Review of our Trip to Banner Elk, North Carolina!

At long last, I have compiled a bunch of information (and a review) of our trip to Banner Elk, North Carolina. We had stayed at the Blue Ridge Village resort (one of the thousands of resorts available to GRN members through your membership), and had a great time.

I've posted the information at my Fine Resort Vacation website. What I have done is developed a page called "Vacation Review," and will be adding sub pages pertaining to various vacation reviews - such as the Banner Elk vacation. There will also be a sub page for Caribbean Vacations since we enjoy St. Maarten so much!

Don't forget to check out the short YouTube video I posted about the Banner Elk trip! It's on the Banner Elk, North Carolina review page at Fine Resort Vacation.

In a nutshell, here's the review: Banner Elk is wonderful! It's scenic, the people are friendly (which seems to be the norm in the South!), and if you even remotely enjoy the outdoors, it's a dream come true! A visit would be well worth your time.

Enjoy the review! :)

Interview w/ 5th Grade Class from Woodland Elementary School in Perrysburg, OH

Ok... This was the coolest thing! Folks from Woodland Elementary School in Perrysburg, Ohio found my Fine Resort Vacation site online, and contacted me about a project they are doing that incorporates several fields of study - science, math, social studies, etc.

Mr. Jason Hubbard's 5th grade class has formed an "intergalactic tourist board" to design a planet that will entice Darth Vadar to visit, relax, and shake off his evil ways.

So, they asked if I would participate in a question and answer session to help them understand what types of activities and ammenities might be good at such a resort. And since I market Global Resorts Network memberships which include access to thousands of different resorts (and since I visit them myself), I was able to add some insight based on my own experiences.

What we did was set up a video conference using Skype, and I have to say it was awesome! What a blast! The kids had great questions, and it was the most fun I've had in at least a week! :)

We also talked about the things I have seen based on my experiences in Antarctica and New Zealand. We discussed how New Zealand might be a good country to study since it is such a beautiful destination.

Anyway, I'll update this blog if I learn anything else about how the project turned out.

I'm very grateful to Woodland Elementary School for inviting me to participate, and quite humbled, as well. It was an honor to help.

New YouTube Video - Our Trip to Blue Ridge Village Resort in Banner Elk NC

Ok... This is a little late, I know! Last May, John & I took a quick vacation to Banner Elk, North Carolina in the Blue Ridge Mountains - or the North Carolina High Country. What an absolutely gorgeous area!

As many of you know, I have been attempting to learn how to film and post things on YouTube, and one of the reasons I've been so late with this particular entry is ... um... well, good old fashioned procrastination due to fear since I am still on the YouTube learning curve!

But, I finally bit the bullet and "just did it." Yes, I followed my own advice! :)

At any rate, here is the YouTube video which is only 3 1/2 minutes long, showing a little about our trip, which included a terrific visit to Christa's Country Corner and Deli where we stuffed ourselves silly on smoked chicken, along with a view of the Blue Ridge Village resort where we stayed (and which is one of the thousands of resorts available through the Global Resorts Network membership we like so much), and a quick look at the Banner Elk Winery. Alas... we ran out of battery power during our visit to the winery, so there is only a screen shot.

I will be getting a larger article out there about the trip and some of the amazing activities that are available out in the Banner Elk area. Stayed tuned to my Fine Resort Vacation site for more!

Back in South Carolina - Happy New Year 2010!

Hello everyone!

I'm back in South Carolina - this time in Myrtle Beach (versus Cherry Grove where we were last winter). We were encouraged by the locals who all said that last winter was the coldest in years.

Hmm. Today, it is about 40 - not too bad. But yesterday's wind chills were COLD!

Glad I brought my long-johns! :) We do wish we had come back earlier - we had to be plowed 8 times before we left New Hampshire on December 29th. That's a LOT of plowing - even by New Hampshire standards.

Anyway, I realize that I've been "gone" for quite a while - We've been caught up in beginning to get the house up in NH ready to sell, staying caught up with the summer and fall Portable Garages and Shelters sales, and then sneaking away for a couple of weeks to St. Maarten.

(Ahem... Note to self: NEVER schedule a vacation during the high season for Portable Garage sales. We had scheduled the St. Maarten trip earlier last year, and honestly did not know that November was still a busy time of year for Portable Garage sales. We won't make that mistake again! BUSINESS TIP OF THE DAY: It is a BAD IDEA to leave a busy store unattended.)

So, here I am, settled into our winter quarters high above the gorgeous sands of Myrtle Beach. I have my computer set up, files organized, pencils sharpened, and a refreshed sense of humor.

Time to get back to work! In the coming days and weeks, I'll be writing and posting numerous articles and (yes!) some YouTube videos from some of our trips over the last year. Hopefully they will give viewers and potential travelers some insights into where we've been.

I'll keep you posted! In the meantime, I wish all of you a happy, healthy, safe, and prosperous year ahead.