Main | Next page »
 

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 5 Tips to Save on Your Next Vacation

By: Leilani | June 11, 2009 | Category: Spanish

woman in the pool

It’s summer time and for many of us that means vacation! You’ve probably noticed that in the last few weeks we’ve updated the USA.gov and GobiernoUSA.gov Facebook pages with several government resources related to travel and recreation, vacations and summer.

So I thought it would be a good idea, given the current economy, to share with you 5 simple tips on how to enjoy a well-deserved vacation this summer without having to spend too much money.

1. Come up with a family budget that covers transportation, lodging, food and entertainment expenses.

2. Be flexible when choosing vacation dates. This will allow you to take advantage of special offers.

3. Compare prices and reserve as soon as you can so you can benefit from special hotel and transportation deals.

4. Verify the cancellation policies before reserving or paying for your trip.

5. Consider visiting free or low-cost local, regional or national attractions such as:

So what are some other tips or ideas that can you share with us on an affordable summer getaway?

Lea la versión en español

| View Comments [2] | envelope E-mail This Entry | Tags: leilani   money   parks   save   summer   tips   vacation  

 

Entry bubble Sunscreen: The secret to not looking like a lobster

By: Jess | April 30, 2009 | Category: Health

Sunscreen and sunglasses

In two days I will be leaving to go to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina for vacation. I'm hoping I have nice weather so I can spend my days lounging in a beach chair with a good book soaking up the sun.

But because I'm ghastly pale and would rather not come off the beach charred and looking like a lobster, I plan to lather on the SPF. In my younger and perhaps dumber days, I would slather on some SPF4 once in the morning, bask in the sun all day (never re-applying of course because I was trying to get that sun-kissed tanned look) and as a result, spend many an uncomfortable night trying to ease the burn with globs of aloe.

Well, not this year. I'm making a pact with myself to not burn.

To prepare, I read the CDC's guidelines on buying, applying and re-applying sunscreen. I'll be chucking all my expired sunscreens and buying new ones with higher SPFs. My plan of attack is slather on a lotion in the morning with SPF 30 or higher and then tossing one of the sprays in my beach bag for during the day.

Because sunburn isn't the only safety issue I'm concerned about with a beach vacation, I read up on some other beach safety tips.

Do you have any beach safety tips to share with me before I hit the road?

| Post a Comment | View Comments [0] | envelope E-mail This Entry | Tags: beach   beach_safety   jess   safety   skin   sunburn   sunscreen   tanning   vacation  

 

Entry bubble Heading for the Beach? How's the Water?

By: Joanne | May 27, 2008 | Category: Travel

ocean waves breaking on the shoreMemorial Day weekend is behind us and hurray, it's beach season! Soon school will be out; we'll be taking the kids to swimming lessons and it's time to make plans for summer vacation if you haven't already done it.

My family likes to do many things, but we really love a week at the beach. So now my thoughts keep drifting to the sand and the surf. As the summer days pass and the weather warms, I'll fantasize about lazing in the sun and relaxing in that quaint cottage in Avalon, New Jersey.

Before we hit the road I'll check out the beach temperatures and I'll check our route for summer traffic and road closures. Then I'll toss the sunscreen, the kids, and the beach ball in the car and we'll be off!

| View Comments [3] | envelope E-mail This Entry | Tags: beach   joanne   ocean   temperature   vacation   water  

 

Entry bubble Vacation Close to Home This Year

By: Nancy | May 01, 2008 | Category: Home and Family

Air travel, food and those gas prices we keep talking about—with everything getting more expensive, it might be hard to justify breaking the bank to go far away on a full-blown vacation this summer. But you really would feel better if you could take a break and get away, even if it's for just a day. So consider taking a mini vacation in your own town or discovering someplace within an hour or two away on a day trip.

There wasn't a whole lot going on in my town when I was a kid. But living in South Jersey put my parents and me within 90 minutes of some great day tripping destinations like the Jersey Shore, historic Philadelphia and the Amish countryside.

couple with map

Now that I live in the Washington, DC area, I have a lot of events to choose from and historic places to visit. But I still like to wander to towns I don't know very well.

With today's gas prices though, wandering aimlessly can be an expensive adventure. So before you go, visit your state's tourism web site to find out about places you never knew about or always wanted to visit and map things out. You can also find an abundance of links to historical sites, all kinds of great museums, parks and more in USA.gov's Recreation and Tourism section.

When I visit a town, I like to try to blend in with "the locals." And one thing locals know about is where to get good food, cheap. Learn about the best hometown and hole-in-the-wall restaurants around the country on RoadFood.com. One of my favorites not listed there is a cafeteria I found that's located inside a craft store in Woodstock, Virginia. For about five bucks, I can belly up to the lunch counter and get a big, hot roast beef sandwich and a cherry Coke—the real kind: the lady in the hairnet who calls me "Hon" puts the cherry syrup in herself.

Ready for dessert? Let's go berry picking! I have a favorite spot in Virginia near George Washington's birthplace where I pick blackberries and blueberries by the Potomac River. There are few places I feel more relaxed and at peace than in the middle of that berry patch.

What do they make in your region—a popular food or product? Consider taking a factory tour to see how things are made. Some places, like my childhood favorite, Wilbur Chocolate Factory in Littitz, PA give free samples.

If your interests take a quirky turn like mine do, you might want to explore the more playful side of America by visiting unusual landmarks like the world's largest ball of twine or the guitar-shaped building that I stumbled upon as I was driving through the Tennessee/Virginia border. Search RoadSideAmerica.com for more unique landmarks near you.

Wow. After all that, I'm ready to hit the road again. What have been some of your favorite day trips?

| View Comments [6] | envelope E-mail This Entry | Tags: museum   nancy   vacation  

Main | Next page »