But, I’m ready to share a new project I’m about to launch-

Drum roll, please.

Da- da- da- dum- da- dah!

Very soon you’ll be able to see my book: Hiking for the Couch Potato: A Guide for the Exercise-Challenged

In about three weeks, the book will be available as both as an e-book and a printed book.

A light-hearted guide that encourages people to get off the couch and go hiking, Hiking for the Couch Potato has everything from advice on hiking gear to recipes to an “Ode to Frozen Green Peas.”

It even talks about how to meet that significant other!

So, be on the lookout for the book – soon to be available at an e-store and on my new (not available yet) web site.

Suitable for gift giving! (And the web site will be a community where people can share their hiking experiences, recipes, and encourage each other!)

Looking forward to sharing Hiking for the Couch Potato with you!  Everyone likes potatoes!

PS Please let me know your reactions to my book!  I’ll autograph any book personally for someone who orders it through this travel blog.

(Okay, we have not been blogging recently.  Our internet connection was very iffy, but now we seem to have resolved those issues.)

After reviewing travel options for our nine-day excursion, we have decided to choose -   ta da da da dah da!-

IDAHO!

Our choice of Idaho was for the following reasons:

1. We have never been there.
2. They sent us information very quickly – we like responsiveness!
3. We know images can be enhanced, but the stunning views of mountains and lakes were irresistible.
4. After living in the Arizona desert, an abundance of lakes, waterfalls and rivers will be a welcome change.
5. The scenic byways sound entrancing and the diversity of climates is always a great idea if you want to see a lot in very little time.
6. Boise sounds like our idea of a great city to visit.  A university town, that always seems to add something special to the life of a community.   “A vibrant downtown bordered by a 25-mile greenbelt and seven grand parks, line the city’s waterfront.” (Although there is a punctuation/grammatical error there, we get the point.)
7. My husband wants to get some golfing in.  Idaho has an abundance of that.
8. Towns with names like “Bliss,” “Eden” and “Cascade” are so evocative we can’t resist.
9. We once met a Coeur d’Alene resident who couldn’t say enough great things about the city.  We want to see Coeur d’Alene – scenery, culture and golf – sounds almost too good to be true!

10.  After looking randomly at the Idaho Web site, I was hooked! www.visitidaho.org

More to come as we refine our travel adventure!

We have thoughts of migrating ourselves.  We have a short trip to LA coming up, but we’re also planning a longer stay.

But, where to go?  We have nine days and we want a new place –“somewhere where we’ve never been before.”

We had several ideas.  First, we’ll stay stateside since we’re not in the mood for customs and dealing with currency conversions.

Also, we don’t want an enormous plane ride.  We’re open to the possibility of a drive, but we don’t want to spend most of the vacation getting there.

I voted for open spaces, but I need to see water.  My husband also likes open spaces, but he likes mountains.

California?  Been there, done a lot of it.

Colorado?  Maybe.  I keep hearing about Durango and picturesque mountains.

Wyoming?  Certainly, it has the open spaces!

Idaho?  The scenery looks great in the brochures!

Washington (the state)?  We drove through on our way to Vancouver.  I’d get my water and my husband his mountains.

We’ve sent for new brochures.  Yes, I know, the mountains and natural features don’t change too much in a few years.  But, hotels and manmade items do change.

With visions of exploration and open vistas dancing in my head, I will sign off for now.

Come back next week, and we’ll share more about our plans.  Out west for sure!

But, I’m getting ahead of myself…

My guide for the hunt was Councilmember Carl Diedrich from the City of Maricopa, Arizona.  Using his computer, he first searched for possible geocaches in our area in Arizona.  Once we located one that sounded interesting – “Santa’s gonna come in a stagecoach” – we entered the coordinates in his GPS, copied the other clues and headed out.  The clue referenced the fact that the destination used to be an old stagecoach stop.

Starting with 16 miles to reach the coordinates of our destination, we eventually left the local highway, headed south.  After several miles of travel, we hit a dirt road, as the directions predicted.  We were in the middle of the desert with just brush and cacti for company. Then, suddenly, we saw a gate.  Miraculously in the middle of nowhere, the sign for 99^th Avenue appeared, also on our list.

Continuing a little further as the miles narrowed to our destination, we saw a small, old stone building in the distance.  Arriving at the building, now it was time to find the cache.

Old stone stagecoach stop - our destination

My host, his son and I began our search.  The person who hid the geocache was witty.  Another clue was an old Hollies song, “Look through any window, yeah, what do you see?”  We looked through all four windows.  We didn’t find anything.

We poked around, trying not to have any critters find us, and thought we’d looked everywhere.  Suddenly, Carl noticed that some rocks didn’t “look quite right.” Under a heap of rocks was the geocache.

Carl and Nate search for the treasure

Hurrah!  He was the “FTF” – first to find – the geocache.  In the metal box was a $5 bill, a small spiral pad to record the find with a pen, a travel bug (a token that has a number for recording online and tracking) and some children’s trinkets. The $5 was Carl’s reward for being FTF.  Carl left behind his own team coin, stamped the pad with his team insignia, took the travel bug to record it and move it along, sealed everything up and we were on our way.

Carl's the first to find this cache

The old stone building was an old stagecoach stop from the 1870s – a true historical site that we didn’t know existed only 16 miles away!

Anyone can go online and find locations anywhere in the world to spend a few minutes – or hours – in a geocache adventure.  Those who hide the treasures can be wily and resourceful.  It all comes down to using your wits and a GPS.

And, when you get good, you, too, can leave some treasures for others to find.

See geocaching.com to learn more about this adventure that has thousands looking for modern treasures.

Later this week…Whale watching adventures!

Scottsdale upscale and elegant

A bus stop in Scottsdale - with a cowboy theme

Now, if you’re just visiting Scottsdale for a vacation or conference, that’s another thing.  Scottsdale has some fun diversions and great ways to relax and enjoy our wonderful climate.  Now, if you don’t enjoy really hot (I know, they say, “ but it’s dry heat!”) weather, visiting in June, July and August can be a challenge. But, the dryness really does make the heat more bearable.

In December after living in Arizona for years, I’m finding the 60-ish degree (Fahrenheit) weather chilly.  When I lived in New York, I thought 60 was balmy after the cold of winter and would walk around in shirtsleeves.  It’s all relative – go figure!

Arriving and shopping in Scottsdale

You won’t instantly see the difference between Phoenix and Scottsdale until you hit the “downtown.”  The cachet of a Scottsdale address means that stores that are not an Arizona fixture will locate in Scottsdale. 

Scottsdale has a Nordstrom, Macy’s and most other major brands.  Traveling up the length of Scottsdale Road for miles, retailers are major lures to anyone who loves shopping.   There are national names like Crate & Barrel (I know they’re online, but they actually have a store in Scottsdale!), Barney’s NY, Abercrombie & Fitch, Anthropologie, Urban Outfitters – the list goes on.

H & M - trendy new retailer in Scottsdale

Take the new, trendy transplant H & M that started in Sweden and is now located in 35 markets with 1,800 stores.  When H & M opened on November 4 in Scottsdale, people camped out in line for hours waiting to see the reasonably priced fashion.  They were not disappointed.  The very fashion-forward retailer has adult’s and children’s clothing and accessories – and I didn’t see one item for more than $49.95!  Indeed, most items were less than $30.  For instance, a frilly little girl’s party dress was $24.95. 

However, they seem to have sold much of their merchandise in the larger women’s sizes and there were not many offerings in sizes above a 10.  One of the staffers told me that they carry sizes through 16, but that they had sold out a lot with the holidays. 

I would have taken photos, but a staff person stopped me inside the door and told me that I couldn’t take photos.   There certainly is a very energetic vibe in the store, which carries over to their Web site.  Like a sci-fi movie, part of their Web site has clothing coming at you in a 3-D mode.  When you click on an item it comes up with all of the details.  H & M is impressive.

http://www.hm.com/us/

Tomorrow… More shopping in Scottsdale

Housing in downtown Tempe

Festival of the Arts

During the weekend of December 4-6, Tempe hosted the Festival of the Arts, an arts and crafts gathering that last year attracted 250,000.  In 2009, over 400 artisans with some stunning work were displaying and selling their works.  Pottery, glass, wood, photography, woven items, painting, sculpture and even food showed the individuality and quality of the handmade efforts.

With no two works identical, visitors had the opportunity to see and buy something for their use for as little as $5 or as much as thousands.

Colorful Pottery from Ken Foster Ceramics - and useful, too

www.kenfosterceramics.com

(559-760-4549)

(As of early December 2009, his Web site was not populated yet.)

Doug Mader's metal art - Courtyard Art and Design

(No Web site available – 503-537-0720)

I tend to like usable art, so I was on the lookout for a small pottery casserole to replace one that had broken. I couldn’t find what I was seeking.  Instead, I saw a gorgeous pottery French butterkeeper made by Liscom Hill Pottery Works that I purchased.  (I did not take a photo – the display was crowded and I was intent on my purchase.) 

www.liscomhillpottery.com

Bands also performed throughout the Festival.  On the jazz stage, we heard the Chandler-Gilbert Community College Band perform big band numbers.  They had an interesting medley with “Auld Lang Syne” intermingled with Christmas carols, plus a rendition of “On the Street Where You Live” from My Fair Lady.

To host the Festival, Tempe blocked off about fifteen blocks of the downtown area.  Since these events occur regularly in Tempe, check out the light rail which travels right through the campus to save you time looking for a parking spot or $10 for event parking. The light rail is relatively new to the Phoenix area, but it is clean, on schedule and reasonable in cost.

http://www.valleymetro.org/metro_light_rail

Other Tempe notables

It may be in the desert, but Tempe has an amazing amount of water.  Tempe Town Lake, a manmade body of water, is a centerpiece for many community events.  In the area adjacent to the lake, events from ethnic fairs to fireworks are held regularly.

If you’re coming to the Phoenix area for a visit, we recommend that you check out what might be happening in Tempe.  There are hotels in Tempe if you care to stay; the aloft hotel is new, a “hip” hotel, and there are other hotels that can put you right in the middle of things or give you some quiet at the end of the day, if you prefer.

aloft hotel in Tempe

http://www.starwoodhotels.com/alofthotels/property/overview/index.html?propertyID=3102

The Buttes

(Tucked into a hillside and next to a spring training baseball facility.) 

http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/phxtm-the-buttes-a-marriott-resort/

ASU and Tempe

You can’t miss ASU’s presence in Tempe; it is unmistakable.  

Come back tomorrow for info on Arizona State University and other amenities in the area.

 
Years ago, I traveled to Plymouth Rock where the Pilgrims landed and it had become extremely commercialized. There were little stands with the usual gimcracks and souvenirs.

 
Buying things seems to be what everyone thinks about when they consider traveling. And, I admit, I have purchased my share of souvenirs, too.

 
Somehow, the anticipation of seeing a new place and the sense of wonder and discovery has now been dulled by security checks and the many rules and regulations that now govern our travel.

 
In this blog, we have tried to feature places where we have enjoyed the travel, the people and the indelible scenes that have enriched our lives.

Why travel tips and adventures exists

The reason I decided to publish a travel blog was that the newspaper for which I write, a small city’s paper, had asked me to cover travel. They decided they only wanted to feature local places, which left a whole world of great destinations I wasn’t able to share.

 
So, that led to the beginning of this travel blog.

Almost old enough to give birth

The blog is now eight months old – almost old enough to have given birth to a real human baby. Have we done a good job? Does anyone want to share his/her experiences?

 
Would anyone like to offer comments other than the spammers who perpetually leave messages – or in Russian, which I cannot read?

 
So, I am asking for people to respond and participate. Should we continue the blog? Will you help us by supporting the blog through response and checking out our store?

 
We’re open to new experiences and new people. We’re always thankful for them.
Please give us some feedback!

 
And, have a wonderful holiday season to those who celebrate holidays in the next month. To those who don’t have holidays, please accept our understanding that people have different cultures and ways of experiencing the world. We would love to hear from you, as well!

 
May you have health, love and joy in your life and a chance to travel to the places that enlighten, enliven and excite you!

 
Warmest regards,

Shelley Gillespie
Publisher and Editor
Traveltipsandadventures.com

PS The new photos at the top of the blog give you some new places to view.  Oregon and Las Vegas are featured – two great destinations!

We’re trying out Allegiant Airlines for the first time. They serve really small markets and are frill-free. You pay for everything – except they haven’t gotten yet to charging for use of the airline toilets.  If they do that, we might reconsider.  In general, our experience was positive.

Arriving at our departure terminal in “Mesa-Phoenix”– well, it is not what you expect when you’ve flown into major airports in NYC, California, and Chicago. The terminal is very small. One security line with one gate. Once you’ve been through the security rigmarole, you exit that building, walk across a courtyard, and find yourself in the departure lounge.

In the departure lounge, there is a shop that sells the typical magazines, snacks, bottled water and other drinks at exorbitant prices. That is the only location to purchase “stuff” before you board.

While you wait, you can be entertained while you watch the airline personnel pull up a giant boarding ramp to the airplane. No enclosed ramps.

When they call you for boarding, you walk across the tarmac, climb up the ramp, find your seat and settle in.

Take off

We took off from the gate fifteen minutes after our scheduled departure, but ten minutes later we were up, soon flying at an altitude of 32,000 feet. Clouds skimmed by as we passed Laughlin, Nevada and Lake Tahoe. The puffy clouds looked like cotton candy, tufted and white, not the pink you find at a circus.

Jet trail at 32,000 feet

The flight attendants efficiently canvassed our almost full flight (I only saw about six empty seats on a flight with 120 seats) and provided everyone with drinks and snacks – for which they charged. Then, they held raffles, to the pleasure of several passengers who won money and gifts.

Landing

Patchwork quilt of farmland near Eugene Airport

We landed on time in Eugene, Oregon. The terminal, which was not impressive from the air, was more luxurious than Mesa-Phoenix by far. Clean, with quite a few food vendors and car rentals, Eugene Airport was a great place to fly into. We got our checked baggage fairly quickly, our rental car as well, and headed out quickly.

The "Duck" at the Eugene, Oregon airport

Alamo Car Rental provided us with a very updated car – a hybrid that puzzled us at first. The “key” did not go in an ignition. Instead, the driver pushes a button when the key is inside the vehicle. It doesn’t seem like the car is on because it is very quiet. The weirdest feeling is the total quiet when you stop at an intersection. No noise – at all. The great thing was the mileage the dashboard told us we were getting – 40 miles per gallon – going up a hill! Wow.

All in all, a good start to our trip.

We headed to the Comfort Suites we had booked and landed in a great room. Many amenities are included in the hotel: fridge and microwave in each room, an indoor hot tub and pool, fitness center, free breakfast and free internet. No real hassles and an almost new hotel. Just off exit 191 on Interstate 5, the Comfort Suites is a great place to stay if you’re in the Eugene, Oregon area.

Tomorrow… Our visit with the sea lions.

By Guest Author Peggy Bradshaw

Photos by George Bradshaw

I can’t decide if I have a favorite RV park or not. There are many that I like because of different reasons. Most RV Parks and campgrounds have their own Web sites, complete with pictures for viewing.

One of my favorite parks is the Cherry Hill Park in College Park, MD, not only for its location but for its beauty and amenities. It is the closest RV Park to Washington, DC, and tour buses leave daily for tours of the DC area and bring you back.The park itself is tree-lined with great interior roads and parking spaces, and has a spacious clubhouse with a pool, and a deli with great and inexpensive food. The general store is well stocked with things you might need for your rig and souvenirs to take home.

The Rocky Top Campground in Kingsport, TN is built in the woods on a mountainside; however, the parking spaces are easily accessible to park your rig. We were there in August and it was cool. The general store is very quaint looking but is well stocked, and the owner is very personable and makes you feel welcome. They also have cabins for rent.

To find the Tom Sawyer’s Mississippi River Park takes a little bit of wandering through the woods on a dirt road, but is worth the effort. Our space was about fifty feet from the Mississippi River and we watched the tugboats hauling barges up and down the river in the evening. You would never know you were right across the river from the big city of Memphis. They have laundry facilities in case you want to stay for a while and watch the river go by.

Cross Creek Camping Resort near Columbus, Ohio

The Cross Creek Camping Resort is right next to the Cross Creek State Park so don’t get the two confused. This is a roomy RV Park with trees and barbeque pits at every site. The general store has everything you could want in it. Most parks have pools and saunas and this one is no exception.

The Shady Pines RV Park in Texarkana, TX comes with its own lake with a fountain in the middle and also has conference facilities in case your RV club wants to hold a rendezvous there. It has paved interior roads and the parking spots are cement. It is out of the way from the interstate, but easy to find.

The Liberty Harbor Marina and RV Park is located in Jersey City, across the river from New York City. You can schedule a tour of the city in the park office and the tour bus will pick you up at the entrance. It is also right next to the ferry landing to NYC in case you want to go into the city. It is the closest park to the city and the Statue of Liberty is easily spotted.

Niagara Falls RV Park

The Niagara Falls Campground and Lodging is located six miles from the falls and is the closest campground to the falls in the U.S. They have large, level and shaded sites with a large pool and picnic tables at each site. Don’t worry about what to do with your rig while you visit the falls as the parking lots in the area of the falls all have designated parking spaces for your RV.

Every RV Park and Campground is unique. They all take reservations, which is the recommended way to go. They all knew we were coming and were ready for us.

Tomorrow – Return tomorrow to visit Mt Vernon, George Washington’s home

Triumph!

My credit card company sent me a letter that they had concluded the investigation (it only took another month) and the amount was “suspended” and was removed from my account.  

Under absolutely no circumstance do I recommend that anyone use Tracfone Airtime.  They submitted a pile of documentation and tried to get paid for fraudulent charges.

May everyone learn from my sad experience!  Be VERY careful before you give any information to anyone!  Credit card companies already have your info.