Skiers get in the know about snow on the Web
Skiers can find everything they need to know about snow conditions, special ski classes, ski resorts, romantic getaways and anything else snow-related at On The Snow, www.onthesnow.com.
Pick the state or region you want to visit and a list of ski areas comes up, with amount of new snow, the base depth, weather conditions and user ratings.
I checked on Wisconsin and found reviews on resorts ranging from Alpine Valley to Wilmot Mountain. You can also search for a resort or area by name on the home page. The site also covers ski areas all over the world, from Andorra to Sweden. Sign up for the online newsletter or check out ways to win prizes online, from sunglasses to resort packages. Check out the blogs for up to the minute reports on ski experiences.
If you have ever thought you would like to live and work overseas, you need to know about Transitions Abroad, www.transitionsabroad.com/index.shtml. In addition to the site, this organization puts out a print magazine on everything you need to know about work visas, supporting yourself abroad, finding work, locating a place to live and other topics. Much of this information is also on the site, including many helpful articles and a blog for travelers.
Click on the words "travel blog" to find the Wide World Cafe blog, which includes "travel news and commentary about current events affecting travelers." Volker Poelzl, who works as the living abroad and travel abroad contributing editor, manages the blog. It includes destinations, essays and personal travel experiences.
In the site's Jobs Abroad section, you'll find information on jobs, such as farm work, au pair jobs, gap year jobs during college, internships, teaching jobs, tourism and hospitality jobs overseas, volunteer experiences and short-term employment.
You can also order a copy of the book, "Work Abroad: The Compete Guide to Finding Work Overseas," published by Transitions Abroad. There are also other useful books on work/travel topics, including books on short-term work abroad, working in China, and choosing a country that is best for you.
In print
"Can-cans, Cats & Cities of Ash" by Mark Twain is one title in the Great Journeys series published by Penguin at $8.50. This series includes sections of travel writings by great authors; the books are roughly 4-by-7 inches and under 150 pages, making them great to pop in a backpack or carry in a pocket for reading in a long line at the airport.
In this volume, Twain romps through France, where he endures watching the cancan by peeking through his fingers; gazes at the Azores, with its green islands graced with white-washed villages; explores Morocco, where he marvels at the appearance of Bedouins and Moors; and Italy, where he sails into the Blue Grotto off Capri. Surprisingly, the author's tone is not particularly funny, but rather matter of fact.
Other books in this handy series include works by famous authors, such as Anton Chekhov, Isabella Bird and Ernest Shackleton.