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Imagine Going There Travel
770.421.9627
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For Culture-Collecting Clients & Friends of Imagine Going There Travel THE COMPASS
JUNE 2023
The Rest of the Story
Over the years, I’ve heard my husband say that newscasters have the habit of starting a story but rarely come back to follow up with what happened next. For those of you familiar with the February edition of The Compass entitled “Do It Before You Wish You Had,” here is the follow-up to the story. (And, if you’re new to our community, you can read the full story at ImagineGoingThere.com/newsletters. ) When Mom received her copy of the February newsletter saying that we were taking her on a surprise trip on Rocky Mountaineer, she couldn’t believe it! She had someone at her house that day, and couldn’t wait to tell her all about it. She called me and then Doug to thank us with a voice full of emotion and gratitude. It was worth the surprise just for that! It took a bit to plan all the details, but we just returned from our long-awaited Rocky Mountaineer
Last month we ran out of room to list all of those we wanted to thank for referring clients to us this year. Then our newsletter production schedule encountered a bit of a hiccup, so we didn’t have the full month we planned to gather any extra names before this edition went out. To compensate for that, we’ll be doing the drawing July 1 and announce the winner in the next issue. Here are more wonderful clients who have referred new guests: • Jim & Sue Hundley • Brenda & Jerry Burke • Barbara Wagner • Marcia & Charles Swain • Pat & Mike Heater • Carol Mace & Randy Bell • Jane Lester • Sharon & George Beal • Barb & Barry Stover • Pat & John Lenihan • Debbie & Kent Dettwiller • Lucille Stanish We’ve had many great referrals over the years, but had such an abundance of them in 2023, we wanted to publicly thank you. If you have been sending clients our way this year and your name is not on the list, it’s not an intentional oversight! Please email Carol@ ImagineGoingThere.com by June 30 to be added to the drawing.
air balloon ride over Arches National Park. What a stunning experience that was!
We rented a car to explore this beautiful area — Arches National Park is a well- deserved favorite, but Canyonlands was equally stunning. A lesser-known jewel is the La Sal Mountain Loop, which is about a 2 1/2-hour ride that, at its highest point, is 8,343 feet above sea level. The views of the Moab Valley and parts of Canyonlands National Park were absolutely breathtaking. It was a worthwhile trip just for those views, but we still had the focal point of our vacation yet ahead. A few days later, our afternoon arrival to the train was met by a friendly team who would be accompanying us on our journey. In much the same way our Viking guests enjoy scenic cruising days, that was the beauty of traveling on Rocky Mountaineer: two days on a relaxing train ride through CONTINUED ON PAGE 3 ...
trip called Rockies to the Red Rocks, and it did not disappoint! We arrived in Moab, Utah, a few days in advance as Doug’s birthday present to me was a hot
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Great Vacations Matter Because Great Memories Matter Most
Meet Krista!
Krista joined our team this February as our Client Care Manager and has been busy learning the ropes ever since. She sits side by side with Carol many days, helping research and answer client questions, talking to Lifestyle Directors to set up our Lunch and Learns, and generally helping her keep up with our amazing clients. Krista dreamed of being an international traveler ever since she was a kid growing up in rural Indiana and her parents took an extended trip (without her!) to Germany to meet distant relatives. While her original goal as a 10-year-old was to become a CIA spy or at least a diplomat, she instead took the more practical route of studying Japanese and earning an International MBA from the University of South Carolina. After graduation, she started her career in consulting, living and working in London and Prague. She then moved to Tokyo after marrying her best friend, Ray, from her MBA program and continued to work as a consultant for many years before stepping out to raise three kids. In total, she has spent about 15 years living in Japan off and on as a college exchange student, a middle school English teacher, a consultant in a large consulting firm, and finally, a stay-at- home mom to their three kids. She has traveled extensively in both Asia and Europe. (While she loves Europe, she
admits her favorite country to visit is Thailand.)
In her spare time, Krista loves to read and hang out with her husband, three children, and two dogs.
When they get to be too much, she loves to hide away and work on her temari . (Temari is a traditional Japanese folk art that involves stitching geometric designs into a thread-wrapped ball.)
When asked what she likes best about her job, Krista says, “After having stepped out of the work force for several years to raise our three children in Tokyo, I love being back in the working world and connecting my love of international travel and culture with business.” We love having Krista on our team, and we know you’ll enjoy getting to know her as well!
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beautiful city, but it also helped them adjust to the time change and get to know other Viking guests who would be joining them for the next week. The extension was in a gorgeous hotel with a luxurious breakfast buffet. Upon arriving in Basel and going through customs, a Viking crew member was there waiting for them — and there were even Viking representatives at the hotel to help guide them and plan their adventures. “All of the guides and crew members were so nice and helpful,” Darlene and Wayne told us. “The best part was that before our trip, Viking sent us tons of literature and information in advance to help build our excitement and offer some insight on the different stops before it was time to set sail.”
“Our favorite part about the trip was the way that the Imagine Going There team made us feel like we were VIPs,” they said. “While we were dining with other travelers and sharing our experiences and itineraries for the next day, we realized just how privy we were to certain pointers and tips that we were told that others didn’t know about.” They said that this trip was definitely one for the memory book, and one of the best parts was that when you’re cruising on the river in Europe, calories don’t count and the food was delicious! Happy 30th anniversary, Darlene and Wayne, and thanks for being such an integral part of our team and sharing your magical experience with us!
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“It’s not the load that weighs you down, it’s the way you carry it.” —C.S. LEWIS
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beautiful scenery, accompanied by wonderful food and all we could drink along the way.
The Rocky Mountaineer staff was amazing, and we were surprised to learn that the lead train manager — John Garner — was onboard. I complimented him on the warmth and friendliness of his team, and he said it was one of the best he’s ever worked with.
As he shared that his 82-year- old mother was traveling to Thailand alone the following week, I had to introduce him to Mom, and her southern charm won him over (as she did with everyone else on the train!)
At the end of the first day, we had a relaxing evening in picturesque Glenwood Springs, which is famous for the world’s largest hot springs pool. Doug and I had to try it, and enjoyed soaking in the naturally heated mineral water, which was a perfect way to end our day! Our overnight stay was at The Hotel Denver, famous for the celebrities who have stayed there since 1913. Among the most prominent was Theodore Roosevelt, who loved this area for its great fishing and hunting. In fact, he spent so much time there it was dubbed “The Little White House.” The hotel is filled with memorabilia of its past — from beautiful antiques gracing the hallways to a rosewood baby grand piano from 1885. We each had a lovely, renovated stateroom and fully enjoyed walking around the quaint town the next morning before boarding our train to Denver. Another day commenced with being surrounded by beautiful scenery, regaled with wonderful stories and excellent food and service. We were truly sad to see this magical journey come to an end.
Years ago, I stopped by Mom’s house after work, and she offered me some lemonade. It hit the spot, and I asked for the recipe. Years later, I was at a restaurant where they served strawberry lemonade. With that inspiration, I modified Mom’s original recipe to duplicate this perfect summer beverage that is simple and refreshing. Greet your guests at the door with a festive glass of this cheery drink, and it’s sure to make them feel special! Lemonade & Strawberry Lemonade
Ingredients Lemonade • 7 cups warm water • 1 cup sugar • 1 cup lemon juice • Lemon slices for garnish
Strawberry Lemonade • 2 cups chilled lemonade • 2 cups frozen strawberries • 1/4 cup sugar (optional, depends on the sweetness of the berries) • Fresh strawberries for garnish
However, there’s always the Canadian Rockies rail route to look forward to, so more excitement to come!
If you haven’t yet had a chance to experience this wonderful alternative to Viking cruising, we can now
book this for you! I encourage you to give it a try – then throw in a surprise or two and you’ve got a memory worth savoring in every respect! —Carol Shaddix
Directions Lemonade Use water to dissolve sugar; add juice and stir until blended. Chill, then serve over ice with lemon slices. Strawberry Lemonade Blend lemonade, sugar and frozen strawberries together until smooth. Garnish with fresh strawberries.
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Great Vacations Matter Because Great Memories Matter Most
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770.421.9627 | www.ImagineGoingThere.com 3600 Dallas Hwy, Suite 230-215, Marietta, GA 30064
Everything you love about Viking, only better! A great destination is just one part of an amazing vacation. Just like having a master chef prepare your meal at your favorite restaurant, as one of Viking’s largest representatives, we’ve booked these vacations countless times. We intuitively know how to enhance the outcome of your experience so it consistently delivers above and beyond your expectations (and know when those special promotions such as extra shipboard credit or free airfare are available that you might not know about). Whether you are interested in an individual reservation or want to travel together as a group, call 770.421.9627 for your free consultation on how to make your next vacation even better than you expected! Tip: If you’ve already booked direct with Viking in the last 60 days, contact us to add some additional bonuses to your reservation!
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
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ROCKY MOUNTAINEER HIGHLIGHTS
TEAM SPOTLIGHT: KRISTA SHELTON
RECIPE OF THE MONTH
TALES FROM OUR SAILS
DARLENE AND WAYNE CELEBRATE 30 YEARS ON THE RHINE Tales From Our Sails
What better way to celebrate your 30th wedding anniversary than on Viking’s Rhine Getaway river cruise? Darlene, our Hospitality Specialist, and her husband Wayne recently experienced the magic of the cathedrals and castles along the Rhine River and have many great memories to share! Darlene had never been to Europe, so to make the most of the experience, they booked an extension in Lucerne before their cruise departed from Basel, Switzerland. Fun fact: Back in his high school days, Wayne toured Basel, thought it was beautiful, and always wanted Darlene to have the opportunity to experience it. So, going in early not only allowed them to spend time in the
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