Today is travel planning day! Summer travel looms, and for the first time in many summers we have no plans firmed up. Air fare has been outrageously expensive, and although I have been tracking it since last fall, there has been no meaningful movement on it up and down. I expected fares to be high for peak summer travel, but these price points are shocking even me! But we can’t put it off any longer, and so today is travel planning for our Portugal and Italy holidays. First up, buying airline tickets. They’re nearly as much as a mortgage payment, but it’s time to bite the bullet and lock things in. They’re not going to get any cheaper. Our first stop on our summer travels is Lisbon, Portugal. We’ll be there for a week, for a week. We’ll be looking […]
Read MoreHistory Lesson at Women’s Rights National Park
Turning on the news these days inundates us with struggles for democracy around the world. Even here at home, there are reminders to be ever vigilant about our civil liberties and individual rights, and I cannot even imagine a life in which women couldn’t vote or didn’t have individual freedoms. But the history is not all that distant. To honor the continual struggle for equal rights, and to celebrate National Park Week, why not take the family to the Women’s Rights National Park in Seneca Falls, New York. The first Woman’s Right Convention was held in Seneca Falls, New York, in 1848 when five women organized a meeting to protest the laws and customs that discriminated against women. While those determined, courageous women are long gone, a visit to Seneca Falls today will allow you to “meet” the women via […]
Read MorePlan a Stopover in Krakow, Poland
Adventurous travelers are continually seeking out different and unusual destinations, but for many people who feel that they still haven’t seen some of the major sights of the world, there’s a sense that those destinations need to wait. In fact, you can easily add on a stop in central or eastern Europe while en route to that traditional stop in western Europe. Not sure how to make it work? Look for airlines and itineraries that allow you a stop over – that is, instead of making a close connection to your final destination, allow you to spend a few days seeing someplace that wasn’t exactly in your plans. For example, one of the connections for my trip to Europe this summer routed me through Krakow, Poland. After noting the reasonable price, my next focus was checking the map to make […]
Read MoreIntroducing: The Traveler’s Way
I’ve been laying low lately, not out of a lack of interesting travel experiences to write about or because I’m on the road, but because I’ve been in the midst of a big, big project. And when there’s a big project going on, I sort of go to ground, working hard to let things play out as they’re supposed to. So what’s been going on? After a number of years as working for other companies as a travel editor, I have gone out on my own, so to speak, joining with two highly respected individuals in the online travel space (more about them in a moment), to start a new online travel magazine. This is a big, and very exciting big step for me, and I am so darned excited that I can hardly stand it. The magazine is called […]
Read MoreNoblo Umbrella Buddy Aids Beach Safety
There are so many safety considerations on a beach vacation, that sometimes it’s seems like it’s more work than fun. Sunscreen, water safety, jelly fish, and all the other potential hazards of spending the day on the beach multiply even more when you’re vacationing with children. The Noblo Umbrella Buddy, created by two moms concerned about the dangers of unsecured beach umbrellas blowing around on the beach, lets travelers enjoy the beach while also enjoying sun protection. Small enough to fit in your beach tote, the umbrella buddy attaches easily with velcro, and the uses beach sand to weigh down your beach umbrella, anchoring it into the sand and keeping it from flying down the beach. (Those flying umbrellas are apparently not some freak occurrences, not if those reports of legal settlements are true.) It folds up small enough to […]
Read MorePolynesian Cultural Center Invites Visitors to Participate in Island Life
The Polynesian Cultural Center is a popular attraction for visitors to the island of Oahu, and with its new Go Native! programs, visitors will have even more opportunities to learn about the Polynesian culture. Guests will be enticed into participating in traditional aspects of daily life from Pacific island cultures like those of Samoa, Tahiti and Hawaii, as they are introduced to activities that include coconut tree climbing, canoe paddling, spear throwing, and what looked to be my favorite – cooking. Visitors will learn about building a traditional Samoan aboveground oven, or umu, and then sample traditional Samoan food that they’ve prepared and cooked with their own hands, and to be a part of the meal preparation from start to finish. Food and fire preparations start at noon daily in the tunoa (Samoan kitchen) at the Samoan village. Villagers […]
Read MoreVisiting Portugal: Lisbon, Sintra and the Algarve
In just a few more months, I’ll be packing myself up and heading to Europe for what has become an annual sojourn. The airfare prices are making me choke, so to offset that expense, the group looked for affordable options once on the continent. This year, in addition to Italy, we’ll spending a week or so in Portugal. Why Portugal? The economy is a little soft, meaning there are some good values on the ground, the temperature on the coast should range pleasantly in the high 70’s-low 80’s, and it’s also a place no one in our group has visited. So – we’ll be off to Portugal! With over a week in country, we’ve selected three basic areas for our explorations: Lisbon – The capital city, with the most economical airport for us to fly into, will be our first […]
Read MoreNational Archives: See Great Documents on Display
If you have a love of history, or want to instill it in others, research the budget flights to Washington DC, and check out some of the vital documents of our nation’s history with a visit to the National Archives. The National Archives is the repository for documents related to the business of running the country, which in turn are made available for public viewing. Thee aren’t some dry and dusty pieces of paper, though, these are some of the most legally and historically significant documents of our country’s history. The most significant documents to me are those related to the founding of the country and, in fact, they are some of the most often visited displays. The Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution are proudly displayed in a Rotunda, with the original documents preserved and displayed in glass […]
Read MoreWine Travel: You Can Take it With You
If you travel places known for outstanding food and wine, you’ve most likely been left figuring out a way to take some of your new favorites. Most often this doesn’t present a problem – unless your new favorite is wine, olive oil, specialty vinegar, or other liquid items. In the post 9-11 world, these delicious liquid treats require careful planning if you’re to get them home with you. Carry on restrictions will make it nearly impossible for you to carry on these liquid items, as most will be larger than the permitted 3 ounces allowed as carry-ons. That mean, you’ll need to prepare your items for safe transport in your checked luggage. Generally speaking, liquids under 24% alcohol are not considered hazardous material, and as such are not subject to a limitation or restriction in your checked luggage. Even […]
Read MoreVictoria: Royal British Columbia Museum
On the southern tip of Vancouver Island, the capital city of Victoria is equidistant from Seattle and Vancouver, BC (a little over 60 miles from both cities). The city is an easy getaway from both cities, as well as from Port Angeles on Washington’s Olympic Peninsula. Victoria is also a port of call for cruise ships traveling the Pacific Coast waters. One of my top recommendations on things to do in Victoria is to visit the Royal British Columbia Museum, located at the corner of Belleville and Douglas Streets, in the downtown area. The Parliament Building and the Empress Hotel are right nearby, giving you other things to do during your time, and there are plenty of pubs and restaurants nearby for eating out. The Royal BC Museum presents exhibits is a way that appeals to all the senses in […]
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