Archive for July, 2009

Give Your Regards to Broadway – in Myrtle Beach

July 31st
2009
by Matt Wilson
posted in:
U.S. Southeast activities beaches destinations

broadway-at-the-beachMost people in the Southeast (with Florida being the exception) make their vacation plans in one of three places: the self-proclaimed “Redneck Riviera” of Gulf Shores, Ala.; the resorts of Destin, Fla.; or Myrtle Beach, S.C. You really can’t go wrong at either place, but Myrtle Beach offers something that goes beyond the surf, sand, and sun, making it an ideal family vacation: Broadway at the Beach.

It is the region’s most popular destination spot, with nearly 15 million visitors annually. What’s the draw? A little bit of everything, including shopping, dining, amusement rides, attractions, sports, nightclubs and theaters. And you don’t have to travel far from the Myrtle Beach hotel you booked for vacation if it’s one of the several on-site choices. In fact, you really don’t have to go anywhere else to have a great family getaway, as you could spend your entire vacation on the 350-acre property that surrounds Lake Broadway in the heart of Myrtle Beach. (more…)

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Bayside Marketplace in Miami

July 30th
2009
by Matt Wilson
posted in:
U.S. Southeast activities food shopping

bayside-2The new season of Burn Notice has been igniting flatscreens, and CSI: Miami is about to kick off in just a few weeks. If you can’t get enough of South Florida by watching the background scenery on these hit shows, it’s a great time of the year to pack your bags, book a great deal on a Miami hotel room, and head south to the Magic City.

While there, if you’re looking for a scene that’s not quite as trendy as South Beach but still retains all the flavors of what makes Miami so unique, then drop into Bayside Marketplace. It’s a place where blacklisted spy Michael Westen has had clandestine meetings and Lt. Horatio Caine has sought a clue or two (and if you’re old school, Crocket and Tubbs shopped and dined here too). But you need not worry about experiencing any of the fictional episodes they’ve encountered here–real life is much more low key. Instead of investigations and espionage, you’ll keep busy with high-end shopping, fine and casual dining, taking in artwork, boating, scenic water views, dancing, and live music. (more…)

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Navajo Arts in Flagstaff, Arizona

July 30th
2009
by Becky Youman
posted in:
U.S. West destinations events and festivals

navajo-danceMost visitors on Phoenix vacations this time of year fly into the Valley and then head to northern Arizona to explore the natural wonders of the Grand Canyon, Sedona, and the Navajo Nation. If a trip to Navajoland’s Canyon de Chelly or Monument Valley  has piqued your interest in Navajo society and customs, don’t miss the 60th annual Navajo Festival of Arts & Culture at the Museum of Northern Arizona in Flagstaff this weekend.

This year’s festival will showcase the works of 75 premier artists from across the Navajo Nation. Their paintings, pottery, silverwork, and weavings will be on display and for sale over the entire weekend. It is a wonderful chance for visitors to experience the depth and breadth of works from the largest Indian tribe in the southwest.

Highlights of the festival, and some of my favorite parts, are the interactive displays and presentations. This year there will be weavers demonstrating the techniques that the Navajo have employed since the 1600s, as well as potters and carvers practicing their arts. There is also a fantastic children’s area where kids have the opportunity to make Navajo-inspired crafts as well as hear stories and see puppet shows depicting events in Navajo history and mythology. (more…)

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18 Reasons why Mexico is the Most Underrated Travel Destination in the World

July 29th
2009
by Becky Youman
posted in:
Mexico activities destinations opinion

Swine Flu is really not that big a deal

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Yes, people have died, and for their families it is more than horrible – it sucks. But, let’s put things in perspective. The “regular” flu kills about 36,000 people in the US annually. H1N1 has killed 263 people here to date. Besides, H1N1 has spread all over the world now, so you can get it just as easily in Manhattan as in Mexico City.

Swine Flu was “planted” anyway

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Rumors swirled around Mexico City when the outbreak started that swine flu was part of a global plot to distract people from the international economic crisis. My favorite was one claimed that the whole thing was planned at the Global London Summit in April. Ummm – right.

Your dollar goes further

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For most of 2008 you could get about 10 Mexican pesos for $1 US. Now that same $1 US gets you 13 to 15 pesos depending on the day. Meaning, that 350 peso bottle of Herradura Tequila  doesn’t cost $35 USD anymore, it’s only $23 USD. Cha-ching.

 

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North Georgia’s Anna Ruby Falls

July 28th
2009
by Matt Wilson
posted in:
U.S. Southeast destinations outdoor adventure
ana-ruby-5The great thing about an Atlanta vacation is that you have access to so many different things. While there is plenty to do ITP (that would be “Inside the Perimeter” of I-285, where downtown, Buckhead, the Georgia Aquarium, and more are located), you can also venture into the beautiful scenery of North Georgia’s great outdoors with a car rental and a short hour’s trip north. One place certainly worth the drive is Anna Ruby Falls, located near the picturesque Alpine town of Helen (itself a very unique, popular tourist spot).
Named for the beloved daughter of John H. Nichols who, as local folklore goes, discovered the falls while horseback riding on his property the day after his wife and infant sons died, Anna Ruby Falls is where the York and Curtis Creeks converge and fall 150 feet, creating a thundering, spectacular beauty of nature for all to see, hear and feel.

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Exploring Roatan, Honduras

July 28th
2009
by Becky Youman
posted in:
Central America activities beaches destinations news

roatan-419Honduras’s ousted president Manuel Zelaya is still making headlines as he tries to foster international support for his return to office. The military leaders who staged the coup are not welcoming him back into the country.

You, on the other hand, are more than welcome, as there are some bargain deals on cheap airfare to Roatan, Honduras right now. Yes, the State Department has posted a Travel Alert against non-essential travel to Honduras, but the tiny island of Roatan is so far from any political turmoil it is almost laughable. (Besides, you can argue that a great deal makes the trip “essential.”)

Roatan, located forty miles off the coast of Honduras in the Caribbean sea, is part of a three-island chain known as the Bay Islands. Only 37 miles long, the island offers ample opportunities for both adventure and relaxation. You could come for a week and be engaged in a different activity every day, or you could sit on the beach drinking cold Barena beer. (more…)

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Chile’s Atacama Desert

July 27th
2009
by Becky Youman
posted in:
South America activities destinations news outdoor adventure

salarDid summer showers mess up your plans for a picnic last weekend? That’s nothing compared to what happened in Chile last week. The AP reported  that less than one one-hundredth of an inch of rain came down in Iquique, Chile, knocking out power to several parts of town and damaging the roofs of over 4,000 dwellings. That’s a fifth of a millimeter of rain causing so much destruction that schools were even closed for the day.

Sounds crazy, but Iquique (pronounced Ee-key-cay) is located in northern Chile’s Atacama Desert. With an annual rainfall of .02 inches, it’s not a place accustomed to dealing with much precipitation. It’s exactly this unique climate that makes it a popular spot for travelers.

If you head out on a Chilean vacation, you should definitely make time in your itinerary for the Atacama Desert, known as the driest desert in the world. There are some spots in the region that have never recorded any official rainfall. What the region lacks in water however, it makes up for in vast lunar-like landscapes filled with hidden surprises.

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Storming Florida’s Castillo de San Marcos

July 24th
2009
by Matt Wilson
posted in:
U.S. Southeast destinations
castillodesanmarcosSome things stand the test of time better than others. Castillo de San Marcos in St. Augustine, Fla. has perhaps withstood more than anything else in the continental United States. First constructed between 1672 and 1685 by the Spanish Empire as its northernmost outpost, it still stands tall today as the signature landmark in America’s oldest city, guarding the edge of Matanzas Bay.
 
Constructed of coquina, a unique type of indigenous shellstone quarried from nearby Anastasia Island, Castillo de San Marcos has never been conquered despite its battle-plagued history–the only exception being the hundreds of tourists who storm the gates of this National Monument landmark each day while enjoying their Florida vacation.
 

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Festival of Saint James in Cabo San Lucas

July 24th
2009
by Becky Youman
posted in:
Mexico beaches destinations events and festivals

cabo1Although Cabo, home to wild bars like El Squid Roe  and Cabo Wabo, is more known for partying than piety, there is actually a religious festivity happening there this weekend. On Saturday, July 25th, the Festival of Saint James will be celebrated Cabo-style.

Saint James, you’ll remember (well, I actually had to look it up, but maybe you paid more attention in confirmation class than I did), was one of the original twelve disciples. He and his brother John were some of Jesus’s closest companions. James, credited with bringing Catholicism to Mexico, is often depicted as a miracle worker astride a charging white horse. Some of the original Spanish Conquistadors in Mexico claimed to have seen his mounted spirit fighting at their side against the indigenous populations in their first battles at Tabasco.

If you are on a Cabo vacation and want to partake in the festivities, head downtown in the early afternoon for the parade. You will see plenty of riders astride white horses and other costumed characters. From the parade you can follow the rest of the revelers into the cantinas for a few hours until sunset, when there is a battle reenactment on the square. (more…)

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Travel Incentives

July 23rd
2009
by Becky Youman
posted in:
news opinion

planeWhat kind of travel perks would compel you to book a trip right now? With demand for travel down due to current economic conditions, hotel and air providers find themselves needing to offer travel deals to get people out of stay-cation mode.

I read an article last week in the Arizona Daily Sun citing the results of a recent study from TNS, a private market research firm, about the incentives it takes to induce people to buy travel right now. The most compelling and obvious incentive is steep discounts, but there are some other offerings that vacationers find attractive.

The article stated that package deals are also luring potential customers to travel. The most popular extras mentioned in the study were free extra room nights, room upgrades, gift cards, admission to area sights, and the chance to earn extra frequent flier miles. These are all great, but I’ve come up with some other perks that would really be popular. (more…)

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