With only 12 months in a year (which for the average employee only grants four weeks of vacation time) how can you utilize your free time to its maximum capacity and enjoy the best things life has to offer? Regardless of age, budget, or individual tastes, we have composed 10 of the ‘must attend’ events.

1. New Orleans Mardi Gras - One of the most sought after International Mardi Gras locations. New Orleans offers locals and tourists alike a week long session of street parties, colorful parades and local festivities, the perfect location to release all your inner inhibitions.

2. Carnival in Salvador, Brazil. Although many believe Rio de Janeiro is the place to soak up a true Brazilian carnival, the pulse of the party actually lies within the heart of Salvador. Tourists and Brazilians alike flock to Salvador for the official week long festivities (an unknown reality is the carnival in Salvador commences New Years Eve and is not over until April). Experience the Bahian beauty, hospitality, love and overall jest for life in an unforgettable carnival experience.

3. Chinese New Year - Beijing. China, otherwise referred to as Lunar New Year, traditionally commences on the first day of the new lunar cycle each year. The New Year celebrations in Beijing usually last around 3 days, however the weeks preceding the celebrations are also well renowned for partying.

4. Oktoberfest - One of the largest international public parties, Oktoberfest can be found celebrated in various countries throughout the world. The beer drinking festival is held over the last week in September and the first week in October. The most famous location for partaking in this fun filled holiday is in Munich, Germany.

5. New Years Eve - Sydney harbor bridge. The fireworks display held over Sydney Harbour Bridge on New Years Eve never fails to satisfy spectators. Be sure to arrive at a viewing spot early as it tends to get fairly crowded towards the late evening.

6. St Patrick’s Day in Dublin - Whether you are American, English, Australian, regardless of nationality the chances that there is a small percentage of ‘an Irishman’ running through your blood is very high. The Emerald isle is renowned internationally for its hospitality, warm heartedness, its love for the arts, oh and March the 17th, St Patrick’s Day, where young and old come together in unity to celebrate the joyousness related to being a proud Irishman. The Guinness Factory even has imprinted on their walls in Dublin that “everyone is Irish on March 17th”. Dublin holds day long celebrations generally starting with a parade through the city. However, the true Irish are known for celebrating St Patrick’s Day for more than a week long period.

7. The Henley Royal Regatta - This highly regarded regatta attracts the finest rowing enthusiasts from around the globe. Originally held in 1839 it has remained a yearly event (exemption during World War 1 and 2) and guarantees to provide a fun filled experience for participants and spectators alike.

8. The Cannes Film Festival - This international film festival held in France is known as the most important event within the world of the motion picture industry. A trip to Cannes during Film festival season allows for a spectacular tourist experience, from sunbathing to celebrity spotting. The large screens situated upon the beach even allow visitors to watch the up and coming movies being held within the festival.

9. Edinburgh International Festival - One of the largest international arts festivals in the world, the Edinburgh international festival has something to offer everyone, from classical compositions to recent rock and roll stars. The festival runs for a duration of three weeks and usually commences during the middle of August.

10. Tour de France - The most famous bike ride within the world, the Tour de France has propelled names such as Miguel Ángel Indurain Larraya (Big Mig in English) and Lance Armstrong into international stardom. The 23 day bike race takes in some of the most famous sights within France such as ‘The Champs-Élysees’ and the breathtaking Alps. The world hosts a large array of parties and events to indulge in on a continual basis.

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Valentine’s day is only 4 days away. Oddly, Neil Diamond’s classic song, “Turn On Your Heartlight” popped into my mind. Sure, it’s a bizarre choice when there are countless love songs out there to choose from…but then again, why not? Valentine’s Day is all about HEARTS! Maybe you’re a sappy romantic…maybe you’re someone who’s been obliged to recognize the holiday (due to the expectations of a certain significant other?), or perhaps you’re just one of those people who looks forward to those delicious chalky Sweetheart candies…there’s something for everyone to do on Valentine’s Day.

Here are the TOP 10 THINGS TO DO ON VALENTINE’S DAY:

Number 10

Reenact your first date - Get nostalgic with your significant other. Women love it when their men remember the details of the past. It’s like celebrating an anniversary…but more festive!

Number 9

Enjoy a romantic dinner for two at your favorite restaurant…or try something new and interesting — how about chocolate fondue at The Melting Pot? If you’re not too embarrassed about PDA, you can lick the chocolate off one another!

Number 8

Indulge your significant other with a massage, or better yet — reserve a couples massage at your local spa.

Number 7

Cuddle up and watch a romantic movie like Atonement, Juno, or P.S. I Love You.

Number 6

Share a bottle of champagne at a local wine bar — it’s the perfect time to pop open the bubbly!

Number 5

Spend time with your family and make Valentine crafts and cards or sweets with your kids!

Number 4

Reserve a hotel room and take a romantic weekend getaway!

Number 3

Get out of the house (even though it’s a weeknight) for some entertainment and treat yourselves to a night out on the town! Try a comedy show, symphony performance, or art exhibit!

Number 2

Want to satisfy that huge craving for chocolate? Visit a Chocolate Factory for a delectable tasting of all kinds of confections!

Number 1

Most importantly, just spend time with your loved one — focus entirely on one another for the entire evening and have a fun!

Have a Happy Valentine’s Day!

*Flickr Photo credit: Sweetheart Candies by Thorne Enterprises

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What do you typically do to get into the holiday spirit? Isn’t it time for a break? Set aside the home decorations and holiday food preparation for a moment and get out and do some fun activities with the family!

One of the favorite holiday traditions is illuminating the neighborhood with lights! Sure, everyone can deck out their homes to look like Clark Griswold’s house from the famous holiday movie National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, but did you know that several parks also have holiday light displays with over 500,000 lights? Vasona Park has their annual “Fantasy of Lights” and Cheyenne Mountain Zoo has their “Holiday Lights Extravaganza.”

Have you ever gone on a sleigh and horse drawn carriage ride? Seems like a magical experience like the episode from Sex And The City where Carrie and Alexandr Petrovsky soar through the snow in Central Park! Why not make it a reality? Although it could be a problem if you don’t live in a climate with snow, there’s always the horse drawn carriage minus the sleigh!

For those who like culture and the arts, enjoy the famed Nutcracker Ballet, watch the symphony orchestra featuring your favorite holiday classics, or go see a wintry theater arts performance.

Find time to relax and enjoy yourself this festive holiday season!

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Halloween is less than a week away! If you’re like most people, you’ll probably:

• Visit the local pumpkin patch to get a pumpkin and carve out a jack-o-lantern
• Eat too much candy (Um…yea…it WAS intended to give away to those trick-or-treaters — oops!)
• Dress up in costume (Remember! You don’t want to be too last minute because you’ll end up scrounging through the remnants at the Halloween stores after all the good stuff gets taken!)
• Admire the local neighborhood decorations (Wow! Black lights, projectors, and strobes?!!)
• Go to a Halloween Party with your friends

But, if you’re interested in doing something unusual, there are some very cool (and freaky) things out there to make this year’s Halloween stand out from all of the rest!

• Venture out for a ghost hunt or paranormal investigation! The Haunted Mortuary in New Orleans leads expeditions, guided tours, and metaphysical workshops. Could be creepy, but intriguing!
• Take a thrilling ride on the Murder Mystery Train from Tacoma, Washington’s Freighthouse Square and play a “who-done-it” murder mystery while dining on a luxury vintage rail car.
• Sail around the Bay on a ghoulish pirate ship for an adventurous cruise with haunting ghost stories, hosted by The Red and White Fleet.
• Take a BOO! tour through the historic Beacon Hill neighborhood in Boston, where you can visit the home of murdered Bostonian Dr. George Parkman and learn what happened to his dismembered body. Discover where murderers walk in their sleep, why James Allen was buried with no skin, and where Quakers were hanged! (Yikes!)
• Witness “The Pageant of the Monsters - Night of the Living Art,” hosted by The Laguna Beach Festival of the Arts and Pageant of the Masters to watch a theatrical spectacle showing a ghostly seance, a torture chamber, an alien autopsy and more.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!

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Today, the sunny weather was perfect for running the Nike Women’s Marathon ‘07, a Marathon and Half Marathon, in San Francisco, California. The race kicked off at Union Square with participants traversing across the city past major landmarks, such as Coit Tower, The TransAmerica Building, Fisherman’s Wharf, Aquatic Park, Fort Mason, and The Ghiradelli Square. The typical fog was absent so that runners could enjoy clear and scenic views of the San Francisco Bay, Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz, and the Pacific Ocean.

This year’s event, which signed up about 20,000 participants, benefited The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. For runners, crossing the marathon’s finishing line meant conquering a feat of endurance. Once they had passed the finishing line, they were congratulated and rewarded with a 2007 Finisher Necklace designed by Tiffany & Co. The streets of downtown were later flooded with participants proudly touting their signature pink Nike Finisher tees.

This year’s Nike Women’s Marathon was a major event displaying fun, fitness, and health awareness. If you missed this one, there are plenty of other opportunities hosted by Nike to build both physical strength and show support for your favorite charity/health organizations. Check out the upcoming Nike events offered nation-wide!

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