Sometimes a search engine optimization company will miss that glaring question posed by potential clients and assume the benefits of search engine optimization are obvious to everyone. While shelling out a couple thousand on an SEO campaign is common sense to some, others may find it hard to part with the cash unless they know it is an investment in their business that is sure to bring a good return.

Search engines account for a huge portion of traffic to web sites. Data varies depending on what sources you read, but the bottom line is that search engines are used millions of times each day by consumers searching for goods and services. And having your business displayed at the top of search results is essential if you want to do any business from the major search engines. Nine in every ten users will find what they’re looking for in the top 10 results and won’t go to page 2.

It’s obvious that people can make a lot of money from online sales, but how you advertise your products has a large bearing on what kind of profit you make. If you buy advertising space on Google AdWords or other services that charge per click, you may only shell out 10 cents for every visitor to your site - But what if it takes 100 clicks to make one sale? If your products only sell for $10 a piece, then there is no profit being made. Pay-per-click (PPC) campaigns will also never stop costing you money. Search Engine Optimization, on the other hand, can be very affordable over months and years.

Many SEO and Internet Marketing companies will say that ongoing maintenance is needed to reach and keep top search engine rankings. While this is true, be careful how the company says they do it. There is an affordable way and then there’s a way to pad the pockets of the “experts.” For more on this issue, read my other article entitled “What Constitutes a Complete and Effective SEO Campaign?” In short, the affordable way will involve an intense content optimization followed by work to raise link popularity. This link popularity development should be the bulk of any ongoing maintenance. A couple times a year keyword research should be done again and the content should be looked at. Search trends can sometimes fluctuate so you want to make sure your content is still aimed at the right audience.

What is affordable and what isn’t varies greatly from company to company, industry to industry. In the bed and breakfast industry, $30 per month may be enough to keep a top 5 ranking on Google if the market is not very competitive. A web site competing for a top spot in a database administration field may be looking at several hundred a week if not more. The bottom line is, if you pick the right Search Engine Optimization company, your return on investment from an SEO campaign can be over 1000%.

While there are other ways to advertise a web site (No, search engine optimization is not the be-all and end-all of online advertising) very few can match the wide targeted audience and affordability that search engines provide.

John Metzler is the co-creator of Abalone Designs, Inc. http://www.abalone.ca” target=_new>http://www.abalone.ca, a Search Engine Optimization company in Vancouver, Canada. He has been involved in web design and web marketing since 1999 and has helped turn Abalone Designs into one of the top SEO companies in the world.

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It’s CHRISTmas!

Where are the wise men?

WOW - The wise men are MISSING! What kind of Christmas is this anyway?

Are you caught up in the “season” with this Christmas thing? Do YOU know where the wise men are?

For over 200 years we have celebrated Christmas and all of the joys and festivities that go with the “holidays” in this great country of ours. Christmas was declared a federal holiday in 1870 by President Ulysses S. Grant for the purpose of celebrating the “philosophy of good will toward men.” What’s changed?

And, where are those wise men?

The Associated Press reported last Christmas that in New Jersey the sixth-grade class of the South Orange Middle School planned a field trip to see the play, “A Christmas Carol.” However, due to pressure from some of the parents the field trip was “re-routed” to a show, “The Great Railroad Race”!

Why? Because of the concerns from parents that the play, “A Christmas Carol” might have something to do with CHRISTMAS! The school principal told the AP, “There is a great sensitivity to putting students in awkward situations.”

Jesus is just not acceptable! Nice…

The school board in Covington, GA last year voted to “remove” the word Christmas from the school calendar!

Hundreds of towns across the US have banned placing nativity scenes and even poinsettias on public property. It seems that the ACLU as well as other organizations have threatened lawsuits and instilled the fear of God, uh, that would be the fear of “a greater power” because we have these “sensitivity concerns” and need to suppress any kind of religious display!

Why? Because Jesus Christ is involved in Christmas. Christmas is the celebration of the birth of Jesus. Jesus Christ, the great philosopher who believed that all men should love one another!

DOWN with all the happiness this national holiday brings to old and young alike. DOWN with tradition. DOWN with peace on earth and good will towards men. OH, and forget about that love one another stuff! Our world is in such GREAT shape this Christmas that we really don’t need any of that LOVE stuff, right?

And just how do we take Christ out of this season, out of Christmas? And WHY would we want to?

Our founding forefathers saw fit to utilize much of Christ’s philosophy in drafting the Constitution of the United States, a document that is the rock of this country reads…”One nation under God…”

Where are the wise men? We need them and I hope they show up pronto and start hanging out with us. This US would be WE, mis-guided and very confused Americans!

In the precious name of Christmas and all the wonder, magic, peace and love that it holds, please whisper a prayer that the “wise men” will show up in the nick of time for the world!

Wishing you all the love and happiness of this great Christmas season and abundant blessings of peace,

Copyright 2003, Jan McCracken

http://www.LowCarbcookin.com” target=_new>http://www.LowCarbcookin.com

Home site of Low Carb Christmas Cookin’
The FIRST Low Carb Christmas Cookbook!
Low Carb Christmas Cookin’- with an Old-Fashioned Cook!
224 fun-filled, sometimes hysterical pages!

About The Author

About the author: Jan McCracken is author and self-publisher of 39 gift books and cookbooks. Born in the Midwest and former owner/innkeeper of a country bed and breakfast in Branson, MO, she has been cooking since she was seventeen years old (she won’t tell us how many years that is!

Jan has been living the low carb lifestyle for almost eight years. Her long-term goal is helping people understand that food is truly the great medicine, prevention and healer of disease.

jan@lowcarbcookin.com“>jan@lowcarbcookin.com

You may publish this article in your newsletter, on your website, or other publication as long as the article content is not altered and the resource box is included. Add byline with active link. Notification of the use of this article is appreciated. Thank you!

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It’s part of flying, and there’s nothing you can do about it. . . perhaps.

You’re trying to get to your destination, or maybe you’re trying to get home. You look at the weather and no matter how you plot out your time, direction of flight, and other options, you’re staying put!

Blessing or curse?

I guess it depends what you’d like to make of it.

Flying home from OshKosh I met up with a couple stranded at the Mason County Airport (LDM) in Ludington,Michigan. If I were to be stranded anywhere, Ludington would be my dream! Beautiful sandy beaches on Lake Michigan have made this town one of the busiest resort towns in Michigan.

Again, blessing or curse?

This couple called over 40 hotels, motels and bed and breakfasts only to find all of them sold out! Once again they reviewed their options. Fly to Ann Arbor for a better position in the morning, sleep in the plane, make use of the comfortable lounge furniture in the terminal lobby?

The adventure continued. . .

A call from a local Bed and Breakfast revealed that there was one room they hadn’t discovered. They’d have to share a bathroom, and there was no air conditioning, but there was a “bed” and a “breakfast!”

It turns out that this couple had also spent the night in Ludington on the way over to OshKosh when weather prevented them from flying across the lake.

Of course, I haven’t heard the ending to this story yet, but If I wrote my own ending it would go something like this:

“After checking into the Bed and Breakfast, we walked down to the beach where we watched the boats and fishermen enjoy the evening as if nothing else in the world mattered. We realized we were getting hungry after the events of the day and found a cozy little seafood restaurant with a stunning view of the lake.

Before it was too late, I made a phone call to work letting them know I wouldn’t be back on Monday or maybe even Tuesday! I was told to take my time and advised not push it if weather was an issue. How good can this get?

The room was just fine, and the breeze blowing through the open window was far more comfortable than a noisy room air conditioner.

After some interesting conversation and a tasty breakfast, we headed back home and didn’t worry too much about weather.

If we had to stop again we’d have one more adventure to add to our journal and maybe another day or two off work!

Link: http://www.airplanenoise.com/great_trips.htm

——————————————————————————–

About the Author

Pat Redmond, Brighton, Mi usa
airplanenoise@airplanenoise.com
http://www.airplanenoise.com
Pat Redmond, helps business owners who are tired of long lines and baggage claims, fly their way to freedom! Enjoy dinner with your family tonight! To learn more about the General Aviation Business, sign up for more FREE tips like these, visit her site at http://www.airplanenoise.com

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The city of Santa Barbara which includes Hope Ranch and Montecito has a population of approximately 90,000 (not counting the students who reside at UC Santa Barbara.) yet it hosts millions of visitors each year. The residents of the city are, for the most part, friendly, courteous and helpful, the city is clean and thanks to a well enforced anti graffiti department, virtually free of graffiti. Crime rates are low and the police are courteous and willing to assist you in whatever you need. Whether you are a single traveler, traveling with a friend or spouse or taking the whole family, Santa Barbara is a great destination.

There is something for everyone in or near Santa Barbara. Relax on the beaches, enjoy the night life on State Street or in next door Isla Vista, drive past multi million dollar homes in Montecito or Hope Ranch, take in a symphony at the Arlington Theater, visit the Museum of Art, tour the Mission, go to the Zoo or enjoy the Botanic Gardens or the Natural History Museum, fish off Stearns Wharf, go sport fishing or whale watching, dine at one of the numerous excellant restaurants (many with outside patio dining), visit the outdoor Farmer’s Market and buy organically grown fruits, vegetables, flowers and plants, buy arts and crafts at the sidewalk art show which is right along the beach, rent a bicycle or a bicycle built for two and ride on the bike paths along the ocean, dine at one of the seafood restaurants or at the open air fish market on Stearn’s Wharf or shop at the Paseo Nuevo Shopping Mall.

There are accomidations in every price range, from inexpensive motels to bed and breakfasts to luxury hotels like the Four Seasons Biltmore and the Bacara Resort and Spa.

If the foregoing is not enough, take a wine tasting tour of the botique wineries in the Santa Barbara wine region, go boating and fishing at Lake Cachuma, visit and play poker, blackjack, bingo, keno or slot machines at the Chumash Resort And Casino, visit Solvang “the Danish Capital of America”, go skydiving or take flying lessons at the Santa Inez Airport, see the historic old west town of Santa Ynez, visit Pea Soup Andersen’s in Buellton or just take a long relaxing drive up the coast and enjoy the fantastic weather while viewing the beautiful scenery.

For more information about the city of Santa Barbara, California see http://santabarbara.usacitydirectories.com” target=’noframes”‘>http://santabarbara.usacitydirectories.com, a directory of links to city of Santa Barbara, California guides and directories listing hotels, attorneys, information, resources, services, things to do, places to go and more.

About the Author

David G. Hallstrom, Sr. is a retired private investigator and is currently the publisher of several internet directories, including http://www.usacitydirectories.com” target=noframes>http://www.usacitydirectories.com a directory of national, state, county and city guides and directories listing local guides, directories, web sites and web pages providing resources, services and information about things to do and places to go.

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You probably already have in your possession one of the most valuable and powerful assets you can possibly own. But if you’re like most business people you probably aren’t using it to its full potential.

It’s very easy to tap into its power — and it is very powerful. What could this valuable asset possibly be?

Your mailing list. (You do have one don’t you?)

Your mailing list is a surefire way to get repeat business and to bring in new customers but only if you’re using it. Don’t worry if your list isn’t in a usable form yet. You may be further along than you realize and using these 6 tips will make the task easier:

1. Determine what information you already have. You probably already have more mailing data than you realize. Start with your invoicing and sales records. Do you have a stack of business cards lying around that you’ve collected at networking events?

2. Gather more names and addresses. With so many privacy concerns these days people are not as willing as they once were to give out personal information. But often they are more than willing to complete a form if they think they might win a contest or get something for free. Are you a member of your chamber of commerce or some other networking group? You can often get their membership lists for free or a nominal fee. You can also buy lists of people who have bought products and services similar to yours.

3. Give something away to say thanks. Your customers and prospects will expect something in return for giving you their information. It can be anything of perceived value. Free reports. Coffee mugs, t-shirts, pens one of your products or discount coupons. A candle retailer I know holds a drawing for one of their most popular candle scents every month and their customers are eager for a chance to win and gladly provide their mailing information.

4. Keep track with a database. Once you’ve gathered the information you need, put it into a contact database where you can easily access the info and create mailing labels. Include additional information such as birthdays, anniversaries, special interests and needs. A bed and breakfast owner uses upcoming anniversaries as an opportunity to send a greeting card and an invitation to come back to the inn to celebrate.

5. Brainstorm ideas for using your list. Newsletters. Postcards. Coupons. Thank you notes. Greeting cards. Flyers. There are hundreds of ways to stay in touch.

6. Use your list. There is a lot of advertising clutter out there. All the more reason to keep your name forefront in your customer’s minds so they remember you when they’re ready to buy. This means sending continual reminders. Mail something to your list at least once each quarter or more often if your budget allows.

(If you want to do your own marketing but could use the help of a patient teacher to get you started in the right direction, connect with Marty Marsh at http://www.martymarsh.com” target=_new>http://www.martymarsh.com. His Marketing Mastery TeleClass program can have you successfully marketing your small business in as little as one hour a week.)

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You probably already have in your possession one of the most valuable and powerful assets you can possibly own. But if you’re like most business people you probably aren’t using it to its full potential.

It’s very easy to tap into its power — and it is very powerful. What could this valuable asset possibly be?

Your mailing list. (You do have one don’t you?)

Your mailing list is a surefire way to get repeat business and to bring in new customers but only if you’re using it. Don’t worry if your list isn’t in a usable form yet. You may be further along than you realize and using these 6 tips will make the task easier:

1. Determine what information you already have. You probably already have more mailing data than you realize. Start with your invoicing and sales records. Do you have a stack of business cards lying around that you’ve collected at networking events?

2. Gather more names and addresses. With so many privacy concerns these days people are not as willing as they once were to give out personal information. But often they are more than willing to complete a form if they think they might win a contest or get something for free. Are you a member of your chamber of commerce or some other networking group? You can often get their membership lists for free or a nominal fee. You can also buy lists of people who have bought products and services similar to yours.

3. Give something away to say thanks. Your customers and prospects will expect something in return for giving you their information. It can be anything of perceived value. Free reports. Coffee mugs, t-shirts, pens one of your products or discount coupons. A candle retailer I know holds a drawing for one of their most popular candle scents every month and their customers are eager for a chance to win and gladly provide their mailing information.

4. Keep track with a database. Once you’ve gathered the information you need, put it into a contact database where you can easily access the info and create mailing labels. Include additional information such as birthdays, anniversaries, special interests and needs. A bed and breakfast owner uses upcoming anniversaries as an opportunity to send a greeting card and an invitation to come back to the inn to celebrate.

5. Brainstorm ideas for using your list. Newsletters. Postcards. Coupons. Thank you notes. Greeting cards. Flyers. There are hundreds of ways to stay in touch.

6. Use your list. There is a lot of advertising clutter out there. All the more reason to keep your name forefront in your customer’s minds so they remember you when they’re ready to buy. This means sending continual reminders. Mail something to your list at least once each quarter or more often if your budget allows.

(If you want to do your own marketing but could use the help of a patient teacher to get you started in the right direction, connect with Marty Marsh at http://www.martymarsh.com” target=_new>http://www.martymarsh.com. His Marketing Mastery TeleClass program can have you successfully marketing your small business in as little as one hour a week.)

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Direct Answers - Column for the week of June 14, 2004

I am sitting here so unsure of what to do anymore. I’ve never asked anyone for help of this type, as many people come to me for answers. I am a social worker and my husband is a psychologist. We should have the answers, but we just don’t.

We have been married 10 years and have an 8-year-old daughter. The problem as I see it is my husband refuses to help out at home. He will not do anything associated with domestic work. He does not mow the lawn. What he does is work a full-time job, play music in a band on weekends, and play in two sports leagues.

He is very negative, and over the past few years, increasingly critical of me and everything I do or don’t do. I work a full-time job with a private practice on the side. I take care of everything and somehow manage to stay sane. When I bring up the unfairness of our roles, I am always met with, “I don’t want to hear about it. Shut up. Go away. Leave me alone.”

I work my butt off every single day and am so tired. Yes, I get crabby sometimes, but it is because I feel I am living in a hopeless situation. I feel more resentful as the years go by, and my blood pressure was high enough to start medication two years ago.

We are in debt because my husband returned to school seven years ago to get his Ph.D. Divorcing now would probably ruin us both financially. He tells our daughter we will never divorce, yet when an argument starts, he tells me we should get a divorce and end it. I am not one to give in easily, but I don’t feel he loves me. I feel used.

Priscilla

Priscilla, in what book or counseling session did your husband learn to settle arguments by threatening his spouse with divorce? In what class on conflict resolution did he find that little gem? People who are pretty amiable and choose to stay together, usually can. But when one person won’t participate, there is nothing you can do.

Your husband is treating your house like a bed and breakfast–all the amenities of a home without any of the responsibilities. Behavior follows feelings, and his behavior supports your belief that he does not love you.

You don’t give up easily, but you know how this often plays out. When a woman has been doing it all, even if the husband is finally willing to make an effort, it is too late. The wife is already dead emotionally. You already feel used, and there are limits to how much criticism a person can take.

Lay your cards on the table. It’s one thing if he is willing to do the talk, meditation, body work, or whatever it takes to break him loose from where he has been as a person. It is another not to be willing to begin.

You are not one to give in easily, but when sailors drown, it is not because they lack resolve but because they are dealing with forces beyond their control. In finding the limits to what you can do in your own life, you may have learned what you can and cannot do to help others.

Wayne & Tamara

Horse’s Mouth

We’ve been a couple for two years. If all goes well, we will probably marry. Recently she started making remarks like “absence makes the heart grow fonder” and “if things don’t work out, I hope I find someone just like you.” What do you think?

Skip

Skip, the closer you are to someone, the more you can end their sentences. The farther apart you are, the more you say, “Huh, what did you mean by that?” She’s got you saying, “Huh?” Close the distance and ask her what she means.

Tamara

About The Author

Authors and columnists Wayne and Tamara Mitchell can be reached at http://www.WayneAndTamara.com” target=_new>www.WayneAndTamara.com.

Send letters to: Direct Answers, PO Box 964, Springfield, MO 65801 or email: DirectAnswers@WayneAndTamara.com“>DirectAnswers@WayneAndTamara.com.

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Here’s some ways to hold on to that cash:

1. Consider booking a hotel just outside the city.

Brookline and Cambridge are two nice cities that come to mind.
You can easily hop on the T” for a short ride and take it into
Boston and back each day. You can save a large chunk of change
depending on how long you are staying on your trip.

2. Check out the prices of flights arriving into Providence.

It is only a 50-minute bus ride to Boston. Southwest Airlines,
which can offer significantly lower rates, does not fly directly
into Boston so what you’ll lose in convenience, you’ll gain in
savings.

3. Book a package deal.

Websites such as Orbitz.com, Hotels.com, Expedia.com, and
Travelocity.com all offer packages that will save you money by
purchasing air and hotel together. You may even want to check
directly with the hotel to see if they are offering a lower rate
than advertised online.

4. Stay at a local B&B or rent a furnished apartment.

Normally, they end up being cheaper and give you a better feel of
what living in Boston is really like. Two companies that offer
many prime Boston locations are The Bed and Breakfast Agency of
Boston (http://www.boston-bnbagency.com/) and The Bed and
Breakfast Associates Bay Colony (http://www.bnbboston.com/).

5. Ride the MBTA (also known as the T”).

This is the subway and bus system that covers all of Boston.
Driving and parking in Boston can be frustrating and expensive.
If you plan on seeing many sights, you can pick up a visitor pass
for a flat fee of $7.50 for one day, $18 for three days, or $35
for seven days. Most rides are $1.25 otherwise.

6. Buy a Boston CityPass (http://www.citypass.com/).

This allows you to see six of Boston’s most famous attractions
for 50% off the price and avoid the ticket lines. You can
purchase this pass online or at the first attraction you visit
for $36.75 for adults and $25.50 for youths. These include the
Museum of Science, New England Aquarium, Skywalk Observatory,
Museum of Fine Arts, Harvard Museum of Natural History, and the
JFK Library & Museum.

7. Spend time at the free attractions.

You can enjoy the street performers and browse the shops at
Quincy Market. Go for a walk on the Freedom Trail. Spend time
in Boston Common, the oldest US park. Ride its famous swan boats
for under three dollars. Go to the Harvard University Art
Museums on Saturdays from 10 AM to 12 Noon to receive free
admission. Other museums offer specials as well so check their
websites.

8. Use coupons.

Check with your travel company or with the hotel you are staying
with for specials and coupons. When I booked my trip to Las
Vegas through Expedia.com, I was given a booklet at my hotel with
numerous discounts throughout the city. If you are a member of
AAA, give them a call to see what deals they offer. You can even
check an attraction’s main website.

Follow these tips above and you can save significantly on your
upcoming trip to Boston. Enjoy!

About the Author

Courtesy of Travelticket.net, http://www.travelticket.net
We feature crazy travel stories and travel information.
Have a crazy travel story to share? Send it to us right through
the site.

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We’ve got some unique sports-themed twists to new and traditional homebased business! here’s a couple of HOT ideas:

Sports Bed and Breakfast

Bed and breakfast establishments are a hot commodity. Providing travel weary tourists with a friendly and serene place to stay is very welcomed in today’s rushed world.

Bed and breakfasts typically offer more personalized service, thus their popularity. Many travellers swear by them, and would not stay in what they consider a “cookie-cutter” hotel room.

This idea would capitalize on the that idea, from a sports perspective. If you already own a bed and breakfast, or you are considering one, this might be a very good full or part time idea.

Transform your inn with a sports theme- complete with sports-themed room decorations and linens. If you live close to a certain city with professional sports, you can bet there will be fans that travel to see the games.

You can organize cook outs, pep rallies before the big game, a big screen TV to watch other games, etc. Build a community feel, it’s what bed and breakfasts do best!

Advertise on the Internet, to attract fans from out of town, as well as locally (for people to consdier you next time). Build and maintain a mailing list of previous tenants (ask first!) to build repeat stays.

Keep in mind that you could do this idea just during, say, football season, and then run the inn as usual the rest of the year. If you’re city has year-round professional sports, you might consider going full time!

Sports shuttle

Make sure your mode of transportation seats plenty in a comfortable manner. You can install a DVD player to play videos of the hometown team, play fight songs on a CD player, etc. Whatever it takes to whip your crowd into a frenzy!

Ask your local sports venues for guidelines regarding dropping off and picking up passengers near the sports facility.

You can offer round trip or one-way tickets to your riders, although one-way means you’ll have to designate an end point to avoid confusion. This may be best done when you assemble a fleet of sports shuttles. For now, stick with round trip!

Golf business ideas 101

Golf business ideas can be as unique as everybody’s game- and believe me, there’s no shortage of golfers out there! Making golf so attractive to would-be entreprenuers is the millions that play the sport. Golf is a participation sport, as well as a pretty popular spectator item. This gives you two angles to approach your target market.

One golf business idea that getting pretty popular is the content site that offers golf equipment reviews. Shoppers are pretty savvy these days- online, they can price compare till they drop. But they’re also looking for opinions on products they are considering, especially unsolicited and unbiased opinions, in the form of reviews from people just like them.

This could be a great golf business idea for you. Imagine setting up a site that caters to these info seekers, and getting content delivered from the visitors themselves! Talk about a self-healing website! Golfers are usually more than happy to throw their two cents in when it comes to the good, bad, and ugly of golf stuff.

You’ll want to provide incentive for participation, however. Be prepared to fill your site with something of value- once your site really gets humming, the reviews will be the main attraction. But until then, be prepared short and long term with quality content. You can write about your own experiences with various golf clubs, etc., and spin off material such as golf travel, tips, and such to give your site that “lived in” look.

Rob Moore is the homebased guru for SPORTS fans! Bringing fresh ideas from Business-HomeRun.com, it’s time you turned your Passion Into Profits! Join us at http://www.business-homerun.com” target=_new>http://www.business-homerun.com

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This vacation was more of a good girls” version of Thelma and Louise hitting the open highway to see what we could see. With no concrete plans, no hotel reservations and no idea what to expect, we arrived in Billings, grabbed a few visitors brochures and decided to at least try to visit Bozeman, Big Sky and Yellowstone National Park.

After one night’s stay in Bozeman at a lovely bed and breakfast and a breathtaking hike the day before up to Fairy Lake—a peaceful, secluded lake surrounded by tall pines and absolutely no noise at all—we awoke to the sight of a light snowfall (a real treat for Southern Californians), the smell of Canadian bacon and the bark of the inn keeper’s golden retriever, Bailey. It was time to hit the road.

Our drive through Bozeman traced past charming little antique shops, down-home diners, and the usual small town sights, then to the outskirts of town. After a few stops to check out some antiques, and about two hours later, my girlfriend and I found ourselves in the friendly town of Big Sky feeling like two fish out of water, but ready to breathe in some more of that smog-free air through our gills and get to know the place—if only for a few days.

Our inquiries as to where to find some adventure in this ski town during the off season led us to the horse stables for some Western-style sight seeing. A two-hour horseback ride guided by a real-life cowboy was a challenge for my tender hind parts, but I had to tough it out because my friend, the experienced rider that she is, struck up a friendly conversation with our trail guide (need I say, flirting”). And besides that, the views from the trail were unreal. I felt like I was riding through a scene from the old TV show Big Valley.

After a much-needed soak in a deep tub of hot water overflowing with bubbles (literally) in our cozy room at the Rainbow Ranch Lodge, I perked up and my travel buddy and I trekked down to a little restaurant on the side of the road that served the freshest, most tender beef we’d ever eaten this side of … well, anyplace. When one of the locals, a handsome Marlboro Man” type seated on a barstool, kindly invited us to drop by the local watering hole, Staci’s Old Faithful Bar, the next night for a little Western hospitality and a lesson in how to really two-step, we knew we couldn’t miss that opportunity.

So the next night, we hopped in our Subaru Outback (we had to look” the part of locals, right) and headed down the dark two-lane highway very slowly so as not to accidentally encounter one of those deer we were warned to beware of from the road signs posted every twenty paces. The fear of killing Bambi was ever in our consciousness. As my friend drove tentatively, I sat anxiously with eyes wide open ready to scream, Stop!” at the first sight of anything that remotely looked like a darling deer ready to prance in front of our rental car. Talk about stress!

As we neared our destination and noticed the flickering red neon sign out front and the rickety wood-framed screen door smack shut behind a few cowboys, doubt set in big time. Suddenly we weren’t so sure we should be there. Would we be safe? What if something happened to us, who would know? Yes, safety was a concern. But that’s why two crazed, adventurous minds are better than one. So we threw caution to the wind, took a deep breath and headed into Staci’s.

Remember that scene from the movie comedy 48-Hours when Eddie Murphy steps into a country/western bar and the whole room screeches to a halt. Well, just keep that in mind. I don’t think I have ever felt more aware of my being than at that moment when my curly, blonde-haired friend and I, an African American woman, walked into that bar. All eyes on us, we tried to look like we belonged” there. And to our credit we were cool as cucumbers—on the outside.

As we strolled over to the only two empty barstools, I felt as if we were moving in slow motion—and so were the hundred or so pairs of eyes that followed us. Even the cigarette smoke swirls were flowing through the air like low fog hovering over a still country pond in the early morning. But once we sat down, the room quickly returned to its previous lively condition and we were able to exhale. Whew, the hard part was over.

I must say, our cowboy bar experience was chock full of interesting sights—a live band talented enough to make it to the second round of Star Search, dancing couples proficient in the latest country/western and dirty dancing moves, photos of local rodeo celebrities who had visited Staci’s, even a lively bartender who could whip up a drink in the blink of an eye.

As appealing as our cowboy bar experience had been, we couldn’t stay all night because the morning held the promise of more adventure. So after a few more strange stares from some of the locals and suspicious smiles from others, we departed Staci’s and headed back down that dark road.

The next day we awoke bright and early and headed out towards Yellowstone National Park. Upon entering the town of West Yellowstone, I immediately felt as though we had gone back in time to some familiar yet unknown place that was a cross between Mayberry and the Twilight Zone. But as we followed the signs into Yellowstone National Park, a feeling of anticipation rose up inside of me, and I must admit that I was secretly on the lookout for Ranger Bob, Yogi the Bear and his little friend, Boo-Boo.

The sights of the natural hot springs and clay-like mud pots were breathtaking. Watching bison graze at a distance as we sat eating fruit and nuts on a log by the side of the road, we were very careful not to litter this pristine wilderness obviously created by the sovereign hand of God. It was all so surreal.

Traipsing through what we had hoped wasn’t off-limits territory reserved only for the bison, I realized that we should head back to our car when we noticed enormous piles of bison poop in the tall, golden brush. Hmmmm, how fast can a bison run, and could I outrun one if motivated by the fear for my life? I wasn’t convinced I wanted to find out, so after much whining and sharing my fears of hypothetical situations of the two of us being eaten by a family of bison, my friend finally consented to my cowardice and we headed back to the safety of the parking lot civilization.

Further up the road into the Park, we came to the spot known world wide for its perfect timing—Old Faithful geyser. Amazingly, we arrived within only two minutes of the moment of truth, the geyser’s eruption, which is said to take place every 80 minutes on average. Watching the gentle puffs of steam become a graceful gush of water shooting powerfully high up into the air, I was indeed impressed by nature’s awe-inspiring display of beauty. And just as quickly as it had begun, it all ended in a slow, quiet lull of nothingness—until the next time.

Our walking tour of the other geysers around the Old Faithful site was equally awesome. Sturdy wood-beamed pathways led us over the bubbling pools of mud and steaming hot springs. Careful not to lean too far forward or to drop anything into the pools, we carefully heeded the warning signs about their intense heat, reportedly hot enough to boil the rubber off of a jogging shoe (not to mention the tender skin off of my bones!).

But suddenly the heat of the pools wasn’t a concern, when just up ahead about 30 feet we noticed a big, hairy mass of flesh munching away at the brush on the side of the walking path. A real life bison, up close and personal. We froze in our tracks awaiting any sign that this big fella might be intimidated by our presence, or even worse, that he might begin to see us as two tasty morsels just ripe for eatin’. We were stuck between fear and the almost uncontrollable urge to laugh out loud at this unbelievable sight. And wouldn’t you know it—no more film in the camera! We slowly eased past the mammoth beast keeping our four eyes on his two and ready to run like Flo Jo if the threat presented itself. With that experience, there was no doubt that Yellowstone was the highlight of this trip.

On the last day of our great Montana adventure, we hit the road and did some more side-tripping. Traveling up highway 287, we passed through the town of Ennis and then journeyed through Virginia City, a little ghost town” that has been preserved as an historic area. The old wooden buildings reminded me of the town in Little House on the Prairie. As we walked the dusty road I half expected to be caught in the middle of a shootout between the town sheriff and an unwelcome troublemaker.

Eventually, we found ourselves at Three Forks, a watery junction where three rivers (the Jefferson, Madison and Gallatin rivers) meet to form the mouth of the Missouri River. As we stood there watching the swirl of the brown waters and feeling the drizzle of an oncoming downpour, we realized that this crossroads signified the end of our trip. One full of unexpected treasures and surprises we could have never planned. Back to reality tomorrow. But what an adventure we had experienced.

Back in Billings we hesitated a bit as we returned our rental car and headed into the airport, relishing our serendipitous escapade as we caught one last glimpse of the freshly snow-capped mountains in the distance. An adventure, indeed. One I will never forget, and one that I believe will set the standard for all future vacations for me. Plan a little, experience a lot. That is now my vacation slogan.

About the Author

Anita Paul is a freelance writer, marketing consultant and owner of The Write Image, a marketing communications company that caters to small businesses and non-profit organizations. With over ten years experience in marketing and public relations, she is the author of “Take The Mystery Out Of Marketing” a guide to help business owners create, execute and evaluate a strategic marketing plan. She can be reached at www.thewriteimage.net.

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