A few weeks ago Will surprised me with tickets to ride on the Essex Steam Train & Riverboat in Essex, CT.

The trip starts with a coal powered train ride along the Connecticut River. We passed a small waterfall and a bridge, but most of the view was just green forest. We sat in the first class car, which was $5 more and had cushioned seats that swiveled so we could catch the sights on both sides. Many of the kids seemed to enjoy sitting in the open air car where they were hit with cinders and it’s also possible for a few people to sit in the caboose on some days. After about 30 minutes, we arrived at Deep River Landing where we left the train and boarded the Becky Thatcher, an old riverboat. For the next hour we cruised the Connecticut River while a guide pointed out some of the nicer houses along the banks and Gillette Castle up on a hillside. After the leisurely boat ride, it was another 30 minutes on the steam train to get back to the railroad station.

I wouldn’t say the experience was amazing, but it was a great way to spend an afternoon. Rides run daily until the end of the summer and on the weekends through the fall. There is beverage service on the train and a snack bar on the boat. You can also choose to add on a hike up to Gillette Castle if you want to make a full day out of it.

Essex, CT is about 30 minutes away from Mystic, CT.

Essex Steam Train & Riverboat

JetBlue has announced some improvements to their TrueBlue frequent flyer program that make it more rewarding and competitive with those of other airlines. The changes include:

-Ability to use points for any seat on any JetBlue operated flight

-No blackout dates for JetBlue award tickets

-Points that don’t expire as long as you fly or use your JetBlue American Express card at least once a year

-Bonus points the more you travel

-Oneway Award Flights starting at just 5,000 points

-Six (6) points for every dollar spent when you purchase a flight at jetblue.com

-Up to eight (8) points for every eligible dollar spent when you purchase a flight at jetblue.com using your JetBlue Card from American Express

JetBlue is vague about a start date for these new benefits saying only that they will go into effect this coming fall.

TrueBlue Relaunch

Read about our trip to Grand Teton National Park over in My Adventures. You can see pictures on my Photos page or by clicking into the album through one of the images posted.

Date of trip: June 2009

Grand Teton National Park is literally right below Yellowstone and it’s often overshadowed by its more famous neighbor. Although Yellowstone’s accolades are well deserved, Teton is an incredible place as well and should not be overlooked.

Highlights:

-The star of the park is the Teton Mountain Range which was pushed up by a fault line it sits on millions of years ago. The peaks are covered by snow year round and are truly breathtaking. The Tetons can be seen from pretty much every area in the park, but the paved road on the eastern side has many turnouts which offer the best views along with signs explaining the history and geology of the mountains.

-My favorite place in all of Teton was the Jackson Lake Lodge and my reasons have nothing to do with the hotel rooms. Inside the main lobby of the lodge are 60 foot, floor to ceiling windows offering unparalleled views of the Willow Flats area. This is one of the best places to spot moose, bear and elk and, because it is indoors, it can be enjoyed even in poor weather conditions. Will and I began and ended all of our days in the park here and one morning we witnessed a bear hunt down and snatch a newborn baby elk. It was an equally thrilling and horrifying sight and a glimpse into the wild and harsh realities of life for the animals in Teton.

-Another great place to spot wildlife is on the road leading up Signal Mountain. It’s long and winding and not the easiest drive, but if you proceed slowly and keep your eyes peeled you’ll be rewarded. We saw elk and deer during our ascent and a delightful pair of mating dusky grouse at the top. The male was puffed up, dancing and showing off his brilliant plumage.

-Jenny Lake sits at the base of the Tetons and offers a stunning view of the range. This area holds the park’s 5 star resort, Jenny Lake Lodge, a collection of beautiful, well appointed cabins complete with patios to admire the scenery at all hours. This section of the park is popular with hikers because Jenny Lake is the starting point for many of the park’s trails.

-The Menor’s Ferry District is an old homesteading area next to the Snake River. It belonged to Bill Menor in the 1800s who ran a country store and ferried early travelers across the water. Today, visitors can still shop in the store, ride over the river on a replica ferryboat and get a glimpse of pioneer life in Menor’s cabin. Nearby, the Chapel of the Transfiguration has a window on its altar that frames the Teton Mountains. It’s one of the most beautiful little churches I’ve ever been in.

-Just outside of the park’s southern entrance is the Craig Thomas Discovery and Visitor’s Center, a state of the art museum and auditorium. It’s the best place to learn all about Grand Teton and gather information to plan your stay in the park. There’s also a shop with maps and souvenirs and a ranger desk where you can get current weather reports and a schedule of park events.

-Snake River winds through almost the entire length of Grand Teton and it’s a great place to find wildlife as they look for water or food or rest on the cool banks. Float trips down the river on rubber rafts are offered several times a day. Although there are no guarantees that you’ll sight any specific animals, you’ll definitely see birds, perhaps even a bald eagle. The Oxbow Bend Turnout, a section of the river near Jackson Lodge is popular territory for beavers and moose.

Grand Teton National Park is covered in mountains and open flatlands. The geography is ideal for wildlife viewing because a visitor can perch on an elevated area with a vast stretch of land before them to observe while animals make their way across. When I visit a park, I relish the opportunities I have to get away from the crowds and find a peaceful place where I can feel part of the natural world and just enjoy it. Teton is full of such locations and that is what makes it is such a special place.

For more pictures, please visit my Photo Gallery or click on any of the photos posted above.

Grand Teton Links:
Grand Teton National Park Official Site
Grand Teton Lodging and Activities

A lot of people have been talking about JetBlue’s All You Can Jet Pass promotion. For $599, you can travel on as many JetBlue flights as you want from September 8 – October 8th. Passes are on sale while supplies last up until August 21st. Domestic taxes are included, but flights to Puerto Rico and international destinations are subject to additional fees. Flights must be booked 3 days in advance and only one flight per day is allowed. A $100 fee will be imposed for no-shows. If you already bought a Jetblue ticket for use during that time period, you can pay the difference and upgrade to the pass.

So, is it worth it? JetBlue flights are mostly domestic and generally inexpensive so if you are only taking one or two short flights it may not be. If you are going to fly 2 flights or more and at least one is a long haul, this might be a great deal for you. If you have the time and a bit of money, this would be a great chance to hop around the country visiting friends and family or just exploring for a month.

JetBlue All You Can Jet Pass

Travel+Leisure magazine has partnered with Hudson News to open a series of retail stores in airports. Stores will sell a variety of travel products including luggage, maps and guide books. The first shop opened last month in Vancouver Airport and plans are in order for additional locations at Orlando, JFK, San Fransisco and Halifax Airports soon.

Members of the Hilton HHonors program can earn a complimentary ticket to a concert when with every stay at a Hilton hotel through September 30, 2009. Participants who enroll in the promotion will receive the ticket as a promo code redeemable on Live Nation after they complete their stay. If you are not yet an HHonors member, you can sign up online for free. For more information and a list of participating concerts please visit:

Hilton HHonors Rock n’ Roll Summer

This month Will and I take off for Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands. This is a trip on my dream list that has been in the planning stages for several years so the fact that it’s finally here is exciting to say the least. I can’t wait to see the wildlife on the islands especially the giant tortoises and Will is anxious to see the Galapagos Marine iguanas which are the only lizards in the world that can swim!

Part two of my trip to Yellowstone National Park is now posted in My Adventures. Pictures can be viewed on my Photos page or by clicking into the album through one of the images posted.