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Thursday, December 5, 2013

Dream Destinations Blog Hop

Hosted by Lexa Cain and Julie Flanders, the Dream Destination blog Hop invites us all to take a moment and dream of exotic destinations, and celebrate the latest book releases for Lexa and Julie!

In addition to the celebration fun, there's a giveaway too, with 19 prizes offered! Just visit Lexa and Julie's blogs to sign up for the giveaway!

If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go?
Beaches of Hawaii? Slopes of Vail? Cancun, Paris, or Rome?
Where is your Dream Destination?
 
It's so hard to choose just one place. I love Hawai'i, Paris, London, and the Florida Keys. I love beaches and history, waves and sight-seeing. However, since the advent of the ski season is upon us, I am going to go with Whistler, B.C., Canada.
 

 
 
Skiing and boarding down sculpted slopes with breath-taking vistas at Whistler and Black Comb mountains, my family and I have enjoyed some of the longest ski and boarding runs in the world. It's one of my dream vacations, and it's even better because it's a dream that has come true more than once. My in-laws have generously given all of their children and grand-children stays in Whistler Village, and we love it. Sometimes we've managed to get up to 24 family members skiing and boarding together on the same runs. My brother-in-law with MS, who is unable to move from the neck down, has even been able to enjoy the runs with us in a special ski tour chair (chair on skis with a guide steering it on the back).
 
Skiing and boarding at Whistler is awesome because there is a huge variety of terrain, from easy to extreme, with snow parks for those who like to do tricks, and natural mini-cliff sides like this one.  


(My husband is waiting to video our daughter's attempt to jump over this mini-cliff - don't worry, they made it more gracefully than I did. I slowed down and just edged and slipped over the face of it.)
 
And one of the reasons I love skiing and boarding with our whole family is that we all enjoy being with each other on the slopes. We don't have any skier vs. boarder feuds (this actually happens between people), and we are all free to enjoy the mountain to the best of our abilities on whatever equipment we like, even short skis like mine.
(technically, snow blades or snow skates, no poles needed or wanted)
 
Ok, now I'm really excited to strap those on and head to our local, smaller slopes. :)
 
Thank you, Lexa and Julie, for this fun fest! And best wishes on your new releases, Ghosts of Aquinnah and Soul Cutter!
 
What's your dream vacation?
 
Don't forget to enter the giveaway!!!
 

28 comments:

  1. Hi, Tyrean,

    I've never been in a snowy location. Your vacation sounds like it was fun.

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  2. I don't really like the cold and never had any desire to go skiing, but those snow blades/skates with no poles sound interesting. And you make it sound like fun! :)

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  3. Oh, how fun! I'd love to go to British Columbia. But I would have to pass on the skiing since I'm so clumsy LOL.

    Thanks so much for participating in our hop, Tyrean! :)

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  4. JL - very fun!!!

    Madeline - glad to make it sound fun at least!

    Julie - BC is a fun place to visit - there are some dramatic views on the Sea to Sky highway between Vancouver and Whistler, with mountains on one side of the highway and ocean on the other side . . . without much inbetween.
    Thank you, Julie!

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  5. I'm pleased you want to visit our Whistler Village here in BC, and that you've been here before. It's a beautiful place and does draw people from all over the world.

    My heart belongs to Paris, but I'd choose London or Portugal as places that are still on my list.

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  6. A place the whole family can enjoy is indeed a dream destination!
    Never been snow skiing. I'm sure I'd make someone laugh.

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  7. I love skiing. This sounds like a wonderful place to do it too! *Adds to dream destination list*.

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  8. BC is certainly a great place for skiing! I bet you had fun there!

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  9. Do you know I have lived in Colorado most of my life and still never learned to ski well. I've done it maybe four or five times, and it always kicked my butt. :P

    But BC is so beautiful! I was in Vancouver in May, and that part of the world is just breathtaking. :)

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  10. Sounds like fun! Especially the part about so many family members enjoying the experience together. Not sure how long I'd last out in the cold, though. Maybe just long enough for my cheeks to get rosy and my nose to get numb. Then, I'd retreat to the indoors to sit beside a raging fireplace... with a hot toddy in my hand and a book in my lap.

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  11. Oh my, I see why you want to go. I could drink the blue of that sky. I can't ski (bad hip), but I would still enjoy some of the smaller slopes ;-D

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  12. Brrrr. Looks too cold for me. But I've had a thing against skiing ever since I hit that tree...

    Weather aside, it'd probably be great to get away from everything and just enjoy the rush of air on your face as you speed down the slopes.

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  13. This sounds so fun! I love how your whole extended family can share the joy, especially your brother-in-law. I'd never heard of special chairs for the handicapped and I think it's such a wonderful idea. I've never seen snow blades before either. I'd totally fall without poles (and usually with poles, too). Thanks for joining the hop and for the generous donation of your book. :-)

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  14. Nice choice. :) Ski slopes during the day and a hot tub in the evening. A good ski vacation is hard to beat.

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  15. DG - there are so many places on the list, but London is really cool - and I would like to go there again.

    Alex - I'm sure you wouldn't make anyone laugh. :)

    Kate - glad I could add to your list! :)

    Sherry - we did!

    LG - BC is definitely breathtaking! And you live in Colorado and don't know how to ski? Wow.

    Susan - fireplaces abound in Whistler too! :)

    Magaly - I love how you put that - drinking in the blue sky. I'm sorry your hip keeps you from skiing.

    Loni - it's definitely a great getaway. And you hit a tree? Ouch. I've smacked one with my hand accidentally as I went by once, and it's not fun.

    Lexa - You're welcome! Their are so many awesome programs for enjoying the snow - with ski guides for the blind, ski bikes, and ski chairs with either guides, or with individual arm poles for skiers who don't have the use of their legs but who still have the use of their upper body.

    Kim - I agree!

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  16. I once visited Chamonix Mont Blanc during the skiing season. Stunning. I can't ski though (dodgy knees)! X

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  17. Brrr! Snow is beautiful but cold. We went skiing one time. I stayed in the restaurant where it was warm. :) Lovely pictures and a wonderful destination.

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  18. ALl that snow makes me want to try snowboarding. :) beautiful pics!
    Nutschell
    www.thewritingnut.com

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  19. The snow would definitely be beautiful, but oh, so cold. Still, I bet the views are breathtaking!

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  20. Gulp. You're a very brave family.

    Have a nice weekend, Tyrean.

    xoRobyn

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  21. Shah - sounds like a wonderful place - sorry about the knees.

    Beverly - yes, it is cold. We wear many layers. :)

    nutschell - go for it! I think you'd be a natural!

    MJ - It is breathtaking, and we try to go to Whistler in the spring, when it's a little warmer.

    Rawknrobyn - it doesn't feel that brave when you grow up doing it - I've been skiing since I was five, and my youngest daughter started at age four - we had to pick her up to put her on the chair lift. :)

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  22. For a skier, this would be very cool. Sadly, I'm more of a by-the-fireplace-sitter these days. Still, the snow is lovely to look at.

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  23. Excellent choice, though in terms of skiing, there is only one country that's more beautiful, and that's the country I live in: Austria! ;)

    Great post!

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  24. Oh yes, the boarder vs. skiier issue. I've heard of it, but I've only been boarding once (never skiing) and, happily, didn't have to see it firsthand.

    What a wonderful trip to be able to take, surrounded by family! That is a cool thing for your in-laws to do. Enjoy your next trip out there!

    The Warrior Muse

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  25. This sounds like a refreshingly different location... a contrast to the hot, humid weather I am so accustomed to...
    Writer In Transit

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  26. Oh, all this snow makes me homesick!

    I love your pick~ enJOY and now I am so jealous and still homesick!

    Fun pick!

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  27. whistler is awesome! i went back when i was in high school
    the ski hills are amazing.... it took me more than an hour to get to the bottom, non stop skiing!

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  28. Definitely snow. I've only been once as a kid and chickened out after my friend broke his leg. I would totally rock that now.

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Thanks for taking time to share your awesomeness!