Tag Archives: summer travel

Saving on Summer Travel—-It is Possible

As long as you don’t fly American Airlines. All kidding aside news on the travel front has been anything but encouraging this week. From record high gas prices (the cost for a gallon of unleaded fuel has topped the $4 mark in dozens of major cities across the country) to insane added fees tacked on by airlines that claim to be suffering in a slumping economy, you practically need to win the lottery to afford to take a family vacation these days. Luckily there are some sectors of the travel industry that are helping families salvage their summer vacations. Several … Continue reading →

One More Reason to Visit New York City

Who says you have to travel all the way to Hawaii to experience the beauty of awe-inspiring waterfalls? Not New York City tourism officials. According to city leaders, the Big Apple is the place to be if you want to see spectacular waterfalls in unlikely places… like near the Brooklyn Bridge. Scandinavian artist Olafur Eliasson is creating four manmade waterfalls on the shores of the city’s East River and city officials are hoping tourists will flock to them in the months to come. The falls will feature water coursing over scaffolding 90 to 120 feet high at tourist friendly locales … Continue reading →

Summer Fun-—More Wild and Wacky Family Friendly Festivals

Where can you spend long summer days watching mermaids stroll down the street, viewing grown men spit watermelon seeds 100 feet into the air or snapping pictures of ladies bobbing for pig’s feet? Believe it or not some of these wacky events could be taking place in your own backyard. Tis the season for hometown summer festivals and some are far more creative than others. Check out the following wild and wacky family friendly events designed to infuse some fun into your ordinary summer: GEORGIA On July 5th East Dublin, Georgia becomes a hotbed for rednecks. Thousands of hearty souls … Continue reading →

Summer Fun—-Wild and Wacky Family Friendly Festivals

A couple of years ago I ran through a list of some of the tastiest summer food festivals I’d ever had the pleasure of attending. This year I’m going wild. Wild for wacky adventures waiting to be had at some of the nation’s most unique hometown festivals. If you are looking for summer fun that will keep you smiling well into the winter consider heading north, south, east and west to these family friendly festivals: CALIFORNIA The Horned Toad Derby in Coalinga, California draws hundreds of thousands of BBQ lovers to town during the second to the last weekend in … Continue reading →

Oregon Road Trip

In a previous blog I noted that there are ways to tour the state of Oregon without blowing out your entire travel budget for the year. As I mentioned earlier, U.S. Highway 101 in Oregon takes you by some of the Beaver State’s most incredible scenery. The well-traveled road also leads you to some of the area’s most affordable lodgings (think $35-$50 per room per night). You can save more by setting up camp in one of the state’s lush parks. From Astoria, Oregon take the drive south to save even more in Newport. The historic waterfront district has a … Continue reading →

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 →

What to Know Before You Take Off This Summer

Bankrupt airlines, grounded planes, record high-fuel prices, and delayed flights. Those are just some of the issues you can expect to deal with during the busy summer travel season. If you are one of the millions of travelers planning to take flight in the next few months the outlook for a smooth ride looks bleak. Here’s what travel experts say you can expect if you’re departing on a family adventure this summer: DELAYS AND CANCELLATIONS The FAA’s maintenance audits will continue through June 30th meaning the possibility that your flight could be delayed or cancelled is quite high. For those … Continue reading →