-

and

old veteran climber was also

valley floor. Kenny ropes

impressed

Wyoming’s

me in through my climbing

high, dry climate. “If you have

harness, tethering us together.

too much snow, you have

Walling up the increasingly

avalanches coming down on

steep slope of a frozen creek

you,” she explained.

leaves no room for error. If

by

higher

above

the

Avalanches? While climb-

you slip and fall, you fly back

ing a frozen waterfall? With

down that sheet of ice at 60

Kenny Gasch there’s little to

miles an hour. Getting killed

worry about. The 53-year-old

would ruin my day.

Jackson Hole Mountain Guides

I get my first real taste of

veteran has nearly 15 years of

actual climbing on a “bench”

experience. He’s a confident, competent, but never cocky

Wyoming’s stellar ice attracts climbers from across the globe.

guy, who inspires trust.

of frozen ice about waist high. I crawl up the thing,

slamming an ax into the ice, and pulling myself up until Kenny advises me to hold off on the ax; “It uses too much energy. Try and stay as erect as possible,” he says.

I learn that the real climbing power comes from your feet and legs. The crampons, sharp studs on the bottom of your boots, feature prongs jutting out from the toe. You also have an ax in each

Crampons

hand. As the ice gets increasingly vertical, climbers

His sport of choice dates to the 1800s when

stretch as far as possible with one hand, slam an

mountain climbers trained on the ice in the French

ax into the ice, make sure it’s secure, then pull up

Alps. It requires more gear than rock climbing,

while slamming their toe picks into the icy wall and

and it’s not cheap. A pair of ice axes goes for $500,

pushing up with their legs.

ice climbing boots cost $350, and the crampons,

I’m practicing this technique as the frozen creek

that clamp on to the bottom of your boots and

begins to slant skyward. The whole time I’m roped

allow you to walk on or up ice, are $150. Then there

to a climbing expert anchored above me. Knowing

are the clothes, the helmet, the ropes, the ice screw

he’s there before I start gives me great confidence.

and the need for a competent guide. None of this

I’m also very glad I work out as hard and as often as

is optional.

I do. You have to be in shape to do this.

However, when you hire Kenny, he takes

Suddenly, I find myself face-to-face with

care of everything—even snacks and water. Our

the waterfall! Ice climbs are graded from one

adventure starts on the flat part of frozen

(walking on the flats) to six (don’t ask!).

Deer Creek. We strap the crampons onto my

waterfall is maybe a two-plus. Kenny climbs it

climbing boots. I begin by getting the feel of

first, anchored in the rope, and rappels back

walking on ice. “You just want to make sure you

down. Then it’s my turn.

This

American traveler November/december 2008 |

7

Kenny wields his ice axe

Kenny climbing up the frozen creek

With Kenny reminding me to depend on my feet, I begin the ascent. Reaching as high as I can with the ice ax in my right hand and slamming it in, I pull up a leg, shove the crampon toe into the ice and push up on that foot. I reach as high as I can with my left hand, slamming in the second ax as I pull out the first. With Kenny’s encouragement I go higher and higher.

I don’t look down. There is too much to do.

Soon, I fling myself halfway up. Then three quarters. Finally, I reach the lip of the waterfall.

A few more slams of the ice ax, and I’m off that frozen wall and standing on the flat surface top,

with

Kenny

cheering

below.

It’s

exhilarating. It’s a relief. It’s an answered prayer.

Mark high above the valley

Now I have to get back down. But rappelling

waterfall we just conquered. I know then why

is

Kenny does this.

actually

expert

the

easy

guidance,

I’m

part.

With

quickly

Kenny’s

down,

and

everything’s cool.

“There is something exhilarating about coming out here on a beautiful winter day,” he shares.

We don’t go back the way we came. Instead we

“You’re out away from everything . . . there’s soli-

step off the frozen creek and simply walk down the

tude . . . and wildlife. When it’s over, at night, there’s

mountain. No snow, no problem. Soon we are

a real peaceful exhaustion—that satisfaction, of,

back at the vehicle, looking up at the frozen

‘Wow! I really did something today”.

8 | American traveler November/december 2008

n

Ice Climbing feature images: Mark Bedor

on

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Smart

s n o i t a estin

D

Why These College Towns are Top Travel Picks

by Amanda Bjerke

1. Gainesville, Florida: Home to the

10 | American traveler November/december 2008

Overview of art festival in downtown Gainesville

often peak in the 70s during the day and dip to near freezing at night, ideal weather for exploring the many public lands near the city.

The most unusual “must-see” is the Devil’s Millhopper Geological State Park, two-miles northwest of Gainesville. This 120-foot-deep limestone sinkhole, rimmed with nature trails, provides a peek into a seldom-seen mini-rainforest complete with lush vegetation, waterfalls and tree frogs. Stairs and a ramp lead to the depths of the formation. Morning, when the air is cool and humidity low, is the best time to visit. Other state parks, rivers and lakes offer boating and canoeing opportunities.

Factor in proximity to both the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico (respectively an hour to the east or west) and the quick freeway drive to Orlando’s entertainment-opolis, and Gainesville also becomes a gateway to other Sunshine State adventures.

festival and Gators: Gainesville Visitors and Convention Bureau

University of Florida, the nation’s second largest four-year campus, and Santa Fe Community College, one of the country’s largest junior colleges, Gainesville racks up more than academic accolades and national athletic championships. The town that gave the world Gatorade is also noted for its leisure and lifestyle possibilities.

The University, home of SEC powerhouse Gator football and basketball teams, does much to fuel the community’s fun factor.

There’s always a class-act sporting event to attend.

Cultural activities also abound. Museums are rampant. An eclectic music scene and tens of thousands of Gator mascots enjoy the Samuel P. students make for an active Harn Museum of Art at the University nightlife. Restaurants, clubs of Florida. and bars cluster near campus, especially along University Avenue. It’s no wonder Blender Magazine named Gainesville the “Best Place to Start a Band” earlier this year. Tom Petty and his Heartbreakers are homegrown musicians. So, too, Steven Stills.

Other publications also tout the wonders of what’s often billed as America’s Southernmost city. Sure, there’s a lot of real estate down in Florida’s peninsula, but Gainesville retains a Heart of Dixie charm absent in places like Orlando, Tampa, Miami and points in-between.

Down-home friendliness may be part of the appeal that nabbed Gainesville a “best place to live and play” rating by National Geographic Adventure Magazine. An extremely mild four-season climate contributes to a natural environment that includes a curious blend of tropical and deciduous foliage. Palm trees, pines and live oaks mingle here. Winter temperatures

MSU All lansing: Greater Lansing Convention and Visitors Bureau

View of the Lansing skyline and Riverwalk

2. East Lansing, Michigan: This bustling college town, next door to the state’s capital city, is home to Michigan State University and all the sporting and highbrow opportunities it affords.

In addition to Big Ten Spartan athletics, concerts, symposiums and lectures, visitors to East Lansing would do well to take advantage of the Talbert and Leona Abrams Planetarium at MSU. Its educational offerings appeal to all ages and the price is right. Adult admission is just $3. Next year marks the 400th anniversary of Galileo’s first telescopic encounter with the night skies.

To celebrate “2009: The International Year of Astronomy,” the planetarium offers a variety of special events.

The university’s influence spills beyond the campus to give East Lansing an ambience typically associated with a much larger cosmopolitan area. Interesting shops, patio cafés and a calendar full of a year’s worth of special events contribute to the little city’s seemingly endless energy.

Trails connect the park-like Michigan State campus to the nationally acclaimed Lansing River Trail. More than 11 miles long, it hugs the banks of the Grand and Red Cedar rivers and allows visitors to meander into Lansing and explore that neighboring community on foot, bicycle or Roller-blades.

This greenbelt links a variety of special attractions. They include one of the city’s oldest residences, the Turner-Dodge House. The carefully restored 1850s manse is now maintained by the City of Lansing as a Cultural Heritage Center and is open to the public. To its south, the Old Town historic district includes an interesting

mix of art galleries, gift shops and eateries.

Further south, a cluster of renovated warehouses lines Museum Drive. They include the Riverwalk community theatre, The Impression 5 Science Center, a hands-on discovery center, the R.E. Olds Transportation Museum devoted to the development of the automobile, and the Michigan Museum of Surveying.

The Potter Park Zoo, a four-season, 100-acre park featuring more than 400 animals, sprawls along the River Trail and is an ideal spot for a picnic during the temperate seasons.

This part of Central Michigan bears all the hallmarks of a year-round playground. Summer offers plenty of water-related fun. Spring foliage and autumn leaves provide breathtaking sights. During winter the park system is a wonderland. Many area parks boast groomed cross-country skiing trails. Some also have sledding hills and toboggan runs. No matter the season, there’s always something to do in the East Lansing area.

Feeding the goats at the Lansing zoo

American traveler November/december 2008 |

11

MSU

Tyrannosaurus rex

Lone Mountain at Big Sky, Montana

3. Bozeman, Montana: This All-American City in southwestern Montana is home to Montana State University and all the promise of America’s West. As the epicenter of Big Sky Country, Bozeman serves as gateway to Yellowstone National Park, the Big Sky Ski Resort and mountains of recreational opportunity. The less-glitzy Bridger Bowl Ski Area remains a year-round favorite with locals. Miles of open space sprawl around the city offering plenty of hiking, biking and camping options. The area is a favorite of Hollywood stars such as Robert Redford who filmed A River Runs Through It and The Horse Whisperer in and around the college town.

The presence of Montana State sets Bozeman apart from other scenic Rocky Mountain communities. Of special interest is the work of Dr. Jack Horner, the paleontologist who is said to have inspired the Jurassic Park movie series. Visitors can learn more about his fascinating prehistoric finds at the university’s Museum of the Rockies. This affiliate of the Smithsonian Institute harbors the nation’s largest collection of dinosaur remains, including a thighbone still containing soft tissue. This is the relic that sparked the Jurassic Park fantasy of dinosaurs brought to life. The museum is home to 12 Tyrannosaurus rex specimens—including 12 | American traveler November/december 2008

one complete set of remains. Despite Horner’s renown and the facility’s prominent place on the American Dinosaur Trail (a series of 15 Montana dinosaur-themed attractions), the intriguing creatures are not the museum’s primary focus.

The facility traces the entire history of the Rocky Mountain region with a collection of more than 300,000 artifacts. They range from prehistoric fossils to the remains of Native American and early European-American life. The stories of fur trappers, gold miners and homesteaders are played out in a variety of exhibits. Montana history through World War II is of special interest. At the historic Tinsley House, costumed historical interpreters give visitors a glimpse of turn-of-the-twentieth century farm life. The 100-year-old log structure was moved from its original farmstead to a 10-acre site behind the museum. Of special note is the interior, comprised primarily of items ordered from the Sears and Roebuck catalog.

The museum is also home to the Taylor Planetarium. Throughout the year the facility hosts a variety of shows including some featuring laser lights. For an equally awe-inspiring view of the stars, one need only drive a short distance from the lights of Bozeman and look up. This is Big Sky Country after all. Nature’s handiwork never ceases to impress.

Oregon Winery

The Oregon coast is an hour from Eugene.

4. Eugene, Oregon: The University of Oregon gave this small city its lasting nickname: Track Town, USA. The school’s legendary Track Coach Bill Bowerman and his star Steve Prefontaine fueled the nation’s ongoing running craze back in the 1970s.

Bowerman went on to start a little company now known as Nike, and American footwear was forever changed. The school continues to impact one of the West’s most outdoor-oriented communities.

This is a place for both action lovers and travelers looking for a more sedate getaway. The community’s location fuels ample recreation possibilities. Eugene sits inland, just 60 miles from the ruggedly beautiful Oregon Coast. It’s at the end of the lush wine-producing Willamette Valley where the McKenzie and Willamette rivers meet. It’s easy to fill an active week.

From March to October river adventures are a must-do part of the mix. Because it’s fed by an underground water system, the McKenzie offers one of the West’s most consistent rafting opportunities. Even in low-water or drought years, Eugene’s waterway provides a fun ride. Winter, when early-bird discounts often apply, is a great time to reserve next season’s white-water trip.

The city’s proximity to the Willamette National Forest means plenty of mountain bike trails, lakes and hiking paths. Several ski 14 | American traveler November/december 2008

resorts are within an easy drive. Willamette Pass, a favorite with local skiers, is just an hour away. So are the ocean and the soaring Oregon Sand Dunes.

After encountering the pristine natural wonders around Eugene, the cultivated Willamette Valley begs exploration. One of the world’s most diverse growing regions, it is especially known for its grapes. Agricultural tours abound. The most popular direct participants through vineyards and wine-tasting rooms.

The university’s cultural presence provides a world of leisurely options. This easy-to-navigate community boasts a symphony, opera and ballet, and is home to the acclaimed Oregon Bach Festival. The summer event draws more than 30,000 attendees from across the country and throughout the world. The festival also presents several special concerts throughout the year.

Music lovers hankering for a more modern vibe would do well to check out the local acts at the W.O.W. The former Woodmen of the World lodge now features live music. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the venue, is noted for its eclectic offerings and was the springboard for former house band, the 1990s swing sensation Cherry Poppin’ Daddies. From Bach to Bluegrass, wine tours to whitewater adventures, Eugene presents a something-foreveryone experience.

CalPoly

Christopher Cohan Performing Arts Center

Santa Lucia Mountains

Spanos Theater

Theater and Performing arts center: © Bert & Bryn Forbes 2007

5. San Luis Obispo, California: Even without the brainy presence of students from nationally ranked California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo would be a worthy tourist destination. Nestled between the Pacific Ocean 12 miles to the west and the Santa Lucia Mountains to the east, its favorable geography and Mediterranean climate make it a delightful place to visit. There are plenty of wilderness opportunities for hiking, fishing and camping, and an ocean’s worth of water fun waits at the beach. Sea kayaking, wind-surfing and kite-boarding are all favorite local diversions.

This is an active community. Most towns seek to establish a cosmopolitan ambience with First Thursday celebrations involving art venues where wine and cheese are the order of the day. In SLO, as locals refer to their laidback community, First Thursday has become Bike Nite. Cyclists gather at the city’s popular Farmer’s Market for a cruise through town. Each month carries a theme; costumes are encouraged.

SLO has always been a distinctive community.

Among the Golden State’s oldest settlements, it was founded in 1772, the fifth of Father Junipero Serra’s 21 missions. The original Spanish structure remains a tourist “must-see.” Still a functioning Catholic church, it is noted for a

design unlike any other California mission.

Located in the heart of downtown, it is open to the public. Guided tours are available.

San Luis Obispo also serves as the center of a thriving Central Coast wine region—the Edna Valley. Twenty wineries dot the vicinity. Their tasting rooms make a nice wine trail. The stellar wines include pinot noir, syrah, grenache and white rhone. Several companies offer tour packages—a good idea. It’s also possible to bicycle between tasting rooms.

The university offers a wine and viticulture major and makes a significant impact on the local wine industry. It also provides an immense cultural contribution in the form of The Christopher Cohan Performing Arts Center. A partnership between the city and the university, this state-of-the-art venue incorporates Cal Poly’s historic Spanos Theater and adds the 1,300-seat Harmon Hall to the local entertainment mix. The center’s chock-a-block calendar features an array of performances including touring productions that typically bypass a city the size of San Luis Obispo (population approximately 60,000). The hall also includes a $3-million pipe organ. It’s featured in a holiday chorale production, The Joyous Sounds of Christmas, on December 7 this year.

In any season, SLO is a sure-bet for fast fun. n

American traveler November/december 2008 |

15

Business Class

How to Own Your Dream Vacation Home—and Have It Pay for Itself

by Christine Karpinski

Ten years ago, Christine Karpinski was a stay-at-home mom who desperately wanted to own a beach retreat but couldn’t afford one. After much research, she discovered she could realize her dream by buying a property and using a “rent by owner” vacation-rental model to profit from her investment in more ways than one. Since purchasing that first home in Destin, Florida, Christine has become an expert on second-home ownership, a best-selling author and a much-in-demand speaker. She logs 100,000 air miles a year sharing her unique insight and expertise with others and traveling to vacation homes that do double duty as rental properties.

16 | American traveler November/december 2008

on the table that you aren’t claiming.

Of course, it’s not only an investment. There’s a lot to be said for owning a home near your favorite vacation spot. It’s something your family will enjoy for years. And, this may surprise you, but renting by owner can actually be fun.

You meet a lot of great people. And financially— well, you’d be amazed how lucrative a venture it can be.

Here are just a few insights that may help you make your decision: Now is the time to buy. The first step is to find a great deal. Guess what? The current buyers’ market makes now a great time to find the perfect place. Because houses aren’t flying off the shelf, there’s less pressure on you to make a quick decision. You can afford to take your time, do your research, and refine your plan. Plus, more stable home prices usually mean more stable property taxes and insurance costs. That’s good for your bank account over time. And even though overall real estate sales are down, sales of second homes are stronger than ever. That means if you want to rent out your vacation home, you’re sure to find a healthy customer base.

Renting by owner has never been easier. Worried that it’s too hard or time-consuming to become a doit-yourselfer? Don’t be. A survey conducted through HomeAway, Inc., indicates that vacation homeowners who have taken the plunge to rent out their properties “by owner” find it surprisingly easy and inexpensive. Being a “do it yourselfer” can save you 20 to 50% of what you would pay in management company commissions.

Photoi: Christine Karpinski

Y

ou may have been kicking around the idea of buying a vacation home for quite a while. There is just something comforting about knowing that you have your own rustic mountain cabin or sunny beach getaway to escape to when the daily grind gets too stressful. But the recent economic slowdown has you thinking it might be better to hold off.

(You might need that down payment for gas money, right?)

I understand. Making a major purchase can be scary in times like these. But think in terms of assets rather than liabilities, and you’ll realize there’s no need to shelve your vacation home dream just yet. First, real estate is always a good, solid, tried-and-true investment. Second, if you know how to make the most of your investment, your vacation home can pay for itself.

Wondering how that’s possible? In a word (okay, in three words): Rent it out! Renting your second home to vacationers is a great way to defray the costs of ownership—costs that can weigh especially heavily on your mind in times of economic uncertainty. Better still, if you’re successful enough at it, you could even make a profit.

I firmly believe that renting by owner is the absolute best way to maximize your investment.

Think about it like this: If you hold stock and your stock is paying out dividends, you don’t say “no, thank you” to those dividends. Never forget that a second home is an investment; if you aren’t renting it out, there is money sitting

Business Class

Do the math and you’ll see why renting by owner is such a great deal. When your monthly mortgage payment is less than or equal to one peak week rental, 12 weeks of rental will cover your mortgage for the entire year. Other costs, including bills for your phone, power, cable, and association dues, may be paid out of your earnings from approximately five off-week rentals. In other words, aim for renting out your home only 17 weeks a year and it pays for itself. (What you do with it the other 35 weeks is up to you—rent it and make even more money, use it yourself, or offer it to family and friends.)

Most owners tell me that their average weekly rate is around $1,500 to $1,600 and that their property is rented out 20 weeks or more per year. Do the math and you’ll see that comes out to around $30,000 or more in rental revenue each year. And here’s something interesting: while most people admit that the cost savings is the primary reason they rent by owner, they often add that the sense of control it gives them is equally important. They feel they can take better care of their property than anyone else, and they like to know who is renting their homes.

Renting will allow you to deduct some of your vacation home costs from your tax bill. Deductions can be made in many of the areas associated with renting out your vacation home—from insurance to homeowner’s association fees to operating expenses. Check with your accountant to make sure you’ve exhausted all the possibilities before you turn in your taxes. Making sure you get all of the deductions possible is a great way to keep more of the money you make from renting out your vacation home.

Two caveats: First, if you’re deducting items that you’ve purchased, they must be used solely for your vacation rental business in order to be considered deductible. For example, you cannot buy a hammer, nail in one nail, and then take it to your primary home and call it a deduction for your vacation rental home. Secondly, items such as cameras, cell phones, computers, etc. are generally deductible on a percentage-of-usage basis. For instance, if you use your computer only for rental inquiries and bookings, then you would likely be able to deduct 100% of the cost of that computer.

However, if the computer is also a “family computer,” only a portion of the cost would be deductible.

There are some simple things you can do to keep guests coming back. Once you start renting out your vacation home, you will want to make sure you have a steady flow of repeat guests. The best way to do that is to provide amenities that will make your home their vacation home of choice. High-speed Internet is always a big hit with renters. To keep families coming back, you might consider putting in a ping pong table or providing a DVD player and a great library of movies and games. Another great way to impress your renters is to provide them with a parting gift. This could be a magnet, a picture frame, a seashell. Not only will the renter feel grateful for the gift, she will likely think fondly of your vacation home each time that she sees it.

Vacation home ownership can be a rewarding experience in every sense of the word. But no doubt about it, buying a vacation home and renting it out means embarking on a whole new lifestyle. Read up on the subject so you’ll know what to expect. Then, if you still think it’s the right decision for you, take the plunge and don’t look back. The adage holds true: Most of our regrets in life center not on what we did but on what we didn’t do. n

Christine Karpinski is the author of How to Rent Vacation Properties by Owner, 2nd Edition: The Complete Guide to Buy, Manage, Furnish, Rent, Maintain and Advertise Your Vacation Rental Investment (Kinney Pollack Press, 2007, ISBN: 0-9748249-9-2, $26.00) and Profit from Your Vacation Home Dream: The Complete Guide to a Savvy Financial and Emotional Investment (Kaplan, 2005, ISBN: 1-4195069-1-9, $19.95).

She is also director of Owner Community for HomeAway, Inc. For more information visit www.HomeAway.com.

American traveler November/december 2008 |

17

Business Class

On the Bookshelf

Globality: Competing with Everyone from Everywhere for Everything

Harold L. Sirkin, senior partner of the Boston Consulting Group and co-author of Globality.

A

s partners at the globally minded Boston Consulting Group, the authors of this fascinating read are heavily invested in tracking future trends. Arindam Bhattacharya runs the company’s New Delhi office and has a special interest in the automotive industry. James Hemerling formerly managed the Shanghai operation and now co-leads the company’s Global Advantage Initiative from San Francisco. Harold Sirkin’s home base is Chicago, but he travels weekly and amasses more air miles than he cares to consider. “My secretary started to add it up and I told her I didn’t want to know,” he said with a laugh. All serve as Business Week columnists.

Their collaborative book explores what happens when companies—especially those from Brazil, Russia, India and China—compete for talent and natural resources and, in so doing,

18 | American traveler November/december 2008

By Harold L. Sirkin, James W. Hemerling and Arindam K. Bhattacharya

profoundly affect the future we all share. Sirkin said it is a must-read for anyone interested in business. “Whether you’re an MBA student just starting a career or already a CEO, it’s important that we all understand what the economic competition really looks like right now and what it’s going to take to succeed in the future. People with children need to read the book to understand what the environment is going to be like when those kids go to college and look for jobs.”

The bottom line: Americans must prepare differently to compete in a rapidly changing landscape. “We travel to lots of different places in the world, and we talk to a lot of executives everywhere from India and China to New York and Tokyo,” Sirkin explained. “If you look at the business world from the perspective of places that are already developed like the U.S., you tend to focus on the increased trend to outsource. But, if you look at it from the perspective of the developing world, you begin to realize that these businesses are not satisfied to continue to produce products for someone else. They want to be in business themselves, and they are taking steps to learn how to produce quality products on their own. Companies with lower cost structures are challenging the incumbents. For example, Tata, an Indian firm, now owns Jaguar and Land Rover. Good Baby, a Chinese company with an American-sounding name, has a 28% share of the baby stroller market.”

The emerging countries are making an enormous impact on higher education. “In the 1980s approximately 10-15% of college students in the United States were foreign-born. That number is now approaching 30%. Our children are going to have a tougher time getting into the better schools,” Sirkin said.

Harold l. Sirkin: The Boston Consulting Group

Reviewed by Amanda Bjerke

So what are Americans to do? The first step is to recognize the situation, according to Sirkin.

“This all poses a tremendous opportunity in the long run. To take advantage of it, we have to prepare in the short run. Starting early is a huge advantage. A lot of people go to China and India and don’t take them [businesses based there] seriously. But just as we saw Japan go from being laughable in the 1960s to launching truly global companies like Sony, Toyota and Honda—companies capable of challenging and winning against U.S. and European companies, we’re going to see the same thing on a much larger scale.

“A billion people are moving from abject poverty and becoming consumers.

It’s important to recognize their potential buying power. Becoming a premium brand, not just for

consumer goods but for industrial goods as well, is very important. For example in China, the premium brand is a Buick because they got there early. If you do the right things, you can appeal to 1.3-billion people.”

That rapidly expanding middle class translates to increased competition even for raw materials. “We are going to be competing for everything from iron ore to food. We knew there’d be shortages and supply-and-demand imbalances, and a rise in prices,” he said.

Sirkin and his colleagues also emphasize the value of reaching out to other cultures. “We have to make sure that we are not just American companies. It is important to have senior people who are not American-born so we can get a solid cultural understanding,” he concluded.

“Nuances matter.” n

savvy Secret:

Collectively, the authors flew 400,000 air miles while preparing the book.

Sirkin, who holds top-status on four different airlines, travels weekly but strives to be home “51 weekends out of the year even if it requires extra travel to do it. It’s important to maintain a personal life and mental stability.” He strongly suggested that travelers “stay calm, don’t get agitated about anything. Focus on the things you can control. Sign up for email from the airlines. Ask agents questions when you need to, but do it politely. Try to get as much information as you can, and try to stay healthy. Don’t drink alcohol. Do drink lots of water so you don’t dehydrate. Shoot for a balanced diet.”

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19

On the Fly

s p i T Top Air travel, the world’s great equalizer, shrinks our planet and unites unlikely companions in a shared experience. On any given day, the skies are filled with passengers from every walk of life. Some cover hundreds of thousands of miles each year. In this column, frequent fliers share their best travel advice.

A

nthropologist Josh Bernstein logged more than 100,000 miles while shooting his latest TV series Into the Unknown. The Discovery Channel star popularized archeology as the original host of Digging for the Truth and chalks up more flying time as president of Boulder Outdoor Survival School, the oldest U.S. program of its kind. He also shuttles between two homes—a New York City apartment and a yurt in southern Utah. “My best guess is that I’m traveling 46 weeks out of 52. I love to explore, love to travel, love to learn. Being a television host allows me to be a student of the world and a teacher at the same time. I’m endlessly grateful to be doing this for a living.”

In addition to noise-canceling headphones, his iPod, laptop and reading material, Bernstein’s carry-on always contains a small Ziploc bag filled with clean underwear, a toothbrush and toothpaste. “If your bags are delayed, you’re good for at least another day,” he said.

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JoSH Bernstein: Discovery Channel

Josh Bernstein

Leslie Sbrocco: Wendy Goodfriend

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uthor and Emmy award-winning TV personality Leslie Sbrocco may be the most prominent woman covering today’s wine industry. As a consultant for Kimpton Hotel Group and Virgin America Airlines as well as the wine educator for two cruise lines, Sbrocco travels between her home in California’s Leslie Sbrocco Sonoma County and wine destinations throughout the world. “I fly well over 100,000 miles a year, but it’s nothing new for me. I grew up on a plane. My dad was a United pilot based out of O’Hare. It’s such a natural part of my existence. I can travel to Europe for 10 days with a wheelie carry-on. I learned packing from my mom who could take five kids to Europe with just two suitcases. In my work I have to go from dirty to dressy fast. I’m often in a vineyard all morning, then I go to a very nice lunch, then an afternoon back in two or three other vineyards, and then on to a nice dinner. The secret is to truly stick to a theme, black or brown and then accessorize. Lots of scarves and accessories can make you look very elegant. Generally you’re not with the same people every day. So, don’t be afraid to wear the same thing.”

She also recommends rolling clothes before packing. “I think they stay just as wrinkle-free as those packed flat and I can get more in.”

Steve Clarkson

B

F

illed as the hardest working man on television, Wolf Blitzer was extra busy during this election year. The host of CNN’s three-hour nightly newscast, The Situation Room, chases the biggest news stories—such as this year’s political debates and conventions.

The seasoned traveler explained that for him air travel is a way to relax. “I don’t have a lot of free time when I’m on the ground walking around the streets of Washington and being on the air. On planes I’m not going to work unless I have no choice. I like to read. If it’s a short flight I read a little bit. If it’s a long flight I read more. I always take snacks, nuts, yogurt-covered raisins, healthy food. As for packing, well, because I’m on TV, I have to bring suits and shirts and ties. I try to carry those on the plane and hang them up. For my exercise clothes I don’t mind checking a bag. I don’t make myself crazy about bags.

I have never lost a bag. They’ve been delayed a very few times, but they’ve always been delivered.” Blitzer’s best travel tip for those who wear glasses: “Pack a spare pair, just in case.”

Wolf Blitzer: © 2008 CNN

Steve Clarkson: DeBartolo Sports University

Wolf Blitzer

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bag: Keen Inc Lauren Phillips: Melissa Bent

ootball trivia buffs remember Steve Clarkson as the quarterback who helped San Jose State Coach Jack Elway defeat his son John’s Stanford team back in 1982. The younger Elway made his mark in the NFL as a Denver Bronco and is now a Hall-of-Famer. Clarkson, who also played at Denver, continues to affect the game by helping athletes as young as 12 hone their football skills with an eye to the pros.

His success stories include Matt Leinart, Ben Roethlisberger and current Notre Dame quarterback Jimmy Clausen. Clarkson’s work keeps him flying across the country at least 50 times a year.

The father of two young children explained that his favorite means of coping with life across the time zones is to “always keep two clocks so I can easily remember what’s going on with the wife and kids back home and communicate with them as much as possible in their time frame.”

He also emphasized the importance of getting to airports early and always “adding time to my schedule so I’m not too disappointed if there is a delay.”

Lauren Phillips

auren Phillips, Boise, Idaho recently escorted her two teenage sons and their best friend, Nick, a cancer sufferer, to Ireland. “Nick always wanted to go to Ireland. When we learned about his condition, we rallied our church family and they provided the means.

It’s a dream come true for him,” she said. Phillips, who travels around the world each year in her position as Boise’s Calvary Chapel missions coordinator, shares her favorite piece of travel gear: an expandable Keen bag with an interior light. “In India the power goes out all the time. It’s great to know where the light is.” The powerful LED bulb also makes it easy to find things in the depths of the tote. n

American traveler November/december 2008 |

21

Safe Keeping News from TSA

tsa

New Efforts Mark Checkpoint Evolution

Not on my watch

The Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA’s) more than 43,000 Transportation Security Officers live by these words every day. But it takes more than words to protect our transportation systems. It takes people, processes and technology working together to ensure we stay ahead of the constantly evolving threat.

We’ve been on the defense. It’s time to go on the offense.

“There is no reason why somebody with hostile intent should get to look around and test our security without the likelihood of getting caught,” TSA Administrator Kip Hawley recently wrote. “There is no reason why we have to stand behind the magnetometer and try to catch them

only by finding a prohibited item in a twomillion-person haystack that is impatient, noisy and chaotic.”

We know that the aviation network remains an active target for terrorists. That’s why it’s time for the checkpoint to evolve. It’s about new technologies, better training for our officers, a calmer security environment, clearer signs and directions, and new checkpoint configurations that all add up to security not just for today, but for the future.

We call this process Checkpoint Evolution, and we’re already deploying elements of this integrated approach to security at airports across the country.

environment—a calmer, To be sure, clothes don’t quieter security screening make the man or woman. But process. Calming down the our new uniforms, which were checkpoint equals a better rolled out at airports across the experience for passengers nation on September 11, 2008, and makes threatening are an important reflection of behavior easier to spot. our officers’ commitment to In the future, you will their jobs. In fact, Transportasee additional changes to tion Security Officers around the physical layout of the the country participated in a checkpoint as well. At “rededication ceremony” in B a l t i m o re / Wa s h i n g to n September, pledging to International Thurgood continue to keep travelers Marshall Airport, we are safe seven years after the testing all the elements of attacks on New York City, TSA’s security officers began wearing their new the Checkpoint Evolution the Pentagon and in Shanks- uniforms on September 11, 2008. program, which includes sound and light ville, Pennsylvania.

The uniforms, which feature a blue shirt elements and an automated bin return system. and a gold metal badge, are more than just a As we continue to roll out various elements of new look; they are a symbol of a new way of Checkpoint Evolution, more airports will see doing business. We understand that the whole-body imaging technology, advanced human element is critical to security, so we X-ray equipment, wireless communications for are training our officers to rely more on security officers and passengers’ “self-selecting” personal interaction to detect out-of-the-ordi- into lanes that are most appropriate for their nary behavior. And that requires a less chaotic travel experience.

22 | American traveler November/december 2008

uniform and Millimeter Wave: Courtesy TSA

A New Look and a New Attitude

tsa

On the Horizon Spotting Suspicious Behavior

Millimeter Wave is one of several new technologies TSA is using at airports across the country.

Technology of the Future Available Today People are important, as is technology.

Giving security officers the best tools available to detect explosives is important in deterring future attacks. This year, we are deploying the first significant additions to checkpoint technology since the walk-through metal detector and standard X-ray machines were introduced in the 1970s. Multi-view X-ray—also known as Advanced, or AT X-ray—gives our officers a better look at carry-on bags. In fact, comparing AT X-ray to current technology is like comparing a high-definition, plasma television to a 10-yearold set. The security implications are obvious, and this technology also has the potential to speed up the screening process because our officers will not have to search as many bags by hand. In the spirit of planning for the future, these machines can be upgraded with new software to adapt to new threats. TSA plans to deploy 600 AT X-ray units to airports nationwide by the end of 2008 and 900 units by the end of 2009.

Another set of newly deployed technologies involves whole body imaging. By the end of 2008, about 25 airports will offer screening by millimeter wave instead of a physical pat down.

Another whole-body imaging technology— backscatter—is being tested at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. Both of these technologies enable TSA to screen passengers for explosives, weapons and other dangerous items quickly and unobtrusively without physical contact.

Last April, TSA Behavior Detection Officers (BDOs) spotted a suspicious passenger at Florida’s Orlando International Airport.

Because of the passenger’s highly irregular behavior, the officers ensured he was under surveillance as he moved through the airport.

They requested that his checked bags immediately be searched. Working in conjunction with the local police and the FBI, our BDOs uncovered everything needed to make a bomb in the passenger’s bag, and he was immediately taken into custody.

This is just one example of how our Behavior Detection Program is using non-intrusive observation and analysis techniques to identify potentially high-risk passengers. BDOs are trained to look for involuntary physical and physiological reactions that people exhibit in response to a fear of being discovered. These specially trained officers add an element of unpredictability to the security screening process that is easy for passengers to navigate but difficult for terrorists to manipulate.

Today, some 2,000 BDOs are working at more than 150 airports, and TSA plans to continue to expand the program into 2009. n

WHAT’S UP WITH THAT? Q. Is it really necessary to carry small amounts of liquids in a plastic bag?

A. Absolutely. You’ll recall that TSA banned all liquids in August 2006 after a plot to use liquid explosives to blow up transatlantic flights headed to the U.S. and Canada was foiled by UK authorities. TSA’s 3-1-1 rule (3 ounces or less of liquids in a single, one-quart plastic bag) was implemented a month later, after international and U.S. explosives experts determined that acceptable amounts of liquids could safely be brought on planes.

Earlier this year, a UK court convicted three individuals involved in the 2006 plot of conspiracy to commit murder on an aircraft. Their intended weapon? Common household products combined to make a liquid bomb. Had the plan been successful, it is estimated that as many as 1,500 passengers would have been killed. So what may seem like an inconvenience is really a very important security measure designed to protect each and every traveler.

American traveler November/december 2008 |

23

Carry on

What You Need to Know

About Family Travel—and More

24 | American traveler November/december 2008

1. Make kids part of the planning process:

Use books and DVDs to acquaint them with the destination. Show them the distance between home and where they’re going on the globe.

Susan Foster: © Owen Carey

P

acking expert Susan Foster knows clothes like few others. In an earlier career, Foster the former Susan Pletsch and business partner Pati Palmer wrote books about sewing, designed patterns for Vogue and McCall’s and traveled the nation presenting seminars.

Along the way they learned a lot about packing. When marriage to an international businessman opened a new chapter in her life, Foster realized she had a lot to offer fellow travelers. “I can go to Europe for a month with just a 22-inch rolling bag. Yet, I remember being in Hong Kong watching tourists lug all kinds of baggage to their hotels, and then I’d see them wearing the same clothes day after day. It was apparent to me that they had packed a lot of things they weren’t able to use.”

To help less-experienced travelers make the most of each trip, Foster wrote Smart Packing for Today’s Traveler in 2000. It’s been updated twice since then. The latest edition, released earlier this year, includes help with everything from matching individual needs with specific luggage styles to understanding what weather reports really mean. Currency, insurance, and advice for staying healthy are all included. Ever the fashion

maven, Foster includes ample sartorial illustrations and even suggestions for simple sewing projects that easily augment a traveler’s wardrobe. The needs of men and women are covered in a format that is easy to access.

Foster’s mantra “Pack less and have more to wear,” is achieved with plenty of pre-planning. “It’s a basic five-step plan,” she explained. “Plan the trip. Select the clothes, accessories and extras; lay them out in an undisturbed area. I often use the bed. I put a plain sheet down first, because it’s easier to see things when they’re not on my floral bedspread; I edit everything so it fits into the best bag for the trip; then I pack and finally, I go.”

Considering all possibilities is particularly important, she emphasized. “In today’s world, with flight reductions you have to be prepared for emergencies. One canceled flight due to weather conditions or mechanical problems and suddenly everybody is in the queue and there may not be enough seats. You have to be ready just in case.”

Foster’s advice applies to every member of the family and is especially appropriate during the holidays when many parents and children take to the skies. “This presents a tremendous opportunity for the children to learn about travel,” Foster said, “but it’s also important that parents do all they can to prepare them for the trip.” Here are some of her top tips for childcentric air adventures:

2. Teach packing skills: Help children create

their own packing lists and pack their own bags. Help them select versatile, easy-care, comfortable clothes. Group daily outfits, including underwear and socks together and pack into self-sealing bags. Help them choose outerwear that can be layered. Include a favorite stuffed animal or blanket.

3. Take care with the carry-on: Foster recommends that each child carry his or her own backpack filled with snacks, toys, books, activities, a water bottle, hand sanitizer or wipes, sweater, toothbrush and at least one day’s change of clothing. She also cautions parents that small children should not attempt to wheel their own roller bags. “They are cute but difficult for the child to manage. It’s too easy for them to trip or lag behind the parent.”

For more Susan Foster travel tips visit

www.smartpacking.com.

n

savvy Secret: Parents of infants: Always carry onboard at least two changes of clothing for baby, a change of clothes for yourself, and a two-day supply of diapers.

Remember juice and milk for baby are exempt from the TSA 3-1-1 carry-on rule.

Make sure you have enough in case of delays. Also pack a soft carrier for baby. It takes up less room and weighs less than a framed backpack.

Susan Foster’s Family

Safety Travel Tips: 1. Use safety plugs and other precautions to childproof a hotel room just as you would your own home.

2. Keep medications locked in a suitcase.

3. Use a wrist leash or harness to keep track of toddlers.

4. Make sure each child is carrying or wearing a form of identification. When you are at your destination, have them carry the address of the hotel, resort or family you are visiting.

5. Don’t allow your child to wear clothing displaying his or her name in any form.

6. Wear a backpack instead of carrying a tote or roller bag so your hands are free to hold your children. Walk behind your children so you can keep an eye on them.

Do not allow them to straggle behind you.

7. Include a current front-view photo of each child with your travel documents. Know your child’s current height and weight.

8. Never let your child go anywhere—including the bathroom or into the hotel elevator—without a buddy.

9. Carry your pediatrician’s phone and fax numbers.

10. Pack and use lots of sunscreen.

11. Use insect repellent formulated for children.

12. Frequently use antibacterial hand cleaner or wipes.

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25

First Class

Destinations

W

hat a country! From soaring mountains to deep canyons, inland seas to towering waterfalls, America’s natural wonders are sites to behold. So are its singular cultural opportunities. After you’ve done Disney, toured Manhattan and conquered Vegas and L.A. there’s still much to experience all across the nation’s 3.6 million square miles.

(That translates to more than 9-million square kilometers of fun.) The following pages offer tips about the USA’s lesserknown travel adventures and opportunities. All are easily accessed by air—still the most efficient way to get where you want to go.

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First Class Destinations

Light shaft in Arizona’s Antelope Canyon

© Richard Corman

all Featured Photos: ©David Lyons

C

ommercial pilot David Lyons grew up with an eye to the sky. The son of two aviation professionals, he had a fascination with both flying and astronomy. The dual passions fueled an interest in photographing the heavens. Night photography was a special challenge. As a teenager, Lyons began experimenting with a variety of techniques in an attempt to capture the stars. His emerging prowess with a camera kept pace with his evolving career as a pilot.

Recently, Lyons took a leave of absence from a major carrier to pursue photography full time. Here he share photographs of the intriguing Antelope Canyon near Page, Arizona—a difficult but rewarding place to photograph.

Dublin. Nagano. Shanghai. Sun Valley.

7-13 February 2009

Join the 2009 Special Olympics World Winter Games for a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to welcome athletes and delegates from more than 100 countries and across the USA. Together, we can welcome the world to Idaho!

Contribute. Volunteer. Be a fan™.

Learn more at www.2009WorldGames.org .

American traveler November/december 2008 |

27

First Class Destinations

Antelope Canyon is perhaps the most impressive slot canyon on the planet. Approximately five miles in length, it’s an amazing amalgam of colorful sandstone and light.

Located on Navajo land, it can only be accessed with the assistance of a Navajo guide. “Ten years ago you could walk to the canyon and not see a soul. Now, it’s more of a tourist destination,” Lyons said. The canyon is just outside Page, Arizona, a town on the shores of Lake Powell. It’s got everything a tourist needs. Lyons prefers a simple motel on the main strip with Internet connectivity. “I like the single level so I can get in and out quickly. The Internet is a huge consideration because I am always looking at satellite images to track cloud cover. Overcast is great for portraits but not landscape. You only need a few moments of light amid cloud cover to get a great shot.”

If your only view of Great Falls is from our fabulous airport or from 25,000 feet above ground, you’re missing a world of adventure.

In addition to being near the grand Glacier and Yellowstone National Parks, we’ve also got first class museums, historic attractions, thrilling outdoor opportunities and much more.

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28 | American traveler November/december 2008

First Class Destinations

Lyons said that in contemplating expansive and impressive vistas such as Antelope Canyon, less is sometimes more. The photographer, who also creates panoramas , often focuses on more restrictive details. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I learned the hard way that sometimes itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not wise to take too much into the shot. When youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re on the scene, your senses and your peripheral vision enable you to take in a lot, but in two dimensions all those details can be too much. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s more interesting if you zoom into one aspect of a shot, zoom in on it and create a more abstract image.â&#x20AC;?

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American traveler November/december 2008 |

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First Class Destinations

Lyons explained a basic difference between a snapshot and a fine-art photo. “A snapshot is a basic record of an event. It shows you where you’ve been and that’s fine. But a fine-art photo benefits from a subtle understanding of foreground, background and the anchors that can allow you to create an emotional impression or tell a story. Backlighting can help the contrast of an image, so it’s not flat. In a slot canyon there are so many angles, and curves, it’s all about the reflectivity of the light. You don’t want direct light. It will immediately distract the viewer. The eye will automatically go to the hot spot of light. In a shot like this, it’s important to understand that the eye needs a natural place to go. The great thing about shooting digital is you have so many opportunities to experiment.” Learn more about David Lyons at exactexposure.smugmug.com. n

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First Class Destinations

Tupelo, mississippi

Birthplace of Rock ’n’ Roll’s King

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raceland, the sprawling Memphis mansion that was Elvis Presley’s exercise in excess, draws hundreds of thousands of visitors each year. They come to ramble across the acres of manicured grounds and snake their way through more than 17,000 square feet of gaudiness.

Those seeking insight into the King’s formative years would do well to fly instead to Tupelo. The traditional Southern community long on charm, hospitality, and country cooking is also home to Presley’s birthplace. It too, is open for public view.

The simple two-room, shotgun structure, so narrow the blast of Birthplace of Elvis Presley a single shell could hit everything inside, is furnished much as it was on January 8, 1935—Elvis’ birthday. That is to say—sparingly. An adjoining museum holds mementos gathered by family friends who knew the singer as a boy. The austerity of the superstar’s first home is in many ways more inspiring than the mansion where he died. The Tupelo house is a place of hope, inspiration and a testament to the fact that in America anything is possible.

Other quintessential American attractions in this community include the small but significant Tupelo Battlefield and the Tupelo Automobile Museum, a repository of more than 100 vehicles dating from the 1880s and displayed in Graceland chronological order. It offers an opportunity for some intriguing time travel. n KC8?? FlyLansing-ATM:KC-FlyLansing-ATM

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31

First Class Destinations

Fresno, CAlifornia

15 Cities One County

After more than three years of renovation, the facility celebrates its grand reopening with special scientific exhibits and a show featuring additions to the museum’s permanent art collection obtained during the construction. The diverse offerings make the museum a something-for-everyone experience.

The young and the young-at-heart delight in Feathered Dinosaurs, an examination of the evolution of feathers and flight showcasing recently discovered dinosaur and bird fossils.

All the relics hail from northeastern China’s Liaoning Province. They represent the largest exhibit of its kind ever displayed beyond China’s borders. Highly detailed, life-size sculptures based on the skeletal remains and impressions bring the creatures to life. Enlarged photographic representations reveal intricate details.

Several fossils, new to the scientific community,

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Fossil: Cryptovolans © The Dinosaur Museum

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resno, California, noted for a bounty of agricultural and culinary tours and its proximity to Yosemite National Park, is no stranger to haute culture. This “raisin-capital of the world” boasts a Grand Opera, Philharmonic Orchestra and classic theater named for favorite son, Pulitzer-prize winning author William Saroyan. The roster of intellectual offerings further expands with the November 13 unveiling of a new and improved Metropolitan Museum of Art and Science.

Renovation: Fresno Metropolitan Museum

Metropolitan Museum of Art and Science Completes $32-Million Face Lift

familiar, beloved items that are being shown to the public have been tucked away since for the first time. The exhibirenovation began, along with tion will remain on view items making their debut.” through March 1, 2009.

Another aspect of the As part of its commitment exhibition deals with The to the visual arts, the Met’s Conservation of a Painting. celebration also features It takes visitors through the selections from the permasteps of fine-art preservation nent collection, including and reveals the importance of recently acquired pieces. In conservation efforts. keeping with the communi- Fossil of a tooth head bird As part of the renovation, the museum’s ty’s agricultural heritage, the museum recently added a collection of botanical prints from the historic 1922 building—once the home of the late-18th and early-19th centuries. They join an Fresno Bee newspaper—added a fourthalready extensive accumulation of large botani- floor educational and interpretative gallery and cal watercolors by acclaimed painter-illustrator 29,000 square feet of green space to the Abigail Lyman. The museum’s Permanent outer grounds. For more information about Collection Curator Kristina Hornback said, “We the reconstruction, or for hours and fees, visit hope that visitors will be delighted to see the www.fresnomet.org. n

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American traveler November/december 2008 |

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First Class Destinations

Santa Maria, CAlifornia

Museum of Flight Displays Aviation’s Cinema Stars

34 | American traveler November/december 2008

Acrobatic aircraft featured in The Rocketeer

Museum and plane: Santa Maria Valley Visitors Bureau

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n The Aviator, Leonardo DiCaprio, as the eccentric Howard Hughes, runs out of fuel and crashes his H-1 Racer. The scene accurately depicts a real 1935 event associated with Hughes’ shattering the land-plane speed record. Today, the National Air and Space Museum in Washington D.C. displays Hughes’ authentic H-1 aircraft.

The reproduction DiCaprio flew makes its home at the Santa Maria Museum of Flight.

Several other planes featured in movies have also found a permanent landing at the facility. Among its ever-expanding collection are a full-scale Wright glider from the TV-movie Winds of Kitty Hawk and a large radio-controlled model airplane that was used in The Flight of The Phoenix. A wooden hangar featured in The Rocketeer serves as the museum’s main building. A custom acrobatic plane from that film is also part of the exhibition.

An F-4 Phantom at the Santa Maria Museum of Flight

Other planes, including a restored Vietnamera F4 fighter jet, a 1929 Fleet biplane, and a broad assortment of models, photos and memorabilia join the celluloid stars.

Established in 1984, the museum’s original mandate was to preserve the California Central Coast’s aviation history. The Santa Maria Valley played a significant role in the evolution of American flight. In 1928, Captain G. Allan Hancock founded the Allan Hancock Air Field and a

flying school in Santa Maria. The Hancock Foundation College of Aeronautics later became a major pilot training center during World War II. During that struggle, pilots trained to fly the famed P-38 Lightning at the Santa Maria Army Air Field—one of the West Coast’s largest wartime bases. The field later became the Santa Maria Public Airport.

Aerospace continues to play a major role in the local economy. The 30th Space Wing at Vandenberg Air Force Base, located 20 miles southwest of the city, is responsible for all Department of Defense space and missile launch activities on the West Coast.

The Santa Maria Museum of Flight is open Friday through Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 3015 Airpark Drive at the Santa Maria Public Airport. The Santa Maria Museum of Flight also offers educational programs for students of all ages. Go to www.smmof.org to learn more. n

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35

First Class Destinations

Vail, Colorado

Fun beyond the slopes

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say, “Vail.” You think, “snow.” Deep, sugary snow. Each season more than 340 inches (yup, that’s close to 30 feet) dump on enormous Vail Mountain, peak elevation 11,570 feet. In winter, Vail is most assuredly a ski town complete with faux-Bavarian Village and a quaint European ambience. But beyond the worldclass runs, the terrain parks and the ski school, this community and its environs offer a bounty of diversions sure to appeal to skiers and lodge denizens alike.

1. Any day is the right day to make like Hans Brinker. Skating is free at Nottingham Lake in nearby Avon, 10 minutes west of Vail. No need to pack your skates. Rentals are available seven days a week.

2. Take in the view. Tired of schussing down slopes? Ride the Eagle Bahn Gondola up Vail Mountain to take in the scenery, enjoy on-site dining or participate in an assortment of other activities. Through mid-December, the service is available to pedestrians every afternoon. After that, the free gondola carries non-skiers Tuesdays through Saturdays from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m.

3. On Wednesdays, the Street Beat Concerts attract locals and visitors to Vail Village’s Check Point Charlie where rock, blues and gospel bands perform for free. Shows start at 6 p.m.

4. Imagine you’re in the Black Forest when the Helmet Fricker Band takes the spotlight at Beaver Creek’s Plaza.

Noted for Fricker’s Alpenhorn solos, the group performs Wednesdays, Thursdays and weekends.

5. Saturdays in December, the holiday spirit reigns at the Winter Market in Minturn seven miles from Vail. Strolling carolers, open fire pits and a variety of performers and demonstrations enhance the wonderful mix of local and international arts, crafts and gifts. n

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36 | American traveler November/december 2008

First Class Destinations

Kalispell, Montana

Conrad Mansion Reflects Christmas Past

Mansion Tree: Karen Weyer Photography

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alispell’s proximity to Glacier National Park defines the city as a summer gateway to wide-open adventure. In winter its airport serves an international crowd drawn to world-class winter sports. The acclaimed ski resort at historic Whitefish is just a fast 15 miles to the north.

In any season, the iconic Conrad Mansion offers visitors a long glance at the city’s past.

Built in 1895 for the city’s founding entrepreneur, C.E. Conrad, the lavish Norman-style mansion remained in Conrad’s family until 1975. His last survivor deeded it and its contents to the city that year. The Conrads’ long residency contributed much to the home’s fine preservation. The original design remains intact. Its 13,000 square-foot living area retains its original turnof-the-20th-century charm. The 26 rooms are furnished with all the trappings of the era— including four-poster beds and antique toys.

Special features include Tiffany glass windows.

The mansion takes on special significance during the holidays when décor reflects festivities of days gone by. During tours conducted from Thanksgiving weekend through December 28, guides describe the family’s Christmas traditions and explain artifacts including a collection of antique winter clothing.

Afterwards, high tea is served in the elaborate dining room. The tea and tour costs $25 per person; reservations are required.

The tour alone costs $8 for adults, $7 for seniors and $3 for children.

Reservations are recommended. For more information visit www.conradmansion.com. n

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First Class Destinations

Santa Barbara, California

Lotusland: Botanical Star Attraction

38 | American traveler November/december 2008

Barrel cactus

Water Garden

LotusLand gardens: W.B. Dewey

The Montecito Hills east of Santa Barbara have long attracted celebrity A-listers. In this exclusive area, more than 60 years ago, the often-married socialite and occasional opera singer Madame Ganna Walska set about transforming a 37-acre estate into a botanical wonderland. Walskaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s intense passion for the project changed her life as well. She spent her final decades designing a very impressive and costly outdoors environment. Eventually, the former Russian countess even auctioned some of her prized jewelry to obtain rare plants.

Among her most spectacular purchases are those found in a garden dedicated to cycadsâ&#x20AC;&#x201D; unusual cone-bearing plants dating to pre-historic times. Japanese Garden Many varieties are extinct in the wild. Other treasures include a large collection of lotus, palms, ferns and cacti.

Before her 1984 death, Walska established a trust to preserve her leafy assets. Lotusland is now a public garden operating in a private residential neighborhood. It is nestled among the estates of Oprah Winfrey, Rob Lowe and other celebrities; access is limited and tickets are a bit spendy: $35 for adults and $10 for children over the age of five years. Advanced reservations are required. Tours led by knowledgeable docents may be scheduled by calling 805-969-9990. For more information, visit www.lotusland.org. n

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SanLuisObispoCounty.com American traveler November/december 2008 |

39

Top Flight Art

Cover Artist Lane Timothy

Remembering the Greatest Generation

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40 | American traveler November/december 2008

In A Date with Dolly, a 48” x 36”, oil on canvas rendition of a P-51 Mustang, Timothy first combined his love of aircraft and a pursuit of figurative painting.

“I loved to draw planes, especially. My dad was a private pilot. I used to fly with him. I’ve had a huge library of aviation books ever since I was a kid. My favorite was the P-51 Mustang. A while back I did a painting for a client who owned one. That’s A Date with Dolly [shown above]. I really liked the way it turned out. At the same time I was really interested in doing figurative work. [Such as 90 Miles from Nashville shown on page 41.] I finally came up with a way to do a marriage between the figurative and the aviation.”

The result is a series of evocative paintings that Timothy hopes will inspire observers to “create their own stories. I want

Lane Timothy: Courtesy Mr. and Mrs. Charles and Susan Timothy

t 34, cover artist Lane Timothy is far too young to recall the DC-3 era of air travel represented on this edition’s cover. More than 70 years ago, the planes revolutionized passenger flights.

Some early models included sleeper berths.

Kitchenette galleys were standard. Passengers could enjoy meals as they whisked across the continent with only three refueling stops. Eastbound coast-to-coast travel took just 15 hours. (Head winds added two hours to the westbound trip.) Although a few DC-3s are still operational, most were mothballed by the 1960s. Remaining craft are a mainstay of museums of flight. Noted for reliability and versatility, the DC-3 inhabits many an aviation legend.

Lane Timothy’s lifelong fascination with flight propels his own interest in the aircraft and inspired the in-depth research necessary to create the cover art, Thanks for the Memory, a 49” x 60” oil on canvas. The work is indicative of the latest stage of a diverse and accomplished career. An unassuming talent, who captured top honors at the prestigious C.M. Russell Auction of Western Art when he was just a junior in high school, Timothy is reticent to acknowledge his gifts.

He does admit art has always been a vital part of his life. “My father built me a drafting table when I was five. It was my favorite thing. All I wanted to do was draw.

The research Timothy conducted while seeking inspiration for this painting, My Girl, a 48” x 36” oil on canvas, uncovered the DC-3 photograph that prompted the cover painting. My Girl depicts a U.S. Army Airman decorating his Spitfire MK VIII. It was created for an Operation Homefront auction benefiting today’s military men and women and their families.

the viewer to have a general idea of what’s gong on, but I think everyone gets to come up with their own specifics of what’s really happening when they look at these pieces.

It might hit home with them in a way I never thought.”

The cover art, Thanks for the Memory, is based upon an old black-and-white photograph of a DC-3. “I was looking for a WWII-era military plane because Operation Homefront, a veteran’s organization asked me to donate a painting for a fundraiser. I came across the photograph and it was so beautiful that, even though it was a commercial aircraft, I thought how great would this be with a woman getting ready

90 Miles to Nashville, 48” x 36”, oil on canvas is representative of Lane Timothy’s figurative work.

to leave something.” The painting’s name is derived from the theme song of Bob Hope’s World War II USO tours. “They were a huge morale booster for World War II troops,” Timothy explained.

Creating a color palette for the blackand-white image was a challenge. “I do lots of sketches and layouts, and it becomes sort of a collage of all kinds of things going on, and then when I start to paint, it changes still. It’s not my purpose to tell a whole story from the beginning. For example, with this painting, I am not sure where she’s going or why,” he explained. “As I’m working on these paintings they tend to morph into their own beings.” n

For more about the artist and his work, visit www.lanetimothy.com.

American traveler November/december 2008 |

41

Top Flight Art

Artist Michael Flohr

Capturing Ordinary Life In Extraordinary Circumstances

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henever they visit Atlanta, San Diegans Michael and Melissa Flohr park across the street from the Southern Company’s headquarters and gaze at the massive piece of art hanging in the lobby.

At 9' x 15', the oil-on-canvas Southern Rain is something of a mega-masterpiece—easily viewable from a block away. For Flohr it is also a personal triumph. “We sit and stare, and I can’t believe I did it,” the 33-year-old artist explained.

Southern Rain is the latest in a series of milestones for a young man who has wanted to be a painter ever since an astute teacher saw talent in a discouraged elementary school kid.

“I was diagnosed with serious dyslexia when I was five. I still struggle with it. All the way through eighth grade, I’d have to get up really early to go to tutoring. But my teacher was also an oil painter, and so I’d go to tutoring for an hour and then I’d get to do art for an hour. It was my reward. She let me use oils when I was about eight. I remember telling my mom I was going to be a painter.”

The goal didn’t seem within the realm of possibility. Flohr grew up in rural Lakewood, California. In high school he excelled in art, and little else. After graduation, like most of his friends from the blue-collar community, he got a job. But his love of art continued. He worked in a casino for two years before determining to attend San Francisco’s Academy of Art. There, his unique talent quickly attracted attention.

During his final year at the school he was accepted into the prestigious New York Society of Illustrators, joining the likes of Norman Rockwell and Maxfield Parrish. Three of his student works were exhibited at San Francisco’s de Young Memorial Museum that year.

“People ask about my style. I can’t explain it.

A lot of people paint what they see. I paint what I feel. I can paint these same scenes realistically

42 | American traveler November/december 2008

Michael, his wife Melissa and Emmet one of their two sons with Southern Rain.

Opposite page, Michael and Melissa Flohr: Ruth Ann Thorn

Bourbon Street (left) and Quarter Past (above) were both created from sketches Flohr did while on his 2002 honeymoon to New Orleans. “I have sketches and then notes of the colors and what I was thinking of at the time and how the scene made me feel. The high contrast of indoor lights against a dark wet street really attracts me.”

and accurately because I’ve been classically trained to do that. But once you learn all the classical things, then you can take what you know and come up with your own style. Picasso said it; he came from realism to abstracting the figures. If you know how to paint it perfect, you can abstract it so much better.”

Flohr explained his unique brand of Impressionism. “I think of it as akin to facial recognition. If you see a loved one a hundred yards away, you don’t need to see their eye color to know who they are. That’s the way it is with my work.”

The artist likes to describe himself as someone “with greedy eyes. I can’t really enjoy things the way other people do. I’m always thinking about how to paint life. I am drawn to really ordinary scenes.” Much of his work is done from

black-and-white photographs. “That forces me to make up my own colors. That’s why my colors are sort of exaggerated,” he said.

The Southern Company, among the nation’s largest generators of energy, conducted a nationwide search before selecting Flohr to create their lobby art. “My idea was to show that even though it was raining, people were out and having fun and that the lights were still on.”

The painting was created in a California warehouse using a 20-foot scissor lift and jerry-rigged brushes. “A good-sized painting for me is typically 3' x 5'. I realized if I used my regular brushes on something of this size, the result would look like pointillism. So I went to Home Depot and got house painter brushes and nailed them together. Learning to use the scissor lift was a little scary too. I like to stand back when American traveler November/december 2008 |

43

Top Flight Art

Artist Michael Flohr

savvy Secret:

While in New York for the annual Art Expo, Flohr took a black-and-white image of Times Square and then set about “editing” it. “Some artists paint everything that’s there. I take things out,” he said. He also added his impression of a vintage Coke sign.

I paint, so I’d drive it back 40 feet, take a look and then go forward again. I was afraid I might run into the canvas.”

Ultimately, the painting is a testament to Flohr’s mastery of perspective. “The recess where the painting fits starts far enough off the ground that you have to look at it with your head cocked back. To make it read well from afar I had to figure out a formula to give it that perspective.

So some of the lines of the buildings are not perfectly parallel; they’re like an alligator mouth opening upward, but they make sense to someone looking from below.”

In addition to commission work, such as Southern Rain, Flohr creates approximately 60 original works a year. More than 70 galleries show his paintings and prints. The recently released fine art book, City Expressions, presents a collection of his urban scenes.

“You know, I was the kid back in high school who wasn’t expected to be ‘the most successful.’”

I think kids like me sometimes settle for whatever.

But I was lucky. I had parents who believed in me.

They made it possible for me to do something that I love. I’ll always be grateful.” n 44 | American traveler November/december 2008

Michael Flohr’s rapidly advancing career keeps him flying across North America at least once a month. He travels to shows throughout the U.S. and Canada and meets with clients for commissioned work such as Southern Rain. That painting required three on-site consultations.

Wherever he goes, Flohr scouts alleyways and back streets searching for unique vistas. His “hungry eyes” prowl for new inspirations for his work.

His best air travel secrets are simple.

“Always buy your coffee after you clear security and never try to joke with the TSA officers.”

Flohr traveled to Portland for a show of his work and met a resident who commissioned him to do this painting. “It’s actually the view from his office window. I liked it because the bridge was lit up and reflecting into the water below. I love to paint light.

That time of day before sunset when shop lights are just coming on and the whole world is slowing down is one of my favorite times,” he said.

Concourse

Nashville International’s Fun on the Run

Tootsie’s: Devi Sanford

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usic City USA benefits from plenty of entertainment options in a down-home setting. The community’s rapidly evolving airport reflects the best of Nashville and then some.

In the midst of a multiyear renovation, the Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge facility has welcomed more than a dozen new food and beverage options this year. To get a taste of the town, drop into Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge, on Concourse C, near Gate 6. The airport location, a spin-off of the iconic Nashville Broadway bar of the same name, dishes up delectables from other Nashville mainstays— Whitt’s barbecue and Swett’s, known for its meat-and-three menu. Those eateries are also located near Gate 6.

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Music is on display at the airport. Nashville musicians perform live on stage in the food court and also at Tootsie’s. All along the concourse corridors, an exhibition of country-music star Marty Stuart’s photography attracts history buffs and art lovers. The work spans more than 30 years and provides a glimpse of Stuart’s perspective on Nashville’s most intriguing industry. The singer, songwriter and former son-in-law of Johnny Cash has been carrying a camera on tour and in town since he was a 13-year-old playing with the legendary Lester Flatt’s band. The exhibition, An American Odyssey, continues through June 30, 2009.

Nashville International offers more opportunity to grab a good time as the first airport to offer Redbox movie rental kiosks. Located on either side of security screening, the two outlets give both passengers and those awaiting their arrival the opportunity to rent a recently released DVD. n

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Top of the line appliances in kitchen with granite countertops. 3BD/3.5BA, great room, media/family room, 2-car underground garage. SIR#0412239. $1,699,000. Fern MacKenzie 208.720.0720

Artfully uniting extraordianry properties with extraordinary lives

CASA DE LA VENTADA Magical views, unbelievable gardens and access to great riding trails. 13,000 sq.ft. Tuscan-style villa with exquisite attention to architectural and interior details. This home of windows offers a special view of your own private Idaho. SIR#0412254. $5,500,000. Al Luray 208.720.9969

SUN VALLEY BROKERAGE 291 North Main Street, Ketchum, ID t: 208.726.5300 f: 208.726.4311 Sotheby’s International Realty is Owned and Operated by NRT Incorporated

IN-TOWN OPPORTUNITY Great buy on this 9,147 sq.ft. lot with older home in Ketchum. Wonderful mountain views, close to shopping and dining, near river and River Run ski lifts and overall ideal location.

Build now or rent until ready. SIR#0412450. $989,000. Fern MacKenzie 208.720.0720

Visit our Website:

www.sothebyshomes.com/sunvalley American traveler November/december 2008 |

45

WANTED: COFFEE DRINKERS

AMERICANTRAVELER Enriching Your Journey

y a d i l A o H T

magazine

Enriching Your Journey

MERICAN RAVELER

Gift Ideas T A Enriching Your Journey

MERICAN RAVELER

AMERICANTRAVELER AMERICANTRAVELER Enriching Your Journey

magazine

Enriching Your Journey

AMERICANTRAVELER Enriching Your Journey

Founded by a young entrepreneur with a big dream and a heartfelt commitment to quality, Tyler’s Coffee roasts the world’s most delectable, acid-free coffee. This holiday season give the gift of fresh, flavorful, A-list coffee—a brew so good it’s served at the Golden Globes and at the Academy Awards SHM suites. For more information about this affordable luxury or to place your holiday order visit us online.

520-903-BREW www.tylerscoffees.com

Destinations . . . The Travel Store Seventeen countries. Six weeks. And one pair of underwear. If you have ever spent more than a few hours jammed into the middle seat on an overcrowded plane, you will appreciate the innovative underwear created

by ExOfficio. Designed to fit comfortably without bunching on even the most demanding travel days, they breathe, wick moisture away from your skin, and dry in the time it takes to say, “odor resistant.” Pack fewer pairs and wash as you go. The perfect stocking stuffer. Available in men’s and women’s styles.

For more information, or to order, call Destinations . . .

The Travel Store at 800-246-3485 info@destinations-thetravelstore.com.

parlé gems

the only original Sun Valley sun 511 Sun Valley Road, Ketchum • Idaho 800-889-9424 • 208-726-5202 www.barrypeterson.com

46 | American traveler November/december 2008

The beauty of the West is captured in nature-inspired jewelry from Parlé. “Snowflake” is one of the many designs from Parlé’s Nature Collection. Snowflake is designed in 14-karat white gold with genuine sapphire, the color of a Western sky and with sparkling white diamonds. A beautiful symbol of your trip to the West! For store locator visit: www.parlegems. com.

ROCKS THAT ROCK

The warmth of a 17.2-carat Montana agate meets eco-conscious recycled gold and sparkling Russian-cut diamonds totaling 0.12 carats.

Millions of years in the making, each rock in this collection went on a journey down the Yellowstone River. Living on that river, award-winning designer B. Noelle carefully chooses them, and caresses each with diamonds either set into the rock directly or in nearby metal. Exclusively at Alara Jewelry.

Please visit alarajewelry.com or call 800-267-9104.

EPIONCE® On-The-GO Be prepared to be complimented on your beautiful, healthy skin!

Created by leading dermatologist Dr. Carl Thornfeldt, Epionce® b o t a n i c a l l y b a s e d p roducts enhance your skin’s natural beauty. Wherever your life takes you, Epionce® On-the-Go makes it easy to travel with your favorite Epionce® products. Ask your skin care professional today about Epionce® gift certificates for the one you want to pamper this holiday season! www.epionce.com

Snake River Farms This holiday season, treat your friends and family to the uncompromised quality of Snake River Farms American Wagyu (Kobe) Beef and Kurobuta (Berkshire) Pork. Specially raised to be succulent in flavor and rich in marbling, Snake River Farms products are favored by the most respected restaurants around the world. The pure simplicity of these affordable luxuries is now available for your home kitchen via overnight mail. Perfect for holiday gatherings or a special gift for the food lover in your life, Snake River Farms premium roasts, steaks and specialty cuts embody the richness and flavor that create memorable eating occasions!

208-338-2632, www. snakeriverfarms.com

Downtown Jackson Hole • 125 No. Cache www.danshelley.com • 307.733.2259

SHEEPSKIN COAT FACTORY & FUR SALON

waterproof, ultra lightweight shearling

511 Sun Valley Road Ketchum, ID 83340

208.726.3588 www.sheepskincoat.com info@sheepskincoat.com American traveler November/december 2008 |

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Vacation Planner

Ski 2009!

Changes in Altitude = Changes in Attitude

by Tony Banning

S

now! The stuff of childhood fantasies and holiday landscapes falls deep and dry in the mountains of America’s West. Getting out and playing in drifts does more than make everybody feel like a kid again. It’s a great antidote for the stresses of life in the low-country. In increasing numbers, families, couples and solo travelers are discovering that taking to the slopes refreshes the soul.

Now, as the days grow shorter and the evening air begins to grow cooler, wise travelers plot the details of a perfect ski vacation. For an ideal getaway, look to the Rockies and points west. You’ll discover that stellar hospitality awaits and expert staff members are eager to answer your questions. As you research resorts, be sure to consider: • Nearby attractions • Programs for children, beginners or those who need to brush up on their skills • Après-ski activities • The availability of on-site child or infant care if that is a concern • Equipment rental programs. They eliminate the need to travel with bulky skis and snowboards and often provide the latest equipment, giving you the chance to try before you buy. n

The following pages include details about a few of American Traveler’s favorite ski destinations. Read on.

You’ll discover places where travelers of all ages, interests and abilities can be revitalized by a memorable mountaintop experience.

48 | American traveler November/december 2008

Alta Ski Area

UTAH

A

lta and pure, unspoiled skiing are truly synonymous. Respected for its classic powder skiing, challenging terrain and spectacular views, don’t forget that Alta also offers great beginner and intermediate skiing.

Alta Ski Area celebrates 70 years of skiing this season. On October 19, 1938, the Forest Service issued the initial permit to construct a lift at Alta to the Salt Lake Winter Sports Association. Alta officially opened as a ski area in December 1938. Throughout the years, Alta’s philosophy has been to offer a quality skiing experience for a fair price. The focus is on skiing, earning Alta accolades as a “purist’s mountain.” It is one of the three remaining areas in the United States to be a skiers’-only mountain. Snowboarding is not allowed.

Alta, along with Snowbird Ski & Summer Resort, proudly celebrate eight years of offering America’s first lift-served interconnect. With the AltaSnowbird “one ticket,” skiers have access to 4,700 acres. AltaSnowbird was voted the number one resort in the U.S. by Skiing Magazine for five years running.

Alta is dedicated to sustainable environmental practices—learning from the past, being guided by best-management practices now, and leading with innovation and research in the future. More information is available on alta.com.

For Vacation Packages, please call 866-281-0355.

866-281-0355 | www.alta.com

Big Sky Resort

MONTANA

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ig Sky Resort is the Biggest Skiing in America® with the Lone Peak Pass and neighboring resort Moonlight Basin, offering over 5,500 acres of terrain and 4,350 feet of vertical drop over three mountains and a variety of terrain for all levels. Located in southwest Montana, just down the road from Yellowstone National Park, Big Sky offers world-class terrain, uncrowded slopes and a family-friendly Mountain Village.

Through Big Sky Central Reservations choose from 17 properties, including slopeside luxury hotel rooms to log-sewn mountain homes offering ski in/ski out access. Off the slopes enjoy fabulous dining options, like new Andiamo Italian Grille, live nightly music, Kid’s Club and the new Family Fun Zone, including the tubing park. Enjoy the Solace Spa for the ultimate in relaxation or browse through our retail shops in the Mountain Village.

With 400 inches of annual snowfall, and a lack of lift lines, once you visit, you’ll never want to leave. It’s easy to get to Big Sky with direct flights from 12 cities, including San Francisco, Minneapolis, Denver, Los Angeles, Atlanta and Chicago among others. Big Sky Resort, a place all your own.

800-548-4486 | www.bigskyresort.com

American traveler November/december 2008 |

49

COLORADO

S

Gunnison - Crested Butte

ome of the most beautiful places on earth are lesser known and undisturbed. There’s a special sense of wonder that goes along with discovering a place like this. You feel somehow it belongs to you. You take that place with you, even when you leave. Gunnison-Crested Butte is like that. It’s a breathtakingly beautiful, luxuriously civilized place that has fortunately remained very much the same over time. Here you will find genuinely friendly and helpful locals. You will also find towns so authentic, it’s like taking a step back in time.

Crested Butte Mountain Resort is known for Colorado’s best grooming and off-piste skiing where the longest lines you’ll see are behind your skis! A true destination resort, unlike many of Colorado’s “day tripper” ski resorts, attracts visitors who like to come for a longer visit and get to know the place. Winter also brings such delights as snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, dog sledding and snowmobiling in glistening forests and magnificent backcountry.

Getting here is easy. Leaving is much harder. Fly into the Gunnison-Crested Butte Regional airport this ski season, 11/26/08 – 4/5/09. Visit our Web site for flight, lodging and package information. Experience Colorado’s true colors. What are you waiting for?

“Crested Butte Mountain Resort . . . Inspire Your Passion” Lodging: 800-323-2453 | www.GunnisonCrestedButte.com Snow Report: 888-442-8883

WYOMING

“

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Jackson Hole Resort

he Big One” combines incredible terrain for all levels of skiers and snowboarders, amazing on-mountain dining including the new $10 million Bridger Restaurant complex at the Gondola Summit and coming in December 2008 will be a NEW 100 passenger Aerial Tram that will operate from the base to the summit of Rendezvous Mountain, an amazing continuous 4,139 vertical feet, which will cement this destination resort as the top ski mountain in the U.S. THE MOUNTAIN: Rising above all others, with unmatched terrain and over 450 annual inches of dry Western powder, served by the new aerial tram and a high speed gondola. Unprecedented backcountry access that expands the skiable terrain to over 5,000 acres.

WILDLIFE: An experience like no other. Daily sightings of moose, bison, wolves and eagles—not to mention a herd of more than 8,000 elk grazing near town.

NIGHTLIFE: A true Western town full of real cowboys, good-time saloons, old-fashioned wooden sidewalks, and foot-stompin’ bands.

OFFSLOPE ADVENTURES: Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks, snowmobiling, dogsled rides, natural hot springs, sleigh rides and Nordic skiing to name a few.

GATEWAY TO TWO NATIONAL PARKS: Legendary Yellowstone is an hour’s drive north, Grand Teton National Park is just minutes away.

ACCOMMODATIONS: From rustic to luxury. Experience legendary Jackson Hole cowboy powder with the Powder Package starting at $380 (4 nights lodging and 3 days skiing).

Contact us for complete details.

800-443-8613 | Ski Report: 888-DEEP-SNO | www.jacksonhole.com

50 | American traveler November/december 2008

NEVADA

Ruby Mtn. Helicopter Skiing R

uby Mountain Helicopter Experience (RMH) is headquartered 20 miles east of Elko, Nevada, featuring 11,000-foot peaks, 200,000 acres of skiable terrain and impeccable wilderness skiing. Rising between the high desert and Ruby Dome (11,387 ft.). RMH’s central location between Utah and California, and close proximity to other western states, make it one of the United States’ most accessible heli-outfits—right in our own backyard.

39,000 vertical feet of skiing and riding is guaranteed, in addition to gourmet meals, beautiful lodge accommodations at historic Red’s Ranch and top-of-the-line equipment. Heated snowcats ensure terrain access, making this vacation a great fit for family, friends or businesses, from intermediate to expert.

Safety is first priority for RMH (personal avalanche transceivers included and used on every trip).

Experienced, professional guides are trained in snow, terrain, and weather, as well as emergency care.

Guides serve small skier groups on three-day or one-day trips, while owners Joe and Francy Royer apply their “obsession with customer service” to every visit.

Located on I-80 between Salt Lake City, Utah, and Reno, Nevada, travel to Elko is simple via car, airplane, or train. Rental car or taxi provides easy access to dining, gaming and entertainment.

The Ruby Mountains are just a short flight away, we invite you to come experience a true backcountry skiing adventure.

Ruby Mountain Heli-Skiing, Inc., P.O. Box 281192 Lamoille, Nevada, 89828 775-753-6867 | www.helicopterskiing.com | info@helicopterskiing.com

Snowbasin Resort

UTAH

Snowbasin photos: Gary Nate

I

t is said that a picture is worth a thousand words. Although the beauty and grandeur of the mountains above and valleys below Snowbasin have inspired many pictures, the skiing/riding at Snowbasin will imbed an unforgettable picture in your mind and memory.

Located in the idyllic northern Utah community of Huntsville, in the spectacular WasatchCache National Forest, Snowbasin has established itself as the newest destination that savvy fans want to keep to themselves. But, as outstanding resorts tend to do, Snowbasin has stepped into the limelight and there’s no turning back. Snowbasin’s lodges will welcome and provide you with the best there is. The attention to service details are equally inspiring to our visitors.

Join us and witness incredible vistas of nature, experience culinary delights and pampered service available at the resort! Partake in improving your skills with our Snowsport’s Instructors with a varied offering of classes, from “Bumps, Bumps, Bumps” to “Skiing the Blues.”

Try out your Nordic skills on our 26 km of groomed trails. A complete line of skis and boards is available in our full-service rental shop. Licensed day care is available.

Enjoy après-ski entertainment on Friday and Saturday afternoons and a complete retail shop.

We invite you to learn about us, connect with the resort, explore here, and experience the Spirit of Snowbasin.

www.snowbasin.com | 801-620-1000 | 888-437-5488 American traveler November/december 2008 |

51

UTAH

I

Sundance Resort

n 1969, Robert Redford purchased the land that is now known as Sundance with the vision of a community committed to the balance of art and nature. Since that time, Sundance has grown into a destination resort with a difference, with its original values still intact. The rustic simplicity of the Sundance Resort is graced by 5,000 acres of protected wilderness at the base of Utah’s 12,000 foot Mt. Timpanogos. Only an hour’s drive from Salt Lake City and 45 minutes from Park City, Sundance is listed in the 2008 Conde Nast Traveler’s Gold List, ranking second for Best of Food and in the 2007 Conde Nast Traveler’s Readers Poll for the Top 50 U.S. Mainland Resorts. Sundance’s mountain cottages offer a casual elegance, while award-winning dining is featured in both resort restaurants, the Tree Room and the Foundry Grill.

Mountain recreation includes year-round fly-fishing in the Provo River, skiing, snowboarding and cross-country skiing in winter; hiking, biking and horseback riding in summer. In addition, explore the other treasures of Sundance. Create your own piece of jewelry in the Art Shack or enjoy a hot stone massage in the Native Americaninspired spa.

866-627-1344 | www.sundanceresort.com

COLORADO

T

Telluride Ski Resort

elluride­­­­—unmatched in North America. Stashed among the highest concentration of 14,000-foot peaks in North America, breathtaking views are just a part of what makes Telluride stand out among mountain destinations.

Historic buildings, quaint bakeries and local watering holes blend with luxury hotels, fivestar restaurants, sophisticated shops and some of the finest spas in the world. Telluride’s free gondola is the main source of transportation—so no traffic or long lines, and no driving once you’ve arrived!

Adding to Telluride’s reputation for legendary terrain, the resort is thrilled to announce the opening of Revelation Bowl. This spectacular European-style terrain, located directly off the back side of famous Gold Hill and Chair 14, will be served by a new, locally manufactured Leitner-Poma lift. Situated above tree line, the natural, wide-open bowl offers advanced and expert skiing in an unbelievably scenic setting.

A spirit of adventurous individualism permeates the town and defines the region. The friendly, open-hearted residents and genuine community spirit of Telluride shape a sense of inclusiveness and belonging that everyone can experience and enjoy.

Touting the combination of awe-inspiring views, worldclass terrain, Rockies snow, an easy-going town and hassle-free destination, Telluride is truly unmatched in North America.

800-778-8581 | www.tellurideskiresort.com

52 | American traveler November/december 2008

Not only are we rich in history, but we also offer a wealth of options.

They’ve come here for generations. The adventurous, the seekers, and those who just need a place to get away from the cares of a busy world. Here in Sun Valley we’re as steeped in history as we are in ski runs. And if that history has taught us anything, it’s that people need a place to indulge their adventurous side as well as their more restful side. Which is why we created our Lift Ticket Exchange Program. Spend a few days letting it all out on the mountain, then redeem a day’s lift pass for one of the many other reasons people return to Sun Valley year after year: Try cross-country skiing or snowshoeing, take your group ice-skating, indulge in a massage, or even a gourmet meal. The choice is yours, and your historic vacation awaits.

For resort information and reservations call 1.800.786.8259 or www.sunvalley.com

Happenings

| november Santa Barbara, CA | ongoing through December 7 Pablo Picasso at SMBA A handsome selection of 25 works by Pablo Picasso will grace the walls of Von Romberg and Emmons galleries at the Santa Barbara Museum of Art in the exhibition Picasso on Paper: Drawings and Prints from the Permanent Collection (1899-1967).

www.sbma.net

Monterey, CA | ongoing Wild about otters Visitors explore the world of freshwater otters and other creatures native to their wild habitats.

www.montereybayaquarium.org

San Diego, CA | November 12-16 San Diego Bay Wine and Food Festival Southern California’s largest wine and culinary event turns up the heat in San Diego. More than 8,000 wine and food enthusiasts in attendance mingle with 160 winemakers, 60 chefs, food producers, authors, and celebrity chefs during the week-long celebration of all things gourmet.

www.worldofwineevents.com

Mt. Hood, OR | November 14-December 21 The Polar Express™ on Mt. Hood Railroad Oregon visitors are invited to take a train ride to a fantastical North Pole. The Polar Express comes to life when trains depart the Hood River Depot for a memorable journey.

www.mthoodrr.com/Polar_Express St. George, UT | ongoing through January 24

Santa Barbara, CA | November 22-December 14

The Art of Zion National Park

Figurative paintings by nationally and internationally renowned artists take the limelight at the Waterhouse Gallery in Santa Barbara. New works by Carolyn Anderson, Lane Timothy and the evocative work of Johanna Harmon, first place winner in the prestigious Oil Painters of America National Show.

Help Zion National Park celebrate its 100th anniversary. To mark this historic event, the St. George Art Museum hosts the most comprehensive exhibit of Zion ever mounted. Visitors experience Zion through the eyes of artists from across the country and over more than a century. www.sgcity.org/artmuseum

Great American Figurative Painters Group Exhibition

www.waterhousegallery.com

Dallas, TX | November 7-9

West Yellowstone, MT | November 25-29

Breast Cancer THREE-Day Walk

Ski Festival

Support the Susan G. Komen Foundation, by participating in a 60-mile walk for women and men who want to make a personal difference in the fight against breast cancer. Participants walk 60 miles in three days and help raise millions of dollars for breast cancer research. www.cms.komen.org

This gateway to the nation’s first national park breaks out the lycra in November. Hundreds of Nordic ski enthusiasts from all over the world, novice to expert, gather to learn more about the sport, practice techniques and see new equipment.

54 | American traveler November/december 2008

www.yellowstoneskifestival.com

Coos Bay, OR | November 27 – December 24 Holiday Lights at Shore Acres State Park Grab a cup of hot cider and enjoy the dramatic display of holiday lights at the picturesque Shore Acres State Park high on a bluff overlooking the Pacific. More than a quarter-million lights will illuminate the park’s five acres of formal gardens and statuary. www.shoreacres.net

Fargo, ND | November 29 – December 23 Santa Village at Rheault Farm Celebrate the season of giving this year by planning a visit to Santa Village at Rheault Farm, a 15-acre enclosed farm site. This non-commercial village provides space for children and adults to make special holiday memories.

www.fargoparks.com

Klamath Falls, OR | November 30 – December 6 Snowflake Festival Come experience a small town Christmas celebration that includes a tree lighting at Veteran’s Memorial Park, breakfast with Santa, coloring and essay contests throughout the week, snowflake mile run, wonderland of trees, and the annual parade. www.travelklamath.com

| december ASPEN, CO | DECEMBER 28

DENNIS BASSO FREESTYLE The Aspen Art Museum’s annual après-ski DENNIS BASSO FREESTYLE, sponsored by Aspen Magazine, is Aspen’s most exciting fashion and philanthropic winter event, and supports the museum’s internationally acclaimed contemporary arts programming. www.aspenartmuseum.org

Tupelo, MS | December 6 Reed’s Tupelo Christmas Parade Kick off the “most wonderful time of the year” with the 60th Annual Tupelo Christmas Parade. Tupelo struts the sights and sounds of the season with floats, marching bands, and processions of motorcycle club members and vintage auto enthusiasts. www.tupelomainstreet.com

Vail, CO | December 8-14 Vail Snow Daze Snow! Come celebrate the start of the winter season at Vail with a week’s worth of special events. Each day DJ’s spin tunes and rock the base areas. On-mountain bands perform. Snowball eating contests and a Happy Birthday to Vail Bash are also part of the fun. www.vail.snow.com

Encinitas, CA | December 11-23, 26-30 Quail Botanical Garden, Garden of Lights Light up the holiday season with the spectacular “Garden of Lights” celebration at the picturesque Quail Botanical Garden in Encinitas. The annual event includes an extravaganza of more than 100,000 sparkling lights, transforming the gardens into a winter wonderland. www.qbgardens.org

Atascadero, CA | December 12 A Winter Wonderland and Street Faire Enjoy the tree lighting ceremony, holiday refreshments, gift booths, live music, games and tons of snow for non-stop sledding. Visit with Santa or enjoy a carriage ride. Don’t miss the ice sculpting show. www.atascaderomainstreet.org

Steamboat Springs, CO | December 28 Strings Music Festival—Holiday Gala Concert Visitors typically come to this “Ski Town USA” for its famous champagne powder. For one special night the community adds a heavy dose of culture to its mix of fun. The Carnegie Mellon Trio takes the stage at the Sheraton Steamboat Resort and Conference Center. www.stringsinthemountains.com

Salt Lake City, UT | December 31 First Night 2009 Toast the New Year in downtown Salt Lake City at First Night 2009. Festivities start at 3 p.m. at the Gallivan Plaza. Live music, dancing, ice-skating and more! www.firstnightslc.org

American traveler November/december 2008 |

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Games The answers to clues in bold face print can be found in the magazine’s pages.

Solution on page 62 1

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56 | American traveler November/december 2008

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ACROSS 1 Cody’s kind of climbing 4 Flat-topped seamount 9 Related by blood 13 First man 14 Battery terminal 15 Baseball team 16 Treats a hide 17 Exhausted 18 Obtains 19 Exclamation of surprise 20 Small particle 21 Tupelo’s famous son 22 House of holy men 24 Back of the neck 26 Donkey 27 Put up with 31 Eugene’s favorite fowl 34 Trio 35 Arrest 36 Capital of Western Samoa 37 Irregularly notched, like a leaf 38 Stump 39 Witty remark 40 Express thoughts 41 Writers of verse 42 Tiptoeing 44 Holly berry color 45 Pleasing

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46 Manner of doing within the statutes 50 Michigan ______ in Lansing 53 Mines 54 Acknowledgement of debt 55 Luxuriant foliage 56 From the beginning (Latin) 58 Run-down part of a city 59 Off-Broadway theater award 60 More wan 61 Father 62 Pooh or Teddy ____ 63 Rendezvous 64 Very skilled person DOWN 1 Sun Valley’s state 2 Ecclesiastical rule 3 Printer’s measures 4 Gainesville’s gridiron pride 5 Oneness 6 Long ago 7 Lyric poem 8 Turner or Kennedy 9 Fisherperson 10 Capital of the Ukraine 11 Monetary unit of Peru 12 Capone’s nemesis 13 Smallest component 20 Untidy condition

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21 Fencing sword 23 New Zealand parrot 24 Thor or Odin 25 On sheltered side 27 Flip-flop or strap 28 Poker stake 29 Tense 30 Recedes 31 Water storages 32 Atop 33 Call to mind 34 Astrological term for 120-degree distance 37 Heroic 38 Soft drink 40 Haggard’s ______from Muskogee 41 Clothespins 43 Part of a stamen 44 Sharp reply 46 Resides 47 Fragrant spring flower 48 Jewelers’ magnifying glass 49 Arizona territorial prison site 50 Song by Weezer 51 Pipe 52 Home for India and China 53 Cal _____ in SLO 56 Able 57 Ingot 58 Mineral spring

AmericanTraveler

Kids’ Page For two players!

Take turns. Connect the dots one line at a time, and see how many boxes you can make. The person with the most boxes at the end wins the game!

Don’t forget to initial the boxes you win!

Seek and find these hidden words

E A K S A E L I F K WO OO N C S E A R Y S

R V R R F L O L V D D

S E T T O L T K O F T

S K F R D A L R L D K

L ME S A R Y N A I E K I OK MH S F OO N F K G OG F N A F R R

T F O O F R O S T Y I

R A U S K A U V O A L

A C S R S M T T K Y H

MY TRIP TO GRANDMA’S HOUSE

marshmallow gloves fire hat cold turkey snowflake cookies frosty

By Lexie Wright

noun noun noun I arrive at the airport with my ____________ in our ___________.

My _____________gets noun adjective the _____________ out of the car. My suitcase is __________________.

As we go through the noun noun verb noun _______________ I smile at the ______________.

We ____________ to the _______________ . noun verb On the plane, we fasten our ________________.

I like to _________________while I am flying. noun noun We get to ___________________ I get to see __________________.

Grandma pops out and gives me adjective noun a big ____________.

Dinner smells so _______________________. adjective noun There is turkey in the oven and _______________on the stove and lots of other ____________things to eat. I noun love to go to Grandma’s __________________. adjective noun Seeing family is always a _____________way to spend ___________________.

58 | American traveler November/december 2008

Games

Kakuro Puzzle How to play: A Kakuro puzzle is simple. Just like

Sudoku, the playing area is made up of blocks of squares that run in rows (horizontal) and in columns (vertical). The shaded clue squares have diagonal lines with numbers above and below the line. The number above the line is the “across” clue and the number below the line is the “down” clue.

Together, the blank squares following the number clues are an “entry.” The object of Kakuro is to fill in the entry using only digits 1 through 9 so that the sum of the entry equals the clue given.

12

13 10

33

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26 4

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In Kakuro, there are three simple rules to follow:

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clue to its left (for across) or directly above it (for down).

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RULE #3: Within an entry, you may not use a num-

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Solution on page 62.

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RULE #2: You may only use the numbers 1 through 9.

ber more than once. Unlike Sudoku, a number may be repeated within a row or column if it occurs in a different entry separated by a clue.

9

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RULE #1: Each entry must equal the sum of the number

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For more original Kakuro puzzles, check out The Original Kakuro Book: The Latest Puzzle Craze Since Sudoku by the Puzzle Society™, published by Andrews McMeel Publishing and available at all major bookstores. Play Kakuro, Sudoku and crosswords on the web at www.puzzlesociety.com. Puzzle © 2006 Andrews McMeel Publishing.

307.733.4159 800.543.6328

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American traveler November/december 2008 |

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7/18/07 12:02:52 PM

travel Games

Don’t know much geography?

You’re not alone. Even frequent travelers often spend so much time flying over the continent, they’re not aware of where they are or where they’ve been. Test your travel smarts with these quizzes.

LANSING ATLANTA HELENA JUNEAU AUGUSTA HONOLULU CARSON CITY JACKSON LINCOLN COLUMBIA

Capital Ideas Think you know this country? Maybe you’ve memorized the names of state capitals, but can you find them on the above map? Try matching the cities listed at right with their location:

Frequent Flier Smarts: Let’s be honest sometimes airport code names seem to make no sense. Have you ever wondered why Chicago’s O’Hare is abbreviated ORD? Or, why Orange County’s John Wayne Airport carries the SNA designation. Here’s the scoop. O’Hare was once known as Orchard Field, The mailing address for John Wayne Airport is in Santa Ana, California. Test your airport savvy by matching the codes with the facilities:

1. DDH

_______ Bennington, Vermont

2. DTW

_______ Columbus, Ohio

3. DXR

_______ Danbury, Connecticut

4. JAX

_______ Detroit, Michigan

5. COL

_______ Jacksonville, Florida

6. SRQ

_______ Las Vegas, Nevada

7. VGT

_______ Sarasota, Florida

Capital Ideas Answers: B- LANSING, G- ATLANTA, D- HELENA, A- JUNEAU, I- AUGUSTA, J- HONOLULU, H- CARSON CITY, F- JACKSON, C- LINCOLN, E- COLUMBIA DDH - Bennington, Vermont, COL - Columbus, Ohio, DXR - Danbury, Connecticut, DTW - Detroit, Michigan JAX - Jacksonville, Florida, VGT - Las Vegas, Nevada, SRQ - Sarasota, Florida

60 | American traveler November/december 2008

Travel and Dining Guide JACKSON HOLE, WY

VENTURA, CA

SPLURGE! November 28 - December 15, 2008 Get away before the holidays, relax, shop, and pamper yourself! Take advantage of significant discounts and packages offered from some of Jackson’s finest hotels, boutiques and cafés!

EXPERIENCE A REAL CALIFORNIA ADVENTURE. Gateway to Channel Islands National Park, Ventura offers the ultimate adventure whether you seek an island excursion, whale watching, antique shopping, an amazing arts scene or fine dining. You can do it all in Ventura’s quaint, unspoiled environment.

Get your free visitor guide now: 800-4-ventur www.ventura-usa.com/sw

307-733-3316 www.jacksonholechamber.com

ZION NATIONAL PARK

TOLLGATE CANYON

SOUTHERN UTAH

Best western zion park inn will provide the comfort and amenities while you enjoy the majestic beauty of Zion National Park. Restaurant, gift shop, convenience and liquor store, hot tub HSIA, Brian Head skiing one hour away. Ask for “ATM Package.”

4-SEASONS i n Tol l g ate Canyon! Spectacular, south-facing views in this 2007 3bed/2bath architect remodel w/amazing deck. Just 40 minutes from SLC, 20 minutes from world-class resorts in Park City, UT. Live and play in the mountains all year!

801-809-2029 www.cninegroup.com

SOUTHERN UTAH – LAKE POWELL. Lake Powell is the place to enjoy H20 Paradise this fall. Water temperatures are perfect. The outdoor temperatures are very comfortable. Less people are on the lake in the fall, making it more fun for families. Rent a houseboat, speed boat or jet ski. www.lakepowell.com www.kaneutah.com

PARK CIT Y, UT

SNOWBIRD, UT

PINEDALE, W Y

PARK CITY and its three world-class resorts—The Canyons, Park City Mountain and Deer Valley—are just a 35-minute ride from Salt Lake City International Airport. And once you’re here, over 100 restaurants and bars, dozens of shops, galleries, spas and theaters are even more accessible. For Hot Deals, visit our website. www.parkcityinfo.com

SNOWBIRD is North America’s most accessible major ski resort, only 29 miles from Salt Lake City International Airport. Early week stays start at $159 ppdo including lift ticket (2 night minimum). Sunday-Thursday nights (excluding Friday and Saturday nights); blackout dates include 2/15/09-2/19/09. Offer begins 01/05/09 and expires 4/02/09.

800-880-5738 www.snowbird.com

CRESTED BUT TE, CO

V I C TO R, I D

K E TC H U M, I D

Buy two airline tickets­­—Get one FREE! Crested Butte Mountain Resort, “Colorado’s Last Great Ski Town” has Colorado’s best snow and grooming! 1880’s towns, friendly locals and our laid-back lifestyle will help you disconnect and reconnect to what’s important in life! Inspire your passion!

Details on: www.GunnisonCrestedButte.com 800-323-2453

Bernard’s Bistro at Teton Reserve has a growing cult following…the atmosphere is intimate and comfortable yet sophisticated and the menu flows from Pan-Asian to French to Italian to Hawaiian fare and back again—always creative, fresh and memorable. For reservations, call Bernard’s Bistro at 208-787-4224.

Ketchum Grill offers contemporary American cuisine served in casual and rustic surroundings.

We use locally grown produce to create food full of flavor that you and your guests will love. Featuring an award-winning wine list.

800-934-7275

www.zionparkinn.com

Winter is Fun! Come see why—skiing, snowmobiling, hot chocolate by the fire, even snow angel making— spend some quiet time with us. Sublette County Visitor Center, Pinedale, Wyoming.

888-285-7282 www.MountainManCountry.com

Reservations online at www.ketchumgrill.com or call 208-726-4660 • 520 East Ave. Ketchum

Game solutions Solution to Crossword on page 56

A T O M

I D A H O

D A M S

U C P I O T N E

S L O B

C A N O N

T A U S B I E A

E M S

G A T M O K E R A S S K S A E O P A K I N I C T E H A E P R T

U N I T Y T R I N E B A R

Solution to Kakuro on page 59

Y O T O D E R E D E E N A P T O L E H R E E O S E N E P G R E L E G P I T S O V O L E R Y S T

K I N I N E E T S V I S

A N S T O E D A L I S L P A A C

T A U T

E B B S

L O U P E

Y U M A

13 10

33

9 2 6 7 8 1 3 45 7

7

6

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For more of Leigh Rubin’s humor check out his new, 2009 Rubes Zoo in a Box daily desk calendar, available at your favorite neighborhood or online bookstore, visit www.willowcreekpress.com/rubes or call: 800-850-9453.

62 | American traveler November/december 2008

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4 19 5 1 9 7 1 12 1 3 9 7 2 7 6 1 1014 5 26 2 9 1711 8 3 1117 7 3 1 2 4 19 2 8 9 1611 3 8 412 9 3 23 8 1 9 6 2 5 4 3 3 13 11 4 9 4 3 2 5 1 1 4 3 29 19 9 16 6 1 2 6 12 21 9 6 1 3 2 16 4 11 15 3 1 3 2 5 1 17 12 6 9 35 45 9 5 8 4 1 3 2 7 6 13 3 3 8 20 6 2 1 24 1 7 18 7 9 4 12 5 23 32 14 9 7 2 8 6 3 1 2 1 3 8 11 12 11 24 8 3 9 3 8 3 3 8 9 7 11 8 6 1 7 4 13 9 4 1 7

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| 63

Journey’s End

Think you know America’s landscape?

Do you know this place? Famed Montana State University paleontologist Jack Horner understands this territory. It’s home to some of the greatest dinosaur finds in North America. You can read about Horner’s work on page 12 of this magazine. To learn even more, check out the newly released Discover Essential Dinosaur Pack, a two-disc DVD set. It includes the complete four-part Emmy Award-winning Dinosaur Planet, details of Horner’s work and more.

To win a free copy of the set, be among the first five travelers to correctly identify this location. To enter, simply send us a postcard or letter including your answer and the airport location where you saw the magazine.

Frequent Reader Alert: The answer to our last Journey’s End challenge? South Dakota’s BadLands To enter, simply send a postcard or letter to: American Traveler Journey’s End contest Go! Publications, Inc. 205 North 10th Street, Suite B100 Boise, Idaho 83702

Contest expires December 31, 2008 and is not open to employees of Go! Publications or their families.

Offer void where prohibited.

Be sure to tell us where you saw American Traveler Magazine!

64 | American traveler November/december 2008

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