Vacations Blog

Tim helps prepare me for Hawaii in the only way he knows how.

You’re looking at how much I know about Hawaii.

They make decent beer at cheap prices.

I mean, I’ve heard all sorts of things about it, but have no opinion – reason being is that I was brought up poor, still am, and even if I wasn’t, it’s an expensive place…

And if I’m going to shell out, I might as well go back to Thailand.

But Hawaii got word of this and is set to prove me wrong – something that has proven easily done ever since I proclaimed the Counting Crows to be ‘the next Dylan’ – and have sent for me.

So tomorrow I’m off. Actually, in less than 4 hours I’m off and I’m just now packing.

I’m not bringing much – a carry-on bag and a small backpack, as these luggage fees ad up when you have to fly out of Bend, OR (if this makes no sense to you, just know that there are no direct flights from here to Honolulu…or, well, most places). But I also want to enjoy myself as much as anyone else, so there will be the obligatory cocktail-with-a-tiny-umbrella, some surfing, local music and cheap trinkets to pass off as archeological finds to my family at Christmas. I want a flowery shirt and to go on a boat. Hell, I’ll get my hair put into beads if I can find it cheap enough.

Why? ‘Cause when I come back, I want to look like I just did Hawaii.

I’m just not going to give it my money…which works out nice as I don’t have any.

More tomorrow – can someone call me at 4am?

You know what happened…

Aric Q. is traveling to Hawaii and he’s trying to do it on the cheap.  We will be following his adventures here on UpTake and we will be wishing him well, but we will NOT be wiring him money.

Allegiant Air

The first place I go when I’m looking for airline fares for a vacation is a comparison site like Travelocity or Expedia.  Unfortunately, many airlines that offer great fares aren’t included on these major sites.

In my experience, as someone who purchases plane tickets in and out of Florida about 10 times a year, the best airline fares to Florida are found through Allegiant Air.

Allegiant is a small airline that specializes in offering direct flights from small cities to popular tourist destinations.  In other words, you won’t find a flight from New York to Los Angeles, but you can get from Cedar Rapids, Iowa to Orlando, Florida in just under 3 hours.

Allegiant offers airline fares alone, or vacation packages that include air, hotel and car rental.

In Florida, Allegiant flies into the Orlando area (airport in Sanford), the Tampa-St. Petersburg area (airport in Clearwater) and Ft. Lauderdale (airport in Fort Lauderdale).

I’ve gotten flights on Allegiant into and out of Orlando for as little as $29 each way.

Of course, there are limitations to keep in mind if you’re looking to book a flight with Allegiant for your Florida vacation.  The flight availability is much more limited than a major airline’s schedule and you can only book about 3 months in advance.  You’ll also pay extra for checking bags and choosing your seat ahead of time.  And, of course, they don’t offer service to every major airport.

Even with these restrictions, if you’re planning a Florida vacation on a budget, there’s a good chance that you can save money by booking your flights through Allegiant Air.  Check the Allegiant website for cities, schedules and current fares.  You can also follow Allegiant on Twitter to get the latest deals.

Photo courtesy of Allegiant Air.

My husband and I are constantly on the lookout for weekend day trip ideas. Our weekends are spent filled with the awareness of all the useful things that we’re supposed to be doing around the house, yet we are severely lacking the willpower to do those things. One Saturday afternoon not too long ago, our desperate escape from the horror of chores took us in the direction of Scottsdale, and the Arts District.

The Old Town area of Scottsdale is a treat for window shopping enthusiasts, and a mecca for Southwestern oriented artwork and decor. Parking can sometimes be a challenge, though it’s easier during the day than at night, when Those Who Wish To See and Be Seen come out to play.

Art galleries mingle seamlessly with souvenir stores and restaurants. Every Thursday the art galleries host an evening Art Walk from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m., displaying their artwork and crafts along the walkways and sidewalks. Come for the art, stay for the free wine!

It’s easy to spend hours looking through the hundreds of shops in the area. My husband and I broke up the day with regular stops for refreshment, first at the Rusty Spur Saloon:

Then at the Sugar Bowl:

There is absolutely no way to forget that you are in the heart of the Southwest.

Nothing says Arizona like a good old fashioned cow skull:

Scottsdale is family and pet friendly – though they discourage pets coming into the stores and restaurants themselves. To get there from Loop 101, exit on Indian School Road and travel west to Scottsdale Road. If you’re taking the 202, exit on Scottsdale Road and travel north to arrive in the Old Town area. The heart of the Arts district is on Scottsdale Road and Fifth Avenue.

The Old Town area of Scottsdale – just like the rest of the city – is an excellent place to spend very little money and enjoy the sites; alternately, you can spend a WHOLE LOT of money and indulge in some truly unique arts and crafts.

So in addition to last Saturday’s excursion to Rock City, we also managed to pull off a day trip on Sunday with a visit to Brannan Island State Park.

We’d had a couple of days of hot weather and the kids were pestering us to go swimming. Since we’re not even through April yet, all the public swimming pools in our area have yet to open, so we decided to make the drive out to Brannan Island to see what was what.

What was it you ask? A bit of a dump, that’s what.

Located on the Delta, just off Highway 160, northeast of Antioch, my only prior experience with this park had been as a patron of the parking lot near the boat launch. Back in the day my girlfriend (now my wife) would invite me out on her family’s boat for a day of water skiing and beaching, however the “beach” we would utilize would basically be a deserted stretch of sand somewhere out amongst the sloughs. I’d never taken advantage of Brannan Island’s public beach and swim area.

Save yourself the time and trouble because this beach has very little to offer. We ended up at what is called the Seven Mile Slough picnic area, which the State Recreation Area website describes as follows:

“Seven Mile Slough picnic area includes picnic tables, barbecues and drinking water. New restroom facilities were completed late in 1997 and include flush toilets and outdoor cold showers. Seven Mile Slough’s swim beach has lifeguards from Memorial Day through Labor Day. Ample parking is close to the beach.”

The “beach” is basically a small strip of muddy sand along the picnic area, and a little further down a trail there’s a muddy sandbar. And the water is muddy. The beach near the picnic area was pretty crowded (a side-effect of free access), so we stalked down the trail toward the mud-bar where we staked out a small  patch of sand that backed up to some vegetation and threw down our largest towel. The kids didn’t seem to mind much and figured they may as well swim since we’d come all that way. I, on the other hand, had no intention of going in the water and immediately began eating the sandwich I’d brought because I didn’t figure on staying any longer than I had to.

I tolerated it for a good 45 minutes, but when the “sagging pants” crowd and the colorful language (from elementary school age kids no less) became too much, we packed it up and got the hell out of there.  If you really want more information you can check out the website.

The trip was not a total bust, however because we drove a little further down Hwy 160 and crossed the bridge into Rio Vista in search of Sandy Beach Park.  

Sandy Beach County Park is located in the city of Rio Vista, a rather small, somewhat weather-beaten but not without its charms, Delta city, made famous back in 1985 when wayward Humpback whale, Humphrey, turned up in the local waters.

Sandy Beach offers more or less the same amenities as Brannan Island; picnic areas, camping, boating, etc, but the environment is much nicer, or at least appeared to be on that particular Sunday afternoon. A word about camping; as camping is not everybody’s “thing”,  if you find yourself in need of accommodations in the Rio Vista area, I’d recommend checking out the Ryde Hotel, located in Grand Island, a short jaunt from  Rio Vista. I’ve never stayed there, but I did attend a bachelor party there many years ago and folks tell me I had a great time.

Anyway, based on the five minutes we spent looking around Sandy Park Beach (the girl at the gate was kind enough to let us check it out sans entry fee) it looked like a nice little place, one I’d consider making the drive back to visit one day. And I’d blow right past Brannan Island on my way.

The Natchez Trace Parkway runs just over 400 miles between Nashville, TN and Natchez, MS.  It is a gentle, winding road chock full of beautiful scenery, rolling hills, trees, wildlife and more interesting and historic stopping points along the route than you can possibly imagine.

The parkway follows an ancient trail that connected the southern portions of the Mississippi River, through Alabama, to central Tennessee. There are numerous ways to experience this amazing road: driving, hiking, biking, horseback riding, and camping.

How did we experience The Natchez Trace?  We just drove.  And stopped often.

The Natchez Trace Parkway is operated by the National Park Service.  There are no fees or reservations required to enter Natchez Trace Parkway which can be accessed from any of the hundreds of small cities and towns that line the outskirts of the Parkway.

A good guidebook and a map are invaluable tools while traveling the Trace.  We used a rather dated copy (1995) of a book called Traveling the Trace by Cathy and Vernon Summerlin as well as consulting the National Park Services website for maps and other information.

A few other things you’ll definitely need to be mindful of:

• The speed limit on the Natchez Trace Parkway is 50 miles per hour.  Trust me, you don’t want to go any faster or you’ll miss something spectacular.
• There are no service stations, convenience stores or lodging directly on the Natchez Trace Parkway. Keep that in mind if the tank gets low or you run out of snacks.  Fear not though, for there are countless communities just on the other side of the tree line that have everything you’ll need.
• Cell phone reception is spotty. Oh, you can get service, but it is probably going to be at the exorbitant roaming rate.
• Be mindful of the wildlife and their propensity to wander into the roadway. There is a lot of wildlife and apparently they are blind–and deaf!!
• The Natchez Trace Parkway gets very dark at night. The roadway is not lighted so unless you appreciate driving in pitch blackness, it may be a good idea to find an exit when the sun goes down.

Next time you’re vacationing anywhere near Nashville or Natchez (or literally anywhere in between) make it a point to visit the Natchez Trace Parkway.  It’s the stuff vacation memories are made of.

The downside of vacations is that they are few and far between.  Of course, this is what makes them all the more memorable and special when they do occur.  It’s the whole sweetness but for the bitter thing.  I get it.

One big reason that people don’t vacation more, perhaps the biggest, is money.  Travel ain’t cheap.  It used to be that I’d follow such a statement by adding that “ain’t” ain’t a word, but apparently it’s in the dictionary now, so I won’t.

But I digress.  Traveling costs money.  Even backpacks and hostels add up, although I would hope one backpack would last you the entire trip.

That said I’ve taken it upon myself as the editor of this here blog to share some tips that I just made up in hopes of making travel cheap.  Relatively speaking, of course.

Today we’re cutting corners in lodging.

Just because you may not be on a vacation at the moment doesn’t mean that other people aren’t out traveling the world.  And they might be staying at your house.  It happens.

There is nothing wrong with staying at the house of friends or family while vacationing in the city in which they live.  It’s a great money saver and it may offer some local insight into the lesser known attractions in the area.

Here’s the thing, however helpful a host may be, they aren’t personal tour guides.  Or chefs.  Or maids.  Or babysitters (but push for this one).

And if you’re the one putting out the hospitality, you’re not obligated to wear any of those hats, either. However, in all fairness, chef hats are kind of fun to wear.

The only exception would be in the case that your house guest is, in fact, me, at which point all of the aforementioned rules are void.  It’s in the contract.

Still, the role of the house guest is a complex one, and can be, at times, “difficult.”  Roll with it.  That lumpy couch that is killing your back?  That thing is saving you $300 a night, so when the owner of the house asks how you slept the proper response is something about a dog or a log or however the Beatles sang it, and not a complaint about said couch and/or back.

On the other hand, if you are the owner of said couch, what the hell?  Why is your couch so uncomfortable?  Don’t you nap on that thing?

The main factors in determining the level of involvement between the house guest and the host are the pre-exisiting relationship, the work schedule of the host and how fun the vacation sounds.  Basically, if you’re staying at my house and going to Disneyland in the morning you can count me in, but if you’re itinerary includes a quilting show then I’ll see you tonight.  Bring home a pizza.

Something else to consider, if it’s not working don’t force it.  Saving $300 a night is awesome, but family and friends are more so (in theory) and losing them over a crappy couch and quilting fairs is just plain silly.

It’s common sense, really, but look around you- there’s a lack.

Now go make some phone calls.  Somebody misses you and they live someplace fabulous.

Top photo by Tricia Honea

Ocean Drive in South Beach

Sometimes the best thing about writing about travel is getting ripped off – and knowing you’ll get to tell people about it later. I had to remind myself of this on a recent trip to South Beach.

It was my first exposure to the Miami restaurant experience, and while I will definitely be back to South Beach and eat out on Ocean Drive again, I will keep these tips and lessons learned in mind and hopefully save myself several hundred dollars.

I’ll also never eat at the Beacon Hotel’s Rendezvous Restaurant again.

Ocean Drive is the place to eat in South Beach.  The sidewalks are lined with rows and rows of umbrellas and tables offering dining al fresco and world class people watching.  Navigating Ocean Drive means walking directly in the middle of the open air restaurants – and coming face to face with an aggressive sales pitch.

Hostesses, waiters, bartenders and restaurant managers will shout specials and bargains at you as you walk from one cafe to another.  Hostesses will hand you business cards and promise you free drinks and special seating if you come back.

It seems like a dream for a diner looking for a great deal!

Until you get an $800 bill with prices you’ve never seen and items you’ve never heard of.

How can you really save money eating out in South Beach?

1. Read the signs, ignore the waitress.

This is common sense, right?  But when you’re being led to a table and a waiter is using words like “half off everything” and you confirm “half off everything?” you assume that means “half off everything”.  In reality, “half off everything” usually means “sit down, eat, we’ll worry about the bill later”.

The actual sale, along with the terms and conditions, are printed on large signs on the sidewalk.  Usually what you’ll find is that only drinks and select menu items are on sale.  Every restaurant is offering something different, so be sure to read the sign at the cafe you finally sit down at.

Yes.  I know.  This should be common sense.

2. Ask for comps and freebies.

Competition is fierce among Ocean Drive restaurants, especially with a struggling economy and slow tourist seasons.  Don’t be afraid to use this to your advantage.

Remind one hostess that their neighbor has offered you a complimentary bottle of wine or round of drinks.  But be realistic and remember that their goal is to make money.  A free round of drinks or appetizers is a reasonable request – a free steak and lobster dinner is not.

Confirm whatever freebies you’re promised with another staff member to avoid another surprise on your bill later!

3. Avoid off menu items.

Whether it’s an appetizer or a chef’s special, this is where South Beach restaurants capitalize on the tourist’s “sure! whatever! I’m on vacation!” attitude.  On my recent visit, the final cost of the “special”, unlisted appetizers was three times the price of similar menu items.

Ask the price of everything.  Do not assume that the prices on the menu are a fair indication of the prices of everything being pitched to you.

I paid over $100 for a special entree that normally sold for $42 on the menu.  Needless to say, it was not included in the “half off everything” sale.

For all of my complaining about shady marketing and outrageous billing practices, the food on South Beach is phenomenal. The seafood is fresh and everything is perfectly prepared.  The service is slow – I suspect because the waiters are doubling as salespeople – but most staff you’ll run into are friendly.  The experience would have been just about perfect if I had known what I was getting into ahead of time and been a little less naive.

I guess even in Miami the old adage holds true.  If it seems too good to be true, it probably is.

Photo by Britt Reints, naive diner and tourist.

Kettle Bowl Ski Hill

This Christmas, I was lucky enough to take my daughters to what absolutely has to be the world’s greatest family ski hill. It’s called Kettlebowl and it’s located near my hometown – Antigo, WI.

For little ones learning to ski, from age about 3 to teens, there can be no better spot on earth. Run by volunteers of the Langlade County Ski Club, it is amazingly affordable ($4 adults, $2 children over 6). The affordability extends to the food as well – if you spend more than $6 on lunch, you must be really hungry.

Kettle Bowl Chalet

View from the top

The 200 foot vertical drop hill is open when snow is available and school is not in session, usually weekends and holidays from Christmas or mid-January through March. It’s very family oriented so there are many parents out teaching their kids. Its common to see any adult helping out any little kid who has fallenwhether they know them or not.

My four-year-old mastered the rope tow in about an hour. My six-year-old advanced from the “baby” hill to the “bunny” hill, and could go up and down all by herself without Dad having to be there at all. The self-confidence and feeling of independence this gave her was amazing. Kettlebowl is not like most hills where the kids first learn the magic carpet and then have a whole new set of challenges with the chair lifts, which are usually too tall for them to get on and off. Each hill is just a little bigger and each tow rope just a little faster. My 10 year old nephew loved that he could leave his Dad behind and go anywhere he wanted on any of the 10 runs, except the one called “Face” which is still too hard for him – so he still has something to grow towards.

My little ones in 2006

In 2006 the Langlade County Ski Club did a fund raiser to build a new chalet and upgrade some of the rope tows to have electric motors as the power source. Previously the power source had been old farm tractors (I’m not kidding).

We made two days of skiing on a short trip home and I think that was the best present Santa brought.