Archive for April, 2009

Montana: Outdoorsy Wonderland

April 30th
2009
by Rachel Berg
posted in:
U.S. West activities destinations family outdoor adventure

Also known as Big Sky Country, wondrous Montana is home to Glacier and Yellowstone National Parks.  Lewis and Clark blazed a trail through the region in another century, and much of the outdoor landscape is unchanged since then. As the fourth largest state in the U.S. mainland, Montana is filled with mountains, valleys, lakes, and rivers.  Aspen, birch, and ponderosa pine shimmer in the sunlight, bighorn sheep dot the mountainsides, and bison roam.

Summer is just around the corner, and, in summer, Montana becomes a giant outdoor playground filled with potential adventures behind every turn. If you take a Montana vacation this summer, here are just a few of your options:

Bird-watching
With so much countryside, birds have plenty of room to spread their wings. The largest population of trumpeter swans on the U.S. mainland calls Montana home, and the state is filled with birding trails where you can see everything from majestic golden and bald eagles to pelicans, orioles, hummingbirds, bluebirds, owls, and much more.

Biking and Hiking
So many mountain trails, so little time. With such a wide variety of terrain, trails range in difficulty level from easy gravel-surfaced strolls to rugged mountain inclines that make even the heartiest mountain biker’s heart leap into their throat. But hikers and bikers are rewarded with quiet groves of pine, sweeping valley views, and serene moments communing with nature.

Fishing
In a word, the fishing here is legendary. River or lake? You choose. In rivers, like the Yellowstone and Blackfoot Rivers, you can go fly-fishing amid spectacular surroundings and come up with wild trout for your supper. In the lakes like Flathead and Swan Lakes, you can take out a boat and try your luck from there. You could come up with the likes of pike and bass. Either way, you’re sure to have a story to tell those back home.

Dude Ranches
These vacations are all about the great outdoors and connecting to the spirit of the old west and cowboy country. And even though most dude ranches revolve around horses and horseback riding, you don’t have to be an expert rider to have a great time. Many dude ranches have special programs just for kids, as well as nighttime campfires and cookouts.

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Obama Says Pig Out

April 29th
2009
by Alison Presley
posted in:
news opinion

We’ve all had quite a few chuckles about the badly named swine flu and the recent worldwide “snout-break,” but the pork industry isn’t laughing with us. They’re worried people will mistakenly believe they can contract the deadly virus from pigs or by eating pork–and a world without bacon is a scary place indeed.

Plus, yesterday, a health official from Israel claimed the name “swine flu” was offensive to pork-abstaining Jews and Muslims. He then suggested the even more offensive name of the “Mexican flu.” The Mexican government quickly responded saying, “In a pig’s eye! No way you’re sticking this on us!” (That may not be an exact quote.)

So today President Obama came out and blamed the pandemic on the H1N1 virus. We have no word yet on whether or not Bingo players are offended.

And in other strange swine flu news, it seems two yahoos on a cheap flight from Cancun to the U.S. sent everyone into a panic when they became nauseated. Medical professionals examined them for signs of the H1N1 virus (just trying to get used to the new name) and concluded the passengers were probably drunk. Ah yes, they had the “Mexico vacation flu.” Now that I’ve heard of.

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Pros and Cons of Traveling With an iPod

April 29th
2009
by Rachel Berg
posted in:
opinion

Remember when carrying a big “boom box” on your shoulder was the only way to transport your music along with you? I may be dating myself, but portable music’s sure come a long way since then. Now we’ve got pocket-sized devices with access to thousands of songs at the press of a button.

As a commuter here in San Francisco, it seems everyone is plugged in and grooving to their own beats on the MUNI and BART. I admit, ever since I got my iPod shuffle, my commuting experience has become considerably better. With an earphone in each ear, and my favorite songs playing, I can tune out the background chatter of the world around me. I don’t have to hear everyone else’s one-sided cellphone conversations or the latest gossip going round or the frequent announcements over the PA system about what stop we’re coming to next. This is all fine with me since I’ve taken the same commute a thousand times before and know which stop is mine.

But what about tourists? Is all this background chatter an important experiential piece of San Francisco’s distinctive milieu? It makes me wonder, if a tourist came to town, but was plugged into his or her music the whole time, if they’d really get the same experience, the sound of the clanking cable cars on the street, the sound of gulls flying overhead, the sound of street musicians, and even the crazy ramblings of some of the city’s more colorful homeless people. It’s all part of what makes a San Francisco vacation unique.

I have a trip abroad coming up and am debating whether or not to bring my iPod on my travels. On the pro side, I can’t imagine being without my music for two weeks at a time, and know that having music on the plane can be a godsend to drown out the sound of crying children or loudly talking grown-ups, plus it’s a wonderful way to pass the time. On the con side, I don’t know if I want to go about exploring unfamiliar cities to a pre-recorded soundtrack, rather than let each city’s ambient sounds come through.

A compromise would be to allow myself to listen to the iPod on the plane and in the hotel room but not when I’m out seeing sights or taking public transportation. After all, travel is about opening yourself up to the world around you, and I just don’t think you can fully do that when you’ve got earphones playing loud music in your ears.

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Disney Vacation Magic

April 28th
2009
by Matt Wilson
posted in:
U.S. Southeast destinations

By far, the most popular Florida vacation spot for millions of tourists, domestic and international, is Walt Disney World. I know first hand. Because they were all there the same day I was.

Growing up in South Florida, I had the luxury of a close proximity to the Magic Kingdom for my numerous childhood visits, where each time animated movies, rides, characters and other figments were emancipated from my imagination into a tangible reality. But now living in Atlanta, a Disney vacation meant a reality check involving a grueling, ten-hour, stop-and-go drive where I found myself imprisoned by throngs of fellow tourists, toll booths and screaming children (my own) as we inched our car toward the park entrance.

Upon finally arriving, we endured hour-plus waits in stop-and-go lines surrounded by throngs of fellow tourists and screaming children as we inched toward the ride entrance.

One of those was “The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh,” and after finally reaching the honey jar-shaped car, we found ourselves on a stop-and-go trek through the 100-acre woods surrounded by fellow tourists, screaming children and characters from A.A. Milne’s imagination that took much, much longer than expected as the ride kept breaking down.

This wasn’t quite the “magic” I remembered on those TV commercials… Though I definitely witnessed some other magic at work:

• Spells cast on the attending masses, convincing them to pay money to stand in hot, sticky, hour-long lines for three-minute ride experiences
• Illusions of thinking we were almost at the end after waiting forty minutes in those ride lines and rounding a corner where suddenly—poof!—four more long rows stacked with people appeared before our very eyes
• The exits of all those three-minute ride experiences instantly teleporting us directly into gift shops and pleas of, “I want that”

The Kingdom wasn’t feeling very Magical. Especially after our two-year-old knocked a drink all over our lunch.

But then, I realized something… This trip was different, because for the first time, I came as the parent instead of the child, and was experiencing the moment as an uptight adult, rather than through the eyes of my kids. Our four-year-old, despite the heat, soggy pizza and long waits, wore an enchanting smile the entire day, proclaiming even the infamous Pooh’s Adventure “the most awesomest ride ever.”

When on a vacation, it’s about getting away from it all. Nothing’s enjoyable when focusing on the pain in your feet or the sweat on your un-air-conditioned brow. So I learned from my kids and changed my thinking. Once I did, I entered the kingdom as a child-at-heart and found myself experiencing the Magic too.

Now if only I could get that bewitching “It’s a Small World” song out of my mind…

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A Little Southern Comfort

April 27th
2009
by Matt Wilson
posted in:
U.S. Southeast destinations

Everyone needs a little Southern comfort every now and then. No, no, no… not that kind of SoCo. What I mean is everybody should experience Southern hospitality on a regular basis.

I’m fortunate to have known nothing but that for most of my life. I grew up in Florida’s southern most parts, in a time when a Fort Lauderdale vacation was synonymous with college spring break, or a Miami vacation meant venturing through South Beach wearing a linen jacket and 5 o’clock shadow with Phil Collins singing about feeling it coming in the air tonight. You could argue that has nothing to do with Southern hospitality… but it is very southern geographically, and the beaches, seafood, golfing, fishing and night life are more than hospitable. So just work with me here…

After marrying a Southern belle and moving north to the Deep South (that doesn’t sound right, does it?), Southern hospitality took on a new meaning beyond geography and activities. It’s a way of life, and is why tourists flock to the Southeast as a destination with not just the beach in mind. It’s packed with many characteristics that make for a great getaway. Most consider the Southeast to be the epicenter of:

• Amusement Parks
• Barbecue
• The Blues
• Civil Rights History
• College Football
• Country music
• Down-home Cooking
• Elvis
• The great outdoors and sporting life
• Moderate climates (unless you’re in South Florida, where 10 months out of the year, the season is always “Sweating”) 
• Professional wrestling (what? You’ve never planned a vacation around it?)

Of course, those 1,341 miles of beaches, from Coastal Carolina, down around the tip of Florida and into the Gulf coastline aren’t bad either (note: this distance hasn’t exactly been verified, though I’d be happy to do so if anyone wants to foot the research bill).

It’s a very diverse vacation region. For instance, a trip to Louisiana usually means a New Orleans getaway spent in the French Quarter, with Cajun cookin’ and jazz, but don’t bet on that being the only thing. You can also act like a real-high-roller with a short drive to the riverboat casinos for a Baton Rouge gambling vacation experience.

And then there’s the Southeast’s unofficial capital, the place I call home. A month-long Atlanta vacation wouldn’t even allow you to do it all. Since I’m running out of space, we’ll have to revisit those details, along with the other jewels of the South that make for prime vacation spots.

But trust me; we’ll get there soon enough. So y’all come back now, ya hear?

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40 Years of Jazz Fest in New Orleans

April 27th
2009
by Rachel Berg
posted in:
U.S. Southeast destinations events and festivals food

Gumbo or bisque? Blues or brass? Take your pick at the annual New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, which draws up to 400,00 visitors a year. Multiple stages and food areas vie with crafts areas and shopping for your attention at this incredible festival that goes way beyond just jazz to funk, blues, zydeco, Cajun, and rock bands at all hours of the day.

Held over the last weekend in April and the first weekend in May, Jazz Fest has been an annual New Orleans tradition now for 40 years. And just because the last shows start at 7pm doesn’t mean the party ends there. Oh, no. All over town venues open up their stages to performers through all hours of the night; many shows don’t even start until after midnight.

During the day, the weather can get mighty hot and sultry. It is New Orleans, after all. I can tell you from past experience that it definitely helps to wear light and loose clothing, drink plenty of water, and wear a hat and sunglasses since there isn’t much in the way of shade. But it’s all worth it to be able to eat everything from fried green tomatoes and stuffed crab to potent gumbos, po’boys, and catfish almondine. There are also folk life and Native American villages to explore, and all kinds of crafts on display from jewelry and baskets to sculpture, paintings, and clothes.

Among the highlights this past weekend include Dave Matthews, Wilco, James Taylor and dozens of local bands. This coming weekend, some of the big draws include Neil Young, Bonnie Raitt, and the Neville Brothers. It’s the perfect excuse to take a New Orleans vacation today!

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Swine Flu Travel Update

April 27th
2009
by Rachel Berg
posted in:
Mexico news

In response to the spread of the swine flu, the Obama administration declared a “public health emergency,” as U.S. health officials warned that further cases of swine flu are likely to emerge in the U.S. According to CNN, there are now 40 confirmed cases in the United States, but the government is warning Americans not to panic. Homeland Security Director Janet Napolitano described the declaration as “standard operating procedure” to allow the federal and state governments easier access to flu tests and medication.

The highest numbers of swine flu are in Mexico, particularly in Mexico City, which is considered to be the epicenter of the outbreak, and travelers are likely to start hearing warnings about travel to the region. Some airlines and travel companies are waiving their change fees for customers who are traveling to the area; policies are being issued on a company by company basis.

The last major flu pandemic was the Hong Kong flu of 1928, which killed about a million people worldwide. The worry is that a new pandemic would not just be a public health disaster but could also cripple world financial markets already in dire straits due to the recession. The European Union has already warned against travel to the United States and to Mexico.

The federal government is closely monitoring all new cases. For the latest updates, check cnn.com.

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Phoenix Vacations: Let the Sunshine In

April 23rd
2009
by Alison Presley
posted in:
U.S. West destinations outdoor adventure

Phoenix, Arizona is the fifth largest city in the U.S. Just let that sink in for a moment. It’s bigger than Philadelphia, San Diego, and Dallas, but that doesn’t mean it’s a concrete jungle. With nearly 300 days of sunshine a year, family-friendly dude ranches, luxurious golf-and-spa resorts, and thrilling outdoor adventures, the Valley of the Sun offers great escapes for sun seekers of all stripes. Book a Phoenix vacation and indulge in your kind of Southwest adventure.

Lasso Some Fun for the Little Ones
If there’s one universal vacation equation it’s this: kids + horses = cheers. Wrangle up your rough-and-ready posse and spend a few days at a Phoenix-area dude ranch. Try Kay El Bar Guest Ranch, D-Spur Ranch & Riding Stables, or Fort McDowell Adventures and sort cattle on horseback, take a trail ride to a scenic brunch spot, or even kayak a peaceful desert river.

Your Sonoran Desert Oasis
Scottsdale didn’t earn the nickname “Snottsdale” for nothing. This oasis in the greater Phoenix area is the hub for all things lavish and luxurious–and the ultimate place to sneak in a little pampering. Try the Golden Door Spa at The Boulders Resort and wander the meditation labyrinth. Unwind at the Willow Stream Spa at the Fairmont Scottsdale and sit under a waterfall. Or embrace your inner water spirit at The Sanctuary Spa at Camelback Mountain Resort, where guests can enjoy an aquatic massage in a heated Watsu pool.

Pulse-Pounding Adventures
Phoenix is nestled in the beautiful Sonoran Desert, and hikers, bikers, and outdoor enthusiasts come from miles around to experience the pristine desert landscape. If you’re an experienced hiker, download this helpful pocket guide to the trails in the area and don’t miss Camelback Mountain Trail in Papago Park/Echo Canyon. If you’re desperately seeking serenity, try the Central Butte Trail in Papago Park, putter around on championship links, or soar high in the sky in a hot-air balloon.

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Which Cruise Line is Right for You?

April 23rd
2009
by Rachel Berg
posted in:
Caribbean family tips

With meals and accommodations included in the total price, cruises are a great bargain, especially during tough economic times. And the deals out there are making waves, with some cruises going for less than $50 per person per night. It’s hard to beat that on land. But with so many cruise lines to choose from, how to pick the one that’s right for you? Here’s some information on some of the most popular cruise lines to guide you as you make your choice.

Carnival Cruise Lines
With Carnival, fun is the name of the game, no matter how old you are. The cruise line has great kids’ programs, including its heralded Camp Carnival, but it also has plenty of fun-centric activities for adults, too. Hairy chest contests, rollicking karaoke, and a sing-along piano bar all add to the carnival atmosphere. And there’s always a new towel animal waiting for you when you return to your stateroom after a busy day in port or on deck.

Royal Caribbean International
The Royal Caribbean cruise experience was designed to banish boredom. Innovative technology has brought onboard such diversions as the rock-climbing wall, ice-skating rink, and self-leveling pool tables that are hallmarks of the Royal Caribbean experience. Art auctions, shopping boutiques, and gala shows round out the onboard offerings. Plus, in addition to the main dining halls, most ships also feature Johnny Rockets diners onboard.

Norwegian Cruise Line
With Freestyle Cruising, you can do what you want to do, when you want to do it. Eat what you want with whom you want. Dress up or dress down. Choose assigned dining times or eat whenever you want. Everything’s flexible—there are no rigid rules—so you’re in the driver’s seat. Whether you want to go gambling in the exciting casino, watch a show in the ship’s theater, take a dip in an onboard swimming pool, or just order room service to your stateroom, the choice is yours.

Princess Cruises
Made world famous by the beloved TV show, The Loveboat, Princess ships are among the most recognized in the world. Offering everything from sumptuous spa treatments to its abundant balcony staterooms, Princess pioneered the Personal Choice cruising concept with Anytime Dining, which means you can eat whenever you like. You can even order room service 24 hours a day, for no extra charge.

Celebrity Cruises
Celebrity is all about making you feel like a member of the A-list. No matter who you are in your everyday life—working mom, busy executive, firefighter—you’ll be treated like a celebrity onboard. The award-winning ships all feature an impressive guest to staff ratio of two to one, which means you’ll get as much or as little individualized attention as you so desire. For those who want to escape from the little ones, the cruise line also offers special, adults-only sailings.

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No Costa Rica for Blagojevich, Judge Says

April 22nd
2009
by Rachel Berg
posted in:
Central America news

Now that all the fuss has died down a bit, Rod Blagojevich is finding himself lacking for publicity. With that kind of hair, who wouldn’t want to be on camera? While waiting around for that silly old thing we Americans call a trial, Blago put in a request to the judge that he be allowed to leave the country on a Costa Rica vacation to participate in a Survivor-style reality show. The show, called “I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here” would air on NBC and pits celebrities against each other in difficult tasks under harsh jungle conditions.

But the judge has denied the ex-governor of Illinois his travel privileges. After all, Blago is currently out on bail and facing the possibility of 25 to 30 years in prison, so there’s a teensy tiny thing called a flight risk to consider. Apparently, Blago went so far as to request that NBC move the show entirely, from Costa Rica to the U.S., but NBC wasn’t having it. So the show must go on without him… and we’ll never learn what that jungle humidity might have done to his hair.

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