5x7 Folded Card

View the entire collection of cards.

Where am I Wednesday

Napa Valley, California.

Who goes to Napa Valley without drinking wine? Well, not I, but I can tell you there are plenty of activities to keep you busy if you don’t plan on having double vision by the end of the day.

Bike riding and hot air ballooning are two of the more popular options. There are plenty of bike rental companies and the views from a balloon are amazing if the weather cooperates. With that said, we did not do either of these activities. We decided on a long weekend in our travel trailer with our dog Maximus.

We started with a tour of the Old Faithful Geyser. Including my AAA discount it was $9.00 per person. It is one of those things that once you have done it, you don’t need to do it again. I was a little disappointed and thought it was pricey for sitting at a picnic table in the hot dirty area watching a little tiny pond with a few rocks in it. We did see the geyser erupt twice while we were there and the video and pictures turned out nice, but I would not pay $9 to do it again.

Maybe a little more scenic was the Petrified Forest. There is a 10% discount on line so this was also $9.00 per person. Still a little expensive, but Napa is not cheap so I guess it fell in line with the rest of the town.

Another favorite activity is just driving through the towns and stopping at all of the little shops wineries just for the scenery.  Two of our favorite things to buy in Napa is olive oil and vinegar.

Our three favorite places that we ate at were Gotts Roadside and Silverado Brewing Company and Rutherford Grill. All three offered outdoor seating and were welcome to serving Max. Gotts Roadside is a great place for a cheap burger and milkshake. They have a fairly large and inexpensive menu (less than $10) with a great shady park-like setting to eat at behind the building. The Silverado Brewing Company had a wonderful lunch menu and great beer. The prices seemed to be in the $10 - $15 range for lunch. The Rutherford Grill was the most expensive place we ate at costing $15 - $20 for each lunch, but they did offer Max a take home bone that still had tons of meat on it for free.

Every winery that we went to was dog friendly. At the Franciscan, we sat out on a beautiful patio and we were served our wine tastings right at our table. At St. Supery and Peju, Max was welcomed in and we enjoyed our tastings at the bar – Max enjoyed all of the attention and treats from passer-bys.

Where am I Wednesday

Lake Tahoe, NV and South Lake Tahoe, CA

Favorite Place to Stay: I actually prefer to rent a cabin here. There are plenty to find to meet anyone’s needs online. This time, we stayed at the newly renovated Harvey’s though. Yes, the rooms we nicely renovated, but the casino still seemed stuck in the 80’s. The ceilings are very low and claustrophobic feeling.

Favorite Activities: I’m more of a summer person, but Tahoe has plenty of activities to please anyone any time of the year. My favorites include relaxing on the beach with a beach towel and a good book, renting boats on the lake for exploring, and hiking in the woods (use common sense – so you don’t get lost or eaten by a bear). As you may know from previous posts, I like to gamble – but not in Tahoe, these are the tightest slot machines I have ever seen. If you are going to gamble don’t spend any money you may need.

Favorite Eats: I’m a big fan of the Hard Rock Café, so I always hit up the one in Harvey’s. I’m not sure if it’s the great music, good service or the fact that I can use my AAA card for a 10% discount – but I’m always drawn to it. For breakfast, we love Heidi’s. It’s about half way between the Y shopping outlets and the casinos. You will pass it if you are coming or leaving Tahoe on the 50.

Favorite Shopping Stops: The Y Outlets. The Y is great for picking up a sweatshirt if it is cold at night or a nice outfit for going out to dinner. There are not a ton of stores but the great prices make up for the lack of choice.

Favorite Photo Stops: Anywhere along the lake will give you great pictures, the lake is so beautiful it’s hard to take a bad picture. My favorite stop is actually on the way to Tahoe on the 50. Most of your car ride on the 50 will be uphill, but just after you start to descend into the Tahoe Valley there are several spots to pull over on the freeway. I always stop at the first one that you can see the lake. This gives you a great view of the mountains, the airport and Lake Tahoe. It is breath taking.

Where am I Wednesday

Reno, Nevada

Where to stay: I stayed in the Atlantis. The room prices were decent, there was plenty of activities to keep me entertained and the restaurants were nice. The rooms also looked like they had been recently renovated and came with nice "green" bath amenities.

Gamblers advice #1: I actually am a fan of signing up for players cards. When I checked in I got a coupon for $10 in free slot play - plus a bonus $15 dollars for being a first time member. Always ask any front desk if they have any specials or free stuff. This was enough to keep me entertained for a few hours. Also, if I racked up enough points, I got a free buffet lunch.

When to go: It depends, if you go during the winter you will have tons of snow and skiing. I went in June and the weather was beautiful.

Where to eat: Every place I that I ate in the Atlantis was great and the prices were reasonable.

What to do: Well, gamble of coarse. There is also lots of shopping, The National Automobile Museum Museum and The Nevada Museum of Art. You could get a spa treatment or see a cabaret show. Sports bars are also fun when there is a good game on. If you go in August be prepared for the crowds and cool cars of Hot August Nights, plus there is usually always a concert or other special event going on year round. Check your hotel web site for events.

Gamblers advice #2: Think of gambling as paying for entertainment. Don't expect to win. Then when you do, it will be a pleasant surprise.

Gamblers advice #3: Set yourself a strict gambling budget. Rather it is by day, hour, or machine. I never let myself put more than $20 in a machine.

If you plan on venturing out of your hotel, it's probably best to have a car. There is not a lot to do in walking distance.

Mind Saving Monday

10 tips to conquering the magically crowded Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Orlando, Florida

1. Get there early. We arrived 30 minutes before the park opened and received special tickets for getting into the Harry Potter portion of the park. Once in the main park, we waited in a line that moved very fast and before we knew it we were in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter! Extra Tip: Keep your group together, they will only give the people in line the tickets.

2. Head straight for the Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey ride. We only waited in line for 15 minutes, but by the time we got off of the ride it was a 2 hour wait. Have your camera out for the line, walking through the castle is part of the experience and there are lots of cool things to take pictures or video of. Extra tip: The moving people in the pictures video well, but don’t come out in the pictures.

3. Head to the Dragon Challenge second. People were still waiting for the Forbidden Journey and the line was not bad at all, 10 minutes tops. Have your camera ready for this line too, there are lots of cool "artifacts" from the tri-wizard tournament.

4. When you get off of the Dragon Challenge hop over to the Flight of the Hippogriff. That ride never really seamed to have a long line. It is kind of a kids ride, but the animatronic hippogriff and guy dressed like Hagrid was worth it.

5. By now the lines for the rides are probably getting pretty long, go over to the three broomsticks, there should not be a line for the restaurant yet but if you go down the alley on the side of it there is a back door to the bar where you can get butterbeer. We only had one person in front of us at the bar, but there were 27 people in line at the butterbeer cart in front of the restaurant. Take a seat out on the patio in back of the restaurant to enjoy the views of the castle.

6. Now that you have done the rides and have a butterbeer in hand, take a stroll through the owlery and shops. By this time many of the shops had waiting lines to get in, but if its not to bad take them in now. Also check out the line for Ollivander's. If it is more than an hour wait hold off.

7. With the sugary butterbeer down the hatch, leave the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. It is probably to crowded to enjoy by now. Go enjoy the rest of the park, rest, have lunch and dinner then come back in the evening.

8. Check out the line for Ollivander's, if it is more than an hour wait hold off. The park was a lot less crowded when we came back in the evening. Most of the kids had left. Bill waited in the Ollivander's line while I rode the Dragon Challenge again, and again. Well, okay I rode it 10 times in a row with no line at all!

9. Have a pumpkin juice while waiting in line for Ollivander's. It is like a pumpkin pie dessert in a bottle. While in Ollivander's, make sure to walk all the way to the back of the store, it took you long enough to get in there, enjoy it.

10. With your wands and souvenirs safely in the locker, get back in line for the Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey ride. If you choose the single rider line there is probably going to be a very short line to wait in. You can most likely go a few times before the park closes.

Travel Tip Tuesday

The smartest way to pass time on a plane or train.

Learn a new language, or at least learn the basics. It's always nice to be able to say please and thank you or ask where the bathroom is. There are many ways to learn a new language from free to pricy. Since we are talking about 8-12 hours of practice, I recommend keeping it simple.

For free you can download a list of basic words and phrases to study.

For $10 - $15 your can pick up a wide variety of Audio CDs, CD ROMs, books or eBooks that will teach you enough to get by.

Watch a foreign film in the language of the country you are traveling to or one that was filmed there. Pick one with sub-titles and you will be entertained and immersed in the new culture at the same time.

Read a guidebook on your destination. If you are not the type A traveler that I am that has 12 different guidebooks memorized before I step on the plane, then this is a great time to check out all of the sites you are headed to. If you are a type A traveler, then a little review never hurts.

Study a map of your destination. This will help insure that you don't get lost when your feet hit the ground.

Are you sitting near a local person from your destination? How better to learn about a new place? You have them captive for your whole trip. Just know when to stop bugging them if they don't want to give you their country's entire history for 8 hours.

Chat with other travelers going to the same place. What are their plans? Are they doing something cool that you did not know about?

Mind Saving Monday

No matter if you miss your flight or your flight is canceled or delayed, it's never fun to sit around in an airport waiting. Here are some tips I used on a troubled flight where my first flight (delayed because of bad weather) caused me to miss my connecting flight home.

If there is no hope of getting out the same day, the first thing to do is find a room for the night as close as possible to the airport. I say do this first because everyone else will be doing the same thing and you want to beat them to the punch. I actually called as soon as we landed and people were still unloading off of our delayed plane. Before I leave home I print a list of a few hotels close to the airports that I will be flying through with their phone number, website and online price. Call the hotel ASAP; they may cut you a price break out of sympathy. If the cost is more over the phone than online, pull out your laptop or smart phone and book online.

If you have a travel agent they should be the next phone call. They can be a tremendous help in looking for a new flight and may have connections that you don't.

Your third step should be calling the airline for reservations help, make sure to have this number along with your flight numbers available. You will most likely be on hold for a while so make the call on your way to get in line for a gate agent to assist you in the airport. These steps can double your chances of getting help sooner.

Have a laptop? Pop it out while you are waiting on hold and in line. Search for options on the airline website yourself, even look at flights on other carriers. Be prepared with alternatives before you get someone to help you. Triple multi-tasking is definitely the key.

Everyone knows that I highly discourage checking luggage…. BUT, if you do check your luggage, always bring a change of clothes, medication and your toiletries in your carry-on.

So by now you should have your next flight booked, a hotel room waiting for you and some time to kill. Here is what to do now…

First, take a deep breath, all of your hard work and fast thinking has paid off and your new arrangements (ideal or not) are in order.

Second, check in to your room, have a nice meal and a spa treatment to dissolve away the stress. Relax, pick up a new book or take a nap - don't think about all of the other people getting a headache sitting in the awful airport chairs next to screaming kids that can't get a hotel room.

Third, take advantage of your "extended" vacation and check out the local attractions. A museum or zoo can be ultra-relaxing or check out that movie in the theater you have wanted to see!

My last words of advice: Be nice, be creative and be patient – everything will eventually workout. Think of it as an opportunity, not a let-down.

Travel Tip Tuesday

No matter how social you are, there is always one thing that all travelers face. The inevitable moments of boredom. Here is a list of my favorite items that keep me entertained and don't take up a lot of room. Plus they are low noise makers or include headphones as to not irritate the folks around you.

$1.00 or less

• Download and print a few games of Sudoku. There are tons of websites like www.printable-sudoku-puzzles.com that let you print for free.
• A deck of cards. Always good for countless different games. You can even get a Texas Holdem' Game going with fellow bored people.
• Check out the $1 store for crossword puzzle books, word search books and travel size games like connect four.

$1.00 - $20.00

• Do you like Boggle or Scrabble but don't want to bring the box? Try Bananagrams. Just as fun, but in a banana sized pouch. To avoid the "is that a banana in your pocket" question at airport security it's better to put this one in your carry on.
• For those creative folks, try Travel Tangoes.
• For a little diversity try a 6 in 1 Travel Magnetic Game set. It usually includes games like Checkers, Chess, Backgammon, Parcheesi and Chinese Checkers.
• OK, it sounds like a kids game but it's fun and gets you in the travel mood. Oh The "Wondrous" Places You'll Go! Travel Card Game is great to play in a small group.

$20.00 - $100.00

• For $50, you can get the tiny iPod shuffle. Fill it up with songs for endless entertainment. They only downside is that it is electronic and requires a charging cable to be carried also.
• The Nintendo DS is another one that is great for long term entertainment and the price is just dropping to $99 for the cheaper version. Once you buy a few games you are back over $100, but the battery seems to last a long time and there is a large variety of kid and adult games.

$100.00 +

• I had a hard time shelling out over $200 for my iPod Touch, but I love it. I use it to check email and browse the web (Wi-Fi needed) or watch movies, listen to music and play tons of fun games. Again, another electronic that need to be charged.
• If you are an avid reader try an ereader like the Amazon Kindle. For just over $100 you can download a ton of books (even some free ones) and save some room in your luggage.
• Not exactly pocket size, but definitely carry on size is the Netbook. The top selling one on Amazon.com right now is the $280 Toshiba NB505-N508BL 10.1-Inch Netbook. With over 8 hours of battery life and less than 3 pounds, you will have everything you need at your finger tips.

Where am I Wednesday

Special Edition...

Talkeetna, Alaska.

Princess Cruises chose my story to post on their web site as one of their top 50 travel experiences.  Check out the link below for my story.

http://50essentialexperiences.com/2011/05/30/kelly-hess/

Safety Sunday

Credit card safety tips
 Before you leave home follow these simple steps to ensure smooth sailing:

1. Notify your credit card (and debit card) companies about your travel plans. They will need to know the dates and countries. This will help them spot any suspicious activity.

2. Ask if your credit card has any fees for foreign transactions both as a credit card or for ATM withdrawals. Typically with a credit card there is a percentage fee. I have one card that charges 2% and one that is free. Guess which one I used as my primary card? For ATM fees it is typically a flat dollar amount like $2.00 and/or a percentage fee on top of that.

3. Ask about any rewards you get. My Capital One card gives pretty decent rewards and has no fees. I can typically end up paying for my hotel or at least my rental car with my rewards points. So pick the card that will save you the most money.

4. Clean out your wallet. I always take out any credit cards I wont need on my trip like my Macy's or Home Depot cards. Make sure to store them in a safe place though.

5. Scan the front and back of the credit cards you are taking along with your passport and ID. Email it to yourself on any web based email system, then you can have easy access to the information if you need it.
*** Also, make sure you have a good password for your email account, nothing to easy. ***

While you are on vacation, you should have no problems. But here are my last two tips…

6. Always process transactions in local currency. It may sound convenient have them process it is US dollars, but there will more than likely be a fee for it.

7. Keep really good record of your receipts. If you don't get a receipt for something you use your card for, ask for one. If they can't provide one, make note of the dollar amount, store name and address of the store, I've also asked for a business card and wrote the amount on the back.

Be safe, have fun!

Travel Tip Tuesday

Here is a special tech-tip Tuesday.

A laptop uses a lithium-ion battery, known as Li-Ion in the industry. It typically will last one to three years, but you can ease the aging process with proper care and maintenance.


Recharging Guidelines:

Recharge your laptop by placing it in the docking station or plugging it into the wall charger.

Overall, a series of partial discharge cycles is better for Li-Ion batteries than a single full discharge. Recharging at a 10% to 20% charge level is best.

Periodically, you need to let the battery run down completely. A full discharge every 30 charges will help the battery’s fuel gauge remain accurate.

Want to know more?

You can learn how lithium-ion batteries work at howstuffworks.com.

Thrifty Thursday

Back to school shopping means travel shopping

Do you ever think about your college days and life in the dorm? Does it remind you of the size of a cruise ship stateroom?

While most parents are stocking up on dorm sized accessories and schools supplies for their kids, I'm stocking up on my travel necessities...

Here are my top 10 back to school/ travel buys:

10-Shelf Hanging Fabric Shoe Rack (hangs in the closet)

Pop-Up Hamper

Compact Fabric Steamer

Over the Door Organizer - 24 Pockets for shoes and accessories (I hang it in the bathroom for storage)

18 Pocket Hanging Shoe Bag (hangs in the closet)

Composition Books (great travel journal)

Backpack (great on a hike or touring a city, also good as a carry on bag.)

Books (on travel, foreign languages, history)

Pens, Pencils and paper, notebooks. (all good stuff to have)

Printable labels (make your own address labels)

Keep and eye out on your Sunday sale ads to see when these go on sale. When they are cheap, stock up on them. Happy Shopping!

Thrifty Thursday

Thrifty Do-gooder Deed

With all of the sales for back to school shopping pick up supplies for someone in need. Office supply stores usually have specials to get you in and shopping like a 10 pack of pencils or spiral notebooks for 1¢. Look for specials like this that don’t cost much and stock up on them. Donate half to a local low income school and save half for your next vacation.

Once on vacation look for a church, school or local family to donate my supplies to. You meet some great people and help people that need it. I have received some of the city tips and restaurant recommendations from people this way.

Thrifty Thursday

Sign up for Ebates for cash back on many of your travel purchase.  The great thing is you can still use your normal coupons for extra savings as you always do.  There are over 1200 stores, but here are a few travel related places that offer anywhere from 1 – 20% cash back…

• Marriott Hotels and Resorts
• Hotwire
• Enterprise Rent a Car
• Orbitz
• United Airlines
• Air France Airlines
• Alaska Airlines
• Avis Rental Car

Thrifty Thursday

Save a dollar, travel more…

Today I’ll focus on saving energy. These simple tips will not only save you money, they are good for the environment. This helps save the planet so we have better places to travel to. Here are a few tips to save money at home so you have more money to spend on traveling.

We’ve all heard that changing to compact fluorescent light bulbs saves money. Did you know that a CFL bulb will save you about $30 over its lifetime and pay for itself in 6 months? It uses 75% less energy and lasts about 10 times longer than an incandescent bulb.

Not using it? Unplug it! If you unplug devices when you are not using them you can save on average 4-5% off your energy bill.

Turn down the temperature on your water heater to 120˚ F. When it comes time to replace your water heater look into a tank less water heater, they don’t waste energy keeping the water hot.

Check your air filter every month in your house. If the filter is dirty, change it. At a minimum, change the filter every 3 months. A dirty filter will slow down air flow and waste energy making the system work harder.

Turn on the fan. When you are in the room, turn on the fan, this can make the room feel 4˚ cooler so you can up the temperature on your thermostat. Don’t leave the fan on when you leave the room though.

Set your washer to wash the clothes in cold water. This will save money on water heating and your clothes will last longer.

If you have sunlight coming through a window, plant a tree that will shade the window. If you can’t, make sure the shades are closed during the heat of the day and when sunlight shines directly in.

Thrifty Thursday

Save a dollar, travel more…

Why use more when less will do?

Here are a few tips on using fewer resources to save money.

Cut your dryer sheets in half. I’ve been doing this for a while and have never noticed a difference.

Use less soap. I use half or the recommended laundry soap or add some water to bottle. I’ve never noticed my clothes less clean.

Refill please. Everyone likes the convenience of bottled water, but why do you need a new bottle every time? I have a filtered water pitcher in my refrigerator to refill my bottle when it is empty.

Recycle. You probably pay a tax on bottles and cans when you buy them, so get your money back when you are done. I typically make $80 a year in recycling plastic bottles, glass and cans.

Buy a shower caddy. It’s a plastic dispenser that you push the button for a small amount of shampoo, conditioner or shower gel. I use a lot less when I’m not just squirting a huge glob in my hand.

Thrifty Thursday

Save a dollar, travel more…

Are you on a water meter? Here are a few tips on saving water and the environment that will put a few dollars back in your wallet. Even if you are not on a meter, water is something we should all be trying to limit our use of.

While waiting for the water to heat up use the cold water for filling the dog’s water bowl, watering a plant, or filling a water pitcher.

Water your grass and plants early in the morning so the water does not evaporate. You can probably water less this way also.

Check your automatic sprinklers. Do you have water running down the gutter? Try watering a few minutes less so you are not wasting water.

Make sure your sprinklers are in good working order and not leaking water down the drain.

Install low flow aerators on your showers and faucets. Inexpensive and simple to install, low-flow shower heads and faucet aerators can reduce water consumption as much as 50%, and reduce your energy cost of heating the water by as much as 50%.

Use a quick or short cycle on your dishwasher and clothes washer. Everything comes out just as clean and you use less water and energy.

Turn off the faucet while brushing your teeth.

Where am I Wednesday

5 Days in St. Thomas, USVI

Depending on where you are flying from this can be a long flight, so be sure to check out the in-flight comfort kit & stretches.  This is a perfect trip for a girlfriend getaway or a romantic trip. 

The best websites for information on St. Thomas are: www.usvi.net/usvi/stt.html

I split this flight up with an evening in Florida or Atlanta because it is a long flight.  If you go straight to St. Thomas, use the optional day 5 & 6 at the end.

Day 1

This last time I flew Delta and had time in Atlanta, Georgia.   My flight landed in Atlanta at 2:00.  We chose a 2 bedroom suite at the

Residence Inn Atlanta Airport North/Virginia Avenue

as we were a party of 3 women.  It was a perfect hotel for us to stretch out in with a living room and kitchen.  The hotel also includes a great buffet breakfast and first night welcome kit with popcorn.  I highly recommend this hotel for anyone.  It’s a great location by the airport and a quick cab ride into the city center.

Take a cab into the downtown area.  If you have time, check out the Georgia Aquarium.  They have a fantastic display of marine life.  If you don’t, like us visit the Coca Cola museum.  It’s open a little later and does not take as long to go through.  Don’t forget to visit the tasting room where you can try sodas from different countries and pick up your free souvenir bottle of coke.  Afterwards take a stroll through the Olympic park and have dinner at the Hard Rock Café.  There are plenty of options for dinning in this area.    

Day 2

Fill up at breakfast, pack up and head to the airport.  Our flight departed at 10:20 and landed in St. Thomas at 2:00.  If you have the money, splurge for the Ritz Carlton.  It is a fantastic hotel and there are great views. Many amenities are also included.  The hotel is 8.5 miles from the airport.  There is a small secluded bay at the hotel.  It’s not the greatest beach but it was never crowded. 

For a less expensive hotel, check out the Frenchman's Reef & Morning Star Marriott Beach Resort.  It is 6 miles from the airport. 

Spend the rest of your afternoon exploring the hotel, checking out the shops, and having dinner.  There is not really anything in walking distance so unless you have a car I would stick to the hotel.  After dinner snorkel in the bay, swim in the pool or relax in the hot tubs.  Maybe take in a spa treatment if they have any openings (or call ahead for an appointment).  It’s a great way to relax after a flight.

Day 3

Spend the day in Charlotte Amalie, the capital of the Virgin Islands.  Go to the visitor’s center first and check out any discounts or coupons.  Also pick up a walking map.  Plan to make stops at the Camille Pissaro House, The Afro-Caribbean Drum Center and Museum www.acdrumcenter.com, Fort Christian, Haagensen House, The Seven Arches Museum and the Mango Tango Art Gallery.  Make sure to leave plenty of time for shopping.  U.S. citizens are allowed a duty-free shopping quota of $1,600 in St. Thomas.  If you are shopping for jewelry this is a great place, but don’t be afraid to haggle the prices down.

Have lunch at the Banana Tree Grille for great views and seafood.  Next take the 99 Steps up to Blackbeard's Castle.  This is one of many staircases dating back to the early 1700s.  It takes a while and is good exercise, but the views are worth the climb.

For dinner try some local cuisine, the island is known for great seafood.  I was told the banana daiquiri also came from St. Thomas.  If you have a large party, try Duffy’s Love Shack for late night entertainment.  The drinks are fun and the music is loud.  I do not recommend this bar to single or small groups of women.  Be careful, watch your drinks, watch your friends and have a good time.  DO NOT for any reason leave with anyone you did not come with! 

Day 4

Take the full-day excursion to St. John for shopping and snorkeling at Trunk Bay. Enjoy sailing throughout the Caribbean waters aboard the Lady Lynsey, the Ritz Carleton’s 53-foot catamaran.  All of their cruises include cocktails and hors d'oeuvres.  Make sure to look into this on your first day to make reservations.

While on St. John make sure to snorkel at Caneel Bay and try the buffet lunch at the Caneel Bay Beach Terrace.

Once you are back at the hotel enjoy the amenities they provide like paddle boats, kayaks, hobie cats and windsurfers and snorkel equipment.  Swim in the pool and enjoy a cocktail in a lounge.  While we were snorkeling there were two sea turtles in the bay.

Day 5 (optional)

To see the 33 sq. mile island, rent a car from Budget Rent-a-Car, Discount Car Rental or Dependable Car Rental. Take the drive up the circling and winding hills. Visit Drake's Seat for great views and the lovely restored St. Peter Greathouse Estate & Garden.  Just below Drake's Seat is the beautiful Magens Bay Beach, take some time to snorkel here.

Spend the rest of the day exploring the island's South and North Coasts stopping at the Havensight area to go up the Paradise Point Tramway. The views are stupendous. Follow the southern Route 30 and then Route 32 to Red Hook to watch the ferries going to and from St. John. There are several restaurants and shops in the area to stroll through. From Red Hook, head west along Route 38 past the luxury resorts. Turn right on Route 42 and then onto Route 40 for a ride on

Valdemar Hill Drive

, this road provides lovely vistas of Charlotte Amalie below.

Day 5 or optional Day 6

If you have a later flight, ask for a late check out.  Get most of your packing done and then check out the Coral World Ocean Park.  The Sea Lion Encounter is fantastic along with the Sea Trek Helmet Dive.  There is not a huge selection of food so plan on eating before and after. 

Make sure you leave plenty of time to get back to the hotel and shower before heading to the airport for your flight home. 

Where am I Wednesday

Short City Report

Solvang, California

Here is a cute little city in a very unexpected place, In Santa Barbara, California.

DO:

Visit the visitors center! You are a visitor. The day we went we got free postcards, coupons for free wine tasting, and $1 ice cream cones. We also picked up a great walking map.

Go to the Missions. We went to Mission La Perisima and Mission Santa Inez. I highly recommend Mission La Perisima, it is the best bang for your buck and beautifully restored.

Ask your hotel for restaurant suggestions and coupons.

Always ask any discounts (senior, AAA, AARP).

Shop around. Many of the stores offered the same items for different prices. Also, many of the "Solvang" souvenirs were just labeled with a Solvang sticker.

Do look at the roof tops for storks, they are good luck.

Do visit Olson's Danish Village Bakery & Coffee Shop for a breakfast treat.

Pick a hotel that includes free breakfast. The Solvang Inn & Cottages included breakfast at Olson's.

DON'T:

Don't expect the stores to always be open. The shops and restaurants seemed to open and close when they wanted and there were very few stores that actually posted their hours.

If you stay in a hotel on

Mission Drive

don't get a room close to the street. Ask for your room to be as far away from

Mission Drive

as possible. There is a lot of street noise at night.

Don't miss the Heidelberg Inn Restaurant & Beergarden for great beer, meatballs, and chicken cordon bleu.

Don't forget to research the Internet before you go. www.solvangusa.com is a good place to start.

Don't forget a sweatshirt. Even in July the evenings seemed to get cold cold when you are sitting out having a beer. If you do forget one, there are plenty of places to buy one.

Hotels:

We stayed at The Solvang Inn & Cottages. There were positives and negatives about this hotel. I would recommend the hotel, but maybe not the same family unit that we had. It was a room with 2 bedrooms and 1 bathroom.

+ Good location. Right at the beginning of

Mission Drive

.

+ Included free breakfast and sample of cookies.

+ Friendly people.

+ Good value.

- Ask for a room further away from the noisy street.

- The showers fluctuated from scalding hot to freezing cold every minute and had very low water pressure.

- The beds are old and were like sleeping on a lopsided marshmallow.

- Very small toilet area.

Where am I Wednesday

5 Days in Cancún, Mexico

Depending on where you are flying from this can be a long flight, so be sure to check out the in-flight comfort kit & stretches. Also pack a few snacks because most airlines won’t feed you. The best websites for information on Cancun are: http://www.cancunmx.com/, http://www.cancun.info/, http://www.cancun.com/, and http://www.go2cancun.com/.

Day 1:

We arrived at 3:30 pm and had a 20 minute drive to the hotel zone (Zona Hotelera). I recommend staying at the Hyatt Caribe Hotel. The rates were very reasonable and the hotel had all of the amenities needed. I’ve also stayed at the Le Blanc and do not recommend this all-inclusive hotel, although the spa was great the food and drinks were not. The room we had at the Hyatt Caribe was big with two queen size beds and a great view overlooking the pool and ocean.

For dinner I recommend Jimmy Buffet’s Margaritaville for a great time. The drinks and entertainment were fantastic. The employees get the visitors involved with the show by dressing people up as cheeseburgers and parading around the room. They also make balloon hats of all sizes for everyone. The food was nothing to write home about the entertainment was a blast. They also take pictures at your table that you can buy and they have a gift shop.

Day 2:

Get up early and head to the Dolphin Discovery in Riviera Maya. Pick up some brochures in the hotel lobby to read during the drive, you might find something interesting to do. It’s about a 45 minute drive, but the facility is great. You can swim with dolphins, manatees and sea lions! You can even buy pictures and videos of your adventure. The videos are well made and they let you preview at the end of your swim. There are also shops and restaurants for you to spend money at. I would plan to spend at least four hours there.

Head back to the hotel zone for an afternoon of shopping at Kukulcan Plaza, it’s the most exclusive and luxurious shopping center in all of Cancun. For dinner there are plenty of selections in the plaza. Try Bubba Gump’s for dinner and Pat O’Brien’s for after dinner drinks and entertainment.

Day 3:

Start the day early again for a tour to Chichen Itza. It is a 2 ½ hour ride, so I suggest an 8 am departure to get there before the tour buses that show up around noon. Pack a granola bar or snack for the ride. Plan to stay there for 3 hours. Visit the town, buy a few gifts and have lunch in the town of Chichen-Itza. On the way back to Cancun make a stop at Valladolid. It’s a cool little town with a colonial flavor and locals still wearing the typical dress of the Mayas.

If you make it back in time opt for a sunset parasailing tour. There is nothing like sailing high in the sky over Cancun at sunset. Spend the evening at the hotel pool or playing on the beach. The Hyatt Caribe has a swim up bar and food outside.

Day 4:

A day trip on a Catamaran to Isla Mujeres is a fun trip. The Catamarans leave just at the end of the hotel zone so you can take the bus to the end, they run all of the time and cost less than .70 cents each. The tours are typically all day and can include activities like drinks, snorkeling at the coral reefs, petting sharks, relaxing on the beach, a buffet lunch, free time to walk, shop, or rent a golf cart to explore the island, and spinnaker sailing. They also take photos that you can purchase. Typically you arrive back to the marina around 5:00pm.

Stop by the Plaza Forum by the Sea for some last minute shopping. There are several restaurants, nightclubs and shops on 3 floors. For dinner try the Hard Rock Café. They have a live band Friday & Saturday nights.

Day 5:

Sleep in, what the heck, you are on vacation and it is your last day. Depending on your flight home try something new today like jet skis or parasailing. Or don’t do anything today. Lay on the beach or pool with an umbrella drink or have a spa treatment. Just don’t forget to leave time to pack; you still have a 20-30 minute drive back to the airport.

Where am I Wednesday

Short City Report

Atlanta, Georgia

If you fly Delta Airlines, you have probably been to Atlanta. But, have you ever been out of the airport? Last year I had the chance to extend a layover and spend some time in this city.

DO:

Visit the visitor’s center! You are a visitor. This is a great place to get coupons and discounts along with ideas on what to do and where to go.

Go to the World of Coca-Cola Museum. It was fantastic fun for adults and kids. Plus all of the free soda samples you can handle and a free bottle to take home. Just make sure you drink it before you carry it on the plane (it's more than 3 ounces).

Spend time at the Georgia Aquarium. The displays were extraordinary!

Take a walk through the Centennial Olympic Park just across the street from the aquarium and museum. They were filming a movie the day we were there.

Ask your hotel for restaurant suggestions and coupons.

Always ask any discounts (senior, AAA, AARP).

Stay in a hotel by the airport for cheaper prices and just take a cab. Once you are in the city center you can see most of the sights on foot.

DON'T:

Don't walk around at night by yourself. We took a cab into the city center from the hotel and kept his card. When we were almost done with dinner we gave him a call to pick us up.

Don't forget to research the Internet before you go. A good place to start is www.atlanta.net.

Don't forget a rain jacket. In May it was warm but in the evening there was a sudden down pour that lasted for hours.

We stayed at

Residence Inn Atlanta Airport North/Virginia Avenue

. We got a 2 bedroom suite with 2 bathrooms, a living room and kitchen. It’s really the same price as getting two rooms but this way you have the nice common area also.

+ Complimentary shuttle service to Hartsfield Jackson Airport

+ Free hot breakfast buffet, free Internet access & evening socials (Mon-Wed)

+ Complimentary on-site parking

+ Good value

+ Friendly staff that helped out with getting cabs

Travel Tip Tuesday

If you have a spare room start thinking about your packing early.

First, check the weather for your destination. Then check for any dress codes. Do you need formal wear for a cruise? Something to cover your shoulders in a church?

Plan your days. Do you know what you are doing each day? What you will need to wear?  Start laying your clothes out so you can see everything. When you have everything you think you need put back 25% of it (my key to not over packing). You should be able to fit all of your clothes in a carry on suitcase without it being expanded. You'll want to expand it to fit all of your souvenirs in.

If you are going somewhere cold like Alaska plan on layers. You can always where a pair of jeans or sweatshirt more than once. Bring plenty of t-shirts to wear underneath.

If you are going somewhere warm like the Caribbean plan on taking more than one set clothes per day. You may also want an afternoon shower. The good thing about warm weather clothes is that they don't take up much room.

Travel Tip Tuesday

Never over pack! Not sure what amenities your hotels or cruise ships provide? Ask! First check their web site or any confirmation paperwork you have. If you can't find it there e-mail or call them. This way you don't fill your suitcase with unnecessary items like shampoo, shower gel or blow dryers.

I stayed at a hotel in Venice, Italy that said the rooms were supplied with a hair dryer. Well, what it should have said is there was one hair dryer at the front counter that you could borrow. Just one… for all to share. I was glad it was a small hotel and it always seemed to be available. I chalked it up to lost in translation, but it worked and I never went out with wet hair.

Safety Sunday

Now, I truly don’t believe the world is coming to an end soon, in 2012 or any time in my life but it does not hurt to be prepared. In the light of the recent tragedy in Japan many people have been asking me about a safety survival kit. With a little research, here is a list of what I’ve come up with. I also believe that a miniature version of the below list should be kept in your car and suit case while traveling. As always, be safe, be smart and have fun!

Emergency Supply List:

Start with a large water resistant tub that locks well. You will want to have enough supplies to keep you alive for at least 72 hours.

• Water, one gallon of water per person per day for at least three days, for drinking and sanitation
• Food, at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food
• Pet food, extra water, collapsible dog bowl, and sanitation bags for your pet
• Battery-powered / hand crank radio and a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert and extra batteries for both
• Flashlight and extra batteries, Light stick
• Whistle to signal for help
• Plastic sheeting and duct tape to shelter-in-place
• Moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties for personal sanitation
• Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities
• Can opener for food
• Household non-scented chlorine bleach and medicine dropper – Diluted 1/9th bleach/water = disinfectant. Or 16 drops per gallon to sanitize drinking water.
• Personal hygiene items including soap and toothpaste
• Mess kits, paper cups, plates and plastic utensils, paper towels
• Various sized Ziploc bags
• One emergency blanket per person and pet
• A 20 foot or longer nylon rope

In large space-saver plastic bags (the kind that you roll the excess air out of to save space):
• Complete change of clothing including a long sleeved shirt, long pants and sturdy shoes.
• One towel per person or pet

In large Ziploc bags:
• Matches & lighter
• Paper and pencil
• Dust mask (one per person) to help filter contaminated air
• First aid kit and a first aid book
• Local map
• Cell phone with chargers
• Prescription medications and glasses
• Cash and change
• Important documents i.e.: copies of insurance policies, ID and bank account records
• A pack of cards or other small activities

Be ready by doing these three key things: get an emergency supply kit, make a family emergency plan and learn about the different types of emergencies that could occur and the appropriate responses.

Travel Tip Tuesday

Get a collapsible hamper for trips like cruises or if you are staying in one hotel and you are doing laundry. They usually fold flat and take up very little room in your suitcase. It also makes transporting your laundry to the laundry room a breeze.

Speaking of laundry, if you are going on a cruise pack your quarters in a baggie and use them for laundry. Cruise ships often run out of quarters in the laundry room. Don't forget to pack your own dryer sheets either; they are costly in the vending machine.

Also, try to collect free samples of laundry soap or buy the travel size (3 oz or less) to bring with you. This will also save money. If you are checking luggage (which I don't recommend) you can fill a plastic water bottle with laundry soap. If it's the liquid kind make sure to put the bottle in a baggie too. You don't want soapy clothes.

Travel Tip Tuesday

Don’t take the whole book. I love buying travel guides, but typically only find a few pages that I really want to take with me. Like a list of recommended restaurants or sites that you want to see. Photocopy the important pages to pack and leave the rest of the book at home. Once you are done with those pages, recycle them or give them to a traveler that has just arrived.

Buy a composition book. You can usually pick them up pretty cheap on back to school sales. Staple a few envelopes inside and you have a perfect travel journal with pockets to hold museum tickets and mementos for cheap.

Travel Tip Tuesday

Pack like a boy scout, but don’t pack the whole medical kit. Here are a few things you should never leave home with out.  I like to get the single use size and put a few of each in my bag.

Ibuprofen or aspirin

Antacid tablets

Band-aids

Topical antibiotic ointment like Neosporin

Sunscreen and bug repellant

Anti-diarrheal like Kaopectate

A small flashlight

Collapsible drinking cup

Travel sized package of tissues

Anti-bacterial wipes

Stain eraser pen

Travel Tip Tuesday

The little black dress

A black sleeveless cotton dress is always the first thing in my suitcase.  It could be worn in a multitude of ways. 

During the day:

Great for sightseeing on a hot day.  The light cotton will keep you cool.  Add a bright colored shawl for sun protection or going in churches. 

Going to a nice lunch or upper scale resort?  This dress is the perfect option to still look classy but not be over dressed.  Add a pair of summer sandals to keep the look casual.

For colder weather try a pair of leggings and boots with a black jacket. 

Hanging around the pool on a cruise ship or on the beach at the Ritz?  A pair of flip flops and a sun hat makes this dress the perfect option.

In the evening:

Dress up with a pair of black heels and a nice necklace.  This is perfect for a cruise dinner or night out on the town.

For a little more formal look add a black beaded shawl and hand clutch. 

Travel Tip Tuesday

The security wallet

There are several different styles of these. The ones with the little strap that loops around you belt and slides inside your pants, the belt style that fits under your pants or the round the neck style that fits inside your shirt.

I personally like the belt style. The around the neck irritates me. Plus, it seems more obvious reaching your hands down your shirt than looking down around your belt line. Plus with the around the neck ones you have to pull the whole pouch out to get into it. The belt ones you can just unzip and easily pull something out.

Now, what to keep in here…

□        Money. Any large denominations of money both foreign and domestic.

□        Credit Cards. I usually take 2 credit cards and a bank card on vacation. Both of these stay in the security pouch at all times.

□        Passport. I keep my passport or a copy of my passport on me at all times when sightseeing. If I have a safe in my hotel, I keep the original in the safe. If not, I carry the original with me and a copy in my luggage.

□        Drivers license or ID.

□        List of important facts on a business card size paper: Hotel address and phone number. Cell phone number or emergency number. Allergies and medications (with dosage). This information should be in English and the language of the country you are visiting.

□        Blank memory card for my camera.

□        I always keep some small money in my day bag for small purchases or snacks, but not enough that I would be upset about loosing.

Travel Tip Tuesday

The Day Bag

Here is a list of the top 10 things that I always carry with me when sightseeing for the day. I always use an over the shoulder hobo style bag that zips or buttons shut. This seems to be the most secure way for me.

Bottle of water – #1 rule, stay hydrated!

Baggie of trail mix – to snack on between meals

Map or pages from a guide book

List and addresses of places I want to see for the day with open and close times– get caught up in the excitement and you could miss your favorite place

Hand sanitizer & anti-bacterial wipes

Change and toilet paper – some places will charge to use the public toilet

Camera w/ extra memory card and batteries

Business card of the hotel I’m staying at – incase I get lost

My personal business card – good for making new friends

Small notebook and pencils – Endless uses….

Never put you valuables in your day bag. I always use a security wallet that wraps around my waist and stays in my pants. Tune in next week to see what to keep in here.

Mind Saving Monday

Looking for an easy way to keep the lids on you lotion or shampoo from exploding open on a plane?  Get a package of small balloons.  Simply stretch a balloon over the entire lid of the bottle.  The balloon should be a pretty tight fit.  Then put all of your bottles in a zip lock bag.  If the bottle top leaks you can easily squeeze the contents back into the bottle from the balloon with no mess.

Are you afraid of being stuck on the tarmac for 12 hours?  Especially with winter blizzards it is not uncommon to be sitting for longer than we want.  Here is a list of my favorite things I like to pack in a lunch bag to snack on in the plane (also great for sitting in the airport too):

1. My favorite homemade trail mix
2. My favorite granola mix
3. A few oranges or apples – fruits with a hard skin and long shelf life
4. Crystal Light or Instant Tea mixes
5. Cheese and crackers or peanut butter with crackers
6. Fruit snacks
7. A few pieces of bread and peanut butter

I also take an empty water bottle with me to the airport and once I’m through security I fill the bottle up at a restaurant or water fountain.  That way I know that I will have plenty of water on the flight.

Don’t forget a good book or a few movies downloaded to an iPod to help pass the time away.

Mind Saving Monday

Photo Tip

If you are using a digital camera then you can probably take video too. Try adding a video clip for special places. Here are a few tips...

Interview someone: Ask a local if they can tell you their favorite thing about the city and if you can video tape them.

Make an introduction: Videotape yourself introducing the city you are in and talk about where you are at.

360 degree panorama: If you have a good height advantage start the camera and spin a circle (very slowly, you don't want to make your audience sick).

Record music: Video tape a street performance or music playing as a good memory. Just make sure you ask permission first.

*** Don't ever give a stranger your camera to video tape you or take your picture. This is the quickest way to loose your camera ***

When you get home make a photo DVD and add in your fun clips for a little extra pizzazz.