Ahh… the joy of commuting.  Commuting is the price we pay for living in our beautiful mountain communities.  Those who live in Yosemite Lake Park have a nice, easy 25 minute commute to Fresno.  The further north we live the longer the drive.  Coming from Coarsegold or Oakhurst you can expect to drive 30-50 minutes.  Although those seem like dreaded minutes; it is actually a great time to relax, spend some time to yourself (if you don’t have a commuting buddy), and wind down from a busy day at work.  In the end the commute was worth it.  As you come around the corners and see the beauty that these small Eastern Madera County towns have, you remember it is a small price to pay for living in such beautiful country.  Whether you live in Yosemite Lakes Park, Indian Lakes, Coarsegold, Raymond, Oakhurst, Bass Lake, Fish Camp, Ahwahnee, or North Fork the short commute down to the valley is well worth it.  Drive Safe.

The Beauty that Surrounds us

Yosemite National Park is one of the most beautiful places on Earth.  We are so fortunate to have it in our own backyards.  Any day of the year we can visit the valley and enjoy many of the wonderful activities it has to offer.  Just a short drive from Oakhurst, Bass Lake, Coarsegold, Mariposa, Fresno, Merced, or anywhere in the Central, San Joaquin Valley and you can be surrounded by some of the most amazing scenery you will ever experience.  While in the valley you can enjoy hiking, biking, fishing, horseback riding, rock climbing, swimming in or floating down the Merced River, backpacking, bird watching, camping and much more.  Take a day, get out of the heat, and enjoy what we are so fortunate to have in our backyard. 

Quaint, romantic, intimate and charming all describe the Tin Lizzie Bed and Breakfast.  This lovely B & B is located in Fish Camp, which is two miles from the Southern entrance to Yosemite National Park.

The stunning décor will take you back to elegant Victorian times, but guests will enjoy all of the luxury of a 1st class getaway.  Guests have their choice of staying in various rooms in the “mansion” or an attached private cottage.

Their romance package for two is sure to thrill.  Guests will experience fine dining, breakfast on their own private balcony, a picnic lunch, chocolate covered strawberries with sparkling cider at bedtime, a dozen roses, and even popcorn and marshmallows roasted at the open outdoor fire pit.  One of the most interesting experiences in this package is being able to drive a Ford Model A or Model T for the day.  Imagine touring Yosemite with the wind whipping through your hair, in one of these fantastic cars!

The Tin Lizzie is without a doubt the perfect spot to enjoy a honeymoon or just relax and enjoy one of the most majestic places on earth.  For more information or reservations on staying in this divine location, contact the Tin Lizzie at (559) 641-7731.        

Have you ever imagined the thrill of seeing the most pristine landscape that is untouched by mankind?  How about viewing a massive whale smack its glorious tail as a nice hello?  Do dolphins frolicking nearby give you goose bumps?  Do the site of glaciers with falling ice interest you?   Well if you answered yes to any of those questions, you will want to check out the Alaskan Cruise Adventure.

This 10 Day, Inside Passage, Roundtrip Cruise, aboard the Dawn Princess via Princess Cruises, is being offered for area residents.  Ports of call include Ketchikan, Juneau, Skagway and Victoria B.C.  You will also be able to see glaciers in Tracy Arm Fjord. 

Participants will embark in San Francisco on August 25, 2008.  The prices begin at $1,466.85 per person for an inside cabin.  Prices include all taxes and port charges.   Passage can be booked for a $350 deposit.  Bus transportation will be provided from the Oakhurst area for an additional cost.

The price of your ticket not only includes the cruise fare.  Experience the delight of onboard live entertainment, casino, pools, gift shops, spa, dancing, deck games, and bingo.  Of course the food is amazing and always free!

A valid United States Passports is required for this voyage.  Space is filling up fast.  There are only 16 cabins are left on this cruise.  If you are interested, call (559) 683-7766 for more information.
 

Christmas and Hanukah are now over.  Your guests have gone home.  Many people experience the post holiday blues.  One reason you might be feeling a bit down is knowing that those credit card bills will be rolling in soon.

A small amount credit card debt can be good to have.  It helps to keep your FICO credit score in a positive place.  Unfortunately many American’s carry too much credit card debt.  The average American has $9205 on their credit cards.  This is triple what the amount was in 1990.  The holiday season does not help, as shoppers will be driving those totals up even higher.

Nationwide, foreclosures and bankruptcy are up.  It is important that consumers pay more than the minimum payment on their credit cards to get out of debt.  Take into consideration, that if you pay the minimum payment on $1000, it will take you almost 22 years to pay it off.
 
Here are some steps you can take to become debt free.

Firstly, don’t ignore the bills as they come in.  It might seem easy to pretend that they do not exist, but ignoring them will only make matters worse.  Once creditors add late fees, plus interest, plus potentially raise your current interest rate, you will find that it will be more difficult to get out of this financial suicide.  Don’t forget that creditors will report all late payments to Credit Reporting Agencies once they are 30 days late.

Check back on Monday for the continuation of this post.

If you’re in business (and even if you’re not) you know that China is fast becoming a leader on the world economic stage. In March 2007 the Oakhurst Area Chamber of Commerce sponsored a trip to China and the chamber is planning to return to China in October 2008. If you want to go, you should make arrangements now so that you can be prepared and have everything in place, as space is limited.

The price of the trip is $1,499 per person. This price takes into account double-occupancy and includes round trip airfare, the costs of staying at a 4 or 5-star hotel, tour bus, tour guides, 3 meals per day, entrance fees for attractions and taxes. You will truly get your money’s worth and then some on this trip. You can get a single room for $450 more. If you want to take a business class flight (round trip) add $4,500 to the original price.

Participants are responsible for making sure their passports are up to date. You must register for the trip by 8/1/08 and a registration fee of $200 is due at the time of registration.

To get an information packet about this exciting trip, call the Chamber at 559-683-7766.