Juneau, Alaska

Mendenhall Glacier
photo courtesy Juneau Convention & Visitors Bureau

At the base of grand mountain peaks and at the pristine waterfront of the Gastineau Channel is Juneau, Alaska's Peak Experience.

March 2009 - Mendenhall Glacier Winter Fireside Series

"The Glacier Wolf: Tales from Southeast Alaska."

Writer/photographer Nick Jans reads from his soon-to-be-released collection of SE Alaska essays. Enjoy a slide show of the wildlife and landscapes that inspired his latest book. Friday evening presentations at the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center are free and open to the public. Programs begin at 6:30 and 8pm.

For More info and events visit www.traveljuneau.com

Extreme Colorado

Snowmobile race during Colorado's Winter Games
photo courtesy Colorado Tourism office

It’s easy to find unusual and extreme adventures in Colorado. From zip lining in Durango and mountain boarding in Snowmass to new adventure sports like sledging in Aspen and paddle surfing in Glenwood Springs, Colorado is one of the top adventure destinations.

It doesn’t stop with those sports; there’s also Jeep Ice Races in Georgetown, ice climbing in Ouray, ATV rides along the Continental Divide, mountain biking in Fruita, Crested Butte and, well, just about anywhere in Colorado.

For more information visit www.colorado.com
 

Spa City ~ Hot Springs, Arkansas

Photo courtesy Hot Springs Convention & Visitors Bureau
Hot Springs, Arkansas

The city has been a tourist mecca for generations and boasts, in addition to the thermal waters, 52 family attractions that include Oaklawn Park, one of the nation’s premier Thoroughbred racing facilities; Magic Springs & Crystal Falls theme parks; a 400-passenger riverboat on Lake Hamilton; a thriving fine arts community that has earned the city the No. 4 position among “America’s Top 100 Small Arts Towns”; several family music shows; more than 200 restaurants; 4,000 hotel, motel and bed and breakfast rooms, and much more.

The city takes its name from the natural thermal water that flows from 47 springs on the western slope of Hot Springs Mountain in the historic downtown district of the city. Approximately 800,000 gallons of 143-degree water flow from the springs each day. The rate of flow is not affected by fluctuations in the rainfall in the area. Studies by National Park Service scientists have determined through carbon dating that the water that reaches the surface in Hot Springs fell as rainfall in an as-yet undetermined watershed 4,000 years earlier. The water percolates very slowly down through the earth’s surface until it reaches superheated areas deep in the crust and then rushes rapidly to the surface to emerge from the 47 hot springs.

For more information visit the city’s award-winning website
at www.hotsprings.org
 

Greater Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Photo courtesy Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention and Visitors Bureau

Couples looking for the perfect Valentine's Day getaway filled with romance, idyllic settings and an affordable price tag should follow their hearts to Greater Fort Lauderdale. Known as the "Venice of America" for its 300 miles of inland waterways – complete with gondola rides – Greater Fort Lauderdale's casually sophisticated atmosphere is complimented by beautiful beaches, romantic waterfront restaurants and charming accommodations that let couples relax and rekindle the fire any day of the year.

For couples looking to get away for a week, a weekend or just an afternoon or evening, Greater Fort Lauderdale is offering Valentine's specials that help make romantic planning simple.

For information on specific packages, visit www.sunny.org