Never mind being a bodyguard to Britney Spears or part of the burgeoning Jolie-Pitt clan, if you want a little attention when you’re out and about, try traveling with the Travelocity Roaming Gnome.

On my flight back to San Francisco yesterday, I had a very special companion in my hand luggage--an 18-inch garden gnome in a pointy red hat, who couldn’t have attracted more glances, stares, and chuckles if he’d tried. Normally, in the face of such blatant public scrutiny, I would have run straight to the restroom to check my teeth for spinach or my shoes for errant spools of toilet paper, wondering why everyone from kids in strollers to 89-year-old grandmothers had executed a double take as I passed. But with the Roaming Gnome tucked under my arm I quickly became accustomed to the attention. The little fellow’s a legend after all. He’s used to being recognized.

And flying with him is not without its privileges. A camera crew filming the security check at Dallas Fort Worth Airport zoomed in on the Gnome as we stood waiting in line. An airline worker asked if she could take a picture of him for her son (and then had to call said son to ask how to operate her camera phone.) A flight attendant, spotting the diminutive VIP tucked under my arm, broke into a grin and ushered us onto the plane to pre-board with the first-class passengers.

Lest you think, however, that the Roaming Gnome isn’t subject to the same security inspections as the rest of us when traveling by air, think again. With the Gnome seat-belted in between us during the rental car ride to the airport, my colleague and I remarked on the fact that his pointy red hat was missing the tiniest sliver of paint at the top. And as we placed him in the grey plastic bin for his ride through the X-ray scanner, it soon became obvious why. Repeated journeys through the machine had taken their toll on the top of his hat, which just touched the top of its roof as he rode through.

Forget all those luggage tags and accumulated air miles—a chipped hat, I think you’ll agree, is the mark of a true frequent traveler.

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Posted in Air Travel, Celebrities, Group & Companion, San Francisco, Security & Safety
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It’s that time of year when high school and college students are unleashed unto the world without their parents, to revel in freedom and foolishness, and to find within themselves their own limits and boundaries (or lack thereof).

While stations like MTV try to bank on this phenomena by broadcasting beachfront follies (and itsy bitsy bikinis) to the masses, the rest of us vacationers take note to stay as far from these scene-ster destinations as possible. But if you must venture into the heart of spring break territory during these peak partying months, I’ve got five travel tips to help you make it through.

1. Check with your hotel in advance to see whether it courts the spring-break crowds. Marketing brochures or web pages with phrases like “hot spot,” “where it’s at,” and “surrounded by fellow partiers” should be viewed as red flags. If you’re already locked into a reservation at a party-hearty hotel, then try to request a room on a quiet floor.
2. Look for hotels with age policies. Some hotels, cruise ships, and couples-only resorts, for example, require that you must be age 25 or over to stay there without a parent or guardian.
3. Look for hotels with limits on the number of guests allowed in each room. Four should be tops. Hotels that put up with more than that are best to be avoided.
4. Don’t be afraid to complain. Whether it’s 3:30am or 3:30pm, if there’s a wet t-shirt contest taking place by the pool, a steady stream of people wandering in and out of the room next door, and the sound of dancing feet coming from the room overhead--then call management and see what they can do to accommodate your preferences. Just keep in mind, it may mean moving to another resort or hotel.
5. When all else fails, say “serenity now” and bring an eye mask and ear plugs. Blackout curtains in the room are helpful, too.

Anyone else have any good tips or nightmare stories to share?

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Posted in Beaches, Holiday & Seasonal, Hotel Travel
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Those who know that I once went bungee jumping off the summit of some sort of manmade pier in Mexico may not believe me when I say that heights give me the chills. (That adventure, btw, was definitely a one time thing!) Needless to say, the idea of walking across a glass bridge towering 4,000 feet above the earth doesn’t appeal to this aversion of mine, but people lined up today to be one of the first to experience the Grand Canyon Skywalk. At a whopping $75 per person, that’s one pricey stroll, but the attraction is expected to lure travelers who visit the Las Vegas area for its unparalleled view of the Canyon.

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Posted in Las Vegas, Nature & Outdoors, Travel News
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Peppermint or strawberry scrub? Rosemary or sage and lemon wrap? If you’ve ever indulged in a day at the spa, you know that the menu reads more like the bill of fare at a decadent sweet shop rather than a list of services at a health resort. Even better, these treats are a calorie-free, guilt-free way to give your body a boost.

With more travelers focusing on health and wellness in recent years, Spa Finder surveyed travel agents and discovered that spa vacations are on the rise. Being a traveler who doesn’t exactly like to “rough it” while on vacation, I, too, contribute to the growing numbers.

More and more destinations are catering to spa enthusiasts (according to the aforementioned survey, the West Coast tops the list), but my most recent spa getaway included a day of indulgence at New Moon Spa in Eureka Springs, Ark., a historic destination nestled in the Ozark Mountains. Native American legend speaks of the magical healing powers of the springs, and tourists have been flocking to its quaint bed and breakfasts for more than a century, pampering themselves with hot mineral baths and herbal treatments. Although the entire menu at the spa was tempting, I treated myself to a rosemary mint body wrap and detoxifying facial. Following the sinful breakfast I ate at the B&B, my body needed a little revitalization!

Photo: Crescent Hotel, home of the New Moon Spa, in Eureka Springs, Ark.

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Posted in Health & Wellness, Polls & Studies, Spas
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So the doctor says you need a little work done on your…And this procedure, whatever it is your eyes, your hip, your kidney, it requires bed rest and will force you out of commission for a week, maybe more. It turns out that if you leave the country for this procedure you can save your insurance company serious moolah and have excellent service and a pretty view. Though you might suffer alone, perhaps convalescing in the Caribbean or the South of France or even Bangkok or Singapore wouldn't be so bad? Who knows. And given the luxurious potential of the surroundings, who cares? But speaking of care – the big question is will it be as good as it is here in our home nation? Now we've arrived at the heart of the medical tourism.

From what I've learned it depends. You'll have to do your own homework and not just trust your insurance corporation to tell you the "truth." Have your bags packed, is the take away from HR magazine's study that says this is a benefit that is likely to become more prevalent in times ahead. (Although you have to be a member to read the full study, the NYTimes reviewed their findings.)

Would you travel for your medical treatments? Have you? I hear you can have your eyes done in Argentina and after enjoy the great steak and Malbec wines. Tell me your thoughts and experiences.

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Posted in Health & Wellness, Travel Insurance
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I’m back from Las Vegas and am proud to say that I only lost $5. My Vegas experiences have varied widely, from the time my friends won big at the craps table and sprung for a hot tub suite, to the time I went with my parents to see Siegfried and Roy, to the time I was attending all-day work meetings. Through all these visits, though, one thing remains constant: this is a city that always outdoes itself, over and over again.

*Photo courtesy of Byron Lobos.

That idea that casinos and hotels should come in the shapes of castles, pirate ships, and distant cities is a unique product of the collective Vegas mind. But even with the freakishly patterned carpets and incredible kitschy-ness of it all--I can’t help but see it as, dare I say it? Art.

The artificiality of building a city in the middle of the desert, in a way, lends the perfect canvas. Pump enough water into it and you can have the gorgeous lakes of Bellagio or the canals of Venice. Casino money is a paintbrush that creates pyramids, shopping centers visited by Roman gods, and towers that scrape the stratosphere. The palate of colors relies heavily on showgirl sequins, neon lights, and the blur of the spinning roulette wheel--all intended to arrest your gaze, then dazzle, dash hopes, or delight.

Vegas is just so very Vegas, and it goes without saying that there’s nowhere else quite like it on Earth. It’s a city that revels in its own reputation. All at once, it’s a testament to riches gone rampant, an example of humankind’s conquest of nature, and a symbol of imagination (and yes, silliness) gone wild.

Like all art, you can love it or hate it, but the world needs it nonetheless.

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Posted in Casinos & Gambling, Entertainment, Hotel Travel, Las Vegas
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I’ve got one. You’ve probably got one. Pretty much every high schooler in the entire country has one, even if they’d rather their parents didn’t see the various party photos they regularly upload to it (I’m sure the feeling’s mutual.)

I’m talking about the MySpace profile, that reigning bastion of social networking that connects strangers with other strangers and then turns them into friends. With more than 100 million users, MySpace is currently the fifth most popular website in the world--third most popular in the U.S.--and a profile page on the site has long been a must-have accessory for any well-connected denizen of the Internet.

And now guess who else has got their own little space on MySpace? Why, Travelocity’s Roaming Gnome, of course.

And he’s a pretty popular fellow. Launched only a week ago, the Roaming Gnome's profile has already attracted a cult following of close to 2,000 “friends,” all of whom are throwing out good wishes and compliments like roses at a Bon Jovi concert (well, Bon Jovi in his prime). And who could blame them, really? After all, as a friend of the Gnome, I’m eligible for various travel perks, including deals and discounts. I can also download skins, IM avatars, and screensavers on his page, as well as watch videos and listen to ringtone clips. And if you’ve ever wondered what sort of movies the Travelocity mascot watches when he’s not out gallivanting across the world, you’ve found your answer. (So that’s who was responsible for the long wait for The Muppets Take Manhattan that one time you put it on your Netflix queue.)

If you have a second, pay the Roaming Gnome a visit in his new home at MySpace, and add him to your friend network. Doubtless, he’ll repay the favor. And then how cool will you look? It’s not just anyone who has a 300-year-old garden gnome and international traveler as one of their best buds, you know.

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Posted in Group & Companion, Guides & Planning, International Travel, Travel News
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You can set the clock back sooner but you can't fool me – I still feel that hum-drum feeling that I get every winter (albeit I usually get this in February) and thus I find myself desperate for a beach fix. So while I started looking for places to go I noticed something was up. The prices were down, surprisingly, to all kinds of beach destinations. I thought I should share my findings. Because really, what's better than a trip to the beach than a trip to the beach that's on sale?!

This March and April I'm seeing unanticipated deals to the Caribbean: as much as 25-50% off and great value deals like stay for 7 nights but pay for 5. Let me remind you that this is a year where you'll be hard pressed to find a hotel that's selling for less than it did last year. All around the globe hotel rates are higher than last year. With the exception perhaps in the Caribbean this spring. Now doesn't grabbing a bargain make you want to pack up and dip your toe in the turquoise blue waters?

If you're a fare geek like me you may find yourself asking why these deals are available now. The answer is largely owed to the fact that this was a mild winter until February coupled with the fact that people have been hearing about the new passport regulations requiring one for air travel to the Caribbean. But you don't need a passport to go to the USVI and Caribbean cruises
don't require a passport for entry either.

Passport issues aside, there are so many Caribbean islands to choose from so I asked Travelocity's Caribbean specialist, Carol Menzel, to help travelers narrow down their selections. Here are some highlights from our Q & A. Read on and then tell us what your favorite Caribbean spot is.

Q: What are good places for people who want more of a cultural experience in the Caribbean over the standard beach vacation?
A: The Caribbean is a true melting pot of rich cultures, ethnicities and strong heritages. Each individual island has its own distinctions and unique culture based on the island’s land mass and ancestry – and it's very much alive today for tourists to experience through hiking, walking, eating, diving, music and more. Most of the islands have festivals, often in the spring, which can be a great way for interested people to connect with the culture as well.

Q: Which island has the best sand and surf?
A: All have great sand and surf but a couple that stand out – Turks and Caicos, Tortola, Aruba, Grand Cayman, Bermuda. Antigua has 365 beaches (and many are secluded beaches). I'd also point out Orient Beach in St. Martin for nude sunbathing.

Q: Where is the best spot for snorkeling and scuba?
A: For snorkeling - any island with a shallow shelf and where fishing is not predominant such as Aruba, Grand Cayman, Bahamas, Turks and Caicos, USVI (all three islands). When it comes to diving it's a bit more technical depending on what type of diving you want. General, all around good diving and the most well known are the Cayman Islands and Bonaire. But also Turks and Caicos and Virgin Gorda are excellent. For ship wrecks try Bermuda, Little Cayman, and Aruba.

Q: Are certain places more family friendly than others?
A: Just as there is diversity amongst the islands, there is a tremendous diversity among the hotels on the island. There are several hotel chains that cater to families (the key is to look at their kids programming and select one that's age-appropriate for your kids.) I'd also recommend islands with calm waters, a sleepy vibe and overall safety such as: Jamaica, Turks and Caicos, Aruba, Bermuda, Cayman Islands, Nassau and Grand Bahamas.

Q: What island would you suggest for the solo traveler?
A: If someone feels comfortable enough to go on vacation by themselves, they will be welcome throughout the region with the exception of a few chains like Sandals Resorts and Couples Resorts.

Q: What's the most remote or quiet spot in the Caribbean?
A: Tertiary destinations like Grenada, St. Barths, Anguilla, Martinique, Dominica, St. Vincent, St Kitts, Nevis which are just starting to come into tourism. But remember, some of these destinations don’t have a tremendous amount of flights and that can make them pricier.

Q: What's the most romantic Caribbean spot?
A: You can find romance on every island although St. Lucia in particular comes to mind. There are also numerous resorts that cater to couples and honeymooners such as Sandals and Couples Resorts though many regular resorts also have romantic offerings. (Again, look for special couples offerings and read customers reviews for more specific help in choosing.)

When it comes to deals for the Caribbean, you're already in the right place. Just head to the the Caribbean store and you'll find great beach deals for a steal.

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Posted in Beaches, Budget Travel, Caribbean, Q & A
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This weekend, I’m heading to Vegas. Sin City, baby. Neon lights and desert sights. It’s been a few years since I went last and I’m looking forward to seeing what’s changed. One thing that I know is different is that the Stardust Hotel is no longer. One of the Vegas originals, it was imploded earlier this week, leaving only Stardust memories.

While I seek out other changes along The Strip, however, one constant is that where there is a potential jackpot to be had, there will always be people cheating their way to get it. This point was reinforced on a news segment on casino cheats the other night on CNBC’s The Big Idea With Donny Deutsch. In the news clip, they outlined some of the tactics thieves use to take money away from people at the slot machines. Luckily, once you know about it, it’s easy to stay on guard so it doesn’t happen to you.

One tactic, apparently, is to throw coins at the legs and backs of gamblers seated at the machines. When the gambler reaches over to pick up the coin, the thief sweeps in and grabs the unsuspecting person’s purse or chips.

They had hidden camera footage, and you could actually see these guys pelting people with coins. I guess when gamblers get in synch with the one-armed bandits, it takes a lot to shake them from their trace. But when the players finally noticed, I couldn’t believe they would be unguarded enough that they’d leave their valuables totally unprotected just to pick up one coin on the floor.

I may not be much of a gambler, but I know there’s at least one scam I won’t be falling for. Wish me luck at the casinos this weekend, and if anyone has any other advice for me while I’m in Vegas--things to look out for, places to visit, sights to see, where to get the best martini--I’d love to hear from you.

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Posted in Casinos & Gambling, Las Vegas
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While I don’t discount the efficiency of the subway or the ease of hailing a cab, I’ve always thought the best way to discover a new city was by walking. I’ve hoofed it through Hanoi, sauntered around Shanghai, and pounded the pavement in Paris. And since I’m likely to be both on a budget and indulging in a host of new gastronomic delicacies when traveling, it certainly doesn’t hurt that walking is not only free but also excellent exercise.

Which is why I enjoyed browsing through Prevention magazine’s list of the country’s Best Walking Cities of 2007, released just last week. Madison, Wisconsin tops the list, with Austin, Texas taking second place--and while I’ve never had the pleasure of walking through either of them, I can at least attest to San Francisco’s very favorable standing as the third most “walkable” city in the U.S, since moving here at the beginning of the year. And thank goodness for that--because while the sourdough slathered in butter might be good for the soul, I’ve discovered, it’s not quite so good for the hips.

The cities were ranked based on a number of factors, including average temperatures, the percentage of the population who walk for exercise, the use of mass transit, and the points of interest per square mile. I have to admit that, having spent weekends trekking around Manhattan (albeit with 800 shopping bags attached to my arm rather than a couple of wrist weights and a pedometer), I was surprised to see New York only coming in at number 39 on the list. L.A.’s standing at number 61 wasn’t much of a shock, though--remember that song by The Missing Persons, with the chorus “nobody walks in L.A.”?

Last but not least, any Big Apple-bound travelers flying into Newark Liberty International Airport should offer up a silent note of thanks for the wide-ranging array of public transport options heading into New York. Because the number one worst city for walking, according to the list? You guessed it: Newark, New Jersey. Lugging a suitcase along a busy stretch of highway towards your Manhattan hotel certainly wouldn't be the best way to start your vacation, I’d imagine.

What’s your favorite city to discover on foot? And why?

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Posted in Health & Wellness, Polls & Studies, San Francisco
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My college campus stood just a few miles from Ameriquest Field in Arlington, home of the Texas Rangers. “Dollar-dog night” was always a summer highlight, especially for a bunch of broke college kids looking for entertainment, food and beer -- all on the cheap. Just being at the stadium was always a treat as well. Aside from the ever-present energy that surges through stadiums during baseball season, many of America’s parks are architecturally stunning and historically riveting.

For me, baseball symbolizes a few things in particular: summer, college and friends. But, for many die-hard fans, it also represents a lofty travel goal: to visit each one of America’s stadiums.

This seems to be a growing trend among sports enthusiasts (or maybe it’s a tradition that I’m just catching onto). An article on CNN.com plots one fanatic’s dream to watch a game in each of baseball’s cathedrals, and he plans on completing this mission in 2017.

With Spring Training well under way and Opening Day approaching, fans who want to trek to a faraway stadium should start making plans now to jump on a good deal when they see one. Buy your tickets ahead of time, and take a weekend getaway to catch the game. If you like to take your chances, try snagging a last minute package just a week or two in advance of the game, which can often yield a significant savings. It’s worth noting, however, that hotels and flights often book up early for a big game, so a last minute package could be a risky bet for playoffs or All-Stars.

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Last time I stopped skiing long enough to type up some thoughts, I extolled the virtues of spring skiing, and gave four great reasons to get off the couch and hit the slopes in March and April this year: better weather, more snow, the choice of going where the best conditions are and lower prices.

But five is such a round number, and I realized I had left out another big advantage of spring in ski towns: it is when residents start to go stir crazy after a long winter and roll out the parties. In fact, almost all of the biggest festivals in ski country are held in the spring, often with big name entertainment, free activities, and general craziness that adds to the ski experience. It’s like après ski squared.

Take Breckenridge, the high altitude Colorado resort where the snow seemingly lasts forever: its Spring Massive is an aptly named bash, running from April 1 to the resort’s closing day on April 22, and includes a beer festival, bump, bowl and superpipe competitions, a Latin dance event, and a free concert by an annually announced surprise but big name band. Bite of Breckenridge is a mélange of special meals deals offered by the town’s best restaurants throughout the entire three weeks, so why not ski during this nearly month long blowout party?

In fact, just about every ski resort that prides itself on great spring skiing conditions also goes big off the slopes this time of year. Jackson Hole, WY was a bit late to the party, having started their Mountain Festival just last spring, but they are making up for the lack of tradition with enthusiasm. Events run March 24- April 8, and include 3 marquee concerts (The Wreckers, the House of Blues Rock n Roll All Stars and Dan Whym’s Johnny Cash tribute), smaller concerts almost daily, and a slew of random events, from the screening of the newest Teton Gravity Research ski flick to mechanical bull riding competition, the World Championship of Snowmobile Hill Climbing, and assorted competitions in teleskiing, randonee, even kayaking.

You know a party is big when it needs its own website: Spring Back to Vail was named the nation’s top ski bash by Skiing Magazine, and runs April 2-15, with more to-be-announced headliner concerts, fashion shows, après parties and offbeat activities than you can shake a ski pole at. Rival Aspen counters with the Bud Light Spring Jam, March 22-25, full of nothing but free concerts and events. Keystone ends March with a Blues & BBQ Festival. And so on and so on, at the top spring skiing resorts across the country.

You know what I like best about my secret fifth reason for hitting the ski resorts in spring? You don’t even have to know how to ski to have a great ski trip!

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In a world where Al Sharpton might very well be a blood relative of Strom Thurmond, genealogical research never ceases to surprise. In reaction to the news of this familial possibility, Sharpton did exactly what I would’ve done, which is to travel to the South Carolina birth town where it all began and “learn who you are.”

I’ve learned that traveling to visit family can unearth many surprises, and very often sheds light on what makes you tick. From pierced ears to homemade health elixirs, my travels have revealed all sorts of delightful family rituals and traits.

Years ago, my parents, sisters, and I went to Israel to visit family, including a branch of the genealogical tree we’d never met before. These cousins awaited us on the kibbutz where they lived, donkeys and olive trees close by. They welcomed us like heroes and proudly took us back to their home, where I’ll never forget watching my father and his elder cousin do shots of homemade olive oil to toast their health. It was a fabulous foray into a completely different culture, made all the more warm and friendly through sharing it with family.

I grew up regularly visiting my great-grandmother in Baltimore. It was only 45 minutes away by car, but the place she lived seemed totally exotic in that eating crabs at the Inner Harbor or attending an Orioles baseball game represented real possibilities. As a teenager, I visited my uncle in New York City, and he navigated me through what seemed like totally nonsensical streets to my first meal in an Indian restaurant, ordering chutneys and naan and somehow knowing exactly what I liked even before I did. As we walked back to his apartment, we passed a jeweler piercing ears right there on the sidewalk, and just like that, we got our ears pierced in an impromptu uncle-niece bonding ritual that left a permanent, and stylish, souvenir.

I have so many family stories like this to tell. I highly recommend that if you’ve got family in exotic places, go visit them! You'll find out more about yourself and the world at the same time.

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Skiing is universally considered a “Winter Sport,” but when it comes to ski vacations, the smart money is on spring, as in spring skiing. If you can only take one big trip a year, it can be hard to hold off until March or April when you watch the Weather Channel and see blizzards pounding the country, but as they say, patience is a virtue, and there are good reasons to skip over December, January and February. In fact, I can give you four excellent reasons to spend the cold winter months working out indoors in anticipation of your big trip.

Let’s start with warm and sunny: Jackson Hole is my personal favorite mountain, but in January and February you can get weeks at a time where anything above zero is considered balmy. Yet I have visited several times in mid-late March and worried more about sunscreen than how warm my gloves were – if I even needed gloves. You don’t need to suffer to enjoy sliding on snow, and the same holds true for lots of other great ski destinations.

Reason number two is a zinger: more snow. A lot of regions, like central Colorado and the Sierras statistically get more snow in March than any other month. If there is one thing even snowboarders and skiers can agree on, it’s that more snow is better, period.

That brings us to three: you know where the snow is. Thanks to the internet and more flights direct to ski country, you don’t have to plan a trip months in advance – unless you go over the dreaded Christmas to New Years week. In fact, it’s often cheaper to wing it. This time last year, Whistler was in a drought with better mountain biking than skiing, but right now they are up their armpits in record snowfalls. Book a trip there in March and you know that even if it stops snowing now, everything will be open. Gamblers should go to Vegas, but spring skiers can head for the sure thing.

My final reason to choose spring? More bang for the buck. The busiest days at just about every ski area in North America are Christmas to New Years week and President’s Day and Martin Luther King weekends. Think about this for a second and you’ll realize that these fall in December, January and February. Many ski resorts drop prices on lift tickets, lodging and even airfares come March, and especially in April, but if you know where to look, there is good skiing to be had almost into summer. Less money, sure snow, more snow, and warm sun. What are you waiting for?

If you flash back to reason three, you’ll see that you should choose your destination based on this year’s snowfall, but if you want the easy way out, these are the resorts and regions that are famed for their awesome spring conditions year in and year out: The dozen resorts around Lake Tahoe, especially Heavenly, Squaw Valley, Alpine Meadows and Kirkwood, which averages nearly 60 feet of snow annually; Breckenridge and Arapahoe Basin, which usually closes because it runs out of skiers before snow, in Colorado; Jackson Hole, Wyoming, another mountain that typically has excellent conditions even on closing day; Mt. Bachelor, Oregon which goes into July in average years and is already having a snowfall stunner; and the entire Park City, Utah region, including nearby Alta and Snowbird, which often remains open until mid-May thanks to 500 average inches of its famed “champagne powder” each season.

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I wouldn’t exactly call myself a planner. Chance, curiosity and spontaneity drive my travels more often than not, and the word itinerary unleashes some sort of overt chemical reaction that makes my head hurt and my palms sweat. One thing I consistently rely on, however, is the Zagat Survey. After all, a good meal isn’t something one leaves to chance.

Most recently, Zagat led me through a culinary tour of New Orleans. My timing was impeccable, as I hit the Big Easy just after the release of the first post-Katrina guide. My taste buds experienced several Zagat recommended favorites: I indulged in a cup of chicory laced café au lait and beignets dusted with powdered sugar at Café Du Monde; The Gumbo Shop satisfied my craving for Creole cuisine, where I ate a savory bowl of seafood okra gumbo filled to the brim with shrimp, crab, rice and brown Creole soup; and the enormous baked potato and burger at Port of Call were (as Zagat promised) “so good you’d think they invented them.”

Needless to say, I’m a huge fan of Zagat. Local cuisine is one of the best ways to experience the culture of a destination, and the guide has yet to steer me in the wrong direction as I attempt to navigate the culinary scene of places I visit. It wasn’t by accident that I stumbled upon locales such as Blowfish, a trendy Japanese restaurant in the Mission District of San Francisco that, as Zagat notes, serves “experimental sushi” and “hypnotic sake cocktails;” or Hiltl, a vegetarian establishment in Zurich that “makes eating without meat a pleasure.” Even in my own hometown, I credit Zagat for exposing some of my favorite eateries including Café Madrid in Dallas Uptown, La Duni in Knox-Henderson and Esperanza’s in the Fort Worth Stockyards.

Of course, the curious and spontaneous part of me occasionally forces some chance onto my palette. I still give myself the opportunity to stumble upon my own finds and therefore don’t shy away from local markets and food stands, but Zagat is the not-so-secret ingredient in each of my culinary quests.

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Posted in Culinary Travel, Guides & Planning, New Orleans
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I grew up in a place no one visits. To be fair to the people who never go there, there’s not a lot of draw in Fargo, North Dakota. While a growing number of quality of life studies underscore plenty of things about Fargo that lure folks to live there, there’s not much average tourists (excluding Roger Maris fans) would go out of their way to see, as they might for, say, the Great Wall of China, or Machu Picchu. (Although, have you seen the Hjemkomst Center? Okay, so maybe it’s technically in Minnesota – but you can see it from Fargo if you stand in the right spot…I know, I’m grasping.)

Which brings me to my first instinct when I recently ran across a list of “San Francisco must-sees” in a mainstream tourism publication published here: As I scanned the checklist, it dawned on me that, even though I’d lived here nearly a year, and it’s my job to know about such things, I had been to only a pitiful fraction of the spots on the list, and most of those were when I came here with my family when I was 11. Perhaps, I reasoned, as a native of a place where no one goes, I am simply not accustomed to my town meriting a list of must-sees, nor do I know how to act accordingly. I mean, I pay rent here. Aren’t I supposed to use my valuable weekend time tracking down the best burrito joints , pilates instructors, and independent clothing boutiques?

But there is more to it than that. The truth is I feel ridiculous lining up with the fanny-pack wearing, camera-toting crowd on Saturday morning and snapping pictures of sea lions at Pier 39 while waiting for the boat to Alcatraz. It’s almost offensive that I should have to join the tourists in the town where I live, especially while friends are tailgating before the Cal game, hitting the farmers market in Bernal Heights or surfing at Ocean Beach.

I know I’m not alone in my reluctance to mingle with the tourists in the place I call home. Mountain towns even have a word for the clueless out-of-towners who sport ski gear from a couple decades ago and clog up the lift lines: gapers. Perhaps then, the fear of becoming, or being perceived as, a gaper in one’s own town ought to be known as Gaperophobia.

I’ve had Gaperophobia in pretty much every city I’ve lived since I left Fargo. In DC, I could tell you where famous political hacks were to be found drowning their sorrows after a tough appearance on Hardball, but I stubbornly refused to set foot inside the incredible (and free!) Smithsonian museums unless dragged by visiting friends. I could tell you the best deli to get an egg on a roll near my office in Manhattan, but a boyfriend and I got in a fight on the street because I snubbed the idea of waiting in the long line for Empire State Building tickets. (Of course, when I relented and stood awestruck admiring the panoramic view of one of the world’s great cities, I was both delighted for having finally done so and embarrassed for having waited so long, not to mention for having put up such an asinine fight.)

Luckily, I found a cure for my Gaperophobia one weekend not long ago. It was an unseasonably glorious day in San Francisco: the sun was the only thing in the sky, the wind was but a breeze, and the temperatures soared into the mid and upper 60s (yes, the upper 60s constitute “soaring” in San Francisco in February). I woke with piles of work glaring at me from my desk and heaps of laundry mocking me from my closet floor. But the sunshine beckoned, and I walked my dog at Alamo Square, a San Francisco landmark, home to one of the city’s prettiest views, right across from the Painted Ladies (anyone who watched TV in the early 90s might recognize the famous row of Victorians from the opening credits of Full House). After an exceedingly-large crab-cakes Benedict brunch, I picked my way to the top of Twin Peaks, a popular stop on San Francisco’s 49-mile scenic drive, to work off the calories while admiring the rare unobstructed view of the Bay on a clear day.

The Tour de California bike race time trials were that afternoon, so I trekked across town and found that the best vantage point to watch the world’s leading cyclists cross the finish line was from atop famed Coit Tower. Later, after noshing on the signature fried egg pizza in the cozy confines of acclaimed Pizzetta 211, I wound my way through the storied tree-lined lanes of the Presidio with friends to marvel at how much better beer imbibed from a bowling-pin shaped bottle tastes at the alley there.

Before bed, I took my dog out again and she decided to do her business in the middle of Lombard Street, on the famous one-block stretch known as San Francisco’s crookedest street. Searching for a garbage can to dispose of my pooch’s fashionably-placed poo, I laughed to myself. In one day, without having done so intentionally or consciously, I had doubled the number of attractions I’d seen on that must-see checklist.

The cure for Gaperophobia, it seems, is simply to experience the sites your town is famous for by stumbling across them, rather than seeking them out. By seeing them spontaneously, I did so with my dignity intact –- and without the help of a checklist or fanny pack.

I’d love to hear your brushes with Gaperophobia. Are there places in your town you wish you could visit without having to join the tourist masses? Have you ever had a Gaperophobia-curing day? Did a rainstorm force you to duck into the MOMA, where you ended up spending the entire afternoon? Did you suddenly decide to take that ride to the top of the Sears Tower, after having walked by it hundreds of times on the way to work? Did you ever dip your feet in the fountain at the National Sculpture Garden after a pickup Ultimate game on the Mall? Any and all “tourist-at-home” stories are welcome here!

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Lots of events have conspired over the last few years to bring the fragility of the environment into the spotlight. As a self-proclaimed eco-geek, I couldn't be happier. About a month ago, President Bush announced his National Parks Centennial Initiative which, among other things, would fund $100 billion dollars over 10 years to prepare the parks for the National Park Service's 100th anniversary in 2016. I wouldn't even want to imagine our country without our Grand Canyons, Shenandoahs, and Yosemites--that would eliminate some of my fondest vacation memories.

About once a year, I manage to visit a park. Last year, I went on the Wolves and Grizzlies Safari through Yellowstone to see wolves and grizzlies. We spotted bald eagles, wolves, grizzlies, black bears, bison, elk--you name it! The park was established in 1872 as the first batch of public lands to be set aside by Congress. Its pristine scenery and wild animals put things in perspective for me--what's so important about having the latest gadget after all? Life is as hard as you make it.

The year before that, my friend and I hiked up Half Dome and even climbed the cables to the very top. That 17-mile adventure wasn't my first visit to Yosemite, but it was probably the most strenuous one--with the best views ever at almost 9,000 feet! The hiking wasn't a problem, but climbing up the cables was 10 times scarier than even little worry-wart me could imagine. Like many "outdoorsy" activities though, this one had me repeating "just do it" as if I was the star of a Nike ad. Being out of my element (yes, I'm a control freak) is often way more exhilarating and worthwhile than playing it "safe."

A similar realization came to me years before that when, as a graduation present, my parents sent me on an Outward Bound trip to the Mojave Desert. We trekked with 60-pound packs on our backs, went rock climbing and repelling, and spotted our fair share of rattlesnakes. After sleeping under the stars and waking to blazing sunrises for nearly a week, the transition back to beds and toilets was not as welcome as I had initially anticipated.

Wide-open spaces, fresh air, mellow nature sounds, and the opportunity to push myself mentally and physically make for some of the best vacations I've ever taken. Hopefully 100 years from now our National Parks will still be going strong.

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In an overture towards homeland security, a new x-ray machine has been unveiled in the Phoenix airport which scans on such a high level that the screener is basically able to see through your clothes. For now, it’s being used on a voluntary basis, but that could change.

Like Lou Ferrigno taking steroids, I’m wondering if this added measure is overkill. Not that I take security lightly. I think it’s hugely important, and unfortunately, a hard fact of living in a free society in a post-911 world. But I do think there’s a line to walk between security and privacy, and that line is getting uncomfortably blurred.

The x-rays use something called backscatter technology, which can detect non-metallic knives and explosives that the regular x-ray machines wouldn’t catch. But what it also detects is the contours of your body, so much so that the screeners (male for male and female for female) are ferreted away in a “remote booth” to view them. The TSA is saying there’s no way to store these images, but I’m wondering if you get the wrong screener with a camera phone, could you suddenly find that your backscatter picture is being spread around the Internet?

I completely support improving airport security as advances in technology are discovered. But, in this case, there is a legitim