The Eleven Salomon Running Experience offers the chance for trail runners of all experience levels to train in the mountains of Crested Butte, Colo., with top-ranked athletes affiliated with the Salomon running shoes brand. Scheduled for June 8-12, the program includes clinics on nutrition and injury prevention as well as runs and personal coaching for men and women runners. Though the emphasis is on trail running, there will be optional activities such as hiking, biking, rafting and rock climbing. The four-night experience is priced at $3,410 per person and covers accommodations at Scarp Ridge Lodge and all meals. Info: 970-349-7761, http://tinyurl.com/gs9e77c
Not your typical barn dance
Farms and ballet aren’t two words that typically go together. But, if you plan to visit Vermont in July or August, you can see a melding of the two thanks to the Farm to Ballet Project. Now in its second season, the project presents an original ballet composition that links farmers and food production to music and dance. The performances are held at various farms around the state, with some organized as fundraisers to assist farmers. Former professional ballet dancer Chatch Pregger came up the idea and choreographed the 75-minute performance. The company is made up of 18 volunteer dancers, five paid dancers and five paid musicians. “Now that I’ve seen our dancers in a farm environment, I realize this is how I’ve always wanted to see ballet: in its grittiness, its reality, on nature’s perfect stage,” Pregger said. The eight performances are scheduled from mid-July to mid-August. www.farmtoballet.org
Digging deeper in Vietnam
Vietnam has been a hot tourist destination in recent years, and it’s a great place to visit because of its welcoming people and exotic culture. Many of the escorted tours, though, don’t immerse you very deeply into that exotic culture. Trekking Remote Vietnam, from Adventure Life, puts a new spin on things. This is a trip that hikes to hard-to-reach villages of North Vietnam, where some of the residents speak only their own local language, requiring a local guide to translate into Vietnamese, so that your guide can translate to English. The hiking can be challenging, with daily mileage ranging from 5 1/2 to 10 miles and elevation gains some days exceeding 7,000 feet. The lodging — a mix of home stays, camping and hotels — encourages interaction with locals. The trip is priced at $2,995 per person, double occupancy. That includes nine nights’ lodgings, most meals, a private guide and transportation to where the trekking begins. International air is extra, and Vietnam requires a tourist visa, which must be obtained in advance. Info: 800-344-6118, http://tinyurl.com/jtvfa6f
Phil Marty is a freelance reporter.
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