When I shop, I am always on the lookout for comfortable shoes with multiple purpose.  Cushy walkers that are not sneakers are at the top of my list.  I love my Clarks.  I also amke sure to bring two pair of shoes with different heel hights.  that way, if a rotate them, the pressure is not always on the same part of ym foot... giving them a bit of a rest each day.

Another staple in my wardrobe is a long skirt made with lycra.  You can crush it, ball it up or roll it and it still hangs out without a wrinkle.  You can use it for a fancy dinner, strapless mini dress or beach cover up.  Lycra in blouses and slacks provide the same no wrinkle packing ease so I can manage a carry on rolling suitcase for two weeks worth of clothing with no washing in between!

Adding several great scarves to your suitcvase can really stretch a wardrobe.  Use them for teh beach, a chilly night or to dress up a neckline and you can leave your jewelry at home.  I also like to take two fine gauge knit sweaters for evening or layering. Open front sweaters that drape and can be belted are the most versatile. 

Here is my basic packing list below... happy travels!

PACKING LIST
 
CLOTHES

Choose one basic color (black, navy, brown) and add 2 accent colors for your travel wear
Plan to wear each item 2x, mix and match. 
 
What to pack:

Tops or shirts 3-4 Bathing suit
Blouses 3-4 Cover-up
Shorts 2 Sand shoes if needed
Capris 2-3 Rain resistant coat  or jacket
Slacks 2 plus wear one on the plane Hat
Sweatshirt or sweater , take 1, wear 1 Wrinkle proof dress, nylons, shoes, slip (if needed)
Sneakers, sandals Socks 2-3  pair 
Dressy jacket or sweater or pashmina Accessories (jewelry, scarves, etc)
Undies 5 Bras
Pj’s 1-2 Light robe
Slippers
 
 *to compress underwear and keep personal items from being touched by security personnel, pack underwear in gallon size ziploc bags and press out all of the air.  This keeps everything sanitary and also takes up less room.

 
MISCELLANEOUS 
Sunglasses Curling iron
Extra glasses Camera
Nylon stuff bag Film, charger
Books and magazines Alarm clock
Pen and paper Binoculars (optional)
Games or cards Zip loc bags (or pack socks, undies in them)
 
TOILETRIES 

• Pack all liquids and meds in zip loc bags 

Make-up Antacid
Toothpaste and brush Anti-diarrhea medicine
Deodorant Antibiotic cream
Perfume Bandaids
Sunscreen Shaver
Shampoo and conditioner Aspercreme
Body lotion Pain reliever
Comb and brush Moleskin
Nail file, polish and remover Safety pins and rubber bands
Small sewing kit

With a little research and a good travel agent, these encounters can be more than chance and happen on every vacation.  I always research the area that I am headed to and look at the calendars for the local cities.  What celebrations are going on?  Is there a special exhibition at the museum... and more importantly, what is free or low cost?

Let your travel planner know what your hobbies are.  Extreme sports or organist?  Butterflies or Architecture?  No matter where you are traveling, there are places that will enhance your vacation by catering to your special interest.  Even when your somewhere that is not your favorite activity.  I recently attended a NASCAR race with my husband and we were able to sign on the finish line before the start of the race.

I once rearranged a client's entire proposed itinerary to incorporate a visit to Budapest on St Stephen's Day.  The city goes crazy with a huge festival that includes local crafts, jousting, street vendors and a brilliant fireworks display over the Parliament building.  On their original plan, they would have missed that by just two days.

I am completing an itinerary today for a couple who love gardens.  They wanted to take in the Chelsea Flower Show in London on their next vacation.  I could have stopped there, but I also know that they love the theater, politics and architecture along with history.  They are also devoted Rotarians.  Their schedule now includes a visit to Parliament, lunch with a local Rotary Club, en evening at the theater in London, an organ concert at Notre Dame, and a guided tour of Versailles and the gardens as part of their tour.   OH... and of course, they will ride the London Eye... after dark as it is quite beautiful and romantic!

There are many wonderful and unexpected adventures that await if you just know where to look.

HONEYMOON Itinerary

Prepared for: Figaro & Susanna

May 26

                Arrive in Seville.  Check into your hotel

                PETIT PALACE CANALEJAS SEVILLA

                Breakfast included daily

May 27

Majestuosa Morning Tour  3.5 hours

Departure at 9AM

pinned by Lucy AuburnSeville is the capital of the province of the same name. With a population of some 704,000 people, Seville is the fourth largest city in Spain and is considered the cultural centre of the region. Its history dates back more than 2,000 years. Romans, Vandals, Visigoths and Moors all left their presence in the city. We will also discover the most emblematic monuments of Seville by minibus: the University, the Old Tabac Factory, the Plaza de Espana, the centerpiece of the 1929 Iberoamerican Exposition, San Telmo Palace, The Golden Tower, Isabel II bridge. We will then discover Santa Cruz, the famous Jewish quarter: a labyrinth of narrow streets which lead to the gorgeous Plaza de los Venerables. We will start our tour by visiting the Royal Alcazares, World Heritage and one of the most remaining examples of Mudejar architecture and the visit of the Cathedral of Seville, the largest gothic cathedral of the world, where Christopher Columbus' remains lie.

The afternoon is at your leisure.  Take time for a siesta so you may enjoy the exciting nightlife and the custom of tapas (a variety of snacks)… a Spanish cuisine.

May 28

                Take some time this morning to discover the city by bicycle (available for FREE at your hotel.)

Tonight you will enjoy a Flamenco Show with dinner at Palacio Andaluz.  Your tickets will be at the box office.

May 29

                JEREZ & CADIZ   9 hours

pinned by Camila Román DemoYour 8AM departure will take you out of the city today to visit Jerez and Cadiz.  After only one hour's ride, we will start our excursion with a guided tour of the Cathedral of Wine, called so for the high quality of its wines, the cathedral-like shape of its bodegas. We will end the visit by tasting some of its products. Next we will head off to witness a unique equestrian show where Andalucian horses will dance while ridden by master jockeys. The excursion continues to the Puerto de Santa Maria where you will have free time to enjoy lunch before stepping on board to cross the bay (those who prefer not to put their sea legs to the test, may continue by bus) Once in Cadiz, the oldest town in Western Europe, we will enjoy great views from the bus as we pass through the city. This concludes our day here and we will make our way back to Sevilla.

May 30

Enjoy a visit to the Museo del Baile Flamenco to learn more about the Andalusian Culture as well as the history of the dance.

Then, experience Seville from the water as you cruise the Guadalquivir for one hour.

Visit the Centro Andaluz se Arte Contemporaneo (Contemporary Arts Center) located Monastery.  The permenant collection contains works by Louis Gordillo, Candida Hofer, Rebecca horn and more.  Complete you visit with a tour of the old monastery grounds.

May 31

                Granada and the Alhambra Palace  12 hours

Mai Spy onto Wanderlust Granada, an evoking city where multiple civilizations that once lived on Andalucian soil left a cultural legacy that is a marvel of the world. The Alhambra is the joy that crowns this beautiful city at the foot of the Sierra Nevada mountain range. We will visit the Nazarian city, the Alhambra, where every inch squared is a work of art. During our visit of the palaces, grand halls, rooms and exquisite gardens, we will understand why the last Arabic king cried, retreating as the Catholic Kings conquered it. We will then meander through the Generalife gardens with an official guide, these gardens being some of the most impressive in the world. At the end of the visit you will have time to relax in Granada before finally returning to Seville, never to forget this most spell bounding of experiences.

June 1

Borrow the bikes for a final spin around the city before you head for home.  Be sure to take plenty of photos to share with those back home.

Here they built a family home and raised their children.  In 1950, they opened their 27 room home/inn to guests.  The original inn burnt down in 1980, allowing the family to reassess the property and come up with a multi-use resort concept including a newly rebuilt hotel and accompanying guest houses to better share their mountain experience with families.  When I first visited the resort in the early 80’s I was welcomed at a reception hosted by Maria von Trapp.  Marie passed away in 1987, but if you visit the resort today, chances are you will come across her children and grandchildren… who still tend to the daily operations of the family business. 

No matter the time of year you choose to visit there is always something to do.  In the winter they offer miles of groomed cross country and snowshoe trails.  These convert to spring and summer hiking trails and the newest addition… mountain bike trails.  Fall brings its own spectacular sights when the hills and mountains surrounding the resort turn into a vivid visual display of color.  You can even enjoy yourself during Vermont’s fifth season… MUD season.  The resort boasts a modern indoor recreation facility complete with indoor pool, outdoor hot tub with a view, sauna, spa treatment rooms, fitness classes and more.  You can also take a short walk down the hill to the old Austrian Tea House, home to their newest venture, a brew pub.  Taste half a dozen styles of beer while enjoying a snack or dessert. 

If you are feeling “TRAPPed” and in need of some new ideas, head off to the Trapp Family Lodge for some much needed rest, relaxation and rejuvenation.  It has worked for me for the past 20 years!

In some areas, they are still excelling.  I have visited Walt Disney World in Orlando on two separate occasions since December, staying at both the Coronado Springs and the Contemporary Resorts.  Hands down, they are excelling in customer service/friendliness.  Greetings abound no matter where's you go and all staff are more than willing to help no matter the question or problem.  Also, the food is fantastic.  I spent most of my time the first week not in the parks, but at each of the hotels checking out the restaurants.  They also seem to be making a point of keeping the room décor fresh and updated. 

What were the low points?  Check-in on both occasions as well as the on-line reservation process was less than stellar.  I make a living using the internet and Disney’s web site is slow and difficult to use.  On our first visit, we arrived after 6PM and rooms were not cleaned and ready for occupation.  On the second trip, I arrived after midnight to a lobby filled with drunk conference attendees and NO ONE AT THE FRONT DESK.  As a single woman traveling alone, this was a major problem especially since I had pre-registered my arrival time and applied for the Magical Express.  They knew I was coming and what time I would arrive.  The on-property transportation system, while frequent, takes forever to get you from point A to point B.  We also found it difficult to find and follow road signs from point to point without the use of a map when driving ourselves.  When we finally visited a park, we chose EPCOT... our previous favorite from when the kids were younger.  This venue was built as the amusement park of the future and yet one of the attractions is Captain Eo… a sci-fi adventure made when Michael Jackson was a young man.  The technology and filming was outdated and the comments I heard leaving the theater were not good.  This was not the only outdated attraction in Epcot.  The few new attractions in the park always had long lines and no fast pass availability while the older duds were walk in ready.  

So, the question is, has the MOUSE lost his magic?  Not completely, there is still plenty of magic to go around, but without some new tricks up his sleeve, he just might.

Mist shrouded mountains

Jagged rock outcroppings

The quiet of early morning

Snowmobiles breaking the stillness

 Ice fishing

Small animal trappers releasing their prisoners

A stand of white birch shimmering against the dark forest

Trail heads appearing on the side of the road 

A  fence made of snow skis

The sun struggling to break free of the cloud cover 

Roads snaking between mountains… following the path of a stream

Unique bridges appearing around blind turns

Log cabins nestled in snow.

Slump shouldered mountains showing their age

Frozen waterfalls turned Popsicle blue.

Royal Caribbean Cruise Line will now allow up to two bottles of wine per stateroom to be brought on-board the ship.  You must carry this wine in your hand luggage.  Bags being delivered to your stateroom are now being scanned and any showing large containers of liquid will be held at security until you come to open them and claim the baggage.  Baggage is only opened when passenger is present.

If you take the Royal Transfer from the airport to the pier, you must remove the wine from your checked bag and put it into your hand luggage BEFORE boarding the bus to the cruise ship.  Otherwise, your baggage will not pass security and you will have to claim your bags onboard the ship instead of them being delivered to your stateroom.

Happy Sailing!

Sally

But, back to my tally... As a kid, we had many wonderful east coast driving vacations from as far west as St Louis to the Atlantic.  One year was the New England loop...Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Connecticut.  Of course, I was well versed in New York, since that is where we live.  On our trip to Florida, we hit the entire Eastern Seaboard...Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia (where I bought a scandalous T-shirt that read West Virginia is for Lovers), Maryland (another shirt... Maryland is for CRABS), North Carolina, South Carolina (including a guaranteed stop at the iconic "South of the Border" rest area), and Georgia before reaching Florida.  We also drove across the top of the Gulf adding Alabama and Louisiana for a quick stop in New Orleans.  That gave me 17 states in just two trips!

Since my Uncle lived in Ohio and my Great Grandmother lived in Missouri, we often crossed Indiana and Illinois for the visit.  Almost half way there (21 states) before I am twelve.  At 16, my parents produced the GRAND ADVENTURE... three weeks in a motor home across the US.  Add on Kansas, Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, South Dakota, Nebraska, Iowa and Michigan, bringing my grand total to 29 states.

Fast forward to married life and we continued to discover our vacation by car.  The time my in-laws lived in Virginia and we decided to drive to Atlantic City on the way home by way of Maryland and Delaware (crossing by ferry into New Jersey).  That put me at 32 states before age 25!  When my oldest boys were two and five, Pete's parents moved to Arizona.  A perfect time to duplicate my teenage adventure.  This time, I dropped south at the Mississippi and discovered Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Texas (yes... the panhandle counts) and Michigan.  Add in my two trips to California and that puts the number at 39 and counting...

I plan to add Alaska next August giving me an even 40.  I guess I will have to start thinking about a  trip to the Pacific North West... it will have to be a driving adventure...  I would love to pick off those last nine continental states, but the ones in question are all rather large in size.  Perhaps a train adventure across the northern border!  I'd better get planning!

My district in Central New York exchanges with 23 countries around the world each year.  While this weekend was about selecting qualified OUTBOUND candidates and matching them with a country where we think they will be successful, the other part of the program are the counterpart students we receive in District 7150 who teach us about their culture, and also learn to live as Americans for an entire year.

So, where do we send these brave young students?  In Europe they may find themselves in Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Sweden or Switzerland.  If it is South/Central  America countries include Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Ecuador, Mexico and Venezuela.  In the Pacific Region, the kids could find themselves in Japan, India, Taiwan, Thailand or Australia.  It is a rvariety pack and we try to carefully place the students in cultures where we think they will excel and grow. 

My countries that I have been immediately responsible for include France and Belgium.  Between my very small French language background and my counterparts ability to communicate in English, we have been able to assist these students in their exchange and have watched them return to their home countries better able to understand the multi-cultural world around them.  I have been blessed with the opportunity to visit these countries on more than one occasion, to make friends in many cities, to create new family connections with a special few. 

The program always encourages the kids to be explorers in their new world, not reporters.  As a traveler, it is what I hope for you as well.  Try thier food, practice small phrases of the language, listen to their music.  EXPLORE!  I never did understand the traveler who went to a foreign country and then complained because steak and potatoes weren't available.  And remember, while the trip I am currently planning is to Alaska, there are still wonderful regional differences, cultural traditions that differ from ours and delicious recipes to taste.  EXPLORE!

So, what makes Alaska so terrific that it needs a new theme song?  Many Americans consider Alaska the last of the rugged wilderness that this country was founded on.  The largest state at 663,268 square miles and the least dense population with only 698,473 people, that leaves lots of wide open wilderness to explore.  Because of the vast distances between cities, a cruise ship is a very special way to discover the coastal cities of this great land.  Icy Strait Point, Juneau, Skagway, and Ketchikan are a few of the small towns that are called on during an Alaska Cruise.  Many retain the feel of the boom town spirit that put them on the map when "gold was in them thar hills".

And take a step just outside of the towns and you will find yourself surrounded by some of the most beautiful scenery and spectacular wildlife that exists.  Whenit comes to nature, Alaska offers the opportunity to explore its wildlife with tours dedicated to birding and bear viewing, fishing, hunting and whale watching.

If it is adventure you are looking for, hike a glacier, take out a team of sled dogs, try rafting and sea kayaking, or try a "fly over" in a wilderness "BUSH" plane.  For the hiker in you, the adventure is as easy or as difficult as you choose.  Wander flat country roads, cross glaciers or scale mountains.  You can find it all in Alaska.

If Alaska is on your bucket list, check out the great itinerary for our two tours in 2011.  The first is a cruise only view of Alaska and the second expands on the cruise  by including a wonderful rail and motorcoach package from Anchorage to denali to Fairbanks.

Join the group and sing along  ....A LA LA LA LA LA LASKA