Sometimes trade shows are fun.  And sometimes they are as fun as having a cold on a rainy day stuck at home with two little boys under 4 and no daycare.  Lucky for me the LA Times Travel Show held at the Los Angeles Convention Center February 14-15 fit into the former category.  Basically it was a giant room filled with people selling fantasy – if you did not leave that show without the overwhelming urge to hop on a plane to Africa or Utah or Ireland, then you must have serious pteromechanophobia.

Guard at the door

Admission to the show was $10 per person with many discount opportunities published in the paper and by AAA.  Parking was $12.  Hmm.  There was a food court outside the show where the only visible snacks were evident besides the Clif Bar samples at their booth.

Guard of the Clif bar samples (Actually, this is the Big Bear mascot posing with me.) (The BEAR is the mascot, I am the woman.)

I sauntered up and down the rows of exhibitors, reusable tote bag over my arm courtesy of Mendocino County.  Those tote bags were necessary for the collection of the hundred or so pamphlets, brochures, USB drives, business cards, postcards, maps, bookmarks, etc. that I collected.  Not to worry about waste – I will actually use them for future posts here, and when I am finished my children will turn them into art projects.  Go green!

There were exhibitors from every major travel destination that you can think of, and some you would not suspect, like Transylvania.  There were tour companies, river rafting guides, tarot card readers, underwear salespeople (yes, really), seminars by travel experts, performances by dancers or musicians native to some of the lands to which you might travel, and several notable miniature landmarks.

Look kids!  There’s Big Ben!

I attended the show during the last few hours of the last day.  It took me a few hours to make it from one side of the hall to the other, and by the time I got to the more exotic location booths, they were packing up to leave.  Africa Row had this picturesque exhibit of wild animals one might find on safari.  I leaned on the striped quadriped as I checked email on my phone, and someone came up to me and said “Is that your zebra?”  I don’t think I answered, I was so taken aback by the question.

The sign didn’t say “Don’t lean on the animals.”

Coming from a family vacation standpoint, I was looking for information about interesting travel destinations or attractions that are suitable for children.  A few of these were decidedly not so.

This woman runs a burlesque show starring women over 50.

But there were cool ideas I had not thought of before, including Home Exchange , a network in which you can home swap while on vacation instead of getting a hotel room or staying with relatives who have lots of staircases or breakable things.  You can match up with other like-minded families, whose homes are similarly kid-proofed, and save a lot of money.  If saving money is not your issue, you can hire a tour company like Intrepid Travel or Optical Edge Adventures to plan a one-of-a-kind travel package for you, tailored to the ages of people in your family and your travel preferences.

I missed all of the seminars held by respected travel experts like Rick Steves, Arthur and Pauline Frommer and Samantha Brown from the Travel Channel because of my late attendance.  However, I made it there in time to contemplate riding the zip line, for which there had been a 2-hour wait the day before.  It only took me 30 seconds and a glimpse at the precarious rope ladder to help me decide against it.

Instead, I had an immersive experience at the Be a Diver scuba pool where instructors from local dive shops taught novices how to use the underwater breathing apparatus.  They even took underwater digital photos, which I promise to share when they are posted at the Be a Diver website.

All this is to say that I got enough paper in my tote bag to write about here for at least a couple of months, and after going to the Travel Show I can say I recommend it.  If you love to travel and one of these events comes to your area, it’s a great place to gather information, ideas, and discounts, and to sign up to win free trips!

Sun Valley, Idaho, is a great place to visit, whether you seek a romantic weekend getaway, or a fun-filled family vacation. My husband and I just returned from a quick trip last week, and even though we were only there a short time, we came up with a list of our favorite outdoor activities in Sun Valley:

Biking
Sun Valley, a planned resort community near Ketchum, Idaho, boasts miles of paved and unpaved bike paths, perfect for leisurely rides into town for ice cream, or an over-the-bar, single-track mountain bike adventure up one of the many trails in the Sawtooth National Recreation Area. I rented a bike from one of the local shops and headed out with a group to conquer the Copper Basin – my personal recommendation? Go for a higher-end bike with multiple shocks. That single track can get a little bumpy!

Fly Fishing
The river runs right through town, and during the summer, locals hire out as guides to tourists interested in learning or perfecting their fly-fishing technique. My husband went out with Silver Creek Outfitters on the Big Wood, just above the Magic Reservoir, and enjoyed an afternoon of catching (and releasing!) rainbow trout. Although, he did add that it was a good thing the scenery was so beautiful, as sometimes the fish did not cooperate!

Horseback Riding
Just north of Ketchum, in Galena, Idaho, several outfitters offer guided trail rides ranging from 1.5 hours to all day. Our friends took their daughter up one afternoon and enjoyed a lovely trail ride with spectacular mountain views.

River Rafting
Alas, the water was very low in the Snake River when we visited, but early in the season, white water rafting is an exciting way to see the Sun Valley. With Class II and III rapids perfect for family adventures, and Class IV rapids for those seeking more thrilling rides, river rafting looked like a great activity. Next time we will make sure we visit in May and June, when the waters run high.

Ice Skating
That’s right, ice-skating. Even in the summer, the ice rink at Sun Valley Lodge offers open-skate, private lessons, and ice hockey. And for those of who would rather leave this sport to the professionals, Saturday nights during the summer, Sun Valley is host to The Sun Valley Summer Ice Show, featuring Olympic and World Champion skaters.

In between these activities, we also took in a tennis lesson or two, went swimming in the pools, and enjoyed a few retail therapy opportunities. Sun Valley also offers golfing, hiking, and other family activities. We are already planning a winter trip, with all the cold-weather sport options!