Corporate Travel Destinations

Halloween is almost here, bringing to mind ghoulies and ghosties and wee little beasties not to mention things that go bump in the night.

Blow some of the stuffiness out of your next corporate meeting and book your team onto the Boston Ghost Cruise. David Goldstein and David Stickney, also known as the two Davids, produce a spine-chilling, eye-opening account of Boston history and the ghosts that haunt Boston Harbor. Your group will never forget the tale of The Lady in Black or the Hanging of the Dread Pirate Fly.

Now that your team has worked up an appetite, keep the festive mood going and take them to the Elephant & Castle Restaurant & Pub. The dinner theater provides a great meal and outstanding live entertainment. One of their upcoming shows is Hell of Kitchen, a hilarious murder mystery featuring top super sleuth chefs Bobby Filet, Merrill La Gasseous, and Marta Stewing. The show runs from October 21, 2009 through February 27, 2010. Who know – maybe Gordon Ramsey will show up to stir the pot?

It’s the time of year to have a little fun and remember the thrill of ghost stories and murder mysteries. Stop in at Boston Harbor and take your team on a ghostly sea cruise for Halloween or stop by one of the areas best dinner theaters for a good meal and whodunit.

Getting out of the office and enjoying the fall foliage is a tradition in the New England states. The explosion of color is especially vivid in Connecticut and while pricing might be a bit high during the short autumn season, it is well worth it.

Litchfield Hills is home to the incredibly cozy boutique hotel, the Winvian. Situated on 113 acres, the rural setting offers incredible scenery along with peace and quiet. Each individual cottage has its own themed décor allowing guests to experience settings as esoteric as fairytale woodland to a modern helicopter interior. The Charter Oak cottage is designed around a live oak growing through the middle of the building, offering a green vacationing experience of a lifetime.

Guests can dine at the Winvian Restaurant or investigate local cafes. The Wandering Moose café serves a spectacular almond crusted trout. If you’re in the mood for something quite different, you can dine on barbequed duck legs at the Good News café.

Bring your hiking boots and trek the rolling hills or get in some quality fishing time. Bicycle trips are a popular way to view the wildlife in the area. Spa treatments are available after a day in the great outdoors. One last outdoor adventure may be just what you need to make it through the winter of 2009.

“Would you like to ride in my beautiful balloon?” It was the 60’s and no one was really sure if the Fifth Dimension was singing about hot air balloons. Hot air ballooning is popular in the United States, United Kingdom, and Australia. Pilots in each country must have either a license or certificate.

A balloon trip builds team spirit and bonds team members in a unique way. The largest balloon carry 20 people, smaller baskets hold 3-4 passengers. Ballooning affords members a unique opportunity to pull together, especially if they are given the task of filling the balloon before take off.

Some variety of retrieval vehicle follows the balloons path and carries passengers and freshly packed balloon back to their point of origin. The chase crew constantly communicates with the pilot, keeping him informed of other aircraft in the area. Repacking the balloon can also be a team challenge – just how do you get thousands of feet of fabric into a three-foot bag?

There is no turbulence in a balloon, no sense of vertigo. The ride is peaceful and relaxing. Passengers are advised to dress warmly and in layers, as if they were going on a hike. Bring a camera and take some amazing images.

Hot air ballooning is a great way to build team camaraderie and is the experience of a lifetime. After all, the world’s a better place in a beautiful balloon.