Ten Top (Mostly) North American Bike Rides Cited

Tour operator selects 10 top bike rides from its tour offerings

The price of gas these days makes not driving all that much more appealing, and two pedals are looking a lot more sensible than the gas pedal. Cycling vacations in New England, in "old England" and in continental Europe have become incessantly popular ways to see the scenery at a relatively leisurely pace, economically and heathily as well. In Europe or the UK, where rain train transportation is wide-ranging for rainy days, times when travelers want to skip from place to place, or when they just need a rest day, it is quite simple to put together an independent itinerary for those with strong legs and lungs to match. In North America and elsewhere in the world, an unsupported bike trip is more of a commitment. In any case, a number of tour operators offer supported cycling trips with a ore-established itinerary, baggage transfers and a sag wagon to pick up tired riders and their bikes.

Whether you go independent or with a tour operator, if a cycling trip appeals to you, take a look at Austin-Lehman Adventures' list of 10 great bike rides linked to various of their itineraries. Austin-Lehman (800-575-1540) specializes in what it calls "adventure luxury" travel. If you're planning a fall trip, the company is offering a $300-off sale. Some of their trips might appeal as they are, and if you prefer to go on your own, the list might give you some ideas.

1. The ride down from Pine Creek into Paradise Valley - Montana Canyons, Calderas, & Cowboys Adventure
2. Bike ride to Gold Rush town of Hope, along Crow Creek - Alaska - Best of the Greatland
3. Riding the Kettle Valley Railroad - Okanagan Valley - Canada's Wine Country
4. Riding through Pemberton Valley - Whistler - British Columbia Wilderness Adventure
5. Mountain Biking from your cabin door at Mountain Home Lodge - Washington - Best of the Northwest Adventure
6. Biking Antelope Flats in the Tetons - Wyoming/Grand Teton – Valley Floors to Jagged Peaks Adventure
7. Biking Snow Canyon at the start of Bryce Zion - Utah - Bryce Zion - Red-Rock Wonders
8. Biking the trail to Maras Inca Salt Mines in Peru - Peru - Land of the Inca
9. Biking Cape Point in South Africa, the southern most point on the continent - South Africa Safari & Multisport Adventure
10. Biking the Icefields Parkway outside of Banff - Canadian Rockies - Rocky Mountain Multisport

Go Fly A Kite in 35 Countries

International festival promotes peace and sustainability -- and is all sorts of fun


I found out about the One Sky, One World festival when researching free and inexpensive activities for Mile High on the Cheap. The inspiration was the historic 1985 summit meeting of Presidents Ronald Reagan of the U.S. and Mikhail Gorbachev of the U.S.S.R. that marked a significant step toward peace between the super-powers. The spirit of that meeting inspired One Sky One World (OSOW) founder and Colorado kite maker, Jane Parker-Ambrose to create a kite commemorating this new promise of global harmony, with the flags of the U.S. and U.S.S.R. joined on the face of the kite. Halley's Comet, which revisited the Earth in 1986 for the first time in 76 years, is shown as a portent of peace. On a people-to-people visit to Moscow in the 1985, Jane presented her kite and a letter of friendship signed by some 300 kitefliers from the US, Canada, Japan and the United Kingdom to the Soviet Women's Peace Committee.

This gesture of global goodwill gave birth to the idea for One Sky One World, also known as World Kite Day and always held on the second Sunday of October. Since its inception in October 1986, hundreds of thousands of people have attended One Sky One World events in more than 30 nations. The 24th annual One Sky One World will take place on Sunday, October 11, 2009 -- and for the second time, Denver will be part with a full-day celebration at the Stapleton neighborhood's Central Park. Click here for the schedule of events. Denver joins such other cities as varied as Long Beach, Washington, Minneapolis, Montreal, Medellin and Berlin in flying kites and other kite-ly activities.

The OSOW's mission is to focus individuals and communities around the world on the needs for friendship and peace between all peoples and to protect the environment. The name of the organization expresses this theme and connotes the purpose metaphorically. One Sky One World's organizational purpose is to develop awareness of and respect for human and cultural diversity, nature and the environment at home and around the world. Details of the events in various cities differ, but they include public education in the technology of kites, art, history, and participation in age old practice of flying and building kites generates a greater sense of global community, enjoyment of nature and greater appreciation for all life on earth.

It will provide an opportunity, in these troubled times with wars, nuclear standoffs and natural disasters, for people to spend a few idealistic hours to think of a better, more peaceful world -- and to have a fun time flying kites.

Rocky Mountain National Park Images

The Date: Sunday, September 28, 2009
The Companions: My husband, Ral, and our friend Dave
The Hike: Leisurely loop from Upper Beaver Meadows trailhead; 5 to 5 1/2 miles (depending on whether the source is my husband's GPS or Dave's iPhone, which compiles the stats and also generates a map); 1,195 vertical feet
The Conditions: Warm, sunny, cloudless blue sky
The Highlights: Snow-dusted Longs Peak, golden aspens, deer and elk
The Experience: Priceless

The Right Way to End the Day: The first episode of Ken Burns' exceptional 12-hour series, "The Natonal Parks: America's Best Idea" on PBS.

Cheyenne Frontier Days Begins July 18

The rodeo, carnival and cultural fest nicknamed "the Daddy of 'Em All" starts this week

I live in the university town of Boulder, known for liberal politics, concern for the environment, political correctness and an enviable lifestyle, but the longer I've been in Colorado (going on 20 years now), the more I also appreciate the parallel universe of ranching, Western country tradition and the hard work and commitment that go with that life -- not lifestyle, but life. The annual National Western Stock Show in Denver and Cheyenne Frontier Days, coming right up in my neighboring state to the north, perpetuate and honor the skills and the traditions, and help the rest of us have a glimpse. Cheyenne Frontier Days start July 14 and run through July 27. Rodeo, entertainment, rodeo, midway, rodeo, Indian Village, rodeo, Western art show, rodeo, parades, rodeo, food and rodeo are the main attractions. The website contains a schedule and prices.

Philadephia Offers New High-Tech, Self-Guided Tour

With Ben Franklin as a guide, visitors can't go wrong in the cradle of American liberty

July 4, American Independence Day, would seem to have been the perfect date for the introduction of a new self-paced GPS Ranger tour of Philadelphia's Independence National Historical Park. But July 14, Bastille Day, isn't a bad choice either, because the French got their uppity ideas about removing themselves from under a royal yoke from the new United States. Also, Benjamin Franklin, portrayed by Philadelphia's Ralph Archibald, who hosts the tour, was a key to striking an alliance between the nascent United States of America and France. But more to the point, the 14th worked better than the Fourth of the mayor of Philadelphia, who is expected at the debut of the new tour.

The GPS Ranger is a device that "knows" the user's location based on GPS (Global Positioning System) technology. See what I mean about high-tech? This patent-pending, handheld computer then delivers the tour, including appropriate video, audio, musical soundtrack and historical photographs, to visitors. It is to those museum audio tours what high-def color television is to AM radio. However, everything happens automatically. There are no buttons to push to tell the device the visitor's exact location. I haven't used it myself, but it is said to be both entertaining and educational.

The state-of-the-art Independence Visitor Center rents the device for $15.95, which is a good deal because it can be shared by several visitors and covers the historic highlights around what has been called Philadelphia’s Most Historic Square Mile, including the Liberty Bell, National Constitution Center, Declaration House, Washington Square containing a burial ground of fallen Revolutionary War soldiers, the “Moon Tree” grown from seeds that on board a moon flight in 1971, City Tavern, Christ Church Burial Ground with the graves of five signers of the Declaration of Independence including Franklin and Elfreth’s Alley, the oldest continuously inhabited residential street in the country, dating back to the early 1700s.

Three Airlines Battle for Denver Market Share

United, Frontier and Southwest go head-to-head-to-head to prevail in Denver

When Denver International Airport was being built for a scheduled opening in October 1993, it seemed as if a rivalry between United and Continental was shaping up. Both hubbed at Stapleton International Airport and seemed destined to engage in a fierce two-way battle for originating and connecting service in the America's new mid-country airport. Continental staked its claim to Concourse A (and built a huge Club there), United took Concourse B and other carriers were relegated to Concourse C -- the stubby one without moving walkways or much in the way of shopping or food service.

By the time the airport actually opened on February 28, 1995 (a date that can be described as "almost March"), Houston-based Continental decided against a Denver hub. Since DIA opened, it has only been possible to fly nonstop only to Houston, Cleveland and Newark. For a time, United all but monopolized the Denver skies. Then, a reincarnated, Denver-based Frontier Airlines hubbed in Denver, and for a long time, anyone flying Frontier to or from anyplace had to start, end or change planes in Denver. Locals built up a powerful loyalty to low-fare Frontier, which became David of Denver battling United the Goliath.

Southwest took notice and steadily began increasing its DIA presence too, eroding Frontier's position as DIA's leading low-fare airline. Frontier began struggling and sank into bankruptcy. If Southwest's play for Frontier had succeeded, that would have catapulted it into a more powerful position against United. But Republic Aviation ultimately took over Frontier, promising to keep its identity and its Denver hub.

What has developed most recently is a three-way came of airline one-upmanship, with United, Frontier and Southwest battling for Denver. There has been a rash of new route announcements. In mid-December, in time for holiday business and the ski season, United will be starting two daily roundtrip flights to Midland, Texas, and one to Louisville, Kentucky-- the only carrier with nonstops from Denver on both routes, SkyWest, a United partner, will fly these routes with 50-seat CRJ-200 regional jets.

The Denver Business Journal recently commented that "United’s announcement came 12 days after Dallas-based Southwest unveiled non-stop service from [Denver] to Boston, Reno, Nev. and Spokane, Wash., beginning in January. And it came just eight days after Denver-based Frontier said it would begin non-stop flights to Fort Myers, Fla. and increase the frequency of flights between [Denver] and Tampa, Fla., starting in November."

How nice to have a real choice once again -- at least domestically. When the economy picks up, some of us hope that the "International" will be put back into "Denver International Airport."

Gold Hill & Black Hawk: A Study in Contrast

Two old mining towns in the foothills have different visions of their future

Black Hawk, Colorado -- founded 1859; incorporated 1886; population (2000 census), 118
Gold Hill, Colorado -- founded 1859, unincorporated, population (2000 census), 210

As both of these historic mining towns in the foothills west of Denver/Boulder close out their mutual sesquicentennial year, they have been in the news lately for other reasons. Gold Hill residents made their passionate desire to remain laid-back, rural and anchored to the 19th century known. The Boulder County Commissioners listened to them and just voted against paving 1 1/2 miles of Sunshine Canyon Road leading into Gold Hill. Commercial business in Gold Hill is pretty much limited to the Gold Hill Inn (a restaurant), the neighboring Blue Bird Lodge (seasonal) and the local Mercantile. The Climb is a not-for-profit shuttle linking Gold Hill with Boulder, 10 miles to the east.

Black Hawk was forever changed after 1990, when Colorado voters passed a constitutional amendment permitting limited stakes gambling in three struggling old mining and mill towns: Black Hawk and Central City, one mile apart west of Denver, and Cripple Creek, west of Colorado Springs. Revenues were to go to historic preservation, but the result was the disappearance of small local businesses serving dwindling populations and visitors who came in search of old Colorado.

Of the two Glipin County communities, Central City initially restrained itself to small storefront casinos, while Black Hawk blasted away steep hillsides to permit the construction far larger casino/hotels, each accommodating more people than the town's population. For years, big casino shuttle buses have been rumbling through Clear Creek Canyon, hauling gamblers from the Front Range to the slots.

Last year, Colorado voters blew the lid of limited stakes gambling, raising the top wager from $5 to $100. Tables replaced many of the slots. Casinos could remain open 24/7. And Black Hawk went wild. How was a constitutional amendment intended to encourage and fund historic preservation perverted to permit a high-rise casino/hotel? I have no answers, but I do know that the Godzilla-like Ameristar Casino Black Hawk now looms the little mining town. Here are some numbers: 33 stories, 536 hotel rooms and suites, 15,000 square feet of meeting space, spa, rooftop swimming pool, $235 million cost to build by Las Vegas-based Ameristar Casinos. Unlike Gold Hill's quest for sustainability, community and survival, Black Hawk in general and Ameristar in particular have only one goal: profit.


The backstory: Central City and Black Hawk rode the crest of Colorado's first mining boom gold was discovered in Gregory Gulch. When richer mines were developed elsewhere, the towns declined, and after a time, abandoned buildings and empty houses peppered the old mining district. Without the Central City Opera which performs seasonally and the Gilpin County offices, Central City would have become a ghost town, sweeping Black Hawk with it.

When gambling was approved, historic storefronts were restored, floors were shored up to support heavy slot machines and modest casinos opened. As Black Hawk bent the historic preservation rules to permit the construction of larger casinos, the smaller ones closed, and empty storefronts line town streets. Now comes the high-rise Ameristar. What will happen if and when its promise is unfulfilled, if it doesn't pay back that $235 investment, if it closes? A vacant 33-story shell would join the old mills, old mines and old storefronts telling of Black Hawk's boom and bust cycle.

Meanwhile, I'm making a bet too: My bet is that no matter what happens to Black Hawk, Gold Hill will happily survive, even without a paved road leading to it.