Last year I had the opportunity to visit Daytona Speedway, and I’m remindsx of it today while the Daytona 500 is running. To be honest, I’m not a NASCAR fan, nor really of racing in general – although I have plenty of friends and family members who are. But I went to the speedway with an open mind to learn about a sport than fascinates millions of people. This photo was taken in front of the stands (the ones you see, if you’re watching on television today). It’s an iconic shot with the stands, pit row, and the finish line right at hand. After some time to take photos, we were loaded up into a pace car for a few laps around the 2 1/2 mile tri-oval course. Although our speed was nothing like the race speeds, we did get […]
Read MoreAustralia’s Ahhhhh Factor
Even well-traveled and jaded adults will succumb to what I call Australia’s “Ahhhhh” factor – the unusual, cute, and often cuddly-looking animals that you’re sure to find on the picture postcards from the smallest of our continents. While there is much to see on holidays to Australia, seeing the animals always seem to be a part of the experience. What’s in store for animal loving travelers? Kangaroos – This hopping marsupial is the iconic animal of Australia, and will be found on the country’s coat or arms, on some currency, and in a variety of advertising. And although you won’t find them in the major cities, once you venture out into the countryside you’ll want to keep your eyes peeled to make sure you don’t run into one. Literally. Those yellow Kangaroo crossing road signs are a serious warning, not […]
Read MoreBoat and Tote Bags from L.L. Bean
Can you have too many tote bags? While I a big fan of specialty bags – there’s nothing like the right tool for the job – a well-crafted, all-purpose tote is the workhorse in any bag collection. My recommendation? The classic Boat & Tote from L.L. Bean. The Boat & Tote is made from heavy-duty cotton canvas, with a double layer base and handles. The reinforced flat canvas bottom and double-stitched overlapped seams give it durability. The bag has been made for over 64 years, and although originally designed to tote ice, today is more likely to be seen filled with beach gear, groceries, suntan lotion and pool accessories, a change of clothes, gardening supplies, or reading material. Don’t worry about over-stuffing, it’s been tested to hold over 500 pounds. And I guess you won’t be packing that much stuff […]
Read MoreBaby Boomer Berlin
As a student, I learned history by memorizing dates, place, battles, generals, and a host of other stuff that I just couldn’t relate to. Traveling, however, has helped put history into perspective, a trait common with Baby Boomers, I believe, who learned history through rote memorization rather than through any experiential or emotional connection. That’s why I believe that Baby Boomer travel to Berlin has become popular. This generation, defined as those born in the years after the end of World War II, are visiting the city that is symbolic of the end of the Cold War. Here are a five historical Berlin sites that should be of interest to Baby Boomers: Berlin Wall – This symbol, which for so many years represented the division in Germany, is crumbling, both from age and tourists. A section has been preserved as […]
Read MoreMy Love Affair with Italy
Do you remember the first time you fell in love? Was it love at first sight, or was it the kind of love that grows over time? Did you go through the ups and downs that all relationships seem to experience, or has it been nothing but smooth sailing? Do you still see the goodness behind the facade, or has your love faded over the years? When you see your love, whether it’s every single day or with extended absences, does it still make you smile, perhaps your heart skips a beat? And when you finally must part, do you start planning and counting the days until you are reunited once again? That’s how I feel about Italy. I forged a relationship with Italy rather late in life. I first knew her through family and friends who teased me with […]
Read MoreTraveling the East Coast Underground Railroad
In honor of Black History Month, I am pleased to feature this guest post on the Underground Railroad, a part of history that’s well worth spending time learning about. —- Over the years, I’ve found that introducing history to my children through travel has made more of a difference than anything they’ve read in history books. Visiting the places where history actually happened gives children and adults so much more knowledge. It also gives them a real connection to the past. As February is Black History Month, I’ve been researching Underground Railroad locations to bring history to life in our neighborhood and in preparation for our forthcoming family travels. Here are the most interesting Underground Railroad destinations on the East Coast which are open to the public: Florida – Fort Gadsden State Park, Route 65, Sumatra – This abandoned fort, […]
Read MoreThe Beauty in Chamonix
Fans of sports, snow, and the outdoors love Chamonix for the famous resort at the base of Mont Blanc in the French Alps, home to the First Winter Olympic games in 1924. From snow sports, to natural beauty, to year-round mountaineering, to the nightlife in Chamonix, this is a place that gets under your skin and never lets you go. What can you expect when you visit? Snow Sports – Mont Blanc and skiing go hand-in-hand, and this is where you’ll find top-notch adrenalin junkies pushing themselves on some of the most challenging and thrilling ski slopes. Glacier skiing is also popular, and there are plenty of options for snowboarding. While the resort claims to have skiing for all ability levels, most of the runs are intermediate to advanced. Popular ski areas include: White Valley (glacier skiing), Brevent and la […]
Read More10 Travel Snacks that are Healthy, Easy to Pack, & Will Get Through Airport Security
With meals on flights either non-existent, expensive, and often unhealthy, and airport food not too much better, one way to make your vacation a little more pleasant is to pack some food to take along on your flight. Or road trip. If you’re flying you’ll still have to avoid liquids and gels (get those once you pass through security), but packing a few healthy and yummy snacks, can keep hunger and crankiness at bay. While prepared energy bars can always be packed into a bag, I much prefer to look for real food options. Here are some of my favorite snacks to take along on my flight: Peanut butter sandwich – Add jelly, honey, or leave it plain, and make sure that it’s wrapped up good and tight because this will make a mess all over if it squishes out. […]
Read MoreFlavors of Peru
Food, glorious food — It’s one of the many things that I enjoy about traveling! Visiting a new country or region often means discovering a new food, spice, or other dishes. Sometimes those discoveries are not something I’d want to try again, but fortunately, more often it’s a tasty delight that I long for once I’ve returned home. If you’ve discovered food that you love while on your Peru holidays, take some time to look around your neighborhood – you may be surprised to find a Peruvian restaurant or store located nearby. While you may not be able to re-create the Machu Picchu experience at home, you can rekindle your love affair with the cuisine of this South American country. Fair warning – If you fell in love with the food while visiting Peru, this post may have you drooling […]
Read MoreBest Bag Ever: eBags Crew Cooler II
The eBags Crew Cooler is a very popular bag with Flight Attendants, pilots, and others who spend much of their life on the road. For a long time it was one of those secrets whispered about on the jump seat as we’d watch – with great envy – as a co-worker would pull out the crew cooler, perfectly packed with delicious food for their trip. Word passed from one crew member to another and we all started ordering a bag for ourselves. As airlines started eliminating food, and duty days got longer, more and more of us starting filling up the crew cooler with nutritional meal choices and snacks. I’ve seen coolers packed so efficiently that I swear could feed a family for a week! Then the crew cooler disappeared! As the bags wore out or were damaged, we couldn’t […]
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