Last, but not least...

First of all, I would just like to say thanks to all of you who have been reading and commenting on my blog. You all have helped me out a lot! :) I thought I would make this last post a little more involved for you guys sooo when you comment fill in this blank!...I can't wait to see what you guys say :)

"If I could only travel to one destination for the rest of my life, I would choose ________."

Also, if you are into traveling and/or photography check THIS out! It's from National Geographic Traveler. :)


Thanks again! I hope you guys enjoyed reading what I had to say!

Christmas Destinations

Every year Travel + Leisure Magazine compiles a list of their best places to spend the holidays. I am providing you with some brief highlights from their article. If you'd like more information check out the magazines website!

In no particular order, these are a few of the world's best places to spend the holiday season....

Taos, New Mexico - this is a prime destination due to its mix of cultural traditions and magical beauty throughout the holiday season

San Miguel de Allende, Mexico - features dancing in the main square, posadas reenactments, and  seasonal Christmas foods from the region

Tromso, Norway - for those of you who want to have snow at Christmas, this is a better desitnation for you. you can also view the Northern Lights from here as well as experience dogsledding.

Key West, Florida - warm temperatures and holiday cheer, mixed with a poolside Christmas breakfast in one of the island's historic hotels makes this area a prime holiday destination

the article in Travel + Leisure or the slide show found here provide more information like where to eat and stay for the destinations I mentioned as well of discusses other top holiday destinations! so if you are looking for somewhere to go this holiday season (or next) check it out :)

Anyone have plans for the holidays already?

St. Louis

I was only in St. Louis for two days, but I really enjoyed it...well I enjoyed it as much as I could in like 115 degree weather! It was beyond hot and humid there. If you are going to go, definitely check out when the weather is not like that!! Also, I recommend finding a hotel where you can park your car and they provide you with shuttles into the city. That way you don't have to worry about driving. My ma and I walked everywhere and minus the heat, it wasn't that bad. Nothing is really too far from anything else. We stayed here at the Residence Inn by Marriott. It was a really nice hotel that not only did complementary breakfast they also did a FREE BBQ dinner when we were there!

The picture below is my mom and I at the base of one side of the arch.

I think I enjoyed being there so much because my mom used to live there, so hearing her stories was really cool about stuff she did/saw during her time there was really cool.



Going up in the arch was just a crazy experience. First of all, the people we rode up to the top with ended up being from the same town my mom lives in! That was just unbelievable...meeting them in St. Louis Arch at 8 in the morning. So weird. I'm usually not one for educational type videos, but if you ever go here you have to watch the video on the construction of the arch! It is just beyond fascinating! The next photos are what the car you ride up to the top in are, a view of the arch, and some views from the top of the arch. The top is so weird and the windows are so small...you just have to see it in person.

Pacific Coast Highway

National Geographic Traveler Magazine is fantastic! I cannot give this magazine's website enough praise. If you are want to start exploring options for a vacation check this site out!

Trip Ideas is a great section that they have. Clicking on this link takes to you a page with ideas for beaches and island getaways, best family trips, ultimate road trips, and the world's best tours. I've never been to Cali so I looked under the ultimate road trip sections and decided to check out the trip along the Pacific Coast Highway. If you are into road trips, National Geographic has a book titled Drives of a Lifetime and includes 500 of the worlds best road trips!

Looks like a pretty fun road trip to me! Driving the Pacific Coast Highway takes about 5 hours to complete going at a steady pace. It's a 123 mile long drive along central California coast. Since there are sharp turns and  steep drop offs, this drive is not recommended for RVs or other oversized or large vehicles. Also, be aware of mudslides during the winter months. 


For more information on this scenic drive check out this link :)

My dream vacation

 

One of the places I dream about going to is the Greek Isles. I see calendars and pictures with the crystal clear waters and the white buildings with blue roofs and I want to (NEED TO!) see the scenery for myself!

When I was doing some research I found some sites that talk about how great it is to take a yacht charter cruises from island to island....oh if only i was filthy stinkin' rich. :)

There are 1,400 islands that make up the Greek Islands. The most famous group being the Cyclades. This group of islands are closest to Athens and are usually the ones you see in pictures. greeka.com is the website I found most helpful when looking for info about traveling there. 

National Geographic Traveler Blog has some postings about the Greek Isles. The author talks about his ordeal trying to find a good beach as well as his personal tips on getting there, Athens, Patmos, Santorini, Crete, and Island Exploration. If you do read it, keep in mind that they are the author's opinions... :)

National Geographic Traveler magazine's 25th anniversary edition was a list of 50 places of a lifetime. Athens and Acropolis both in Greece and the Greek Islands all made the list!

Top 5 Thanksgiving Destinations!

Don't worry...for all of you who are married..your in-laws didn't make this list! :)

This is the TOP 5 THANKSGIVING DAY PARADES brought to you by the travel channel :) So not only can you take a little trip and do some sightseeing, if you go for Thanksgiving you get to see one of the greatest parades as well!


I understand family usually does (and should) come first on holidays, but maybe your family can all go somewhere together. Or you can be like me and just watch the parades on TV :) 


So here we go...the top 5 parade destinations are....


5. Houston, TX -- the annual HEB Holiday Parade has been a tradition for over 60 years!
4. Detroit, MI -- i was extremely surprised by this. Detroit is really a destination I would consider worth going to...but hey, you learn something new everyday! America's Thanksgiving Parade is a great way to kick off your day of Detroit football!
3. Plymouth, MA -- I'm so glad this made the list considering this is where Thanksgiving originated! America's Hometown Thanksgiving Day Parade and festivities lasts the entire weekend before the actual holiday. A whole week of celebrating?? YES PLEASE!
2. Chicago, IL -- the McDonald's Thanksgiving Day Parade is one of three that are nationally televised so you can enjoy it from the comfort of your warm home in you jammies :)
1. of course...New York, NY -- no surprise here right? I am sure you have all seen the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade  or at least heard of it! They usually get around 3 million spectators on site and another 44 million tune in on tv!



for more information on the parades and their locations check out the Travel Channel article at this link

Canada, eh

Oh, Canada! So many things to do there, so little time! Any of you ever been?

From Quebec to Niagara Falls to seeing a little bit of everything by way of train, Canada is a great destination that is close to home. This link shows you some activities you can enjoy by heading up north from polar bear viewing to hiking. Just don't forget you have to have a passport to get in there now!

For this blog, we are just going to stick with Niagara Falls (in Canada!).  If you don't have a passport though and still want to see the falls, you can check out the falls on the US side. For more info on that, visit this site


But back to Canada, the land of moose and mounties :)

Of course seeing the falls is a must when going to Ontario. However, I know there is only so long you can look at them. So of course you'll need some other things to do!

Well one thing to do is get up close and personal with the falls on the Maid of the Mist!
Other activities include visiting the Nightmares Fear Factory (if you are in to scary things!), Fallsview Indoor Waterpark, take a helicopter tour, and eat at the Skylon Tower world famous Fallsview Dining (pictured below)

Interested in going to Niagara Falls? Check out http://www.niagarafallstourism.com/ 

We're off to....

We're off to...

...Is actually the title of a recent article in Conde Nast Traveler magazine. It's short, sweet, and easy to read. The authors laid out their top picks for the biggest-value, buzz-worthy destinations world wide.

LA, Shanghai, and Berlin were the top 3! So you're lucky...if you don't have a passport you can still hit up one of these destinations!

Los Angeles. Who wouldn't want to be in Cali during the winter? Shopping, swimming, sight-seeing, eating, UCLA vs USC, the Kardashians...you want it, LA has got it!

Think LA might be too expensive? Shop around to get the best deals on Flights and check out some of the FREE things to do in the city like..

Cruising Mulholland Drive or the Pacific Coast Highway

Window shop

See a TV show live! (Just have to get tickets in advance)

Follow the paprazzi in action and get a glimpse of a star

Check out any one of the many free concerts

Walk the walk on Venice

and so much more!!

For more information check out DiscoverLosAngeles.com or the link to the magazine article cited at the top of this blog!

NYC

Since it is almost Thanksgiving, I thought I would explore NY a little in honor of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. nycgo.com  is a really great website for planning your trip into the city! There is even an entire page with free things to do!


The first thing to tell you about NY is that if you go into NYC, while there are four actual lanes on the road, there are six lanes of traffic. It is crazy there! That really surprised me when my family went because I always head how people in NY don't have cars. Well that is crap! Not only to tons of people have cars, there are tourists driving, and a lot of taxis that think they own the road. So be prepared for traffic if you are driving in the city!

While you are actually in NYC, there are so many things for you to see and do! I highly recommend seeing a show. If you are like my boyfriend at all, that idea sounds just about as good as getting poked in the eye. However, I encourage you to keep an open mind and just see one! The talent in them is so amazing and not all shows are like Mama Mia. Currently there is a show on Broadway titled American Idiot and it is based on all of the music of Green Day which is like a punk rock band. So it's just a matter of finding a show that suits your interests. :)


Times Square is obviously a must if you are in the city. Just standing in the middle of it and looking around is worth your time. If you have teenagers, the MTV shop and studios are located here.  

 


If you aren't really interested in going to the city. Definitely check out iloveny.com 
It has potential itineraries depending on interests, deals, what to do and where to stay, and so much more. So if the hustle and bustle isn't for you, then check out other areas. There is more to NY than the city!

The Packing Nightmare

Okay, I will admit it...I am a terrible packer. Packing actually causes me a lot of stress. I over pack way too much and yet I somehow always forget something. When Ashley and I went down to Kiawah, it was just the two of us and yet the trunk of the car and the back seat was filled with suitcases. I went down to visit my best friend at Miami University (of Ohio) for two night and I had like 15 outfits. I flew out to WY to drive home with Matt and was only able to pack a backpack because there wouldn't be too much room in the car. Let me tell you, I was so stressed out over only taking one bag. It was probably one of the hardest things I have had to do in life. 


I keep talking about going to all these places and how much I loved them or places I dream about going. But what I think a lot of people don't realize is that clothing you take with you is really important. Layers is always key. I also recommend checking the weather forecast for your destination before you leave. As much as it pains me to say this, you don't need a new outfit for every day. Clean underwear however you do need. Soooo always pack enough of that!!!

Over packing is a problem that I am sure many of us face. I was creating an RSS feed in my night class as an activity and the topic I searched for news feeds of was traveling since that is what my blog is about and the first thing the feed gave me was the site OneBag.com. I highly recommend this site. It even tells you how to pack clothes without getting them wrinkled and how to properly choose a bag.

Thanksgiving is coming up and then before we know it Christmas will be here! I'm sure a lot of you will be doing a little road-tripping to be with friends and family, so just be sure to pack appropriately! Also, maybe ask whoever you are going to visit to take you to see something local that maybe everyone over looks since it's in their community. It could end up being a lot of fun. And then feel free to tell me about it :)

Do your research!

So once again, I have decided to not do a posting on some place I have been or some place that I dream about going and provide a tip instead. My tip for this post is simple: read.

Read magazines or books to get ideas of somewhere to go. 1,000 Places to See Before You Die is a really fascinating book with the typical touristy places to see as well as unusual but definitely worthwhile places to visit. 

Magazines are also a great way to discover a dream vacation. Travel + Leisure Magazine, Conde Nast Traveler, National Geographic Traveler, and Islands Magazine are just a few of magazines (with websites too!) that provide helpful information and ideas to travelers. 


If you already know where you want to go or have already started started booking your vacation, I still encourage you to check out travel books on your destination from the library. Or if you are feeling crazy, purchase a travel book from Borders or Barnes and Noble. There are so many places out there to see, that picking one can be hard! Looking at pictures and getting tips from people who have been there and spent their money looking for the best deals is a big help. 

Welcome Back! Heathrow Airport

Ok, this might be one of the coolest videos I have ever watched. My grandma sent this to me. It takes place in the Heathrow Airport in London. 

Watch it! and watch it all!!!

:)

Disney World!!

I couldn't do a travel blog and not talk about Disney World! I have been there a few times and I love it!  My boyfriend once said that Disney wouldn't be fun for people "our age" but I think he is wrong! My best friend and her college roommates even went there on Spring Break. The parks have something that everyone can enjoy. From the Rockin' Roller Coaster to Tower of Terror or eating at the Rain Forest Cafe to seeing a show, every vacationer can have a great time!

The theme parks include The Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Animal Kingdom, and Hollywood Studios. 
Epcot is a little more boring, so while it's still a pretty good park, in my opinion you should make time for the other parks first. 

Tickets for the Disney parks are a little expensive, which is the only downfall of going to the parks. For example, a 4 day ticket for someone 10 years and older is $58.00. However, you do have the option of purchasing a Park Hopper pass which allows you to go from park to park in the same day. For more information of ticket pricing, I encourage you to check out Ticket Info.

Disneyworld.disney.go.com is a fantastic website to go to if you are considering planning a trip to Disney. It has info about the Disney parks, water parks, where to stay, where to eat, things to do, and the site I mentioned earlier about ticket information. It is a very user friendly site that will be a big help to you!

When my family goes to Orlando we usually stay at Marriott's Cypress Harbour. It's a really nice resort with great rooms and lots of things to do right on the resort grounds. If you are up for some golf they also have a course. :)  

Disney is a lot of fun! I encourage you all to look into going there. Even if you don't visit all the parks because of the cost, Orlando has a lot of things to do like visiting Sea World, Universal Studios, museums, or one of the other many attractions throughout the city. :)


Any of you guys ever been to Disney? What do you think about things to do down there?

I see London, I see...

FRANCE!

After spending a couple of days in cold and rainy London, my family took the Chunnel to very warm weather in Paris.  When we arrived I didn't know my grandma and grandpa had hired a personal tour guide for our family and a private bus, so I saw this man go up to my grandma and take her luggage and I was all worried! Luckily, he was a nice man who actually knew her!

We drove around and saw the sights. My mom and I climbed up to the top of the Eiffel Tower...yep we walked. It was really hot, and there were so many steps. It got pretty scary at times because it was narrow and people were coming down while we were going up. The picture below is from about half way up to the top. We were still going strong!

Then we got closer to the top and we were tired and sore!

We got to see a lot of sights and Paris is absolutely beautiful. Also, if you love crepes like I do...they are bigger than you can imagine over there! So yummy!!! Another cool thing that was happening when we were was this block party thing that we went to for a little bit. They had a live DJ and it was pretty interesting. 

Definitely see all the sights that you can! There is so much to see and do and eat in Paris. Do it all! :)

London

The summer after my sophomore in HS my family took a trip to London followed by a train trip over to Paris. But for this blog, I'm just going to focus on London. 

Our flight arrived just in time for all those bombings to start going off. So everywhere you look you see police and/or army men with their bullet proof vests on and ginormous (and yes that is a word) weapons. It was pretty intense. It was also pretty rainy and chilly. After we got in to our hotel we were all pretty hungry and went out in the search for food. Little did we know that we arrived in the part of the afternoon when no pubs serve food, just drinks. So that is a good thing to remember when heading to another area...be mindful of how the hours of their restaurants and shops work. It's much less frustrating. Another thing to remember, they drive on the other side of the road.

We took a boat tour on the water, walked around the city, and took a ride on their monstrous Ferris wheel. Funny story time now...We saw Big Ben from land and from the water and everyone had gotten pictures with it in the background. After hours of sigh seeing my brother makes a comment along the lines of, "So when are we going to see Big Ben?"  That is my brother for ya..


It's always fun to go over seas and experience such a different culture. England is a great place for that especially since you don't have to understand a foreign language. However, if I were to go there again, I might look into when the weather isn't so rainy and cold over there. :)

Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh is a great city to visit. Whether you spend a day or a weekend there, you'll have a great time.  Some of the highlights include

-The Inclines up to the top of Mt. Washington -- take a restored 1800s incline up to the top to find great ice cream, restaurants, and a great view of the city

-Aviary -- there is over 600 types of birds at this walk through exhibit. They actually have a pretty cool website, which can be found here!

 

-The Strip -- this is kind of like Cleveland's Warehouse district only in Pitt. Shops, restaurants, flea markets and the like.

-See the Pirates or Steelers or Penguins

-Go on a college visit to one of the cities many colleges and university

There are plenty of other things to see and do there. If you are interested in spending some time in Pitt, I encourage you to check out this site. It has further links to areas in the city and gives ideas if you're spending time there with kids, or you want to do some free things, and tons of other great web sites.

Chicago

I personally love Chicago. This is probably because I was there for a girls weekend and went to the American Girl Place there when I was younger. What is better than that when you are a little girl? Absolutely nothing. :) Now that I older, I am in love with the big city life. The hustle and bustle and everyone hurrying around in their fancy outfits just captivates me. But not everyone feels that way. However, even if you aren't really into the city life I still think experiencing it for a long weekend would be fun for anyone. And then you'll appreciate the quietness of your home a little bit more. My mama bear also lived there for a little while, which I think is pretty cool...soo mama this blog is for you! :)


Chicago is probably most known for the Navy Pier (pictured below), Sears Tower, and the John Hancock Building. Sometimes I think it's weird that going up to the top of some sort of high rise and looking out over a city never gets old. Also buying useless souvenirs also seems to make trips more exciting.  Anyway...

The Navy Pier is a top destination. There is a 15 story Ferris wheel, an IMAX theater, a ropes course, mini golf, plenty of dining options, shops, gardens, and themed tour and dining cruise ships.


The Navy Pier isn't all there is though. Some of the attractions include the Brookfield or Lincoln Park Zoo, sporting events including the Cubs, White Sox, and Bears, Frank Loyd Wright Home and Studio, The American Girl Place, Magnificent Mile, Union Station, and Millennium Park.




Also, if you are in to seeing shows...Wicked and The Lion King are now in Chicago. I have seen both and highly recommend them! :)

Chicago.com is the official website of the city. They have information on visiting there and moving there. From things to see and do to links to blogs and twitters about the city, you can pretty much find any information you know.

Cleveland!

In honor of the Browns winning...but not just winning...beating the reigning Super Bowl Champs, I dedicate this blog post to good ol' Cleveland, Ohio! Going to school outside of Cleveland is great because I don't have to deal with the city all the time but there is always something going on in case I need to escape campus. So here are some highlights of Cleveland and the surrounding areas...


1. Baldwin-Wallace College. Who wouldn't want to visit me at college? If you come visit me, I can actually take you to the actual places I am about to talk about. Then you'll be able to experience them first hand and not just read about them! Also, BW is putting on Rent and our music theater program is pretty much amazing, so if you want to come with me let me know :) Shows are in February.


2. The Christmas Story House!! Okay, pleeeeasee tell me you have seen this movie!! If you haven't seen it, go rent it. NOW! The house is the actual house used in the movie and it is open the the public year round. There is also a museum that have props from the movie on display. You can even buy a lamp leg there :)  


3. Sports. Cleveland is known for its sports...because we are not so good. But hey, at least we are known for something. Right? Cleveland Indians, Cleveland Cavaliers, Cleveland Browns, Lake Erie Monsters, whatever the season Cleveland has a sport for it. Cleveland teams might not win all the time, but the games are always a good time because Cleveland fans are fans through and through! I even went to a game on Jan. 3! (Probably one of the worst decisions of my life) 

4. Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. If you are a cool Clevelander, you know this just as the Rock Hall. I went there for the first time with my Dad and had a great time! It was so cool being there and experiencing Rock and Roll. It's right on the lake and they have an outdoor area where you can eat over the water. They also put on concerts every now and then outside. If you are into music, going there is definitely worth it!


5. The Warehouse District. If you are going to eat and/or want to experience night life, this is the place to go. There are so many different restaurants to choose from, most of them being a little bit more upscale. Michael Symon (mom, i know you know who I'm talking about) has two restaurants in the area. They are Lola and Lolita. Lola is way more upscale and classy and Lolita is a little more reasonable but still very nice. 


6. I really could keep going on and on about things to do in Cleveland, but it would take forever to write everything. So here is a list of some more things to do without a more detailed description...
Botanical Gardens
Museum of Natural History
Museum of Art
Lolly the Trolley
Emerald Necklace
West Side Market
MELT ... an amazing restaurant!
Great Lakes Science Center
Lake Erie activities 
House of Blues


If any of you have ever done anything fun in Cleveland, comment and share your story. :)

New Zealand

 Video Detail New Zealand

Maybe it's the fact that every picture I see is beyond beautiful or the fact that bungee jumping was invented there. But whatever the reason, New Zealand is one of the places I most want to go. My grandparents have been and have nothing but good things to say about it, one of my friends went there and loved it, and I did a presentation on it and it just made me want to go there even more!

The Official Travel Site For New Zealand has a lot of good information on for anyone also wishing to travel there.

There are beaches, cities, mountains, parks, trails, and lakes. You can be adventurous or not, experience the culture and history of the Maori tribe or spend the day soaking up some sun. Bungee jumping, sky diving, a hot air balloon ride, museums, wineries, casinos, geothermal hot spots, sporting events, caving, golf, off road driving adventures, horseback riding, boat cruises, and dolphin and whale watching are just a few of the activities that NZ has to offer.  Do any of those things sound like a good time to you? No matter what you or whoever you are with want to do, there is something that meets everyone's needs.  


I'll make it there someday and fulfill my dream of going there. I hope you all have a dream about going somewhere and have the chance to make it there. :)

Colorado Springs

I decided to stick with the Colorado theme and talk about a place my mom and I visited this past summer. She flew out to drive home with me when I was moving back from Wyoming, so of course we had to make it a fun trip! :)

 Colorado Springs was our first stop on the way home and we both loved it! We stayed in a nice Marriott Hotel (thanks to my Grandma!) and had plenty of sites to see! Driving in to CO Springs you can see the Air Force Academy, which is just a really cool looking building. The next thing we did was go see the Olympic Training Center. They offer tours there, but we just went to the gift shop (where only VISA is accepted so keep that in mind if you are ever there), and then walked around by ourselves. We saw where the athletes live and practice and even saw the girls volleyball team in action! It was really neat to be on their "campus." We even saw some wrestlers!

Another thing we did was walk through the Garden of the Gods. It's so beautiful and we saw people rock climbing which was fun. The next day we got up early and headed out to take The Cog Railway  up to the top of Pikes Peak! The little town you drove through to get to the railway was also so cute with little shops and restaurants, it would be so easy to spend a day just roaming about there!


If you choose to go to Pikes Peak, the ride does take a few hours. It was also FREEZING at the top of the mountain. It was 32 degrees up at the top and like 75 degrees at the bottom. So dress in layers! My mom and I were also hoping to see some Big Horn Sheep, but we were informed that they don't really show up till Fall time...so if you want to see some sheep, go now! Taking the train up was really fun, but if you are feeling even crazier you can hike up and down it. If you choose to do that, I say good luck to you!

One thing we did was go visit 7 Falls...We climbed up to the top and I joined some Native Americans in their dancing, but overall I would say don't waste your money. The falls are really small and it's really not worth the price you pay. So save your money and enjoy the picture I post...

I highly recommend CO Springs to anyone going out that way. :) You can find out more info about the area at ColoradoSprings.com

The Wild, Wild West

So maybe the western part of the United States is not as wild as it once was, but it is definitely just as beautiful!

 One of the things that was wonderful about CO was that there was something for everyone. My family is into the outdoors so we were up early hiking up mountains and spending the rest of the day exploring the areas around where we stayed like Vail and Breckenridge. My step father's favorite place to visit was Leadville. I think he liked it so much because he ate some "Monkey Balls".  ....Have any one of you ever eaten anything interesting like that?? 

Feel free to leave an interesting or funny memory from a vacation as your comment :)

Hiking mountains (if you are physically able to do it) is must when you go out there! The views are amazing, you have chances to see animals, and it is just a great claim to fame to be able to say you hiked some of the Rocky Mountains. Even if you aren't able to do some hiking, the Ski Resorts keep their chair lifts going so you can ride up the mountain and hang out at a lodge and do some exploring and then ride back down. ... My little sister dropped her jacket off the chair though so she and her dad had to hike down some areas where no one should be hiking to get it while my ma and I went to the top of the mountain :) So BE SURE TO HANG ON TO ALL YOUR BELONGINGS!

Also keep in mind the signs and symptoms of altitude sickness. I was in fairly good shape and didn't think too much of it, and I ended up suffering from it while hiking one day. It's really important to stay hydrated and if you feel sick at all, let someone know and stop climbing any further. Another thing to keep in mind if you are going to be hiking is that it is pretty much guaranteed to storm on the top of the mountain every afternoon. So get your hikes in early! 

If hiking isn't your thing, you can white water raft (which we did and the water was FREEZING in August), or spend some time in the nicer neighborhoods and shop, take scenic drives, or find out what sort of festivals or events are going on in your area while your out there. Getting involved with things the locals are doing is fun and a great way to experience life any where that you go. :)

Some of you might not think hiking up mountains and white water rafting is much of a vacation, but let me tell you...it is! :)


The pictures below are my mom and I pointing out that we are on the top of the mountain, taking a break while hiking one of the days, and the "stable" terrain we had to hike on once you get above the tree lines of the mountains.

 

DC

Spring Break in Washington DC. Really? Spring break there? Yes, my roommate and I chose that as our destination instead of a warm beach where we could get our tan on. And, we had the greatest time!

We went early in March and stayed with my roommates aunt, uncle, and cousin. Like I mentioned in one of my earlier blogs, it's always nice when you can stay with someone for free. :) It wasn't too bad of a drive to there from Columbus. We had lots of music and made sure to stop for gas and snacks and such to keep the car and ourselves fueled! The traffic got way heavy closer to the city though...bumper to bumper traffic. A lot of it. The nice part about staying with people who lived there, was they were able to drive us around a lot of the time so neither myself nor my roommate had to worry about driving through DC. 

But, if you go and don't have the privilege to stay with someone, I recommend taking the Metrorail Subway System. If Ash and I can figure it out, anyone can :) There is also buses and taxis that are available to take, or you can take your car and park somewhere and walk around. Of course being able to see all the monuments is a must, but I personally enjoyed seeing the Washington Monument light up at night. 

Like any other place you go, there is so much to see and do. I recommend checking out the official tourism site http://washington.org/ and if you are looking to save some money check out a site that lists the free or nearly free things to do while in DC at Free! DC is definitely a sightseeing type of vacation, so if you are not into doing that, this destination might not be for you.


If you are going to walk around be sure to pack comfortable shoes. Also, remember to wear layers. We went in March, and sometimes it was warm and sometimes it would be a little chilly. It never hurts to be prepared for any type of weather. :)

Israel

I hope you have your passport, because we're going overseas!

While I was living out in Wyoming this summer, I met some interesting people. One night I met a man and his wife who were retired but considered themselves "professional travelers." They had just gotten back from a trip to Israel and loved telling me about it. I had never really thought about visiting there. I never really thought that there would be anything there for me to do, especially since I never really hear about people going there or anything good going on there. But after hearing how much they loved their trip, and having Amy bring it up in the last blog, I thought I would virtually explore Israel a little more.

"Nothing underscores the variety of Israel’s attractions more than realizing that within a few hours you can go from the snowy heights of Mount Hermon to the Judean Desert and the saltiest sea on earth, the Dead Sea, while visiting ancient biblical cities, covered markets and a high-rise metropolis on the way. This is what makes Israel truly a destination with something for everyone." -GoIsrael.com

GoIsrael.com is a website that I found that helps makes a trip to Israel a little more personal. When you go to the site, you are asked if you are traveling there for general interest, Christian interest, or Jewish interest. Once, you click on the reason you are traveling there it gives you highlights of Israel that would be most interesting and/or beneficial to you.

The only thing I really know about Israel is the info I found online. I did find more helpful information if I Googled "Traveling to Israel" over just the country name. I encourage you all to check out traveling there, the pictures look beautiful there. Even if you aren't Christian or Jewish, it's ok. Being religious isn't a requirement for traveling there. But for those who are religious, a trip there seems like it would be an amazing experience. :)

Some Tips

So for this blog, I am going to go in a different direction. Instead of talking about a place I dream about going and somewhere I have already went that I loved, I'm going to offer my advice. So here are 6 of my helpful tips for you :)

1. For those of you who have a Facebook or Twitter account, I encourage you to "like" or "follow" pages or groups like The Travel Channel Facebook page or the National Geographic Twitter page A lot of companies, magazines, shows, people have a Facebook or a Twitter, so search for them and become their fan. This way you get instant tips and updates. :)


2. Find blogs. I admit, blogging is a little tedious and at times I don't even like it...but it's real. People can say what they want and are honest. Looking at travel blogs for what people like, dislike, or how they found good deals is a great way to improve your vacation.

3. Sites like Kayak, Travelocity, and Orbitz are pretty helpful and can offer you savings on hotels, flights, and attractions. However, it is my own personal experience that sometimes things can go wrong when booking through them. I still encourage you to utilize those sites, but once you find a deal actually call the hotel and see if you can get that same price by booking directly through them. This saves the hassle of going through a third party.


4. Google. Searching different places you want to go and seeing what makes each place special can help you find the perfect destination. If you are like me, there are tons of places that you want to visit. Make a list of places you really, really want to see and check around on the internet for when to go, how much each place would cost to visit, and stuff like that. Once you Google places, re-write your list so the places most feasible to visit are on top.


5. TAKE CHANCES! Go on a trip you think is out of your box and try something new. My mom and step-dad took my high school youth group on a retreat where we played paint ball, went white water rafting, and rock repelling super high above the river. Three things I normally wouldn't think about doing on a trip, but I loved every single moment of it. Being with friends and family can make any trip a great one. So be adventurous and you won't be let down!

6. Going over seas or to an exotic destination is nice and appealing, but don't forget about what is in your own back yard! If you are from Ohio, Pennsylvania, Michigan and so on...spend a weekend at one of the great Lakes. From Chicago? Take a day and pretend you are a tourist and just have some fun seeing the sights not as a resident. Take advantage of being where you are. Don't overlook things because you are near them, that's how you miss out of some of the best times. 

Lastly, I would just like to say...if you read this and think of another tip...PLEASE POST IT on your comment. This blog is meant to share ideas and tips with one another. If there is a place that you think is worth me blogging about, let me know. I'd be happy to do some research and talk about it. I am here to help myself with my life dream of traveling as well as all of you. So read and comment, I count on your feedback!
 

Kiawah,SC

A great place to take a vacation is anywhere that you have a free place to stay. Staying for free means being able to spend a little more money on attractions, shopping, going out to eat, or whatever else you want to spend money on. 

Last year over Spring Break, my roommate and I were fortunate enough to be invited down to Kiawah Island, SC to stay with some of her family friends. The place was gorgeous and had a dock right out to a river. I don't actually remember if it was technically a river, but it was salt water whatever it was called. It was great being able to stay with a family who was willing to cook for us and let us use their kayaks. One of the best memories I have is when the two of us went kayaking, a curious dolphin was out with us swimming all around us and even right underneath us!! 

Kiawah was just such a charming place to go. It's a great area especially for avid golfers. They had beautiful country clubs, a cute little town center with some shops, places to eat, a grocery store and a gas station. The beach is also right there! My roomie and I went in early March, and it was a little chilly on the beach but it was still enjoyable. I would recommend going later on in March if you really want to swim in the ocean, but don't wait too long because I hear the bugs get pretty bad in some areas down there!

Another great thing about Kiawah, is that is not too bad of a drive back into SC. You pretty much stay on one road that is lined with little houses and lots of churches. Charleston, SC, is also about a 40 minute drive away. We spent a day there and saw all the sights by way of a carriage ride. It was a great way to get to see a lot without all the walking. It confused us a little around dinner time though because a lot of places down south closer earlier than they do up here. So the shops were all closing and no one was really at the restaurants which made us think they were not open either! Some restaurants also had more than one entrance, with nobody working either of them. We walked around for a good while before finally just asking. So my travel tip for anyone who goes there, REMEMBER the shops close early and don't be afraid to just go into a restaurant and eat! 

 

Vegas, Baby!

Ahh, Las Vegas...and no I am not talking about the TV show on TNT with that handsome actor Josh Duhamel. I'm talking about one of the places I have dreamed about the most. 

Bright lights, huge buildings, shopping, gambling, shows, attractions...what's not to love about Las Vegas. ...Okay, well I'm sure there are some not so good things but I won't get into those now. 

I think about going to Vegas a lot. Especially since I had my first casino experience over the summer. I'm not a big fan of losing money though, so I could only handle going in to one Vegas casino and staying for about 7 minutes. Luckily, Vegas.com  is a website that includes information on gambling, hotels, airfare, spas, golf, dining, tours, nightlife, and everything else you need to know about going there. 


Personally, I think going there would just be such an amazing trip because you wouldn't run out of things to do. See the sights during the day and experience the nightlife when it gets dark. What is not to love about that? I've always wanted to see their Eiffel Tower Replica (since I have seen the real one) and the fountains at the Bellagio and everything else Vegas has for me to see!! I also would love to take a helicopter tour of the Hoover Dam and/or Grand Canyon.

It's easy for me to think of all the places I want to see, but with so many cool hotels though, I have no idea where I would stay! Planet Hollywood, the Bellagio, Caesars Palace, The Palms, MGM Grand, Mandalay Bay, or one of countless others. So many to choose from, I just don't know where to start! 


With so many options for attractions and where to stay and what to eat, planning a trip to Vegas can be a little stressful. And since I pretty much want to do everything, I better start saving my money now!!!


If anyone who reads this has ever been there, or wants to go with me at some point ...just let me know :)


The image is from wsradio.com

Yellowstone National Park

One of the places I have recently been is Yellowstone National Park. Up until this summer, I had never really thought twice about going there. Every time I saw myself traveling somewhere it was far away over seas. I forgot to think about all of the great places right here in my backyard. For a long weekend, I got the chance to camp out in Yellowstone and see all it had to offer. From bear encounters to seeing postcard picture scenery to trying to sleep in a tent through a storm, I experienced a lot and would recommend this vacation to anyone.  

If you have the time, go for at least a long weekend. There is just so much to see that it would be disappointing to only be able to see a little of this huge park. If you have even more time, going out the South entrance of Yellowstone and driving into Teton National Park is beyond worth it!

In Yellowstone, there are lodges if you aren't up for pitching a tent and cafeteria style restaurants in some areas of the park so you don't have to cook by campfire all the time. Although, depending on what lodge you stay at and when you go, they can be pretty pricey. The first night we camped it cost us less than $20. You can also get out and walk and do some hiking to see a little more. However, if you or someone you are with can't make a long walk or hike, there is plenty to see from your car or just a short walk away. Getting up early or being out at dusk is also the best time to see animals. Although, you'll see plenty of buffalo since they are everywhere not caring about all the people around. Just remember that buffalo are very dangerous and more people get hurt or killed by buffalo each year than bears in Yellowstone. 

Using websites can help you plan out your trip. National Park Services website and the park's website are two great websites that include maps, weather updates, photos, info on lodges, and so much more to make your trip the best ever! So be sure and check them out :)