Great Outdoors Series: Greater Fort Lauderdale
The Everglades: A Birder's Paradise
"Nature is always lovely, invincible, glad, whatever is done and suffered by her creatures. All scars she heals, whether in rocks or water or sky or hearts." John Muir
Lovely, indeed. With a tropical climate affording year-round temperatures in the seventies, abundant sunshine, and one of the country's most unique national parks, Fort Lauderdale is an ideal playground for explorers. The Everglades National Park, according to the National Park Service, is not only the country's largest subtropical wilderness, but also a World Heritage Site, an International Biosphere Reserve, and a Wetland of International Importance. As a national park, it also set precedent as the first wilderness area to be preserved not for it scenic value (like Yellowstone) but solely for its biological diversity.
By land, by sea...or bi-plane.
We've come a long way since the 1900s, when settlers began draining the Everglades to produce farmland, and these days it's back to its old, usual self: a pristine mosaic of ponds, marshes and swamps. If you haven't seen this wonder yet, now's the time.
Everglades Seaplane Tour in Fort Lauderdale Get a bird's eye view of the so-called "River of Grass". Soaring in a Cessna 172 Seahawk seaplane, the Everglades are laid plain beneath you, teeming with gators, turtles, wild birds and other fauna, not to mention plenty of vegetation. This is, after all, the world's largest remaining swamp.
New Food and Wine Experiences for the Holidays
Just before the holidays, Cloud 9 Living introduces a bundle of new Food and Wine Experiences, perfect for the foodies in your life. Whether they're in Austin or San Diego, Chicago or Boston, there's a little something new for everyone.
For the wine connoisseurs (or those who'd like to be), take a look at the Host a Wine Tasting Party in Chicago, where you and up to fourteen friends can gather in your own home to be wined and dined by a professional sommelier. The Sunset Wine Tasting Cruise in Los Angeles whisks guests to the Long Beach peninsula on a fully restored vintage sailboat, with appetizers paired to complement the four wine tastings. For a thorough introduction to the sommelier's world, check out Wine 101 in St. Louis, Portland or Denver, or get outdoors to the Private Hill Country Wine Tour in Austin's rolling, tree-dappled hills.
The Great Outdoors Series: Greater Las Vegas
A view from every angle: See the Grand Canyon from a plane, helicopter, horseback or riverboat.
I, for one, cannot think of a more frightening vacation experience than twenty-four hours in Vegas—whether it stays there or not. For those more inclined toward the natural wonders than the roulette tables, here’s a list to put those glittering casinos to shame.
Take advantage of Sin City's proximity to one of the world's greatest natural marvels, the Grand Canyon (which, FYI, was almost renamed to the decidedly less-glorious “Great” Canyon. Nice save, surveyors.) With water-polished walls ribboned in sunset pallets, the Colorado River boasting a murderous (and geomorphologically extraordinary) history, and an icon of human achievement, the Hoover Dam, all within reach, you’re in good—make that great—country, folks.
Grand Canyon Scenic Plane Tour: Views of the Mojave Desert, Hoover Dam and Grand Canyon, with your FAA-certified pilot narrating the sights. Or a helicopter tour, for those who, like me, trust more something that lifts off vertically instead of accelerating at hundreds of miles an hour (anybody else developed a fear of flying later in life?)
Mini Baja Chase: For the daredevil, head seventeen miles out of town into the Vegas Dunes for the chase of a lifetime. Careening around the dusty moonscape in reds and mauves, explore these legendary fifteen-thousand acres in a mini Baja chaser, strapped in with a few tips from your professional "Dunie" guide. Featured in Rolling Stone magazine and the Discovery Channel, among others.
New Cloud 9 Experiences: October 2011
Yes, please.
Just in time for the holidays, Cloud 9 Living introduces a few dozen new experiences. Very exciting for you; very difficult (to whittle down to four hundred words, near which I have not come close) for me. Without further adieu, I present you with an abridged early bird holiday gift shopping special:
Gondolas! Que romantico. Slip through calm waters as the sun sinks, clink glasses with your sweetheart, and drink a toast to the incredible odds of finding each other. With three variations available, I suggest selecting an experience by your hunger level: the Vegas Romantic Gondola Cruise (also available in L.A., Ocean Beach, and Dallas) includes a box of chocolates to nibble on and some sparkling cider; the Los Angeles Gondola Dinner Cruises for Two (also in Ocean Beach, Dallas and Vegas) present you with a gourmet meal; and the Dallas Gondola Dessert Cruises (in Los Angeles and Las Vegas too) display an array of delicacies for your sweet tooth. Here I believe a photo really is worth a thousand words, so see top-left for a vision of your romantic future.
Nothing Fishy Here: Fishing Experiences
Now that, friends, is a fish.
“Fishing provides that connection with the whole living world. It gives you the opportunity of being totally immersed, turning back into yourself in a good way. A form of meditation, some form of communion with levels of yourself that are deeper than the ordinary self.” - Ted Hughes
Talking to avid fisher-people, you’d think there was nothing grander, or simpler, out there. To wade knee-deep into the river, or hover along the water’s edge, or skim the glassy water of a lake in a sputtering boat, a couple fishing rods, a couple bottles of beer, perhaps a friend or two. All the while the fish teem like silver threads beneath the surface.
If you can find nothing unappealing about the above-mentioned descriptive paragraph, then I have a few suggestions for you. Yes, even you, dear—this is no man’s world, not exclusively anyway.
A River Runs Through It, indeed.
Sport-fishing: Barracuuudaaa… Just to say it gives me chills. Starting out from beaches between Long Beach and Dana Point, these So-Cal Sport-fishing excursions put you within casting distance of halibut, sand bass, calico bass, red snapper, giant yellowtail, white sea bass, and yes, even the beloved barracuda. Under the Southern California sun, and the direction of a seasoned pro, it might not get any better than this for the sport-fishing enthusiast.
New Experiences: August 2011
You, three-thousand feet of zipline, and the Colorado Rockies.
This August, Cloud 9 Living brings five new Colorado mountain adventures, three wide-ranging experiences in California, and lessons on the green and in the blue down south. Daredevils, gumshoes, and golf aficionados, all: read on for new thrills.
Colorado: Denverites, already of overactive repute, now have five new outdoor adventures to choose from. They may be a low-key citizenry, but their adventures are decidedly not. Witness the introduction of Zipline Adventures among snow-capped Rockies, Whitewater Rafting on “The Numbers” rapids of the Arkansas River, and both a full-day and half-day Clear Creek Rafting trip, just outside of Denver. For the overachievers, never ones to miss an opportunity, combine these two thrillers in the Whitewater Rafting and Ziplining adventure. Whatever your medium, grab a handle, oar or the closest solid structure and match your roar against the river’s.
Take to the waterways with the Tomales Bay Kayak Tour
Or, for those lonely (but never lowly) Denver souls preferring the great indoors, spend an evening gathering clues and guarding your back at this new Murder Mystery Dinner Show, an interactive and improvised comedy set in the present day.
Say “Spa!”
The Spa: Fountains of youth, friends.
As this scorcher of a summer draws to a close, we’re all looking a little burnt around the edges—chipped nails, cracks in the soles of our feet, a little peeling on the shoulders (Yes, Mother, there was sunscreen involved). With an eye toward self-maintenance and self-indulgence, girlfriends and I are looking to The Spa for relief. Think cascading water fountains and cool cucumber slices, invigorating salt scrubs and body rubs. Think polished nails the color of crisp candied apples and skin so smooth and dewy it’s like the beach never happened.
These spa packages from Cloud 9 Living are just a bite of all we have to offer, from L.A. to New York. Stay cool, or moist, or whatever it is you’ve been lacking in the heat. And as my mother advises, book well in advance—there’s nothing like anticipation to heighten the pleasure.
If I Had A Day in Santa Barbara…
Isn't she beautiful?
With its Spanish Colonial Revival-style architecture, brick arches framing views of the Santa Ynez Mountains, with its coastal breezes and world-class university, the question is not so much what to do in Santa Barbara, but what not to do. But that’s not a very upbeat post, now is it?
Instead, take a look at this list of things to get you out the door and under the brilliant California sun, taking in Santa Barbara’s famous scenery.
Cycling, scenery and wine tastings... Easy, breezy.
Wine Country Cycling: Easy on the eyes, easy on the joints. A leisurely cycling tour through Santa Barbara’s famed vineyards leads you to wine tastings, picnics, and the rolling hills of chaparral this region is famous for, led by professional guides.
Kayak to Dinner on the Dunes: Seals, sea lions, and otters, oh my! Paddle alongside these furry sea creatures on your way to dinner on the dunes at Morro Bay. A professional, experienced guide leads the way and prepares your beach-style grilled dinner for you while you take in the views and meander in the sand dunes, sipping on a local brew or wine.
Drive a Stock Car at Fontana: For the NASCAR enthusiast, hit the track for an afternoon learning how to drive a stock car. Participants learn the basics of racecar driving first, then get strapped in by a crew member, then off they go, tooling around in 500-h.p. Sprint Cup-style cars.
Kayak to a grilled, beach-style dinner on the California dunes.
Bridge to Nowhere Bungee Jump: Bungee jumping never sounded quite fulfilling enough? This full-day excursion leads you along a meandering river through five-miles of canyon-studded Angeles National Forest. The jump site, Bridge to Nowhere, suspends you ten stories above the raging river with nothing but air and steep canyon walls around you—nothing but nature’s best.
Joshua Tree Jeep Tour: With California’s Joshua Tree National Park just around the corner, it’d be a shame to miss these unique tree-like yuccas and some of the nation’s most interesting geological formations. Outfitted in a brand new Jeep® Wrangler, explore this national oddity with a tour guide to fill in all the blanks.
Paragliding Lesson in Malibu: Take advantage of the clear coastal air and learn to fly with a paragliding lesson. No motors, no jumping out of planes, and no tandem instructors. This half-day lesson teaches the basics of paragliding, followed by a trial flight and landing to help you get your wings.
So, there you have my choices for a dream day in Santa Barbara. Which of our Santa Barbara experiences would you most like to do?
Honor Your Green and Blue
Not a bad place to call home, right?
April 22nd is Earth Day, folks. Normally celebrated with river-clean-up trips and recycling assemblies in schools, there’s a more relaxing way to celebrate this neglected holiday, and it has nothing to do with slogging through piles of tin cans and plastic bottles.
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. For most of us, this motto conjures up other words, like “sacrifice”, “self-denial”, and “less”. But here at Cloud 9 Living, we’re happy to report it’s possible to adhere to all three points of the eco-conscious triad without sacrificing anything at all. It goes like this:
Reduce your clutter. Forget material gifts and all their paper wrappings. An experience gift cuts straight to the heart of giving without another doodad to dust on the coffee table.
Reuse the memories. Recipient testimonials agree: the memories keep coming back, month after month, year after year. Through the power of memory, it looks like one experience really does last a lifetime.
Recycle the joy. If you’ve received a gift experience, you know the joy. So recycle it! Share the joy and send someone off on their own adventure...
A Gifted Experience
Gift giving. I take a lot of pride in my gifts, searching around for those perfect somethings to share with the people I love. But as the years go by this gets harder and harder. At a certain point it begins to feel like everybody has what they need, and so the gifts devolve into trinkets, knickknacks that end up beside the bathroom mirror or on the bedside table. And at a certain point, our homes become cluttered with these little things which, at best, serve as reflectors, memory-provokers, reminding us of the people who gave them to us and the memories we share with them.
Which gets me thinking more about the true value of these things: memory.
When I scroll through the list of Best Gifts I've Received, I think of a road trip through the Southwest with my mom, watching dust devils swirl up from the cracked earth, sleeping on the bedrock cliffs of Big Sur,
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