Beach Bytes: Sipping Along the East Coast
Grape vines at Channing Daughters Winery on Long Island (courtesy, Channing Daughters Winery)
Sometimes there’s more to the beach than getting too much sun on the sand or splashing with the kids. Here are some seasonal events along the East Coast where grownups can enjoy the coast as well and add some flavor to their travels.
The Shoreline Wine Festival in Guilford, Connecticut, August 15-16, features samples from more than ten Connecticut wineries, along with local crafts, food, wine seminars, and live entertainment by New England bands. Guilford is a lovely historic town along the scenic coast with an abundance of house museums, as well outdoor activities.
If you can’t get to the festival, Bishop’s Orchards Winery hosts weekend wine tastings and pick-your-own-fruit opportunities with blueberries currently in season plus raspberries, peaches, pears, and apples expected by mid-August. The winery is one of 19 on the state’s wine trail, with eight of them being along the coast. Take a day to tour those along the coastal trail, find a comfy bed and breakfast, and then slide on over to the western trail for another day of tasting.
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July 13, 2009
TimBuk2 Bag Giveaway: And the Best Travel Tips Are...
It turns out you all have tons of great packing and travel tips to share! We received nearly 170 tips in our TimBuk2 Bag Giveaway Contest, from how to save space in your luggage, to what gadgets are good to bring on trips, to how to be a more thoughtful traveler. Though there were a lot of helpful and original hints, we eventually chose two winners to win the TimBuk2 bags, listed below. We also chose ten runner-ups (after the jump) that provided hints that we thought were too good not to share, and they will all receive an Away.com t-shirt! If you are one of the winners or honorable mentions, please email press-relations@away.com so we can give you your prize. Thank you to everyone who entered! Even though the contest is now over, keep checking our Facebook Fan Page for more good travel tips, travel news, and new features on Away.com. And check back on our blog for more opportunities to win free stuff from Away!
2009 TimBuk2 Bag Giveaway Winners
Preventing wrinkles
I always pack a small plastic misting bottle in my bag. Each night I decide what I'm going to wear the next day, and spritz the wrinkled clothes. By morning, the clothes are dry and free of wrinkles! I also use it to freshen up my hairdo if I don't have time to wash it. (Submitted by Cheri Jantzen)
Update packing lists
Create a checklist of items you should pack for various types of trips and add to it every time you wish you had something—my husband and I share a Google Document. That way you won't find yourself without your phone charger, the mesh bag for seashell collecting, your hat, allergy medicine, membership cards, etc. (Submitted by Penny Alley)
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July 09, 2009
The Pros and Cons of Cruises
A cruise ship in Ketchikan, Alaska (Brian Adams/courtesy, Alaska Travel Industry Association)
My family recently went on a cruise to Alaska, and if you're a traveler who likes to experience the most you can out of where you're traveling, you'll understand why "cruising Alaska" might sound like a sellout. Alaska is about wilderness, nature, and unfathomable expanses of mountains and ice fields and forests—man versus wild. I would think it's best experienced from on the ground, rather than by sailing past its shores. So it felt ironic to be confined to a boat—or more accurately, a resort-turned-water-vessel—when I probably should have been trekking a lung-busting trail or avoiding bears in the mountains somewhere. Instead, I ate myself silly, watched movies, and bowled on a boat (cue joke souvenir T-shirt reading, "I went to Alaska and all I got was five extra pounds").
But I don't want to make cruises sound horrible. Even though I don't think I'll be signing up for another cruise for a while, there are many great things about cruising. Millions of people do it every year, and many are repeat customers. Whether or not it's a good method of travel for you depends on where you're going, who you're going with, what type of traveler you are, and what you want to get out of your vacation. Below are some things to consider about cruising before you book your first trip.
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July 08, 2009
Beach Bytes: Barbados in Any Season
FRONT ROW SEAT: Mullins Bay in Barbados (Photodisc)
High season in Barbados officially begins in mid-December when North Americans and Brits (in particular) are eager to avoid their cold, beach-less winters. Nightlife comes alive on the island, and holiday activities are hopping.
But for those in search of a good deal, or who still need a beach getaway even when the weather's warm at home, the good news is that all year is near-perfect season in Barbados. Spring and summer rates for airfare, lodging, and travel packages are also quite enticing. This beautiful, friendly Caribbean island welcomes guests all year round, with its warm, interesting people the foremost asset. You can golf, dive, surf (or try really any water sport), plus swim with the turtles among the coral; there’s never a shortage of activity. The gorgeous beach itself provides the primary entertainment (at least for me), and beaches range from busy resort areas to secluded spots for napping under swaying palms—with an occasional break for a rum punch.
One of the highlights of summer is the Crop Over Festival, a five-week event underway right now. Its origins date back more than 200 years to when the sugarcane crop harvest was finished and called for a celebration. Though no longer based on the harvest schedule, it is the island's biggest event of the year. The extravaganza includes dancing, parades, elaborate costumes, music competitions, fabulous food, arts and crafts, and of course lots of calypso, a style of music unique to the Caribbean. The event attracts thousands of visitors from around the world.
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July 06, 2009
Top Ten Whitewater Rivers for Tubing & Duckies
DUCK CALL: Nantahala River, North Carolina (courtesy, Nantahala Outdoor Center)
Certain rivers are inexorably linked to the ferocity of their whitewater—let's just call it the "my-Class-V-is-bigger-than-yours" complex. However, a river can also mellow out depending on the time of year, with water levels that have been bolstered by heavy spring snowmelt dropping to an easier summer flow. Unlike bigger, more cumbersome rafts, duckies—small, inflatable kayaks—allow you to navigate normally fierce rivers like the Middle Fork of the American or Nantahala with greater independence. They also give you a better taste of the contours of the river. Go one step further on certain rivers by plopping yourself in an inner tube with a floating cooler in tow, crack open a cool one, lie back, and enjoy the sun as you let the river do all the work. Medical disclaimer: This approach is not recommended for hyperactive over-achievers.
Here are ten of our favorite rivers for tubing and duckies, but we know there are hundreds of other local rivers where tubing is a summer rite of passage. Tell us about them in the comments section below!
Top 10 Rivers for Tubing & Duckies
1. American River, California
2. Chattooga River, Georgia/South Carolina
6. Nantahala River, North Carolina
8. Nolichucky River, Tennessee/North Carolina
10. Lower & Middle Youghiogheny River, Pennsylvania
Like top ten travel lists? So do we. Find more of Away.com's Top Ten Trip Ideas here.
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July 02, 2009
Behind the Image: Machu Picchu
An untraditional view of the famous ruins of Machu Picchu (Nathan Borchelt)
Machu Picchu is one of the rare places in the world where all expectations are exceeded. Whether you hike the Inca Trail to the ancient city, hop the train from Cusco via Aguas Calientes, or trek for three days in the adjacent Camino Salcantay valley with Mountain Lodges of Peru (one of the newest—and best—Peruvian tour operators), you already likely know what to expect: the stone ruins of a vast, sprawling pre-Columbian Incan city 8,000 feet above sea level, with dense cumulus clouds blanketing the peaks of this mysterious UNESCO World Heritage-listed spot.
Despite its many unanswered questions, one thing is almost universally known: what it looks like, thanks to that singular, ubiquitous image of Machu Picchu. Looking down from the upper reaches of the ruins with the neighboring peak of Huayna Picchu jutting upwards, the ruins sprawl across the peak, almost like a half-constructed, stone Lego city built across terraces carpeted with verdant green foliage.
And when you follow the path up to that vantage point, the view does indeed hit every travel cliche: It steals your breath, quiets you, humbles you, makes you feel alive and aware and bigger than life, and yet small and insignificant. And you also realize that the photo you're obligated to take is...well, just like every other one you've seen.
So, when you find yourself in a place such as Machu Picchu, take on the challenge of finding something different.
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July 01, 2009
Drinking Laws Loosen in Utah
Park City's main street (Latham Jenkins/courtesy, Park City CVB)
As anyone who’s been to Utah (or rather, a bar or restaurant in Utah) knows, the state has got some of the most peculiar and strict drinking laws in the country. But that's all about to change. Starting today, July 1, 2009, the Utah Legislature will no longer require clubs and bars to charge their customers a "membership" fee for entry. This fee was effectively a cover charge that lasted for only three weeks if you were not already a member or couldn't get a member to “sponsor” you. Consider this a huge feat, especially if you're like me and hate paying for anything other than your drinks.
This decision follows last year's adjustment when single shots increased from 1 to 1.5 ounces, the accepted amount for a shot.
Bill Malone, CEO and President of the Park City Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Bureau, believes that with all these new changes, "guests will no longer be able to use antiquated alcohol rules as a reason to shy away from a Park City vacation, meeting or convention."
Wondering where the best spots are to get a drink, now that it's so much easier to stroll into a bar in Utah? We've found the best places to quench your thirst in the state's various ski resort towns, in and around Salt Lake City and Park City.
BONUS: Click after the jump for a recipe for a great drink for summer, concocted by a local Park City bartender.
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June 30, 2009
Beach Bytes: Beach Tips--Be a Good Guest
When visiting a beach, please let's all remember to treat the beach with the utmost respect. Whether it’s a public beach or a privately owned resort property, different beaches may have different rules and restrictions. But a few tips should be remembered as common courtesies:
Dunes: Nature’s plan for protecting the shore is washing sand up to create dunes. Whether or not signs are posted as reminders, dunes are easily damaged by walkers, sunbathers, or pets. In many locations, law prohibits walking on the dunes.
Sea oats: Sometimes planted or growing naturally, the lovely swaying grass holds the sand in place along the dunes, and it should not be disturbed.
Space: An American custom, more so than in many other countries, is to allow personal space. Park your chair, umbrella, kids, or general spread of stuff at a reasonable distance away from others. It’s good manners to allow privacy for conversation and to keep your own music or phone calls to yourself.
Dogs: Allowed on some beaches, and often with leashes required, dogs sometimes annoy non-owners, and pet waste should be collected and disposed properly. Otherwise, it’s a serious health hazard.
Holes: Digging in the beach sand seems to be a natural pastime for kids and dogs, but holes should be filled when they have served their entertainment purpose. Otherwise, a runner or other beachgoer could miss seeing a deep hole and be hurt by a fall.
Trash: Leave the beach cleaner than you find it, and dispose of trash properly.
Private property: Straying onto, or purposely trying to enter, the posted property of a neighboring resort or private owner may be illegal as well as bad etiquette.
Let's enjoy our beautiful beaches and be sure we can continue to enjoy them for many years to come!
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June 29, 2009
More Than Just a Package Trip: Fairmont Hotels Teams Up with National Geographic Society
African savanna (courtesy, Fairmont Mara Safari Club)
Fairmont Hotels and Resorts—one of the biggest players in properties that qualify as destinations in their own right—have teamed up with the National Geographic Society to present the Global Explorer Series, offering guests the opportunity to engage with Nat Geo experts in a range of activities. Three 2009 programs remain:
- Attend a gala event in Monte Carlo, including a private excursion with a marine ecologist on Prince Albert’s Tuiga, one of the world’s most beautiful historic yachts (July 19-19; $1,125).
- Join a Nat Geo wildlife photographer in Kenya for a multi-day luxury safari with tour operator Micato, which includes a hot-air balloon ride, a visit to a Masai village, luxe accommodations in Samburu National Reserve and Fairmont’s three East African properties, and a day-long photo safari drive (September 1-10; $7,690).
- Explore the pyramids of Egypt with the country’s head of the Supreme Council of Antiquities (November 27-30; $960).
Our pick? The priciest of the bunch—but all would make for memories that would last a lifetime.
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June 27, 2009
Top Ten 4th of July Celebrations
Fireworks, barbeques, parades, and live
music—no other holiday spells summer fun quite like the 4th of July. Since the 4th falls on a Saturday this year, most people get Friday, July 3rd off from work, giving you a long weekend to celebrate America's birthday—and that means the perfect opportunity to take a road trip. Although you could just as easily watch the festivities on TV or set out some lawn chairs and a
grill in your backyard, some Independence Day celebrations are worth
the trip, especially if they're right up the road from you. Here are
our picks for the country's top ten places to ring in the 4th. Make sure to tell us if we've missed any of your favorite local July 4th celebrations in the comments section—we're always up for a new party suggestion!
Top Ten 4th of July Celebrations
10. Mount Rushmore, South Dakota
9. Greater Williamsburg, Virginia
8. Miami, Florida
7. San Diego, California
6. New Orleans, Louisiana
5. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
4. New York City, New York
3. Chicago, Illinois
2. Washington, D.C.
1. Boston, Massachusetts
Bonus: U.S. Virgin Islands
If you want to spend your July 4th weekend in one of America's smaller coastal towns, check out the Best Beaches for a July 4th Celebration. Or if you want more Top Ten travel ideas, get some inspiration here.
PHOTO: The Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular over Boston Harbor (Jay Connor/courtesy, B4 Productions)
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