It's a dry heat....

The phrase out here in AZ "it's a dry heat" makes me laugh and I admit I've used it during my recent visit. You sweat though, or at least I do, especially when it's 109 degrees outside like it was today. I also noticed that the sweating has made my face break out just a bit, nothing I can't deal with, blackhead on nose type breakouts. Which in the end supposedly the dry heat of a sauna is supposed to clean and purify your skin. Out here in AZ? Nature is it's own sauna...

:-)

Golf as more than a sport...

Some play golf as a sport, both professionally and as amateurs, but what I find interesting is the other aspects of golf. The tee times can be used as business moments, charity events and even political fundraisers.

Here in Ohio it's common for residents to head for the warmer climes to play golf, it's why websites like www.48hourteetimes.com have been created. It gives the golfer, no matter their motivation to head to the greens the ability to book their tee time, many times before they have even arrived at their golf destination.

They have some great deals as far as prices, while I'm not a golfer, my father was so I have a basic understanding of the cost factor and remember horror stories of him wanting to play but not having made reservations. If he were alive, he'd most likely be one of those taking advantage of being able to book 48 hour tee times and then bragging to his friends how he paid less than they did...

Spring break in Florida...

My youngest daughter is on Spring break this week which makes me yearn for a vacation in Orlando not with my family but by myself. Sound selfish? Probably, but the constant interruption from teenagers at times can surpass the interruptions that used to exist when they were so much smaller. Back then, you could entertain them with a movie or a cartoon. Part of the problem is my own increased work load and my unrealistic expectation that I could complete some of the tasks I had planned for this week.

Yes, I should have known better...

Road service for RV's

My in-laws bought a recreational vehicle over a year ago and they have been traveling the country, going from New London, CT to Texas and Mexico several times since they first hit the road. They have however learned that RV repairs and tows can be a challenge depending on where they are located. Until they started their adventures I was not aware there were companies out there like good sam towing that specialized in RV towing.

What is nice is they even provide coverage in Mexico. Services like this to me follow a somewhat Murphy's law concept, if you purchase it, chances are you won't need it and if you don't? You'll probably wish you would have.

They say if you are looking for fun, think Branson

I've never been to Branson, though I have friends and relatives who have gone, as well as having seen some tempting Branson vacation packages. It's on my own personal "bucket list" of places that I'd like to travel to, and after watching a variety of the videos on YouTube about Branson, like the one I'm sharing below, even this non-country music fan thinks there are lots of things she'd like to do there.

:-)

Harry Potter fans will want to visit Disney World in 2010

I admit it, I'm a fan of the books and the movies so it has been with great interest that I've been following the Harry Potter “Theme Park within a Theme Park” planned to open at Disney World in 2010. It's been stated that the opening of this 20 acre part of the park is timed to the release of the last saga of the Harry Potter movies. It's had me even checking out prices at some of the downtown disney hotels as well as possible flight deals...

When you check out what is planned? It looks pretty amazing...

Of Toronto and the tooth fairy...

Every time I hear someone mention Toronto even if it's related to Toronto hotels, I think about my first visit to that area. It's one of my first early memories because I was eating corn on the cob at a restaurant with my family and I lost my first tooth in the corn. The tooth was not quite ready to come out, so it bled a bit, and I remember sitting there with a white sundress on and my mother upset that I might get blood on my dress.

That may not sound like a happy memory, but it actually was, since it was also when I had my first visit from the tooth fairy and it gave me an early memory of that family vacation of decades ago...

Make sure to take your passport...

The laws for travel are interesting because they used to vary more than they do now, soon it will be necessary to have a passport to go anywhere outside of the US, withthe exception of US territories. It's also important that you check to see what other requirements are necessary. Let's say for an example you were looking at dominican republic resorts as a vacation spot. You'd not only need a passport but a tourist card, that has to be paid in US dollars (currently it's $10.00) and allows you to stay for 60 days. If you stay longer and have not gone through the proper extension process? You can face a large surcharge when you attempt to return to the US...

Traveling outside of the US can be a fun adventure, but make sure you do your homework first and read any travel advisories from the State Department...

Thinking of escaping...

while the weather here is nice now, it's been one of the colder July's in recent history, which when you look at pictures like the one shared here, it should be easy to see why the Outer Banks is a tempting place to escape to. I also have friends that have moved to that area not long ago, so I'd be able to not only get away but catch up with them and how things are going for them since they've moved away. This is one part of the country that I have not yet been able to visit so it keeps getting moved up on my own personal "bucket list."

This July has been cold....

I'm not going to start yelling global warming, but it has been cooler this July so far in my part of the country than last year. In a way I really don't mind because our house doesn't have air conditioning and I'm certain the warmer weather will eventually come. It has however made the idea of going to Florida a bit more appealing, which of course would have been more appealing had JetAmerica not did away with their flights that were $9.00...But...it still is rather inexpensive to fly to Florida when compared to other places. Who knows I could hire a Fort Myers photographer to take some professional shots that I can tease others with this winter when the snow is piling up.

:-)

Las Vegas has a reputation of freedom...

One of the things you hear often about Las Vegas is "what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas" but there is an interesting side note to the City that many might not know as they book into that las vegas hotel and walk out on the strip.

Judges have consistently ruled that the walkway under the Fremont Street Experience is a public forum, meaning the First Amendment applies there. On the strip, the courts stated that such activities as handing out pamphlets, even ones that advertise the services of escorts or other "personal" services are protected there as well.

Why is Branson such a destination spot?

A friend recently told me he was taking a trip with his wife and his in-laws and they were going to Branson which got me thinking about all of the other people that I know that have been there and return there. I'd always thought that Branson was for those who really like country western music, which I'm not one of those. Yet when I looked at this Branson Getaways website, I saw there was much more to Branson than country western music.

I was surprised at the number of different vacation packages that were offered, from the Platinum to the Titanium, each one offering a variety of options and a range of things do to for both those on a smaller budget and those not. Something else I wasn't aware of, I didn't realize there was a theme park there, Silver Dollar City, that has roller coasters and water rides as well as other attractions.

After seeing some of the show listings, even music wise there is a selection of different music genres, Legends in Concert as one example. It became clear why I know so many people who go to Branson, and the next time I head out west, a place I'd like to check out.

Cruise trips...

My oldest daughter returned from a cruise not long ago after findnig some great cruise deals online. Her only complaint was the large number of children that were left unattended by parents and since it was not a cruise designed for children there were not many things for them to do. Which would mean parents who are taking children on a cruise might want to make sure there will be a selection of activities for their little ones.

A great thing to have when traveling...

I like to take quite a few photographs, so when I fill up a card from my camera and then delete those after uploading to the computer, I like to make a quick back up of the photos on my flash drive as a safety back up. Having experienced laptops being stolen and/or crashing, there's nothing worse than discovering all of the previous photos you took were gone. For me it's one of those situations where now that I am doing this, it's never become needed.

The land down under...

I was listening to the song "Down Under" by Men at Work, which started me thinking about the "Land down under". Even before an old friend moved to Australia, the idea of vacationing there has been on our list of dream vacations. Once you start looking at some of the different deals for Sydney Hotels or Melbourne Hotels you discover that it's really much more affordable than you might imagine to stay in Australia.

For me the history aspect of a visit would be my primary focus, the lure of Brisbane Hotels being one of strolling the areas where Aboriginal tribes first lived before the English settlers arrived. The whole history of the original creation of a penal colony there has been something I've spent many an hour reading about. It's entirely possible that some members of my family that stayed in England could have very well ended up in Australia.

Then of course there is Perth, the first free settlement in Australia where not only is there a rich history but the temptation of Perth Hotels where some of the room service offerings include the famous vegemite sandwich.

Branson & the Libertarian party...

When it comes to Libertarian Party the name Branson does not mean Branson rentals it means Richard Branson, the owner of the Virgin brand of over 360 companies. He's been an active participant in the Libertarian cause in England, honored by the Conservative government in the 1980s, and was briefly given the post of "litter tsar" by Margaret Thatcher—charged with "keeping Britain tidy."

Some have proposed the concept of him running for Mayor in London...

Still in memory mode...

In addition to reliving memories of my early car days, I can't help thinking about the many times our family decided to head for the road with our old travel trailer. Just as cars have really changed so have travel trailers with even the old pop up type we had from years ago now becoming almost a luxury travel item that is much easier to open and with a much more ergonomic design as far as the actual space available.

When I think of Branson I think of Johnny Cash...

Every time I hear the name Branson, I immediately think of Johnny Cash. I think it's part of my upbringing with my father having been such a huge Cash fan. Most people who head there now aren't just going for the music, Branson private golf courses have actually become such a draw that there are numbers of people who head to Branson to yell "fore" rather than to yell "encore".

Dreamed of seeing the Terracotta Warriors?

If you have had on your list of things you have been longing to do to see the Terracotta Warriors, or if you are one of the lucky ones who have seen them on display in London now or previously and are inspired to want to see more, then there's no time like the present to plan your trip. DialAFlight has put together several special travel packages that range from a three day to a 26 day tour to go to China to be able to see the full impact of the 8000+ warriors...

The packages include breakfast as well as hotel accommodations at 3-4 star hotels and dinner is included in several of the packages. My personal preference is the Ten Day Tour that includes Beijing and the Great Wall, Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City and Xian. It's an amazing package for a trip that would last in your memory forever.