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20 Miles Along the Gorgeous Teton Mountains and Jenny Lake

20 Miles Along the Gorgeous Teton Mountains and Jenny Lake

Last week we had the joy of experiencing part of Grand Teton National Park, WY including Jenny Lake. The drive along Teton Park Road from Jackson Lake Dam south and turning west along Jenny Lake Road to Jenny Lake Visitors Center is one of the most beautiful in America. Jenny Lake road is one-way southbound and takes you within yards of the shore line with its crystal clear waters. Looking across Jackson Lake and Jenny Lake to the stunning, snow capped peaks will take your breath away.

Our first view was of Mt. Moran from the dam on Jackson Lake and Signal Mountain area. In my youth we stayed in this area numerous times.

This is where I learned to skip rocks across the water as a young lad. Our time there brought back old and deep memories of fun times in the crisp mountain air, the smell of evergreens and the sounds of wild birds flying from branch to branch.

Mt. Moran

From there we continued south through the forest to Jenny Lake. There were numerous turnouts with fantastic views of the Tetons.

Coyote hunting

While stopped at a viewpoint a long coyote hunted for insects, small reptiles, birds, and rodents. He ignored me, walking within 20 feet of us.

Jenny Lake

Jenny Lake Visitor Center is well organized and includes, stables and a boat launch along with visitor services, store and exhibits . Boat tours across the lake give you a front row seat to the view and will drop you off at the trail heads.

Check with the National Park Service( http://nps.gov) before your trip to learn which facilities are open and possible restrictions. PS Don’t Feed the Wildlife

I hope you get to experience this awesome drive someday.

And to top it all off Yellowstone National Park, our nations first, is just north of Grand Teton NP.

New Security at Delta

New Security at Delta

ARTICLECLEAN

Security checkpoints in five Delta hubs feature new layer of protection with antimicrobial bins for travelers 

Original article from news.delta.com

Staff WriterSep 9, 2020 10:30amDownload

IN SUMMARY Delta is rolling out antimicrobial bins in partnership with TSA starting this week as part of the Delta CareStandard. 

  • Latest way Delta and TSA are partnering to keep travelers safe at all steps of the journey
  • Innovative bins coming to automated screening lanes at Atlanta, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Los Angeles, New York-LaGuardia and New York-JFK this month

Beginning this week, antimicrobial technology in airport security checkpoints is making the airport experience at select Delta hubs even safer. Thanks to new security bins made of innovative antimicrobial material, travelers can rest assured that their belongings will remain clean and safe as they pass through security.TSA bins image 2Download

In partnership with the Transportation Security Administration, Delta is rolling out these antimicrobial bins to automated screening lanes in Atlanta, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Los Angeles, New York-LaGuardia and New York-JFK starting this week and continuing throughout the month. Delta will evaluate opportunities for expansion to other markets following the launch in these cities.

The new bins prevent the growth of a broad spectrum of bacteria through antimicrobial technology that is built into the bin and continuously minimizes the presence of microbes throughout the bin’s lifecycle. A sleek black color and indicators on bin handles will help customers know their belongings are safely traveling through the security checkpoint protected by this antimicrobial advancement.

This innovation in safety builds on the Delta CareStandard and is the latest advancement in Delta and TSA’s partnership to continue enhancing the customer experience, which has included launching the first biometric terminal and working together to speed up international security lines in Atlanta.  

TSA also continues to adjust its security operations during the pandemic by implementing proactive and protective measures at security checkpoints to make the screening process safer — high-touch screening equipment and bins are cleaned hourly, and other surfaces are cleaned daily or as needed in airports nationwide. More information can be found at tsa.gov/coronavirus.

Delta’s new Global Cleanliness Division is working with teams across the airline and with partners to advance safety and cleanliness throughout travel. For example, Delta’s partnership with RB, the makers of Lysol®, will inform the development of future disinfecting solutions and protocols for both the airport and onboard experience.

From blocking middle seats into January 2021 to changing high-grade HEPA air filters twice as often as recommended, this update builds on Delta’s already robust onboard cleanliness efforts as part of the Delta CareStandard. Layers of protection at the airport include touchless check-in with the Fly Delta appplexiglass shields at all Delta check-in counters, distancing markers, hand sanitizer stations at check-in lobbies, at the gate, in Delta Sky Clubs and on all Delta-owned jet bridges, and electrostatic spraying across all of the airports Delta serves in the U.S. – including electrostatic spraying in the customs areas of all international gateways. Using the same innovative spirit we’re known for, we continue to evolve, always with cleanliness and safety top of mind.

Learn more about the Delta CareStandard and Delta’s health and safety protocols across the entire travel journey on delta.com.Related Topics:

The Future of Air Travel Begins in Salt Lake City

The Future of Air Travel Begins in Salt Lake City

Originally published in Deseret News.

Members of the media and dignitaries tour the new Salt Lake City International Airport’s main terminal in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Aug. 27, 2020. The new airport is set to open on Sept. 15, 2020.
Members of the media and dignitaries tour the new Salt Lake City International Airport’s main terminal in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Aug. 27, 2020. The new airport is set to open on Sept. 15, 2020.

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Lifting off in a storm: How Salt Lake City’s new airport is ushering in the future of air travel

First new U.S. hub airport in decades could help make Utah the ‘Crossroads of the World’By Katie McKellar@KatieMcKellar1  Sep 12, 2020, 10:00pm MDT

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SALT LAKE CITY — It’s something no other hub airport in the U.S. has pulled off in the current century. 

After a span of six years of construction — preceded by about two decades of planning — the Salt Lake City International Airport is about to open its brand-new, $4.1 billion airport on Tuesday, starting with a massive new terminal and its first concourse.

By the end of the year, a second concourse will open, and the old airport will begin to be razed to make way for the east side of Concourse A to be built right over the top of it. 

What this means for Utahns and travelers across the globe isn’t just a brand-new, shiny building to replace a more inefficient and aging facility. To airport officials here and nationally, it’s so much more. 

“I would dream to see in my career other cities across the country replicate what Salt Lake City has done,” said Kevin Burke, president and CEO of Airports Council International-North America, a national organization based in Washington, D.C., that represents U.S. and Canadian airports. 

“Salt Lake City has taken an airport and turned it into a modern, 21st century facility,” Burke said. “America’s airports need to be modernized, and Salt Lake City has been on the cutting-edge of that.” 

To Burke — and Utah government officials — Salt Lake City’s new airport means the portal from Utah to the rest of the world just got much bigger — and with so much more room to grow. It means the state has solidified its foothold in the global air travel industry — and therefore positioned itself well for future economic growth as a now much more appealing travel touch point, destination, and home base for businesses.

To state leaders, that’s a huge step for their ambitions to brand Utah as not just the “Crossroads of the West,” but the “Crossroads of the World.”

But as masterfully designed, impressive and beautiful as Salt Lake City’s new airport is, an invisible force has sucked some of the air out of its grand opening. 

The global coronavirus pandemic has led nationwide flights to plummet, threatening the entire airline industry. After a year of averaging about 2.4 million passengers a day nationwide, that dropped to a low of 87,534 passengers nationwide during the height of COVID-19 closures on April 14, according to Transportation Security Administration checkpoint travel numbers.

In February, Salt Lake City International Airport saw a record high of 30,000 passengers each weekend. But when the pandemic hit home in Utah and the rest of the U.S., that number death spiraled to barely 1,500. 

Over the past several months, more travelers have begun trickling back to airplanes. On Aug. 31, nationwide air travel was up to 711,178 passengers, according to the TSA. But that’s still less than a third of the demand U.S. airports were seeing this time last year.

To Bill Wyatt, executive director of the Salt Lake City International Airport, the COVID-19 pandemic is worse than either of the two other major disruptions to the commercial aviation industry that he’s lived through as an airport director. 

Worse than 9/11. Worse than the Great Recession. 

The pandemic has brought on not just economic hardship that’s similar to what airlines and travelers experienced during the Great Recession, but also the fear and uncertainty of air travel that followed Sept. 11, 2001 — but on a much more long-term basis, Wyatt said. 

“The thing about the pandemic is it’s global — it’s affecting everybody all at the same time. And it’s invisible. You don’t see the virus, but it’s everywhere around us, and so that has really affected the confidence of the traveling public,” Wyatt said. 

But still, as he has lived through other downturns, Wyatt said he feels “pretty bullish about our future.” 

“This isn’t going to last forever,” he said. “I don’t have any doubt the industry will survive, because I think it’s just too important to the U.S. and the world, really, to have commercial aviation. So I think probably the biggest question is, ‘What’s it going to look like?’” 

Construction is complete on the elevated roadway leading to the terminal entrances at the new Salt Lake City International Airport on Thursday, Aug. 27, 2020.
Construction is complete on the elevated roadway leading to the terminal entrances at the new Salt Lake City International Airport on Thursday, Aug. 27, 2020.

Silver linings 

Airlines and airports have been forced to confront a new reality: one that requires them to take extraordinary measures like drastically reducing aircraft maximum capacity so there is enough space between seats to give travelers reassurance that their flights are safe. And most airlines have now begun requiring face coverings, making masks the new normal in airports across the country. 

To Burke, Salt Lake City’s new airport opening comes at a perfect time — when space and cleanliness are more important than ever

“Your timing was impeccable,” he said. 

In a strange way, Salt Lake City’s new airport is ushering a new era of air travel, when the importance of personal space, cleanliness and hygiene will likely outlive the COVID-19 crisis. So there have been a number of happy coincidences and silver linings that have surfaced as the COVID-19 pandemic aligned with Salt Lake City’s new airport opening.

For travelers traveling to, from and through Salt Lake City’s new airport, space will not be an issue in the massive new terminal and concourses. Everything is spacious — from the bathrooms, to the seating areas, to the unique Greeting Room designed especially for large family greeting parties that are common in Utah, especially for families welcoming home loved ones returning from missions for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

There’s also been logistical and budgetary silver linings. The dramatic drop in passenger numbers allowed Salt Lake airport officials to bump up the next phase of the airport’s construction by two years — now on track to save about $300 million.

Instead of having to operate both the new and old airport as previously planned, the lower demand will allow all operations to move into the new facility by the end of October and pave the way for demolition of the old airport to begin sooner. 

But looking beyond the pandemic, Burke said Salt Lake City’s grand airport opening has positioned Utah’s capital well into the future for air travel — meaning the state will reap economic benefits in the form of business and tourism growth for decades to come while other airports will struggle to keep up. 

“The reality is, air travel will come back,” Burke said. “People will begin to travel. A vaccine will be found. … The good news for Salt Lake City: You now have an airport that can handle it all. It might not be full now, but it will be full soon.” 

Ticket kiosks are pictured inside the new Salt Lake City International Airport on Thursday, Aug. 27, 2020. The Salt Lake City Department of Airports is unveiling the large-scale art installations today and updating the public on construction progress 20 days prior to the Sept.15, 2020, opening.
Ticket kiosks are pictured inside the new Salt Lake City International Airport on Thursday, Aug. 27, 2020. The Salt Lake City Department of Airports is unveiling the large-scale art installations today and updating the public on construction progress 20 days prior to the Sept.15, 2020, opening.

Wyatt predicts the new airport, which is Delta’s fourth-largest hub, will help usher in nonstop flights to Asia. 

“That’s something I can imagine in our future,” Wyatt said. “The natural assets of Utah will attract more tourism, and the burgeoning tech community here will definitely drive more traffic as well. But if we don’t have a new facility that’s efficient, we just can’t handle it all.” 

Wyatt also predicted that airlines will likely scrap smaller, older aircraft to consolidate their maintenance costs. 

“When the green light comes on again, the industry is going to be a lot smarter, and it’s going to get a lot smaller,” Wyatt said. “So Delta and big carriers are getting rid of their older aircraft, older planes that aren’t as efficient. It’s a good opportunity to reduce their fleet size.” 

That could mean plane tickets are going to get more expensive as airlines must establish a new pricing structure when they’re expected to keep middle seats open to maintain passenger confidence in safety and cleanliness, Wyatt said. 

“If the industry is smaller and demand rebuilds quickly, there will be more passengers than seats, and it’s entirely possible it could be more expensive,” he said, though he added he’s confident that when a vaccine is established airlines will likely “go back to flying relatively full planes.” 

Burke said any city with a brand-new airport has a competitive “advantage.” Businesses “want to know that you can get your people and cargo in and out safely and efficiently, so a new airport is an asset to your company no matter what industry you’re in,” he said. 

Still today, airports across the country struggle to provide comfortable, efficient and modern spaces for passengers to enjoy rather than just endure in their travels, Burke said. He called Salt Lake City’s new airport “ a window into what airports should look like.”

“Having a brand-spanking-new airport in Salt Lake City is a great example of what a community can do to work together to create an airport of the future,” Burke said.

“The reality is in the airport system in this country, the average terminal is about 40 years old. “And that was all pre-9/11,” he said, noting that passenger traffic and expectations surrounding air travel have soared since then. 

Up until now, Denver’s International Airport that opened in 1995 has been the U.S.’s newest large hub airport built from scratch. Other airports like the Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport— which opened its newest terminal in 2008 — have a similar linear layout to Salt Lake City’s new airport, with underground tunnels connecting parallel concourses (through Detroit has something Salt Lake City doesn’t: an indoor train). Airport officials consider the long, straight concourse design a “gold standard” for efficiently moving planes to and from gates while avoiding wait times and bottlenecks. 

The new airport was designed by the global design, architecture, engineering and planning firm HOK, which has been behind multiple state-of-the-art projects, including New York City’s LaGuardia Airport’s new Terminal B. 

A Delta departure gate in the new Salt Lake City International Airport’s main terminal in Salt Lake City is pictured on Thursday, Aug. 27, 2020. Media and dignitaries toured the facility that will open on Sept. 15, 2020.
A Delta departure gate in the new Salt Lake City International Airport’s main terminal in Salt Lake City is pictured on Thursday, Aug. 27, 2020. Media and dignitaries toured the facility that will open on Sept. 15, 2020.

Delta and Salt Lake City

Moments before the curtain was about to drop during an opening ceremony for Salt Lake City’s new airport last month, Wyatt admitted that the COVID-19 pandemic — which he called the “single-biggest financial hit to the commercial aviation industry in history” — gave him “feelings of concern” and doubts of whether the new airport would finish on time. 

It would really come down to Delta, Salt Lake City’s largest stakeholder in the project, which calls Salt Lake City home to its fourth-largest hub. 

“After consulting with Delta, the answer from Atlanta was, ‘Put your foot on the gas pedal,” Wyatt said.

Scott Santoro, vice president of sales for Delta’s West Coast, said the new airport “solidifies Delta as the airline for passengers to, from or through Salt Lake City for business and leisure travelers for many, many years to come.” 

“It’s been very easy for us to look at this and slow it down due to the pandemic, but although the COVID-19 pandemic has affected our day-to-day business, it has not impacted our commitments to you, commitments to the community that we serve,” Santoro said during a recent opening ceremony for the airport. “Regardless of the level of service that we provide, the promises that we made to you and those we partner with we kept.”

Santoro said the pandemic has “allowed us to reprioritize our efforts and … throttle forward and accelerate projects like this one.” 

About 19,000 Delta employees took early retirement packages in July to “help Delta through this crisis,” he said. 

Scott Santoro, vice president of Delta Air Lines, speaks to member of the media and dignitaries prior to their tour of the new Salt Lake City International Airport’s main terminal in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Aug. 27, 2020. The new airport is set to open on Sept. 15, 2020.
Scott Santoro, vice president of Delta Air Lines, speaks to member of the media and dignitaries prior to their tour of the new Salt Lake City International Airport’s main terminal in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Aug. 27, 2020. The new airport is set to open on Sept. 15, 2020.

In written responses to the Deseret News for this story, Santoro said Delta has “remained a dedicated and strategic partner to Salt Lake City” for the past 60 years, and intends to continue that relationship for another 60 years. He said Salt Lake City’s new airport “marks the first strategic milestone within our $12 billion investment to modernize our nation’s aviation infrastructure.” 

“The SLC airport has and continues to be a valued hub for our network, enabling our customers to reach their travel destination with ease and comfort,” Santoro said.” This new SLC airport affords customers a more convenient travel experience, intertwined with luxury and innovation. We are so proud to have been a strong, strategic partner to the SLC airport and look forward to only strengthening our relationship with them, the city of Salt Lake, and the people of Utah for years to come.”

While the pandemic has “brought about challenges,” Santoro said, “Delta continues to deliver on strategies that streamline our business and operations.” 

In a way, COVID-19 has allowed the airline to take a breath and look the future, he said.

“This period of time has allowed for us not to pause, but pull the future forward in a way we may have not been able to do so in the past,” he said, calling the new airport “one such example, and we were able to deliver this project both on budget and on time. As a significant hub location for our network, this new SLC airport holds tremendous value for our network at large and has and will continue to give Delta a competitive advantage in the region.” 

To Burke, Delta doubled down on its commitment to Salt Lake City as an investment in the future — positioning itself to rebound swifter with a major hub that will be appealing to travelers as the economy bounces back. 

Burke and Wyatt said Salt Lake City also has an advantage of being home to a hub airport — since hub airports have been better off financially amid the crisis than smaller airports throughout the country. 

Delta carries about 60% of Salt Lake City’s total airport traffic.

Wyatt acknowledged Salt Lake City has put “a lot of our eggs in one basket” with Delta, but he said if he were to choose any partner, it would be that airline. 

“I would much rather be in our position than almost anyone else,” Wyatt said. “If you’re going to identify a carrier … I think they’re the strongest at the moment. They’re incredibly well managed. They made a really big commitment here, which I think is very important, but they’re also just a great hub carrier.”

‘Very big dream’

Maureen Riley, who was executive director of the Salt Lake City International Airport before she retired in 2017, is given much of the credit for the foresight and financial planning that enabled Utah’s capital to make the new airport possible. Wyatt credited her, his predecessor, with “squirreling away a big bundle of cash” so the airport could start the project in a financially strong position. 

Members of the media and dignitaries tour the new Salt Lake City International Airport’s main terminal in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Aug. 27, 2020.
Members of the media and dignitaries tour the new Salt Lake City International Airport’s main terminal in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Aug. 27, 2020.

“I don’t think very many people get to experience what I’ve experienced — to see a dream come true,” said Riley, who anticipated when she began saving money for the project in 2008 that she likely would retire before its completion. But she got to attend last month’s opening ceremony, where she was repeatedly credited for making it possible. 

“It was a very big dream,” she said, crediting “so many other people involved,” their teamwork, and “untold hours of planning” bring it to fruition. 

In 2014, when construction began, the Salt Lake airport was the only hub airport in the U.S. without debt. Now, Salt Lake City does have a fair amount of debt to help pay for it, but 19% was paid for with cash. Of the $4.1 billion price tag, over 60% is paid for using bonds, 5% is paid for with rental car fees, 4.5% is paid for by the Transportation Security Administration, which will provide funding for the baggage system, and 7.2% is paid for by fees collected from passenger airline tickets, according to airport officials. 

Federal COVID-19 relief, through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, provided the Salt Lake City International Airport with a year’s worth of debt service payments, Wyatt said, which helps bring financial stability for the project. By the time phase two, which includes Concourse B, opens in 2024, Wyatt said he’s “pretty confident that the COVID-19 situation is going to be well resolved by that time.”

“So I would say we’re in a pretty enviable position,” he said. “We’re opening the new facility just as this business gets to take off again, literally and figuratively.” 

Riley said when the pandemic hit and she pondered its impact on the project, she recalled that airport officials had “built in a couple of discrete stopping points” in case of an economic downtown, including one that could have been this fall with the opening of the first concourse. 

“I thought, ‘Well, if they need to stop, they can stop,’” she said. But word of Delta’s commitment was “very encouraging.” 

“All of us want to believe there will be a vaccine and we will get through this, and it may take longer than we know,” she said. “But this is a project of the future.” 

Construction is complete on the elevated roadway leading to the terminal entrances at the new Salt Lake City International Airport on Thursday, Aug. 27, 2020. The Salt Lake City Department of Airports is unveiling the large-scale art installations today and updating the public on construction progress 20 days prior to the Sept.15, 2020, opening.
Construction is complete on the elevated roadway leading to the terminal entrances at the new Salt Lake City International Airport on Thursday, Aug. 27, 2020. The Salt Lake City Department of Airports is unveiling the large-scale art installations today and updating the public on construction progress 20 days prior to the Sept.15, 2020, opening.

Copyright © 2020 Deseret News Publishing Company. All Rights Reserved

9 Top Las Vegas Hotels

9 Top Las Vegas Hotels

Travel to Las Vegas can be overwhelming and confusing. Too much and too many for a lot of us. But there’s hope. Here’s a list of hotels based on the kind of experience you prefer. Original post is at Oyster.com

Top 9 Las Vegas Hotels on the Strip for Every Type of Traveler

Christina VercellettoNovember 13, 2019

Sin City has a scene that’s unique among tourist destinations. In particular, Las Vegas Boulevard, otherwise known as The Strip, is famous for its mix of opulence, kitsch, and debauchery. And the hotels that line it have their own — often over-the-top — personality. So, whether you want to dance the night away, try your luck at a casino, or have a romantic getaway, check out our picks for the best Las Vegas Strip hotels for every type of traveler.

Best Las Vegas Strip Hotel for Gambling: The Cromwell Hotel Las Vegas

Casino at The Cromwell

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Casino at The Cromwell Hotel Las Vegas/Oyster

This five-year-old boutique hotel is somewhat of a well-kept secret among those who come to Vegas to roll the dice — literally and figuratively. The Cromwell is the only location on the Strip that offers 100x odds on craps, with affordable table limits. They also boast some of the lowest minimum bets on 3-2 shoe and double-deck blackjack. Visitors can also expect commission-free EZ Baccarat, as well as European roulette on the main casino floor, usually found only in high-limit areas. If you are looking to spend some time in a high-limit enclave, The Abbey is a secluded and posh casino lounge with 31 of the newest high-limit slots on the Strip, plus a private restroom. You’ll come out a winner at The Cromwell’s happy hour as well, which is more like a happy day — it runs from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Monday through Friday. Get beer specials and vodka cocktails at the Interlude lounge for $2. Thanks to its intimate casino and elegant jazz-club vibe, The Cromwell offers the Strip experience without the accoutrements of a theme park — a plus for many.

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Best Las Vegas Strip Hotel for Relaxing: The Venetian Resort

Gondola at The Venetian Resort

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The Venetian Resort/Oyster

Pricing for The Venetian Resort

The Venetian Resort is like a city unto itself. Everything you might want or need can be found here, making it a wonderful choice if you just want to plant yourself in one (palatial) place and de-stress. Top-flight restaurants, countless shops, authentic gelato, famous gondola rides, legendary nightlife at Tao, and, of course, a vast gaming floor, all await. The spa, a Canyon Ranch outpost, tempts with supreme relaxation and wellness offerings, like nutritional counseling, posture analysis, and acupuncture. Plus, if you feel like torching a few calories, there’s always the climbing wall. To top it off, the Renaissance-Italian style standard rooms are the largest on the Strip..

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Best Cheap Las Vegas Strip Hotel: Luxor Hotel & Casino

Pool at Luxor Hotel & Casino

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Luxor Hotel & Casino/Oyster

If you don’t need any frilly excesses when traveling, Luxor Hotel & Casino rings up relatively bargain rates for The Strip. Known for its imposing sphinx and nightly light beam visible from 100 miles away, this distinctive property offers plenty of bang for your buck. For starters, guests get incredible views of the Strip from an elevator that goes up at a 40-degree angle. Its 125,000-square-foot pool deck is one of the most expansive in Vegas — and that’s saying a lot. Furthermore, guest rooms are clean and comfy, newly remodeled in a minimalist design. And while there are no high-brow restaurants helmed by celeb chefs, visitors will have a multitude of dining options with a much lower tab. Plus, it’s the home to HyperX Esports Arena, the first dedicated esports venue in North America. Overall, it’s an inexpensive source of fun for Vegas: Gaming passes start at $15; spectators are free.

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Best Las Vegas Strip Hotel for a Young, First-Time Visitor: The LINQ Hotel & Casino

Pool at The LINQ Hotel & Casino

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The LINQ Hotel & Casino/Oyster

Newbies tend to want to soak up as much as possible in just a few days — and do it in style. If that sounds like you, then this hipster crash pad may be your best bet. It’s near some of the most popular casino resorts, including Flamingo, Bellagio, and Treasure Island. The LINQ Promenade is full of diversions like Brooklyn Bowl, as well as sumptuous snack havens like Sprinkles and Haute Doggery. You’ll also be able to get the lay of the land on the world’s biggest observation wheel, the High Roller, and relax at the 21-and-over pool. Tip: Consider booking a cabana room with a private patio.

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Best Las Vegas Strip Hotel for Over-the-Top Luxury: Encore At Wynn Las Vegas

Pool at Encore At Wynn Las Vegas

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Encore At Wynn Las Vegas/Oyster

The Encore at Wynn Las Vegas, which sits beside its sister property, Wynn Las Vegas, is all about opulence. The unparalleled extravagance begins with the Wynn Dream Bed, which has 507-thread-count linens, a heavenly mattress, and overstuffed, high-end pillows. Golf enthusiasts can spend quality time at the renowned 18-hole course, while those seeking a bit of retail therapy will discover shops like Chanel, Prada, and Dior. The giant suites are some of the biggest on the Strip (starting at 745 square feet) and one-up even the Wynn’s. Two nightclubs regularly host top DJs,  plus there’s a luxe casino, decadent spa, and attractive outdoor pools (including a European-style option with topless sunbathing). Of course, it all comes at a high price.

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Best Las Vegas Strip Hotel for a Romantic Getaway: Bellagio Las Vegas

Fountain at Bellagio Las Vegas

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Bellagio Las Vegas/Oyster

Best known for its iconic dancing fountains, which appear in movies like “Ocean’s Eleven,” the Italian-themed Bellagio is the perfect place for a romantic vacation. Start your stay with a couples massage at the spa, then reserve a cabana or daybed and snuggle up poolside. Guests can also stroll the naturally-lit, sweet-smelling Conservatory & Botanical Gardens, which transform with the seasons. To complete the fantasy-world feel, Chihuly stained-glass flower sculptures are suspended overhead. Be sure to request a patio table at intimate eatery Lago. Here, you’ll be so close to the fountains that you can feel the mist if the breeze is blowing in the right direction.

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Best Las Vegas Strip Hotel for an Adrenaline Rush: Stratosphere Hotel, Casino and Tower, BW Premier Collection

Stratosphere Hotel, Casino and Tower, BW Premier Collection

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Stratosphere Hotel, Casino and Tower, BW Premier Collection/Oyster

Thrill-seekers should head straight for this skyline-dominating resort at the northern tip of the Strip, where the real fun happens 1,000 feet in the air. The main attraction here is the SkyJump, in which harnessed guests can jump to the ground from the tower’s edge (it holds the world record fro highest decelerator descent). You’ll also find a cloud-grazing zip-line and three other daredevil-courting rides, one of which is aptly named Insanity. The Top of the World observation deck and 107 SkyLounge display vertigo-inducing views. Even the rooftop pool may have your heart in your throat a little.

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Best Las Vegas Strip Hotel for Partiers: MGM Grand Hotel and Casino

Pool at MGM Grand Hotel and Casino

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MGM Grand Hotel and Casino/Oyster

If you and your friends have something to celebrate, you’d do well to drop your bags here. The MGM Grandis one of the biggest hotels in the U.S., making it ideal for large groups, like bachelor and bachelorette parties. Its size also means you’ll find a wide range of room rates, from less than $100 to more than $1,000 per night. It’s easy to accommodate your entire crew’s budget, whether your best friend just got a huge bonus or your cousin recently got laid off. The MGM Grand also hosts Wet Republic, one of the wildest pool parties on the Strip. Late-night mischief is also in full swing at Hakkasan. After an epic night, spend the next day relaxing at the six-and-a-half-acre pool area, which has five pools, one of which is a long winding river for inner tubes.

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Best Las Vegas Strip Hotel for Casino-Haters: Four Seasons Hotel Las Vegas

Room at Four Seasons Hotel Las Vegas

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Four Seasons Hotel Las Vegas/Oyster

Seeking a casino-free hotel in Sin City? Yes, it’s possible. If you’re visiting Vegas for the shows, stellar dining options, and general spectacle, look to the Art Deco-inspired rooms at Four Seasons Hotel Las Vegas. Occupying the top four floors of the Mandalay Bay Resort, this property is a gaming-free sanctuary at the southernmost end of the Strip. It has a completely separate entrance and lobby, as well as a serene pool and stunning spa. (Your blackjack-hungry companion need not worry, though, as the host hotel’s casino craziness is just a private elevator ride away.) Another perk: Charlie Palmer Steak and Veranda’s breakfast buffet won’t disappoint.

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3 Reasons to start Walking in Nature as part of your exercise routine..

3 Reasons to start Walking in Nature as part of your exercise routine..

Take a Hike!

As a college student and in my 20’s and 30’s I discovered the joy and peacefulness of hiking.  I started hiking in the nearby woods, then pastures and cliffs above the Northern California Pacific Coast.  Then I expanded to trails in our awesome National Parks.  Needless to say, I was hooked for life.

I found that I could add Photography at the same time.  There are so many places photo subject found on these walks and hikes.  Many are hanging on my and others walls right now.

The greatest benefit is the way I feel when I return home.  I find both my body and mind are refreshed.  I have more energy and stamina, a quieter mind.  Many times solutions to problems and questions I been struggling with now come easily to me.

So, if you want to jumpstart your like, start walking and hiking anywhere you can, in your neighborhood or in nature.

Seventy Years Loving and Helping One Another

Here’s a great article to inspire starting, https://amp.mindbodygreen.com/articles/heres-why-hiking-is-the-best-workout-for-your-mental-health.

See you on the trails, John

This Workout Can Seriously Improve Your Mental Health

Too often when we weigh the benefits of exercise, we tend to focus on the aesthetic. There’s a persistent pressure to exercise to look “good”—to whittle ourselves down to a smaller size and to shape our bodies in a way that pleases someone else. Not only can that mindset be detrimental to our physical health by encouraging destructive habits, but it also takes our attention away from a far superior benefit of exercising: the betterment of our mental health.

Fortunately, the tides are starting to shift (albeit slowly), and more people are beginning to use exercise to improve their mental health—not just as a means to a fitter end. And one of the best workouts for your mental health, as it turns out, is hiking. Here’s why.

How exercise improves your mental health.

If you’ve read anything about the benefits of exercise, there’s a 99.85% chance you’ve come across the word “endorphins.” Yes, those are released through exercising, but there is so much more to unpack when it comes to the positive impact exercise has on our brains.

“Exercise is probably the most underutilized antidepressant,” says Ellen Vora, M.D., a holistic psychiatrist and mindbodygreen Collective member. “It’s been shown in large clinical trials to be just as effective as antidepressants (if not more), and it has benefits like improved sleep, focus, cardiovascular health, and life span.”

There’s also a long list of mental health conditions that exercise can help mitigate, Vora adds, including depression, anxiety, insomnia, ADHD, stress, and bipolar disorder—all of which affect millions of people every year.

Any sort of exercise will, in theory, improve the state of your mental health and make you feel better. But if you can combine the benefits of exercise with the benefits of nature—like going for a hike—that’s when the true healing happens.

How hiking improves your mental health.

Beyond being an enjoyable solo or group activity, hiking combines two of the most potent antidepressants: exercise and nature.

“Nature is critical to our mental health,” Vora says. “Studies have shown that staring at trees and greenery can decrease stress and anxiety and improve your mood.”

And given that many of us spend our days toiling away behind computers and swiping for stimulation on our phones, getting out in nature, Vora notes, is more important for our mental health than ever.

“We as humans evolved while surrounded by and in tune with the natural world. In our modern existence, we’ve gotten so out of touch with that, spending our days in windowless cubicles and staring at screens. This disconnection with nature can make deep parts of ourselves feel alienated and very far from ‘home.'”

Hiking gives us the best of both realms—the natural and physical. As Vora notes, it reconnects us with nature while getting our hearts pumping and causing a burst of serotonin, dopamine, and GABA secretion.

So the next time you’re in need of an all-natural pick-me-up, first tell yourself to (seriously) take a hike, then gather yourself and go for it.

9 Travel Safety Tips from a Former CIA Agent

9 Travel Safety Tips from a Former CIA Agent

Baby Boomer Grandpa and Grandmas, as well as most of us like to travel.  We even take our grand kids on trips with us and share the wonders of this great world.

Just because we are away from home doesn’t mean it’s time to let your safety guard down.  We still need to be aware of who is around us and what is going on near us.  That’s just one of the basic safety steps we need to always be doing.  Be Alert.

In today’s world we must be extra alert.  Spot a package lying around unattended, then report it.

That’s not to say we should stay home.  Let’s get out there and travel every chance we get!  Just stay alert and fun will be had by all.

Here are some great tips from a former CIA Agent who’s traveled to places we’d probably never think of going.  I’ve been doing a few, so it’s nice to hear that a professional agrees with me.  I especially like numbers 3, 7, 8, and 9.

9 Travel Safety Tips from a Former CIA Agent

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Keep a “Do Not Disturb” sign on your door, even when you’re not there.

A veteran intelligence operative on how to curb risks during a hotel stay. (Stay away from the top floor, you fools!)

Drew Dwyer, a Marine Corps veteran and former decade-long CIA operative, has traveled far and wide both domestically and internationally, and has participated in covert operations across five continents. (We would tell you more, but…you know.) Having stayed in hundreds of hotels, Dwyer shared his hotel safety check-in tips on SOFREP.com, which we’ve distilled below. Needless to say, bed bugs were the least of his concerns.

1. Acquire or make a copy of the fire escape plan on the back of your door. Most of these just slide out.

2. Do not stay on the ground or the top floor. The ground floor is readily accessible to intruders and the top floor does not allow any room to maneuver.

3. Keep the “Do Not Disturb” sign on the door, even when you are not there.

4. Always assume the room is bugged. Keep the radio or TV turned on with the volume on low at all times—even when you are not in the room.

5. Keep the drapes/blinds pulled at all times, even when unoccupied.

6. Keep a light on in the room when unoccupied.

7. Keep a small “bug-out bag” packed with must-have items (money, ID, passport, etc.) in the event of an emergency departure.

8. Carry a motion alarm that can be placed over the doorknob. They are about $20 and can be found in most electronics stores.

9. Keep a flashlight next to the bed and within arm’s reach.

Irrespective of this list, it pays to note that hotels are becoming safer by the minute. And while we won’t be adhering to all of these tips anytime soon, there is something to be said for minimizing your risk as a traveler—and these suggestions can certainly help do that. Sometimes, after all, it pays to be James Bond.

Original post is at http://www.cntraveler.com/stories/2016-04-19/9-travel-safety-tips-from-a-former-cia-agent?mbid=social_facebook

Hope you enjoyed this article, Happy Travels, thanks, John

11 Tips for Sleeping Well on a Plane

11 Tips for Sleeping Well on a Plane

Don’t know about you but I don’t sleep well on an airplane, even on a long flight.

Conde Nast Traveler has some good time to help you rest.

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Use these tips to catch some essential shut-eye.

A clinical sleep educator shares the best tips in her arsenal for successful in-flight snoozing.

It is the bane of travelers getting on a plane for both business and pleasure—difficulty falling asleep in a seat, especially in coach, and the attendant horrors of jet lag after landing. Studies have shown that lack of sleep can decrease brain performance by 20 percent, so it’s crucial to anyone crossing time zones to rest as much as possible during the flight. Washington, D.C.–based clinical sleep educator and RN Terry Cralle shared her tips for powering down (and getting at least a power nap) on a flight.

  1. Plan ahead. “Planning ahead, though it sounds simple, can be much harder in practice. However, it can make a huge difference in your ability to sleep well before a flight and on it,” says Cralle. If you take the time to do things like pack, plan your transportation to the airport, and organize the things that need to happen at home while you’re away in the days leading up to a flight—not the night before—you will not be nearly as stressed-out, and sleep will come more easily.
  2. Meditate. “Recently, guided-meditation audio apps have been gaining a lot of popularity, and rightly so,” says Cralle. “It has been shown that these gentle talks help the brain to relax quickly, especially so when the listener is prompted to imagine they are using all of their senses. Say, if you are guided to a beach-side scene where you imagine hearing the waves, watching the sky, and smelling flowers and the salt air, it really helps you to disengage and fall asleep.”
  3. Pack lavender oil. “I’m a big fan of lavender oil, it’s so calming, and is a great, simple thing to bring along on a trip,” says Cralle. “A small study was recently done that shows that people who inhaled 100 percent lavender oil before and during sleep had decreased blood pressure and deeper sleep patterns than those who didn’t.” Put a few drops onto your travel pillow, apply it to your temples and wrists once you’ve settled into your seat, and prepare to dream.
  4. Ignore in-flight entertainment. No matter how much you want to see the latest blockbuster, Cralle says, “Skip the movies and TV—the end result of staring at a screen during much your flight means that light is hitting your retinas, and telling your brain and body that it’s daytime, and sleep will be much tougher to achieve.”
  5. Make to-do lists. To train your brain not to race and worry when it’s time for rest, Cralle recommends a simple daily practice. “Write down your to-do list well before bed. You want to get any obligations and important tasks out of your mind and onto paper during the day so that the mind is clear at bedtime.”
  6. Bring something comforting. To get great shut-eye on a plane, Cralle says, “You want the environment to be as comfortable and predictable as possible. If you have a travel pillow you love, always pack it when traveling. Its scent and familiarity will give your brain and body a behavioral cue that it’s time to relax and let go.” The same effect can be achieved by a cozy scarf or sweater.
  7. Cover your eyes. “Wear a good-quality eye mask on your flight,” says Cralle. “There are many different models, so even if you think you hate them, if you shop around you’ll likely find one that’s comfortable for you. That little bit of light from a fellow passenger’s iPad two rows up can ruin your ability to fall asleep. The blue light from modern devices is very alerting to the brain, and absolute darkness prompts your body to produce melatonin.”
  8. Step away from the Scotch. While a relaxing adult beverage may be tempting, Cralle advises, “Avoid alcohol. Having a drink in an airport lounge or on the plane is a reflex for many people, especially those who have anxiety around flying. However, it really messes with the quality of your sleep, so, close to bedtime, be conscious about drinking booze and caffeine, of course. Hydrate as much as possible.”
  9. Decrease the decibels. “Though you’ve likely heard this before, earplugs are very important to have for your flight and your hotel stay while you’re traveling,” Cralle explains. “Make sure to pack them in your carry-on, and, again, try different brands and designs until you find the ones that feel good to you.” There is so much ambient noise on a jet—which is something airlines are working on muffling now—that you truly need to block out that sound, as well as screaming babies and unnecessary alerts from the cockpit.
  10. Incorporate cardio. “The relationship between exercise and sleep is very exciting—we are finding that the connection between the two is bi-directional; i.e., if you get enough of one, the other comes much more easily to you,” says Cralle. “The reality is that 40 percent of Americans are sleep-deficient. If you work to add an extra hour of sleep at night, you’ll be much more apt to exercise, and, when you do—especially before a flight—you will be able to doze off much more easily.”
  11. Bank sleep. If in-flight snoozing is simply not an option, due to your utter inability to rest on a plane or because you simply must work while traveling, Cralle points out that a little bit of prep work can help you stave off jet lag. “You actually can bank sleep,” says Cralle. “Prioritize your sleep before a flight, and spend a little extra time sleeping or napping in the week before you depart. Lack of sleep really effects your immune system—and the last thing you want on an important business trip or a long-awaited vacation is to get sick. Banking sleep beforehand will also mitigate the bad effects of jet lag.”