Each July, the inhabitants of Cheyenne Wyoming and neighboring towns gather together to celebrate their Frontier roots and traditions. Many towns in Wyoming (and the West in general) have a version of Frontier Days, but none do it up as extravagantly as Cheyenne!

The 2012 lineup for Cheyenne Frontier Days will blow your mind. From July 20th through the 29th, there is an ENORMOUS schedule of events with everything you could possibly think of to entertain yourself and your family: concerts, rodeos, demonstrations, exhibitions, museums, rides, carnival games, and lots and LOTS of food. The FREE pancake breakfast comes highly recommended by the vast network of my husband’s cousins that live in Cheyenne and Laramie. They tell me it is the town of Cheyenne’s chance to practice their emergency response and disaster recovery skills, by feeding a vast amount of people in record time.

The concert lineup includes the Zac Brown Band, Journey, Hank Williams Jr., Blake Shelton, and Brad Paisley. Make sure you buy your tickets early!

If you’re coming in from out of town, I recommend the Little America Cheyenne or the Hampton Inn – they’re elegant yet reasonably priced. And if the whole frontier/western/cowboy thing isn’t for you… well, first visit during some other time – they’re ALL FRONTIER ALL THE TIME during this stretch of July. Second, check out the Historic Governor’s Mansion, the Cheyenne Botanic Gardens, or the Wyoming State Museum.

Photo by Tiffany Joyce.

Imagine the most quaint, historic little town imaginable, a place that is equally charming and upscale.  Then, imagine that place decorated for Christmas.  That is exactly the scene at Nantucket Noel, a month-long holiday celebrate which is in full force over the Nantucket Stroll weekend (which is when we visited).

Visit the quaint Main Street in Nantucket, where each business, in conjunction with local nonprofit organizations, has decorated a tree in front of the store.  Check out the Nantucket Whaling Museum, where eighty trees, all uniquely decorated, are on display.  My kids loved walking up and down Main Street and through the museum, pointing out their favorite trees.

During the stroll weekend, there is something for everyone, including art gallery parties, craft shows, shopping discounts, tasting menus at local restaurants, and the arrival of Santa and Mrs. Claus via Coast Guard ship.  My kids happily waited in line to greet Santa at the Jared Coffin House – despite the line.  Nantucket Noel is really the epitome of the spirit of Christmas, and our whole family loved it.

Not every restaurant and hotel is open in December, so it’s best to check well in advance before making plans.  Ferries do run, but on an abbreviated schedule, so make sure you make reservations for both legs of your journey.  During Nantucket Noel, we stayed at Harborview Place – a community of absolutely gorgeous vacation homes located right in town.

Photo credit: Jodi Grundig

Disclosure: The Nantucket Chamber of Commerce and Harborview Place provided transportation and accommodations for our stay.

I was invited to Albuquerque, New Mexico a few weeks ago to enjoy the 40th Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta. I was ecstatic. I have ridden in a hot air balloon once before and couldn’t wait to do it again, and I was even more excited about the chance to photograph the visual spectacle of 500 balloons launching over the Sandia mountains at one time.

My camera broke in transit – strike 1 for my fantasy strip.

Wind and rain kept the hot air balloons grounded during my entire visit – strike 2.

And yet I had a fabulous time in Albuquerque and am eager to go back. Despite a lackluster experience with the 40th Balloon Fiesta, I discovered an old city surrounded by unique natural beauty and brimming with rich cultural traditions. I also had the best margarita(s) of my life.

Let’s start with the margaritas.

El Pinto (or The Spot in English) is one of the most popular restaurants in Albuquerque and arguably one of the city’s most successful businesses. What began as a family restaurant serving New Mexican cuisine has become a destination for locals and tourists, boasting an extensive chile garden and their own line of salsas. El Pinto is now the largest restaurant in the state, but guests still enjoy a level of hospitality associated with a family business. And really – you have to have the margaritas.

(Check out this video tutorial of how to make the perfect margarita.) Read More »

Hot air gets a bad rap. That, according to the lovers of hot air ballooning and the festivals that it inspires.

This photo was taken at the Putrajaya Hot Air Balloon Fiesta in Malaysia, but there is probably a hot air balloon festival closer to you.

The International Hot Air Balloon Festival in Albuquerque, New Mexico (Oct. 1 – 9) even has a balloon museum, so it’s like educational. Also, kids love balloons — good luck explaining why they can’t have one.

This post is a wordy Wordless Wednesday entry.

Photo: Eric Lim Photography via Flickr