Denver is known for a quite a few reasons and while the most famous of them have to do with either its geography or major sports teams, the city itself is incredibly full of great cultural elements and fabulous entertainment options. It is not only the largest city in the state of Colorado, but it is also one of the top tourist destinations, surpassing even some of the most famous ski resorts. The best Denver hotels provide luxury accommodations and are also excellent information resources on the top entertainment options and major attractions in the city.

The Colorado Ballet is based in Denver and is currently celebrating its 50th season. This is an impressive milestone for any establishment and when it’s arts related it also testifies to the quality and standard of excellence it presents. The anniversary also emphasizes the fact that it is one of Denver’s oldest arts establishments. It was originally established as an educational institution and was founded by two Denver natives Lillian Covillo and Freidann Parker .

Through the decades it has expanded and become the incredible performance based organization it is today and retains its focus on training and educating new generations of dancers. The school was actually established in 1950 and began presenting performances a decade later. The initial intention behind the early shows was to present a showcase performance for the students and the first public performance occurred in 1960.

The Colorado Ballet in Denver is a post from: Live to Inspire

No big city should be allowed to exist if it doesn’t have a coffee shop that’s open late. There are always the 24 restaurants and donut shops that can provide a safe haven for those who like to peek into the world when no one else is looking, but a true coffee house is something more. It’s not only an alternative to the bar scene, but it’s part of a tradition that’s all over Europe and Latin America, where intellectuals and artists can go to discuss their theories and obsessions.

Increasingly, the coffee house is also a friendly neighborhood hangout, where like-minded people can gather, people can hold business meetings, and those who work on laptops can come to be around other people, even if they are just focusing on their work. They’re also a nice haven for out of town guests, looking to soak in the local charm while enjoying a coffee and a pastry in the middle of their sight-seeing. For all the luxury hotels Arizona ‘s prided itself in for all these years, the coffee house has just started making waves.

In the 80s, there were a few places that people could go, like the now-defunct Willow House, but these were few and far-between. The anarchist-collectives running them weren’t always organized, either, logically, and it was hit and miss whether they’d be open. But now there are plenty to choose from, and the offerings are really top notch.

Fair Trade Cafe is a great example of a coffee house embedded in the community. They do offer only fair trade, hence the name, and it’s roasted by a group in Tucson. The clientele enjoys the friendly atmosphere, and it’s a nice place to get some work done, as well as find out what’s happening in the local community. Lola’s has two locations in downtown Phoenix, and both are lovely spaces with equal parts funk and ambience. The baristas pick the music, so spending time here is also an education in musical tastes. Lux , like Lola’s, roasts their own, and they use a machine that roasts only 7 pounds at a time. The result is a splendid cup, and the baked goods are out of this world. Lots of great choices.

Phoenix Coffee Hangouts is a post from: Live to Inspire

The X-treme Rock Climbing Center in Miami, is the perfect activity for any visitor, whether from out of the country, or out of state it’s hard to stay in shape while playing hard in Miami. Unless you like rock-climbing, then this is a perfect opportunity for you; the X-treme Rock Climbing is one of the best places to climb in the US. It has a variety of difficulty levels placed all over their 14,000 square foot facility. Rock climbing will take you out of your routine workout doldrums and bring in excitement.

The facility has many amenities, including top rope and lead climbing, textured climbing walls, and a great bouldering area. You can also sign up for yoga classes, use their wireless Internet connection, and before climbing, warm-up at their fitness center. The center also offers beginners and advance classes as well as rock climbing clinics. Once there, you will find an on-site pro shop, affordable equipment rentals and there’s plenty of supervision on hand. There’s something for everyone, so bring the entire family or just bring yourself. You’ll find the roofs and overhangs add a nice challenge if you’re an experienced climber, but their USA Climbing Certified route setters are there especially for the beginner. They also offer finger boards and campus boards for those who want to build finger strength.

Located at 13972 Southwest 139th Court, X-treme Rock Climbing Center is conveniently located near any hotel Miami USA offers its international guests. You’ll leave the center excited and wanting to come back everyday you’re here in Miami. If you’ve been to X-treme before, come back again, they change the routes frequently, so there is something new for regulars to climb. Hours are Monday and Wednesday – 3pm to 10pm; Tuesday and Thursday – 11am to 10pm; Friday 11am to 11pm; Saturday – 10am to 10pm and on Sunday – 10am to 8pm.

Who Needs Beaches When There’s Rock Climbing in Miami? is a post from: Live to Inspire

There are some companies that you look into and you wonder why you never applied there for a job. Southwestern Company is often one of those companies. They don’t just build up people, or a company but they have built a community that cares for one another. The great thing about them too though is that you can work for and be a part of this community without working directly for the company. They have a lot of businesses that they will refer people to because one of their alumni has started their own company. They also rely on these companies for a lot of the workings of their own company.

Alumni have made companies in all aspects of business including consulting, investments & finance, fine art, executive search, fundraising, publishing and insurance which means that they have a lot of resources at their fingertips. These companies only came about after several summers of being out in the sun working hard, selling books door to door for Southwestern Company . That is probably the reason why you never signed up with them. It is the reason why a large number of people never signed up with them. There is something about this kind of hard work that really builds character, however very few people really want to do it. Part of it is probably because of each person’s memories of other door to door sales people, or their parent’s reactions to door to door sales people. Depending on the family it ranged from fear, to distaste, right through to being glad to see them each year even though they were never the same sales people.

The truth is that for most people it is the first summer that is usually the hardest. If you make it through that and find that you still want to be selling books you are probably going to not just do well but do very well. After one summer you know how to run your own business and make it successful. That is the real key that each of the alumni have learned. You also have made bonds of friendship that can not be broken because no one else knows what it was like out there on your own with no one but your group. In the end it turns out the Southwestern is more than just a company, they are a story of love and a story of growing up and they pass that story on to each person they hire.

Southwestern Love Story is a post from: Live to Inspire

There are too many famous and interesting people in the world today, and it helps make things go around in a very lovely way. Some cities seem to have higher concentrations of citizens who go on to do remarkable things. With Manhattan, it’s the energy that inspires people, but it’s also the sheer numbers making a higher probability for an interesting life. In Honolulu, it could be numbers, and it could be the landscape that inspires, but it certainly seems to be a place where greatness gets born. The Honolulu best hotels provide an excellent vantage point for anything inspiring, and may lead to some great ideas, but at the very least it offers a wonderful time.

For Bette Midler , it is a great place to be born, surely. She was hatched here, on December 1 in 1945, putting her at the beginning of a time where ideas were being shaped in remarkable ways. With her talent, however, it is likely that this remarkable voice would have done well being born anywhere. But Honolulu was a spectacular beginning, and she was able to indulge in her passions when she was growing up, which eventually led her to a small role in the film “Hawaii,” which got her enough funds to move to New York.

The rest of her story is history, but she was born into the heart of history. Her next big role was in ” Fiddler on the Roof ,” and her stage work took an unexpected turn. Her sister came from the island to see her on stage, and was killed by a car on her way to the theatre. It shook up Bette enough to make her rethink her place in the order of things, and she turned her life from ensemble work to performing solo. This is where she found the momentum to spin the wheels of her charismatic stage personas, and lead to a string of wildly successful projects. For someone who would sing the song that closed out the Johnny Carson version of the tonight show, this road was a long way from Honolulu, and maybe not so far after all.

Honolulu is Divine is a post from: Live to Inspire

The best place to see Los Angeles, is up at the Griffith Observatory , located at 2800 E. Observatory Road, naturally. However, Griffith Observatory is worth a look too. First, it will be the art deco construction of this 1930s structure that will make you take your eyes off of the spectacular view of LA. Then, as you are drawn inside, it will be the Observatory’s state-of-the-art Planetarium that blasts off amazing light shows, which are eye candy to be feasted upon. The exhibits are well done and capture the imagination. For those old enough to remember, Griffith Observatory was the site of the unforgettable climax in the film ‘Rebel Without a Cause’, starring James Dean and it has a working Tesla Coil.

The Griffith Observatory is an amazing place, filled with spectacular exhibits but, The Observatory can get very crowded, so its recommended to attend on a weekday, that way you’ll be able to see all the shows, and you’ll have great visual access to all the exhibits. The weekends are ridiculously packed, shows are sold out, and you can barely see the exhibits. If you can, bring a lunch, because the cafes food isn’t all that great. If you’re staying at a Los Angeles cheap hotel and can’t pack your lunch, just make a quick stop at a deli and order food to go. Unfortunately, there’s no picnicking outside on the exquisite lawn, but you’re allowed to eat your own food in the cafe.

The best time to arrive though is after sunset, this way you won’t have to worry about lunch at all. After sunset, you’ll be able to look through the telescope located on the roof of the Observatory and actually see the rings of Saturn, the gas storms on Jupiter, or the craters on the moon. Be patient, because the line to the roof tends to be long. If you don’t want to wait, then head back down to the lower levels and go to The Leonard Nimoy Event Horizon which shows a free documentary film about the Observatory itself; it’s a great way to get the scoop on the Observatory.

Griffith Observatory is a well-known treasure for Los Angeles and all its residents, and it will become your special treasure also, even if you are there during very crowded conditions , the Observatory seems to make that seem like that’s how it’s supposed to be.

Observing Los Angeles is a post from: Live to Inspire

For big cities, Overland Park is really rather small, with less than 200,000 people, but in the middle of so many very small towns, it is the biggest game around. In this part of Kansas, warm and sticky summers and white winters make the seasons very distinctive, and it’s one of the places in the country that gave birth to the idea of a middle America. It’s a perfect place for gorgeous hotels, Kansas being a lovely spot to spend some time rethinking paradise. The community spirit is very strong here, making it a very highly ranked spot among the best places to live, and best places to grow up. It seems quintessentially wholesome, and is as lovely to visit as it is to live here.

The idea of Kansas as a place where dreams get born is a very powerful one in the mythology of the country, and it’s certainly been strengthened with the life story of Jean Harlow . Born Harlean Harlow Carpenter in Seneca, Kansas, her childhood was in an idyllic place, although for her particular biography, it wasn’t as carefree as it was for some of the other kids. Her parents were struggling always to make things work, including their own marriage, and she ended up living with her mother when it all fell apart.

She made her way to Hollywood with her mother’s prodding, and married at the age of 16 (not by her mother’s prodding, her romances were all her own). By the time she would be flirting with William Powell, she had already been through a couple of husbands, and had also walked into the hearts of film lovers all over the world. Her natural good looks, unnatural platinum hair, and easy charm were coupled with an impeccable sense of rhythm, particularly for comedies. She would come to know all the lead leading men of her time, including Cary Grant and Clark Gable . Renal failure took her life at only 26 years old, a tragedy that is only eclipsed by the fame she’d earned in such a short time. It was also a fame that would take a girl from Kansas to realize a big wish in a mythical land, and one that would transform the way people dream.

Bombshells in Overland Park is a post from: Live to Inspire

Deciding to take on rental property is a big decision; however it can be very profitable, especially considering the current economy and the fact that fewer people are buying and more people are renting. Like all big decisions, it is best to have all of the facts and make sure that you understand what you are getting into before making any binding agreements.

Renting property is not as simple as simply desiring to do so. There are a lot details — legal and otherwise — that need to be considered both before and after the property is rented out. For this reason, it is a good idea to hire a property manager.

There are many different things to consider when it comes to hiring a property manager. First you will want to inquire about the areas they work in. Depending on the size of the property management company, or if it is solely an individual, their services may only be available in certain areas. For example, Transglobe property management services are available in many areas throughout Canada.

On top of taking care of the important legal details — the lease agreement, landlord/tenant laws, monthly rent — property managers also handle many of the day-to-day issues. This can be of particular importance, especially if don’t live close to your property. Most property managers will take care routine maintenance problems as well as general upkeep on the property. When tenants move out, property managers taking care of the advertising and provide a lot of assistance in finding new tenants.

Property managers, and property management companies like Transglobe Property Management can be an indispensable service when it comes to managing your rental property. However, it can quickly become a nightmare if you don’t do your research and ask the right questions before you hire someone. If you go into the rental business with your eyes open and aware, there are many property management companies out there that will make owning rental property the dream job you always hoped it would be.

Why Hire a Property Manager? is a post from: Live to Inspire

The island paradise that is the chain that makes up the great state of Hawai’i registers on everyone’s radar. It’s a place to go to get away from it all, and it’s the perfect spot to hide from the world. It’s also considered to be one of the great wonders of the world, with a perfect setting for a vacation or a honeymoon. It’s also the setting of some pretty memorable tv shows and films, and on the top of the list of these is always Hawaii Five-O.

The show that featured Jack Lord racked up a very strong number in terms of audiences, and also had the traction to last for 12 seasons. This was largely due to the remarkable abilities of Jack Lord to bring the role of Steve McGarrett to life. That role was based on Hollywood icons of male toughness, where a smile was an enemy and every situation needed to be considered for its danger first and foremost. It also became iconic, perpetuating the tough guy and putting it into new dimensions. Even if McGarrett wasn’t exactly nice, he was a good person, and he always did the right thing.

Part of this legacy was carried over into the novel by Cameron Crowe, Fast Times, where the teacher, Mr. Hand, held McGarrett as a role model for life. It is elusive and evocative, and sometimes even the source of a lot of laughs, but it’s also interesting that Jack Lord lived here after the show, up until his death in his 70s . HIs presence here isn’t exactly as ubiquitous as five star Hawaiian hotels , but the mark is just as lasting and deep.

During the filming, it was Lord’s insistence that kept the local Hawaiian presence high, and well-represented. He also headed many philanthropic efforts to benefit the people of Hawaii, and it’s estimated that his contributions are well into the millions. He kept this quiet, and his private life was private, demonstrating an old-school attitude toward all things, including giving what you have been fortunate to receive.

Jack Lord’s Hawaii is a post from: Live to Inspire

Looking for the ultimate vacation place for the entire family? Waikiki Beach is the tourist mecca for people from around the world; mainly because it offers one of Hawaii’s best recreational beaches that stretches 2 miles along some of the most beautiful shorelines in all of Hawaii. Waikiki Beach is crowded, but that’s because it is the best place where one can swim, surf, snorkel and canoe. This expansive recreational and picnic area, which include Kapiolani Park , invites you to meander through a maze of bronze bodies, umbrellas, and sand castles that seem to have hardly changed from times gone by; watch the 1937 movie ‘Waikiki Wedding’, and you too will feel the agelessness of Waikiki. Yes, the swimsuits have become skimpy, the surfboards are more streamlined and smaller, the forest surrounding the coastline has grown high, but the people are still the same when it comes to soaking up the sunshine, and to participate in a unique Waikiki tradition known as the ‘Outrigger Canoe Ride’.

Once you’ve picked a beach hotel Hawaii offers its millions of tourists each year, take a step outside and head for the beach, which at most beach hotels is only a few steps away. Waikiki Beach has lifeguards, plenty of sand and reef to accommodate the thousands of tourists without it feeling crowded; there are plenty of picnic areas, restrooms, showers and public phones. To make sure your entire family has a great time, ask any of the lifeguards what the swimming conditions are like that day, where the deep holes are and where the best places are to swim, surf, snorkel and windsurf. Bring plenty of sunscreen, you’ll want to be able to go to the beach everyday; sunburns will stop any enjoyment of your vacation.

After a day at the Waikiki Beach, head to Lu Lu’s for dinner. Located directly across the beach. Lu Lu’s offers delicious dishes, friendly service and a priceless panoramic view of Diamond Head crater and Waikiki Beach at their retro-surf atmosphere open air dining room. Try one of Lu Lu’s signature cocktails as you peruse the extensive menu. You and you’re entire family will definitely have a great time as you eat and reminisce about your great day at the beach.

Waikiki Beach Has it All for the Entire Family to Enjoy is a post from: Live to Inspire