Glancing at my Facebook feed, I noticed that the official U.S. Snowboarding team had been chosen for the  Vancouver 2010 Olympics. Will the reining half-pipe champ Shaun White defend his title?

With the countdown to the Games (February 12 to 28) underway all eyes will be on Vancouver and Whistler.

I took a ski vacation to  Whistler Blackcomb in 2007 and this resort ranks as one of my favorites. It offers more mountain than you can possibly cover, great après ski and friendly people. Even three years ago there was a huge amount of construction underway in preparation for the games, so I’d love to return to see what changes have been made.

Fiona heads down the Olympic Women's Downhill and Super G.

Highlights of our trip:
What struck me soon after driving out of the airport was the gorgeous scenery of the Rocky Mountains and dramatic backdrop it provided to Vancouver itself. As you make the two-hour drive up to Whistler, the scenery just gets more impressive! As well as the phenomenal skiing, I can recommend:

1. The Westin Resort and Spa Whistler: Located right next to the gondola, this is a great place to stay—especially because they offer suites which made it ideal for preparing food for our 9 month old infant outside of regular eating hours. The FireRock Lounge provides a good après ski hangout and with great tapas. The Aubergine Grille also offers fine cuisine with a good of range of seafood.

2. Peak to Creek and Dusty’s Bar: One of my favorite runs on Whistler mountain was Peak to Creek—a seven kilometer (over four miles) groomed, intermediate run with over 5,000 feet of continuous vertical. After heading down without stopping, what better place to go than Dusty’s Bar.  A great place to kick back, relax and enjoy a well earned beer!

3. Infant Daycare, Creekside: This was the only one in the resort when we visited and we loved it. However, when I tried to find contact information to share I discovered that it’s no longer available. There are options for children ages 18 to 48 months with Whistler Kids Winter Childcare, including a daycare at The Westin. For children younger than 18 months, the resort advises contacting Babysitting Whistler.

4. Whistler Village: Offers great restaurants, bars and shops. The place really comes alive later in the afternoon as everyone descends from the mountain providing an après ski vibe reminiscent of European resorts. Check out places to eat in Whistler.

5. Granville Island, Vancouver: Only five minutes from downtown Vancouver, this area is not to be missed with a great food market, shops, restaurants, cafes, galleries, etc.

What do I dream of doing on my next visit to Whistler?

1. Try out the new Peak-to-Peak gondola that connects Whistler and Blackcomb Mountains.

2. Go helisking!  Maybe I’ve been watching too many extreme ski/board Warren Miller movies, but I’d love to try helisking –packages start at $795.

3. Stay at the Fairmont Chateau Whistler—consistently rated as one of the top 50 ski resorts by Condé Nast Traveller.

Typically host resorts of the winter Olympics have fewer skiers and snowboarders the entire season of the Games, so don’t rule it out as a place to visit this year—plan a trip to Whistler and/or plan a trip to Vancouver.

For more tips and advice read related articles on TravelMuse:

• Vancouver: Winter Olympics in 2010
• Master the Slopes at Whistler Blackcomb Resort
• Family Fun in Whistler
• Weekend in Whistler

The holidays are over; spring break feels like a million years away. What’s an antsy traveler to do? Well there’s nothing like some good, old-fashioned partying to quell the winter blues . . . and New Orleans does it right. Mardi Gras (Feb. 16) is slowly creeping up on us, so stock up on your purple, green and gold clothing and start planning your New Orleans vacation now.

Throngs of people gather for a parade on Canal Street. Photo courtesy of the New Orleans Metropolitan CVB

Carnival History

Mardi Gras (“Fat Tuesday” in French) is the last day before Lent, the final opportunity for feasting and partying before Easter. Parading for Mardi Gras was begun by a group of people who formed the Mystick Krewe of Comus in 1857. After the Civil War, more groups formed to parade during carnival season—resulting in today’s massive celebration.

Mardi Gras Schedule
Carnival season begins on Jan. 6. (Twelfth Night) each year, the day that marks the end of the Christmas season and starts the march towards Lent. Since 1870, the Twelfth Night Revelers have kicked off the season on this night with a masked ball. The parades, balls and other festivities gradually ramp up from Twelfth Night to Mardi Gras, with the real action beginning two weeks before Mardi Gras.

Mardi Gras Parades
While St. Charles Avenue in the Uptown area of New Orleans is regularly referred to as the parade route, that doesn’t mean every parade takes place there. Some routes are in Mid-City, Downtown, Metairie and the West Bank. Check the Mardi Gras schedule and maps before you head out.

Beads and King Cakes
Those who stand close enough to the street during the parade may come away with some cool trinkets, called “throws.” From simple strings of Mardi Gras beads to plastic cups to doubloons, elaborate medallion beads and the painted coconuts of Zulu, a wealth of carnival booty is yours for the taking.

The king’s cake—a sweet oval pastry with icing in Mardi Gras colors (purple, green and gold)—is a favorite carnival tradition. It came from French settlers and was used in 1870 by the Twelfth Night Revelers to choose the queen of their ball—something they’ve done ever since.

Other Mardi Gras Highlights

Mardi Gras Indians. African-American Mardi Gras Indians began “masking” as early as the mid-19th century, in costumes inspired by Native American designs. Their suits take the better part of a year to construct (all by hand), can weigh up to 150 pounds and cost thousands of dollars to assemble. If you miss them, catch the spectacular display of costumes year-round at the Backstreet Cultural Museum.

Mystic Krewe of Barkus. A fanciful dog parade (where most are in costume), Barkus is a must-see event. Barkus donates ball profits and parade registration fees to animal welfare groups.

Photo: Toast to Life

Mardi Gras for Families
Mardi Gras is much more of a family event than what you see on Cops, and Bourbon Street in the French Quarter can be avoided without giving up a great time. The Upper Garden District areas of the parade routes (not as they get closer to Canal Street or in the Central Business District) and the Barkus parade are the best bets for families.

Where to Stay?
From Hotel Monteleone, the literary landmark, to the more humble bed and breakfasts such as the Avenue Inn Bed and Breakfast (Mardi Gras parades pass right by), New Orleans has an accommodation to fit your needs.

More places to stay in New Orleans.

Plan your New Orleans Mardi Gras vacation on TravelMuse.

* Adapted from “New Orleans Feast of Festivals” by Jill K. Robinson. Read more articles on New Orleans.

Super Bowl 2010 is right around the corner, and while the average Joe or Jane can’t afford a ticket to football’s most coveted event, there are tons of rowdy, exciting places to make you feel like you’re at Sun Life Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla. The Indianapolis Colts will be pitted against the New Orleans Saints to battle to be the winner of Super Bowl XLIV (sorry Jets and Vikings fans!). Regardless of whether your team made it to the Super Bowl or not, here are TravelMuse’s top pubs and bars to visit in each team’s respective city:

Photo: Ed Yourdon

Colts Fans: Indianapolis
Average Joe’s
Voted one of the top 10 places to watch the Super Bowl by USA Today, Average Joe’s is a not-so-average “sports pub and grub” that not only features memorabilia of famous athletes but also honors the everyday athletes by hanging their memorabilia on the walls. Average Joe’s has 18 TVs, five satellite dishes, a big screen TV and even TVs in the bathrooms so that you don’t miss a second of the game. And with traditional Super Bowl fare, such as mozzarella cheese sticks, hamburgers and 16 flavors of wings, you can’t go wrong with making Average Joe’s your Super Bowl home base.

Plan a trip to Indianapolis on TravelMuse: 814 Broad Ripple Ave., Indianapolis, IN, 46220. Tel. 317-253-5844. For more information, visit www.averagejoes.ws.

Jets Fans: New York City
200 Fifth
With 40 beers on tap and 65 TVs, 200 Fifth is a Super Bowl hot spot. You can grab a delectable meal in the restaurant before the big game (think: salmon steak, blackened catfish or ribs) or just relax, sip on a cold brew and munch on chicken tenders, zucchini sticks or fried potato skins. 200 Fifth is a sports fan’s dream.

Plan a trip to New York City on TravelMuse: 200 Fifth Ave., Brooklyn, New York, 11217. Tel. 718-638-2925. For more information, visit www.200-fifth.com.

Vikings Fans: Minnesota
The Well Sports Tavern
Make The Well Sports Tavern your Super Bowl destination if you’re in Minneapolis. Located in Coon Rapids, a northern suburb of Minneapolis, this tavern offers 14 TVs, the self-proclaimed biggest and juiciest wings in the area, and half pound burgers –not to mention an ample supply of beer. Bonus: If you need some fresh air and a break fro the TV screen, step outside on to the patio for an impromptu game of “drunken horseshoes,” actually played with beanbags.

Plan a trip to Minnesota on TravelMuse. 35 Coon Rapids Blvd. NW, Coon Rapids, MN, 55448. Tel. 763-792-0800. For more information, visit www. wellsportstavern.com.

Average Joe’s. Photo: Valerie Everett

Saints Fans: New Orleans
Cooter Brown’s
Serving sports bar enthusiasts since 1977, Cooter Brown’s is not only the best place in New Orleans to catch the game but also the best place to fill up on southern home cooking. Fill up on raw oysters from the oyster bar, boiled crawfish and delicious poor boys, or simply sip a beer and watch the game from one of its 15 wide-screen TVs.

Plan a trip to New Orleans on TravelMuse. 509 S. Carrollton Ave., New Orleans, LA, 70118. Tel. 504-866-9104. For more information, visit www.cooterbrowns.com.