A Swiss Winter Event
By: Lincoln Arphell
Country: Switzerland
It’s getting harder to stretch the U.S. dollar nowadays while on vacation. This is especially true in a country like Switzerland. Don’t get me wrong, this place is a great value at almost any price but there is one event taking place this winter that may help.
Every year in Grindelwald there is held the annual World Snow Festival. This year the 28th event will be held between January 18th and January 23rd 2010.
Free to the public, artists from around the globe will be competing to see who can create the best-in-show snow sculpture.
The event caught on in 1983 when an artist from Japan came to town and carved a giant Heidi in the snow. Townspeople thinking out of the box as usual decided this would be a great way to lure tourists up to the small alpine village in the middle of winter. They decided to hold the yearly competition on the ice rink in the middle of the village.
Artists from around the world are invited and the public gets to cast their opinions on whose sculpture is the best. A panel of judges critiques each work on originality, subject matter, and complexity.
For more information contact the Swiss Tourist Board.
A Visit to the Kew
By: Lincoln Arphell
Country: United Kingdom
If you find yourself taking a vacation in London this Christmas, you will no doubt be looking for a venue that will offer invigorating walks as well as relief from some of the winter chill.
Kew Gardens, which was created in 1759  by Princess Augusta as a 9 acre formal garden around Kew Palace on the southern banks of the Thames River, grew into the 326 acre expanse that exists today.
Free guided walks are offered from December 5th through January 3rd starting at 12 noon at the guide’s desk in Victoria Plaza.
For the children, there will be a Father Christmas festive grotto in the Princess of Wales Conservatory. This event will be open from 12 noon to 3 pm daily from December 12th through December 23rd. There will also be nature themed arts and crafts as well as face painting from December 12th through January 3rd, 11am to 3:30 pm.
You can brave the chill and take the Rhizotron and Xstrata Treetop Walkway which snakes through the treetops at 59 feet above the ground. Then warm up in the tropical Palm House and get lost in the Temperate House, the largest Victorian greenhouse in the world.
Although there is limited parking, the best  approach is either the Direct Line or London Overground at Kew Garden Station (a short walk up Litchfield Road) or the Route 65 bus which drops you off in front of Victoria Gate.
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Something More than the Usual Bahamian Vacation By: Lincoln Arphell
Country: Grand Bahamas
For most people considering a holiday in the Grand Bahamas, visions of sandy beaches, lazing in the sun, and enjoying cocktails by the poolside are all that are necessary to define a great trip.
Dig a little deeper and you can discover complexities and hidden gems which the average vacationer rarely considers.
One such possibility is the Bahamian Tourist Board’s People-to-People Encounter program. Initiated in 1975 by the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, the objective is to enrich the travel experience by giving visitors a more balanced and rewarding experience showing them the culture and allowing them to interact with real Bahamian citizens.
A P-2-P volunteer is assigned to you or your group and greets you at a pre-arranged meeting place. The days events can include anything from touring the historical sites, sharing family time with your kids and theirs, and combining the families to share a church service.
The experience is free of charge, however, a sharing of expenses like gas or a tip would be much appreciated.
To register for this program, you can stop by the tour desk at your hotel, the nearest Bahamas Tourist Office or fill out the on-line registration form.
Escape the Cold in Costa Rica
By: Lincoln Arphell
Country: Costa Rica
Costa Rica has only two seasons, wet and dry. If you come here in December, you’re in luck.
With daytime temperatures in the 70’s and nighttime temps in the mid to high 60’s, the month of December is the perfect time to shake off the winter chill back home.
The first week of December sees the Festival de la Luz or Festival of Lights in San Jose. Starting at 6 o’clock pm, this parade courses through downtown San Jose and is accompanied by fireworks, elaborate floats, street dancers and music. Attendance is free, so come on down and pick a favorite viewing spot along the street amongst the thousands of other revelers.
On Christmas Day, enjoy the Tope Caballos. This is a parade of horses in downtown San Jose and is a proud tradition of Ticos who come from all over the country to display elaborate costumes and decorated horses. Music, food, and costume competitions will keep the crowds entertained. Admission is free.
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