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Tips for Road Trips With Pets

(ARA) - Bringing the family pet along on a road trip may seem like a good idea – you don’t have to ask friends or family to look after your pet and you can avoid the costs and concerns that go with boarding and kennels. But traveling with pets in the car also brings special challenges that, fortunately, can be met with a bit of forethought and careful preparation of both the vehicle and pet.  

According to information from the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), which recently teamed with Subaru of America to produce a brochure on pet travel tips, bringing a pet along on a road trip simply involves adapting your routine to the road. All of the things you take into consideration at home – your pet’s health, happiness and safety – should be thoughtfully addressed when traveling with your pet.  

Here are 10 helpful tips for road-tripping with pets from the AVMA and Subaru:

* If your pet is not accustomed to car travel, take it for a few short rides before your trip so it will feel confident that a car outing does not necessarily mean a trip to the veterinarian or an unpleasant destination.

* Cats should always be confined to a cage or in a cat carrier to allow them to feel secure and prevent them from crawling under your feet while you are driving.

* Dogs riding in a car should not ride in the passenger seat if it is equipped with an airbag, and should never be allowed to sit on the driver’s lap.

* See your automotive dealer for pet accessories designed specifically to fit your vehicle, such as compartment dividers that separate pets and cargo from the passenger area. Several automobile manufacturers, including Subaru, offer a dog guard/compartment divider that keeps pets safely in the rear cargo area of station wagons, “crossover” vehicles and SUVs.

* Pets should not be allowed to ride with their heads outside car windows. Particles of dirt or other debris can enter the eyes, ears, and nose, causing injury or infection.

* Give small portions of food and water. Plan to stop every two hours for exercise. Remember to include a leash with your pet’s traveling supplies.

* If your dog has a problem with carsickness, your veterinarian can prescribe medication that will help the dog feel comfortable during a long car trip.

* Pack a simple pet first-aid kit that includes assorted bandages, antiseptic cream, an anti-diarrheal medication that is safe for pets (ask your veterinarian to suggest a product), gauze squares, phone numbers for your veterinarian, and a 24-hour emergency veterinary hospital at your destination, as well as a national poison control hotline.  

* In addition to a standard identification tag (which should be labeled with your name, home address, and phone number), your pet’s collar should include a travel tag with information on where you are staying while away from home. Should your pet become lost, this will allow you to be contacted locally.

* Perform a daily “health check” on your pet when away from home. In unfamiliar surroundings, your pet’s appetite, energy, and disposition may change. Watch for unusual discharges from the nose and eyes, excessive scratching or biting of any body part, abnormal elimination, or excessive water consumption. Visit a local veterinarian if you are concerned about any physical or behavioral changes.
As you can see, a little planning and a carefully prepared vehicle can make all the difference between a good time had by all and a road trip filled with regret.  

To download a color copy of the AVMA/Subaru Traveling With Your Pet brochure, visit
http://www.avma.org/animal_health/brochures/traveling/traveling_brochure.pdf.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Destination Clubs Offer Peace of Mind in a Risky Market

Third Annual Essay Contest Gives Kids Chance to Thank Outstanding Drivers

“America’s school bus drivers are collectively doing an outstanding job of safely transporting our children to and from school every day,” says John O’Leary, president and CEO of Thomas Built Buses, the leading manufacturer of school buses in the United States. To recognize the contributions individual drivers make to children’s safety every year, Thomas Built sponsors an annual Children’s Choice School Bus Driver of the Year essay contest.

With their parents’ help, children in kindergarten through sixth grades can nominate their favorite drivers by submitting a 90-word essay on what makes their driver so special. Now in its third year, the contest runs until August 1, 2008. Winners earn a $1,000 educational savings bond and laptop computer for the nominating child and a $1,000 Visa gift card for the nominated driver. All winners and runners up also receive Thomas Built Buses jackets and Saf-T-Liner C2 school bus lunch boxes. To enter the contest, visit www.thomasbus.com/contest for complete rules and an entry form.

Completed forms and typed or legibly printed 90-word essays should be mailed to: Children’s Choice Essay Contest, HMH, 1435 W. Morehead St., Suite 140, Charlotte, NC 28208.

School buses are the safest and largest mass transportation system in the United States, according to research by the School Bus Information Council (SBIC). Consider the following eye-opening facts about school bus safety:

* Each year, the nation’s 450,000 yellow school buses annually make 8.8 billion student trips carrying 24 million children, the SBIC reports.

*While nearly equal numbers of children ride the school bus as use other modes of transportation in getting to school, in 2003, the last year for which statistics are available, five passengers were fatally injured while riding in school buses. By contrast, every year about 800 school aged children lose their lives on their way to school while either riding in private passenger vehicles, walking or biking, according to the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences.

* Long gone are the dubiously maintained and equipped school buses you might remember from your own childhood. Today’s buses have safety devices that range from specially cushioned high-backed seats, and flashing red and yellow warning lights to rollover protection, enhanced braking systems and buses can now be equipped with optional three-point lap-shoulder belts for every seat without reducing passenger capacity.

* School bus drivers undergo rigorous special training, must hold commercial drivers licenses, and submit to criminal background and substance screening tests.

“Modern school buses are outfitted with extensive safety devices but one of the most important contributors to your child’s safety is the bus driver,” O’Leary says.

To nominate your driver for “School Bus Driver” of the year, visit http://www.thomasbus.com/contest  for complete rules and an entry form.

ARA) – With gas prices reaching record highs across the country and air travel more aggravating than ever, a growing number of summer travelers won’t be traveling as far for their vacations this year. The result: a growing interest in the “staycation” – long weekends or mini-breaks to destinations within 300 miles of home.

The devaluation of the dollar abroad makes Europe less appealing to travelers, and with air fares expected to soar soon, more vacationers are looking for closer-to-home alternatives. “Americans planning their summer schedules still want to get away for a vacation - this year they just prefer to avoid the expense and exhaustion that can come with a long trip to a far-away destination,” says Nancy Byrne, executive director of the New Jersey Department of State’s Division of Travel and Tourism.

In fact, “staycations” are among the top 2008 summer travel trends, according to a recent study. “Keeping your destination to within 300 miles – or about one tank of gas - from home enables you to travel there in six hours or less,” Byrne notes. If you live on one of the coasts, you have access to hundreds of miles of beaches and attractions, while those in the heartland states will likely find lakes and rivers to cool off. Across the country, everyone can enjoy national parks and historic sites within that same distance.

East Coast beach towns such as Ocean City and Wildwood, NJ, are gaining increased attention on sites like Yahoo Travel Guides. Meanwhile, staff at the global travel advice company, Lonely Planet, selected many domestic spots, including national parks, as top destinations for 2008. New Jersey, in particular, is drawing “staycationers” from up and down the East Coast who are attracted to the state’s ample beaches and attractions, diverse summer festivals, landmark national parks, outdoor theatres, music fests, sidewalk art shows and a highway system that puts drivers in easy reach of numerous points of interest.

“For most of the Northeast and much of the Southeast, New Jersey is a quick getaway,” Nancy Byrne says. “No matter what part of the state is ‘your back yard,’ you’ll find plenty to do and see this summer.”

Festival of Festivals
Across the country, communities celebrate warm weather with festivals and fairs, and New Jerseyans are no exception. From culinary extravaganzas to balloon festivals that fill the sky with brightly colored canopies, virtually every summer weekend is highlighted by a festival in New Jersey. Some highlights feature seafood, food and wine, ballooning and kite-flying events. With event sites scattered throughout the state, virtually every resident and visitor can find a festival within a short drive from home base.

Back to Nature, Back to History
Eco-tourism and historic travel are among the hottest travel trends today. “Staycationers” are finding national parks and historic sites allow them to pursue these interests close to home.

New Jersey has no less than 10 sites designated as national parks, preserves and recreation areas, including part of the Appalachian Trail and the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. In 1978, Congress declared New Jersey’s Pinelands as the nation’s first National Reserve, creating the largest area of open and protected space on the eastern seaboard between Florida and Maine. The Preserve encompasses more than a million acres of farms, forests, wetlands and historical villages throughout seven counties, providing a virtually limitless array of activities from hiking, biking and kayaking to bird watching, fishing and berry picking.

For travelers looking to incorporate historic ventures into their getaway, look no further than Princeton. This historic town is currently celebrating the 225th anniversary of Continental Congress declaring this New Jersey town the temporary capital of the nation. Throughout 2008, visitors can enjoy historic re-enactments, history and art exhibitions, music and dance performances, tours, encampments and more.

To check the state’s calendar of events or begin planning your “staycation” in New Jersey, log on to www.visitnj.org and click on the “Where to Go” tab.

(ARA) - Spring Break is just around the corner, and if you’re among the millions of Americans planning to travel to your vacation destination by car, you may have a high-tech navigation system along for the ride.

According to statistics kept by NAVTEQ, a leading global provider of digital maps for vehicle navigation (and location-based solutions), since 1999 nearly 18 million US and Canadian vehicles have been equipped with either in-dash or portable electronic navigation systems, tools that relegate the paper map to the glove compartment.

A hands-free map is not the only benefit an in-vehicle navigation system offers. There’s also the time-savings, as you’ll be far less likely to get lost while trying to reach your destination; not to mention gas savings. By knowing exactly how to get to your destination, even when in unfamiliar areas, you are less likely to drive out of your way searching for street names or the next turn.

The technological advance that makes all this possible is an on-board computer that interacts with Global Position System (GPS) satellites and a digital map database to pinpoint the vehicle location and provide guidance to a destination.

“In order for GPS information to be useful, the data must be used in conjunction with an accurate, up-to-date digital map,” advises Cliff Fox of NAVTEQ. “We feel NAVTEQ maps are an excellent solution because they’re updated quarterly to deliver accuracy.”

Many navigation systems also offer voice navigation features. The text-to-speech voice directions will announce directions by street names to guide you more safely. Hearing “turn right on Main street.” as opposed to finding it on a paper map allows you to keep your eyes on the road.

So whether you’re headed to Florida, Wyoming, Texas or California, you can rest assured that you’ll be able to find the attraction you want to visit your preferred restaurant, ATM or gas station with ease. NAVTEQ digital maps offer superior reliability, details and accuracy along every route.

For more information about digital technology, and the features available for your vehicle or portable electronic device, log on to www.NAVTEQ.com

ARA) – Positive and life-changing things can happen when you are open to getting and staying in touch with people you’ve known. Just ask Brenda Stokes how this simple action enriched her life. Her story of love, separation and fate has inspired people across the country.

In high school, Brenda was in love with a young man named Bart. He even proposed to her and they were excited to start planning their lives together. But the youthful enthusiasm hit a snag when Brenda learned she was pregnant.

As much as Bart wanted to keep the baby, Brenda’s parents had other plans. Brenda finished out the remainder of her pregnancy at a home for unwed mothers. Brenda’s parents didn’t let Bart know her location.

In the end, the couple had a baby boy and Brenda convinced Bart to sign the adoption papers, despite his protest. “We both wanted the baby, but Bart was the one who really wanted to make a life out of it. We were just so young.”

After they gave the baby up for adoption, the stress and complications of the situation took their toll and Bart and Brenda fought a lot. They decided to break up and go their separate ways.

Both married other people, had children and divorced. Bart tried for several years to contact Brenda but didn’t have any luck. Finally in 2003 he registered with Classmates.com, a Web site with 50 million members where friends from school, work and the military can connect and stay in touch with one another. “I couldn’t believe I finally found my Brenda!” said Bart.

“I was so shocked, I just screamed ‘Oh my God!’ out loud,” says Brenda when she received his e-mail. They exchanged updates on where life had taken them and began to talk on the phone every day. In January 2004 Brenda visited Bart for ten days. Hoping to find their son, they drafted a letter to be mailed through a mediator, but fate stepped in first.

While Bart was at work, Brenda had lunch with an old friend and stopped at a car dealership where she began talking to a saleswoman. Brenda shared that she was in town looking for her son. After a string of questions, she found out that the woman’s cousin had the same birthday and matched other details of the son she gave up for adoption.

After exchanging photos and with the blessing of his adoptive parents, they spoke on the phone for the first time with their son, Andy. Shortly after, they arranged a meeting and were able to see the man that their son had become. “It was just incredible,” Brenda says.

Bart proposed to Brenda and today the couple is happily married and have another child together, a daughter. Andy was even able to be there when his sister was born, on Brenda’s birthday. Bart and Brenda asked Andy to choose a name for his sister, Madisyn. After many years, and many bumps in the road, their family is complete.

Internet services for keeping up, and even reconnect with friends, romantic partners or “might-have-been” boyfriends/girlfriends are becoming an increasingly popular.

“We receive a lot of e-mails from members who tell us real-life stories of how they’ve rekindled an old flame or found new love with an old friend through Classmates.com,” says Steven McArthur, President of Classmates Online Inc. “Reconnecting with someone you’ve known is special because your shared experiences are timeless, so it’s never too late for a second chance at friendship, romance or even love.”

Like Bart and Brenda, you can go online to www.classmates.com and register for free to keep up with friends from throughout your life. You may even rediscover friendships that can positively enrich your life today. And because your personal contact information is never revealed unless you decide to share it, it’s a safe and easy way to get and stay in touch with people you care about at your own pace.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

History of Yates Mill
Yates Mill served Wake County as a water-powered mill for more than 200 years. Of the 70 gristmills that once served Wake County, Yates Mill is the only one still standing. The water-powered gristmill was an important economic and social center for residents of Wake County from colonial times through the early 1900s. Gristmills provided the important service of grinding corn and wheat into meal and flour. In rural areas of North Carolina, before towns or crossroad-stores developed, gristmills served as public gathering places for scattered rural populations. Millponds were popular locations for fishing, swimming and picnicking. Yates Millpond is again a popular gathering place, as it once was in the past.

Samuel Pearson, the mill’s founder, is thought to have first moved to the Steep Hill Creek area in 1748. The earliest document related to Samuel Pearson and the land that now surrounds the mill dates to 1756. This document, a request for a land survey, appears to include the land where Samuel’s home stood. After this 1756 request for a land survey, Samuel Pearson received the land grant in 1761; however, no documents on file mention the mill until a 1778 survey specifically mentions it as already standing.

Samuel Pearson owned the mill until his death in 1802. In his will, he divided his land among his four sons, and intended the proceeds of the sale of his personal property to go to his six daughters. His son, Simon Pearson, received 340 acres of land that included the old mill. Because of debts owed to the State Bank of North Carolina, Simon Pearson was forced to sell his land, including the mill, in a sheriff’s sale in 1819. The sheriff sold the property for $3,031 to William Boylan, a prominent Raleigh businessman and director of the State Bank. Boylan established Raleigh’s first newspaper, The Raleigh Minerva, by the close of the 19th century; he later also established the Raleigh Advertiser. He also served on the commission to build a new state capital.

In order for the mill to continue as a successful business, Boylan made constant changes to the mill building and its operation. Architectural evidence shows that major renovations were likely made to the structure between 1820 and 1850. This most likely came in response to a flood in the early 1800s, which probably destroyed the original mill. However, despite that setback, Boylan had a sawmill operating at the mill by the 1840s.

Mr. Boylan owned the mill for 37 years. He sold it to John Primrose, Thomas H. Briggs and James Penny on June 30, 1853. In 1859, James Dodd bought Primrose’s share of the mill. Thomas H. Briggs was a prosperous Raleigh businessman who started a building materials business that continues today as Briggs Hardware. Briggs was Raleigh’s most influential post-Civil War businessman. Having wisely converted his Confederate currency into silver before the war’s conclusion, Briggs was one of the few North Carolinians with money to invest during Reconstruction.

On March 2, 1863, Penny, Dodd, and Briggs sold the mill and 94 surrounding acres to Phares and Roxanna Yates, James Penny’s son-in-law and daughter. James Penny’s possible involvement in the murder of Hinton Franklin may have prompted the sale. Local legend says Franklin was a northern sympathizer whom Penny reportedly killed for not paying a $700 mill debt. Franklin’s widow supposedly told Union troops that were occupying the Raleigh area in 1865 that her husband’s death was a result of his political beliefs. Allegedly, the troops tried to burn the mill by setting fire to the entrance porch. Charred wooden beams from the mill’s underside suggest possible evidence of the attempted burn. Court records show that Penny was tried for murder in December 1866 but was found not guilty.

Upon his death in 1902, Phares Yates left his real estate and the mill on Steep Hill Creek to his son, Robert E. Lee (R.E.L.) Yates, a math professor at North Carolina State College. R.E.L. Yates left the land and the mill to his wife, Minnie Johns Yates, when he passed away on December 28, 1937.

Ten years later, Minnie Yates and her son Wilbur sold the mill to the Trojan Sales Company, a subsidiary of A.E. Finley Associates. The title was later transferred to the North Carolina Equipment Company, another subsidiary of A.E. Finley Associates. A.E. Finley built a retreat lodge for use by his family and employees on the millpond. The mill continued operation until the 1950s, when it closed for lack of business.

North Carolina State University obtained title to the mill and the pond in 1963. The property was part of a 1,000-acre tract that was purchased for use by North Carolina State University Field Laboratory’s experimental farms and demonstration fields. Shortly after the University obtained the property, John Daniel Lea – the miller who had worked at the mill since 1898 – operated the mill for the last time as a demonstration.

After the mill shut down for business, it began to fall into disrepair. In 1989, the nonprofit group Yates Mill Associates (YMA) formed to preserve and restore the mill. In 1996, after stabilizing the mill building, YMA approached Wake County with a proposal to turn Yates Mill into a county park. Park planning between NC State, YMA, Wake County and the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services began, and the Wake County Board of Commissioners approved the park’s master plan in 1997.

In 2001 N.C. State leased 157 acres to Wake County. In addition, Wake County bought 16 acres upstream and signed a memorandum of understanding with the N.C. Department of Agriculture for the development of hiking trails on 400 acres of land upstream from the pond.

Shortly after park planning began, Hurricane Fran breached the dam, drained the millpond, and caused the shed to collapse in the fall of 1996. The mill and its pond were badly damaged, but not beyond repair. Restoration of the mill and its grinding machinery was finally finished in 2005.

Construction of the visitor center for the park began in summer 2003, and was completed in April 2006. Historic Yates Mill County Park opened to the public May 20, 2006. Tours of Yates Mill are available to the public March through November, and corn-grinding demonstrations are offered the third weekend of each month during that time.

MILL OWNERSHIP

1750-1802, Samuel Pearson
1802-1819, Simon Pearson
1819-1853, William Boylan
1853-1859, John Primrose, Thomas Briggs, James Penny
1859-1863, James Dodd, Thomas Briggs, James Penny
1863-1902, Phares and Roxanna Yates
1902-1937, Robert E. Lee (R.E.L.) Yates
1937-1947, Minnie John Yates
1947, Trojan Sales Company/A.E. Finley Associates
1947-1963, NC Equipment Company/A.E. Finley Associates
1963-present, North Carolina State University (NCSU)
1989, Yates Mill Associates forms and begins mill restoration
1996, Park planning begins – NCSU and the N.C. Dept. of Agriculture agree to let Wake County use 558 acres for the park; Wake County purchased an additional 16-acre property upstream of the millpond
1999, Development of the 574-acre historic and environmental park begins
2006, Park (with the restored mill as its centerpiece) opens to public

SOURCE:Wake County Government

Garner NC City Guide Business Directory And Local Online Classifieds Ads

ARA) – Positive and life-changing things can happen when you are open to getting and staying in touch with people you’ve known. Just ask Brenda Stokes how this simple action enriched her life. Her story of love, separation and fate has inspired people across the country.

In high school, Brenda was in love with a young man named Bart. He even proposed to her and they were excited to start planning their lives together. But the youthful enthusiasm hit a snag when Brenda learned she was pregnant.

As much as Bart wanted to keep the baby, Brenda’s parents had other plans. Brenda finished out the remainder of her pregnancy at a home for unwed mothers. Brenda’s parents didn’t let Bart know her location.

In the end, the couple had a baby boy and Brenda convinced Bart to sign the adoption papers, despite his protest. “We both wanted the baby, but Bart was the one who really wanted to make a life out of it. We were just so young.”

After they gave the baby up for adoption, the stress and complications of the situation took their toll and Bart and Brenda fought a lot. They decided to break up and go their separate ways.

Both married other people, had children and divorced. Bart tried for several years to contact Brenda but didn’t have any luck. Finally in 2003 he registered with Classmates.com, a Web site with 50 million members where friends from school, work and the military can connect and stay in touch with one another. “I couldn’t believe I finally found my Brenda!” said Bart.

“I was so shocked, I just screamed ‘Oh my God!’ out loud,” says Brenda when she received his e-mail. They exchanged updates on where life had taken them and began to talk on the phone every day. In January 2004 Brenda visited Bart for ten days. Hoping to find their son, they drafted a letter to be mailed through a mediator, but fate stepped in first.

While Bart was at work, Brenda had lunch with an old friend and stopped at a car dealership where she began talking to a saleswoman. Brenda shared that she was in town looking for her son. After a string of questions, she found out that the woman’s cousin had the same birthday and matched other details of the son she gave up for adoption.

After exchanging photos and with the blessing of his adoptive parents, they spoke on the phone for the first time with their son, Andy. Shortly after, they arranged a meeting and were able to see the man that their son had become. “It was just incredible,” Brenda says.

Bart proposed to Brenda and today the couple is happily married and have another child together, a daughter. Andy was even able to be there when his sister was born, on Brenda’s birthday. Bart and Brenda asked Andy to choose a name for his sister, Madisyn. After many years, and many bumps in the road, their family is complete.

Internet services for keeping up, and even reconnect with friends, romantic partners or “might-have-been” boyfriends/girlfriends are becoming an increasingly popular.

“We receive a lot of e-mails from members who tell us real-life stories of how they’ve rekindled an old flame or found new love with an old friend through Classmates.com,” says Steven McArthur, President of Classmates Online Inc. “Reconnecting with someone you’ve known is special because your shared experiences are timeless, so it’s never too late for a second chance at friendship, romance or even love.”

Like Bart and Brenda, you can go online to www.classmates.com and register for free to keep up with friends from throughout your life. You may even rediscover friendships that can positively enrich your life today. And because your personal contact information is never revealed unless you decide to share it, it’s a safe and easy way to get and stay in touch with people you care about at your own pace.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

(ARA) – Do you still dream of exploring the world? Maybe seeing other places excites you or learning about other cultures gives you a better understanding of yourself and your place in the world. If you’ve always wanted to travel more, make 2008 the year it happens by choosing a career that will take you there … and there are endless opportunities. You could teach English as a second language (ESL), join the Peace Corps, work on a cruise ship, be a travel writer or photographer, or choose a career that embraces a little of each of these.

“Tour directing is a great career for people who have a passion for travel and interacting with people,” comments Ted Bravos, cofounder of the International Tour Management Institute (ITMI), a state-certified school that since 1976 has trained individuals to become professional tour directors and guides. Bravos is active in the field that he teaches and just returned from leading a 3-week African Safari for the Smithsonian Institute. “It really is a job that presents endless opportunities for making a difference and creating incredible memories. It’s great for those who are truly young at heart and who want an adventure that lasts a lifetime.”

Tour directors have the option to work as little or as much as they please. Whatever fits your lifestyle, it can be a full, part-time or seasonal job. “You have the opportunity to work in a variety of destinations,” adds Bravos. “This might mean leading tours in a different country or in the city where you live. No matter where you’re located, you are goodwill ambassadors to visitors from around the world.”

Eric Kipp used to lead hiking groups in Hawaii and then entered the corporate world. He found himself always telling stories of his experiences during business meetings and decided that he should rediscover this passion. He now works as a tour director around his other passion, being a corporate life coach. He recently spent the summer leading groups in Alaska.

“There is no way to get to know a location better than leading a group,” says Kipp. “I led 16 groups over four months. I was able to explore national parks and build lasting relationships with other tour directors and my groups.”

Kipp’s dream for the future is to lead small groups on sailing vessels in the Caribbean. “I have the idea and the dream, and they (ITMI) gave me the tools to do it.”

Tour directing can be lucrative as well, paying $200 to $300 per day, plus all expenses. Many popular travel trends include student and youth travel, adventure travel, and intergenerational tours where children, parents and grandparents travel together.

ITMI prepares students in a 15-day intensive training program. Students learn about the tour and travel industry through practical “hands-on” experience in the field, including 5 days training aboard a deluxe motor-coach and an overnight fieldtrip where they actually perform the role of a tour director. The school also offers lifetime job placement assistance.

Chris Brown, an ITMI alumni and professional tour director spent 11 years in the corporate world and decided he didn’t want to spend the next 20 sitting behind a desk.

“What I like most about tour directing is that it really makes me feel alive. Whether it’s getting all fired up about meeting a new group and making sure I deliver a fantastic experience for them or just being able to see new things on every trip — no matter if I’ve been there before. When I bring a group to fly over the Grand Canyon or into Yosemite Valley or to a Broadway show in NYC, the tears and laughter abound! Who wouldn’t like that?”

For information including articles and videos about what it’s like to be a tour director, visit www.ITMItourtraining.com, or to learn more call (800) 442-4864.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

VATICAN CITY - Pope Benedict XVI lauded the contributions of Christians in Saudi Arabia — a kingdom that embraces a strict version of Islam, restricts worship by other faiths and bans Bibles and crucifixes — in the first-ever meeting Tuesday between a pope and a reigning Saudi king.Benedict and the Vatican’s No. 2 official raised their concerns during separate meetings with King Abdullah, the protector of Islam’s holiest sites.

Read More:News & Observer