Travel Tips & Adventures

While living in Germany, I had occasion to rent a furnished corporate apartment.  Notice, I said furnished.  To me, that meant it was fully equipped.  When all I found were two small towels in the closet, I assumed they were for the kitchen.  It turned out that they were the towels for our bathing! Read the rest of this entry »

Even though I live in the desert in Southern Arizona, not many of us actually get to be “one with nature.”  A guide, who often leads groups on off-road excursions, offered to take me on a four-wheel drive adventure so I could see more of the desert. 

Before heading out in the early morning, we filled his Jeep with gas – “there are no gas stations in the desert, no sense taking chances” – and had brought along a CB radio, GPS tracking, cell phone and other technology to back us up.  A sign on one of the early tracks offered many cautions, but my guide was experienced, so I trusted his many preparations.

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As promised, I’m filling in the return trip for my recent visit to North Carolina.  The four days we spent in North Carolina were rainy, gloomy, chilly and drizzly. 

It reminded me of the Judith Viorst book, Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day (great book, not just for children).  Only the day was a long weekend.  Read the rest of this entry »

On a misty morning, I waited eagerly for Catalina Island to become visible in the distance.  The Catalina Express shuttle from San Pedro was fairly full, with tourists, the high school lacrosse team and other locals keeping busy during the one-and-one-quarter hour trip.  

As the picturesque harbor came to view, I saw houses terraced into the hillsides and boats anchored in a quiet mooring.  The vista was quaint and charming.  An unusual round building, the Casino, also dominated the coast. 

A 1950s song by the Four Preps called Catalina “the island of romance.”  I wanted to see for myself. (If you’re seeing an unusual looking building with boats in the harbor at the top of this blog, you’re seeing something of Catalina.)

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What I have in mind – Scotland in Fall 2009

Am I out of my mind?

Yes, it’s 2009…the stock market is in roller coaster mode…businesses are shutting down faster than a speeding bullet…every news show says the world is in a financial collapse… airlines are on the verge of the “B” word…the dollar is worth diddly…

So, why am I planning a trip to Scotland in the fall? Haven’t I heard the news…it’s the 1930s all over again!!!! I should be scared, I should be in panic mode, I should be petrified to travel out of my driveway!

I have my reasons:

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Until the end of May, 2009, an exceptional exhibit combining nature and the masterful glass works of Dale Chihuly is on display at the Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix.  This eye-popping series of displays encompasses the entire garden, with installations of colorful glassworks mimicking the real flora of the desert nearby.

The glass radiates light, warmth and sunlight (at night some of the works are lit) and allows the viewer a spectacular visual treat.  Just inside the entrance, “The Sun” greets visitors with orange, yellow and red tendrils exploding from a core.

Another display consists of floating geometric-like figures that give an otherworldly feel as the glass shifts with the water’s flow.

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Everyone said that I should go to Las Vegas.  People were incredulous that I had never been there.  I resisted.

“It’s decadent!”  “I hate gambling!” “Look at all that waste of electricity!”

Finally, in 2008, I went to Vegas.  

Excess and excitement

Precisely the reasons I refused to go are the reasons to experience Las Vegas – at least once.

Entering Vegas from the south, we experienced the excess and elegance that is Vegas.  A wedding party was camped out at the “Welcome to Las Vegas” sign, immortalizing their vows and blocking traffic.   

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On a recent trip from Phoenix to Raleigh Durham International Airport via US Airways, things went surprisingly well! Beginning with parking, it may have been Friday the 13th, but everything seemed to fall into place smoothly. Read the rest of this entry »

Recognizing that times are tough, we know that people still have the wanderlust that makes them want to see new places and expand their horizons. To that end, and realizing that there is always something to do nearby, we will explore places to travel that might be just down the road or near you as well as far away.
Scaling back from a distant vacation might be a money saver, but sometimes the powers-that-be are offering very attractive packages that make it irresistible to take that long-awaited trip. Advantageous exchange rates can also make a difference if traveling in another country.
Traveling also might create new opportunities. Sitting in the airline terminal waiting for my plane on a recent weekend, I overheard a very busy woman juggling two cell phones setting up a business itinerary in Hawaii. Apparently, she was going to be hiring someone for a Hawaii location. I came “this close” to asking her about the job…
So, open your horizons. Someone you speak with might just be the key to amazing opportunities.
Let’s explore…

Down the road and across the globe, there’s a travel destination for everyone. We’ve traveled and love seeing new places, new faces and natural wonders. Sharing these amazing locations in weeks to come, we’ll make the world a little smaller, but more accessible, to anyone who, like us, can’t wait to explore and learn.

Join us!