Tax Return Getaways

WHEW!  Hopefully everyone got their taxes paid last week and are anxiously awaiting their tax

return check.  The average American's tax refund is approximately $3,120. While some may suggest paying off debt or saving it for a rainy day, we say there's no better use for a payout than a vacation! Below are some great trips to spend your rebate on—and don't worry, with prices starting at $1,499, you might have some money left over.

1.     Explore Thailand: Discover Bangkok, including the Grand Palace and floating markets. Experience Chiang Mai and northern Thai culture, connect with elephants, and spend time on the beaches of Phuket for some relaxation time at the end of the trip. This 10-day tour is a fantastic introduction to natural and cultural wonders of the country. Prices with Adventure Life start at $1,525.

2.     Experience Louisiana’s Cajun Country: Take Cajun cooking lessons with a private chef, bust a move at a local zydeco dancehall, explore the Whitney Plantation (America’s first slavery museum), kayak Bayou Teche, tour the Tabasco factory, visit a legendary zydeco music studio, tour an organic pecan farm, partake in a private seafood boil with chef, and sample an array of Louisiana cocktails and cuisine. Prices with Gondwana EcoTours start at $1,499.

3.     “Glamp” at a Luxury Ranch: Hike, ride horses, fly fish, and play cowboy at the 25,000-acre

Red Reflet Ranch in Wyoming. The ranch is both working ranch and luxury resort.  Gourmet dining offers ingredients from the ranch’s butcher shop, organic greenhouse and gardens.  From cattle drives to branding, the true western lifestyle thrives at Red Reflet Ranch. Prices start at $1,813.

4.     Ride a Train from Moscow to Mongolia: If you feel like splurging, take Trans-Siberian trains over a dramatic and variegated route that offers limitless opportunities to meet the diverse local people – Mongol, Buryat and Russian. Experience the rolling green hills and nomadic traditions of Mongolia, Siberia’s UNESCO-listed Lake Baikal and endless taiga forest on your way to the booming capital, Moscow. Prices with MIR Corporation start at $7,695.

5.     Cycle the Mediterranean: Join a cycling tour at the crossroads of the Mediterranean:

Corsica, Sardinia and Sicily. Split into three week-long stages, the “3 Islands Tour” is a journey through the history, food, architecture and traditions of these Mediterranean jewels. Prices with Ride & Seek start at $3,345.

6.     Go Fishing in Alaska: Unalakleet River Lodge comprises all the warmth and charm of a true Alaskan lodge. Located 140 air miles south of Nome on Norton Sound, the main lodge was built from hand-hewn logs on a hill overlooking the Unalakleet River. It offers very

productive fishing for salmon, dollies, char, and grayling. Prices with Frontiers International Travel start at $5,300.

Five Tiny House Vacations You May Want to Try

Have you seen and heard all of the 'hub bub' about tiny house living and wondered if it’s right for you? An easy way to dip a toe in the water and see how you like it is to take a tiny house vacation. Here are five recommended tiny houses you can visit and see if you can go tiny. 

Tiny House

Fireside Resort in Jackson Hole, Wyo offers 20 Wheelhaus (http://wheelhaus.com/) tiny house cabins

for rent only minutes away from downtown Jackson and Grand Teton National Park. These 400 square foot cabins offer a bedroom with king bed, a living room with a hide-a-bed, a bathroom and a kitchen with additional covered deck space. The beauty of this tiny house vacation is you can truly purchase a Wheelhaus cabin for yourself and have it delivered to you. So, this tiny house vacation literally allows you to test drive a tiny house before buying one. http://www.firesidejacksonhole.com/

Tree House

Out'n'About Treesort in Cave Junction, Oregon offers treehouse living on 36 acres next to the Siskiyou National Forest. Activities at the resort include ziplines and Tarzan swings as well as horseback rides and river rafting. http://treehouses.com/joomla/index.php/treesort

Tipi

Moab Under Canvas offers a range of accommodations in Moab, Utah including Tipi tent rentals. Tipi tents come equipped with camp cots, mattress padding, sleeping bags, pillows, blankets, towels, safari chairs, a small table and a lantern. With tipi bathrooms close at hand, all you need to do is bring your toothbrush.http://www.moabundercanvas.com/glamping.html

Yurt

TreeBones Resort offers unique lodging and dining on California’s Big Sur Coast with expansive views in all directions. The 16 yurts have queen sized beds, small table and chairs, reading lights and plenty of hooks for hanging your gear. There is a sink vanity with hot and cold running water in each yurt. Resort amenities include a restaurant and spa with ocean kayaking and hiking available in the area. http://www.treebonesresort.com/yurts/

Wall Tent

The Resort at Paws Up sits on a ranch along the Blackfoot River in Western Montana. Paws Up offers

six different ‘tent cities’ each offering four, two-bedroom tents and two, one-bedroom tents. All tents have ensuite bathrooms and each ‘tent city’ has a dining pavilion.

http://www.pawsup.com/glamping/pinnacle-camp.php

Downsizing and “Living Large with Less” as the Wheelhuas slogan says has captured the attention of many and these five tiny house vacations offer the perfect way to see if it’s right for you.