Island Hopping: Nantucket

I grew up on an island and I would be a rich woman today if I could have collected a dime from every person who uttered these words to me over the last three decades: “Hawaii is a great place to visit, but I sure couldn’t afford to live here.” I have a feeling that residents of Nantucket get a lot of the same. The only difference is that most of them are already rich. It’s true; statistics show that most of the island’s residents are second-homeowners who spend the peak summer season in their multi-million dollar oceanfront pads. If … Continue reading →

Saving on Your Summer Vacation—Oregon

Now that you know how to save money on your summer vacation to California let’s head north to the breathtaking state of Oregon. I like to call this trip beauty on a budget. Oregon’s coastal highway provides access to some of the most spectacular views in the nation and the best part—they’re free. All of the beaches along Oregon’s coast are open to the public and access is guaranteed by law. Which means you can pull over, park, unpack your picnic and spend the afternoon whale watching, looking for agates, crabbing, surfing, strolling, or exploring shipwrecks anywhere along the 363-mile … Continue reading →

Boston Wants Your Business

In these tough economic times some lodgings are pulling out all the stops to fill guest rooms. Some are a bit cleverer than others, but for the most part the offerings are designed to give you more bang for your buck. Hotels in the Boston area have ramped up their promotions in just the last two weeks; perhaps hoping you will spend some of your tax rebates or part of your economic stimulus package on a vacation for the whole clan. If you are looking to getaway to Beantown and want to save some cash on your hotel room check … Continue reading →

Top Reasons to Visit Branson, Missouri

I’ve traveled to Missouri dozens of times (in college I dated a guy who attended Drury University) and while I’ve visited some of the “Show Me State’s” most popular attractions I was still a bit taken aback by a recent statistic that made headlines regarding Branson, Missouri. The family-friendly Ozark resort town, which is known for its country music roots, attracted more than 8 million visitors to the area last year alone. So what’s the draw? I’ve compiled this list of reasons why people from around the world are putting Branson at the top of their must-visit lists: Affordable. Branson … Continue reading →

Travel Tidbits: Good News for Sports Lovers and Bad News for Smokers

GOOD NEWS FOR SPORTS LOVERS I grew up in a house with four guys and every one of them was a sports fanatic (and still is). If your brother, father, son, or husband has dreamed of taking the wheel of a NASCAR racecar or slamming a stick into a NHL hockey puck coming at him at 120 mph make sure your summer travel plans include a stop in New York City. That’s where your favorite sports nut (male or female) can experience what life is like as a professional athlete. On May 7th the Sports Museum of America will open … Continue reading →

Travel Tidbits: The Merry Month of May… Maybe

HAWAII May Day is Lei Day in Hawaii. And this year visitors to the 50th State were given a chance to help the Islands make history. A call out was sent to hotels on the Hawaiian Island of Oahu asking tourists to team up with locals to help create the world’s longest lei. Thousands gathered at Kapiolani Park in Waikiki today to string together a flower garland that stretched for more than a mile. When all was said and done the lei measured 5,336 feet in length and video, photos and witness statements documenting the project will be sent to … Continue reading →

Dive Into Summer

Over in the PHOTOGRAPHY blog I just wrapped up a series of posts on underwater pictures. It wasn’t until a few weeks ago when I was watching my daughter frolic on one of Hawaii’s most beautiful beaches that I considered experimenting with an underwater camera. She loves the water and can almost swim on her own so it won’t be long before the only opportunity I will get to snap her at the beach will be underwater as she freestyles away from me. The other reason I am considering taking some underwater photography classes is because I grew up in … Continue reading →

Sunny Travel Funnies—-Cross Country Crack-Ups

It’s been a while since I wrote my last installment of the Sunday Travel Funnies, but this week it’s back… with some major crack-ups. We begin in Jacksonville, Florida where a driver there caused an accident that would no doubt have Bill Cosby shaking his head. According to police, a truck driver narrowly escaped serious injury (he did sustain injuries but has since been released from the hospital) this week when his truck smashed into another vehicle and flipped over on a local highway spilling thousands of Jell-O snack packs on I-95. Police say the truck driver lost control of … Continue reading →

Paradise Lost

I knew it was too good to last. Whereas I was hopeful that inter-island airfare in Hawaii would remain affordable at least until my daughter graduated from high school (in about 15 years), the recent demise of Aloha Airlines all but obliterated that dream. On March 31st, Aloha Airlines, a legend (think 60 years plus) in Hawaiian aviation, abruptly stopped flying. Two days later ATA, an airline that offered cheap flights from the West Coast to Hawaii shut down as well. The combined work stoppage meant Hawaii lost 15% of its service from the mainland, or about 1.1 million seats … Continue reading →

Education Vacation: The National World War II Museum

It’s the one place I wished my grandfather could have visited before he died. My grandpa was a member of the U.S. Army’s highly decorated 100th Battalion, 442nd Infantry. It is the only remaining Infantry unit in the Army Reserve force structure. Many books have chronicled the heroic actions of the members of the 100th Battalion and 442nd Infantry. Many note that none have shed their blood more valiantly for America than the Japanese Americans who served in these units while fighting enemy forces in Europe during World War II. My grandfather was a proud member of this elite group … Continue reading →