http://collettevacations.travel Collette Vacations' Travel Blog Fri, 03 Sep 2010 19:56:14 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en Since I first met her, Cathy Donahue, Collette's west coast Product Manager has been telling me that the dinner on Fisherman's Wharf is something the passengers just love. Well, she was right. Neptune's Palace was fantastic. This was my first chance to get to sit down and talk with some ... http://collettevacations.travel/index.php/2010/09/03/reality-tour-2-san-francisco-dinner/ With our city tour complete, Chad and I took some time to gather some images and video of this wonderful city. We started with a cable car ride down to Union Square. Some of the other passengers did the same, some stayed in Sausalito to enjoy the shopping and fine ... http://collettevacations.travel/index.php/2010/09/03/reality-tour-2-san-francisco-free-time/ It’s time for our San Francisco city tour. The passengers are starting to fill the motorcoach. They look like a good group, upbeat and ready to start the day. David, the Tour Manager, is milling about. He’s making sure everyone is aboard and introduces us all to Jane, our step-on guide. ... http://collettevacations.travel/index.php/2010/09/03/reality-tour-2-san-francisco-city-tour/ This is Chad's first time on the West Coast. He’s anxious to put his feet in the Pacific. So, early in the morning of day 2 we head down to the waterfront. The sun has just come up and now I know I am in San Francisco because fog covers ... http://collettevacations.travel/index.php/2010/09/03/reality-tour-2-san-francisco-morning/ On this night, Chad and I had dinner with Dave Mitchell, the Tour Manager. I wanted to head up to North Beach, San Francisco's "Little Italy." After a long day in the air, I was looking for some real pasta and a chance to dine outside. This is one of ... http://collettevacations.travel/index.php/2010/09/02/reality-tour-2-north-beach/ It is not down in any map; true places never are. - Herman Melville I can't help but feel literary in San Francisco. Many of my heroes have come through here - Jack Kerouac and Mark Twain especially. It's a great American city. The end of the line (railroad allusion intended). We ... http://collettevacations.travel/index.php/2010/09/02/reality-tour-2-arriving-in-san-francisco-day-1/ Welcome to Traveling Well's second Reality Tour. This post comes to you almost live from 34,000 feet. I am drafting this just as our Airbus A320 has reached its cruising altitude. Sitting next to me is Chad Litchfield, a graphic designer at Collette. Together we are riding the Historic Trains ... http://collettevacations.travel/index.php/2010/09/02/reality-tour-2-historic-trains-of-california/ In the next few days Traveling Well launches its second Reality Tour. Join us on a virtual journey as we return to a bygone era and ride four of California’s most historic trains. From San Francisco’s Fisherman’s Warf to the Sierra Nevada Mountains and beyond, adventure awaits. All aboard! Highlights of ... http://collettevacations.travel/index.php/2010/09/01/coming-soon_reality-tour-2-historic-trains-of-california/   [caption id="attachment_3618" align="aligncenter" width="200" caption="Dave Lyle, Collette Tour Manager"][/caption] We hear from happy customers all the time at Collette Vacations. In fact, every letter or email that comes in eventually makes its way to me so I read a lot of testimonials. Many of these customer letters mention the tour manager...how professional and ... http://collettevacations.travel/index.php/2010/08/31/meet-your-tour-manager-david-lyle/ To mark the 5 year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, I'd like to direct Traveling Well readers to Tourism Cares. Our own Dan Sullivan is on the Board of Directors of this non-profit organization that strives to benefit society by "preserving the travel experience for future generations through awarding grants to natural, cultural ... http://collettevacations.travel/index.php/2010/08/30/the-gulf-coast-continues-its-comback/