From: pleroy@us.oracle.com
Newsgroups: rec.travel
Subject: Re: Seeking great ideas for Christmas
Date: 15 Sep 92 22:37:52 GMT
Followup-To: rec.travel
Distribution: usa
Organization: Oracle Corporation, USA
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              at Oracle Corporation.  The opinions expressed are those
              of the user and not necessarily those of Oracle.

In article <6102@pdxgate.UUCP>, h2co@odin.cc.pdx.edu (Candace O'Connor) writes:
> Hello.  I am getting into the habit of not spending Christmas at home;
> for the past few years my husband and I have gone various places for a
> few days to a week for the holiday, and enjoyed ourselves much more
> than we do spending Christmas at home.  Now I'm thinking of where to
> go this year, and I'll bet some of you have some really great ideas,
> so I am soliciting.
> 
> Example of a really nice Christmas mini-vacation: a few years back we
> drove down to the Grand Canyon.  I'd been there many times (used to live
> in NM) but my husband had never been there.  We stayed at the El Tovar,
> had outrageously beautiful weather (the Canyon is lovely with snow!),
> grand time.
> 
> Things I've been thinking of: Someplace out-of-the-way in Hawaii (I am
> a snow-and-ice person, but everybody else likes Hawaii, so maybe I would
> too).  Someplace around the Banff-Jasper area.  Cross country skiing
> in Yosemite.  Death Valley.  As you can see we are really flexible; just
> looking for an interesting, beautiful place to spend Christmas.  Possibly
> a really special, neat hotel someplace with lots of natural beauty. Last
> year we spent Christmas at the Empress in Victoria; the hotel was nice,
> but it was a little bit too bit-city.  Right now am limiting my 
> speculations to the US and Canada (not interested in Mexico), and to 
> things that would be fun for a short (1 week or less) getaway.
> 
> Any and all ideas, suggestions and experiences welcome!  Reply to this
> group or via email, and thank you in advance.
> 
> Candace S. O'Connor
> Biology Department
> 
> h2co@odin.cc.pdx.edu

Yosemite is definitively a great place to go. I would suggest that you
rent a cabin at the Redwoods cabins in Wawona (they have wonderful
fireplaces) or a room at the Wawona Hotel. I'm not completely sure but
I think there are wonderful opportunities for country skiing around
there with some of the trails going to Mariposa Grove.

Death Valley is one of my favorite places. You should rent a 4x4 (in
Las Vegas) because most of the interesting roads altough well maintained
need to have a vehicle with high clearance and preferably 4 wheels power.
You may stay at Furnace Creek at either the ranch or the Inn. Last time,
I've been there for a week-end, I visited the "race tracks" in the
North East, 24 miles South of Uhebe Crater. It's a strange place where
rocks have been moving for thousands of years leaving various tracks
on the dry ground. If you want to be alone it's the place to go, we
didn't see anybody on the backroads but in winter there may be more
visitors.

Another place you should consider is Jakson Hole Wyoming where you may
ski or using snowmobiles you may visit the Elk National Refuge, the
Grand Teton National Park, or even Yellowstone National Park. I'm
considering to spend some vacation time this winter in this area.

I do not know the winter conditions in the National Parks of Utah but
Bryce Canyon or Arches are also two wonderful parks to visit when
they are covered by the snow.

If you want some phone numbers or more informations, send an email
and I'll look in my documentation.

Enjoy your holidays

Patrick LEROY (PLEROY@us.oracle.com)
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