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Entry bubble Tracking hurricanes

By: Jess | August 20, 2009 | Category: Travel

HurricaneThe peak of hurricane season is now here, ushered in by the arrival of Ana and Bill. The southeastern part of the country will now be on alert until the middle of the fall when hurricane season passes. But hurricane season affects more than the people living in Florida, the Carolinas, or other hurricane-prone states. It also affects vacationers who plan fun get-aways to the South.

I know every year when my family planned our vacation to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina for August, my mom would always pay close attention to the weather to see if any storms were a-brewin'. A hurricane far off the coast usually meant awesome waves, but anything that moved too close to shore had the potential to rain out our beach vacation.

NOAA's making it easier for people to track hurricanes by offering widgets that can be embedded on Websites and blogs. These widgets make it super easy to track the hurricanes. You won't have to be glued to the TV trying to catch the latest.

And to give residents and vacationers some peace of mind, NOAA's predicting this year's hurricane season will most likely be average to below average in terms of the number of hurricanes developing. People are still advised to be on alert if they plan to travel to or live in the areas most affected by the Atlantic hurricane season.

| View Comments [1] | envelope E-mail This Entry | Tags: 2009_hurricane_season   hurricane_season   hurricanes   jess   noaa   severe_weather   travel   weather   widgets  

 

Entry bubble Summer Beach Vacation

By: Joanne | July 28, 2009 | Category: Travel

two pairs of bare feet standing in the sandThe kids are getting antsy. In a couple weeks we’ll be headed to the Jersey shore for our summer beach vacation. We’ve been doing the same thing for a few years now and we think a week at the beach is a wonderful family vacation. It’s nice to get away and spend a week biking, swimming, and golfing (mini golfing, that is) together.

Since we don’t live close to the coast, it’s a long, long ride to get to the beach. Any time you’re taking a long ride, it’s a good idea to check for road closures and construction. Anything that makes a long ride with little kids smoother is time well spent. We plan to map out a good route and then bring along plenty of snacks and dvd’s to keep the kids happy along the way.

There’s a lot to remember when heading to the beach – like water safety, and sunscreens, and hats, and towels. I start making a list weeks and weeks in advance. We also keep an eye on the beach temperatures just because we’re excited and we can’t wait to get there!

| View Comments [0] | envelope E-mail This Entry | Tags: beach   jersey   joanne   new   ocean   sand   shore   sun   travel   vacation  

 

Entry bubble Exploring Underwater Treasures

By: Editor | July 13, 2009 | Category: Travel

Caryn Bower whale watchingOur guest blogger today is Caryn Bower, an intern with the Office of National Marine Sanctuaries of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. 

As the heat of summer hits, everyone can use an opportunity to cool off and have some fun by the water. In these tough economic times, however, it can be hard for a budget-conscious family to find ways to beat the heat that don’t involve spending lots of cash to wait in lines at a water park.

So, if you’re one of the many Americans searching for inexpensive, entertaining and educational aquatic activities, it’s hard to go wrong with a visit to one of our national marine sanctuaries! From Lake Huron to the Florida Keys, NOAA's National Marine Sanctuary System manages more than 150,000 square miles of America’s ocean and Great Lakes waters. If you live near the coast, chances are that you’re close to one of these 14 special places and all of the wallet-friendly fun they have to offer.

There are countless things to do in the marine sanctuaries, like snorkeling, surfing, fishing, kayaking, or just relaxing on the beach. Visitors can explore tide pools along Washington’s shores in Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary or see wildlife like sea otters and pelicans as they paddle among the kelp forests of California’s Monterey Bay.

Adventure seekers can plunge into the depths of the sanctuaries and see the underwater world through a wide range of scuba diving experiences. Even without scuba training, many of the historic shipwrecks in Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary and Michigan’s Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary are accessible within snorkeling depths.

 For an unforgettable experience, whale watching tours are a great way to see some of the largest creatures on Earth. Popular whale watching destinations include the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale Sanctuary, Stellwagen Bank Sanctuary in Massachusetts, and the Channel Islands Sanctuary off the Southern California coast.

Those who prefer to experience the wonders of the underwater world without getting their feet wet will find free visitor centers in San Francisco, Key West, and Hilo, Hawaii to be perfect for learning about the sanctuaries from the safety of dry land.

If you’re a history buff, you can learn all about our nation’s maritime past at the Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Center (free admission) or check out one of the most famous ships in American history at the USS Monitor Center in Newport News, Virginia. More information about some of the historic shipwrecks and landmarks within the sanctuary system can be found through the Historic Places and Preservation section of USA.gov.

You don’t always have to open your wallet to open your mind. Plan a visit to a national marine sanctuary today, and explore some of America’s underwater treasures!

| View Comments [3] | envelope E-mail This Entry | Tags: editor   marine_sanctuaries   travel   underwater  

 

Entry bubble VTE Travel Risks

By: Colleen | July 08, 2009 | Category: Health

It's summer and everyone is on the move. Except when we are trapped on a long flight or playing "eye spy" in the mini-van en route to Grandma's or the shore.

A new study in the Annals of Internal Medicine warns about the risk of a condition called venous thromboembolism or VTE. VTE is the formation of a blood clot in the deep veins of the leg or pelvis, and if the clot breaks loose and travels to the heart or lungs, can be fatal. Symptoms include swelling, pain, and redness in the leg.

VTE is very rare, but risk increases considerably during flights or car rides longer than a few hours. Those most at risk are people who are obese, have chronic illness, or take medicines containing estrogen.

To prevent VTE, it's important to remain hydrated by drinking water, flexing your calf muscles, and walking around if possible. Avoid alcohol and coffee because they can dehydrate you.

 

| View Comments [3] | envelope E-mail This Entry | Tags: blood_clot   colleen   travel   vte  

 

Entry bubble New TSA Screening Machines

By: Colleen | May 27, 2009 | Category: Travel

In a measly eight days I will be headed to glorious Las Vegas. My only other prior experience in Vegas was when I was 14, so I sense this trip will be somewhat different than the time I tagged along when my Dad attended a conference.

I plan on leaving my camera behind, to avoid the possibility of any remotely inappropriate photographs surfacing while I enjoy the splendors of Sin City.

However, one picture could be taken of me of which I have no control. In nineteen different airports around the country, new whole-body imaging machines are being used to detect both metallic and non-metallic threats on passengers.

In some airports these machines are the primary source of security. In others, passengers can opt to use them instead of a body pat-down from a TSA security officer.

The machine produces a robotic image, which some people find to be invasive, and bordering on the feeling of being naked- somewhat of a "virtual strip search."

To me, the pictures seem closer to that of a x-ray than anything I'd consider invasive or offensive. What do you think? Would you prefer the scanner over a physical pat-down?

The TSA blog is discussing this issue as well.

| View Comments [5] | envelope E-mail This Entry | Tags: airport_security   colleen   travel   tsa   whole_body_imaging_machine  

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