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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

Looking for a way to combine family travel with a little educational and cultural experience as well?  There are a number of cities that can fill those specifications, blending lots of fun things to do with a quality cultural experience. There’s nothing wrong with combining plenty of relaxing downtime with an educational experience.  Learning can be fun, and when I see families who go the extra mile to make it, I know that the experiences will stay with their kids for a lifetime. These US cities meet the test of having both educational and FUN attractions and things to do.  If you can’t enjoy spending time in these destinations, you’re just not trying to have a good vacation! Here are my Top 7 U.S. cities for educational and cultural family travel: Boston: History tops the chart in this city, with […]

Active travelers know that if they want to enjoy their favorite activities while on vacation that it may take plenty of advance planning.  Whether you’re looking for a tee time, tennis lessons, or ski weekends, you’re going to have to do a little bit of research and planning. Here  are a few pointers to keep in mind when you’re selecting where to go and stay: What’s my skill level?  Do I want a black diamond ski run, or is the rope tow just fine? Are you looking for lessons, whether it be to learn a new activity or to hone and advance one that I currently enjoy.  Do you need to work on your backswing or to learn to horseback ride? Will there be any special equipment that you need to bring along?  Golf clubs, skis, snowboards, etc., can often […]