For the price of a hand of blackjack or a roll of the dice, you can spend some time with predators of a different kind — at Mandalay Bay’s Shark Reef Aquarium. The only predator-based aquarium in the United States calls the Mandalay Bay Hotel & Casino (3950 Las Vegas Boulevard South, Las Vegas, map) home. What predators lurk here? Tigers Sharks. The second deadliest specie behind the Great White, these two females are quickly becoming the prima donnas of the aquarium, and it’s the only place tiger sharks are available for viewing in the US. You’ll be able to spot them easily with their tiger-striped markings and sharp-serrated teeth. Komodo Dragon. What they lack in looks, they make up for in speed, and the world’s largest lizard uses both its speed, cunning and power to track and kills it’s […]
Read MoreHow to Write Your Travel Bucket List
We love lists. We’ve always loved lists. It’s not a new phenomenon, after all, we had Book of Lists (published in 1983), the New Book of Lists (published in 2005), and various permutations since we’ve acknowledged our fascination with the list.And ever since the movie The Bucket List, we had a name for all those things that we want to do in life before we. . . well, kick the bucket. I’ve long has a list of places that I want to go, things I want to see and do, and experiences that I can’t wait to give a try, and it’s nice that I now have a special name for that list. The serious travelers that I know all seem to have ongoing, constantly updated, lists. But what if you don’t have one? Here are a few of my […]
Read MoreKarne Garibaldi: Good Food Fast in Guadalajara, Mexico
Fast food can be good food, and Karne Garibaldi (website is in Spanish) in Guadalajara, Mexico proves the point over and over again. Whenever I’m in Guadalajara, you can bank on my having at least one meal at this casual restaurant whose claim to fame is the Guinness Book of Records (1996) entry for the fastest service. They set the record at 13 1/2 seconds for a table of six. The service is so fast that before you’re even seated a group of waiters will arrive at your table bringing you appetizers to get started. It’s a plate for of fresh, warm tortillas, served along with delicious grilled onions, refried beans with bits of corn in it (this Karne Garibaldi specialty is available for purchase by the can), and other condiments (chopped green onions, radishes) and salsa. This is what […]
Read MoreMoney Issues that Get in the Way of Traveling
It seems like I just return from one trip and I start planning the next. Actually, I always have several travel ideas in varying stages of research, and it’s just about matching up time, location, and finances. Finances! It’s the f-word for travelers, and can be one of the primary stumbling blocks to travel. Some people sacrifice time in order to get more money, but then forget about the freedom that money was supposed to buy. It’s so easy to get caught up in the no time-no money continuum that vacation plans go right out the window. I think most people can come up with a plan to save up money (set a goal, break it down into manageable amounts, start saving), but it’s a little harder to to deal with the emotional components of travel and money. If there […]
Read MoreAirline Memorabilia From Golden Era of Air Travel
While travelers bemoan the loss of the kinder, gentler era of air travel, airline memorabilia fans know that they can enjoy a little retro moment with bags, accessories, and gifts from Pan Am One. Adorned with the original Pan Am logo, items can also be found at travel stores and air museums. Perhaps you had this classic carry on tote bag. I know I did, although I’m not sure how I happened to acquire it. This stylish version from the Originals Collection is in leather rather than plastic, and sells for $71. The Originals Collection offers a variety of products that you may have received if you flew Pan Am back in the day when airlines gave you something when you chose to do business with them. My how things have changed. Photo credit: Pan Am One
Read MoreHow Do You Compromise on Travel Destinations?
It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. . . no, I’m not talking about Paris in the Charles Dickens era, I’m talking about traveling with a group of family and friends. Or even traveling with your spouse, partner, or best friend. If you want to lie on a beach and soak up some rays, does your spouse want to go white water rafting? Do the kids want to move into an amusement park, while you want to check out some art and architecture? Do you want to get in touch with your spiritual side while the rest of the gang wants to go the ballpark every day? If you only want to do what you want to do, traveling solo is your best option. But since there are times you will share travel experiences with […]
Read MoreHotel Reviews: What They Mean
It seems like it’s feast or famine when it comes to visiting hotels and resorts, and I have a lot of reviews that I’m working on right now. To make sure that you know what your getting when you read my reviews, I’m going to spell out my process, what I look for at a hotel, the standards I use, and my thought process. I’ll also spill my personal biases because, after all, preferences are a very personal thing. When I visit a hotel, I take down lots of details. I write notes, record audio and video, and take lots of photos. I ask questions sometimes, and other times I sit back and observe. Both levels of involvement tell you different things. I wander the hotel at different hours of the day and night, call the front desk at various […]
Read More10 Practical Beauty & Fashion Travel Necessities
When you’re traveling, the elements conspire against your body, skin and hair. Let’s face it, airplanes beat up our bodies as well as our spirits. Fashionable and practical don’t have to be mutually exclusive! Here’s my top 10 list that I think fit in both of those categories, proving that you can look good and feel good when you travel: Water – You’ll have to buy a bottle inside of security, or refill an empty bottle that you’ve brought from home, but this is the very best thing you can do for your skin, hair, and general well being. The airplane sucks all the water out of you so remember — hydrate, hydrate, hydrate. My current choice: I’ve tried a variety of water bottles, trying hard to be green, but just haven’t found one that quite does the trick. For […]
Read MoreAn Italian Retrospective
It’s with mixed feelings that I’m back in Seattle after three and a half weeks in Italy. It’s always good to come back home, of course, but there is a part of me that was left behind, waiting patiently until I come back to claim it. The pace was both busy and leisurely, with a day or two of activity followed by a day or two of rest. Leisure days were spent by the pool, taking naps, drinking wine, eating pasta and lots of gelato. Activity days were full of exploring, sightseeing, discovering new things, and lots and lots of walking to counteract all that pasta, gelato, and wine. It was the perfect combination of Adventure Holidays and Walking holidays, with plenty of rest to get ready for it all. Here are some of the highlights of the trip: Climbing […]
Read MoreClimbing Mt. Etna: MJ vs. the Volcano
One of the things that I was excited to do in Sicily was climbing Mt. Etna. At approximately 10,922 feet high, this largest active volcano in Europe was visible from the back deck of our villa. Every morning I’d take a look at how beautiful it was, it’s very top visible in the earlier morning hours, and then watch as the clouds circled about it come mid-morning. The presence of Mt. Etna, along with its history – both true and legend, dominates the island of Sicily, Make no mistake about it, this is one of the most active volcanoes in the world. This decade alone has seen two major eruptions, in 2001 and 2002, both of which caused damage to both the mountain and surrounding areas. The three of us were all interested in climbing Mt. Etna, and our choice […]
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