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! :)