posted by Charles H. Russo on May 18
500 RSS Subscribers:
I am pretty happy to announce that Blog on travel finally passed the psychological barrier of 500 subscribers to its RSS feed today (via feedburner). It has been quite a long way to achieve this, you can see this in the graph below that shows the RSS Subscribers of this blog from the very beginning:
Thank you very much for all readers of this blog for adding our RSS feed to their favorite blog reader! If you aren’t subscribed yet, please do it now by clicking this RSS link or by submitting your email on the right sidebar of this blog (you will receive a confirmation link by email that you have to click).
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posted by Charles H. Russo on Apr 30
New US passport regulations go into effect on January 23, 2007. In order to re-enter the United States by plane from Mexico, Canada or the Caribbean, US citizens will need a passport.
Those coming back into the country by sea and land may still use a driver’s license and birth certificate to prove their citizenship. However, that is expected to change in the near future.
Currently about 73% of all US citizens do not have passports, so this may cause a shift in travel patterns over the next few years. Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands expect an influx of American vacationers, since they are the only Caribbean destinations not affected by the new rules.
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posted by Charles H. Russo on Apr 25
Okay, listen up. I’m only going to whisper this secret to you once, “Ruby Canyon and Horsethief Canyon”. This incredible float, just west of Grand Junction, Colorado is a rafting experience extrordinaire.
For 26 miles, the Colorado river slices through a dreamlike southwestern landscape of towering canyons and ageless black rock formations. Except during extreme spring run-off, the pace is lazy, leaving plenty of time to enjoy the scenery and play in the water.
No whitewater experience is necessary, but once you cast off, you’re committed to making the entire run. So, travel is self-contained and you must be prepared to deal with any problems that might arise along the way. By the time you drag yourself off the river 1-3 days later at Westwater Utah, you’ll already be planning your next trip.
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posted by Charles H. Russo on Apr 21
By: Nancy Kinley
In the midst of Los Angeles County’s west side, Redondo Beach sets itself apart from the masses of southern California beaches in many ways while still reflecting the best of the laid-back lifestyle for which the area is legendary. Close to so many amusement parks and museums, Redondo Beach is certain to have something enjoyable for everyone.
Redondo Beach has been referred to many times as having “one of the most romantic sunset watching places in the entire world”- the Seafront Esplanade. The city that once was one of the busiest commercial ports in southern California now is home to a pleasure pier, lined with quaint, unique shops and restaurants and a sport fishing fleet. Don’t forget about the marinas, for what would a southern Cali beach destination be without them!
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posted by Charles H. Russo on Apr 4
In the last couple days we’ve continued to see the sights of Tuscany, while inadvertently testing out as many modes of transportation as possible.
Yesterday we hopped a train to Pisa to see the ever-famous leaning tower. I know plenty of guidebooks that will tell you
it’s not worth the trip just to see this one sight, but I heartily disagree. This is my second time visiting it, and as before, I was struck by how dramatic the white tower (as well as the church and baptistery) looks against the blue sky, and how simply novel its sharp tilt is.
Upon the recommendation of our hotel owners, after going to Pisa we headed north to the cute walled town of Lucca.
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posted by Charles H. Russo on Mar 18
Personally, I never thought of Alabama as a great beach vacation, but boy was I worng. I suspect the natives would like to keep this secret to themselves. The sands are fine white “sugar”. The waters glow in cool emerald and the combination is irresistable.
In addition to ocean beaches, this intricate tidal area is laced with rivers, deltas, back bays, lagoons, lakes and bayous. To get you started, here a few of the most popular places for sun, surf and sand:
Fort Morgan
The main attraction in this area is the Bon Secour (safe harbor, in French) National Wildlife Refuge, which has 6800 acres devoted to habitat for native plants, migratory birds, nesting sea turtles and, yes, the endangered Alabama beach mouse. You can park at the end of Mobile Street or approach the all-natural beach through the sea palmettos and dunes of the Pine Beach Trail.
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posted by Charles H. Russo on Mar 15
As with many ski towns, Park City was originally established as a mining town. In the 1860’s, flocks of people moved here to pursue riches in silver mining. At this time the streets were lined with saloons and featured a very popular red-light district. In the 1930’s mineral prices fell due to the depression, and the town felt the effect. Business collapsed and the population dwindled. Over time things got better and in 1963 Park City Consolidated Mines built the first chairlift on what was then known as Treasure Mountain. At this time, $3.50 would get you a weekend pass to go skiing and sledding. Times have changed a bit since then, but the skiing is still world-class, and the town offers many cultural events and festivals.
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posted by Charles H. Russo on Mar 7
Sundance Film Festival
If you plan to be in the Park City area in January, the Sundance Film Festival is not to be missed. It takes place January 19-29. The Sundance Film Festival was started in 1981 by Robert Redford and provides developing artist a place to showcase new and independent work. This is a great time to come to Park City to enjoy skiing, the festival and to do a little bit of celebrity site seeing. For more information please visit The Sundance Film Festival
posted by Charles H. Russo on Feb 15
eBags Mother Lode Mini – Flexible packing combined with style.
The eBags company has continually created luggage based on the consumers needs. Their luggage isn’t some cheap generic knockoff. It’s quality gear designed for the consumers needs. The eBags Mother Lode Mini is a prime example. Child to the Mother Lode, the eBags Mother Lode Mini is a smaller, carry on version, of the popular rolling luggage piece.
Carry on rolling luggage is nothing unique, but the eBags Mother Lode Mini is. The main selling point is its flexibility for packing. Where most carry on rolling luggage gives you one main compartment and maybe a few pockets, the eBags Mother Lode Mini does much more.
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posted by Charles H. Russo on Jan 31
Taking the family on a winter skiing vacation can be a daunting task - sometimes finding a destination that everyone agrrees on is the hardest part. Use our ideas below to help you plan your next winter getaway!
Many resorts offer a plethora of activities for you and your family. While you are skiing fresh powder, your children can be supervised by a certified ski instructor while enrolled in ski school. After that lesson, you can meet up with them and they will be happy to show you what they learned. When the day ends, be sure to explore the town. Ski towns are notorious for some of the best shopping and fine dining. If you want to take a day off from skiing to catch your breath, try ice skating, toboggan runs or just sit by a fire with a good book. When it comes time to plan a ski vacation, try to plan at least 5 to 6 months ahead of time. This is when you can find the best deals and you shouldn’t have to worry about the hotel you want to stay in, completely booked. I have found that a little research goes a long way. After you choose your hotel, see if they have any packages or specials available. Most of the time hotels and resorts will offer a bit of a discount on lift tickets and other activities. If a special or package is not available, make sure to buy your lift tickets in bulk to save some money. Try to buy a 3 or 4 day pass versus buying individual tickets each day. Often times, these lift tickets will be good for more than 1 resort in the area.
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