Tag Archives: seasonal travel

Passover Vacations

Passover begins April 19th, but not everyone who celebrates the Jewish holiday will be doing so at home. According to my pal from high school who is now a chef at one of Hawaii’s top hotels, many people who observe Passover will be celebrating in paradise. Including the rabbi who will be overseeing food preparation done by my friend in the hotel’s kitchen. But it’s not just Hawaii’s five-star resorts that will be offering Passover seders for guests who plan their vacations to coincide with the holiday. A number of hotels and cruise lines the world over are also preparing … Continue reading →

Counting Down to 2008 in the Windy City

Where will you be bidding farewell to 2007? If you are visiting family in the Midwest and are looking for a memorable place to usher in 2008 then I would highly recommend heading to downtown Chicago. Some of my fondest New Year’s Eve memories have been made in Chi-town and I’m hoping to continue the tradition for years to come. In my previous blog I listed some family-friendly events taking place around the Windy City for parents with young children. If you have older children or were lucky enough to find a babysitter and are planning to hit the town … Continue reading →

Ringing in the New Year in Chicago

I may have never experienced New Year’s Eve in Times Square, but I have spent many wonderful December 31st’s in the Windy City. Whether you are visiting Chicago with your children or are enjoying a romantic holiday with your sweetie, my favorite Midwest metropolis has multiple New Year’s Eve events just ripe for the picking. Take a look: Family Fun at Navy Pier. If you have young children this is the place to be on New Year’s Eve. During the day Navy Pier hosts a variety of family-friendly activities including arts-and-crafts, live music and dancing contests. What I love about … Continue reading →

Holiday Travel Nightmares

In my previous blog Mother Nature vs. Holiday Travelers I discussed how the horrendous winter weather conditions wrecked havoc on millions of Americans trying to get home in time for Christmas. Here in Wisconsin we were slammed with rain, fog, ice, snow, and high winds that created white out conditions. To say it led to travel nightmares is a severe understatement. In fact, last night the local news profiled a family from Bosnia who has been living in the baggage claim area of the Milwaukee airport for past 8 days. In Chicago one couple reportedly spent 3 days in the … Continue reading →

Holiday Travel: Tips For a Smooth Flight

A year ago this week I was on a flight to Hawaii to spend Christmas with my family. (We actually flew out on December 23rd.) I prepped, planned and packed like a pro, but the brutal reality of flying during one the busiest travel weeks of the year is that you are at the mercy of the airline… and the nation’s air-travel system. If you are planning to take flight this week (or anytime between now and January 6th) you run a good chance of being delayed, missing a connection, or otherwise experiencing some type of travel inconvenience. While there … Continue reading →

The Most Amazing Holiday Light Displays

This weekend we are planning a trip to our local botanical garden to check out their holiday light show. It’s a Christmastime tradition in our family and my daughter can’t wait to climb on the horse drawn wagon again this year and take in the high-wattage spectacle. Each year the Green Bay Botanical Garden hosts a Festival of Lights. Even when it’s well below zero hearty Wisconsinites stroll the gardens to see more than 200,000 lights made to look like flowers, butterflies and babbling brooks. This year we are looking forward to seeing the new additions, including a giant dragon … Continue reading →

Affordable Winter Escapes-—Rhode Island

It’s not Iceland or Sweden, but there are still some great travel deals to be had in Newport, Rhode Island this winter. However, unlike Reykjavik where the seasonal activities are centered around outdoor plazas, Newport has offerings that are more my speed… slow and indoors. The city’s luxe mansions are dressed up for the holidays (inside and out) and Victorian inns that were once home to Newport’s elite now host guests from around the world. And the best part… during the off season (November-March) the rooms are surprisingly affordable. If you are looking for a travel deal check out the … Continue reading →

Ice Skating in Mexico

Perhaps it’s because I grew up in Hawaii that I found this next travel item so intriguing. I don’t know about you, but there’s just something about the image of thousands of Mexicans lacing up ice skates for the first time and collectively wobbling out onto a massive rink that brings a smile to my face. The scene played out for the world to see earlier this week when the tropical capital’s government tried to bring some holiday cheer to the traditionally chaotic metropolis. (I wish government officials in Hawaii had done the same when I was a kid.) City … Continue reading →

Affordable Winter Escapes—-Iceland

Well, it doesn’t take a genius to figure out why travel deals abound to this destination this time of year. As I continue my series on affordable winter escapes I’m spotlighting Reykjavik. The Icelandic capital city excels at embracing cold weather by offering a host of outdoor festivals and fun activities during a time when most of us are looking for the nearest fireplace and cup of hot chocolate. In Reykjavik family friendly events heat up in the winter months, most notably with Þrettándinn (or Twelfth Night) on January 6, which features Elfin-inspired dances, bonfires, and winter-inspired games for children. … Continue reading →

Christmastime in the Windy City

Consider yourself lucky if your holiday travel plans bring you anywhere near Chicago in the next few weeks. Okay, the traffic is nothing to cheer about, but the spectacular holiday events and attractions the Windy City offers during the month of December are virtually unparalleled. I listed some of my favorites in a previous blog and now I am back with more. Here are a few additional must-see holiday events you won’t want to miss: Christkindlmarket After a few minutes strolling around you may think you’ve been transported to the German Christmas Market in Nuremberg. But, alas, you’re still in … Continue reading →