Current events can lead us into thinking that the world is not a safe place to travel, and whenever that happens, it makes me very sad. For some time now, travel to Mexico has been on the wane. For awhile it was fear of the swine flu, then fear of rampant drug activity, and now fear of the potential for violence. If you think about all of that superficially, instead of burrowing a little deeper into the information, you may be tempted to stay home. And that would be a big mistake. Let’s look a little deeper into the issue of visiting Mexico: There are problems EVERYWHERE in the world. Of course you’re going to hear about crime in Mexico. You’re also going to hear about it in Manhattan, Los Angeles, Washington DC – some of the most frequently visited cities in the […]
Read MoreFamily Fun at the Royal Ontario Museum
Museum lovers who visit Toronto will want to get their history and culture fix at the Royal Ontario Museum with its engaging galleries of art, archaeology, and natural science from around the world. With over 40 galleries spread out over four floors, the museums is just one more reasons that a visit to Ontario will be both educational, culturally enriching, and fun. The Royal Ontario Museum is a great destination for families, with lots of kid friendly exhibits. Some exhibits that kids might enjoy include: The current exhibit, Water! The Exhibition, has been a big hit with 17 interactive hands-on activities. Where there’s water there’s usually fun, and this exhibit uses real water along with immersive displays, natural artifacts, videos and animals to explain why water is important to Canada and the world. ROM Live! has been a big […]
Read MoreDubai Delights Shoppers
One of the seven emirates of the UAE, Dubai is probably better known for its shopping than for its many cultural sights and activities. What is it about this spot in the desert that has earned it the reputation as the “shopping capital of the Middle East” attracting shoppers from around the world? Dubai has over 70 shopping malls, including the huge Dubai Mall, offering everything from jewelry to electronics to upscale fashion. Most of the shops and boutiques in the mall operate on a a fixed-price basis, so if it’s some friendly haggling you’re looking for, head to one of the souks. The souk districts are located on both sides of the Dubai Creek and are traditional Arabic markets (in photo above). Although perhaps not as over-the-top as those found in Marrakesh or Istanbul, it’s still a shopping experience […]
Read MoreGood Food for Cheap at Farmer’s Markets
Food can be an expensive part of any traveler’s budget, and while I like a splurge now and again, I’m also always on the lookout for ways to eat well cheaply. Other than getting someone else to pick up the tab (just kidding!), one of the best ways to save on food is to pick up something fresh and delicious at a local farmer’s market. You may already be familiar with the farmer’s market in your home town, but looking for one when you’re traveling is an easy way to create a picnic lunch or dinner, stock up on snacks for your hotel room or vacation rental, or fill up the day pack with tasty – and healthy – snacks for a day of hiking. In addition to getting the freshest of the fresh, farmer’s markets are priced with locals […]
Read MoreREVIEW: Lock-a-Bye Bag Keeps Valuables Safe
I’m a bag gal. I love bags of all shapes and sizes. Special purposes bags, all purpose bags, and those quirky bags that are cute, but I’m not exactly sure how to use them. When you see and use as many bags as I do, you soon learn that bags are not created equal, and once you realize that, you will never approach using a bag in the same way. When I read about Lock-a-Bye bags I was intrigued; it seemed to combined fun fashion with practical considerations, resulting in a bag that held lots of promise. So I welcomed the chance to put it through its paces. The concept: A bag with a locking mechanism that allows you the freedom to leave your bag while still keeping the contents safe. For example, not being able to enjoy the beach […]
Read MoreArtfully Displayed at New York’s Museum of Modern Art
In a city filled with wonderful museums, New York’s MoMA (Museum of Modern Art) stands out as a real gem – and my personal favorite. From an initial gift of eight prints and one drawing, the collection has grown to include over 150,000 paintings, sculptures, drawings, prints, photographs, architectural models and drawings, and design objects, along with over 22,000 films and over four million still photos, making it one of the most influential museums of modern art in the world. The exhibitions maintain a nice balance of subject, style, mediums, and time periods. It’s the kind of place you can spend a few hours or the entire day, depending on what your schedule will allow. It’s a great place to spend a cold wintry day, warming up with the art as well as a stop off in the cafe. With […]
Read MoreCelebrate Crop Over on Barbados
It might seem like just a summer long party, but the Barbados Crop Over summer festival has serious roots dating back to the 1700’s. The festival was originally a celebration of the end of the sugar cane harvest — at a time when Barbados was the world’s largest producer of sugar. Gradually, as the sugar production declined on the island so, too, did the Crop Over festival, but was then revived in the 1970’s as a summer long festival. Visitors from around the world head off to Bridgeport for a Barbados holiday to celebrate and enjoy the second largest party in the Caribbean. The main festivities occur in July, but are bookended by other activities, making it a festive island to be on all summer long. Here are a few activities that may tempt you: Ceremonial Delivery of the Last […]
Read MoreMoscow Appeals
The world she is a changing, and I’m not talking about politics and culture and current events. I’m talking about the countries themselves – and there are a whole lot of countries around today that weren’t around some years back. I was a Soviet Studies major in college, a seemingly worthless major today, and it’s been work breaking the habit of saying Soviet Union for the now correct Russia or Ukraine. Thank goodness it’s easy to remember that Moscow is still the capital city, formerly of the Soviet Union and now of Russia. I had at one time hoped to travel to Russia, and even had a visa, but it just didn’t work out. I still have it tucked away somewhere as a keepsake. Today, with so many things to experience, far beyond the leak and dreary cold war era, […]
Read MoreFlight Attendants are Trained to be First Responders
Think you know what a Flight Attendant does? Under the best of circumstances all you’ll need him or her to do is nag you about turning off your electronics and pour you a beverage of two. But don’t forget that Flight Attendants are trained as first responders – to fight fires, provide life saving first aid, act as security coordinators, and to get you off of an airplane fast, should the need arise. Take a look at this video and think about it the next time you fly:
Read MoreBeach Shopping at Ron Jon Surf Shop
Shopping is one of the top activities for travelers. That’s right, surveys show that millions of travelers want to spend a little time shopping on their holidays. Whether it’s a major shopping expedition, or just picking up a few souvenirs, I’m not certain, but there’s no doubt that a lot of money is spent shopping while enjoying a little holiday time. Being stuck inside shopping while traveling to a beautiful destination seems a real shame to me, but if the Orlando area is in your plans, I can recommend stopping off at one of my favorite spots, Ron Jon Surf Shop. Although there are several Ron Jon locations, my favorite is the one at Cocoa Beach, a short drive to the east of Orlando. This store is huge! It has over 52,000 square feet of shopping and displays, and a […]
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