Guest Blogger: Life Coach Sheri Kaye Hoff, author of Keys to Living Joyfully

Today I did something really different. I got out from underneath this computer and took Max to the doggie park. I don't know who was having a better time - Max in pine cone heaven or myself. It was our first really warm day and I can't even begin to tell you how rejuvenating it was. I came back home, refreshed and with a whole new zest. Life was certainly joyful!

Vacations are like that. We live in a resort so I feel like it's vacation 24/7, but not when you're stuck inside working on the computer while everyone else is out there having a good time.

But I tell you this because we have a great guest post from author and life coach Sheri Kaye Hoff. Sheri is on a virtual book tour with Pump Up Your Book Promotion and I asked her if she'd like to guest post at Boomer Chick and what a delightful subject she came up with - traveling!

Incidentally, to celebrate her April tour, she has asked me to tell you that anyone who purchases a copy of her new book, Keys to Living Joyfully, will be able to have one month of unlimited email coaching. All you have to do is send her an email to coachsheri@lifeisjoyful.org, mention the April Virtual Book Tour and include your Amazon, Createspace, or paypal confirmation number. She also has a link on her website at www.lifeisjoyful.org for people to purchase signed copies of her book directly from her.

You can't beat that deal!

Without further ado, I give you Life Coach Sheri Kaye Hoff, author of the inspirational book, Keys to Living Joyfully. Take it away, Sheri!

Recently I went on vacation with my family over Spring break. Our goal was a bit of a Western tour-we would be going through Colorado, Utah, Nevada, and Arizona. We unexpectedly also drove through New Mexico. Two of the highlights would be three nights in Vegas and a visit to the Grand Canyon. I live in Parker, CO near Denver. So we packed up the family in our rental car and headed out on I 70 through the Rocky Mountains. We could have flown, but we like to take at least a couple of road trips every year. We have some traditions like blasting Journey hits as we sing along. My kids ages 8, 13, and 15 know all of the lyrics to Don’t Stop Believin; Faithfully: Lovin, Touchin, Squeezin, and Open Arms. People driving by us probably think we are a bit crazy. I highly recommend stopping at Grizzly Bear Creek in Colorado. We were able to walk down, sit on the rocks, and put our feet in the running water-which was ice cold and crystal clear. Another tradition that we cannot pass up is the wineries in Palisade just outside of Grand Junction. We stop, I taste a few different wines (my husband is driving) and the kids-of course, don’t taste wine. Then we buy homemade fudge, peach marmalade (real, fresh peaches when in season), and wines like elderberry, blue berry, or honey.

Driving through Utah is amazing with the rocks, mountains, and miles upon miles of nothing. We lose cell phone service through much of the state. We like staying at the Fairfield in Richfield, Utah which is right next to a restaurant with some of the best wings you could ever taste. Vegas is about four hours from Richfield and there is a little stretch of Arizona through some gorgeous Canyons that we drive through before getting into Nevada. Before this trip all of my family had experienced Vegas except for my 8 year old son, Nicholas. He kept saying-what is so great about Vegas?. As we drive into Vegas, on the left is the Las Vegas Speedway-a huge attraction for my race car driving husband. Our hotel is the Palazzo which is connected to the Venetian. Bless our travel agent, Colette, for booking us in this five star palace of luxury. Our suite surpassed all expectations and the service during our stay was divine. Over the next few days, we saw Phantom of the Opera live, rode Gondolas, shopped till we dropped, enjoyed the pool, a limo ride, and yummy Italian food. We enjoyed 70 degree weather while there was a snow storm back home. Leaving Vegas and driving over Hoover Dam through Arizona to the Grand Canyon, we experienced complete contrast- from showy Vegas to raw, unspoiled nature. This was our first time to the Grand Canyon and we were speechless at the vastness, the colors, the cold, the wind, the beauty, and the sunset. We stayed at the Grand in Tusayan, then the next day we had to head home, but could not go via I 70 due to the snow storm. We ended up driving to Albuquerque and through Santa Fe. We even drove part of the way along the historic route 66. We could have been annoyed at the longer drive, but we chose to look at the adventurous part of the experience. We stopped to buy honey and other homemade goods in some of the small shops in New Mexico. We entered Colorado again through Trinidad. The whole experience was a great adventure together. My children are great travelers and get along (most of the time). I am so blessed and thankful.

We came home refreshed (even though I have been struggling with some sort of cold, allergy, flu thing for the last three weeks). We created new memories. Our family adventures are some of the best memories for my children. Sometimes I ask my children what they think is their best trip ever. I think they will say “going to the Bahamas”, but they surprise me. My children tell me it was the time when I drove them by myself from Colorado to Minnesota and our air conditioning broke about an hour out of Denver in the middle of August. It was so hot and humid going through Nebraska and Iowa, I kept spraying the kids in the car with my water bottle. We would stop at rest stops and I would pour water over their heads and we would get into the car soaking wet. I was so worried, but didn’t want to scare them, so we played music, had the windows open, and sang at the top of our lungs just about every old rock song there is. That is the vacation that my kids think was the most fun. As my teenage daughters are nearing college age, I am thankful for the time that we have together for these adventures. In my book, Keys to Living Joyfully, I talk a lot about the importance of how thoughts impact reality and experiences.

I wish great travel adventures for you and that you live a truly joy filled life.

Sheri Kaye Hoff is the author of the inspirational book, Keys to Living Joyfully. You can visit her website at www.lifeisjoyful.org.