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?

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Entry bubble Need a Vacation? Consider a Cruise

By: Jim | April 09, 2008 | Category: Travel

I caught the cruise bug a few years ago. And no, I don’t mean the norovirus. Some friends talked me into joining them on an all-inclusive Caribbean cruise. It didn’t take much arm-twisting since the idea of seeing a nearly-new cruise ship capable of holding nearly 5,000 passengers and crew sounded interesting. So did the chance to take a vacation where the hardest decision of the day was whether to wear SPF 30 or 45.

cruise shipCruiseCritic.com has a lot of good information for beginners. Like me at first, some of your questions might be: What about my claustrophobia? Try an overnight cruise to nowhere for a test run. What if I get sick while at sea? There’s a ship’s doctor. Will I be the youngest one on board? Only if you book the wrong theme cruise. You also can visit USA.gov’s FAQ for cruise ship and other helpful information. If you’re worried about catching the norovirus, you can check out your ship’s sanitation inspection record with the CDC.

You can do just about all your research and make arrangements online, but I still like to check in with my travel agent for personal questions. One time I needed help on some travel insurance questions, something you may consider for yourself. Depending on terms of purchase, cruise deposits and airline tickets generally are nonrefundable. I had some schedule concerns, so I knew I wanted cancellation coverage if I couldn’t go due to an emergency. Travel insurance also has an option to handle medical expenses, too, which can be a little steep if the ship doctor provides them.

USA.gov’s International Travel page is a good place to learn about passports and foreign travel requirements. I just learned a hard lesson. Some countries and airlines require that your passport’s expiration date must be at least 6 months beyond the travel date. Big uh-oh! Luckily my new one arrived really fast. I paid the extra fee for expedited passport renewal processing because I didn’t want to risk having to cancel my plans. Foreign travel requirements are evolving, so it’s a good idea to check out the page periodically.

Finally, don’t forget the Dramamine! Take it from me, no matter how big and stable the ship is—you just can’t be too prepared.

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Entry bubble New Year's Resolutions

By: Colleen | December 31, 2007 | Category: General

So long to 2007, the year when Britney officially went bonkers. Bring on 2008 and whatever it has in store—I'm predicting many more Hollywood divorces and rehab stints.

For us everyday Joes and Janes, it's New Year's resolution time! Each year, millions of Americans resolve to make themselves or the world around them better. Here is a list of the most popular pledges for the next 365 days.

At the top of the heap: Lose weight. No big shocker here. As the holiday season comes to a close, we're all carrying around a little chub. Many thanks to all those cookies, second helpings of mashed potatoes, and the rounds of drinks with friends. The time has come to get back on track, or better yet—the treadmill.

Others hope to get their finances in order. With personal debt at an all-time high (student loans anyone? Years of credit card abuse?) now is the perfect time to sit down and take a hard look at your money. Get on a payment plan, stop spending what you don't have, and work your way to a desirable credit score.

Those living behind a computer screen 9-5 each day vow to take a trip. Most Americans to not even use the full vacation time they are allotted each year. Allow me to help rectify this by letting you in on a secret: the work will always be there, and the universe will remain intact should you not be in the office for a few days. A plug for a few of my favorite vacay destinations to give you some ideas: Key West, FL. Nassau, Bahamas. San Diego, CA. London, England. Places to avoid: Boston, MA. The entire state of Ohio.

Never one to be entirely conventional, here are some ideas for resolutions that stray slightly from the standard.

  • Use coupons more frequently
  • Drink more water
  • Make purchases from local businesses instead of large chain stores
  • TURN OFF THE BLACKBERRY

Best of luck with whatever resolution you chose this year!

| Comments [4] | envelope Email This Entry | Tags: blackberry  britney  colleen  coupons  credit  destination  finances  loss  new  resoltions  vacation  water  weight  year