tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-79177697917078152672023-10-28T05:51:27.057-04:00Going, going ...Tips and sidelights for travelersUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger95125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7917769791707815267.post-89728087847817185742015-02-26T14:46:00.002-05:002015-02-26T14:46:48.202-05:00This blog has moved! Here's where to find it now<br />
This blog has joined others at The Charlotte Observer in relocating into charlotteobserver.com's new and improved website.<br />
<br />
You'll find now find it at <a href="http://www.charlotteobserver.com/living/travel/going-going-blog">www.charlotteobserver.com/living/travel/going-going-blog</a>.<br />
<br />
See you there!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7917769791707815267.post-28950103506759204442015-02-24T15:29:00.001-05:002015-02-24T15:29:11.544-05:00It's two-fer time at Myrtle Beach<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Um_Q8DRNfQI/VOze3QCjbpI/AAAAAAAABnY/3MPE4I_e7Ws/s1600/IMG_WWks_03.JPG_2_1_F77HPJVD.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Um_Q8DRNfQI/VOze3QCjbpI/AAAAAAAABnY/3MPE4I_e7Ws/s1600/IMG_WWks_03.JPG_2_1_F77HPJVD.JPG" height="320" width="217" /></a></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15pt;">Discounts at <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Myrtle Beach</st1:place></st1:city>? This is the
time of year to look for them ‑- when the big-venue holiday shows are done and
before Can-Am Days -- March 14-22 this year -- officially opens the 2015
vacation season for frost-bitten refugees from Ontario.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15pt;">VacationMyrtleBeach.com,
a group of 14 oceanfront resorts, is pushing a Stay+Play Free Family Fun
promotion: Book at one of the hotels and get free or two-fer admission deals to
various area attractions. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15pt;">The details:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 33.0pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15pt;">Buy one, get one Legends in Concert ticket for
stays through May 31.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 33.0pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 33.0pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15pt;">Buy one, get one ticket to Alabama Theatre‘s “ONE the Show” for stays through <span data-term="goog_425247306" style="z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aqj"><span style="z-index: -1;">March 31 </span>and <span data-term="goog_425247307" style="z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span style="z-index: -1;">for <span class="aqj">May 1-31.</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 33.0pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15pt;"><span data-term="goog_425247306" style="z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aqj"><span data-term="goog_425247307" style="z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span style="z-index: -1;"><span class="aqj"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 33.0pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15pt;">Buy one, get one free Banana Boat ride in the <st1:place w:st="on">Atlantic</st1:place> with Downwind Sails for stays <span data-term="goog_425247308" style="z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aqj"><span style="z-index: -1;">April 1-May 21.</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 33.0pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15pt;"><span data-term="goog_425247308" style="z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aqj"><span style="z-index: -1;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 33.0pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15pt;">Buy one, get one free ticket to WonderWorks museum (shown at the top of this post) through <span data-term="goog_425247309" style="z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aqj"><span style="z-index: -1;">March 15.</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 33.0pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15pt;"><span data-term="goog_425247309" style="z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aqj"><span style="z-index: -1;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 33.0pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15pt;">One free entry to select House of Blues events, including <span data-term="goog_425247310" style="z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aqj"><span style="z-index: -1;">March 14</span></span></span>
Badfish concert and <span data-term="goog_425247311" style="z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aqj"><span style="z-index: -1;">March 21 </span></span></span>Local Brews, Local Grooves event</span>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 33.0pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 33.0pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15pt;">Check out the promotion <a href="http://www.vacationmyrtlebeach.com/landing/free-tickets-for-guests/?cmpid=prtckt15&NCK=8442829289">here</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 33.0pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 33.0pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15pt;">The 14 resort hotels: Beech Colony, Beach Cove
Resort, Captain's Quarters, Caravelle Resort, Carolina Winds, Crown Reef
Resort, Forest Dunes, hotel BLUE, Landmark Resort, Ocean Creek Resort, Palace
Resort, Palms Resort, Sea Watch Resort and South Wind on the Ocean.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 33.0pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 33.0pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15pt;">Check out the resorts <a href="http://.vacationmyrtlebeach.com/resorts">here</a>. And keep your eye
peeled for off-season lodging discounts.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 33.0pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7917769791707815267.post-44902604395899511992015-02-19T16:44:00.001-05:002015-02-19T16:44:54.897-05:00Culinary tour in Charleston points up city's French heritage<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-i6n640HOqOU/VOZX50mtbGI/AAAAAAAABmc/PIO_g498cIc/s1600/wagner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-i6n640HOqOU/VOZX50mtbGI/AAAAAAAABmc/PIO_g498cIc/s1600/wagner.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Just seeing "Huguenot" doesn't make it easier to
say. (Try "HUGH-ga-not.")</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It's a French word, and it turns up on tourist maps of <st1:place w:st="on">Charleston</st1:place>: The downtown's
French Quarter ‑ the warren of streets east of <st1:street w:st="on">King Street</st1:street>, from <st1:street w:st="on">Market Street south</st1:street> to about <st1:street w:st="on">Tradd Street</st1:street> ‑ is
sometimes called the Huguenot Quarter.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And west of there, on <st1:street w:st="on">West Street</st1:street> near <st1:street w:st="on">Logan Street</st1:street>, is the Huguenot Society of
South Carolina.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Here's the skinny.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Religious wars in the 1500s tore up French society. French Calvinists,
called Huguenots, included members of the nobility, many in the middle class,
and a share of the peasantry.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
They became a political as well as a religious force as different
nobles lined up to contest who would become king as the tottering <st1:place w:st="on">Valois</st1:place> dynasty was about to crash.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The mother of King Francis II, Catherine de Medici, was ardently
anti-Protestant, and her faction organized the St. Bartholomew's Day massacre
on Aug. 23-24, 1572, which resulted in the murder of 5,000 to 30,000 Huguenots
in Paris and elsewhere in the kingdom.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Huguenots began leaving <st1:country-region w:st="on">France</st1:country-region>
in huge numbers for refuge in Protestant lands, notably <st1:country-region w:st="on">Great Britain</st1:country-region>, settling in <st1:city w:st="on">London</st1:city> and in the West Country.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It wasn't always the best fit: English Protestants weren't
Calvinists; also, the language and culture were quite different.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When the American colonies were being settled, many
Huguenots left England for the New World, especially <st1:city w:st="on">Charleston</st1:city>.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A list of family names posted by the <a href="http://huguenotsocietyofamerica.org/?page=Ancestors">Huguenot Society of America</a> lists many surnames still common in the <st1:place w:st="on">Carolinas</st1:place>:
from Ballinger and Bodine to Ravenal and Vincent. Many who settled in <st1:city w:st="on">Charleston</st1:city> lived in what came to be the
French Quarter.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The first 45, who
came in 1680 ,played a role in shaping <st1:city w:st="on">Charleston</st1:city>'s
culture and food -- a contribution celebrated March 11 with a Huguenot Tour and
Cooking Class staged by Charleston Culinary Tours.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The rain-or-shine walking tour includes tastings at
Brasserie Gigi, In the Kitchen ( the restaurant of tour leader and chef Bob
Waggoner, shown above), Cafe Framboise and ends with a sugary flourish at
Christophe Artisan Chocolatier-Patissier.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It's French. It's Southern. And it's a different blend of those
cuisines than you'll find in the Creole fare of <st1:city w:st="on">New Orleans</st1:city>. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Moreover, attendance is limited to 12 individuals who must
be 21 or older. Tickets are $150 and are available at <a href="http://www.charlestonculinarytours.com/">Charleston Culinary Tours</a>.</div>
Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7917769791707815267.post-10471750428533562832015-02-18T16:33:00.002-05:002015-02-18T16:33:45.163-05:00Coolest small town in America? The vote could come down to Hillsborough... or Blanco, Texas<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-E4tDXYHXaNg/VOUES94nfbI/AAAAAAAABl4/xkDJ4crRfi8/s1600/RIVERWALK1-CHN-093014-HLL.JPG.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-E4tDXYHXaNg/VOUES94nfbI/AAAAAAAABl4/xkDJ4crRfi8/s1600/RIVERWALK1-CHN-093014-HLL.JPG.JPG" height="216" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The coolest small towns in <st1:country-region w:st="on">America</st1:country-region>? It's not anybody's
guess... but anyone's vote can count in
a Budget Travel promotion.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The annual civic beauty contest runs through 11:59 p.m. Feb.
25; it is open to municipalities that have less than 19,000 residents.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And as of Tuesday, <st1:state w:st="on">North
Carolina</st1:state> had two burgs in the top 15: Hillsborough
and Washington.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Here are the rankings so far:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
1. Grand Marais. <st1:state w:st="on">Minn.</st1:state> (24.3 percent)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
2. <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Chincoteague</st1:city>, <st1:state w:st="on">Va.</st1:state></st1:place>
(21.0 percent)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>3. Hillsborough
(9.9 percent)<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>4. <st1:state w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Washington</st1:place></st1:state> (7.9 percent)<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
5. <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Allegan</st1:city>, <st1:state w:st="on">Mich.</st1:state></st1:place>
(7.0 percent)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
6. <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Delhi</st1:city>, <st1:state w:st="on">N.Y.</st1:state></st1:place>
(6.4 percent)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
7. <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Fort Myers Beach</st1:city>, <st1:state w:st="on">Fla.</st1:state></st1:place>:
(5.8 percent)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
8. <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Old Orchard Beach</st1:city>, <st1:state w:st="on">Maine</st1:state></st1:place>: (4.2 percent)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
9. <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Snohomish</st1:city>, <st1:state w:st="on">Wash.</st1:state></st1:place>
(4.1 percent)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
10. Berkeley Springs, W.V. (2.8 percent)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
11. <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Huron</st1:city>,
<st1:state w:st="on">Ohio</st1:state></st1:place> (2.6 percent)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
12. <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Pismo Beach</st1:city>,
<st1:state w:st="on">Calif.</st1:state></st1:place> (2.1 percent)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
13. Crested <st1:city w:st="on">Butte</st1:city>, <st1:state w:st="on">Colo.</st1:state> (0.9 percent)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
14. Ka’anapali, <st1:state w:st="on">Hawaii</st1:state>
(0.9 percent)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
15. <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Blanco</st1:city>,
<st1:state w:st="on">Texas</st1:state></st1:place> (0.3 percent)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sorry, but the deadline has passed for nominations, and
write-ins are not allowed.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This being an election, there of course seems to be
skullduggery at the crossroads. Various tourism sites in northern <st1:place w:st="on">Minnesota</st1:place>
(northlandsnewscenter.com, boreal.org, visitcookcounty.com, etc.) are plugging Grand
Marais.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<st1:state w:st="on">Minnesota</st1:state>
senator Amy Klobuchar send out a note on
this via Twitter. And she has 49,900 people following her. That's far more than
either of <st1:place w:st="on">North Carolina</st1:place>'s
have when combined (Richard Burr: 30,400; Thom Tillis: 28,900).</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Hillsborough and Washington are both lovely towns. Then
again, Grand Marais -- the only other place on the list that I've visited -- is
pretty cool. And when the wind tries to blow Grand Marais into <st1:place w:st="on">Lake Superior</st1:place> this time of year, it can be pretty frigid.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
You can vote at<a href="http://www.budgettravel.com/contest/vote-for-americas-coolest-small-town-2015,18/?src=banner%C3%A2%C2%80%C2%8B"> this website</a>. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
To prevent robo-voting, the
election is set up to allow one vote per 24 hours per IP address (this is to
cut down on ballot stuffing).</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
You will, of course, have to wend your way down the page
around ads and other things plugging Budget Travel pages and offers.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
You know how elections are.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
The photo at the top of this post, by Harry Lynch of <st1:city w:st="on">Raleigh</st1:city>'s News & Observer, shows the Hillsborough
Riverwalk, along the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Eno</st1:placename>
<st1:placetype w:st="on">River</st1:placetype></st1:place> in Hillsborough.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The photo below, courtesy of the municipal webpage, is of
city hall in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Blanco</st1:city>, <st1:state w:st="on">Texas</st1:state></st1:place>.
I'm not sure if the town is better known as "Gateway to <st1:place w:st="on">West
Blanco</st1:place>" or "Home of the Blanco Burger."</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qaauIbCLAyQ/VOUEdTDkl0I/AAAAAAAABmA/N_kg-xwPOlE/s1600/cityhallphoto.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qaauIbCLAyQ/VOUEdTDkl0I/AAAAAAAABmA/N_kg-xwPOlE/s1600/cityhallphoto.jpg" height="208" width="320" /></a></div>
Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7917769791707815267.post-37508148424393447232015-02-16T15:32:00.001-05:002015-02-16T15:35:35.786-05:00Columbia marks 150 years of being "famously hot"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zJweXLDEn-4/VOJTWDW_nWI/AAAAAAAABlQ/hDdR3yMuP48/s1600/DSC08028.JPG.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zJweXLDEn-4/VOJTWDW_nWI/AAAAAAAABlQ/hDdR3yMuP48/s1600/DSC08028.JPG.JPG" height="217" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Will <st1:place w:st="on">Columbia</st1:place>
be hot Feb. 17?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It has been and, as a historical occasion, just might be
this year.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It's the commemoration of the conflagration that destroyed a
part of the capital of <st1:place w:st="on">South Carolina</st1:place>
as it was being abandoned by Confederates and occupied by federal forces toward
the end of the Civil War.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Tuesday is the 150th anniversary of what came to be known as
the "Burning of Columbia," and events are scheduled throughout the
day.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
* At 9 a.m. is a historical reappraisal of what happened
there in February, 1865. The 90-minute panel discussion by scholars will be
held at the Columbia Museum of Art, <st1:street w:st="on">1515
Main St</st1:street>. The
session is free, but<a href="http://burningofcolumbia.com/upcoming-events/columbia-burning-a-sesquicentennial-reappraisal/"> registration is required</a>. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
After a $30 noon luncheon, there's a second free panel
discussion from 2 to 4 p.m. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
At 4 p.m., a historical marker about the 1865 fire will be
unveiled at the 1200 block of <st1:street w:st="on">Main
Street</st1:street>. The ceremony is free and open to the
public. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
At 5 p.m. at <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Boyd</st1:placename>
<st1:placename w:st="on">Plaza</st1:placename></st1:place>, <st1:street w:st="on"><st1:street w:st="on"><st1:address w:st="on">1515 Main St</st1:address></st1:street>.</st1:street>,
there's a public commemoration that includes comments by politicians and
historians, performances by the Benedict College Concert Choir and the
Sandlapper Singers, performance art and other music in addition to exhibits and
readings.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
At Tapp's <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Art</st1:placename>
<st1:placename w:st="on">Center</st1:placename></st1:place>, <st1:street w:st="on"><st1:street w:st="on"><st1:address w:st="on">1644
Main St</st1:address></st1:street>.</st1:street>, there are 7
p.m. readings by poets and writers, followed at 8 p.m. with a live performance
by the jazz-funk band The Dubber.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
What does it all add up to? An easy afternoon in an
attractive downtown. And a gathering of question marks about who caused the figure, and what
the blaze signified in both the short and long run.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Experts are divided over whether the fire was the work of </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
1. retreating Confederates, under the command of Gen. Wade
Hampton</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
2. local looters.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
3. enraged federal troops, under the command of Gen. William
Sherman, who had just liberated a Confederate POW camp in <st1:place w:st="on">West
Columbia</st1:place>.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
After a century and a half, it's all academic. And more than a tad ironic.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Since World War II, Columbia has gladly welcomed thousands upon
thousands of federal troops: Camp Jackson, on Columbia's southeastern
outskirts, is the Army's training facility, a 52,000 acre compound that,
according to wikipedia, employs "almost 4,400 civilians and provides
services for more than 115,000 retirees and their family members."</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It goes on to say that the installation pumps more than
$716.9 million into the area economy.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
"Famously Hot," is nowadays the slogan used by the <a href="http://www.columbiacvb.com/">Columbia Convention &Visitors Bureau</a>, notably for the "Famously Hot New Year's Eve" bash on
<st1:street w:st="on">Main Street</st1:street>.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
About the engraving at the top of this post: The POW camp in
West Columbia was called <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on">Camp</st1:placetype> <st1:placename w:st="on">Sorghum</st1:placename></st1:place>.
Two months before it was liberated, 500 captured Union officers were moved
there from a smaller compound, in downtown <st1:place w:st="on">Columbia</st1:place>, on the grounds of the old State
Lunatic Asylum.</div>
Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7917769791707815267.post-31290396055277832462015-02-12T16:35:00.000-05:002015-02-12T16:53:30.588-05:00Strange restaurants? Here's a menu of 10 of them<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--tpDseLy5TQ/VN0aWnOfneI/AAAAAAAABkc/mk6_5DkNPE0/s1600/TRAVEL_Deshaies.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--tpDseLy5TQ/VN0aWnOfneI/AAAAAAAABkc/mk6_5DkNPE0/s1600/TRAVEL_Deshaies.JPG" height="211" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Going to an out-of-town restaurant on Valentine's Day?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The website <a href="http://www.tripadvisor.com/">Tripadvisor</a> last year posted a story called
"10 of the weirdest restaurants in the world." </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Feb. 14 of course being a food-oriented holiday, the list
has recently found new live on a variety of sites, including <a href="http://www.eatout.co.za/">EatOut</a>.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Here's the list.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
1. <a href="http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g293913-d1437880-Reviews-Modern_Toilet_Taipei_Ximending-Taipei.html">Modern Toilet Restaurant</a>, <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Taipei City</st1:city>, <st1:country-region w:st="on">Taiwan</st1:country-region></st1:place>.
Seating is on porcelain thrones; serving dishes apparently are miniature
toilets.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
2. <a href="http://www.thesafaricollection.com/properties/giraffe-manor">Giraffe Manor</a>, <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Nairobi</st1:city>,
<st1:country-region w:st="on">Kenya</st1:country-region></st1:place>. This is
at a giraffe-themed B&B; the dining room windows are open so the residents
outside can peak in.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<st1:street w:st="on">3. A street</st1:street>
vendor in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Pitsanalok</st1:city>, <st1:country-region w:st="on">Thailand</st1:country-region></st1:place>, who flings your order up
in the air for you to catch.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
4. <a href="http://www.sky-events.co.za/bin/">Sky Dining SA</a>, a chain said to be operating in more than
30 countries; dining chambers are apparently attached to tall cranes and apparently pulled aloft.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
5. <a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz/disaster-caf%C3%A9-lloret-de-mar">Disaster Cafe</a>, in Lloret de Mar, <st1:country-region w:st="on">Spain</st1:country-region>. The
entertainment? A fake, plate-shaking 7.8
earthquake during your meal.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
6. <a href="http://eenmaal.com/">Eenmaal</a>, <st1:city w:st="on">Amsterdam</st1:city>.
The pop-up restaurant only has tables-for-one.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
7. <a href="http://thestinkingrose.com/">The Stinking Rose</a>, <st1:city w:st="on">San
Francisco</st1:city>. Everything from appetizers to desserts is
heavy with garlic. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
8. <a href="http://www.safe-house.com/">The Safe House</a>, <st1:city w:st="on">Milwaukee</st1:city>. The gimmick at this long-established bar is getting in: After walking down an alley, the person at the door asks for the password. Since you don't know it, you are required to sing a song not of your choosing, or do something stupid with a hula hoop.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
9. <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kayabukiya_Tavern">Kayabukiya Tavern</a></st1:city>, exurban Tokyo</st1:place>.
The wait staff includes two monkeys.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
10. <a href="http://theclinkcharity.org/2012/03/cardiff-prison-and-the-clink/">The Clink</a>, <st1:city w:st="on">Cardiff</st1:city>, <st1:country-region w:st="on">Wales</st1:country-region>. It's in
a prison and serves as a training facility so those paroled can find employment
at nice restaurants.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The photo at the top of this post? It's from the "I Travel With the
Observer" archives and shows readers Ron and Donna Jean Deshaies at
Giraffe Manor in 2006.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I personally have only been to one of the places on the list
-- The Safe House, in my hometown.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
That was years ago, so I called some old friends back in Sudsville and learned
the son of one had been there recently.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The young guy -- we'll just use his Facebook alias of Henry
Winklehymer -- said the person at the door made him do the "I'm a Little
Tea Cup" song and dance.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Henry said he hadn't done that since he was a 5-year-old,
and had to follow the door monitor's prompts.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And of course, it's all being videotaped and shown live to
the patrons inside. Once in the door, Henry was greeted with hoots and howls.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ordinarily, people in Wisconsin only guffaw like that when the Chicago Bears are on TV. </div>
Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7917769791707815267.post-65297567493954873672015-02-09T14:47:00.002-05:002015-02-09T14:50:18.659-05:00Annual guide points up beauty of Western North Carolina's Jackson County<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uYnpTQdVT_w/VNkN87d0lzI/AAAAAAAABj8/lAKspThugK4/s1600/OurTownCover2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uYnpTQdVT_w/VNkN87d0lzI/AAAAAAAABj8/lAKspThugK4/s1600/OurTownCover2015.jpg" height="320" width="250" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="NoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">If <st1:placename w:st="on">Jackson</st1:placename>
<st1:placename w:st="on">County</st1:placename> doesn't immediately pop up on
your mental radar, these beautiful destinations in that area of <st1:place w:st="on">Western
North Carolina</st1:place> will: Cashiers, Cullowhee, Dillsboro and Sylva. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="NoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="NoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Or think of the gorgeous
stretches of highway that take you there, notably U.S. 74 and U.S. 64. One of
the top scenic drives in that part of the state is the Great Smoky Mountains
Expressway -- a four-lane divided stretch of U.S. 74-19-23-441 -- that connects <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Bryson</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">City</st1:placetype></st1:place>,
Sylva and Waynesville to Interstate 40.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="NoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="NoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">In the just-out 2015 version
of "Our Town," the 10th edition of the annual magazine published by
the Jackson County Chamber, you'll find visitor information for locales,
attractions and more. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="NoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="NoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Articles in the 44-page
effort highlight the return of fireworks to Sylva and a spotlight on the philanthropy practiced by nearby Harrah's Cherokee Casino, which is just 20
miles northwest of Sylva.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="NoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="NoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">"Our Town" is free
of charge. You can read it <a href="http://issuu.com/jcccourtown/docs/ourtownfinal2015_smallerforissuu_/0">online</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="NoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="NoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">You can also request a copy
be mailed to you via the Chamber's website -- <a href="http://www.mountainlovers.com/">www.mountainlovers.com</a> -- or by calling their office at 828-586-2155.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7917769791707815267.post-84826590675137394592015-02-05T16:39:00.001-05:002015-02-05T16:39:05.073-05:00Mount Airy to pull out the (musical) stops in February, March<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hA6AQ1hWanI/VNPirr_oxcI/AAAAAAAABjQ/a_MNsH9zX0Q/s1600/Rhonda_Vincent.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hA6AQ1hWanI/VNPirr_oxcI/AAAAAAAABjQ/a_MNsH9zX0Q/s1600/Rhonda_Vincent.jpg" height="320" width="255" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Friday's CLT section has a Daytrips article about heading up
to <st1:placetype w:st="on">Mount</st1:placetype> <st1:placename w:st="on">Airy</st1:placename>
Saturday, for the WPAQ 67th<a href="http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2015/02/05/5496071/in-mount-airy-see-bluegrass-this.html#.VNPiSp3F914"> anniversary celebration </a>at the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Historic</st1:placename> <st1:placename w:st="on">Earl</st1:placename>
<st1:placename w:st="on">Theater</st1:placename></st1:place>.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
"Mayberry tourism" aside, WPAQ helps put <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on">Mount</st1:placetype> <st1:placename w:st="on">Airy</st1:placename></st1:place>
on the travel map with its "Merry Go Round" program, which is
broadcast live from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. every Saturday. It features local and regional artists playing
bluegrass and old-time mountain music before a live audience.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This show has been going on since 1948. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This Saturday, for the station's anniversary, there'll also be
a two-hour concert and dance at the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Historic</st1:placename>
<st1:placename w:st="on">Earl</st1:placename> <st1:placename w:st="on">Theatre</st1:placename></st1:place>.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And there's more to come.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The Surry Arts Council has announced new concerts in its <st1:place w:st="on">Blue Ridge</st1:place>
& Beyond music series that will bring several "name" musicians to
the historic, 425-seat theater.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Grammy-winning musician/artist/story teller David Holt will
perform Feb. 26. The 6:30 p.m. performance is free and accompanied by a presentation
of his photography.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Pokey LaFarge, whose music encompasses styles ranging from
old-time to Cajun, will appear Feb. 28. Tickets for the 7:30 show are $20 and
$30.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Rhonda Vincent -- she's pictured at the top of this post --
winner of multiple awards from the International
Bluegrass Music Association, will be
there March 14. She and her band, The
Rage, take the stage at 7:30 p.m.; tickets are $35 and $45.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
Ticket info: 336) 786-7998: <span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><a href="http://www.surryarts.org/">www.SurryArts.org</a></span>. </div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
Area info: <a href="http://www.visitmayberry.com/"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">www.VisitMayberry.com</span></a>.</div>
Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7917769791707815267.post-69892939238537321962015-01-29T15:22:00.000-05:002015-01-29T15:22:48.226-05:00Brookgreen Gardens goes seriously 'green' in new exhibit<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LwX-vzI3gQ0/VMqVtdlxlII/AAAAAAAABh0/5KpoQyYZXIg/s1600/Hackenburg%2B-%2BGreen%2BAmphorae%2Bca.%2B2012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LwX-vzI3gQ0/VMqVtdlxlII/AAAAAAAABh0/5KpoQyYZXIg/s1600/Hackenburg%2B-%2BGreen%2BAmphorae%2Bca.%2B2012.JPG" height="159" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://www.brookgreen.org/"><st1:placename w:st="on">Brookgreen</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Gardens</st1:placetype></a> -- the sculptures-plus-gardens destination in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Pawleys Island</st1:city>, <st1:state w:st="on">S.C.</st1:state></st1:place>
-- is not your typical beautiful getaway place. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Over the years, its outreach has extended to activities for
kids (<st1:placename w:st="on">Enchanted</st1:placename> <st1:placename w:st="on">Storybook</st1:placename>
<st1:placetype w:st="on">Forest</st1:placetype>, Children's Nature &
Sensory Trail), zoology (its Lowcountry Zoo), archaeology/history (<st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Lowcountry</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Center</st1:placetype></st1:place> and Trail, Oaks Plantation) and
more.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Now Brookgreen is going green with a new touring art exhibit.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
"Environmental Impact," opening Friday in its
Rainey Sculpture Pavilion, consists of 75 artworks -- paintings, photographs, prints, installations,
and sculptures -- that deal with such issues as the over-development of land,
dangers of nuclear energy and the impact of global warming.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The exhibit, there through April 26, puts the spotlight on
the degradation of diverse environments, as well as on contemporary artists whose creations focus on local and global
environmental issues.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Bob Jewell, president and CEO of Brookgreen Gardens, puts it
this way: “Traditional art generally depicts nature in all of its glory. The artworks in this exhibit present a
variety of today’s environmental issues and call attention to the consequences
of depleting our natural resources."</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Viewing "Environmental Impact" is free to see when
you pay regular Brookgreen admission: $14; $12 for 65 and older; $7 for ages
4-12. Admission is good for seven consecutive days; daily hours are 9:30 a.m.-5
p.m.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Image at the top of this post: "Green Amphorae,' by Karen
Hackenburg, of Port <st1:city w:st="on">Townsend</st1:city>, <st1:state w:st="on">Wash.</st1:state>;
image below: "Gulf Life - Blue Marlin" by Guy Harvey, of Grand Cayman, <st1:place w:st="on">British West Indies</st1:place>.</div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Tre4P_foO7c/VMqV070LwYI/AAAAAAAABh8/QR11f7tlWyg/s1600/Harvey%2B-%2BGulf%2BLife%2B-%2BBlue%2BMarlin.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Tre4P_foO7c/VMqV070LwYI/AAAAAAAABh8/QR11f7tlWyg/s1600/Harvey%2B-%2BGulf%2BLife%2B-%2BBlue%2BMarlin.JPG" height="320" width="247" /></a></div>
Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7917769791707815267.post-25183449377391455742015-01-28T17:09:00.000-05:002015-01-28T17:10:04.368-05:00A festive February in Wilmington with a 3-day jazz weekend<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iUStJ0hWzYg/VMlckxBgrDI/AAAAAAAABhc/Ffr5wL7FLho/s1600/briaskonberg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iUStJ0hWzYg/VMlckxBgrDI/AAAAAAAABhc/Ffr5wL7FLho/s1600/briaskonberg.jpg" height="160" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
You can hear winter's swan song in <st1:city w:st="on">Wilmington</st1:city> in February: It's been like that since 1980, when the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on">Port</st1:placetype> <st1:placetype w:st="on">City</st1:placetype></st1:place>
launched its inaugural N.C. Jazz Festival.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The popular event will be the weekend of Feb. 5-7 at the
Hilton Wilmington Riverside, downtown on <st1:street w:st="on">North Water Street</st1:street>.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
What's featured this time around?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Fifteen traditional and swing jazz musicians, playing on the
stage of the hotel's ballroom; enjoy the cabaret-style seating.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The weekend kicks off
Feb. 5 (a Thursday) with a three-hour "Styles of Jazz” concert
featuring The Benny Hill Quartet (jazz standards), Molly Ryan with the Dan
Levinson Quartet (swing), Rossano Sportiello (tribute to George Shearing) and
Ed Polcer’s All-Star Jam.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Friday and Saturday evening features an all-star musician
lineup in a traditional presentation of seven sets, each with different
leaders. The leaders this year include Adrian Cunningham and Dan Levinson
(reeds), Ed Polcer (cornet), Nate Najar (guitar), Nicki Parrott (bass, vocals),
Vincent Gardner (trombone), Rossano Sportiello and Mark Shane (piano), Kevin
Dorn and Chuck Redd (drums), Herman Burney (bass), Bria Skonberg
(trumpet/vocals -- that's a photo of her at the top of this post), Molly Ryan
(vocals), Benny Hill (sax) and Jonathan Russell (violin). </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Also at the festival: workshops, master classes.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
For tickets and details: 910-793-1111 or <a href="http://www.ncjazzfestival.com/">www.ncjazzfestival.com</a>.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Area info: <a href="http://www.gowilmingtonandbeaches.com/">www.GoWilmingtonAndBeaches.com</a>.</div>
Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7917769791707815267.post-9332451651296746272015-01-26T12:22:00.001-05:002015-01-26T12:22:09.959-05:00Keep an eye open for these 2015 travel predictions<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hF9PFFZPGaI/VMZ3aa2RwyI/AAAAAAAABgw/ffa5SyB3Aow/s1600/04dreamlinerclo0904_CPJ.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hF9PFFZPGaI/VMZ3aa2RwyI/AAAAAAAABgw/ffa5SyB3Aow/s1600/04dreamlinerclo0904_CPJ.JPG" height="214" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://www.virgin.com/travel">Virgin Travel</a> -- a subsidiary of the international Virgin
airline, entertainment and technology corporation -- has put out an intriguing
list of what travel trends may be popping up this year. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Among them:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b> Flashpacking</b>. A subset of adventure travel
for people who want to go to new places
-- with a thrill experience front and center. The flashpacker is "more
likely to be found tracking wild animals
in the Galapagos than hunting down fishbowls on <st1:street w:st="on">Khao San Road</st1:street>" in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Bangkok</st1:city>, <st1:country-region w:st="on">Thailand</st1:country-region></st1:place>.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<b>Sailing solo.</b>
According to Virgin, cruise lines are focusing more on attracting
single travelers.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Automatic airport
assistance.</b> "Low-frequency Bluetooth sensors can alert you to when
you’re walking past the service you need. This is currently being rolled out
across airports from <st1:place w:st="on">San Francisco</st1:place>
to Amsterdam Schiphol."</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Thermal springs.</b>
They're atop many destination wish lists.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>In-air networking.</b>
Virgin says KLM is testing a Meet & Seat program, where you can "choose
your seats depending on your neighbor’s social media profiles."</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Food cruises.</b>
Noting the popularity of cable TV's cooking channels/shows, celeb chefs and
cooking classes are taking to the waves.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Longer flights, fewer
connections.</b> Newer planes are more fuel-efficient, and can go farther and
for longer. New direct-flights are predicted.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
(TMS photo at the top of this post: The coach section of an
LAN Airlines Boeing 787 Dreamliner, which flies direct between <st1:city w:st="on">Miami</st1:city>
and <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Santiago</st1:city>, <st1:country-region w:st="on">Chile</st1:country-region></st1:place>.)</div>
Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7917769791707815267.post-30273962189080481522015-01-22T16:51:00.001-05:002015-01-22T16:51:14.680-05:00On the trail of the rare North Carolina sonker. Really. See for yourself.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jbOnuows41A/VMFvf0IwgcI/AAAAAAAABgA/bTOMvwSkrEY/s1600/Sonker%2BTrail%2B-%2BMiss%2BAngel's.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jbOnuows41A/VMFvf0IwgcI/AAAAAAAABgA/bTOMvwSkrEY/s1600/Sonker%2BTrail%2B-%2BMiss%2BAngel's.jpg" height="244" width="320" /></a></div>
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Screaming Yellow Zonkers: about 174,000 hits on Google.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sonkers? Slightly more. And that includes the Sonker
Festival, held the first Saturday in October in the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on">Mount</st1:placetype> <st1:placename w:st="on">Airy area</st1:placename></st1:place>.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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Mount Airy? Of course. A sonker is a <st1:state w:st="on">North Carolina</st1:state> take on a deep-dish cobbler.
Popular in the old days, it has experienced a renaissance of sorts, being highlighted
in the New York Times in 2013 along with grunts, slumps and other regional
takes on fruit-filled desserts.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Surry County, deep in the Sonker Belt, is capitalizing on this with a new
"trail" ‑- a guide to places in those parts where you can
order them, buy them, or purchase cookbooks on how to make sonkers. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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Among the stops?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The Rockford General Store</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Roxxi & Lulu's Bakery, in Elkin</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Heaven's Scent, Elkin</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Living Cross Coffeehouse, Mount Pilot</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Putters Patio & Grill, Dobson</div>
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Trio Restaurant, Mount Airy</div>
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Miss Angel's Heavenly Pies, Mount Airy</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
You can order the free-of-charge "Sonker Trail" guide/map by calling 800-948-0949,
or request it online at <a href="http://www.sonkertrail.org/">www.SonkerTrail.org</a>.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
The Surry County Tourism photo at the top of this post? A close-up of the rare and elusive sonker.</div>
Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7917769791707815267.post-16377579852993237082015-01-21T16:38:00.002-05:002015-01-21T16:38:30.291-05:00Charleston this weekend? Late winter, shucked and steaming<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Mcp2n2UMY8s/VMAbLDK8RDI/AAAAAAAABfk/OzPY5cIkIqc/s1600/LOWCOUNTRY%2BOYSTER%2BFESTIVAL.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Mcp2n2UMY8s/VMAbLDK8RDI/AAAAAAAABfk/OzPY5cIkIqc/s1600/LOWCOUNTRY%2BOYSTER%2BFESTIVAL.JPG" height="195" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Every year, without fail, one event comes along that signals that winter doesn't last forever: The <a href="http://www.charlestonrestaurantassociation.com/lowcountry-oyster-festival">Lowcountry Oyster Festival</a>.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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It's always a wrap-up event for January -‑ it's this Sunday
(Jan. 25) this time around - <st1:city w:st="on">Charleston</st1:city> is
always warmer than <st1:city w:st="on">Charlotte</st1:city>.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Plus. the oyster-related events -- competitions in both
shucking and eating -- are complemented by live music and beer. Plus, the
charity fundraiser is staged outdoors at beautiful and historic <a href="http://boonehallplantation.com/">Boone Hall Plantation</a>, east of downtown <st1:place w:st="on">Charleston</st1:place> in Mount Pleasant. </div>
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<br /></div>
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Tickets -- $17.50/advance, $25 at the door ‑ include
festival entry, a viewing of Boone Hall Plantation, entertainment and access to
the children's area.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Oysters, sold separately, are $14 per bucket; beer is $4
(draft) and $6 (craft). There's also a food court that showcases fare from
various <st1:city w:st="on">Charleston</st1:city>
area restaurants.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Posted hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Live music starts at 11
a.m. (the Muddy Kings) and 1:30 p.m. (Eddie Bush).</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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The shucking and eating contest is 12:30 to 1:30 p.m.</div>
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A popular event? Consider this: the festival, now in its
32nd year, goes through 80,000 pounds of oysters and describes itself as
"the world's largest oyster festival."</div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
(The photo at the top of this post is from the event's 2006 incarnation; it's by Mic Smith of the Post and Courier, via AP.) </div>
Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7917769791707815267.post-11957170688005900202015-01-16T11:51:00.000-05:002015-01-16T12:32:09.400-05:00Hoist a beer to Asheville breweries on Jan. 24Western North <span class="misspelled" id="misspelledCarolina’s" name="spellmarker4" style="border-bottom: red 2px dotted;">Carolina’s</span>
fast-moving waterways are great for more than paddling: Over the last 20 years,
the area has blossomed with enough microbreweries – more than 100, according to
one count – to make it a quench-seeking destination. <span class="misspelled" id="misspelledBuncome" name="spellmarker5" style="border-bottom: red 2px dotted;">Buncombe</span> County alone is home to 19 breweries making
all varieties of beer in addition to ciders and sake, and according to Jennifer
<span class="misspelled" id="misspelledMcLucas" name="spellmarker6" style="border-bottom: red 2px dotted;">McLucas</span> of the Asheville Brewers
Alliance, “that number changes by the day.”<br />
<br />
The ante has been dramatically raised in the last six months.
California-based Sierra Nevada, <span class="misspelled" id="misspelledawhose" name="spellmarker7" style="border-bottom: red 2px dotted;">whose</span> pale ale
is second in U.S. sales only to Samuel Adams, opened a brewing facility in Mills
River, near the Asheville airport. Later this year, New Belgium – a nationally
popular craft operation out of Fort Collins, Colo., will open its own facility
in the River Arts District.<br />
<br />
Small wonder <span class="misspelled" id="misspelledMen’s" name="spellmarker8" style="border-bottom: red 2px dotted;">Men’s</span> Journal magazine last year ran
article headlined “Why Asheville is the next craft beer capital.”<br />
<br />
The area beer industry – both <span class="misspelled" id="misspelledstartups" name="spellmarker9" style="border-bottom: red 2px dotted;">startups</span> and
transplants – raises a stein to itself from 3 to 7 <span class="misspelled" id="misspelledp.m" name="spellmarker10" style="border-bottom: red 2px dotted;">p.m</span>. Jan. 24 -- a Saturday -- with the 8<span class="misspelled" id="misspelledth" name="spellmarker11" style="border-bottom: red 2px dotted;">th</span> annual Winter Warmer Beer Festival, staged
downtown at the U.S. Cellular Center (the Asheville Civic Center).<br />
<br />
More than 45 area and regional breweries will serve their suds.
Alphabetically: from Asheville Brewing (makers of nine year-round varieties) to
<span class="misspelled" id="misspelledYazoo" name="spellmarker12" style="border-bottom: red 2px dotted;">Yazoo</span> Brewing of Nashville, Tenn. Geographically:
from Miami Brewing, in Homestead, Fla., to Cleveland-based Great Lakes. In size:
from major-player Sierra Nevada to <span class="misspelled" id="misspelledHeinzelmannchen" name="spellmarker13" style="border-bottom: red 2px dotted;">Heinzelmannchen</span>, a micro based in <span class="misspelled" id="misspelledSylva" name="spellmarker14" style="border-bottom: red 2px dotted;">Sylva</span>.<br />
<br />
There will be catered food for sale. There’s music, too, from Alarm Clock
Conspiracy and Black Robin Hero.<br />
<br />
The event is popular and has been a sellout in past years; check <a href="http://www.ashevillebeerfest.com/"><span class="misspelled" id="misspelledwww.ashevillebeerfest.com" name="spellmarker15" style="border-bottom: red 2px dotted;">www.ashevillebeerfest.com</span></a> for
this year’s status. Order your tickets online and pick them up at the door.<br />
<br />
If nothing else, you’ll know that the region’s suds lovers will be at the
venue – which means more elbow room at the area’s brewery tours, taprooms, <span class="misspelled" id="misspelledgastropubs" name="spellmarker16" style="border-bottom: red 2px dotted;">gastropubs</span> and ale houses. There’s a Pub & Grub
Crawl (<span class="misspelled" id="misspelledwww.creativemountainfoodtours.com)." name="spellmarker17" style="border-bottom: red 2px dotted;"><a href="http://www.creativemountainfoodtours.com/">www.creativemountainfoodtours.com</a>).</span><br />
<span class="misspelled" name="spellmarker17" style="border-bottom: red 2px dotted;"><br /></span>
For that matter – this weekend or any other – you can download the Asheville
Ale Trail map (<a href="http://www.ashevillealetrail.com/"><span class="misspelled" id="misspelledwww.ashevillealetrail.com" name="spellmarker18" style="border-bottom: red 2px dotted;">www.ashevillealetrail.com</span></a>) for
self-guided exploration.<br />
<br />
<br />
And down the road is Asheville Beer Week (May 22-30; <a href="http://www.ashevillebeerweek.com%29/"><span class="misspelled" id="misspelledwww.ashevillebeerweek.com)" name="spellmarker19" style="border-bottom: red 2px dotted;">www.ashevillebeerweek.com)</span></a> and
the Beer City Festival (May 30; <a href="http://www.beercityfestival.com/"><span class="misspelled" id="misspelledwww.beercityfestival.com" name="spellmarker20" style="border-bottom: red 2px dotted;">www.beercityfestival.com</span></a>).<br />
<br />
<strong>DIRECTIONS:</strong> The U.S. Cellular Center is at 87 Haywood St.,
in downtown Asheville. From the Charlotte area, take I-85 South to U.S. 74
(Kings Mountain/Shelby exit); follow U.S. 74 Bypass West to I-26 (at Columbus)
and I-26 West to Asheville exit 4C. Turn left onto Haywood Street.<br />
<br />
<strong>ADMISSION:</strong> $48.<br />
<br />
<br />
<strong>DETAILS:</strong> <a href="http://www.ashevillebeerfest.com/"><span class="misspelled" id="misspelledwww.ashevillebeerfest.com" name="spellmarker22" style="border-bottom: red 2px dotted;">www.ashevillebeerfest.com</span></a>.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7917769791707815267.post-47573221899202979472015-01-15T11:27:00.001-05:002015-01-15T11:27:35.902-05:00Out of town on a rail: $46<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3qxFWUNXrA4/VLfqF74Hc-I/AAAAAAAABes/Sd-pTq-wbIw/s1600/IMG_RAL-train_jump_3_1_B87LTRLC.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3qxFWUNXrA4/VLfqF74Hc-I/AAAAAAAABes/Sd-pTq-wbIw/s1600/IMG_RAL-train_jump_3_1_B87LTRLC.JPG" height="205" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Here's a great tweak to your winter getaway: Amtrak is
offering 20 percent discounts on certain passenger train routes around the <st1:country-region w:st="on">United States</st1:country-region>.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The sale offer available now through Jan. 31, for travel
Feb. 2 through March 31. The catch? Reservations are required seven days in
advance of travel; they're non-refundable, seats and times are limited (some
blackout dates apply), they're valid only for coach seats and can't be used for
accommodation upgrades...</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
and they're one way.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
That said, look at the prices that apply for rides between <st1:city w:st="on">Charlotte</st1:city> and:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<st1:city w:st="on">Atlanta</st1:city>:
$46</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Washington</st1:city>,
<st1:state w:st="on">D.C.</st1:state></st1:place>: $66</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<st1:city w:st="on">Philadelphia</st1:city>:
$84</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<st1:state w:st="on">New York</st1:state>:
$89</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The <st1:city w:st="on">Atlanta</st1:city>
trip is via Amtrak's Crescent; the others are via the Carolinian, a train
sponsored by N.C. DOT that is operated by Amtrak.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sure, it's one-way... but because the discount is valid in
either direction, you could buy two one-ways for a round trip -- it's still a
great deal.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Also, a one-way fare may be just your ticket: If, say, you have a friend in Atlanta
who is interested in visiting you here, just take the train to Atlanta and
return to Charlotte as a passenger in your pal's car. You'll have plenty of
time to talk... and the driver sure won't get lost upon reaching metro <st1:city w:st="on">Charlotte</st1:city>.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Trail travel is a truly American experience that,
unfortunately, many of us don't use. In
this day and age, we're too time-pressed to do anything but fly or drive.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Railroads take longer than jets to get where you're going,
but you watch the changing landscapes through the windows, get up and walk
around the train, and chat with other
travelers.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Take the time. Ride the rails.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Details are at <a href="http://www.amtrak.com/">www.amtrak.com</a> -- a site you can periodically
check for other travel opportunities. You can also call 800-872-7245 (800-USA-RAIL).</div>
Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7917769791707815267.post-38298920502457793952015-01-12T12:09:00.001-05:002015-01-12T12:09:18.225-05:0010 international cities getting trendy as 2015 destinations<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YGrzRBcCHKk/VLP_ORfd83I/AAAAAAAABd4/R8szDktYgO8/s1600/OIUAD1S_corresp_1129_01.jpg_2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YGrzRBcCHKk/VLP_ORfd83I/AAAAAAAABd4/R8szDktYgO8/s1600/OIUAD1S_corresp_1129_01.jpg_2.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt;">Last week, American
Express Travel added its list to the many that are predicting the hot spots for
international travel in 2015.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt;">Their forecast is for
"trending" cities -- destinations booked with the greatest
year-over-year growth, according to survey findings.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt;">1. <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">London</st1:place></st1:city><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt;">2. <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Santiago</st1:city>, <st1:country-region w:st="on">Chile</st1:country-region></st1:place></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt;">3. </span><st1:place style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt;" w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Paris</st1:city></st1:place></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt;">4. <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Mumbai</st1:city>, <st1:country-region w:st="on">India</st1:country-region></st1:place><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt;">5. <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Buenos Aires</st1:place></st1:city><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt;">6. Providenciales, Turks
and Caicos<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt;">7. <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Puerto Vallarta</st1:city>, <st1:country-region w:st="on">Mexico</st1:country-region></st1:place><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt;">8. <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Sydney</st1:city>, <st1:country-region w:st="on">Australia</st1:country-region></st1:place><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt;">9. <st1:state w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">New York</st1:place></st1:state><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt;">10. <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">San Francisco</st1:place></st1:city><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt;">(That's Santiago shown
in the Ellen Creager/MCT photo at the top of this post).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt;">Based on survey
findings, American Express is also seeing an increase in demand for New Zealand
Vietnam, <st1:country-region w:st="on">Myanmar</st1:country-region>, <st1:country-region w:st="on">Croatia</st1:country-region>, <st1:country-region w:st="on">Iceland</st1:country-region>
and <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Italy</st1:place></st1:country-region>.</span><span style="color: #888888; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7917769791707815267.post-31727137781212447932015-01-08T15:33:00.000-05:002015-01-08T15:33:23.345-05:00"Love Boat" revenge -- and other cruising predictions<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://www.cruisecompete.com/"></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-O0MHxoDS_aU/VK7okjyt3jI/AAAAAAAABdU/z3tUB0EqPSE/s1600/0309041785.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-O0MHxoDS_aU/VK7okjyt3jI/AAAAAAAABdU/z3tUB0EqPSE/s1600/0309041785.JPG" height="320" width="280" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Cruise booker <a href="http://www.cruisecompete.com/">CruiseCompete</a> is weighing in with its predictions of what will be trendy on the waves
this year.<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Their list:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Cruising becomes a company perk.</b> Company-paid cruise
vacations will become a way to retain top employees through a rejuvenation vacation.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>GPS-tracking of children on vacations.</b> Parents will buy the
new wristband GPS units to know where their kids are at all times.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>More all-inclusive options for cruise vacations</b>. More ships --
27 are scheduled to debut this year -- means more competition, especially for
the luxury and ultra-luxury traveler, both at-sea and ashore. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
CruiseCompete also predicts<b> more "private" areas
built into ships</b>, so celebrities and others can have more privacy.
Specifically: dedicated pool, dining room, concierge and other amenities.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Targeting boomers</b>. Cruise lines will be gunning for the market segment
that grew up watching "The Love Boat."</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Enhanced technology,
personalization aimed at gaining repeat cruisers.</b> They're thinking about at e in-room tablets for
book future cruises while still on board. Luxury cruise lines use technology to
build a record of your preferences.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>More family, multi-generational travel.</b> Look for family
suites, GPS tracking devices for kids, designer programs that keep Junior and
Gramps and everyone else happily busy at sea.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b> Consumers will abandon
the Web.</b> CruiseCompete is saying all of the above -- plus more options for exotic
cruises and adventure trips -- will provide too many choices for you to figure
out with just your computer.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Some of this forecast makes sense; some doesn't.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
For some Boomers, the
"Love Boat" series from the 1980s -- check the photo at the top of
this post -- will send people to the TV remote's off button, not to a travel
agent.</div>
Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7917769791707815267.post-80042677295049344692015-01-07T16:51:00.001-05:002015-01-07T16:51:33.822-05:00Annual cruise show returning Jan. 24.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2WCP-TK_CaI/VK2pSWAdc8I/AAAAAAAABc8/QpU-vH5BNb8/s1600/IMG_Charleston_Cruises_3_1_NG8GGKQ5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2WCP-TK_CaI/VK2pSWAdc8I/AAAAAAAABc8/QpU-vH5BNb8/s1600/IMG_Charleston_Cruises_3_1_NG8GGKQ5.JPG" height="238" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ready to get ship-shape for your 2015 vacation?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Mann Travels’ annual Travel & Cruise Show -- an event
that's to warmer-weather vacationers what seed catalogs are to gardeners -- will
return again to the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Charlotte</st1:placename>
<st1:placename w:st="on">Convention Center </st1:placename></st1:place> on Jan.
24.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The Saturday show will be held in Exhibit Hall C, uptown at 501 S. College St., from 11
a.m. to 4 p.m.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As usual, admission is free.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
What's featured? Special offers on hundreds of vacation options,
travel presentations, raffle prizes, interactive exhibits and more. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It's a great opportunity to explore new vacation options --
and make smarter decisions: All the
major cruise lines, tour operators, resorts and destinations will have representatives
there.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Details? Call Mann Travels at 800-343-6266 or visit
<a href="http://www.manntravels.com/">www.MannTravels.com</a>.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Photo at the top of this post? The Crystal Symphony, in <st1:city w:st="on">Charleston</st1:city> harbor.</div>
Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7917769791707815267.post-27312477949566811082015-01-05T15:41:00.000-05:002015-01-05T15:49:10.000-05:00On-the-go with a baby on the way? Tips from an OB/GYN<div class="MsoNormal">
Being on-the-go with a baby on the way isn't easy, as Jan
Rydfors is aware. He's an obstetrician in <st1:place w:st="on">Silicon Valley</st1:place> who is one of the creators of Pregnancy
Companion: The Obstetrician's Mobile Guide to Pregnancy --<a href="http://www.pregnancycompanionapp.com/"> an app that can bedownloaded</a>.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
His publicist sent out a release this winter that had great
tips to help moms-to-be get the most out of travel.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As Rydfors is a board-certified OB/GYN specializing in
fertility and high-risk pregnancy, we'll let him do the talking in this post.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Hydration.</b> "Remember
that hydration is extra important now. Frequent fluid intake is needed since
more water evaporates from your skin when you are pregnant. Especially if traveling during the summer as
heat will enhance that fluid loss. Try to drink at least 10 eight-ounces
glasses of fluid every day and even more on hot days."<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Sun.</b> "Sun
feels good and getting a nice tan is always fun, but be careful now that you
are pregnant. The high pregnancy hormones will increase your chances of skin
discoloration that might be permanent, so remember to put on ultra-strong sun
block of SPF 50 or more when you go out. If you want to be extra careful with
the sun, do remember to put sun block on your skin even under your clothes
since clothes only provide a SPF block of 10 or so."<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Plane travel.</b> "Plane
travel is safe in pregnancy despite some voiced concerns regarding cosmic
radiation and low oxygen levels in the passenger compartment. The risk in both
cases is negligible. Try to get an aisle seat so that you can go to the
bathroom frequently and take repeated walks down the aisles. Attach your seat belt below your belly. If
you are in your third trimester and the flight is over a few hours, you may
experience significant foot swelling, so consider wearing comfortable sandals
and support stockings. Finally, make
sure you are aware of the airline’s pregnancy age cut off. Many use 36 weeks as
a cut off, but some use an earlier age. It is always a good idea to get a note
from your <st1:place w:st="on">OB</st1:place> regarding your due date since the
airline might ask for it. If you have any contractions or bleeding, contact
your <st1:place w:st="on">OB</st1:place> before leaving."<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Car travel.</b> "It
is a good idea to plan a little. Do remember to wear your seat belt at all
times and make sure it does not cover your pregnant belly. Try to limit the car
trip to 6 hours per day and remember to take frequent breaks every 1 to 2 hours
to stretch and go to the restroom. This will also help to prevent blood clots
in your legs. Being stuck in a car for hours might be a little uncomfortable so
bring a pillow or two with you. Finally, it is a good idea to bring some snacks
and bottled water as well as a small roll of toilet paper." <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Boat travel</b>. "For
those of you who prefer the leisure of a cruise trip, remember to plan for
potential nausea and ask your <st1:place w:st="on">OB</st1:place> for some
nausea medication such as Odansitron or the Scopolamine patch. They are both
felt to be safe in pregnancy."<o:p></o:p></div>
Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7917769791707815267.post-65687813847918214372014-12-31T16:08:00.000-05:002014-12-31T16:10:23.460-05:00January is the odds-on favorite month for visiting many vacation hot spots<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xvQLY2sYm20/VKRla5Y7spI/AAAAAAAABcM/VDae-xLwmL8/s1600/IMG_AP346323949514.jpg_3_1_B47I7OSU.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xvQLY2sYm20/VKRla5Y7spI/AAAAAAAABcM/VDae-xLwmL8/s1600/IMG_AP346323949514.jpg_3_1_B47I7OSU.JPG" height="223" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
What's the most affordable month for visiting a hot
destination?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Travel booker <a href="http://hotwire.com/">hotwire.com</a> recently pulled together some data
on the subject. Here's when, according to their findings, are the best times to
visit 15 top markets -- and the percent savings vs. peak season:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>January<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<st1:city w:st="on">Las Vegas</st1:city>
(44 percent savings vs. peak season)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<st1:city w:st="on">London</st1:city>
(55 percent)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<st1:city w:st="on">Rome</st1:city>
(99 percent)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<st1:city w:st="on">San Francisco</st1:city>
(88 percent)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<st1:city w:st="on">Los Angeles</st1:city>
(37 percent)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<st1:city w:st="on">Chicago</st1:city>
(67 percent)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Washington</st1:city>,
<st1:state w:st="on">D.C.</st1:state></st1:place> (58 percent)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<st1:city w:st="on">San Diego</st1:city>
(109 percent)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>February<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<st1:city w:st="on">Paris</st1:city>
(64 percent)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<st1:city w:st="on">New York City</st1:city>
(77 percent)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>May<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<st1:city w:st="on">Honolulu</st1:city>
(46 percent)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>August<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Madrid</st1:city>, <st1:country-region w:st="on">Spain</st1:country-region></st1:place> (77 percent)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<st1:city w:st="on">New Orleans</st1:city>
(69 percent)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>September<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<st1:city w:st="on">Miami</st1:city>
(91 percent)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Orlando</st1:city>,
<st1:state w:st="on">Fla.</st1:state></st1:place> (40 percent)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Take the percentages with a grain of salt: Savings depends
on how savvy you are about where you stay and what you do.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But on the whole, the findings do point out what months
great deals are more abundant.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
The Associated Press photo at the top of this post, by the
way, shows the hands of a player in the poker room at Caesar's Palace, in
Vegas.</div>
Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7917769791707815267.post-20932270100613088592014-12-30T14:50:00.006-05:002014-12-30T14:50:58.677-05:005 great backup destinations when your 2015 vacation goes kaput<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fZea_8yAlSg/VKMBMp_996I/AAAAAAAABb0/T9NG3buRSMg/s1600/IMG_TRAVEL_WLT-STLUCIA_4_2_1_EC7GVDJB.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fZea_8yAlSg/VKMBMp_996I/AAAAAAAABb0/T9NG3buRSMg/s1600/IMG_TRAVEL_WLT-STLUCIA_4_2_1_EC7GVDJB.JPG" height="196" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
OK, maybe your dream vacation of 2015 hit a scheduling snag,
or came up short when you mentioned it to your travel companion.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://cheapflights.com/">Cheapflights.com</a> just came up with a list of five "Go here, not there"
alternatives you may want to consider.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><st1:city w:st="on">Biloxi</st1:city>, <st1:state w:st="on">Miss.</st1:state>,
instead of <st1:place w:st="on">Las Vegas</st1:place>.</b>
The Vegas-like city on the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on">Gulf</st1:placetype>
<st1:placetype w:st="on">Coast</st1:placetype></st1:place> "boasts eight
casino resorts serving up round-the-clock gaming and everything from upscale
restaurants to headliner-laced entertainment."</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><st1:city w:st="on">Toronto</st1:city> instead of <st1:place w:st="on">New York City</st1:place>.</b> <st1:state w:st="on">Ontario</st1:state>'s capital has more than just a stunning skyline: It "puts up plenty of off-screen allure
that allows it to go head to head with <st1:state w:st="on">New
York</st1:state>: a host of cool neighborhoods to explore, a
multicultural population, lots of arts and culture."</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><st1:city w:st="on">Buena Park</st1:city>, <st1:state w:st="on">Calif.</st1:state>,
instead of <st1:city w:st="on">Orlando</st1:city>, <st1:state w:st="on">Fla.</st1:state></b> The town just southeast of <st1:city w:st="on">Los Angeles</st1:city> is home to Knott's Berry Farm, an "entertainment-laden
locale serves up more than 165 rides, performances and other attractions, a
seasonal 13-acre water park and family-friendly dinner shows. You can even get
a touch of Disney magic with a visit to Knott’s Berry Farm’s <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on">Camp</st1:placetype> <st1:placename w:st="on">Snoopy</st1:placename></st1:place>."</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><st1:country-region w:st="on">St. Lucia</st1:country-region>
instead of <st1:state w:st="on">Hawaii.</st1:state></b> "<st1:place w:st="on">St. Lucia</st1:place>’s rugged coastline, lush,
enchanting scenery and romantic vibe mimic many a Hawaiian hot spot."</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
(<st1:country-region w:st="on">St.
Lucia</st1:country-region>'s white sand beaches are shown in the MCT
photo at the top of this post.)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><st1:city w:st="on">Ibiza</st1:city>, <st1:country-region w:st="on">Spain</st1:country-region>, instead of <st1:city w:st="on">Cancun</st1:city>,
<st1:country-region w:st="on">Mexico.</st1:country-region></b> <st1:place w:st="on">Ibiza</st1:place>
"will not disappoint during party season, which lasts from about June to
October. Summertime on the Spanish island is sure to be raucous with well-known
DJs and music groups filling up the venues."</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Bottom line: Always have a backup plan.</div>
Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7917769791707815267.post-50012781280090185992014-12-24T14:57:00.002-05:002014-12-24T14:57:23.199-05:00Travel 'bug' stats: Idaho is the healthiest state to visit<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0Ykw0kpuD1Q/VJsZ5Zs7TNI/AAAAAAAABbI/u0BU06_Tl4k/s1600/IMG_Idaho_Weather_3_1_J86KEMDO.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0Ykw0kpuD1Q/VJsZ5Zs7TNI/AAAAAAAABbI/u0BU06_Tl4k/s1600/IMG_Idaho_Weather_3_1_J86KEMDO.JPG" height="235" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
One thing you don't want for a souvenir is poor health -- and
a Baltimore-based firm called <a href="http://www.sickweather.com/">Sickweather</a> has compiled a list of the healthiest
states... and the sickest.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sickweather provides clients with information on more than
23 different symptoms and illnesses. Its just-released list of states
data-mined analyzed social media reports of allergies, flu, cough, colds and
fever from January through October.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The numbers next to each state is "sick reports per
thousand people," and that's what determined their ranking.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>The 10 healthiest states:</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<st1:state w:st="on">Idaho</st1:state> (1.16) ‑- that's <st1:city w:st="on">Boise, in winter, </st1:city>in the Idaho
Statesman photo above.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<st1:place w:st="on">New York</st1:place>
(1.16)</div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<st1:state w:st="on">Mississippi</st1:state>
(1.22)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<st1:state w:st="on">Montana</st1:state>
(1.24)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<st1:state w:st="on">Vermont</st1:state>
(1.38)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<st1:state w:st="on">Washington</st1:state>
(1.39)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<st1:state w:st="on">Maine</st1:state>
(1.39)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<st1:state w:st="on">New Jersey</st1:state>
(1.41)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<st1:state w:st="on">New Hampshire</st1:state>
(1.48)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<st1:state w:st="on">Utah</st1:state>
(1.48)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>The 10 least-healthy states:</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<st1:state w:st="on">Kansas</st1:state>
(3.96)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<st1:state w:st="on">Nevada</st1:state>
(3.26)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<st1:state w:st="on">Kentucky</st1:state>
(3.25)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<st1:state w:st="on">Texas</st1:state>
(3.10)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<st1:state w:st="on">West Virginia</st1:state>
(2.99)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<st1:state w:st="on">Oregon</st1:state>
(2.95)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<st1:state w:st="on">Indiana</st1:state>
(2.91)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<st1:state w:st="on">Oklahoma</st1:state>
(2.72)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<st1:state w:st="on">Massachusetts</st1:state>
(2.63)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<st1:place w:st="on"><st1:state w:st="on">Nebraska</st1:state></st1:place>
(2.48)</div>
Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7917769791707815267.post-46476007987629360422014-12-18T14:42:00.000-05:002014-12-18T14:42:13.609-05:00Charlotte is No. 4 on list of 2015 cheap-o travel hot spots<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cg6Csb5ry7U/VJMtcPNR71I/AAAAAAAABak/7ML21NixmYs/s1600/Travel%2BTrip%2BDallas%2BOn%2BA%2BBud.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cg6Csb5ry7U/VJMtcPNR71I/AAAAAAAABak/7ML21NixmYs/s1600/Travel%2BTrip%2BDallas%2BOn%2BA%2BBud.JPG" height="214" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The discount ticket-booker <a href="http://priceline.com/">priceline.com</a> announced on Wednesday its "Top Travel Hot Spots
for 2015."</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Unlike many of the myriad "top 2015" lists,
Priceline's is based on affordability -- specifically, the average per-market, per-day
room rate in 2014.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The rankings:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
1. <st1:city w:st="on">Dallas</st1:city>
($86.31; a shot of Dallas is at the top of this post)</div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
2. <st1:city w:st="on">Salt Lake City</st1:city>
($88.24)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
3. <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Orlando</st1:city>,
<st1:state w:st="on">Fla.</st1:state></st1:place> (89.57)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
4. <st1:city w:st="on">Charlotte</st1:city>
($92.37)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
5. <st1:city w:st="on">Phoenix</st1:city>
($93.44)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
6. <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Tampa</st1:city>,
<st1:state w:st="on">Fla.</st1:state></st1:place> ($94.03)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
7. <st1:city w:st="on">Las Vegas</st1:city>
($96.27)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
8. <st1:city w:st="on">Atlanta</st1:city>
($96.99)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
9. <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Louisville</st1:city>,
<st1:state w:st="on">Ky.</st1:state></st1:place> ($101.69)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
10. <st1:city w:st="on">San Antonio</st1:city>
($102.69)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
11. <st1:city w:st="on">Houston</st1:city>
($103.72)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
12. <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Orange County</st1:city>,
<st1:state w:st="on">Calif.</st1:state></st1:place> ($107.91)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
13. <st1:city w:st="on">Minneapolis</st1:city>
($106.69)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
14. <st1:city w:st="on">Denver</st1:city>
($109.20)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
15. <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Portland</st1:city>,
<st1:state w:st="on">Ore.</st1:state></st1:place> ( $109.30)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
These are major
metropolitan areas that are de facto hubs for major conventions or -- like <st1:city w:st="on">Charlotte</st1:city>, <st1:city w:st="on">Salt Lake City</st1:city>
and <st1:city w:st="on">Louisville</st1:city> -- aspiring ones; they include Sunbelt and <st1:place w:st="on">Snowbelt</st1:place> cities where tourism ebbs and flows at various
times of the year.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As prices are market-driven, off-season discounts probably
reduce the average costs of popular places like <st1:city w:st="on">Orlando</st1:city>,
<st1:city w:st="on">San Antonio</st1:city> and <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Orange</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">County</st1:placetype></st1:place>
-- all warm places stocked with major American theme parks.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Priceline's second "top 2015" list, also released Wednesday,
is based on that site's advance hotel reservations at domestic and foreign
destinations -- a better indicator of a city or area's tourist pull:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Domestic</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
1. <st1:city w:st="on">Orlando</st1:city></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
2. <st1:city w:st="on">Las Vegas</st1:city></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
3. <st1:city w:st="on">New Orleans</st1:city></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
4. <st1:city w:st="on">Miami</st1:city></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
5. <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Fort Lauderdale</st1:city>,
<st1:state w:st="on">Fla.</st1:state></st1:place></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
6. <st1:city w:st="on">New York City</st1:city></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
7. <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Orange</st1:placename>
<st1:placetype w:st="on">County</st1:placetype></st1:place></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
8. <st1:city w:st="on">Boston</st1:city></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
9. <st1:city w:st="on">Atlanta</st1:city></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
10. <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Oahu</st1:city>,
<st1:state w:st="on">Hawaii</st1:state></st1:place></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Non-domestic</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
1. <st1:place w:st="on">Puerto Rico</st1:place></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
2. Cancun/Cozumel, <st1:country-region w:st="on">Mexico</st1:country-region></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
3. <st1:city w:st="on">London</st1:city></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
4. <st1:city w:st="on">Rome</st1:city></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
5. <st1:country-region w:st="on">Costa
Rica</st1:country-region></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
6. <st1:city w:st="on">Paris</st1:city></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
7. <st1:city w:st="on">Toronto</st1:city></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
8. <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Los Cabos</st1:city>,
<st1:country-region w:st="on">Mexico</st1:country-region></st1:place></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
9. <st1:city w:st="on">Sydney</st1:city></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
10. <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Barcelona</st1:city>,
<st1:country-region w:st="on">Spain</st1:country-region></st1:place></div>
Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7917769791707815267.post-79668844180389437652014-12-17T15:46:00.001-05:002014-12-17T15:46:53.935-05:00If your kids are screaming for a "Frozen" vacation...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Wt60Xjabmpg/VJHqA6hZHAI/AAAAAAAABaU/K6pUkBYiQW8/s1600/ice-hotel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Wt60Xjabmpg/VJHqA6hZHAI/AAAAAAAABaU/K6pUkBYiQW8/s1600/ice-hotel.jpg" height="211" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
OK, OK. So your family saw the Disney "Frozen" movie far too many times and you've heard its "Let It Go" song enough to fry your CD player.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And you want more.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The travel site <a href="http://cheapflights.com/">cheapflights.com</a> has come up with a <a href="http://www.cheapflights.com/news/build-frozen-vacation-10-places-to-soak-up-the-disney-magic/">list </a>of destinations where you can plan your own "Frozen" dream
vacation.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Among them:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><a href="https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/">Walt Disney World</a>, <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Orlando</st1:city>,
<st1:state w:st="on">Fla.</st1:state></st1:place></b> At Magic Kingdom,
"Frozen" characters Anna and Queen Elsa are subbing for the Fairy
Godmother when it comes to lighting up Cinderella's Castle every evening;
Mickey's "Once Upon a Christmastime Parade" features Anna, Else,
Kristoff and Olaf; a " 'Frozen' Sing-Along Celebration" takes place
almost hourly at the Premiere Theatre. Ice skating is also available at the
park.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
WDW will be adding a "Frozen" ride to Epcot in
2016 to the Norway Pavllion..</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><st1:city w:st="on">Fayetteville</st1:city>.</b>
Through Dec. 21, the <a href="http://www.disneyonice.com/frozen">Disney on Ice </a>"Frozen" show is playing at <st1:city w:st="on">Fayetteville</st1:city>'s Cumberland
County Crown Coliseum. It moves to <b><st1:city w:st="on">Cleveland</st1:city>'</b>s Quicken
Loans Arena (Jan. 9-19) and <st1:city w:st="on"><b>Chicago</b></st1:city>'s <st1:placename w:st="on">United</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Center</st1:placetype> (Jan. 28-Feb. 8) and other venues around the
country before returning to our area in late spring: the <b>Florence (</b>S.C.) <st1:placename w:st="on">Civic</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Center</st1:placetype>
May 28-31 and the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on"><b>Greenville</b></st1:city>,
<st1:state w:st="on">S.C.</st1:state></st1:place> Bon Secours Wellness Arena,
June 10-15.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><st1:place w:st="on">Norway</st1:place>.</b>
One of the countries famous for the "northern lights" is the destination for a "Frozen"-theme <a href="http://www.adventuresbydisney.com/europe/norway-vacation/">Adventures by Disney</a> tour. It begins in <st1:place w:st="on">Bergen</st1:place> -- the city that inspired
the movie's Arendelle.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><st1:state w:st="on">Quebec</st1:state>.</b>
Elsa's ice palace was inspired by the <a href="http://www.hoteldeglace-canada.com/">Hotel de Glace</a>, the ice hotel 10 minutes
from <st1:place w:st="on">Quebec City</st1:place>.
Yep -- it's up and running for the season;
check the photo of it at the top of this post.</div>
Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7917769791707815267.post-26556062347032954342014-12-16T16:20:00.001-05:002014-12-16T16:20:48.462-05:00Survey: Fall in gas prices doesn't translate into spike in holiday travel<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6GhR6l3LR5c/VJChYHOM9YI/AAAAAAAABaA/aPz5OoIrdgU/s1600/IMG_PreBlackFri005.JPG_2_1_306BGKDM.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6GhR6l3LR5c/VJChYHOM9YI/AAAAAAAABaA/aPz5OoIrdgU/s1600/IMG_PreBlackFri005.JPG_2_1_306BGKDM.JPG" height="291" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Gas prices have plummeted... but is savings at the pump
translating into increased holiday travel?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Not that much, according to a survey by <a href="http://gasbuddy.com/">GasBuddy.com</a>, which
monitors fuel prices.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The record-low gas prices are not affecting the travel plans
for 77 percent of those surveyed -- but for
the 23 percent whose plans have changed, 29 percent say they will be traveling
greater distances.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The impact on lower gas costs translates into spending more
on holiday gifts to 35 percent of those surveyed, spending on "other" to 17
percent, and spending more on
accommodations to 8 percent.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In different question however, those surveyed were asked how
they plan to spend extra money saved with lower gas prices. The most popular
options: paying off some bills (45 percent) and saving the cash (38 percent).</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
According to the survey, slightly more than half of
respondents (52 percent) play to travel anytime between Dec. 20 and Jan. 1; of them, 30 percent plan to go 500 miles or
more, roundtrip. Of all traveling for the holidays, autos are the preferred
transportation mode (90 percent).</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Other interesting findings:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The most popular day for hitting the road for year-end
travel: Dec. 29 (29 percent).</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Least popular day: Dec. 21 (7 percent)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Christmas Day -- Dec. 25 -- was second most-popular (23
percent) followed by Christmas Eve (19 percent).</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Most popular day for starting your return home: Jan. 2 (24
percent), followed by Christmas Day (21 percent).</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Least popular: Jan. 1 (6 percent)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
The vast majority of those traveling cite "to visit
family and/or friends" (78
percent).</div>
Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com1