How to Get the Most Out of Domestic Travel

May 6, 2015 by 1 Comment

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When most people say they want to travel, they imagine traversing the globe for vastly different cultures and scenery of foreign countries. However, many travelers simply don’t realize the wealth of amazing travel opportunities available right here in the United States.

A vast and diverse landscape, America offers as many new experiences as international travel — at less than half the price. For outstanding and unforgettable travel, you don’t need a passport or a massive savings account. Here’s how you can get the most out of your U.S.-based travels.

Find Uncommon Destinations

Some people are turned off by the idea of domestic travel simply because they don’t anticipate a trip to Boise, Idaho or Des Moines, Iowa to be especially thrilling. Yet, a vacation is only as exciting as you make it; if you select a dull destination and maintain a sour attitude, you probably will have an unhappy vacation. The United States is hiding thousands of exciting places to visit, so as long as you do some research and chart a course for some fascinating spots, you undoubtedly will have an excellent time. To get you started, here are some suggestions for domestic destinations you likely never considered:

  • Antelope Canyon, Arizona. A slot canyon made of vibrant red sandstone carved into surreal shapes.
  • Grand Prismatic Spring, Wyoming. The largest hot spring in North America, surrounded by a rainbow of colors from bright reds and yellows to crystalline blue.
  • Niagara Falls, New York and Ontario. The largest waterfall in the world, and a natural destination for couples in love.
  • Whitaker Point, Arkansas. A single stone crag jutting out over 100 feet of empty space, offering unprecedented views of the stunning Buffalo River country.
  • Hamilton Pool, Texas. A giant natural pool surrounded on all sides by steep grotto walls, formed when the hollow dome of an underground river collapsed.

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Top Destinations In India

April 24, 2015 by 1 Comment

India has long been a place of pilgrimage for individuals who seek to learn about other cultures, those searching for spiritual enlightenment, or others who love a flavourful cuisine. Travel to India can be more complicated than other destinations due to certain India Visa requirements, but as long as you plan your trip accordingly, you should be in for a wonderful adventure!

If time permits, make plans to visit the historical Madurai in the city of Tamil Nadu. Located in Madurai you will find the most extraordinary and significant temple in south India, which is called Meenakshi Temple. For those traveling on a tight schedule, Meenakshi Temple would be the top temple to visit in the south of India due to it’s bright colors, history of culture, and it’s geographic location. Madurai itself is over 4,000 years old, but despite its age, it has managed to continue being a major center for Tamil ethnicity and education. If you travel to Madurai in April, you will come across individuals celebrating the annual 12-day Chithirai Festival, highlighting the re-enactment of the astronomic wedding of their God and Goddess.
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Meet the New Face of Aviation: Private Jet Charter Companies

April 20, 2015 by Leave a Comment

When it comes to traveling with your family or friends, you tend to consider all of your options. You look for something that’s affordable, that’s stylish, that fits your schedule, and that fits your needs. In some scenarios, the perfect fit for your travels would be a commercial airline. They’re affordable. They travel almost anywhere. And they can accommodate your group.

But commercial airlines are not the only option when it comes to flying. Instead, you should meet the new face of aviation—private jet charter companies. Jets.com and other private jet companies are expanding businesses that are now more popular than ever, and here’s why.

They’re Stylish

If you truly want to travel in style, then you’ll want to charter your own private jet. These jets come in a variety of different options, and you can easily travel in comfort and style. You can opt for oversized leather seats with all the amenities you like, which is much better than sitting in a small overused seat. Some jets, depending on your needs, will also include tables and chairs for you to conduct business meetings. You can also opt for WiFi, TVs, and other luxury amenities to ensure you get to your destination in the style of your choice.
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Spring Break in the Catskills

April 18, 2015 by 10 Comments

The Fisk House, a lovely Bed and Breakfast in the Catskills, would be the perfect place to stay for a large family, a family reunion, or a bridal party.  There are 5 individual rooms, one of which has it’s own bathroom, and 2 large bathrooms upstairs as well as another downstairs.  Breakfast is served daily in the large dining area, and there is a fully functional kitchen for your use the rest of the day.

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In addition to it’s spacious kitchen, dining area, and living room, there is plenty of space to spread out. The furnishings are cozy with mix of country chic and a rustic feel to it.  There is an outdoor swimming area and porch as well, which during warmer weather can be taken advantage of. Directly across the street is an antiques barn, where you can peruse and shop at your leisure.

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After eating breakfast, we headed out to Platkill Mountian for last winter’s hurrah. It was supposed to be Springtime, but as anyone in the Northeast can tell you, Spring too it’s sweet time to arrive to the area this yea. Located in Western upstate NY, you can easily spend the day (or several) on the many trails of Platkill.  You can choose from skiing, snowboarding, snowtubing and snowshoeing on the mountain.  Group or individual lessons are also offered.

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Not having our own equipment, we rented skis, boots, and helmets on site. After being properly fitted for our sizes, my son and I headed out for our ski lesson. We had only skied one other time, so we thought it would be a good idea. The ski instructor had his hands full with us, since my son decided he was all of the sudden scared of skiing. He wanted to (quite literally) hold my hand the whole time, and he cried quite a bit. Being 7 isn’t all it’s cracked up to be all the time. This was interesting, because I was feeling less nervous about the process- I guess we evened each other out.
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Charlottesville, Virginia Family Fun

April 10, 2015 by 2 Comments

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OK, so maybe it wasn’t the President’s birthday- but it was my son’s.  When I asked him what he wanted to do to celebrate, he told me he wanted to “finally” see Monticello, the home of Thomas Jefferson (third president of the USA and the principal author of the Declaration of Independence). “Finally” is a relative term- he was turning 7.   So, off to Charlottesville, Virginia we went.

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Charlottesville was the perfect place for this trip, because it has so much to offer in terms of Presidential history (and homes).  In and around Charlottesville, you can see the homes of four of the most influential presidents in American history- along with Thomas Jefferson, you can visit the homes of James Madison, George Washington, and James Monroe. That is a lot of history for a little area.  You can visit all the homes with a special pass should you so choose. The “President’s Passport” is one ticket that gives you access to all the homes of the four presidents. (Other added bonuses include free admission to 9 museums and historic sites in Alexandria if you show your paid ticket at the door, free wine tastings along the Monticello wine trail, savings at shopping areas, hotels, restaurants, and more. This is a good pass to get if you plan on spending a few days in the area.)

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Our first stop, of course, was Monticello.  I was impressed to see that they offered “family” tours with a guide who made the time spent even in “no touching” areas fun for the kids.  She had a small bag packed with visual guides, books, photos, and toys that the children could see, touch, and play with to help them get a better idea of what she was explaining and the times that Jefferson lived in.  She also aimed the tour at them, using language they could understand without “dumbing down” the tour whatsoever- she used appropriate language and explanations, scaled to ability and age- but never assumed the children were unable to understand or grasp the knowledge.  This was something that the parents appreciated and the children thrived on- they all enjoyed the tour and remembered what they learned. (My son, of course, had to buy a stuffed Thomas Jefferson from the gift shop, just like the guide had.  It was his birthday, after all.)  There were also hands on activities to try one’s hand at when the tour was finished, such as using a quill pen and ink or playing with “old time” toys and games.
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Family Friendly Myrtle Beach

April 8, 2015 by 8 Comments

Check out the full post on Vacatia!

Myrtle beach is a great family vacation destination, but it has more then just miles of beautiful beaches.  For those who want to visit, but aren’t sure what to do beyond the beach and boardwalk (which are beautiful, and of course need to have ample time spent on them) let’s talk about the diverse and vivacious

There is an old side to this historic city that mixes smoothly with the beach side fun to create a one-of-a-kind destination you and your family will want to return to again and again.

The Myrtle Beach State Park Piers are said to be the best fishing spots in Myrtle Beach.  Popular with locals too, you don’t need to get a license ahead of time and fishing supplies are available on site for your convenience.  Bring your own poles, or there are some available for purchase or rental as well.  I think it’s vital for every kid to have at least one photo of themselves with “the catch of the day”, don’t you?  Something they caught themselves- with help from mom and dad, maybe.

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The views from the piers are some of the best from the city, so even if you’re not fishing you’ll be glad you stopped by. Myrtle Beach State Park Pier is a quiet and green ( both literally and from an environmental standpoint) beach spot, that is actually an oceanfront maritime forest.  This spot is complete with campgrounds, nature trail, fishing, and more, you and your family will love this place.  If you are campers, you will want to make reservations- there is both traditional camping as well as cabins available on the property as well.   On site is a wonderful and well maintained educational center that is both hands on and fun for not only the children, but the adults in the group as well. One of the best centers of it’s kind I have seen in a park this size (and many bigger and better funded as well), this is a point of pride and passion of the local staff and ranger, and a real must-do when in the area.
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Ways to Protect Your Home While Traveling

April 2, 2015 by 1 Comment

suitcacesTaking vacations and traveling all over the world can be a great way to have fun and gain a variety of new experiences. You get to see new sights, witness new cultures, and be amazed at how different life is from one place to the other.

When you go on vacation, you know that there is much to do to prepare for your trip. You need to get your itinerary and travel arrangements in order. You need to plan and pack for your trip. And you need to ensure that everything back home is cared for while you’re away, such as boarding your pets, or getting someone to cover your shift at work.

One area that people often overlook while traveling is the safety of their home. When you travel, you are leaving your home vacant and available for intruders. However, if you take the necessary precautions, you’ll be able to keep your home safe while you travel.

Set automatic timers on lights.

The easiest way that people know you’re not home is by seeing a dark house for multiple days in a row. To avoid this, make sure you invest in and use automatic timers on lights, both inside and outside of the home. Simply having a few lights turn on in various rooms of your home will make it look like someone is there, which will deter crooks from breaking into your home while you’re away.
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Desaki – Dining out in the Poconos

March 30, 2015 by 13 Comments

Read the full post on This Girl Travels!

While on a recent trip to the beautiful Poconos in the Pennsylvania mountains, we stopped at a restuaunt somewhat unique to the area.  While most of the restaurants we saw in the area were more “American” or had a deli or diner feel, Desaki was not only great cuisine, but also a fun family dining experience.

poconosThe restaurant itself is beautiful, and definitely stands out from others. When you enter, you are able to check your coats and see what fun you can have while waiting for your table.  (Yes, you can call ahead for seating.)  Since we were there on a “family fun night”, there was a balloon artist as well as a face painter on site for the kids.  My son was thrilled with his “Darth Vader” balloon, complete with light saber.

Many of the kids also got their faces painted. My son chose not to, because he was going to eat and was convinced he would somehow get paint in his food and in his mouth.  He’s just not big into face painting, what can I say.  The other kids loved it, and there was quite a queue waiting for a turn.

20150207_181923There are also XBoxes and TVs for the kids while they wait- or if they finish first and get antsy.  I am pro everyone eating together, but I know some people don’t feel the same way, and let the kids bring their tablets to the tables and whatnot anyway. It’s a good option instead of tablets or phones at the table.  I would let my son use it while we waited, for sure.
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