Park City Preview
I just returned from my annual dim sum lunch in Boston with Craig McCarthy, Communications Manager at the Park City Chamber of Commerce. Park City has always been one of my favorite mountain locales in the West, be it winter or summer. Its history as a former mining town lends to its authenticity. It’s not your run-of-the-mill prefabricated ski town. But that’s not to say things don’t change. The Park City area is in the midst of a building spree. The Waldorf Astoria Park City was built at the base of the Canyons Resort last winter and this year, the Montage Resort, known for its spectacular property in Laguna Beach, plans to open at Deer Valley. The Canyons is also unveiling an orange-bubbled heated high-speed quad, the first of its kind in the States. Park City Mountain Resort is expanding their night skiing. But the big news is off the town lift in downtown Park City, where the High West Distillery opened its doors last year. Distilling small batch whiskeys and vodkas, it’s the first distillery to open in Utah since Prohibition. Throw back a glass of that rye whiskey and you have that extra edge you might need to try that double diamond.
We spotted a patch of sun this morning as folks were strolling around my neighborhood, camera in tow, to take photographs of the many massive uprooted trees. Tall pines and maples had fallen on power lines, cars, and in the street. Thankfully, I didn’t see any trees atop homes, but power is still out on several streets. One neighbor told me she’s been living here for 40 years and this is the worst storm she’s ever seen. Though I’d love to talk travel with you this week and think about escaping away from this mess, it would be best if I remain firmly rooted like the oak trees in my backyard that remarkably weathered the 65 mile per hour gusts. My thoughts and prayers are with everyone still suffering from Sandy, especially all my friends on the New England coast, New York, and New Jersey. I’ll be back next week with a fresh batch of blogs.
After the overnight flight to Rome and a 2-hour train to Florence, we took a taxi to our hotel for the first two nights, 
Summer is the best time of year to book flights to warm-weather destinations this coming winter. This is especially true if you’re forced to travel during school vacations. Hesitate to book your flight and you’ll be stuck on bad connections that cost a fortune. We’re here to help with flights and suggestions. In the 
Arctic travel and Northern Lights specialists 
We spent a glorious week in Switzerland in July before the start of our Backroads hiking and biking trip in the Swiss Alps. We loved our stay in Bern to see the inner workings of the famous Medieval Clock Tower, visiting the apartment Albert Einstein lived when he proved his Theory of Relativity, and stopping at the wave-like building Renzo Piano built to house the works of local talent Paul Klee. But my favorite day was getting on electric bikes to roam the narrow and mountainous country roads of neighboring Emmental Valley. Our guide, who looked like Roger Federer, led us through the farmland and small villages to a restaurant known for creating fondue from the local emmental cheese. We returned to Bern on the train with more than enough time to swim in the Aare River. An easy walk down the hillside from our wonderful hotel, the 
Don’t fret. While still under the beastly spell of winter here in New England,