From
the President...
SUMMER 2009
I have been late writing my summer column
because in late June, I left the Texas heat for the cooler,
low humidity days and beauty of Lake Tahoe. I got
reports each day from friends and family that it was 103,
101,102
in Dallas. I embraced each glorious day of 82 and each
full moon filled night of 50 and rubbed it in to everyone
when I got the chance.
Alas, I did return to the heat.
The
airplanes I took were FULL so why the airlines can't make
money escapes me. The sad effects of the economy,
however were evident in the hotels I encountered. Four
and five star hotels had broken glass and mirrors repaired
with (gasp) duct tape. Two of these hotels with six
restaurants each barely had two places to dine open between
them during my stay.
I
asked why things were so tough and I was told that Lake
Tahoe depends on most of its tourism from California.
We know Californians are suffering with their economy.
I also discovered that an Indian casino had opened near
Sacramento so many people didn't make it all the way
up to Tahoe anymore.
The
site of a new Marriott Hotel stood idle at Lake Tahoe as
another sign that the economy was suffering.
Hopefully, as more Americans decide they DO need a vacation,
they will consider a place as beautiful as Switzerland here
in our own country.
I hope you are staying cool this summer and safe travels.
Click here to see the latest photos of my grandchildren.
Donna Johnson, President
Red Bird Travel
Plus
Member of ENSEMBLE Travel
1976-2010
34 years of excellence
320 Cooper Street
Cedar Hill, Texas 75104
972-291-9990
972-291-0354 fax
|
Red Bird
Travel is a professional travel agency serving
the Dallas / Fort Worth
Metroplex.
320 Cooper Street
Cedar Hill, Texas 75104
972-291-9990
972-291-0354 fax
|
Join Us as we
Travel with Carole
For People Who Enjoy Having Fun
November 2009
Age may not be the only reason for feeling so tired after returning from a “relaxing” tour! After coming home from New England on the evening of August 10th, I sat down for a few minutes to open my stack of mail. The next thing I knew, the clock read 5:30 a.m. and I was wondering which hotel room I was in! I was still dressed, the dog and cats had not been fed, the front door was unlocked and my alarm system was disarmed. After realizing I was in my own house, I changed clothes, locked the doors and crawled into bed. Fortunately, the dog and cats are still alive and no one came in the front door. A good many of you New England travelers had plans for the day after you got home and you were up and going before I got out of bed. Good for you! And keep on keeping on because I believe that’s your secret.
Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Connecticut and Massachusetts were all a part of this unique summertime tour of New England. Before we arrived, rain had washed the foliage to a plush bright green everywhere you looked. We rode on four different train rides…a mountain-climbing cog railway (an engineering marvel in 1869), the Essex Steam Train, the North Conway Scenic Railroad and Vermont’s 1850’s Green Mountain Flyer Train. From the Becky Thatcher River Boat on the Connecticut River, we saw incredible river-front homes for which New England is known. And we nuzzled up with a breed of horses new to me…the Majestic Friesians! They proudly gave us a captivating performance of elegant precision dancing. All of us got to take turns riding in a 1921 Model T belonging to a farm where we had a picnic. In striking contrast, our farewell dinner was on one of Newport’s “rich and famous” yachts. And the fact remains….there is nothing like the taste of fresh seafood that is caught in your own backyard!
Continued...
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