Archive for the ‘Family Vacations’ Category

Glacier National Park Summer Vacation 2010

Friday, May 28th, 2010

Lake mcdonald

If you have attempted to make reservations to stay within Glacier National Park this summer, you know that almost every lodge is sold out for the summer 2010.   Glacier National Park is celebrating it’s 100th anniversary and with a limited number of hotel rooms located within the Park, availability is  a scattered few dates here and there.   It is Glacier-trail of cedarsstill possible to enjoy a vacation to Glacier this summer and experience the history and ambiance of the great lodges of Glacier National Park with all inclusive, escorted tours operating throughout the summer 2010. 

These 5 night/6 day tours include overnight stays at the Glacier Park Lodge, The Prince of Wales Hotel, the Many Glacier Hotel  and Lake Mc Donald Lodge.  This tour is fully escorted and all transportation within the park will be aboard the vintage Red Buses.  Highlightsblackfeet rez include boat cruises of Two Medicine Lake & Swiftcurrent Lake, a Blackfeet Cultural History Tour,  escorted sightseeing hikes, afternoon tea at the Prince of Wales Hotel, a musical evening with singer/songwriter David Walburn,  an authentic western cowboy cookout and well as two other dinners and breakfast each morning.

Space is very limited for June, August and September departure dates.  Call or email Linda Bruno or Rhonda Sand at TMI Tours  for detailed itineraries and current availability.  Bring your family and explore Glacier National Park during the 100th anniversary this summer, staying at the historic, beautiful lodges within the park. Contact TMI Tours of Coeur dAlene, Idaho at 1-800-975-7775 or info@tmitours.com.  We are your Glacier National Park specialists.

Guided Outdoor Adventures in North Idaho

Friday, May 21st, 2010

mountain lake idaho

Getting outdooors in North Idaho is what vacationing and living here are all about.  Whether you are new to the area or enjoying a family vacation at one of our beautiful lakes, guided adventures let you enjoy the activity without any of the worry. 

hikersImagine the exhilaration of hiking high in the mountains, cresting the ridgetop and looking down on a sparkling mountain lake nestled into a alpine meadow.   The rugged Selkirk Mountains in the Idaho Panhandle offer a chance to hike in the native habitat of moose, elk, bear and eagles.   Hiking trails wind through old growth forest, over cascading streams, through huckleberry patches and along mountain tops where the views go on forever.  Local guides will enchant you with stories of early fur trappers and traders, mountain men and native americans that lived and walked these same trails. 

Mountain biking in the Selkirks is easy with the help of the Great Escape Quad lift, whisking  bicycles and their riders up the mountain with ease.   For acda mt bike great family outing  join a 19 mile downhill bike run from the top of the mountain  to a private 6-acre ranch located on pristine Priest River.  Spend the day enjoying a leisurely ride through spectacular scenery complete with a support vechicle, lunch at the ranch, swimming and playing in the river and van transportation back to your point of departure. 

Of course with all this tumbling water around us, guided kayak adventures can be taylored for almost any level of enthusiast.   Specially designed trips for beginners and young teens are kootenai falls bridgeavailable on beautiful Priest River using stable, inflateable kayaks and include just the right amount of fast and slow water to keep it fun.

TMI Tours of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho has complete details on these and many other guided outdoor adventures available in North Idaho and the Pacific Northwest.  Contact Linda Bruno or Rhonda Sand for airfare, lodging and activities for your perfect vacation in the great state of Idaho. 1-800-975-7775 or info@tmitours.com

Corporate Retreats & Special Events in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho

Friday, April 23rd, 2010

coeur dalene

Coeur d’Alene, Idaho is the perfect place to plan a corporate meeting  or family special event.  Set on the shores of Lake Coeur d’Alene and surrounded by thickly forested mountains and  sparkling rivers, Coeur d’Alene offers beautiful summer weather for enjoying our abundant outdoor activities. 

Luxury yacht on Lake Coeur dalene

Luxury yacht on Lake Coeur dalene

Rent a luxury yacht and enjoy a totally care-free experience for your meeting or special event.  Considered one of the world’s most beautiful lakes, Lake Coeur d’Alene has over one hundred miles of scenic shoreline and three breathtaking, navigable rivers.  Each river is an adventure in itself offering unique yachting and sightseeing experiences.  Cruise the crystal blue waters while gazing at amazing wildlife; bald eagles, osprey, deer and moose-all in their natural habitat.  Meetings are always more enjoyable with the calming waters under you, the barbeque smoking and of course, your favorite beverages on board. 

How about a real western cook-out complete with trail and hayrides?  Local ranches offer true western hospitality for groups of any size, complete with sizzling steak bar-b-ques and all the fixin’s’.   They love to hitch up the haywagon and transport your guests  back to a simpler way ofranch3 life while taking in  fresh mountain air and scenery.  For the more adventurous, saddle up a horse and take a guided trail ride across the meadows and streams that lace our backyard.

seaplane cdaAlready coming to Coeur d’Alene with a group or event?  Let TMI Tours arrange activities for after-hours adventures or corporate team building.   We offer a wide array of outdoor activities such as white water rafting,  guided mountain bike or hiking adventures, fishing excursions, golfing, river floats and day-trips to Glacier National Park. 

Coeur d’Alene and the surrounding communities offer accomodations to fit any budget whether a luxury resort hotel,  farm-stay or lakefront luxury homes and cabins.  For information on activities, accomodations, airfare, transportation and meeting planning contact Rhonda or Linda at TMI Tours of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho.  Let us help you plan a unique event for your family or company this summer on stunning Lake Coeur d’Alene.

Columbia River Voyage of Discovery Cruises

Thursday, April 15th, 2010

cruise west

Spring brings the beginning of the cruise season for the Columbia and Snake River region in the Pacific Northwest.  Every week from April 17th through October 17th, small cruise ships navigate the locks and dams that tame the Mighty Columbia River as they usher guests deep into the Columbia River Gorge.   While most river cruises carry you past urban centers and crowded shorelines, much of the Columbia and Snake Rivers remain pristine and wild.  You can clearly see

Hells Canyon

Hells Canyon

 evidence of the great floods that carved this region thousands of years ago in the breathtakingly  beautiful Columbia River Gorge, the golden coulees and scablands, the great black pinnacles of basalt that guided explorers, Lewis & Clark.   You’ll find the past and present coexist here, from Oregon Trail wagon ruts to the modern engineering marvel of eight locks and dams.

Adventurous shore excursions entice all ages:  jet boat rides up the Snake River through Hells Canyon to view 7,000 year old Indian petroglyphs, wandering the hidden underground city built by Chinese emigrants below Pendelton as well as fascinating historical and maritime museums, lush wineries and quaint riverside towns.

Columbia River vineyard

Columbia River vineyard

Throughout these cruises, the Pacific Northwest’s pioneer history is brought to life with a special series of excursions, guest speakers, narrations and on-board presentations by historians and exloration leaders.  More than just sightseeing, these cruises incorporate American music, culture, cuisine and local history into a total travel experience.  The small ships that cruise the Columbia and Snake Rivers are intimate and family oriented, creating memories that will last a lifetime.

Touch, breathe and experience first-hand the unique history of the Columbia River Gorge .  Contact Rhonda or Linda at TMI Tours & Cruises at 1-800-975-7775 or email info@tmitours.com for more information on these and other cruises in the Pacific Northwest.

Lake Coeur d’Alene Summer Vacation Rentals

Friday, April 2nd, 2010

cda home

On Lake Coeur d’Alene, lakefront home rentals provide the perfect option for family vacations whether you are staying  for a week, a month or longer.   With 190 miles of pristine, woodedgolf-avondale shoreline and 40 intimate bays, Lake Coeur d’Alene is  the Pacific Northwests most famous summer playground and resort destination.  The surrounding area offers camping, fishing, hiking, mountain biking, whitewater rafting, watersports, beaches, parks and just about kind of outdoor activity you can think of.

Vacation homes and cabins on the lake come equipt with private docks, beaches, canoes or paddleboats, waterview decks with bar-b-ques and plenty of clean, fresh air.   Most homes are within a 20 minute drive from Coeur d’Alene or Harrison, Idaho and there are several lakefront resorts offering dining and social activites for all ages. 

boatingOf course the best way to explore Lake Coeur d’Alene is from the water.  Local companies will deliver a boat fully loaded with ski equiptment, lifevests, tubes and wakeboards.  Rentals can run anywhere from 1/2 day to weekly, delivered to the lake for your convienience.  Public docks are located at Coeur d’Alene, Harrison, Post Falls and at the great restaurants dotted around Lake Coeur d’Alene as well as State Parks and major points of interest.

Mountain bike rentals can take you on several historical sightseeing routes around the Coeur d’Alene area.  Schweitzer and Silver Mountain whisk riders to the peaks for easy access to alpine mountain bike trails during the summer months.   The Route of the Hiawatha combines easy riding trails with vintage railroad trestles and tunnels through the mountains of the famous Silver Valley.

SilverwoodAny vacation in North Idaho wouldn’t be complete without a day or two at our  famous theme-park, Silverwood.  Located between the resort town of Sandpoint, Idaho and Coeur d’Alene, this is an attraction that will keep the whole family busily entertained.  Silverwood offers over 65 rides, shows and attractions from raging roller coasters plunging at 65 mph to carnival rides perfect for the little ones.  Boulder Beach Water Park will keep you cool with wavepools, high velocity tubes and slides, toddlers attractions with fountains and geysers as well as a family-fun raft ride down a twisting mountain.

TMI Tours of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho has the latest listings of luxurious homes and cabins for rent on Lake Coeur d’Alene this summer as well as action packed activities taylored to your family.  Call Rhonda or Linda at 1-800-975-7775 or email us at info@tmitours.com and let us plan your perfect family summer getaway at Lake Coeur d’Alene.

Fishing the Mighty Columbia River in Washington State

Wednesday, March 24th, 2010

fishing

Whatever kind of fishing adventure you are looking for, you’ll find it on the Mighty  Columbia River.  Rising from the Rocky Mountains of British Columbia, Canada, this magnificent river flows through Eastern Washington on it’s way to the Pacific Ocean.  The pristine area of the Upper Columbia offers some of the best fly-fishing in the world along with beautiful scenery and abundant wildlife.

lazydazeGuided fishing packages include your choice of 2, 3 or 4 nights accomodations in river-front log cabins.   Local guides, well versed in the waters of the Upper Columbia, will meet you at the private dock to board your boat for an exciting day of fishing and fun.  Non- fishermen and women can enjoy access to mountain bike trails, hiking, boating,  swimming or shopping at local artisan studios.

TMI Tours can arrange all-inclusive guided fishing adventures on the Upper Columbia River  including airfare, rental cars, accomodations and excellent guides.  Contact Rhonda or Linda at 1-800-975-7775 or email us at info@tmitours.com  We are your Pacific Northwest adventure specialists.

Whitewater Family Adventure in the Pacific Northwest

Tuesday, March 9th, 2010

rogue-river

Bring your family to the Pacific Northwest for an unforgettable whitewater adventure on the famous Rogue River.    This spectacular river flows from the Cascade Range to the Pacific Ocean through mostly national forest and is one of the eight origonal “Wild and Scenic” rivers designated in 1968.   Spend 7 days/6 nights on an outdoor journey that will include hiking to Crater Lake, rafting the Rouge River while camping along it’s shores, sleeping in an authentice tree-house and exploring the Oregon Caves National Monument. 

craterlakeAfter meeting our guide in Medford, the group will head to Crater Lake National Park, enjoying an evening at the historic Crater Lake Lodge and a boat cruise on this crystal-blue lake cupped in a giant volcanic caldera.  Your family will be able to enjoy some light hiking  around the park before the group heads to Ashland, Oregon where we will spend the night at the Ashland Springs Hotel while enjoying this quaint town, home of the Shakespeare Festival.  Then we are off for a 2 night/3 day adventure on the Rogue with backcountry camping, whitewater fun, hiking and plenty of discovery!   The rugged beauty of this river as ittreehouse3 winds through narrow canyons and old-growth forest,  will dazzle and delight you.  The next two evenings will be spent at a truly magical rustic tree-house resort set on 36 acres next to the Siskiyou National  Forest.  With a river-fed swimming pool, tree forts, swinging bridges, zip-lines and ladders, children of all ages will the enchanted.  Our final day is spent exploring the marble caves of the Oregon Caves National Monument with its stalatites, stalagmites, fossils and human history.

Bring your family to explore Oregon’s rivers, caves and tree houses this summer on a vacation they’ll never forget.  For more information on this unique family adventure in the Pacific Northwest, call Rhonda or Linda at TMI Tours at 1-800-975-7775 or email us at info@tmitours.com.

Luxury Inside Passage Alaska Adventure Cruise

Friday, February 26th, 2010

fantasy cruise

TMI Tours invites you on an exclusive one-way Inside Passage  Alaska cruise from Seattle to Sitka.  This 15 day all inclusive  adventure cruise will be offered once this season from May 8th-May 22nd, 2010.  With up to $1000.00 per person discount being offered for bookings received by March 15th, this is the bargain of a lifetime.

whalesDeparting Seattle, Washington with a small group of 12 passengers and 8 crew members, this 130-foot yacht will visit some of the most quaint ports as well as secluded bays, inlets and sounds along the Alaska Inside Passage.   The MV Island Spirit offers luxurious staterooms with private facilities, beautiful public rooms and lounges as well as deck space for wildlife watching, enjoying the stunning scenery and just relaxing.

alaska glacierYou’ll cruise the San Juan Islands, the Georgia Straits and Desolation Sound.  From Port Hardy to Prince Rupert you’ll encounter wilderness, waterfalls and wildlife.  Once we reach Alaska you’ll be treated tobear rarely visited fjords, bays and glaciers as well as traditional villages and communities.  We’ll finish it off with a visit to Baranof Warm Springs for soaking in hot springs and pools before we reach our final destination, Sitka, Alaska.

For prices, availability and details about this exclusive offer, call Rhonda  or Linda at TMI Tours & Cruises at 1-800-975-7775 or email us at info@tmitours.com.  Remember the March 15th deadline for fantastic savings aboard the Island Spirit.

Adventure Cruises through the British Columbia Coastal Rainforest

Tuesday, February 9th, 2010

BC coast

The central coast of British Columbia presents the perfect backdrop for adventure cruises and wildlife viewing.  This Canadian coast is a land of fjords between towering mountains, lush islands, spectacular waterfalls and great river estuaries.  The largest intact area of temperate rainforest left in North American lies along thisspirit bear coast  known as the Great Bear Rainforest and it is home to hundreds of species of wildlife as well as a very rare species of bear.  Rich salmon streams weave through the valley bottoms and provide food for magnificent creatures such as orcas, eagles, wolves, black and grizzly bears.  This is the sole habitat of the white Kermode Bear or “Spirit” bear which is a unique species of black bear with a white coat.

totemThis is also home to the First Nations tribes: Heiltsuk, Kitasoo Xai’xais, Haisla, Gitga’at and Henaaksiala.  Everywhere along this coast is evidence of their civilization.  Fish traps, bark-stripped trees, longhouses and totems all remain giving testimony to a way of life tuned to nature.  Visits to their modern villages, talking with tribal elders and local residents and enjoying their ancient art traditions are all culturally enriching.

For an intimate cruise experience, TMI Tours & Cruises recommends a  vacation aboard the Maple Leaf Schooner.  She sails from Sidney, B.C., Canada  along the entire length of the Great Bear Rainforest twice in Spring, once in Summer and twice in Fall.  This classic 92 foot, 5-sail schooner  was completelymaple leaf restored between 1980-1986 and offers all modern conveiniences while still maintaining  her old-world charm.   Sailing with a crew of 5, a guest list of 8 and a fabulous chef, this vacation will feel like you are aboard your own private yacht.   Entertainment will be provided by local scientists, naturalists and of course, the inhabitants of this precious piece of land and ocean.

Contact Linda or Rhonda at TMI Tours & Cruises for a full itinerary, brochure or dates of sailing aboard this majestic tall ship, the Maple Leaf Schooner.  1-800-975-7775 or info@tmitours.com

Glacier National Park Vacations from the Native American Perspective

Monday, February 1st, 2010

powwow

Visitors to Glacier National Park that are interested in the surrounding Native American culture can take advantage of an inspirational tour operating with four departure dates from the end of June through mid-August.  This all-inclusive 6 night/7 day tour explores Northern Plains Indian culture during a scenic excursion through the beautiful Rocky Mountains.  You’ll visit Blackfeet, Northern Piegan, Blood andheadsmash Kootenai-Salish communities in the U.S. and Canada.  Along the way you’ll attend a powwow, visit historical tipi encampments, sun dance sites, pishkuns and the World Heritage Site of Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump.  The Rocky Mountain landscape shaped the Blackfeet communication about travel, natural resources, creating and moral direction.  You’ll create your own impressions as you walk, river raft and explore the magnificent land that has influenced human culture across time.

Wildlife in Glacier National Park

Wildlife in Glacier National Park

Participants will gain a full perspective of the historical and cultural foundations of contemporary dynamics and subjects in the Indian County.   You will attend North Amerian Indian Days in July or the Heart Butte powwow in August, gatherings full of colorful dancing and drumming.  These are both authentic tribal celebrations, not tourist events.  You will marvel at the scenery of Glacier National Park, enjoy a Class II-III whitewater raft trip on the beautiful Flathead River and enjoy spectacular sightseeing on the Going-to-the-Sun Road.  A visit to Fort McLeod in Alberta, Canada allows for exploration of the Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump provincial museum on the Blackfeet Nation homeland reserves.

This tour includes all ground transportation, site fees, guide services, lodging, meals and group activities.  Call Linda or Rhonda at 1-800-975-7775 or email us at info@tmitours.com for departure dates and availability for this distinctive Native American cultural tour.   TMI Tours is your expert for unique travel experience in the Pacific Northwest.