Lake Chelan - so much to do, so little time

While in Chelan, there are a variety of activities to keep you busy. While I am there, I always stay in Manson, which is about 7 miles east of Chelan on the Lake. Whether you are right in Chelan or in one of the smaller towns around the Lake, there are plenty of things to entertain you while you're there.

First off, I have to mention the water activities. When you go, I HIGHLY recommend renting a boat. The Lake is so fun to explore and is so vast that without a boat you'll never get the full experience. My personal favorite is to motor out to a nice sunny spot in the middle of the Lake and park - then you can lay out, swim, play games, drink, eat, you get the idea. Aside from my lazy days, you can also wakeboard/water ski, tube, parasail, rent jet skis, go fishing, the list goes on. And before I move on from water activities, I have to mention the areas near Chelan that have fun amusement parks on the water - they are giant blow-up toys that live on the Lake and look like they could be a blast for the younger kids in your group. There is also a waterpark called Slidewaters that has a variety of fun activities for a family-style trip.

Aside from all of the fun you can have on the water, my next pick would be to check out some of the wineries. Over the years, Chelan has grown to be quite the wine country and my favorite is Wapato Point Cellars. On this visit, I had the pleasure of meeting Mama Carol and she was just as sweet as she could be. If you go, definitely ask for her. :) The winery does tastings starting at noon daily and they are complimentary. The bottles are pretty reasonable ranging from around $15-$30 and glasses starting at only $5. They also have a great little restaurant (Winemaker's Grill) on the property and during our tasting I discovered that if you buy a case, you receive a free dinner for two! Dinner begins serving at 5 p.m. If you'd like to check out the rest of the wineries in the area, click HERE

If you are still looking for something different than what is mentioned above, maybe you would be interested in exploring the orchards. Chelan is known for it's soil and all of the wonderful food that is able to be grown there. I will come back to this spot when I go over places to eat but for now, let's talk about their berry farm. Blueberry Hills is a fantastic little family homestead that has a restaurant and also a u-pick berry farm. You can choose from blueberries, raspberries and blackberries. They are all delicious and it's the kind of experience that is only found in small towns - which I personally don't get to enjoy often enough. So do me a favor and check this place out while you're there! :)

It's a Deal!

How fitting that a Lake Tahoe deal was delivered right to my inbox today...Travelocity is advertising rates for Tahoe on flights, hotels and activities. If you are in the process of planning a trip - check out this link: Travelocity Tahoe Deals! You may find just what you are looking for. :)

Napa Valley - more than just wine

If you've exhausted yourself with the wineries, there are plenty of other fun activities to check out while in the area.

I mentioned COPIA in an earlier post and it's a must see! It's the perfect place to learn about the area and have the chance to mingle with other visitors and experts. COPIA is a non-profit that began in 2003 offering a variety of things to explore including art exhibitions, edible organic gardens, films, concerts, etc. Whether you're a home cook or a gourmet chef, a wine novice or connoisseur - there's something here for everyone. Oh...and if you have time to stay for a bite, Julia's Kitchen is a must (that's Julia, as in Julia Child...now you see what I mean!).

Another way to experience the area and still get out and active is through a bike tour. Check out Wine Country Bikes located outside of Napa in Healdsburg for a variety of tour options and get a chance to see wine country in a whole new way!

If you have the chance, there are hot springs in Calistoga and I found a great deal on mud baths. These are so fun for a group and romantic for couples. Click here to check out the deals at Golden Haven Hot Springs Spa & Resort.

Last but not least, another tasting. But wait, it's not what you think! Try an olive oil tasting - thanks to Giada and her latest travel show, I learned about Round Pond Vineyard which offers olive oil tastings and it looked so fun...and yummy too! The vineyard is located about 14 miles north of Napa so keep that in mind when planning your travels. I have this one on my personal list for my next trip. It's the wannabe foodie in me. :)

PS - thanks Kell for the tip on Giada's show, it definitely came in handy!

Rocky Point - sun and sand

First off - Happy Birthday Mom! I hope you have a wonderful day and I'm thrilled that I'm able to spend it with you.



So, while in RP there are many activities that are available if you are seeking more than just sunbathing and lounging. I usually do just that but I have done most of the activities below on one trip down there or another and they are always very fun.

The activities won't come as a huge surprise - there's parasailing and like every vacation spot on the water, they have banana boats...just be careful to pay attention, my friend Kirsten got caught in the rope last year and she isn't too anxious to get back on the banana any time soon. :)

Land activities include sand volleyball which is always a fun way to meet other visitors. You can also rent ATVs and roll out onto the dunes - but if you've never done it, just be prepared that your hands will be very sore the next day from holding on! And pulled straight out of a romance novel - you can horseback ride on the beach. And even though I have no idea what the name of this activity is...they have a flying dune buggy looking contraption that seems a bit like a death wish but it's always fascinated me - so if you happen to be down there and are feeling lucky, let me know how it goes! :)

The last activity that I would highly recommend is to head into town and do a little haggling shopping. You can find pretty much any chotchke you can think of and some really fun souvenirs. The last time I went, I brought back a beer holster for my boyfriend...yes, you read that correctly - beer holster. It's made of leather and has the emblem of the beer of your choice and it attaches to any belt. My point is, they have everything! Brush up on your negotiation skills and never take the first price! PS - you can always find fresh shrimp and I highly recommend buying some to bring home...yum!

Siesta Key - fun in the sun

Now I have to say from my own personal experience, I typically don't do much in terms of activities while I'm there.


Siesta Key - Day in the life of Melanie:
1. Wake up
2. Breakfast on the lanai or patio
3. Head to beach with munchies and drinks
(time lapse of 6-8 hours)
4. Dinner at home or in the Village
5. Night swim in the pool
Repeat :)

So...I'll do my best to describe the activities that are available - which is pretty much anything you can do in an island atmosphere. Aside from laying on the beach (which is now established as being my favorite activity), there's also a few others to explore. I'll break them up into Sand, Water and City.

Sand - probably one of the most popular pastimes is shell collecting. I've found huge sand dollars completely in tact, those cute little curly-que ones, large iridescent ones, you name it. The best place to hunt for shells is Turtle Beach - it was recently restored after suffering from some erosion issues so it should be back to top shape. Aside from shells, there's beach volleyball and sand castles (there are amazing artists that participate in the annual competition in early May each year - it's unbelievable).

Water - there's pretty much an endless amount of water sports and activities. Including jet skis, boats, parasailing, sailing, fishing, snorkeling, etc. I could go on to name every...single...one but I think you get the point. :)

City - there are tons of great little boutiques all over the island that are very fun to browse and bring home souvenirs. Additionally, another great shopping spot is St. Armand's Circle on Lido Key (pron. lee-doe). You'll find a variety of upscale shops and cafes, it's a great place to visit if you're looking for some real shopping. And I can't talk about activities without mentioning the Mote Marine Aquarium. It features sea life found off Florida's coast, but it also serves as a research facility and you can even tour the laboratory! You'll find sharks, sea turtles, dolphins, sting rays (that you can touch), eels and manatees (my favorite).

Holbox Island - out and about

Since this island is fairly undiscovered, don't expect TONS of things to do. But there are enough options to keep you busy especially if you take time to enjoy the beautiful beaches!

If you are looking for a little adventure to spice up your relaxing trip, a whale shark tour is the best way to go. Whale sharks are the largest living fish species and feed primarily on plankton, algae and krill. Despite the word "shark" in their name, they pose little to no threat to humans and are historically welcoming to divers and have been known to be playful. This opportunity is available from June to September while the whale sharks enjoy the warm waters near Holbox. Most tours last approximately 5 hours and cost around $75-$85 per person.

Isla Pajaros "Bird Island" is another popular attraction for visitors to Holbox. The island is located about 30 minutes from Holbox by boat and is home to over 150 different bird species (PS - the island is only 200 feet wide!). To protect the fragile ecosystem, no humans are allowed to walk on the island but you can observe these birds in their natural habitat from viewing terraces and walkways that protect the birds and keep them safe. With the abundant amount of species that visit and live on the island, you can see birds nesting and mothers feeding their young at almost any time of the year. If you are a flamingo fan (I happen to know one), you'll want to mark your trip to fall between April and October. While flamingos typically feed on brine shrimp (which is how they achieve that beautiful pink/red color), when they are on Isla Pajaros, they enjoy little red crabs which continue to enhance their colorful feathers. The island is also home to iguanas, snakes and crabs (that have been living on this planet since the time of dinosaurs), in addition to a variety of plant life including cacti, mangroves and wild orchids. If you have the chance, sunset is the best time of the day to visit when all of the species in residence flock back to the island to roost. :)

Another great option, for those who want to see Isla Pajaros but not spend a full trip just there - check out a Holbox Island tour. It sounds straight-forward enough but really, you get to enjoy a variety of what the island has to offer - all in one trip. This boat tour will take you to Isla Pajaros for some time with our feathered friends and then you will be brought to the Yalahao Lagoon, where you can swim in the crystal waters of the natural spring (you can also snorkel if you bring your own equipment). The tour will conclude at Isla Pasion, where you can enjoy the virgin sandy beaches, tranquil water and listen to the rustle of the palm trees in the wind. What better way to end the day? :) By the way, when the boat takes you back to Holbox, you will pass through an ocean channel - it's not uncommon for you to see large pods of dolphins swimming in the channel and the island's fishermen at work. These tours run around $20-$25 per person.

Addiitonal activities include:

• Deep sea fishing tours
  
• Crocodile tours
  
• Chichen Itza ruins
  
• Snorkeling tours
  
• Horseback riding

Bora Bora - get out

While many people enjoy lounging (I'm definitely like that on some vacations), I know others are excited to try new activities and I thought it would be helpful to look into as many options as possible to make sure everyone can have the best trip at their own speed. :)
Here's the main activities to choose from:

• sun bathing (one of my personal faves) - try Matira Beach, it's the island's best sandy beach
  
• scuba diving - best lagoon spots are Too Pua, Anau (good for spotting rays), Toopua Iti and Mute Motu (near the airport); best ocean spots are Tapu, Tipitipiti and Muri Muri
  
• sailing - available for rent
  
• snorkeling - the marine reserve at Hotel Bora Bora is great for snorkeling
  
• windsurfing - quite a workout!
  
• jet skiing - available for rent
  
• waterskiing and wakeboarding - you'll need to rent a boat for these
  
• swimming - if you are staying in an over water bungalow...just climb down the stairs outside your door and slip right into the water!
  
• deep sea fishing - offering catches of marlin, wahoo, yellowfin, tuna, sailifish and mahi mahi
  
• glass bottom boat tours - available to book through your hotel
  
• safari mountain excursions and hiking - available to book through your hotel
  
• parasailing - provides an incredible view of the lagoon
  

The list goes on...But the most popular activity is shark feeding. Many may be a little aprehensive with this but it's a long-standing tradition and thousands of tourists experience it there every year. It's actually a very interesting technique - the guides use a rope to tie off an area for the guests in the water. Sometimes they will tie it to the boat, sometimes they will use the coral in the water and other times they will use rocks. The guides will get into the water alone with a good amount of (bloody) fish and once the fish are thrown into the water, it's seconds until the sharks arrive. The guide will signal you to get in when he knows it is safe and you are able to stay behind that rope in the water keeping a safe distance from the sharks but still close enough to see all of the action. There are also some guides that encourage you to swim with the sharks following the feeding. Although this usually doesn't last long since the sharks will typically swim away once they realize the food is gone. :) Additionally during this session you are also able to swim with, feed and pet rays. These rays are VERY large but very gentle and enjoy human contact. They are used to having people in the water with them and look forward to these feeding sessions. Your guides have developed "relationships" with both the sharks and the rays so you should feel very comfortable - focus on the incredible stories you'll have to tell when you get home! PS - definitely buy or rent an underwater camera, you'll be amazed at the pictures!