Yes, you read that right--at a staggering 13,790 feet, the dormant volcano Mauna Kea (“White Mountain” in the native Hawaiian tongue) dons a sparkling cap of snow in wintertime. (Its counterpart, Mauna Loa, does the same, although snow on the latter is less visible due to its more rounded peak.) Because of Mauna Kea’s unique assets, native Hawaiians have long considered it a sacred site.
Incidentally, the summit of Mauna Kea is also an ideal place for stargazing, given its height and remoteness from major cities. Hence, it now houses several of the world’s leading astronomical observatories. Native Hawaiian groups are displeased with these developments, protesting that the developments defile the sacredness of the site.
Photo courtesy of the 'Imiloa Astronomy Center of Hawai'i.
In other words, the two-year-old ‘Imiloa Center is attempting to reconcile Hawaii’s rich past with its present-day advances--and it seems to be doing a remarkably successful job.
Its more than 100 exhibits, artfully arranged in a 12,000-square-foot gallery, explore the history of stargazing and cosmic thought in Hawaiian culture. One exhibit explains how ancient Hawaiians skillfully used stars to guide their way during long ocean voyages; another compares the Hawaiian account of human origins with the Big Bang theory. ‘Imiloa also features a 3-D stereoscopic planetarium and award-winning landscape of over 50 native and Polynesian-introduced plants. Out of respect for the environment, the entire complex is LEED®-certified as a “green” building.
So far, the local community has received the ‘Imiloa Center with mixed feelings, but the Center maintains that reception is increasingly positive. Either way, ‘Imiloa is a powerful model of contemporary Hawaii in general. After all, the state’s economy being largely based on tourism, the technology of modern travel is increasingly linked with the natural splendor and unique heritage of the Islands.
If you’re heading to Hawaii this summer, a trip up Mauna Kea to the ‘Imaloa Center might heartily inform your understanding of the Islands. After all, you probably didn’t even know about the snow.
5) The Holy Land Experience - This theme park is a Vegas-style miniature version of certain sights in Israel. It boasts Judeo-Christian "thrills" such as the world's largest indoor model of Jerusalem, the Dead Sea Scrolls cave, and a faux-Jerusalem street market. But there are no rides, making this park lower on my list.
4) Dollywood - America's favorite buxom blonde has her own amusement park and it's a knee-slappin', foot stompin' good time. Only at Dollywood could you enjoy a sawmill-themed roller coaster, watch an "artisan" make soap, and then top off the day with some delicious meat on a stick. Dollywood is jolly good, y'all.
]]> 3) Coney Island - Long on "carnie" fun and short on high-tech rides, Coney Island has been beckoning East Coasters for generations. During my visit a friend emerged from the infamous wooden roller coaster, the Cyclone, bleeding from a small flesh wound. Don't miss the old-fashioned circus sideshow or the Mermaid Parade. Family fun, indeed.2) Schlitterbahn - This wet-and-weird water park's name means "slippery road" in German and the original location is smack-dab in the heart of Texas on the banks of the Comal River. Considered America's first water park, Sclitterbahn has two sections, the old and the new. Skip the new section and head straight for the old, where the rides are low-tech, trippy, 70s-themed adventures still fed by the river's brownish cool waters.
1) Hard Rock Park - What do you get when you mix two parts electric guitar with three parts theme-park thrills? Rock-n-roller coaster, baby. Hard Rock Park in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina is wild, wacky, and brand-new. The park is currently performing its "Sound Check," but I'm already shopping for a Last Minute Package to try out rides like: Eagles Life in the Fast Lane Coaster and The Nights in White Satin - The Trip (the Moody Blues ride).
Have any offbeat amusement parks to add to my list?
In this episode, we're exploring some of the greatest cities in the world: New York, Los Angeles, London and New Orleans – after dark. You'll hear from New Yorkers about their favorite things to do in the city that never sleeps, see a movie in a Hollywood cemetery, find out where Londoners go for a night on the town, and get a tour of the French Quarter's lurid past.
Listen to the whole show: [26:40]
The columnist goes on to describe a number of disgustingly horrific things passengers do on planes; things they would never do in most public settings. Let’s just say that after reading this, I’m operating under a strict BYOB policy. That is: Bring Your Own Blanket.
The truth is, there may not be much you can do to stop the bad behavior of other passengers, but there are some coping tactics that you can use to make the flight as enjoyable as possible. I talked to The Window Seat editors to get their tips on manufacturing some ambiance on your next flight, even if the guy next to you happens to be picking his nose.
]]> While you likely can’t achieve atmosphere equivalent to a candlelit bubble bath, being comfortable can make or break your flight. In a recent Travelocity poll on air travel, 37 percent of respondents said that getting their preferred seat choice is the most important factor in having an enjoyable flight. To make this happen, our editors recommend checking-in online 24 hours in advance. You may even consider paying extra for that coveted seat in the window, aisle or exit row. If you can’t check-in online, get to the airport extra early (two hours is recommended) to request a special seating assignment.Aside from getting your preferred seat choice on the plane, we recommend packing items from home in your carry-on to make your flight more enjoyable.
Here are a few things our editors can't live without:
Tell me this: What are your thoughts on disgusting travelers and how to cope?
]]>As far as my list is concerned, I’ll kick off my summer with Zadie Smith’s White Teeth, which is my book club’s next selection, but beyond that, I’m not sure. Should I go with a Pulizter Prize winner, the best-seller list on the New York Times, or one of my friends’ picks on the book recommendation sharing web site Good Reads?
If you’re looking for a suggestion, here are five books I’ve recently read that I think will pair well with sandy toes:
2. Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert
Although this book has its critics, I found it a very enjoyable read about a woman who takes the ultimate trip: she spends an entire year split between the countries of Italy, India, and Indonesia pursuing pleasure, devotion, and balance. While I wouldn’t have made the same choices the author does, it’s fun to muse on where I’d go if I had a year abroad to play.
3. Mortified: Real Words, Real People, Real Pathetic by David Nadelberg
Before the Internet made self-confession ubiquitous, teenagers actually used to keep secrets. In this compilation, they let forth, no holds barred. It’s hilarious (and a bit poignant) to read the true diary entries, poems, stories, and letters of real kids who trusted their hearts, souls, and—often—very misguided thoughts to the notebook page.
4. Gilead by Marilynne Robinson
A beautiful, stark little book with big ideas, about an aging minister in a small town in Iowa. While the book’s setting is landlocked, it touches upon the power of many of the elementals that make up a beach: earth, sky, sun, water, moon. The author’s concise yet moving prose epitomizes, to me, what great fiction is all about.
5. Tales of the City by Armistead Maupin (series)
I’m partial to this series of seven books because they’re set in San Francisco, and despite the fact that the plot lines and characters can range from the slightly melodramatic to severely soap-opera-esque, they’re all fabulously fun and not too taxing on the beachside brain.
So now it’s my turn to ask you. Do you agree/disagree with my choices, and what books would you recommend for this summer's beach reading?
I got to thinking about how our vacations are our time (especially as adults) to stop and sniff the roses. It's how we recharge. But how many of us return from vacations exhausted? So my question is, are we getting that time? And Louv would contend that this issue is critical when we look at how families vacation because we must teach our children to embrace nature. For if we don’t, they will never develop an appreciation for and a commitment to nature. Without that, our environmental stewards will die off within just a few generations and the outlook for the world will be bleak.
I polled Travelocity’s travelers and asked them about how they spend time on family vacations to see what has changed over the past several generations. Here are the highlights of what I found.
Photo thanks to IgoUgo member Caromeow
]]> • Families with children today are visiting national parks and other nature sites much less frequently than previous generations. 25% of the Silent Generation (born between 1925-1945) report that all of their childhood family vacations included some interaction with nature compared to only 15% of families traveling with kids today.
Click for complete details on this study.
My answer is not that we give up our destination vacvations for a rural retreat, it's more about incorporating more nature into what we're doing. Since I’ve been looking at this I’ve made a concerted effort to notice the natural world…I count birds on my morning jog, I look at the shapes of clouds and the changing tree tops along the park as I walk to the subway. It does change the way I look at the world, and perhaps it helps to shape my attitude towards it as well. It's definitely something to consider on my next vacation.
The concept of Skytrax is pretty simple: it's like any other review site, but the subject matter is all air travel, all the time. Along with constantly updated reviews of pretty much airline you've ever heard of---and many, many you haven't---there are hundreds of reviews of airports (will you make that connection in Miami? is there anything decent to eat at JFK?) and even airport lounges, for those of us lucky (or swanky) enough to be invited into them.
]]> Better yet, you can read about other people's experiences on an airline knowing exactly which route they flew: so if you're conscientious enough about combing through them, you may actually be able to find another person who flew United from Los Angeles to Charleston with a stop in Atlanta, just like you're planning on doing next month. (You'll be surprised to find out, in fact, how much the service can vary from route to route---particularly on a carrier that flies both domestically and internationally.)So if you've got a trip coming up and you're not familiar with whichever airline is offering the best price---is China Airlines* a good bet for a San Francisco to Thailand trip, or should you stick with a US-based carrier you know?---you may find Skytrax a pretty helpful resource for decision-making. And if you're anything like me, of course, you'll read through the reviews just for the sake of reading reviews about air travel. And that's when you know you need a vacation.
* Answer: go with China Airlines---at least in my opinion! The service, food, and inflight entertainment are all top-notch.
]]>One way to find a great deal is to try booking at the last minute. Since last minute travel inventory is unpredictable, this option is ideal for people who know they want to get away for a long weekend, but who don’t have their hearts set on a particular destination.
]]> Also, try to be flexible with both your dates and your destination. If you know you want a beach vacation, set a budget and search various destinations to see where you can go for your money.Simple mistakes in planning your travels can be detrimental to your budget, which is why it’s so important to be an educated consumer. You really can save hundreds if you plan smart. We’ve found that booking your flight and hotel together can save an average of $240, so you’re going to want to comparison shop to figure out if it’s better to book your flight and hotel together or separately.
Also, you need to pack light or you will pay! This may be difficult for the ladies who want to bring 10 pair of shoes, but if your bags weigh too much or you have to check a second piece of luggage, the airline is going to charge you extra. The new baggage policies regarding a second bag go into effect in May, so you will be charged $25 each way to bring a second bag.
Higher airfare and budget aside, the second thing that travelers can count on is that planes will again be full this summer. If you remember last year, capacity on planes was at a high and so were delays. We’re expecting another crowded season at the airports, and travelers need to plan for it -- that means getting to the airport in plenty of time to make it through the security line (two hours for domestic and three for international) and allowing enough connection time in between flights; I recommend two hours to be safe. And don’t forget to pack something to read and plenty of snacks in your carry-on!
To combat nature-deficit disorder, we’re challenging families to get outside and play this summer – no matter where you happen to be. Check out our family road trips, created by the gurus at Road Trip Wizard, and Richard Louv’s tips on discovering nature.
If you happened to catch today’s Your Carolina with Jack & Kimberly, you heard me talk about outdoor vacation options for families: The Great Smoky Mountains, a road trip that will allow you to explore the highlights of this National Park; Cariboo Chilcotin Coast, an outdoor playground that stretches across British Columbia; and the Bahamian Reef Expedition, an Earthwatch trip that lets teenagers be scientists for a week.
Photo Courtesy of Cariboo Chilcotin Coast.
]]>Travelocity’s FAQ page is constantly updated with the details of each policy.
And don’t even think about trying to stuff everything into one bag to get around the rule. Several carriers have increased their overweight / oversized baggage surcharges, and we’ve seen in recent years the airlines have become very stringent on enforcing these rules.
Other new fees to be aware of: -
- Delta Airlines raised fees for booking over the phone, bringing along your pet, and unaccompanied minors on direct flights
- United Airlines recently upped the change fee from $100 to $150 and reinstated the Saturday-night-stay requirement on some routes
- JetBlue has begun charging for seats with the most legroom
Just over three weeks ago, my friend Brooke and I set out from Denver for a Vail vacation. Brooke and I have known each other since college at U of M, and we spent much of the nighttime Rocky Mountain drive catching up with one another. One minute, we were laughing and reminiscing, and the next minute we hit a spot of black ice, lost control of the car, smashed into the left guardrail, spun across the interstate in circles, got hit by two other cars, and finally landed front impact in a snow bank. We were stunned, terrified, badly banged up and bruised, and very lucky to be alive.
Obviously, this wasn’t supposed to happen.
]]> We were supposed to arrive in Vail that night around 9pm, and check into a posh three-bedroom condo where our friends would be meeting us. Then, the next morning, the plan was to get up early and hit the slopes—I was choosing between skiing and snowboarding—and my friends were bringing up a bunch of sleds, too, which I was particularly excited about.Instead, Brooke and I were taken from the accident scene in separate ambulances, and spent much of that first night in the hospital. When we finally were released to our rented condo, it was the wee hours of the morning, and we were shaken up, bone tired, clutching ice packs, and chomping advils to calm our pain.
There would be no frolicking through a winter wonderland. The able-bodied among our group really rose to the occasion, deputizing themselves as nurses and never once complaining about their vacation being ruined. Later on, they spent hours cooking Brooke and me a magnificent feast, even grilling vegetables on a barbecue outside in the falling snow, in a touching attempt to lift our spirits.
We dined that night by candlelight, Brooke and I both propped up on ice and recounting the accident. We all wondered at the circumstances that had brought us together, and at the very thin veil between things going as planned and that great unknown, the unexpected. We sat and talked long past we were done eating, and I don’t think I’ve ever before been part of a group speaking so starkly and openly about life and death and our hopes and fears and what really, truly matters to us all.
It wasn’t the vacation we intended and it certainly wasn’t the vacation any of us wanted. But it was a journey, and--if it’s not too trite--a jarring reminder to be thankful for the here and now, even if it’s not quite how you planned it to be.
]]>Photo courtesy of IgoUgo member alex_nyc
]]> My first such encounter took place in Austin about 5 years ago; I had moved there a few days before and was heading to my first day of work. I’d taken the free downtown trolley from my parking lot to the intersection of 6th Street and Congress, the epicenter of downtown Austin and just a short walk from my office. As I disembarked, I stopped to marvel at the scene before me. On the corner, just outside Starbucks, a man stood preaching loudly from the Bible as another man—probably around 60 years old, thin, and bearded—strutted back and forth in a hot pink one-piece women’s swimsuit, 3-inch heels, and a cowboy hat, occasionally shouting back at the street preacher. I don’t even remember what they were saying; I was just thrilled to be given such a fantastically weird welcome to Austin.Later that day, I told a woman in my office about the encounter, and she beamed at me and said, “That’s Leslie!” Turns out my welcome committee was even more special than I’d thought; Leslie is a local legend—an Austin eccentric-slash-cross-dressing-homeless-man who’s known and loved by all. A popular local bookstore, Book People, makes Leslie refrigerator magnets; he even ran for mayor once, to great fanfare, and came in second in the popular vote. You can’t quite call yourself an Austinite without having encountered him, and the real jackpot of any visit to Austin is a Leslie sighting. Needless to say, I was a proud Austin resident that day.
I’ve since moved to New York, and New York, of course, has characters to spare. After four years here, however, my hands-down favorite is the famous Bird Man. I first saw him—or heard him, rather—in Chinatown one day, ca-cawing his heart out as he walked down Canal Street. As any New Yorker can attest, weird encounters like this aren’t exactly unusual, and I didn’t think much of this one. Until I ran into him again in Soho a few days later, then again on the 1 train another day (where I heard a variety of other bird calls in his repertoire), and then again uptown a few weeks later. Once I mentioned it to friends, I found out that they, too, had encountered the Bird Man on multiple occasions. We did a little investigating and found that he’s a veritable local character: a package courier named Stanley who just really enjoys doing bird calls around the city on his routes. I’ve spotted him many more times since those initial few encounters, and I still feel like I’ve won the lottery every time—he never fails to brighten my day and make me love New York just a little more.
At a recent work gathering, a fellow Window Seat writers Holly, Alison, and Rachel told me about their favorite local character: the Bush Man, a guy who disguises himself as shrubbery and lies in wait on a busy street in Fisherman’s Wharf, waiting to jump out and scare unsuspecting tourists (I'll admit to giving him an inner high-five). I’m betting your city has one too. Who is it?
]]>Case in point: Two weeks ago, I had the pleasure of staying at The Palazzo, a brand-new, all-suite resort hotel and casino nestled between The Venetian and Wynn Las Vegas. Now, I’m not the most ardent Vegas vacationer out there--I generally just tag along for the odd bridal shower or birthday. But I soaked up every second of this trip, and left yearning to return as soon as possible.
Fast-forward several hours, during which I settled into my lavishly furnished suite, complete with sunken living room, work area, marble-appointed bathroom, three giant plasma TVs, and king-sized bed with plush Anichini linens. I tried to imagine the range of accommodations this 50-story hotel provides: Its 3,066 suites range from 650-square-foot rooms like mine to 10,000-square-foot poolside mansions. The Palazzo is also the largest “green” building in the world, holding a Silver LEED® Certificate from the U.S. Green Building Council. Pools are heated by solar panels, and even room temperature deregulates automatically when you leave your suite. Who knew luxury could be so eco-friendly?
Difficult as it was to extract myself from my room, I ambled out for cocktails and dinner at CUT, a gourmet steakhouse with a modern twist by Wolfgang Puck. Being a vegan, I was expecting anything but the royal treatment at this carnivore’s haven. You can imagine my surprise, then, when the head chef came out, respectfully inquired about my dietary preferences, and offered to prepare whatever I desired. He ended up concocting a medley of delicious, custom-made dishes that included garlic mashed potatoes, seared spinach, and delicately seasoned cauliflower.
Happily, I was to encounter this same treatment at the other restaurants I visited: Jade Noodles Dim Sum Restaurant, Dos Caminos, and Emeril Lagasse’s Table 10 each sent out chefs for dietary consultations. Joy of joys--I had unknowingly stumbled into some secret vegan foodie heaven! No wonder they call it The Palazzo, I kept thinking. After all, it is Italian for “The Palace.”
I spent the next day devoted to an in-depth discovery of the hotel premises. Some Las Vegas hotels are impossible mazes of slot machines and poker tables; at The Palazzo, everything is centrally located and easy to find. Directly below the lobby is hip-hop mogul Jay-Z’s 40/40 Club, an ultra-chic sports bar complete with a 24-karat gold- and platinum-tiled dance floor, 85 plasma TVs, and mouthwatering Latin-soul cuisine. At lobby level, you’ll find an array of restaurants grouped around the 105,000-square-foot casino. Hang a left past the lobby, and you can watch a performance of Jersey Boys, the Tony Award-winning story of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons.
The Palazzo’s third floor is definitely the place to go if you’re looking to unwind, as I was on my third day there. Its 134,000-square-foot Canyon Ranch SpaClub®, the largest to date, offers comforting massages, stylish manicures, and soothing thermal baths. It also harbors a large fitness center complete with 40-foot-high rock climbing wall (although you do have to maneuver through a series of corridors to get there). Adjacent to the spa is The Palazzo Pool Deck, a primo spot to catch some rays and enjoy a great view of the Strip.
Since no trip to Vegas is complete without a day of shopping, I also checked out The Shoppes at The Palazzo, 60 luxury boutiques situated between the hotel and its neighbor The Venetian, and connected to the latter by a series of waterways and walkways. The eye-catching displays of indulgent, high-end products immediately floored me. In addition to the 85,000-square-foot Barneys New York, the first in Vegas, there are also a variety of fine jewelry boutiques, posh clothing shops, and my personal favorite, the palate-pleasing Double Helix Bar and Boutique. What other bar or restaurant lets you enjoy a vast array of hard-to-find fine wines by the glass--then purchase your favorites by the bottle? It was the icing on an already heavenly cake. I was in love.
So while I know that they call Las Vegas “Sin City,” and that what happens there stays there, I’m throwing in the comfortable, oversized bath towel on the secret keeping, and taking my friends and family back to The Palazzo as soon as I can. After all the boasting I’ve been doing, they don’t really have much choice. Viva the New Las Vegas!
In short, I'm panicking. Growing up on the East Coast, I got spoiled by being so close to the rest of the world. The longest flight I've ever taken was a measly six hours, and even that was no walk in the park (skies?) thanks to my hyperactive tendencies and tiny bladder.
I've started researching red-eye flight survival guides, but so far none of them contains an "aha!" tip that seems like it will make all the difference. And some of the advice is just plain impractical. It might be nice to sleep leaning against the window, but there's no way I'm asking the person next to me to move every time I need to use the restroom or stretch my legs for fifteen hours straight.
]]> Then there's the question of: to drug or not to drug? Few travel articles suggest this, but my informal water cooler polls and at least this Yahoo Answers thread definitely recommends dealing with the problem with a little Benadryl-induced shut-eye. Being that I have a tough time sleeping in my own bed on a regular Tuesday night if my fridge is humming too loudly, Tylenol PM may be my only ticket to the Land of Nod.Plus, I need good strategies to keep me busy. Should I finally page-turn a little Proust, or is this the perfect time to rent a DVD player and discover a new TV show? The box collection of all 18 seasons of Law & Order comes to mind.
In my opinion, advice from real travelers is better than a million how-to articles and so I pose the question to you: How do you survive the dreaded red-eye? I'm looking for ways to stay sane, maybe catch a little sleep, and be comfortable without wearing my reindeer-print pajamas.
]]>Photo courtesy of IgoUgo member dinkime
Carriers are perhaps rolling the dice a bit, encouraging travelers to spend money with carriers that don’t charge for the second piece of luggage. However, I have a hard time sympathizing with travelers who are being charged for a second bag that isn’t of the utmost necessity (and, no, neither multiple pairs of heels nor a foam dome are considered such) though it’s tough to be constantly stuck with fees when you’ve already paid for a flight that will probably be delayed. That said, I recently shelled out an additional $20 each way for exit row seats on JetBlue so that my considerably lanky legs would not be subjected to the death-knell-for-knees that is a reclining seatback. Worth every penny…
As yesterday was Earth Day, perhaps we can look at the baggage fee as an ecologically-sound encouragement. If people travel with less, the planes would weigh less and, thus, use less fuel and, voila, you’ve decreased your carbon footprint by a toenail’s width. In fact, perhaps the fee will get people to take alternate means of transportation, like the train! Perhaps that’s a pipe-dream in such a vast country, but you never know. If anything, it will help to do away with people pulling too-large wheelie-bags behind them. I hate those things. Convenient or not, they turn the average aimless wanderer into a staggering stegosaur whose weighted tail is just waiting to clip you. Forgive my mini-rant, but I’ve leaped over enough of those things to try out for the 110-meter high hurdles.
When I travel for any length of time up to a week or so, I’m confident that I can fit my necessities into duffel bag that will fit in the overhead bins. The soft sides of the duffel bag make it easy for it—and other bags around it—to fit into the compartments, and also save the knee or ankle of some passerby from bruising due to careless walking. Along with a small carry-on for my minimal in-flight necessities: sunglasses, iPod, some water, and a book, I’m relatively self-contained. When bemoaning the loss of your second free bag, a good philosophy to remember is “there are two kinds of luggage, carry-on or lost.”