Peter's Picks

Peter Hans - Resort Map's CEO

Hello, I am Peter Hans. I started my career as a commercial banker.  I was based in Boston so I traveled a fair amount around New England – mostly in the north.  During that time I studied at night and upon completing my last degree, I moved to Switzerland and became an investment banker.  I lived in Zurich for six years and later London for six more.  During that time I was fortunate enough to travel to most every major European city and also to Australia, Asia and South America.  Of course I got back home in the States regularly and in one year some 12 times – the airlines really had my number.

I am fairly sure that few things are more appreciated by an expatriate American than a customs officer stamping your passport, smiling and saying “welcome home”.  That doesn’t happen too often but it’s great when it does.  I hope a few of you Customs and Immigration folks take note!

Shortly before leaving London I married and my wife and I moved back to the States to start a family.  I imagined we would end up in New York, Boston, San Francisco or some other financial center but as often happens, my life took an unexpected turn.  Sue, my wife, let on that she liked where we were living – in a small Vermont valley.  This was all I needed to know and we decided to stay.   After a brief period managing a small, high tech company, the opportunity to take over at Resort Maps arose.

A long way from international investment banking (turns out a good place to be these days) I found the perfect fit.  After all it was my love of travel that brought me to Europe in the first place.  How lucky am I, therefore, that I get to travel for my work, run a travel company and live in one of the world’s most beautiful places.  Talk about feeding one’s wanderlust.

Anyhow, I hope you enjoy some of my insights into places that I enjoy and my humble advice on how to get the most from your travel experiences.  Remember, each time we visit a new place, we learn.  And don’t ever stop learning.

Here is a short list of some of my favorites, check back often for additions to this list...

Into the loop…how travel loops can maximize your vacation dollars and time.
By Peter Hans
Resort Maps

You’ve probably heard the expression, “we’ve come full circle”. In some circles, pardon the pun, that may mean you’ve gotten nowhere. When it comes to traveling by car, however, planning your destinations in a circle or loop can help you take in more sights, visit more destinations and put you on the fast track home.

For example, let’s say you’re planning a trip east to New England, with Boston as your starting point. After a few days of taking in the Freedom Trail, the Old North Church, Fenway Park and a few other sights, you venture north along the coast, spending a few days each in the port cities of Portsmouth, New Hampshire and Portland, Maine before returning to Beantown—completing the loop.

While that may seem like a fairly broad scope for a trip, using a loop as your guide can help you focus on the things you want to see. In fact, the travel loop lends nicely to creating a theme trip. For example:

•    Lighthouse loop – Starting from Maine or Cape Cod, Massachusetts, create a loop of all the great lighthouses along this coastal route.
•    Florida loop – Staying at Disney doesn’t mean you can’t go anywhere else. A loop from Disney World to Daytona Beach, Kennedy Space Center and other interesting sites in Florida will certainly keep you well-entertained.
•    Colorado Rockies loop – Starting in Denver, you can hit the slopes or hit the sights with a loop to Red Rocks, Summit County and Breckenridge, then to Eagle River Valley, Vail and Beaver Creek and onto the Flat Iron Mountains and University of Colorado in Boulder, continuing to Ft. Collins then to the Rocky Mountain National Park in Estes Park.

Of course, these are just a few suggestions. The beauty of the loop is that you can make it as small or large as you want, for whatever theme you desire. And while there are certain parts of the country better suited to the travel loop, you can conceivably create one anywhere based on your interests and the interests of those you’re traveling with.

Some more examples:
•    Antique Loops – If antiquing is your thing, chart out a loop of antique shops in your part of the country or, better yet, head out on a road trip.
•    Factory Outlets Loop –What better way to shop for the holidays than a fall trip to factory outlet stores. Here’s a  perfect fall foliage/factory outlet loop (Manchester, Vermont to Kittery, Maine).
•    National Parks – How about a loop of some of the United States’ greatest treasures, its National Parks. For example, how about a loop from Acadia National Park in Bar Harbor, Maine to Lake Placid, New York in the Adirondacks to Sugarbush, Mad River and Stowe in the Green Mountains of Vermont.
•    Major or Minor League Baseball Stadium Loop – While loops involving stops around major league baseball stadiums have been around for years (e.g. Chicago-Detroit-Cleveland), minor league loops have become more popular in recent years. Plus, the shorter loop and cheap ticket prices are a winning combination.  

Whether you choose a theme or simply pick a part of the country that interests you, the travel loop gives you a practical system to visit the sights you want to see while limiting backtracking and shortening the return ride home.

Peter Hans is the president of Resort Maps Franchise, based in Waitsfield, Vermont. Resort Maps creates customized travel maps over 90 cities and towns across the U.S. and U.K. For more information, please visit www.resortmaps.com.

Did Somebody Say Mountains? - inspired by New England's Mountain locales...

 

Of course they come in all shapes and sizes.  There are the high mountains like the Alps and the Rockies. There are also more moderately sized mountains like the Jura in western Switzerland and the Appalachians just off the eastern seaboard of the Unites States.

Mountains vary greatly but can almost always be breathtakingly beautiful. Sometimes they are capped in snow.  Other times they show that jagged rocky peaks.  If you time it right you can even see mountainside trees perform their annual art show of vibrant colors.

Not only do mountains look beautiful, they are a near endless source of fun activities.  You can ski, snowboard, sled, bike, golf, run and more all over mountains.  So my advice to you is to turn off the TV, get up and take a trip to the mountains. 

View New England Maps and Select a Mountain Destination

On the Water - inspired by New England's waterfront locales...

Have you ever seen your favorite city from the water?  It gives a unique perspective of a place that you know -- or don't know.

So far I have seen ten or so of our map towns from the water.  In these cases, my visits to areas on the east coast and south England were facilitated by ferries or other boats.  For me that's the business.  Sometimes you have a breeze and sometimes it's more calm.  Sometimes the sun shines and sometimes it doesn't.  It's all good.  Oh, did I mention navigation?

I know, I know; not all of us want to get rained on with little or no shelter.  So here's an idea.  Next time, check the weather.  If if seems like it would be comfortable for you think of the water.  And if you're out visiting a new place, take a ferry; a place you know, take a boat ride; or just out and about around home, get a hold of a dingy and paddle your way to a new perspective.

View New England Maps and Select a Waterfront Destination

Do Your Homework - inspired by living in Waitsfield, Vermont

When you next go traveling, research your destination and any places you may visit along the way.  It's a big part of the fun.

Spending just a bit of time can make the difference between a great experience and a really bad time.   START HERE  In the digital age sources of information are seemingly endless.  You  can go online and Google just about anything.  You can download an app on most any fairly intelligent phone, pad or reader.  What a time we live in.  Embrace new media that provide information.  

Oh, one last thing.  If there's a free paper map in your line of sight, grab it!

Go Here for Waitsfield, Vermont Travel Information