Nov 12, 2009 10:47 - By: Joe Romano
In late August a group of us spent a Sunday in Pacifica, California. I’d have done this post earlier but somehow or another Lisa didn’t manage to upload all the pictures until just recently, so I’m sorry to have kept you waiting.
My brother-in-law, RS, currently engaged in a battle with kidney cancer, grew up in Pacifica and has fond memories of this small coastal town. Our decision to visit Pacifica was for him, to allow him to relive some memories of a better time in his life. Read More »
Oct 19, 2009 14:18 - By: Laura Charon
The view of Flagstaff from the top of Mars Hill.
Last weekend my husband had to work up in Flagstaff, AZ, about two and a half hours north of our home in Chandler. I availed myself of the opportunity for a free hotel room, and drove up to join him on Friday night.
Saturday I set out to explore the lovely city of Flagstaff. I wanted to enjoy the wonderful fall weather to its fullest, so I decided a bit of hiking was in order. After perusing the area map provided to me by the hotel, I found one of the entrances to the Flagstaff Urban Trail System (FUTS, pronounced “foots”).
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Oct 07, 2009 14:47 - By: Laura Charon
I’ve mentioned before, more than once, that Boston Massachusetts is one of my favorite cities. It’s hard to beat the combination of fresh seafood, architecture, and history of the place. Handily, there is one ideal location that combines all three, to provide you with an unforgettable experience on your next trip to Boston – The Freedom Trail.
The Freedom Trail is a three-mile walking tour along the heart of historic Boston, marked by a red line or red brick along the sidewalks. It begins in Boston Common (America’s oldest public park), and ends in Charlestown at the Bunker Hill Monument. Area maps can be purchased at the Information Booth near Park Street Station, and are also available at most area hotels.
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Oct 05, 2009 12:08 - By: Laura Charon
It might be kind of obvious, why a person would love to travel. But I recently had a conversation with an acquaintance who said that he absolutely HATED to travel. The thought was so bizarre to me, and I automatically defended my own love of journeying to new places – seeing new landscapes and experiencing new cultures. He reminded me that practically ALL of the travel he does is business-related, whereas I have only taken a couple of business trips (and had a grand time, actually – though I could see how one could become sick of travel, being constantly on the road).
I thought I would try to articulate some of my reasons for loving to travel – other than the obvious, “Duh! I’m on vacation!”
1 – It puts my husband in a really great mood. Almost all of my travel is with my husband, and it puts him in “vacation-husband” mode, which to me is one of the best sides of him. All the cares of day-to-day life just fall away. He’s affectionate, and relaxed, and in a great mood all of the time. Which isn’t to say that he isn’t those things, at home, but… well, you know, it’s different. Surely I’m not the only wife whose husband transforms while on vacation.
2 – It puts ME in a really great mood. Cheery husband notwithstanding, I turn into an incredible optimist while I’m travelling. I appreciate all the good things about my life – not the least of which is the ability to take a great vacation once a year. And I can put the not-so-good things in my life into better perspective. I temporarily cast all of my typical worries and anxieties away and say to myself, “I’ll let tomorrow take care of itself.”
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Sep 23, 2009 9:43 - By: Laura Charon
A bridge in the Grottos Day Use area in Independence Pass, CO.
Independence Pass connects Aspen and Leadville, Colorado via State Highway 82. It is the second-highest paved highway in Colorado, reaching 12,095 feet at its highest. With a 6.5% grade and narrow switchbacks all along the road, traversing Independence Pass is an adventure in the summertime, and prohibited completely in the winter (the road is closed altogether).
The ghost town in Independence Pass, CO.
In the late 1800’s, Independence Pass was the main route into and out of the Roaring Fork Valley during its heyday as a location for silver mining. The town of Independence was established in 1879, and by 1880 was inhabited by 1,000 people. Once the silver ore was completely mined, the population dwindled until the last person moved out in 1912. The ghost town is currently an historic landmark and active archaeological site.
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Sep 20, 2009 10:21 - By: Laura Charon
Equitours is “America’s oldest and largest horseback riding vacation company.” They only sponsor tours that have been carefully selected for quality, safety, and value. With a huge amount of world-wide destinations to recommend, visitors are provided with a wealth of information with which to make their travel decision. A sample of some of the destionations available include:
California Redwood Coast Ride: A seven-day itinerary starting at $2,295 per person, which includes food and lodging. Rides feature a different ocean beach each day.
Ireland Atlantic Coast Ride: An eight-day itinerary starting at $1500 per person, which includes lodging and two lunches, and airport/train transfers. Rides feature beaches, mountain trails, local villages, castles, and historic sites.
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Sep 16, 2009 12:23 - By: Laura Charon
Wharf St. in the Historic Waterfront District in Portland, Maine
I know, I know, it doesn’t go as well with the tune as leaving my heart in San Francisco. I am telling the absolute truth, though, when I say that my heart lies in Portland, Maine.
I grew up in the teeny, tiny farming community of New Gloucester, Maine (population of people, 5,461; population of cows, at least three times that many), which is about 40 minutes due north of Portland. If you were looking for something “to do”, you went to Portland. If you had a job, it was probably in Portland. Even if you lived three hours away, you went “out Portland way” for a myriad of things – grocery shopping, the mall, the movies, dinner. It may not be the capital of the state (which is Augusta, by the way), but it’s the social, industrial, and economic hub of the state.
A street in the Old Port - Portland, Maine
And it is, in my most humble (but expert) opinion, one of the best towns on the PLANET. I’m not kidding. You need to go. And here’s why.
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Sep 13, 2009 20:02 - By: Laura Charon
I don’t know about you guys, but my family starts wishing for our next vacation the second we get home from our last vacation. Having as much time in advance for planning makes it a lot easier to pull together the required funds. About once a year we plan a “big” vacation, and once we’ve got a destination in mind, and a general cost figured out, we start working toward saving the money.
And again, I don’t know about you guys, but my family lives RIGHT up to the edge of its means, every single month. With our paychecks exiting the bank account every bit as quickly as they’re deposited, it’s a challenge to find the wiggle room to set aside money for vacation. Here are five ways to save money every month.
#1 – You were going to spend it anyway, so put it away instead. The next time you plan to drop, say, $50 on dinner at a sit-down restaurant, spend $20 at a fast food joint instead, and put the remaining $30 in an interest-bearing savings account. If you get into the habit of down-scaling your plans and setting the extra money aside, you’ll be shocked at how quickly it adds up.
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