Cave Run Resort & Stables

Archive for September, 2010

Courchevel — a Ski Resort You Just Can’t Miss

Courchevel is part of the Savoy department of France. It is actually five ski resorts in one. There are nearly 120 km of cross-country ski tracks and over 180 ski lifts-and one ski pass to ride them all. There’s everything from four-star top-notch hotels to two-star itsy-bitsy rooms available for accommodation.

Courchevel Rapid Fire Facts:

- Courchevel is actually five ski resorts in one.

- The name of each resort ends with the appropriate height in meters.

- However, the biggest-Courchevel 1850-is in reality only 1747 meters.

- Courchevel 1550 was the original Courchevel.

- The area is the largest internally linked ski resort in the world.

- One town in Courchevel does not have a corresponding height attached to it-LaTania.

- Courchevel 1850 was not originally a town. It was built from the ground up as a ski resort.

- The Courchevel airport is only 525 meters long with an 18.5% gradient.

- The five names of Courchevel reflecting the altitude with the preceding number are Courchevel 1850, Courchevel 1650, Courchevel 1550, Courchevel Le Praz 1300 and La Tania.

- The area of Savoy (Courchevel) fell to the Roman Empire around 1030 and later became known as the “Gatekeeper to the Alps.”

- In the 1930s, the French Commission of Tourism wanted a “super ski resort.” They wanted the largest ski resort of any the world over. With the connection of lifts and valleys, today the dream is a reality.

Courchevel, France: Height of Ski & Class

Courchevel is part of the Savoy department of France. It is part of Les Trois Vallees or The Three Valleys. Because of its super-chicness, it receives millions of tourist per year. Though planned previously for the moneyed and privileged of society, today the moneyless too can stake a claim on any one of the 600 km of ski slopes, with an additional 150 km of ski runs in Courchevel proper. Moreover, there are nearly 120 km of cross-country ski tracks and over 180 ski lifts-and one ski pass to ride them all! The classes merge into one as the slope and trails swallow skiers into jovial oblivion.

Courchevel: Offering Something Fun for Everyone

Though it may not matter how many banknotes you carry in your pocketbook, it does make sense to select a ski slope or course suitable to your level. Courchevel offers all sorts of slopes, trails and piste for newbies to advanced skiers alike.

Since many of the slopes are north facing, and the ski resorts hire just as many winter workers as summer laborers, it’s no wonder that the snow is groomed and always reliably fast. You can take morning ski instruction classes from one of three ski schools, shake a leg at snowboarding in the afternoon and then fine-dine throughout the evening. You’ll easily have time for all of it-as the lifts should be called express lifts-because they carry thousands of skiers uphill every hour of every day. Plus, with nearly 500 snow cannons and a couple-dozen piste bashers, you’ll never run out of paths.

Courchevel Hotels

Because Courchevel is known for its high-class swank habitués, the hotels have been built to suit. With an abundance of 90 resorts in all of Courchevel (1850 to La Tania), there’s everything from four-star top-notch hotels to two-star itsy-bitsy rooms. Though, here, the star system is used to reflect the level of facilities-including proximity to trails-and not just the level of interior comforts. One hotel might be starred higher than another, for example, but the other may, as matter of fact, have more luxury.

Examples of Courchevel Resort Hotels:

Four-Star Courchevel Resort Hotels:

- ALPES HOTEL DU PRALONG

- HOTEL ANNAPURNA

- HOTEL CARLINA

- HOTEL CHEVAL BLANC

- HOTEL LE MELEZIN

- LES GRANDES ALPES

Three-Star Courchevel Resort Hotels:

- HOTEL LES FLOCONS

- HOTEL MONTANA

- HOTEL TELEMARK

- HOTEL LES PEUPLIERS

It’s More Than Gambling: Fun Things To Do And See While In New Jersey

What You Find In Monmouth County and Ocean County

Monmouth and Ocean Counties encompass the northern New Jersey shore. It has roughly 36 beaches such as the Sandy Hook Gateway National Recreation Area. This recreational spot allows you to enjoy the nature hike and sun while taking in some history of the area.  The majority of New Jersey’s 23 lighthouses are located in this area including the famous Sandy Hook Lighthouse.

What You Find In Atlantic County and Cape May County

Go further south and you’ll head right into the Atlantic and Cape May Counties of New Jersey. Here, you will find the gambling Mecca called Atlantic City, centered two-thirds the way down the shoreline. It became a gambling Mecca when the Resorts Casino Hotel opened its doors in May 1978.

There are currently 13 casino-hotels in the city with many more in the planning stages to be built. The majority of Atlantic City visitors are day-trippers but the city developers have been trying to broaden their horizons. They’ve included a world-class convention center complex, citywide revitalization project and better boardwalk entertainment.

Looking Beyond Atlantic City: What Other New Jersey’s Cities Have To Offer

Go a bit further south of Atlantic City and you’ll find Ocean City. Here, you’ll see a two and half mile boardwalk, full of food, rides and fun. You’ll also find Ocean City Music Pier, over 200 miniature golf holes, one-of-a-kind shops, festivals and parades that occur year round.

Further down south, there’s the Sea Isle City, Stone Harbor and Avalon, which offer up nice, unspoiled beaches and wetlands that allow for interesting bird watching. There’s also Wildwood, highly known for its four amusement piers and a three-mile beach.

At the end of it all is Cape May, which is classic Victorian style town. It alone, it is a National Historic Landmark with 600 refurbished Victorian homes.

Types Of Activities That Can Be Done Along The Shore and In The Water

While you have plenty to do on land, there’s just as much stuff to do on the water.  Choose an activity you think you’d enjoy including windsurfing; you can also do some saltwater fishing either from a boat, dock or bridge.

Lake Wanaka, New Zealand

One of New Zealand’s famous tourist destination in the South is Lake Wanaka found in the South Island. Superb adventures and superb landscapes are two compliments that are usually linked to Lake Wanaka. Apart from its outdoor activities, this adventure haven is at most qualified to provide a relaxed holiday for everyone, offering tranquil surroundings and inspiring landscapes to soothe a fine day.

Kayaking, scenic flights, boating, fishing, mountain biking, are just a few of things to experience when you come to Lake Wanaka and doesn’t cost a fortune. Whether you head east or west, there is always something to see and do which makes Wanaka one of New Zealand’s famous vacation haven.

You’ll be amazed by the oddities you can find at the Puzzling World located just two kilometres from Lake Wanaka. It offers the world’s first “modern-styled” Great Maze, incredible Illusion Rooms, a Puzzle Centre/Café, large Gift Shop and eccentric architecture and oddities.

Or simply take a short walk or cycling around Lake Wanaka amongs its, Thunder Creek Falls, Cameron Creek , Blue Pools , Bridle Track, and Haast Pass / Tioripatea Lookout. Most of the walks are signposted although the some of these signs can be difficult to see.

If you are coming to Lake Wanaka during the winter season, world class ski resorts awaits you with spectacular scenery for the ultimate winter holiday destination. This is the perfect place to escape the heat. At Cardrona Alpine Resort, family facilities, pipes and terrain parks could make it an unforgettable winter holiday. Treble Cone is the largest skiable area in the South Island while Snow Park is a freestyler’s paradise, New Zealand’s only dedicated freestyle resort. The Snow Farm is home to some world-class cross-country skiing with plentiful tracks high on the Pisa Range.

Whatever the season is, take advantage to climb large rocks in Lake Wanaka. Or go fishing all your way amongst its lakes. If you are coming in autumn, the poplars and willows shed their leaves in a riot of gold. Explore the wineries or get married in Wanaka.

Apart from all above, The Mount Aspiring National Park will make the holiday complete. Just a few minutes of drive from Wanaka.