telluride and taos, snow in the mountains

Gal pals, families, or honeys....check out the Mountain Lodge at Telluride for your winter stay. It's midway up Telluride Mountain and is in Mountain Village. Rooms are comfy, especially the showers and the fireplaces (which are only in some rooms). The Gondola is close by so you can catch a ride into town for dinner or shopping. I love that ML@T allows pets; my dogs love to go on vacation with me! I'm not so crazy about the rooms by the elevators...You'll hear them clinking and clanging all night long.



For chilling in the evening, hit the resort's hot tub, or relax by the giant river-rock fireplace in the lodge with a glass of wine, or whatever warms your spirit on a cold night.

On another note...
Taos ski valley is getting snow as we speak. I'll be there in a few weeks to check it out and report on a snuggly little B&B in the valley.

rocky mountain game and fish

Want some good outdoor info? Check out Rocky Mountain Game and Fish magazine....I freelance for the fishing section, but look forward to what the other freelancers have to say about trout and the outdoors. It's about time for my 2010 New Mexico Trout Forecast article to come to a close, so I hope all the NM anglers have found it useful! Even though the year's almost over, which I can't believe, the article will still give an overview of NM's waters and where to go. Gather your girlfriends, buddies, and counterparts and head out on the water.

coming up

Calling all Panhandle and surrounding writers and those who wanna.....Mark, Chad McPhail, and I will be presenting with the Panhandle Professional Writers Association, November 13 at Amarillo College. We'll be hitting on subjects including creative writing, travel, outdoors, getting published, and a ton more. It will be a fun, informative day. Check out PPWA website.

Don't forget our book signing at Barnes and Noble in Amarillo at Barnes and Noble December 4!

Life is good and busy, but I'm ready for more fun and travel....coming up.

High Country Anglers, New Mexico

Wanna get away? Schedule a late fall guided flyfishing day with my buddy Doc Thompson in Northern New Mexico. Doc happens to be Orvis endorsed and has even been granted fly-tier of the year. Whether you're new to flyfishing, just want to hone your craft, or want to experience a new locale Doc is the guy for you.

Check out his website at www.flyfishnewmexico.com

early fall

I love this time of year - the look of the changing horizon, the leaves, the colors, and the cool, crisp air. My Labor Day trip to Durango gave me the perfect taste to the start of fall - there was just a spot or two of changing aspen leaves, but it was enough to savor. The rivers were still fishing great despite some of the strong winds we fought. I think I need to work on my casting precision against the gusts though! Luckily we still landed some beautiful trout.

Lots going on right now for some girlfriend getaways like winefests, fairs, and fall events....I'll be heading to Lubbock soon for some wine sampling and fun with friends.

My wellness group at work has kicked off and we'll be participating in the Race for the Cure in the morning! Can't wait. I'll be participating in honor of five ladies, five survivors. After this big event, we should be raring to go for our trip to the canyon to hike the lighthouse. With the cooler temperatures maybe we can avoid the rattlesnakes!

Just got news of our Amarillo book signing, scheduled at Barnes and Noble December 4. Mark and I will be signing our two Top 30 books, while he and fishing buddy Chad McPhail will be signing their book, Eat, Sleep, Fish (Colorado).

It's great to be busy - more to come.

more outdoor fun

East fork of the San Juan is an easy getaway from Durango, Colorado. It sits between Pagosa Springs and South Fork (just the Pagosa side of Wolf Creek Pass). The road up along the river washed out a few years ago, so it's exciting to have it back open for some fishing and fun.




Big Meadows' South Fork of the Rio Grande is another gorgeous spot, but on the other side of Wolf Creek Pass. While the fish in the pic isn't huge, some pretty big lunkers do hide along the banks and occasionally tempt their fate as they shoot out and dart for a fly.











For now, the fishing is still good in both places. I'll be back soon for some fall weather fishing and hiking around. Can't wait!

Over the next month or two I'll also be poking around from Durango to Santa Fe and Dallas plus lots of stops in between.

July winds down

My month was made with a quick trip to my home waters of Lake City, Colorado the other day. The town is still a tiny hamlet surrounded by 14,000 foot peaks, and hasn't changed much since I celebrated my first birthday in a tiny cabin on the Lake Fork Gunnison River. I've missed visiting Lake City only a handful of years and only one in the last twenty-one. It is one of the most beautiful places on earth to me, and one of the most sentimental as well. When I'm on the waters I can't help but think of my dad and my grandmother, who were both so influential when it comes to fishing, the mountains, the outdoors. I like to think they had something to do with the two giant trout I had on my line a couple of days ago....the two that got away. I've caught fish and lost fish before, but these were something special. For one, they were huge in terms of trout, but they were caught in the waters below Fred's Bluff (named by my family for my dad). This section of the river is usually crowded, but on this day - not a soul in sight. Perfect. Can't wait to return and land those two beautiful rainbow lunkers.

Tomorrow I head out for another camping excursion high above the Florida River, full of hungry trout!

Lately and July 4th Plans

I'm in love with Sedona, Arizona! The red of the towering rocks is mesmerizing, the sunsets glorious, and the amount of outdoor fun - endless. My trip was too short, but I'm already planning a return trip so I can fit in all I didn't get to do. What a perfect place for a girlfriend getaway.
















Zion National Park and the Grand Canyon were both impressive, to say the least. The rock hound and geologist fan in me couldn't get enough.













Las Vegas deserves mention as one of my recent trips as well. Friends, pack your bags for some fun along the strip (bring your walking shoes). I highly recommend the Wynn Encore for classy, and a little swanky, lodging and chilling. And, I'm still singing songs and snapping my fingers to the tunes of Jersey Boys.




Over the last several days I've been camping, hiking, and fishing around Durango. The dogs came along and were great sports through all the ups and downs of the mountains and the rocky bottoms of the streams. After the 4th I'm heading to some other parts of CO for more outdoor fun...Rocky Mountain National Park, Steamboat, Vail, etc...here I come!

But before my next outing, I'm heading into Durango on the 4th for a 5K along the Animas River.

Summer, I love your boundless fun.

update

So it's been awhile...I've been writing for Rocky Mountain Game and Fish, the Amarillo Globe News, and Examiner.com all while teaching and trying to travel and have fun as much as possible. Life is busy. Life is good. The last few months have seen me at the Alabama coast, Houston, Oklahoma City a few times, along with my regular stomping grounds of Santa Fe and Durango. Upcoming travels include Dallas, Houston, Durango, Sedona, Moab, Las Vegas and who knows where else in between.

Our Top 30 books have taken off and we're making plans to add to the series: Amarillo, Santa Fe, Oklahoma City, and Sedona. My Girlfriend Getaway book may be morphing into a specialized book on the Southwest. Stay tuned.

Happy travels.

Santa Fe, New Mexico

Santa Fe, New Mexico, The City Different, overflows with art, shopping, and fine dining. And, tons of history to boot. One weekend in Santa Fe is good, but you'll just be getting your feet wet with all this cool, historic city has to offer. Spotting the exclusive art galleries and museums is easy, but be sure to check out the hidden nooks and crannies off Santa Fe's square as well. You'll find goodies like strings of dried chili peppers, expensive rugs, and Day of the Dead knick-knacks. Venture a little farther off the square down Canyon Road for more art. A trip to Santa Fe isn't complete without a peek at one of the popular, historic churches. When all the poking around town makes you work up an appetite; try Guadalupe Cafe (in nice weather grab an outdoor seat), Pasqual's (the long line is worth it), and La Fonda's French bakery for breakfast or a sweet treat. I like staying off the square so I can walk a ton of places with ease. St. Francis, La Fonda, and the Inn at Loretto are a few places to consider. There's more to Santa Fe than the historic square, but it's not a bad place to start your adventure.

Vail, my latest European luxury - stateside. Driving to Vail on I-70 just doesn't do it justice. Yes, the scenery is beautiful, but noting like you'll find inside the confines of Vail proper. The highway isn't visible, in fact, the only motorized vehicles you'll see will be the occasional bus transporting people from one stop to the next. Vail is a walkable town, only a mile in length, and no cars allowed. (Park your car at one of the two big parking lots off I-70 then walk down a big flight of stairs for a little piece of heaven.) The newest part of Vail even has a restriction on bicycles so pedestrians can mingle and meander with ease. Vail is lined with more restaurants than I had time to investigate, but you'll have a choice from German to Italian, and Italian, and every choice in between and beyond. Good thing it's easy to get exercise in Vail.

Galleries and shopping draw in everyone from the monied to those wishing to be. I mentally racked up thousands of dollars on fine art, jewelry, and last seasons hottest ski gear and snow bunny attire. While Vail does seem for the rich, it's a comfortable, quaint town with friendly people (locals and visitors alike).

In summer months take the gondola up and hike down Berry Picker trail. It's quiet and gorgeous, but a little longer than it looks so be sure to wear good hiking shoes. My dogs made the ride up and the hike down and loved it. Vail is surprisingly dog friendly.

Next time I plan on skiing down the mountain. Can't wait.

Flyfishing (or just hiking) along Hermosa Creek in Colorado is a blast. It's gorgeous, great exercise, and fun-filled. Hike the trail into the canyon or hit the East Fork of the Hermosa. If you take the East Fork, go far enough until you see the old 1920's car then stop for some cool photo ops. Either way, take extra water and pack your sunscreen.

A few weeks ago I hit the DFW Metroplex and took some time away to spend a little quality time in Grapevine, Texas with some of my gal pals. Grapevine, Texas is a cool, old-fashioned looking town with a hip vibe. Catch the Grapevine vibe at the wineries, several right on Main Street, restaurants, unique shops, and art galleries. A few of my buddies and I hit SuVino Winery and sampled five wines for only $5 per person. We chose a few different wines so we got to sample each others' too. We all left with bottles in hand and plans to return to bottle our own and create our own label. A perfect night out to come for the girls. Cheers!

Check out the Springs Resort and Hot Springs in Pagosa, Colorado. It's perfectly designed for girls to get away. My hubby can't sit still long enough to enjoy the place. Any girls I've ever been to the Springs with love it and we all end up talking (gossiping) and laughing the whole time. The benefit, besides just having fun, is that your body feels rejuvenated and completely relaxed by the all-natural, therapeutic hot springs. It's a great place to get a little sun-kissed too. You'll burn quickly here with the close proximity to the sun, so come prepared. My mom, who's afraid of the water and of showing her legs, loved the Springs so much we had to drag her away (by the end of our day, Mom was even posing for the camera and showing her legs)! Stay at the resort for a package deal and a come and go pass. It's nice to be able to leave for lunch/dinner and come back since there's not much to snack on, on premises (nachos/snowcones/etc.).
Take a look at the details: Pagosa Hot Springs

The cover mock-ups for the books Mark and I are doing (Top 30 Things to do in Durango & Top 30 Things to do in Telluride) are ready and look great. Way to go Wayfinder! They'll be on shelves soon. The books aren't focused on women, but they certainly have plenty of cool things for your gal pals to do together.

Mark and I each presented at the Panhandle Professional Writers Conference today, Frontiers in Writing. It went well and everyone is excited about the upcoming Girlfriend Getaways book. I don't know any girls who don't love a girlfriend trip or outing. The book is changing focus a bit, but I'm excited and will share more once things are finalized. Girlfriends, pack your bags. We have some more traveling to do.

My recent multi-purpose trip to Dallas was fun-filled, and way too short! I got to catch up with long-time friends, see my nephew and his fiance, and even see a few former students. Of course (as usual) I ran through DSW looking for the gotta have shoes. My gal pals and I also made our yearly journey to Pete's Dueling Piano Bar in Addison. They put us front and center because they figured we'd be fun, or rather entertaining. Go figure! One of my buddies and I stayed at the Gaylord Texan in Grapevine so I could do some investigating and writing about its staycation and girlfriend getaway qualities. I'm happy to say that the property passed on both accounts. Check out my article on Examiner: http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-3825-Dallas-Getaways-Examiner~y2009m5d20-Staycation-getaway-at-the-Gaylord-Texan-in-Grapevine-Texas

(Click on the brochure to enlarge.)

Mark and I will both be presenting at the Panhandle Professional Writers Association this summer. Come check it out.

The books are turned in! We're getting a few photos together, but that's no sweat. Our recent trip to Telluride and Durango was worthwhile for some fact checking confirmations, but it turned out to be a much needed getaway.

Off season in Telluride is something not to miss. It's calm, quiet and the lodging is at a discount. A lot of the stores and restaurants are closed, but that adds to the quite (almost locals only) charm. Of the shops opened, most have deep discounts you (we) just can't pass up. Most everything will be opening up for summer between now to the end of May.

Give Mountain Lodge at Telluride a try; we loved it. (Advice, make sure you know how to heat up the hot tub before jumping in.) http://www.mountainlodgeattelluride.com

I'll be in Dallas (Grapevine) soon to check out the Gaylord Hotel for a Staycation and Girlfriend Getaway locale. I can already tell it will fit both perspectives perfectly. I hope to make a visit to the Grapevine Winery, get in some good shopping, and eat out at some non-Amarillo restaurants.

Stay Tuned.

I've been busy working and writing two books for Wayfinder Press (with Mark), both due in May, on the Top 30 Things to do in Durango and the Top 30 Things to do in Telluride. Unfortunately travel has been limited lately due to such a busy schedule. I did manage a great trip to Durango (for fun) and one to Houston (for family) and have plans for a Telluride trip next month.....thank goodness.

I'm now the Dallas Getaways Examiner for examiner.com and have been writing to keep regular posts. Look for my upcoming article on Costa Brava, Spain. Explore the rest of the site too, it really has a lot of great info from writers around the country on all kinds of subjects.

My latest article for the Amarillo Globe News will be out this Sunday. All you flyfishers be sure to give it a read for some tips on getting ready for Spring fishing.

More to come....

I'm back from a winter wonderland, snow-covered Durango trip. The snow was gorgeous and made for some excellent skiing up at "Purg." The best part was getting to make fresh tracks on the barely accessed back of the mountain - even late in the day. Next time I'm heading to the back side first thing and staying right there for the day, or at least till I need a good dose of hot chocolate. The base area has changed a bit in the last year, with new lodging and busy-ness. I never found the best new place for non-skiers to hold up for the day, but I'll be back soon for some more skiing and will investigate the amenities a little better.

The Seasons, my favorite Durango restaurant, is getting ready to reopen after a devastating fire last year. I can't wait! It looks like it will have an outdoor balcony overlooking Main Street - fun! In the meantime check out Randy's for delicious dining, the pork medallions are to die for.

Head out to Dallas' West Village (3699 McKinney Avenue), December 5th for an Electric Holiday Celebration. There'll be live music, shopping, treats and drinks, and holiday cheer from 6 to 10 PM. I love this shopping area and this part of Dallas as well. Have fun getting into the holiday spirit!

More to do in Dallas

R and R:
Relax and unwind at one of these favorites.

• Times Ten Cellars is a casual, winery and wine bar. Private spaces available. 6324 Prospect Ave, Dallas, 214-824-WINE.
• The Library Bar, is quite and comfy, with great music from the piano bar. 3015 Oak Lawn Ave, Dallas, 214-224-3144.
• Salon Pompeo will get you ready to hit the town while taking time to unwind. (over 30 spa services) 3227 McKinney Ave. Ste. 103, Dallas, 214-979-0440.
• Exhale Spa’s 10,000 square feet of “spadom,” provides skin care and body therapies to mind and body classes, boutique shopping and gift certificates. 5300 East Mockingbird Lane, at the Hotel Palomar, Dallas, 214-370-5800.

My Girlfriend Getaway article, on BIG D, came out on the front page of the Lifestyles section in the Amarillo Globe News today. Newspapers have to keep it brief, so a few of my favorite spots didn't make it into the sidebar sections. Here are the ones that didn't make it. To see the others you'll have to get a copy of the paper since the sidebars of the cool spots don't show up online.

Suit your fancy:
You need lots of time to explore all the art, history, sporting events and such that Dallas has to offer, so pick one, for now.

• The Dallas Museum of Art sits in the largest arts district in the US. Browse its ancient and contemporary collections, visit its restaurants, and its unique shop. 1717 North Harwood, Dallas 75201, 214-922-1200.
• The quaint Mozzarella Company offers shopping, tours, and classes in wine and cheese pairings plus hands-on cheese making, following centuries’ old recipes. 2944 Elm Street, Dallas, 214-741-4072.
• At Swirll Winery, sip and mix your own tasty batch of vino. Personalize your batch’s name and label design, ready in 6 to 8 weeks. Visitors love the urban setting and historic building. 1311 Main Street, Dallas, 214-573-6603.
• Catch a Mavs game at American Airlines Center in Victory Park. (A different experience without our testerone-ladened beaus!) Go early and explore Victory Park, Dallas’ hip urban center. 2401 N. Houston, Dallas.

Going to Georgia anytime soon? Atlanta has a hip, funky, affordable, fashionable boutique called SAGE that any of us girls will love. You'll love what you see, but even more you'll love that nothing, well almost nothing, is over $100! Try the Midtown location at Brookwood Place, 1745 Peachtree St. N.E., 404-815-0555 or Buckhead Market Place, 37 West Paces Ferry Rd., 404-233-8280. The newest location, in Cumming (410 Peachtree Parkway, Suite130), should be opening this month. If you get there before me let me know what you think. All stores have weekly shipments of skirts, tops, dresses, accessories, etc. You gotta love it!

I spent the day with my girls hiking around the beautiful Sugarite Canyon State Park a couple of weeks ago.  The weather was cool, the colors glorious.  If you haven't been to the park, you should check it out.  It has a ton of history from dinosaurs to coal mining, species after species of birds, all kind of animals, great fishing, and miles of hiking trails.