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augustmoon259 · 4 years

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For I shall already have forgotten you CHAPTER 3: ALFRED F. JONES

Madeline assumed that magical friends who only she could see, and a pet polar bear cub who used to be a stuffed animal were the end of her oddities.

She had assumed wrong.

The day after Kumarie had become a real bear started off normally compared to its predecessor. Madeline woke up groggily, searched for her glasses, and when she found them, proceeded to make her way to the bathroom. Too focused on squirting out just the right amount of toothpaste, she nearly dropped her toothbrush in shock when she finally looked up at the mirror.

Reflected back at her were not the deep blue Madeline had been used to for the past eighteen years. Instead, she saw violet.

Madeline took off her glasses, rubbed her eyes, and proceeded to put them back on. Nothing changed. Madeline’s eyes were still that unusual but evocative color.

Her father had always told her he loved the blue eyes she got from her mother. Truthfully, Madeline never knew what to make of that statement. She had heard stories of her mother from her father: a passionate and adventurous woman, a force to be reckoned with, and one that gave her love freely. Madeline loved her father and his stories, but to her, her mother was still a stranger. The blue of her eyes never seemed quite right to Madeline.

Now, examining her new eyes in the mirror again, Madeline felt she had regained a part of herself she was unaware she had lost.

As it turns out, she also had super strength now.

Madeline was trying to open a pickle jar so she could make a sandwich for her lunch. Pickle jars were notoriously hard to open and she had already exhausted her other options: using a spoon, running the jar under hot water, etc.

In a moment of frustration, Madeline attempted to simply just pry the lid off of the jar. To her surprise, she succeeded...a little too much. The lid came off, at the expense of cracking the jar. Luckily for Madeline, the jar did not crack entirely. Enough to keep the pickles safely inside and to avoid a mess for her to clean up.

Even with her annoyance fueling her, there was no way Madeline should have been able to open the pickle jar that easily. For the rest of the day, she practiced with her newfound strength. Soon enough, Madeline was able to control how much strength she used and for what. She could now do tasks ranging from squeezing an entire apple with her bare hands, to carrying her sofa up and down the stairs.

Inkblot, Sneak, Oggy, Susan, and Woodstock were just as clueless as her as to how her eyes suddenly changed colors, or why she had inexplicably gained super strength. Madeline chose not to pursue the matter further. Too many strange happenings had occurred to her in the span of a little over two days.

It was really no use trying to wrap her head around it all. The violet eyes she could pass off as contacts, but super strength is in no way a common, everyday event.

There were more important matters to deal with. Her father’s RV was still in perfect condition, but Madeline’s job was to make sure it was fully stocked. It had all the amenities like a kitchen, bathroom, laundry and dryer machine. What she needed was cooking supplies, clothing, toiletries, etc. Madeline was planning on traveling a couple of months, if not longer.

Then there was making sure the house was well taken care of while she was gone. Madeline had no issues with entrusting her neighbors to clean the house or mow the lawn every once in a while.

Come September, Madeline was ready to go. She had all the documents she needed to cross the border. Kumarie could turn back into a stuffed bear when the occasion called for it (how Madeline discovered this is a story for another day). Truly, this was for the best. Madeline did not relish the thought of explaining to the border services officer why she was traveling with a bear.

With wanderlust in her heart and optimism for the future, Madeline set out on the beginning of a new adventure.

Traveling through several U.S. states after crossing the Canada-United States border, Madeline saw it all. From the splendour and beauty of national parks to the urban life of populous cities. U.S. cities are drastically different from their Canadian counterparts. Madeline was grateful she had brought her bike along, but she also made sure to acquaint herself with the local forms of public transportation.

Another month had passed and the moderate temperatures of September turned into the cooler temps of October. Vibrant green foliage transformed into pleasant reds, oranges, and yellows.

The beginning of October found Madeline in Maryland. She had booked a week of her trip to stay at the famous Cherry Hill Park. Splitting her time at the park and in nearby Washington D.C., she and her magical friends thoroughly enjoyed their time sightseeing.

Inkblot, Sneak, Oggy, Susan, and Woodstock had never been outside of Canada before. Therefore, it was a new experience for them just as much as it was for Madeline. They saw all the famous landmarks, took a guided tour of the city, and had the pleasure to meet fellow tourists and friendly residents. All the while, Madeline took plenty of pictures. Her camera gear was safely stored away in her camera backpack, along with snacks, water, and whatever else she needed.

The last day of Madeline’s week was spent exploring the National Mall. Daytime ended as the sun set, ushering in the night. Washington D.C. was beautiful after dark.

Madeline was walking to the nearest metro stop from the mall. Despite it being nighttime, she wasn’t worried. She had taken self defense classes back in Canada, and that, paired with her strength, made her a force to be reckoned with.

Her loyal companions kept an eye out for any would be criminals. Madeline had sent Sneak, Susan, and Oggy back to the RV, but Inkblot and Woodstock stayed with her. They’d warn her upon noticing any would be criminals, and attack them if necessary to defend Madeline.

Just after turning a corner into another street, she saw it happening. A man, clad all in black and hiding his face with a ski mask, dragging a lone woman into an alleyway. The woman’s fear stricken face soon disappeared from Madeline’s view.

The sight of the unfolding crime left her shaken. What’s going on?, Madeline thought. Is this a robbery? An assault? She hadn’t been prepared for this. Madeline could defend herself, but she hadn’t planned on saving someone else’s life. I have to do something! Now! Every minute that passes, that man could kill this woman! Or something far worse…

This thought was what finally spurred Madeline to action. She sent Inkblot and Woodstock to examine the area, just in case the criminal had backup. Meanwhile, she’d deal with the lowlife herself.

Dim lighting and an empty street helped Madeline creep undetected to the alleyway. When she risked a peek, she saw the robber had knocked the woman out and was currently rifling through her purse. His back was facing Madeline.

She used his momentary distraction to approach him. With crouched legs and slow but steady breathing, Madeline managed to place herself right behind him. Immediately, she locked her arms around the robber’s neck and placed him in a sleeper choke hold. After fifteen seconds, the robber lost consciousness.

Madeline took out a roll of duct tape from her backpack. She duct taped the robber’s mouth and made sure to wrap his wrists and hands at least four times. Madeline was about to duct tape the robber’s legs together when she was interrupted by a voice.

“Need some help with that?”

Observing her from the entrance of the alleyway was a man who looked to be around her age, although he was taller than her. He was 177 cm (5'9.6") compared to her 162.3 cm (5’4”). He had short blond hair, a prominent cowlick, and sky blue eyes that stared at her behind his glasses. He wore dark jeans, a black undershirt, and a blue and white letterman jacket with matching sneakers. The sleeves of his jacket were decorated with space motifs: a rocketship, stars, and a UFO.

“My name’s Alfred F. Jones. Can I have yours, Ms. Heroine?”

Fun fact, a “camera backpack” is different from a regular backpack. There are several pockets/compartments to place your camera and camera gear, so your camera isn’t bouncing around like in a regular backpack.

Matthew is about as tall as Alfred, and the average height for a Canadian male is 5'9", so I'm making Madeline's height 5'4", the average female height in Canada.

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whiteheaddean00-blog · 5 years

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burningpainterface · 3 years

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Reasons To Choose Woodleigh Residences As Your Next Home

There is nothing quite like a visit to the famous Woodleigh Residences. The idyllic setting of this lovely 5 bedroom home overlooking the English River and boasting a view of the city of London is second to none. If you choose Woodleigh residences for your next vacation, you will be very pleased with the accommodations and the time spent there. This location offers plenty of attractions to see while you are here, but it is also quite close to many of the major attractions in the city of London. If you are planning on visiting during peak holiday times or doing anything that requires that you know where you are going every day, this is the perfect choice.

The area of North London, which you will find Woodley is known as London Heathrow. This area has all the major attractions located nearby including the Olympics Park, Buckingham Palace, Kensington Palace and even the London Eye. Many tourists choose to stay in one of the many luxurious hotels that are found in the area. Your stay can include a stay at the luxurious London Heathrow Airport, which offers all the modern conveniences you would expect from a hotel room.

You will also have access to several fun activities in the area including the famous Harry Potter Experience and the National Physical Therapy Museum. If you choose woodleigh residences for your vacation, you will be close to all the activity and attractions that you want to experience. You will be close enough to the city to take part in all of the activities and you can get to the gym and exercise while exploring the lake. In addition, you will have access to the lake which offers a variety of boating, water skiing, jet skiing, sailing and so much more.

One of the best parts about choosing Woodleigh residences for your vacation is that you will be able to purchase lakefront property. This gives you great lake front property and you can enjoy both the beauty of the lake and the convenience of a great house on the water. When you choose to stay in one of the many wooded top homes in the area, you will be close to a variety of different activities. For instance, if you love to fish, you can hire a charter and take your catch to dinner at one of the fine dining establishments on the lake. You can also take your family out for a day of water skiing and tubing or you can simply relax on the deck with a nice drink and watch the boats take off into the lake breeze.

You will also be able to choose Woodleigh residences Showflat that are close to great shopping. With all the shopping and fine dining that is offered in the area, you will find plenty of opportunities to shop when you choose woodleigh as your vacation home. You can choose to stay in one of the larger houses on the lake or you can choose to rent a cottage or house that is a short distance from the main residential area. Either way, you will be close enough to the shopping, dining and other activities that you want while you are enjoying your time at this vacation spot. Many of the houses on the lake are nestled among private golf courses and the views are simply breathtaking.

There are also many different types of accommodations to choose from. If you would prefer a more secluded area, there are plenty of RVs, boats and camping options that you can choose from. If you would like to be a little more out in the open, there are plenty of condos and town homes that are available for rental. If you like to explore new areas and are looking for a more permanent home, there are plenty of homes that are available for lease. Woodley, Va., truly offers something for everyone, no matter what your preferences.

No matter where you choose to live, you will be surrounded by some of the friendliest and most helpful people in the world. The people of Woodley, Va., are friendly and eager to help you every step of the way. In fact, they are quite renowned for their kindness and helpfulness. Many people who have chosen to live in this area all their lives find themselves wanting to return here year after year. Whether you are just getting started in your life or are an experienced real estate professional, you will definitely want to take advantage of everything that Woodley, Va., has to offer.

Woodley, Va., is just minutes away from three major cities, including Washington, D.C., and other popular spots such as Williamsburg and Newport News. If you are looking for a unique place to call home, you will not want to miss out on the many wonderful things that Woodley, Va., has to offer. These residents are very welcoming and make you feel at home no matter where you choose to live. With everything that Woodley, Va., has to offer, you will not regret your decision to purchase a house here.

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mjhomeservices1 · 3 years

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Best Cities to Live Near Dundalk, Maryland

Because of its diversified environment and range of cultures and attractions, Maryland is often referred to as "America in Miniature." Despite its tiny size, the state's wide shorelines, vibrant cities, and historical attractions make it a great vacation spot. To identify the finest places to visit in Maryland, U.S. News considered a variety of variables such as the state's variety of activities, affordability, and accessibility. Vote for your favorite places below to help decide next year's list. (Note: The coronavirus outbreak may have an impact on some of the following locations.) Before flying, consult the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the US Department of State.)

Baltimore

Ocean City is the ultimate family holiday spot, with its gorgeous stretch of sand and plethora of kid-friendly attractions. Its 10-mile-long beach features calm waves perfect for swimming and boogie surfing, as well as spectacular sunrises and fishing. In addition, Ocean City has a beautiful boardwalk with a variety of attractions. The boardwalk provides amusement park rides, arcade games, and entertaining attractions like Ripley's Ocean City, in addition to souvenir shops, pubs, and restaurants.

Annapolis

Annapolis is a great place to go boating because it overlooks the Chesapeake Bay. The United States' Sailing Capital offers a plethora of boating adventures. Throughout the year, Annapolis holds several sailing-related events, such as boat shows and races. If you prefer to stay on land, the town is home to the gorgeous United States Naval Academy campus, as well as Historic Annapolis, which features art galleries, stores, and attractions such as the Banneker-Douglass Museum.

Baltimore

Baltimore, despite its seedy reputation, is a vibrant city with a diverse range of attractions that appeal to a wide range of visitors. Sports fans could arrange their visits around seeing a Baltimore Orioles baseball game at Oriole Park at Camden Yards or a Baltimore Ravens football game at M&T Bank Stadium, while art aficionados should visit the Baltimore Museum of Art and The Walters Art Museum. The National Aquarium, the Maryland Science Center, and the Port Discovery Children's Museum are among the many family-friendly attractions available in Baltimore's famed Inner Harbor neighborhood for visitors with children.

Assateague

For a relaxing, nature-filled vacation, travel to Assateague Island, which is located 8 miles southwest of Ocean City. Assateague Island National Seashore, located on the Maryland side of the barrier island, has miles of sandy beaches as well as various hiking and biking paths. There's also Assateague State Park, which has a beachfront park as well as marshes teeming with animals. Keep your eyes out for Assateague Island's famous wild horses when swimming, surfing, beachcombing, sunbathing, or surf fishing. But keep in mind that these magnificent creatures are wild, so keep a safe distance between you and them.

Frederick

If you're interested in history, head to Frederick, Maryland, which has a long connection with the Civil War. Start your journey by visiting the Monocacy National Battlefield and the National Museum of Civil War Medicine, or rent a bike and ride the 10-mile Frederick History Bicycle Loop, which takes you to over 20 historical sites. After you've had your fill of history, visit Downtown Frederick to browse the hundreds of shops, art galleries, and restaurants. The Public Art Trail and the Frederick Wine Trail can both be found in the city center.

National Harbor

You will never be bored when visiting National Harbor because it is home to some of Maryland's top stores, restaurants, and entertainment venues. Go shopping at Tanger Outlets at National Harbor, eat at a waterfront restaurant, ride the Capital Wheel for a bird's-eye view of adjacent Washington, D.C., or listen to live music at a free summer concert. If you're looking for something a little more thrilling to do as the sun sets, head to MGM National Harbor to try your luck in the casino or see a performance in the 3,000-seat theatre.

Lake Deep

The largest freshwater lake in Maryland provides a plethora of outdoor recreational options. Summer is a great time to enjoy fishing, swimming, and kayaking because the weather is pleasant and dry. In the meanwhile, tourists can enjoy ice fishing, snowmobiling, and cross-country skiing in the winter when the lake freezes and its beaches are blanketed in snow. Arrive in the spring or fall to avoid the harsh winter temperatures while avoiding the throngs of summer visitors. Bike and hike around the lake during the shoulder seasons, and visit neighboring Swallow Falls State Park to see Muddy Creek Falls.

MJ Home Services LLC can help you with installation, maintenance, and repairs. Moreover, we offer the best mold removal services in Dundalk, Baltimore, and other nearby areas. Call us at (667) 444-2071 to schedule an appointment.

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perfectirishgifts · 3 years

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25 Top Hotel Holiday Events

New Post has been published on https://perfectirishgifts.com/25-top-hotel-holiday-events/

25 Top Hotel Holiday Events

Toast the season from the Krug Carnotzet.

While the holidays will be different this year, they can still be jolly. Hotels have come up with a bevy of imaginative and festive activities, including video chats with Santa, private sleigh rides, jingle bell jogs and to-go kits with everything from gingerbread to s’mores.

Whether you plan to stay in or venture out on a staycation, these Forbes Travel Guide-approved hotel activities will fill your holiday with good cheer:

Pair Cheese and Champagne

Cozy up in The Dolder Grand’s Krug Carnotzet, a barrel-shaped pop-up private dining space on the terrace of the Zurich hotel’s Saltz restaurant. Then sip exquisite champagne and warm up with rich, gooey fondue while gazing out at the city.

Zoom with Santa Claus. Credit:

Virtually Visit with Santa

Since social distancing prevents kids from sitting on old St. Nick’s lap, The Houstonian Hotel, Club and Spa set up a video chat with Santa in its Houston ballroom (Dec. 12). The exchange is captured as a video keepsake for parents.

Decorate these oversized houses.

Go Big with Gingerbread

Build a gingerbread village at The Ritz-Carlton, Tysons Corner. Decorate four massive gingerbread houses with icing and sweets while sipping hot chocolate and watching a private screening of your favorite holiday flick in the D.C. hotel’s new Ambassador Movie Theatre Room.

Get ski tips from an Olympian.

Ski with an Olympian

Madeline Hotel and Residences, Auberge Resorts Collection will put you on the slopes with Olympic skier Gus Kenworthy for an hour (Dec. 23-24). Afterward, stop by the Telluride hotel’s new Ski Recovery Lounge, which features Kenworthy’s favorite recovery rituals (like Hyperice and Normatec therapies) and his own cool-down playlist.

Savor more dining options in Deer Valley.

Dine in a Luxe Yurt

On Dec. 21, The St. Regis Deer Valley will debut Yurt Village, three yurts with mahogany latticework, plexiglass stargazing domes, windows overlooking the Wasatch Range and radiant heat. The luxe yurts, which seat eight, will serve lunch, après-ski and dinner.

Sip Fine Wine

The pandemic isn’t stopping the nation’s longest-running food and wine fest. Boston Harbor Hotel’s Boston Wine Festival (January-March) will offer virtual wine dinners Thursdays, and socially distant wine dinners Fridays and Saturdays spotlighting top wine and winemakers from around the world.

Get festive at Chatham Bars Inn.

Shake Up Holiday Libations

Step up your holiday entertaining with the help of Adam Couto, Chatham Bars Inn’s master mixologist. You’ll learn how to make eggnog and holiday grog during hands-on classes in the Cape Cod hotel’s new STARS Mixology Lounge throughout December.

Take a Jingle Jog

Although a canine isn’t required for Montage Palmetto Bluff’s Dec. 24 Jingle Bell Dog Jog 5K, it’s certainly more fun to have one (the South Carolina hotel will provide the bells). After the run, you’ll feel less guilty about indulging in Montage’s Cookie Pop Up Shop.

Send mail to Santa.

Write Letters to Santa

Children checking into Lotte New York Palace or The Towers will receive a postcard to write to Santa and drop into a special onsite mailbox. Later, a personalized response from Santa Claus will magically appear in their rooms.

Ride to Santa’s Workshop

Climb aboard a wagon to visit Santa’s workshop at Salamander Resort & Spa in Middleburg, Virginia, for a socially distanced photo op. After kids share their wishes, they’ll do a festive craft and then enjoy s’mores and hot cocoa at the fire pits.

Explore the terrain by snowshoe.

Embark on a Snowshoe Adventure

Starting in January, trek through the tranquil mountainside during a sunset snowshoe outing courtesy of The Lodge at Blue Sky, Auberge Resorts Collection in Park City. The final destination is a yurt, where mulled wine and fondue will warm you up.

Feed on Festive Flapjacks

Pendry San Diego adapted its annual Pancakes and Pajamas Brunch as a to-go kit, with cooked classic and red velvet pancakes, colorful toppings and a pair of children’s holiday pajamas from P.J. Salvage. Pre-order a kit here and pick it up Dec. 19 at Provisional Kitchen.

Do some yoga in the snow.

Do Some Snowga

Embrace Edgewood Tahoe’s wintry landscape with snowga in the Sierras. Take in the fresh mountain air and relax your mind as instructors take you through poses in an outdoor yoga experience on a patch of beachfront overlooking Lake Tahoe’s icy waters.

Partake in Après-Beach

Snowy destinations don’t have the corner on après experiences. The Ritz-Carlton, South Beach puts a Miami spin on it with Après Beach, a post-beach ritual with Veuve Clicquot and gourmet bites on the Starr Bar overlooking the Atlantic.

Dine in your own bubble.

Stay at a Hotel on Ice

Four Seasons Hotel Washington, D.C. transformed to a “Hotel on Ice,” with heated pop-up ice bubble domes on the patio of Bourbon Steak featuring spirits and champagnes by Moët Hennessy. Meanwhile, kids camp out in ice castles set up in their rooms.

Have a Fun DIY Holiday

Celebrate the season with Terranea Resort’s to-go activity kits. The Kids Club Family Gratitude Boxes is packed with arts and crafts, games, gratitude conversation cards and more. Or opt for the L.A. hotel’s other DIY kits with gingerbread houses, mandala painting, stargazing and s’mores to enjoy around one of the 228 onsite fireplaces.

Meet the man in red in the Santa Suite.

See Santa on the Beach

St. Nick is stopping in at Fairmont Mayakoba, Riviera Maya to visit with little ones in his own Santa Suite, a merry beachside dome. It’s complimentary to chat and take photos with the jolly old elf, but the hotel is collecting donations to aid the local community.

Throw a private Hanukkah celebration

Commemorate the Festival of Lights from the comfort of your accommodations at Ojai Valley Inn. The hotel will deliver a Hanukkah kit with an electric menorah, dreidels and chocolate gelt coins to kickstart your in-room holiday festivities.

Santa ditched the reindeer for a helicopter this year.

Celebrate Christmas Beachside

Forget white Christmases. Beachfront Grand Velas Los Cabos will mark Dec. 25 with Santa swooping in via helicopter, along with sandcastle competitions, cooking classes, sand bikes, an aromatherapy Spa Atelier workshop and private stargazing.

Enjoy a Private Concert

Commodore Perry Estate, Auberge Resorts Collection will grant concertgoers’ Christmas wish with a one-of-a-kind private experience in Austin’s iconic Paramount Theatre. Have a three-course dinner, cocktail experience and theater tour, followed by a screening of a vintage holiday movie or a musical performance.

Get into the holiday spirit in Houston.

Spend Time with Santa

At The Post Oak Hotel at Uptown Houston’s Holiday Workshop (Dec. 12-13), kids can decorate gingerbread houses, listen to carolers, have story time with Santa and nosh on light holiday bites while mom and dad hit the mimosa bar.

The hotel will send you out on a sleigh.

Go Sleigh Riding

Gallivant around Aspen in a horse-drawn carriage with a historian to explore the mining town and learn about its past. Hotel Jerome, Auberge Resorts Collection partnered with the Aspen Historical Society for the private sleigh rides.

Follow up skiing with a seafood spread.

Après-Ski in Tahoe

After day on the slopes and refueling at The Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe’s sumptuous après-ski spread with Moët & Chandon, shrimp cocktail, crab and caviar, revive yourself at the spa with a Ponderosa Pine Winter Body Scrub. Pine bark treats sore muscles, and a creamy exfoliation with local pine salve soothes dry skin.

Create Art

Children are invited to create their own masterpieces at Four Seasons Hotel One Dalton Street, Boston. The hotel will send craft kits to the room, and the Trifecta Trolley will stop by to mix up a holiday-themed mocktail at your door. Parents can order adult libations from the trolley, too.

Rosewood Miramar Beach will feel like home for the holidays.

Admire Bright Holiday Lights

Have a winter getaway at Rosewood Miramar Beach with the Home Sweet Miramar Package, and you’ll get a signature suite with a full-sized tree and decorating kit, an in-suite dinner, customized stockings and family pajamas, and use of the house car for a tour through the area’s best holiday light displays.

More from Travel Guide in Perfectirishgifts

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fuzzycolorinfluencer · 3 years

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Even Trump's fiercest critics say he may have gotten some world affairs right

On the world stage, many foreign policy experts say President Donald Trump has slashed and burned his way through international agreements and commitments on climate change, trade, troop deployments, public health, nuclear weapons and more.

But for the mother of an American hostage held overseas, the outgoing U.S. president has been exactly the global "advocate and ally" she's needed.

"Obviously there's only one measure of success in this situation, and we haven't had it yet because Austin is not home," said Debra Tice, speaking about her son, a 39-year-old former U.S. Marine who was kidnapped in Syria in 2012 while working as a journalist. He has not been heard from since.

GSA:Trump admin clears way for President-elect Biden's transition to officially begin

However, U.S. officials believe the Texan is alive and likely in the custody of either the Syrian government or a government-aligned militia. Trump has taken an active interest in the case and sent presidential envoys to Damascus to engage directly with President Bashar Assad's regime, most recently in August, when Trump's representatives discussed Tice's disappearance with the head of Syria’s intelligence agency.

Tice said her family's contact with U.S. officials during the Obama administration was dominated by "a constant shuffling of the cards" – being passed from official to official without clear purpose, and with little apparent strategy to secure her son's release. By contrast, she said, Trump has made "Austin's release a very high priority. He really has in his heart an intolerance for Americans being held against their will."

An American is detained or goes missing abroad:What happens next? Call Trump?

A complicated record

Trump got a "hell of a lot more" wrong than he got right, said Martin Indyk, a former U.S. diplomat and now a fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations think tank.

He threatened war with North Korea and Iran, and picked trade fights with Canada. He publicly attacked American allies and praised ruthless dictators. And as he leaves office, many fear he is ordering a precipitous withdrawal of U.S. forces from Iraq and Afghanistan that will come back to haunt the next administration.

The U.S. on Sunday formally withdrew from the Treaty on Open Skies, an agreement that allowed Russia and 34 participating nations to carry out reconnaissance flights over each other's territories. It was intended to reduce the risk of an accidental war.

In Trump's waning days:Pentagon to withdraw troops from Afghanistan, Iraq

But some foreign policy experts, ex-diplomats and even Trump's harshest opponents concede that for all of his "America First" nationalism and unorthodox style, Trump's various overseas initiatives have produced limited, qualified successes.

Streamlining the way American hostage cases are handled and improving communications with families is one such example, according to Bill Richardson, former New Mexico governor and U.S. ambassador to the United Nations who has spent decades trying to bring home Americans wrongfully held overseas.

Regarding NATO, Trump undermined the military alliance viewed for decades as integral for U.S. and European security. He made a point of truculently calling out rich allies who for years have failed to meet their share of NATO spending. Many, in fact, had been increasing their contributions before Trump's presidency.

But NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg has credited Trump's relentless complaints about the issue with having an impact.

Trump's Israel policy has been criticized for measures that deeply favored Israelis over Palestinians, such as moving the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, which Palestinians also claim as part of their future capital.

But Trump also presided over historic "normalization" agreements signed between some Arab states and Israel.

"We have to give credit where credit is due," said Shira Efron, a Tel Aviv-based policy advisor for the Israel Policy Forum, an American Jewish organization that works for a negotiated two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

"We can fault Trump for mismanaging the public relations around it. We can question his motivations," Efron added, mentioning that the deals are linked to arms sales. "But it is possible these agreements could be the start of something positive for the Middle East."

Reports:Israeli PM traveled to Saudi Arabia for clandestine meeting with crown prince

'Getting tougher on China'

While Trump's handling of the coronavirus pandemic, including his continuing alienation of China, has been criticized, other moves were necessary and there are areas where Trump is deserving of more credit, some analysts and experts say.

"In certain areas I think his instincts were right," said Lewis Lukens, who spent three decades in the U.S. foreign service, including stints as the U.S. ambassador to Senegal and Guinea-Bissau and as the acting ambassador to the United Kingdom. Lukens was abruptly fired in 2018 by Trump's U.S. ambassador to the U.K. after speaking positively about former President Barack Obama during a speech to English college students.

"Getting tougher on China and trying to really address some of Beijing's trade practices and military expansion in the South China Sea. That needed to be done," he said, referring to complaints that China makes it extremely difficult for American companies to compete on a level playing field. China is controversially building military bases on artificial islands in disputed sea territory as part of its pursuit of offshore resources.

There is now bipartisan consensus in the U.S. that China is a growing economic and national security threat to the U.S. And president-elect Joe Biden may keep some of Trump's hardline China policies in place even if he adopts a less controversial tone.

'His first love': Why Biden may be a foreign policy president despite domestic crises

Nuclear threats: No new wars

Lukens, now a senior partner in London for Signum Global Advisors, a public policy consultancy, said Trump was also correct to point out that the 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and world powers, including the U.S., did not nearly go far enough in addressing Tehran's ballistic missile program or support for regional militias.

'Treating us like garbage':Many Iranian Americans feel fed up with Trump

"What I have an issue with is the execution," he said, noting that there's been no indication whatsoever that Trump's unilateral decision to pull the U.S. out of the Iran nuclear agreement has accomplished what was intended: reigning in Iran.

On the contrary, a report issued by the International Atomic Energy Agency, the United Nations' nuclear watchdog, concluded this month that Iran’s uranium stockpile is now 12 times larger than permitted under the nuclear accord that Trump abandoned. It's a dramatic increase that may partly account for why, according to a report in The New York Times, Trump recently asked his senior advisers whether he had options to take action – military strikes – against Iran’s main nuclear site in the coming weeks.

Reports:Trump explored military strike on Iran

On perhaps the most dangerous threat he faced – North Korea's nuclear arsenal –Trump veered from bellicose threats to fuzzy diplomacy. He held three high-profile summits with North Korea's dictator-leader Kim Jong Un aimed at denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula, which Tufts University's Fletcher School Korean studies professor Sung-Yoon Lee characterized as yielding "less than nothing" and ultimately "dangerous" because it has bought Pyongyang time to develop its nuclear weapons program while "being nice and saying: 'Let's meet.'"

The summits produced little beyond photo-ops.

'Faded away into a dark nightmare': North Korea says Trump's diplomacy has failed

Max Abrahms, a professor of political science and public policy at Northeastern University, said that for all Trump's tough and sometimes non-sensical talk on China, Iran and North Korea, he has not started anynew wars.

Afghanistan: Closer to ending 'endless war'

In Afghanistan, Trump has actually moved closer to ending America's longest military conflict by reaching a conditional peace deal with the Taliban and supporting separate peace talks between Afghanistan's government and the militant Islamic group.

Few impartial observers believe Trump's drawdown of U.S. troops in Afghanistan from 4,500 to 2,500 by January will benefit Afghanistan itself. In fact, it's likely to boost the Taliban's bloody insurgency and further destabilize the region. But it's in keeping with Trump's pledge to end "endless wars." It's also consistent with polls that show most Americans want a leader who focuses on needs at home, not overseas projects.

"Leaving Afghanistan is the most important foreign policy objective of the remaining days of the Trump administration, and it should be the Biden administration’s first priority if Trump fails to remove all U.S. forces," said Benjamin H. Friedman, policy director at Defense Priorities, a Washington, D.C.-based security think tank.

But more, not less, foreign intervention may be in the cards if the records of Biden's advisers is anything to go on.

Anthony Blinken, Biden's nomination for Secretary of State, was a key national security adviser to Biden when the then-Senator voted to give President George W. Bush's administration authority to launch a military attack against Iraq. He advocated for U.S. involvement in Libya's now chaotic civil war. Blinken previously argued the U.S. should be open to a "broader and riskier" military intervention in Syria to oust Assad.

Biden's pick as National Security Advisor, Jake Sullivan, is regarded as an exceptionally smart, dedicated and experienced multilateralist who shares the hawkish foreign policy instincts of his former boss at the State Department, Hillary Clinton.

Secretary of State:Biden to name Antony Blinken as America's top diplomat

Countering ISIS

Abrahms believes that Trump's contribution to destroying the five-year grip that ISIS had on large swathes of territory in Iraq and Syria is also under-recognized.

Brian Glyn Williams, a professor of Islamic history at the University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth, and author of "Counter Jihad: America's Military Experience in Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria," has calculated that the Obama administration had liberated about 50% of ISIS territory in Iraq and Syria "before handing off the war effort to Trump."

Abrahms said that Trump did not, as has been repeatedly claimed by the Washington foreign policy establishment, "essentially just maintain the Obama administration's counter-terrorism strategy" in Syria and sit back and watch as ISIS "imploded."

He said Trump's withdrawal of support for Syrian rebel groups battling Assad's regime, and a separate but related action to remove some U.S. troops fighting alongside Kurdish anti-ISIS fighters in Syria, hastened the terrorist organization's demise. He said Trump's move effectively enabled Assad to refocus his armies on thwarting ISIS militants.

Hostages: 'He wants them home'

At least 40 Americans are currently being held in 11 countries, according to data released this month by the James W. Foley Legacy Foundation, an organization that advocates for Americans held hostage abroad and is named after a journalist who was murdered by the Islamic State group (ISIS) in Syria during the Obama administration.

The White House claims it's secured the release of 56 American "hostages" in 24 countries over the last four years. However, some of these "hostages" were imprisoned by governments (albeit wrongly, or on thinly-disguised political charges) and counting overseas imprisoned, missing or kidnapped Americans is not an exact science.

For a mixture of privacy, logistical and definitional reasons it's also not easy to make direct comparisons between the number of overseas captives freed under the Obama administration versus those released while the Trump administration has been in power.

Robert O'Brien, Trump's national security adviser, said during a Nov. 16 forum on global security that reuniting families with Americans wrongfully held overseas is a "pure distillation" of the Trump administration's "America First" foreign policy.

"I think that he is personally offended that either a government or a terrorist organization would take an American hostage and so he's made it literally one of the top priorities," O’Brien said in comments streamed online. "He doesn't care why they were there, what they were doing when they were taken hostage. He doesn't care about their background, he doesn't care about their political affiliation, their religion. If there's an American that's taken overseas, he wants them home," he said.

Trump's critics claim he is drawn to the issue because it makes for good politics, reinforces his image of himself as a deal-maker, and affords him opportunities to claim tangible victories in the international realm when they have been few and far between.

'I have been living a nightmare':Iran releases American Navy veteran Michael White

"Here’s the problem," said Richardson, the ex-U.S. ambassador to the United Nations.

"The president turned hostage release into political grandstanding and personalized it to the point where his photos-ops, I believe, caused many countries to say 'Oh, this is how we get their attention," Richardson said. "I think that’s harmful," he said.

Trump has used the Oval Office and political rallies as a backdrop to photo-ops with Americans he's helped to free from Turkey, North Korea, Iran and elsewhere.

Some families coping with the detention of their relatives overseas say the Trump administration has not been tirelessly working on their behalf or all that engaged.

David Whelan is still desperate for answers about why Trump has not raised his brother Paul's imprisonment in Russia with President Vladimir Putin. Paul Whelan has been jailed for nearly two years on what his family says are bogus espionage charges.

"They go after the windfalls. I shouldn't say easy wins, but it can feel like that," he said.

Paul Whelan:Ex-U.S. Marine convicted on spying charges gets 16-year jail sentence

Tice may be delighted by Trump's attentiveness to her son's case but she released a scathing statement last month about Secretary of State Mike Pompeo after he said he tried to "compartmentalize" hostage issues from foreign policy. "Unfortunately for Austin," she said, "Mike Pompeo is undermining the president's crucial outreach, refusing any form of direct diplomatic engagement with the Syrian government."

Diane Foley, whose son James was murdered by ISIS in 2014 and who runs the foundation that bears his name – said that "as you might expect, people who have had their loved ones come home in general are very supportive of the Trump administration. Those who have not are hopeful because he tends to emphasize it."

However, Foley said overall Trump's prioritization of American detainee issues represents, for the majority of families, an improvement – even if it was the Obama administration, not Trump's, that established a coordinated hostage response unit and a special presidential envoy for hostage affairs position that's improved family outreach.

"All I'm saying is Trump has helped," she said.

#usa #news

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lawrencedienerthings · 4 years

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Denver judge places second Democratic U.S. Senate candidate who failed to collect enough signatures on primary ballot

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A Denver judge on Thursday placed a second Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate on the June primary ballot even though she didn’t collect enough signatures to qualify for the election.

Denver District Court Judge Christopher Baumann, in a ruling from the bench, ordered that community organizer Lorena Garcia should be on the ballot because she collected more than half the necessary signatures to qualify for the election.

Baumann earlier this month placed nonprofit leader Michelle Ferrigno Warren on the Democratic primary ballot even though she didn’t collect the 10,500 signatures — 1,500 from Democratic voters in each of Colorado’s seven congressional districts — needed. He ruled that the coronavirus crisis created an environment too difficult for her campaign to collect signatures.

Ferrigno Warren collected just over half of the necessary signatures, which Baumann said indicated she had enough support to participate in the primary.

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Garcia also asked to be placed on the ballot given the challenge coronavirus posed in collecting sufficient signatures. She was more than 1,000 short of the required signature threshold, but collected well over half the 10,500 she needed.

“COVID-19 has turned everyone’s world upside down, including political campaigns, and we are pleased with the decision of the court,” Garcia said in a written statement.

The Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold is challenging the ruling in Ferrigno Warren’s case. The Colorado Supreme Court is expected to rule soon in the matter.

It’s not clear how Griswold will proceed in response to the decision in Garcia’s case.

“The Secretary of State’s Office wants to ensure our democratic processes remain accessible and fair, and recognizes the ongoing challenges posed by the coronavirus,” Betsy Hart, a spokeswoman for Griswold, said in a written statement. “In light of this ruling, we will consider the various options and determine that best path forward.”

Ferrigno Warren blasted Griswold for appealing the ruling.

“This reeks of D.C-style politics & everything wrong with our government,” Ferrigno Warren said on Twitter. “The role of the Colorado Secretary of State is to oversee fair & just elections & empower voters at the voting booth, not cherry pick who makes the ballot in the midst of a pandemic.”

Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Michelle Ferrigno Warren speaks to a voter a senate forum held at Centennial Middle School in Montrose on Sunday Oct. 20, 2019. (William Woody, Special to the Colorado Sun)

Already on the June ballot are former Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper and former state House Speaker Andrew Romanoff.

MORE: Here’s who’s running to unseat Republican U.S. Sen. Cory Gardner in 2020 — and who’s thinking about it

The winner of the June primary will face Republican U.S. Sen. Cory Gardner in November. Gardner, who is in his first term, is considered one of the most vulnerable GOP members of Congress up for reelection this year.

Baumann earlier this week ruled that another Democratic U.S. Senate primary candidate who failed to collect enough signatures to be in the June primary should not be added to the ballot.

Baumann said that because psychologist and climate activist Diana Bray didn’t collect at least half the signatures needed her campaign didn’t show enough support to warrant her being on the ballot.

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The latest from The Sun

Denver judge places second Democratic U.S. Senate candidate who failed to collect enough signatures on primary ballot

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dippedanddripped · 4 years

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Rent the Runway already has a presence in stores, homes and, as of last year, some work spaces. Now, the rental platform is moving on to hotels.

Starting Thursday, Rent the Runway is launching a partnership with W Hotels at four locations across the U.S., where customers can order four pieces from Rent the Runway when they book a hotel room, which will be waiting for them in their closet when they arrive. Rent the Runway’s COO, Maureen Sullivan, said this was an obvious next step after home and work, and represents the company’s larger strategy of having a little piece of Rent the Runway in every part of customers’ lives where it’s relevant.

While Rent the Runway has recently struggled to keep up with demand, it still outpaces competition. This year, it reached a $1 billion valuation and reported $100 million annual revenue, while competitors Nuuly brought in $50 million and Le Tote brought in $5 million annually.

“It’s really based on our idea of the closet in the cloud, or a closet that can manifest wherever you need it,” Sullivan said. “That’s our vision. Travel was such an obvious place for us to expand, because it’s a time where you want those pieces that you will only wear for specific occasions, not whatever black and beige stuff you wear all the time.”

In practice, the process is quite simple. When customers book a room at W Hotels in Aspen, South Beach, West Hollywood or Washington, D.C., they will be offered a prompt on the hotel’s website to select four pieces from Rent the Runway’s Unlimited Closet for an extra $69. When the customers arrive, the pieces will be waiting for them in the closet of their hotel room. When their trip is over, all they need to do is leave the clothes in their closet to return them.

While any product from Rent the Runway’s inventory can be selected, Sullivan said that, in her experience, customers react better when offered suggestions. Each of the four hotels will have a curated selection of clothes specific to that area. The hotel in South Beach, for example, includes beach coverups and summery clothing while the Aspen location features several pieces from the Rent the Runway’s Ski category, which was newly launched on Monday.

“On the backend, it’s pretty similar to what we normally do: People pick the inventory, and we ship it to them,” Sullivan said. “But this is the first time we’re shipping orders to some place outside of our stores or directly to the customer. It’s the first time we are shipping product to someone else and working with a partner to hold inventory.”

Sullivan declined to disclose the specific structure of the deal between W Hotels and Rent the Runway. While only four hotel locations will have the program to begin with, more are being considered for the future depending on how the first wave of launches go.

The rental space has gotten significantly more crowded and competitive since Rent the Runway launched in 2009. Newcomers like Nuuly and rental software platforms like Caastle have given customers more options for where they rent from. Since many of these platforms offer similar product, customer service and convenience has become a bigger differentiating factor.

Rent the Runway has experienced a few setbacks, like being forced to pause new memberships earlier this year to deal with back-end logistical issues and some analysts have pointed to other companies that are challenging Rent the Runway, particularly in the area of travel.

“For example, FashionPass is a clothing rental subscription company who really stands out in my mind as delivering exceptional customer service and targeting a very niche market,” said Steve Weiss, CEO of digital marketing agency MuteSix. FashionPass is a similar rental service that is focused on brands slightly below Rent the Runway’s luxury focus but above fast fashion. “While Rent the Runway is targeting an older audience, FashionPass strictly focuses on millennials who are using the service for things like vacation, brunch and other Instagrammable moments.“

Others in the rental space have already broached travel as a natural rental companion. In April, fashion rental company Wardrobe partnered with The Gregory Hotel in New York City for a similar project where customers could reserve clothes ahead of time to be waiting for them in their closets and leave them there after they check out.

“Anything that is a utility or part of your habits could be a right [partner] for us, I think,” Sullivan said. “Work is a forced habit and people like to travel, so those are obvious. I think the gym is a place many of us go to all the time, but I think that would be a natural fit, too. We’re always thinking about where are customer is going to be in the future. In 2030, will people even need to bring a suitcase when they travel? Our vision is a living closet, dynamically merchandised, that’s accessible anywhere.”

#rent the runway #hotels #fashion blog #closet in the cloud #rental fashion

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higherfeed · 5 years

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The Top 10 National Parks You Need to Visit This Fall

With the temperatures turned down, nature’s colors turned up, and the kids back in school, fall is the ultimate time to book a trip to national parks. You not only get fewer crowds and even better landscape views, but your trip becomes a little more spontaneous thanks to the unpredictable weather—whether it’s extra-cool nights or a freak snowstorm. The Best Adventure Races You Can Sign Up for Right Now ]] “Fall is my favorite season to visit national parks for a variety of reasons, depending on location,” says Heather Gyselman, REI adventure travel’s North American program manager. “In the west and midwest, the crowds are gone and there’s a hush in the air. You no longer have to jostle for a spot at favored overlooks, and it’s almost like the parks are letting out a deep long sigh. There are pops of colors here and there, which contrast beautifully against bright blue skies, shades of evergreen trees, and jagged peaks. And in the east, parks just show off. It’s nature’s firework show and a finale to the long hot summer.” To help you choose the location that serves up nature’s best scenes, we asked Gyselman and a few other experts their go-to spots for the season. Book a trip, plan your activity of choice, and enjoy the colorful display.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park and Blue Ridge Parkway If you’re chasing expansive autumn views, the Great Smoky Mountains have it covered in some of the country’s brightest hues. And this year, peak time to peep fall landscapes should actually extend from October to November, says Gyselman. She suggests making sure you take a drive over the Blue Ridge Parkway, where you can see a jaw-dropping line-up of leaves. You’ll also get your wildlife fix; there are herds of elk scattered throughout the grounds. ]] For guided backpacking and camping trips through this southern nature escape, check REI’s site for options. Leaders will take you to some of the season’s best viewing spots. Isaiah N Lilly / Shutterstock

Shenandoah National Park East Coasters, this one’s for you—and a fall go-to for Gyselman. Just 75 miles from Washington D.C. and fewer than 300 miles from New York City, you can easily drive to this park, making it easier on the wallet and ideal for a weekend getaway. Choose from more than 500 miles of hiking trails when you arrive—no matter where you stroll, you’ll spot a landscape splattered with orange, yellow, and red throughout the season. Old Rag, which you can access off Route 600, offers the most popular route in the park. (It can also be dangerous, so check out this page to get familiar with what you’re in for before you go.) You also have options to watch waterfalls and trek the Appalachian Trail—two must-dos for many hikers.Scott Wurzel / Shutterstock

]]Yosemite National Park All your friends might have gone to Cali to catch Yosemite in summer, but if you want the inside scoop, fall reaps even more adventurous rewards without the crowds and the intense sun and temperatures. Gyselman suggests hiking around the valley or down into the valley so you can see patches of colors mixed among evergreen trees. Try the Yosemite Valley Loop Trail, an 11.5-mile route, or a quicker jaunt on the Sentinel and Cook’s Meadow Loop that spans 2.25 miles.If you’re looking to camp out for the night (who doesn’t want to wake up to a view of Half Dome or El Capitan come morning?), check whether you need a reservation. And don’t forget extra layers because the nights can get pretty chilly.Bill45 / Shutterstock

]]Mount Rainier An active volcano rising more than 14,000 feet above sea level, this western destination rings in as a must-see for many reasons. “Each time I travel through Rainier in the fall, the park reminds me of what I’d imagine a fairytale land to look like—it’s absolutely gorgeous,” Gyselman says. Her top pick for an area to visit is one appropriately named Paradise, where she suggests checking out the lower part of the Skyline Trail up to Myrtle Falls and the Golden Gate Trail. You’ll catch a breathtaking display of Mount Rainier and Tatoosh Range.On another morning, Gyselman says to opt for an easy walk through the Grove of Patriarchs, surrounded by old evergreens and maple trees. It provides a serene place to take in all the views and practice a little mindful strolling or picture-taking.Kelly vanDellen / Shutterstock

Zion National Park The Observation Point hike gets the rep as the most iconic route in the park for a reason: You see down into the valley with an amazing contrast of colors from the copper sandstone, blue skies, and yellow, orange, and red trees, Gyselman says. You also get a nice mix of cool, but not too cold, temperatures.]]Andy Austin, a photographer and guide for Austin Adventures, suggests watching the sunset from the Canyon Junction Bridge, which crosses over the Virgin River. If you’re up early, aim to spot the sunrise at the Towers of the Virgins, located behind the museum. Because it’s at a lower altitude than other parks, autumn also tends to hit Zion a little later in the year, around November—in other words, you still have time to get there and see the changing leaves.Julius L. Zahn / Shutterstock

Glacier National Park Austin calls out Glacier for a few next-level viewing areas, including Bowman Lake. It features a background painted with larch trees—the ones that turn a bright yellow come fall and offer a pretty breathtaking landscape against the glassy water. Another area to check out: Many Glacier, swept with Aspen trees and snow peaks. It also houses two of the most popular hikes in the park: Grinnell Glacier Trail and Iceberg Lake Trail. According to the National Park Service, you could take a different route every day for a week in Many Glacier and still not cover the entire area. That means there’s plenty of room to explore, especially with a shuttle going right from Glacier National Park Lodge to Many Glacier.Expect erratic weather in Glacier this season, which is one reason the crowds typically clear out. It already got two big snowstorms this year, so you’ll want to check the forecast before packing.EB Adventure Photography / Shutterstock]]

Yellowstone National Park Typically teeming with wildlife, you’re likely to see bison throughout most parts of Yellowstone, as well as elk, bears, wolves, antelope, deer, and big-horn sheep. “Elk bugling in Yellowstone is surreal—you’ll never hear anything like it and the noise travels for miles and miles,” says Dan Austin, founder of Austin Adventures. If you want to watch the elk, Andy Austin suggests Mammoth Hot Springs. The landscape here also offers its own outstanding view, courtesy of the limestone formations and thermal pools (a unique staple of Yellowstone).Want to catch the fall colors? Andy suggests heading to the Lamar River in Lamar Valley. To see the park from a different point of view, try a horseback ride, a popular activity in Yellowstone.Many lodges and stores in the park close come mid-October, so make sure you plan where you want to go and what you need to make it happen before you visit.Harry Beugelink / Shutterstock ]]

Grand Teton National Park If you love the outdoors for its snowy, insanely picturesque mountain ranges, put Grand Teton on your must-visit list right now. Austin suggests waking up early to catch the sunrise at Schwabacher Landing, where it reflects over the Snake River, an Instagrammer's dream. Hit the hiking trail after or set out to raft on the river before it freezes over. You have easy access to both at the landing.If you prefer pedaling to strolling, Grand Teton has plenty of options for getting your cycling fix satisfied. Leave from Jackson and a paved pathway leads you to Antelopes Flats Road. You can spin past beautiful Aspen groves through Moran Junction (another of Andy’s favorite areas), complete with a grand view of the Grand Teton Mountains.Tom Tietz / Shutterstock

]]Bryce Canyon National Park Red rocks and hoodoos (or tall, irregular spires of rock) fill this western park, giving you a new, fantastic view every time you turn around. Fall offers the perfect time to check out Scenic Byway 12, a 37-mile round-trip drive that cuts through the limestone amphitheaters of the park. You can also access portions of the 50 miles of hiking trails Bryce Canyon has to offer from this road.One of the top-rated paths to hike on All Trails is the Navajo Loop and Queen’s Garden Trail, stretching 2.6 miles in a loop with amazing panoramas of the park. To hike longer and climb higher, reviewers also love the Fairyland Loop Trail, spanning 7.4 miles and reaching more than 1,500 feet as it stretches along the rim and down into the canyon. Just beware, it can get challenging.Natali Glado / Shutterstock

Death Valley National Park While the temperatures spike well over 100 degrees in the summer at this park, which straddles two states, autumn brings cooler, much more comfortable temperatures. A stand-out spot according to Tyler Drake, founder of The Outbound Collective, the land sits below sea level. Because of its location, you get a big blend of landscapes from sand dunes and rock formations to occasional greenery and this colorful view at Artist’s Drive.]]Drake suggests checking out the panoramic views at Zabriskie Point. The out-and-back trail spans just under a half mile, so it’s doable for any level and offers an ideal place to watch the sunrise or set, according to All Trails.VIKVAD / Shutterstock Read the full article

#10bestnationalparkstovisitinthefall #5mustseenationalparks #bestnationalparktovisitduringthanksgiving #bestnationalparksincaliforniafall #bestnationalparksinlateoctober #bestnationalparkstovisitlabordayweekend #bestnationalparkstovisitlatenovember #nationalparksseptember

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burningpainterface · 3 years

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Reasons To Choose Woodleigh Residences As Your Next Home

One of the best parts about choosing Woodleigh residences Showflat for your vacation is that you will be able to purchase lakefront property. This gives you great lake front property and you can enjoy both the beauty of the lake and the convenience of a great house on the water. When you choose to stay in one of the many wooded top homes in the area, you will be close to a variety of different activities. For instance, if you love to fish, you can hire a charter and take your catch to dinner at one of the fine dining establishments on the lake. You can also take your family out for a day of water skiing and tubing or you can simply relax on the deck with a nice drink and watch the boats take off into the lake breeze.

You will also be able to choose woodleigh residences that are close to great shopping. With all the shopping and fine dining that is offered in the area, you will find plenty of opportunities to shop when you choose woodleigh as your vacation home. You can choose to stay in one of the larger houses on the lake or you can choose to rent a cottage or house that is a short distance from the main residential area. Either way, you will be close enough to the shopping, dining and other activities that you want while you are enjoying your time at this vacation spot. Many of the houses on the lake are nestled among private golf courses and the views are simply breathtaking.

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pearlmcarney-blog · 5 years

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How to Make Extra Cash Renting Out Your Stuff

If you're like me, you probably own plenty of things that you only use every once in a while. Whether you've got an empty bedroom, a collection of cocktail dresses, assorted athletic equipment, or a car that you only drive once or twice a week, you could be putting your stuff to work for you. Renting your stuff is a great way to make extra money.

Renting out your stuff is a no-muss, no-fuss way of earning some part-time money without taking up a big chunk of your time.

Consider these options for renting out your stuff:

Rent Out Your Real Estate

You don't necessarily have to take on a roommate to make money from your property. These websites will allow you to find renters for your real estate.

Check out: Buying a House Will Slow Down Your Path to Financial Independence (But You Should Do It Anyway) for more information on how a house can help you achieve your goals.

AirBnB

Airbnb is the go-to rent-your-space website for anyone with a spare room, spare property, or frequent travel schedule. The site connects you with paying travelers looking for accommodations and gives you complete control of your bookings, house rules, and how you interact with your guests.

You can trust that you and your home are safe through Airbnb. All guests must provide government identification and agree to house rules before booking your property. If something were to happen, Airbnb's Host Guarantee offers damage and liability protection. Airbnb also provides 24/7 global customer support.

In addition, Airbnb provides a $1 million insurance policy to keep your belongings and home secure, as well as $1 million policy to protect your home in the case of an accident.

You choose the listing price for your space and can receive payments through PayPal, direct deposits, or another method of your choice. This service is free to sign up, but, Airbnb charges hosts a 3% flat fee per reservation.

Airbnb: Rent Out Your House, Room, or Couch Earn money as an Airbnb host. 3 steps: Create your listing, greet your guests, get paid! Get Started

VRBO

VRBO stands for Vacation Rental By Owner, and this site is geared toward property owners with vacation homes for rent. Whether you have a condo in a ski resort, a cabin by the lake, or a beachfront apartment, you can sign your property up with VRBO and earn money renting out the vacation home you're not using.

All bookings are paid using a registered payment method, which gives you eligibility for coverage through VRBO's Book with Confidence Guarantee. Under this guarantee, you will receive 100% of the security deposit if funds are wrongfully withheld.

Keep in mind, all service fees will be paid by renters. However, it's important you carry liability insurance in case something were to happen to a traveler or your home.

Gamping

Do you have extra land that goes unused every year? Why not make extra cash renting it out to campers or party goers? They get to enjoy a private campground in the great outdoors, and you get to supplement your income.

You also have the option to provide your campers with tents, tree houses, yurts, and any other outdoor properties for their accommodations. Prices vary depending on your location and what kinds of accommodation (if any) that you are offering. Once your property is booked, you will receive your payment several days after the completion of the trip. Gamping charges a 7% service fee to all hosts. They use MangoPay to secure all payments.

It's important to note that the site doesn't check user information, which means it's up to you to verify each renter and the personal information they provide. You will also be responsible for any loss or damages that occur during the duration of your campers' stay, so you will also want to carry liability insurance in case of damages.

CurbFlip

If you have an empty lot, parking space, or even boat slip, CurbFlip allows you to rent your space for extra cash. CurbFlip is offered in most major cities in the U.S. and elsewhere around the world.

You can rent out your space daily, weekly, or monthly, which means you can have multiple bookings at any given time. CurbFlip also allows you to set your own price for your parking spot. This can be particularly helpful if your parking spot is near a tourist attraction or sports venue, as you can adjust pricing when demand goes up.

CurbFlip charges a 16% fee for any spaces rented. If you choose to use PayPal as your method of payment, they will also charge you an additional 3%. Keep these relatively steep fees in mind when choosing your price.

However, each renter and lender is required to provide all personal information to the CurbFlip app, which allows you to communicate with your renters and receive payment. The way the system is set up means you don't necessarily have to meet your renter, nor do you have to worry about payment, as it comes through to you automatically.

As with all real estate rental, make sure you carry insurance, just in case. CurbFlip will not claim liability if something were to happen to your property or someone were to get injured while renting your space.

Rent Out Your Transportation

Cars are meant to be driven, bikes are meant to be ridden, and boats are meant to feel the salt sea spray across their bows! If you have a method of transportation that is sitting idle, you will make it and your wallet very happy by renting it out. Here are several sites that will help you do so.

Check out: Simple Car Care Tips so you can keep your car in excellent rentable condition.

Turo

Turo connects travelers looking for rental cars with local car owners. Simply create a listing for your car, add a description, upload photos, and you're ready to start earning money. You will receive a notification once someone would like to rent your car.

When renting your car, you can drop it off at a designated location, drop it off at the airport, or have the customer come to you. Once your customer's trip is complete, you can meet them to pick up your car.

Turo sets your list price based on your location, the market value of your car, time of year, and additional data. According to Turo, you will make 65% to 80% of the trip price depending on your package. You can bump this to 90% if you waive the insurance coverage, but you'll have to buy insurance elsewhere so weigh the costs here.

According to the website's estimates, if your car has a market value of $28,000 and you rent it for at least 15 days out of the year, you could make about $7,526 a year.

Turo covers your car with a $1 million liability insurance policy and provides 24/7 roadside assistance throughout the trip. You also have the ability to set controls for the mileage, price and gas usage.

Turo: Peer-to-Peer Car Sharing Turo allows you to rent your car to travelers in your area. It's free to get started. Learn More

Getaround

Getaround is another peer-to-peer car rental service, but it is available in fewer markets than Turo. Currently, it is only available in San Francisco, Berkeley, Chicago, Oakland, Portland, and Washington D.C.

In addition, Getaround has a slightly different process for rentals. To get started as a lender, you must create a profile for your car. This profile will include a unique URL to market your car, location, pick up and drop off instructions, and availability.

Once you've created your profile, Getaround will pick up your car to install Connect

, which provides GPS tracking, anti-theft functionality, and cellular communications to a secure network. Connect

also helps verified renters locate your car and lock and unlock your car–any other non-verified users attempting to get into your car will be locked out.

Getaround provides primary insurance but your car must be insured while on your watch. They also provide 24/7 roadside assistance for any bumps in the road. You can try this service for 30 days free of change. Once your 30 days are up, you will be charged a $99 installation fee as well as a $20 monthly service fee.

Getaway takes a 40% commission on all of your rides but claims that you can earn $1,000s of dollars a month for renting your car. Additionally, if you promote this service on social media, you can give your friends and family a $20 credit towards the service.

Spinlister

If you have a bike (or surfboard, snowboard, stand-up paddleboard, or ski equipment) that doesn't get nearly as much exercise as it would like, you can rent it out with Spinlister. As a lister, you post your bicycle (or other rentable sports equipment), the available dates and time, and the price for your rental. Spinlister takes a flat 17.5% of your rental payments, and you can choose your rental price based at an hourly, daily, or weekly rate.

Spinlister offers you protection for up to $10,000 if your bike is damaged or stolen. In addition, the company requires renters to sign a rental agreement that provides protection to bike owners in case of injury. The site reassures potential bike listers that they will never be held responsible if a renter gets injured on a ride.

Boatsetter

They say that the two best day's in a boat owner's life are the day she buys the boat and the day she sells the boat. Boatsetter is here to prove that wrong. Rather than let your boat just sit when you aren't able to get out on the water, Boatsetter allows you to make money on your boat–with the security of hull and liability insurance policies built into the service.

You are in complete control of your listing. You get to select availability, determine your boat rules and set the pricing for your rental. Boatsetters offers around-the-clock customer service, as well as a database of USCG, licensed captains to keep your boat running safely. They also run each user's identity through a service called Cognito, which verifies that each payment matches the user's identity.

When someone books your boat, Boatsetters will hold a $500 deposit until the trip is completed. Upon completion of the trip, Boatsetters will take their fee and send you the rest of the payment. The fee ranges between 10% and 15%, depending on the number of rentals you schedule through Boatsetters per year. The fee goes up to 35% if you use the Boatsetter insurance policy.

Rent Your Clothes

Don't let your duds just hang in the closet! Make sure they get to go to parties and weddings, even if you don't.

Style Lend

This site allows you to lend your favorite style pieces to people around the country, although Style Lend only selects certain brands for approval. Start by creating a listing with a description and photos. Within 24 hours your listing will be approved and you're ready to start lending out your closest.

For a $5 insurance fee on every rental, Style Lend provides an insurance policy on all items rented to cover up to $50 in repairs. If an item is beyond repair and needs to be replaced (or over $50 in damages), Style Lend will replace the item or compensate you for the current market value of the dress and bill the renter. They suggest listing your style pieces for at least 5-10% above market value. This will depend on wear and tear of each item.

Once you have a renter, you print off the shipping label and send the item off. Upon receiving the item back make sure you wash it and inspect it for damage. You want to make sure it's ready to go for the next renter. Style Lend lets you keep 80% of the profits from renting your favorite clothing items.

They suggest listing items that are worth $300 or more. These items tend to be more attractive to potential renters. Their most sought after rentals are dresses, shoes, and handbags.

Rent Everything Else

If you've got stuff hanging around the house, you can probably find a renter for it. Try renting out your stuff with one of these sites:

Fat Llama

Lend everything from your favorite camera to your favorite sports equipment using Fat Llama. This site allows you to list your items for free and connect with people in your community who are in need of your offerings. Simply create a listing with a photo and description and then approve the rental requests.

You can arrange a convenient rendez-vous to drop off your item to the designated renter. In order to protect your item from getting damaged or other rental issues, Fat Llama provides an insurance policy of up to $30,000. In addition to insurance protection, Fat Llama requires every user to submit identification documentation and complete a Smart Verification process.

Fat Llama also provides 24/7 customer support for lenders and renters. They want to make sure every customer is 100% satisfied and can find what they need. Fat Llama has a Resolution team standing by to help you resolve any problems with your rentals.

Fat Llama was not only created as a way to make money but also connect people and reduce environmental impact. By meeting and sharing possessions, you have the opportunity to build bonds with others in your community and reduce consumption by opting to share instead of purchasing unnecessary products.

Fat Lama: Make Money Renting Out Your Stuff Fat Lama is the platform that lets you rent out your belongings to others nearby. $25 free credit on sign up. Sign Up and Get $25

Craigslist

You may think of Craigslist as the OG online sales platform, but it's also a potential place to post things for rent, especially if you have something unique to rent out. However, unlike many other rental sites, Craigslist doesn't provide a lot of consumer protection. They leave it up to the buyers and sellers to work it out among themselves. They offer tips and tricks to safely exchange items, but there is no safety guarantee or insurance provided.

Since Craigslist doesn't screen their users, it may be beneficial to take down as much information as possible about your potential renter. Especially, since you need the item to be returned, you need to know where to find your renter if something were to happen.

RentNotBuy

This platform was established when the creators realized how difficult it could be for outdoor enthusiasts to find the gear they needed when visiting remote locations or smaller townships. Rental shops are not always available in smaller cities–so RentNotBuy was created to give locals the ability to rent out their gear in exchange for a little cash.

Unlike most of the other sites on this list, RentNotBuy has outside backing which allows them to provide their services for free. You can create a listing for any item you desire. You control the price and availability. The site provides tools and resources you need to have the most successful rental experience.

However, RentNotBuy doesn't verify renters' identification. You will have to request copies of government IDs and personal information to make sure your items are properly returned. RentNotBuy also doesn't process payments for users, so you might want to choose a payment service such as PayPal for protection against fraud.

Also, RentNotBuy doesn't provide insurance. So, if you're concerned about your items not getting lost or stolen, you may want to insure your valuables.

All that said, since RentNotBuy does not charge any fees whatsoever, you get to keep every penny of whatever you make from your rentals.

Start Your Own Rental Business

As lucrative as it is to rent out the stuff you already own, you could be making even more by cutting out the middleman and starting your own rental business. There are a number of rentable items you can invest in for a relatively low upfront cost. These include:

Party or wedding equipment

Bounce houses

Bubble machines

Furniture

Clothing or costumes

Artificial flowers

Chocolate fountains

If you're serious about starting your own rental business, here are a few steps to follow:

Do some research: Will your product be profitable throughout the year? (For example, depending on location, an inflatable rental business may not be profitable in the winter.) What insurance will you need? Do you need a license to offer rentals? There are countless details that go into starting any business, so make sure you fully understand what you need in order to launch your rental business.

Get your documentation in order: Once you know the documentation required, start applying for your business license and insurance requirements. Make sure to keep copies of all documentation.

Purchase inventory: To keep your upfront costs low, start with just a few products and purchase more as your business grows. You don't want to purchase 10 inflatables to find they are sitting unused for most of the season. Be reasonable with your inventory and purchase what you need to launch.

Market your items: How will people find you? You can always start by listing your items on the sites we covered above until you have grown enough to create your own website to promote your business. Use social media and other networking sites to market your business.

Connect to other business owners: Meeting service providers in related fields can be an invaluable source of referrals. For instance, connecting with party planners can help you with referrals for everything from party rentals to bubble machines to costumes, and befriending local real estate agents can help you with your furniture or artificial flower business when a seller needs to stage their home. Joining a local business professionals group can really help with this step. Check out your city's Chamber of Commerce to get involved in your city.

Watch your business grow: Continue to promote and market your business. Run incentives and coupons to increase your sales. There are plenty of ways to grow your business.

Check out: 5 Critical Things to Do Before Starting Your Own Business for more advice on getting your rental business off the ground.

The Bottom Line

You spend your hard-earned money to buy all the things you own. Your stuff can return the favor by earning you some extra income through rentals.

Have you ever rented out your things with one of the above services? Do you earn money with your own rental business? Tell us how it's worked for you in the comments!

The post How to Make Extra Cash Renting Out Your Stuff appeared first on Part-Time Money.

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premierdetroit · 3 years

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The sun is shining, the days are getting longer and more and more U.S. cities are reopening — it’s official, summer 2021 is almost here. Right on time, vacation fever has hit: Google searches for “summer vacation” and “sunscreen” are seeing a major spike, and those are just a couple of the many interesting Google Trends we’ve been seeing. So we decided to collect some of this information to bring you Google’s Guide to Summer: You’ll find trending travel spots, must-eat-at restaurants and tips for finding the perfect summer gear.

To find what places are turning into vacation destinations, we looked at places with the highest percentage growth in hotel searches, comparing April 2021 to April 2019. These 10 cities saw the biggest bump in interest:

If you’re planning a trip to one of these places, the next step is deciding where to eat while you’re there. Hidden Gem restaurants are verified restaurants on Google Maps with high ratings from fewer people — which could help you avoid crowds and get an amazing meal. Check out these Hidden Gems from each of the cities listed above:

If you’re not ready to travel by plane, you’re not alone. Many people are looking into alternative transportation options or even local options, such as…

🚌Glamour-BUS travels:In the U.S., there are over 60% more RV-related searches on Google Maps than there were a year ago. The metro areas most interested were Los Angeles, Phoenix, Houston, Dallas and Denver.

🏖️ Beachy keen:As the weather heats up, U.S. Maps searches for “beaches” are up over 40% compared to May 2020, and searches for "parks" are up over 50%.

🏕Happy campers: Camping-related searches on Maps are trending up nearly 90% compared to this time last year. The top five areas interested in camping are Los Angeles, the San Francisco Bay Area, New York, Denver and Seattle.

🚲 Tourists on tires: People are using Google Maps for cycling directions 44% more than they were in 2020. According to our cycling direction data, New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, San Francisco and Washington D.C. are the cities with the most cyclists.

Wheelie interesting Maps trends for World Bicycle Day

Google Maps data to celebrate World Bicycle Day

Read Article

Whether you hit the road (or skies) or stay put, you’ll want to grab the right gear. Try these Google Shopping power tips to find whatever you need for summer:

Check if you’re getting a “good” price on that retro cooler: On a Shopping product page, you’ll see a price bar showing whether the price you’re seeing for that product is high, low or typical, compared to current prices from across the web and in nearby stores.

See if an inflatable pool (or whatever else) is in stock at local stores:With Google Shopping, you can search for a product, like inflatable pools, and apply the “Nearby” filter (or include “near me” in your search) to show results from local retailers on a helpful map display, along with an indication of whether the product is in-stock.

Compare prices and shipping options for a summer koozie:Once you’ve found your favorite koozie, scroll down on the product page and tap “Compare prices” to see all of the prices and shipping options from online and local retailers for that product. You’ll also see whether a retailer offers curbside pickup and/or the option to buy online/pickup in store.

Use filters to find the perfect sunscreen (or other beauty products):On Google Shopping you can easily use filters to find the type of product you’re looking for. When you search “sunscreen” you can simply scroll down and on the left hand side you’ll find rating filters under “Product Rating” such as four stars and above.

Get summer picnic or beach ideas and see product availability on Google:Google Images is a great place to find summer inspo. You can see availability information so you know if the item you're looking for is actually in stock. You can even use Lens to find that retro beach towel or picnic blanket your friend or your favorite celeb has. Once you find it, Google will give you options for how to buy it.

Consider yourself set for the summer!

Read the whole article: CLICK HERE from Sniply: Search Brought to you by: PremierDetroitSEO.com Brought to you by: PremierDetroitSEO.com

#Premier Detroit SEO #Blogger

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instantdeerlover · 4 years

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The Best US Honeymoon Destinations by Season added to Google Docs

The Best US Honeymoon Destinations by Season

With so many people looking to stay local for trips during the COVID-19 pandemic, there is more reason now than ever to stay in the United States for your honeymoon rather than go abroad. Luckily, there are so many great destinations to visit during every season of the year without having to leave the country. Here are some of our picks!

Winter

There are all kinds of fun places to go in the U.S. during the winter months.

Colorado

Take a ski trip in the winter to do something active and romantic for your honeymoon! From Aspen to Breckenridge to Telluride, the snow-covered mountains present a beautiful scene to celebrate your recent marriage. Cuddle up by the fire with a cup of hot chocolate and take in the sights and all of the nature around you in Colorado.

Key West, Florida

Take a trip to the southernmost point of the U.S. for your honeymoon and get into an island state of mind. Key West (or any of the Florida Keys, for that matter) present a laid-back, casual spot to relax and get some sun. There’s something for everyone there, from historical sites and tours to shopping, breweries, and water adventures.

U.S. Virgin Islands

A part of the U.S. that’s often forgotten about is the hidden paradise that exists in the U.S. Virgin Islands. St. Thomas, St. John, and St. Croix are incredibly beautiful, boasting some of the best beaches in the world. You’ll feel away from it all without even needing a passport and you’ll love the warm-weather escape in the height of winter.

Spring

The spring is such a great time to visit these parts of the United States.

Washington, D.C.

Head to the nation’s capital to check out some historical sites and to enjoy the springtime beauty of this area. From blooming cherry blossoms to beautiful weather, you’ll love walking around the charming neighborhoods of this area as newlyweds.

Disney World or Disneyland

Visit one of the most magical places on earth for your honeymoon and you’ll feel like you’re living a real-life fantasy! Disney World and Disneyland both have so much to do for adults. From drinking around the world at Epcot to walking the boardwalk in Anaheim, you’re sure to be entertained. (A little bit of childhood nostalgia never hurt anyone, either!)

Summer

Summer presents some of the best options of places to honeymoon without leaving the U.S. borders.

New England States

Many of the New England states boast some of the prettiest coast lines that are amazing to visit during the summer months. Massachusetts has Cape Cod, Nantucket, and Martha’s Vineyard, which are all worth considering. Alternatively, visit Newport in Rhode Island or Kennebunkport in Maine to get a slice of authentic East Coast summer.

Hawaii

Head to one of the most tropical places in the U.S. and visit the islands of Hawaii. Hike volcanoes, visit a coffee plantation, and learn to surf on these picturesque islands that allow you to feel transported to another world.

Palmetto Bluff, South Carolina

Enjoy old-time charm and a slower pace in Palmetto Bluff, South Carolina. The area looks like it comes straight out of a Nicholas Sparks novel and the proximity to the water makes it fun and romantic all at the same time.

Fall

The fall is one of the most beautiful seasons in many parts of the country.

Vermont

Take in the foliage in Vermont for your honeymoon. The sight of the changing leaves alone will leave you breathless, but you’ll also love the charm of this state in its small inns, farms, and breweries.

Great Smoky Mountains

Head to Tennessee to visit the Great Smoky Mountains. This is another fabulous place to see foliage, escape from the modern world, and really connect with your new spouse. Appreciate nature and go on hikes for a more active trip or kick back and relax in a rented cabin for something more casual.

The U.S. has so many amazing honeymoon spots that there’s no reason to flee the country to celebrate your new marriage and have an unforgettable trip!

The post The Best US Honeymoon Destinations by Season appeared first on Weddingbee.

via Weddingbee https://www.weddingbee.com/planning/the-best-us-honeymoon-destinations-by-season/ Nhà hàng Hương Sen chuyên buffet hải sản cao cấp✅ Tổ chức tiệc cưới✅ Hội nghị, hội thảo✅ Tiệc lưu động✅ Sự kiện mang tầm cỡ quốc gia 52 Phố Miếu Đầm, Mễ Trì, Nam Từ Liêm, Hà Nội http://huongsen.vn/ 0904988999 http://huongsen.vn/to-chuc-tiec-hoi-nghi/ https://trello.com/userhuongsen

Created September 9, 2020 at 12:06PM /huong sen View Google Doc Nhà hàng Hương Sen chuyên buffet hải sản cao cấp✅ Tổ chức tiệc cưới✅ Hội nghị, hội thảo✅ Tiệc lưu động✅ Sự kiện mang tầm cỡ quốc gia 52 Phố Miếu Đầm, Mễ Trì, Nam Từ Liêm, Hà Nội http://huongsen.vn/ 0904988999 http://huongsen.vn/to-chuc-tiec-hoi-nghi/ https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1xa6sRugRZk4MDSyctcqusGYBv1lXYkrF

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topfygad · 4 years

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10 Best Group Vacation Travel Ideas in the USA

There are many things to do in the USA, particularly if you’re looking for group vacation travel ideas.

With the broad diversity of vacation destinations across the nation, both that are ideal for solo travelers and a group of friends/family members, it can be a bit overwhelming locating that perfect place to take a holiday.

Luckily, with my broad experience road tripping across the country on numerous occasions, I’ve narrowed down a few of the best places I’ve stumbled across as well as some vacation ideas that can be virtually accomplished in any state.

Take a look at the following group vacation travel ideas and weekend getaways that you should plan to travel to in the very near future – I promise you won’t regret it!

1.) Camp at a National Park

With 58 national parks in the United States, as well as over 6,600 state parks, there is literally a destination around every corner of this beautiful country that you can travel to and explore.

Obviously best for those who like to take an adventure in the great outdoors, places like Great Sand Dunes National Park, the Florida Everglades, and Arches National Park are just a few of the many hot spots that would make a great place for family and/or friends to go on holiday!

2.) Visit a Theme Park in Florida

It’s no secret that the state of Florida is easily the theme park capital of the America. After all, you can find more theme parks in the city of Orlando alone than most other places around the US.

This allows the perfect destination for thrill seekers to gather and create group travel memories to last a lifetime. Between Busch Gardens, Disney World, and Universal Studios, the options vary widely. So get those tickets for Universal Studios Orlando, and have the time of your life with the closest group of friends you love most!

3.) Road Trip Around the USA

Taking a road trip across the United States is something I’ve done on various occasions…and would totally recommend as a group vacation idea. Between adventures like jet skiing in Florida, caving in Virginia, gambling in Las Vegas, or attending the Winter X Games in Aspen, you will always find plenty of things to do!

4.) Take a Cruise to Hawaii

Coming from first-hand experience (after all, I used to work on a cruise ship in Hawaii), take a cruise to the Hawaiian Islands.

With room & board already covered along with your meals, you can focus on creating unforgettable memories discovering the Spirit of Aloha at a Luau while exploring places like Oahu, Maui, Kauai, and of course the Big Island.

5.) Go to the Beach

Three out of the four borders of the United States is surrounded by water. With this in mind, planning a group vacation at the beach is always a great idea.

With the vast number of coastal states, the majority of the population in the U.S. can easily make it the Atlantic Ocean, Pacific Ocean, Gulf of Mexico, or the Great Lakes. For those in Alaska, you have the Arctic Ocean to rely on but I wouldn’t necessarily recommend going for a swim there; but it certainly wouldn’t hurt to go fishing!

6.) Visit the Nation’s Capital – Washington D.C.

There is a lot going on in the nation’s capital. Between the memorials, monuments, and Smithsonian, you could easily take the group for a patriotic tour learning the history of our great country.

Want something a little more exciting? Research the several different urban adventure tours, go around and eat at the local hotspots, or book one of the many city tours to get in-depth information from the people who know the city best!

7.) Become a Foodie in the Big City

Places like the Big Apple of New York City, San Francisco, or New Orleans offer many hidden culinary secrets – what better way to explore the food scene of a new city than with a group of your closest friends or family members?

Depending on where you go, you could easily stumble upon the Chinese, Italian, or Jewish district (amongst many others) giving you the opportunity to essentially try a variety of different foods from all around the world…virtually in your own backyard!

8.) Enjoy a Piece of Italy in San Antonio, Texas

Texas is literally the last place I would’ve considered traveling to when trying to get a piece of Italy until I visited that is.

The Riverwalk in San Antonio is lined with riverfront cafes, restaurants, hotels, shops, and even an outdoor theater. Take your group on a boat ride and learn the areas captivating history, enjoying a theater show, visit the Alamo to relive the story, or simply get a drink at one of the oldest bars in town. Either way, your group is certainly going to have a good time here!

9.) Enjoy the Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights) in Alaska

Alaska is known for many things to adventure seekers. Between ATV’ing, eco tours, kayaking, rafting, fishing, and zip lining, I could go on and on featuring adventurous things to do in several of Alaska’s regions.

But have you considered adding the Aurora Borealis (aka the Northern Lights) to your bucket list? Enjoy getting a group of your friends together and watch the night sky dance away as charged particles from the sun enter the atmosphere and create vibrant colors.

Not able to make it all the way to Alaska? Then other states such as Michigan, Minnesota, Maine, and Idaho offer a seasonal show that’s just as visually pleasing!

10.) Embark on an Outdoor Adventure

Last but not least, take your group vacation on an exciting outdoor adventure!

Our country offers a plethora of natural backyard playgrounds for you to try out new sports and pick up a new hobby. Between surfing at the beach, skiing in the Rocky Mountains, or ATV’ing in the desert, you can easily schedule some time to embark on an outdoor adventure and create memories for you and your group to remember for a lifetime!

What best group vacation ideas come to mind for you when traveling domestically in the USA?

source http://cheaprtravels.com/10-best-group-vacation-travel-ideas-in-the-usa/

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businessfrontrunners · 5 years

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Dr. Spence Jahner D.C. Opens Joint Repair Clinic of Montana Serving The Bozeman Area with Stem Cell Regenerative Services

https://authoritypresswire.com/?p=28858 Clinic Director Dr. Spence Jahner D.C. of We Care Chiropractic, has recently opened a clinic in Bozeman that will focus on providing personalized natural care options through stem cell regeneration, which decrease discomfort, increases vitality, and regenerates joint tissue. Jahner‘s Joint Repair Clinic of Montana will help individuals suffering from chronic aches and pains to take back control of their lives with stem cell repair. Other services that the clinic specializes in are Ozone treatments, Prolotherapy, and Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) treatments. “Aches and pains are no fun!” said Jahner. "You can get your life back and feel young again with the amazing help of stem cells. Life's too short to miss out on any of it!" Stem Cells have the remarkable potential to regenerate into many different cell types in the body and serve as what can be accurately described as an “internal repair system,” replenishing other cells. Many researchers and clinicians agree there is a bright future for stem cells in many aspects of healing and regeneration. An added benefit is much less recovery time than with surgical procedures. Making headlines recently, Stem Cell services, treatments, and therapy are gaining acceptance throughout the world. A pioneering surgeon specializing in stem cell breakthroughs has been treating the seven times World Champion driver Michael Schumacher at the Georges Pompidou Hospital in Paris. He was admitted under tight security for transfusions of inflammation-reducing stem cells, part of ongoing care related to the horrific head injuries he suffered in a skiing accident almost six years ago. Not seen in public since his accident, Schumacher was reportedly conscious following the treatment. The news journal Medscape has reported a new trial of autologous mesenchymal stem cells in progressive multiple sclerosis (MS) has shown encouraging results, with significant benefits vs placebo in several measures of disability. The double-blind placebo-controlled phase 2 study — described as "very pioneering" and "provocative" by outside commentators — was presented at the recent 35th Congress of the European Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis (ECTRIMS) 2019. With thousands of clinical studies worldwide showing positive results, Jahner has decided the benefits of Stem Cells could not be ignored and he decided to offer the pioneering treatments to the Bozeman practice. He states the completely safe stem cells, which are donated from mother's umbilical cords after they have delivered a healthy baby, will help those with knee or injuries and conditions, shoulder and rotator cuff issues, as well as back, neck, and disc injuries and conditions. "Most orthopedic problems can often be treated with stem cells, it's incredible," Jahner said. “We utilize a wide array of personalized, non-surgical healing techniques, and work with our patients to customize the most effective plan.” "When our patients heal and move better, they feel great too. They’re more productive at work, sleep better, and enjoy the activities they love again like playing with their children or grandchildren," Jahner continued. "It can be truly life-changing." For more information on Dr. Spence Jahner and the Joint Repair Clinic of Montana please visit https://jointrepairmt.com or call 406-522-9959.

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docayin-blog · 5 years

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9 Affordable Waterfowl Hunts

There is nothing better than a good guided hunting trip and few things more frustrating than a bad one. Do some research prior to handing money over to an outfitter by speaking to individuals who have hunted with them about their experiences.

You will know if something sounds fishy, and it's a red flag if an outfitter won't produce contacts. For these trips, check out Getducks.com and Ramsey Russell.

Manitoba Sandhill Cranes

Manitoba is a waterfowler's dream. Everybody knows about the great duck and goose hunting this province offers, but what many hunters from the States don't know is how great the hunting for Sandhill cranes is here. The province offers some amazing opportunities to hunt what is arguably, one of the tastiest birds out there so good, in fact, that many have nicknamed these birds the "ribeye in the sky."

Sandhills decoy well and there are a number of outfitters in the province offering hunts. So, whether you want to extend your duck- or goose-hunting adventure to Manitoba or want to go there just try your hand at these birds alone, check out the amazing opportunities for Sandhills just over the border in Canada.

North Carolina: Swans & Ducks

You may not feel like a complete waterfowler if you haven't at least dreamed of going after a tundra swan, and the go-to place to do it is North Carolina, where some outfits run success rates close to 100 percent. The Mattamuskeet Refuge area is the hub of hunting North America's largest legal waterfowl.

It's a simple outing and affordable for this ultimate trophy. An average duck hunt run's $550 to $600 with lodging per day for up to three guys, so you and a few buddies can have a three-day package and that's about all each of you will pay in the end.

"My kid out there mowing grass this summer could afford this hunt. Go for two or three days, so you can pick a nice mature bird and enjoy it," Ramsey Russell of Getducks.com says.

"Instead of seeing a few you will see hundreds if not thousands, and when you get your swans you can chase pintails, scooters, long-tails and all kinds of fun stuff." Experience boat blinds for decoying ducks in the shallow flats, true traditional East Coast tidal hunting.

It's the place to go to get your hand on a beautiful plumed out swan for taxidermy in January.

Delaware Sea Duck Combo

Historic Chesapeake gets all the hype, and Delaware Bay is not on the radar of many waterfowl hunts, but it should be. One of the biggest bodies of water on the East Coast is home to massive ledges where deeper waters come right up to oyster shoals and the hunting is terrific for white-winged, surf and common scoters.

Experience classic layout boat hunts, with plenty of cool options if the weather gets too rough for sea ducks. Chase mallards, geese, black ducks or brant, or score that trophy long-tail in a place that also has plenty of Eastern Shore-style Canada goose hunting.

"We quit booking Maine because weather can screw you up so quick and there's not much you can do when you can't chase sea ducks," says Russell.

It's a good trip to bring spouses along, because it is surrounded by civilization, yet it has fantastic hunting and is off the beaten path, without the pressure of the famed bay to the south. An affordable hunt at $250 to $300 per day, and it's not too expensive to get to, because any major airline flies to Baltimore or Washington D.C.

Pacific Northwest Greenheads

When guys say "greenheads" the Northwest is not the first place that comes to mind yet. Editor Skip Knowles cut his teeth on mallards in the Columbia Basin, with absolutely no idea how good he had it. With a seven greenhead limit and tornadoes of pintail, wigeon and Canada geese flocking through eastern Washington, this is one of the most consistent bets in the country.

Russell's waterfowl hunts run $350 a day and for $1,500 you can get lodging meals and everything for a three-day duck hunt. There are many reputable outfitters at all levels hunting Washington on both public and private lands.

Thousands of acres of impoundments and standing flooded corn are routine on private lands, and you can bring your boat and hit the Columbia, McNary and other spots scattered around the big river's many refuges. Southern Idaho is often a short stopper of greenhead flocks and can be excellent, too.

Mississippi Dela Ducks

Public opportunities in the Deep South are getting tougher, but private land waterfowl hunts with outfitters are becoming more affordable, and this is a place you just have to experience.

Duck country down here is so different from the rest of the U.S., with some of the best dirt in the nation in regions with the lowest, wettest spots imaginable, places where rivers come together and the flooding creates some of the best habitat in the world. Cypress breaks, ag fields and flooded impoundments host mallards, gaddies, teal, wigeon and just about everything else.

For $350 a day in Tallahatchie County you can stay in an antebellum plantation home and enjoy top-notch meals and drinks on the delta, where in spots so many mallards trade back-and-forth at eyeball level around the refuge you won't believe it. Mississippi is simply full of great guided duck hunts at all levels.

North Dakota Ducks & Geese

Come pay homage to the duck motherland, a place that produces birds, stages birds, and funnels millions of spring snows when they come back through. If the snows get stalled due to weather, you're in for the waterfowl hunt of a lifetime.

Russell doesn't book North Dakota trips but does make referrals and that Devil's Lake region is something special, he says. Where else but NoDak can you legally hammer 15 Canada geese in the month of August? For $350 a day, you can have British Columbia-style bag limits.

Nobody is shooting 15 Canadas per man per day (the birds are just too tough to dial that efficiently) but some of the guys have killed 10 or so apiece.

"Six of us shot 65 big resident birds one day, so it happens," Russell says. Great mallard hunting is a given in central ND, and the state's laws are set up so outfitters have to play by many of the same rules as regular hunters.

"It's a mighty damned big state," Russell says. "I know guys going out there for 15 years who still get off the beaten path far enough to avoid competition."

Texas Panhandle Cranes

One of the best kept secrets for years, a sandhill crane hunt on the Texas Panhandle is at the top of our list. Thousands of tiny glacial lakes left after the Ice Age are scattered across terrain now surrounded by countless acres of beef country full of wheat corn, milo and soybeans.

The result: a vast and beautiful habitat. Some lakes have ducks, others geese, still others cranes. Most lakes offer a mixed bag of teal, wigeon and mallards right at daybreak and then geese are the late arrivals doing their thing along with the cranes.

"A guy can go out and shoot ducks, geese and score a bonus crane on any day," Russell says. "Texas has always been the place to go to shoot cranes and it hasn't slowed a bit." Affordable, from $250 a day and up.

Kansas Ducks & Geese

For duck and goose hunters, this is a paradise, and it's no longer a secret. Kansas duck hunts have been getting lots of attention because the central area is simply unbelievable, and guided hunts are reasonable at $300 to $350 a day with lodging for skies with mallards, teal and wigeon.

Goose hunts can get legendary in a hurry when flocks group up en masse, and the limits are relaxed by U.S. standards. There is good public hunting at Cheyenne Bottoms and Quivira (among others) for those willing to do their homework, and some of the country's best gunning for wild upland birds if you like to chase prairie chickens, pheasants and quail for afternoon fun.

The state has a wonderful cooperative private land farming (WIHA is a program fro public-private hunting) that can turn up some gems, too. Kansas is now definitely on the list of places you need to visit for your next duck hunt.

Arkansas Mallard Mecca

Stuttgart? Sure, you gotta do it. But there is so much more to Arkansas. Example: One of Russell's favorite duck hunts is just over the border heading north out of Monroe, Louisiana, where a wide spot in the road called Wilmont, Arkansas, just may be near heaven for the duck man.

It hardly has a place to eat, but one of his outfitters has 300 acres located in the middle of a 6,000-acre federal sanctuary, a few hundred yards from where 100,000 mallards sit all day long. With a 10-man blind, they limit nearly every day.

"I couldn't believe it. I didn't want to waterfowl hunt with nine other guys, but I looked out and my whole peripheral vision was full of moving flocks of mallards," Russell said.

"There are little X's in this world and this boy has it. Ten people with limits by 10 a.m.," he says, "and they did that all but one day of the entire season." Pony up $600 for this dream hunt, with lodging and meals.

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