Happy New Year

Times Square on New Year's Eve

I would like to wish everyone a very Happy New Year!  I am very optimistic that 2013 will indeed be a good year.  And I hope that it is for all of my readers.  If you are partying tonight, be safe.  And I hope that all of you have fantastic travels in the coming year.

Cruising 101

 

"If we are always arriving and departing, it is also true that we are eternally anchored.  One's destinatin is never a place but rather a new way of looking at things."

Henry Miller
 

Holland America ship in port in Quebec

 

Cabo San Lucas

My husband and I took our first cruise about 15 years ago.  I had just become a travel agent with AAA.  As a fairly new employee I didn't have much vacation time accrued, but we hadn't been away together for awhile, so I felt we could take a week and have a vacation.  I found the cruise through the agency.  It was a re-positioning cruise, which is always less money.  They are moving the ship from one location to another and prefer to do that with a full ship of passengers, so they offer these cruises for slightly less money.  This particular cruise was re-positioning from the Caribbean to do the Alaska run for the summer.   The entire re-postioning took about 30 days, but we only did one week of the move, so our portion was from Acapulco to Los Angeles, with stops in Zihuatanejo, Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlan, Cabo and then into LA.  We had a one-way fare to Acapulco and another short flight from LA back to San Diego.

Having never taken a cruise before, I was not sure what to expect.  I knew we would not be in any port for very long, just a quick chance to explore and then back on the ship.  I worried that I would be bored sitting on a ship.  And when I told my husband we were doing the trip, he seemed less than excited.  He had retired from the Navy, so he'd been on ships before - large gray floaty things, and they didn't really excite him.  But he was willing to give it a try.

Me in the ships casino

We enjoyed our first cruise, and have been cruising ever since, whenever we can.  My husband found out that it was certainly nothing like his navy experience, and I discovered that there was no way a person could get bored on a cruise ship. 

There are many things to decide before you take your first cruise.  For example, there are many different cruise lines, and cruise ships.  There are huge mega ships, large ships and smaller ships.  There are ocean cruises and river cruises.  There are many destinations to choose from, as well as what type of room you want to be in.  I would like to go over some of those things here.

Deciding what cruise line and what type of ship is right for you
There are many cruise lines to choose from.  Some of the things that will determine which one is the right fit for you are - price, your age, are you traveling with children, and destination.  Of the major cruise lines here in the USA, the most expensive cruises will be with Seaborn or Crystal.  The least expensive will be Carnival or Norwegian Cruise Line.  But there are quite a few that are in the middle, such as Princess, Celebrity, Disney, Royal Caribbean, and Holland America.  All of these cruise lines are excellent, and you will have a nice cruise.  They may not be quite as luxurious as Crystal or Seaborn, but unless you have travelled on one of those, you will feel like you are in the lap of luxury.

Carnival Ship

Age will play a part in the cruise you select.  If you are young, and particularly if you have small children traveling with you, then you will probably be more interested in traveling with others your age, and with other families.  Carnival is known for catering to a younger crowd.  They are known for their children's program onboard,  and they are very family friendly.  I have taken a Carnival Cruise and I was worried that everyone would be much younger than me, and there would be children everywhere.  I actually had a great time.  Yes, there were quite a few younger than me, but not all were.  And the children were so busy with the activities planned for them, that they were not a problem.  Carnival is on the economical side, and they are not quite up to the standards of some of the other cruiselines, such as Holland America, but it was quite enjoyable.

Disney Ship in Key West, Florida

Another cruiseline to consider if you have children with you, is Disney.  They are a little more upscale than Carnival and they go to quite a few different destinations, and definitly cater to young families with children.  And if you go to the Caribbean, you can combine it into one package that includes Disney World. 

If your children are teenagers, you might want to consider a Royal Caribbean Cruise.  Their ships have all sorts of fun activities onboard, including a rock climbing wall, and a surf pool where you can learn to surf on the ship.


Small ship in Glacier Bay, Alaska

When looking at taking a cruise you should also consider the type of ship you will be on.  Some of the new ships are huge mega ships.  You are in a giant hotel on the water.  The mega ships certainly have everything on board.  But some of the medium size ships have more personality to them.  And you may get to know a few more people on a slightly smaller ship.  And there are some quite small ships.   If you are going to Alaska you may want to consider a smaller ship.  The smaller ships can get in closer to the glaciers and into areas where the larger ships cannot go.  They have comfortable accomodations, and all of their rooms have at least a window, there are no inside rooms.  Usually the small ships carry less than 200 persons onboard.

View from our balcony on the Yangtze River Cruise

Another option is the river cruise.  Instead of going on a big ship out into the ocean, you might decide to make your first cruise on a river.  There are many options here in the USA as well as all over the world.  There are cruises on the Columbia River, the Mississippi and the St. Lawrence River.  All of Europe's major rivers have cruise boats.  My girlfriend and I did a cruise on the Yangtze River in China.  There are cruises on the Amazon and the Nile.  Lots of options to choose from.  And the boats that are on the rivers are smaller and you will make lots of friends with the other passengers.  And while cruising you can actually watch the scenery go by, as opposed to just watching the ocean.  River cruises tend to be more adults, and very few children, although you can bring them on a river cruise.  They are not geared toward activites for children, so if you have small children you may want to leave them at home, or wait until they are older to take a river cruise.

So when deciding on which cruise you want to go on, first decide where you want to go, what kind of activities you are interested in, then choose the cruise line that best fits your needs, whether it is for the family or for you and your significant other.

Safety Issues
In the past year or so there has been some discussion on whether cruise ships are safe.  They actually have less accidents than almost any other form of transportation.  But when one does sink, such as the Costa ship did last year, it makes headlines.  This was a very rare occurence though, and while I suppose it could happen again, it is not that likely. 

Bringing the lifeboat back on board during a drill

When we took our cruise this past September, the crew on board had a drill while we were on shore leave.  They were practicing what to do in an emergency.  I'm sure that the cruise lines all take safety issues very seriously and in case of an accident they would be pretty organized.  We also had to go through a life-boat drill before we left port.

The other safety issue, which is one I would worry about more, is illness.  Every year you hear about cruise ships that have a portion of their passengers get ill with Norovirus.  This is a real worry for many people.  They are afraid to cruise because of this.  It is a problem, there is no denying that.  But it is not just cruise ships.  This virus hits anywhere that there are large groups of people.  You have as much chance getting it at any buffet line.  Think of the big buffets in Las Vegas.  They sometimes have the problem too.  My mom lives in a retirement home, and eats in their dining room.  They have had the virus there, and I worry about her coming into contact with it.  You hear about it more with a cruise, simply because the media plays it up.  I would say, take precautions, such as using the spray-on antiseptic onboard, but don't let it stop you from going.  The cruise lines take more precautions against this virus than any other place, and the chances of your getting sick aren't that high.  And you could get sick at home just as well.  Yes, it would be a shame if you spent all that money on a vacation and was sick the whole time, but there are no guarantees in life, and this could always happen on any kind of vacation you take.  We can't let what might happen decide how we are going to live our lives.

Accomodations

Our Room on Holland America's Maasdam

A cabin on a ship has limited space, so don't pack too much stuff.  They are actually quite nice rooms, with a small bathroom, a closet, a sitting area and a bed.  What you will have to decide when you book the cruise, is what kind of room you want.  The inside cabins are the least expensive.  By inside, that means it is on the interior of the ship, with no window.  There will be the illusion of a window, usually an area with a curtain drawn across to make you feel like the window is there.  The next category up will have a window where you can look out at the sea. 

Outside our Lanai Room
Which is also the Promenade
 

The cabin we stayed in on our last cruise, was a lanai room.  The room had a sliding glass door which opened onto the Promenade Deck.  There were nice wooden chaise lounges outside that were reserved for our room, we had the lounge pads in our room, which we could take out.  I really liked this room.  It was not a private balcony, we had people walking by our room, but they couldn't see in because the windows were tinted.  We checked to see if anyone could see in, and they couldn't - even with the lights on.  We got to know our neighbors while sitting out in the deck chairs, and we would all gather out there as the ship sailed away from port.  The stewards came around with the liquour cart, and we could even get a drink while sitting out on the deck.  We chatted with other passengers who were strolling the promenade deck and made new friends that way.

You can also get a room with a private balcony.  The  balcony is not large, and not really that private, as there will be other balconys next to yours, but it is fenced off and only you can use that balcony.  There will be chairs to sit in, and you can watch the view from your own space.  This is nice if you are doing a cruise, such as Alaska, which has views to watch, or if you like to just sit and watch the ocean.  Actually, we noticed that most people didn't use their private balconies on the Alaska cruise.  They preferred to be up on the main deck where they could walk around to different sides of the ship and see everything.

There are also suites available, which are a lot more expensive.  Some of these suites even come with your own private butler.  They have living rooms and separate bedrooms.  You can go on a cruise in quite luxurious accomadations, if you want to pay the price.

Ports of Call

Alaska from the deck of our ship

When deciding what cruise to take, probably the main consideration will be, where the ship is going.  Not everyone wants to take a Caribbean Cruise.  It is hard for me to comprehend, but not everyone is in love with the beach.  Maybe your dream destination is Alaska.  So, you need to decide where you want to go, and then pick the cruise that best fits your dream.  Even on Alaska cruises, there are different itineraries, different ports of call.  You have to decide what things you want to see. 

Tenders taking passengers ashore

Also, to be considered is if the ship will actually be in port, or will be tendered out.  By tendered out, that means that you will have to get into one of the life boats and be taken to shore.  If you have mobility issues, this can be more difficult.  You may want to be on a ship that will be pulling into the ports of call.  The other thing with being tendered is that it takes a lot longer to get everyone to shore, and back again, which means less time in port.  You can usually find out from your travel agent whether the ships will be in port at all of their destinations.  That doesn't mean that things can't change at the last minute if there is a problem at the port, but usually they know in advance where they will be.

What to Expect on Board the Ship
I have never been bored spending a day on a cruise ship.  Almost all cruises have at least one day where you are at sea all day.  But there is so much to do, I don't know how anyone would get bored.

My friend Bonnie & I at a Cooking Class on the Maasdam

Each day you will receive a newsletter in your room, which will tell you what there is to do that day.  If you are in port, you will probably be heading there first thing.  You may have even booked an excursion.  But you are not required to go ashore.  Everyday, whether in port or not, there is a list of things to keep you busy all day.  There are fitness classes, Tai Chi & Yoga classes.  There are lectures about your port of call and what to see and do.  There are hands-on cooking classes and cooking demonstrations.  Flower arranging classes, computer classes, photography classes, dance classes, bingo, pub trivia, and every night there is a show in the showroom.  You can book a massage at the spa, have an acupuncture treatment or get your hair or nails done.  Or you can go for a swim in the pool, or a soak in the hot tub. How could one get bored?

TIP:  As soon as you get on board the ship there are some things you should do.  If you have open dining, then you should make a reservation in the dining room for the time you would like to eat.  The main dining times fill up fast.  You can always walk in and wait to be seated, but it is nice to have that reservation.  We made a reservation for 6:30PM for every night we were on board, it was the perfect time, giving us time to eat before the 8PM show, but also time after we boarded the ship so that we were not rushing.  Also, the first day, if there are any shore excursions that are a "must do", then you should book them.  They sometimes sell out of excursions, and if it really is a "must do" then don't take a chance. You can also make those reservations through the computer before you even board the ship - something else to keep in mind.  If you want an appointment to get your hair done, manicure or a massage on the day of the formal dinner, or a day when the ship is at sea, those appointments also fill up fast, so the sooner you make the appointment, the better chance you have of getting it.

A word about all of those classes and other activities.  Many of them are free, but there is a cost associated with many of them.  Spa treatments can be especially pricey, compared to the cost at home to get the same thing.  But you are on vacation, and sometimes you feel like splurging.  Remember though that the shipboard account does add up fast.

Your Shipboard Account
Speaking about shipboard accounts, when you get on the cruise you will have registered your credit card.  Everything you buy, will go on your account. You do not use cash onboard.  If you get a bottle of wine to go with dinner, or a martini at the bar or a soft drink, it goes on your account.  If you sign up for an excursion, or a cooking class, or play bingo, it will go on your account.  Also, most cruise ships have a tipping policy, which usually averages around $12 per day - per person.  That tip will be added directly to your account.  At the end of the cruise, that tip will be split between the people who cleaned your room and waited on you in the dining room.  You can ask them to change the amount, up or down, and they will, but most people just go with what they charge.  Just be aware of how much is going on your account, so that you won't be surprised at the end.  You can always request a copy half way through the cruise, so that you can see where you are.

TIP:  Most cruise lines now sell a drink card.  You can purchase it the first day and it will give you a pretty good discount on your alcoholic drinks or your soft drinks.  If you plan on having wine every night and also other alcoholic drinks, you might want to look into getting this card the first day.  If you have kids who drink a lot of soft drinks, you can get a card that only covers soft drinks, and it will save you money.

Dining Options - Open seating vs. Assigned

Midnight Chocolate Buffet

It is true that you can eat 24 hours a day on board a cruise ship.  And they have something for just about everyone.  There is the main dining rooms, there is the buffet, which is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner and has a large variety of foods to choose from.  There is usually a grill set up near the pool that serves hamburgers, pizza, and tacos.  You can order from room service and there is no extra charge for that.  One night during the cruise they will probably set up a late-night buffet of chocolate and other desserts.  However, as much as I love sweets, the thought of eating chocolate at almost midnight is too much for me.  It is a beautiful display that is fun to go see, but if I ate chocolate that late, I'd be wired all night and would never get to sleep.  I am sure there are those that do eat it though.

When you book your cruise you will be asked about what your dining preference is.  You can sign up for open seating or you can request assigned seating.  If you go with assigned, then you will have a table reserved for you at either the early seating (which is at 5:45PM on most ships) or late seating (which is usually 8PM).  You can request a small table for just your party, or be seated with a large group of other people, but it will be the same each night. 


George & I Dressed for Dinner on the Formal Night

If you opt for open seating then you will make your own reservations each night, and you will be sitting with different people each night.  You can choose the time you wish to dine.  On this last cruise, we opted for the open dining, and we asked our steward if he would reserve us a table each night at 6:30PM.  He had it waiting for us each night.  We were traveling with another couple, but we requested the table be for 8.  We met 2 other couples and invited them to join us, so we did have the same group each night, but at the time we preferred, and the group we picked.  This can be a good option.  We did make this request as soon as we got on board. If we had waited, there would not have been a table available at the time we wanted.

Also, people always wonder how dressed up they have to be on the formal nights.  Well, you should not wear jeans that night.  Jeans are acceptable for more casual nights, shorts are never acceptable in the dining room.  But for formal nights you should dress a little nicer.  Most women now wear dressy slacks and a very nice jacket or sparkly top.  Men usually wear sports jackets or suits with a tie.  You will even see men in tuxedos and women in long dresses, but that is no longer the norm.  It is getting less formal all the time.

Why Do I Cruise
Since that first cruise I have cruised many times.  Why?  Because I have found cruising to be a relaxing, stress-free and fun travel experience.  Part of it has to do with the sense of peace I get from being on the water, whether it is the ocean or a river.   And part of it is because from the moment I board the vessel I feel pampered and taken care of.  The crew is friendly and at my beck and call.  While on the ship there are lots of fun activities to do, or I can do nothing at all.  Just sit in a deck chair and watch the ocean or the scenery, or visit with other passengers.   And I can explore new places and I only have to unpack once.   So next time you want to get away, why not consider taking a cruise, I think you will enjoy it.


Cruising on the Danube in Germany
 

Merry Christmas to my Readers

Sadie and Baxter under our tree, waiting to open their presents

I would like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas.  Christmas is celebrated around the world, even in countries that are not Christian.  I was in China a few years ago and discovered that Christmas is the biggest holiday of the country.  They do not celebrate it in a religious way, but in a fun, family-oriented way, with the tree and decorations, Santa and snowmen.  They exchange presents and have a special dinner.  That is the way I also celebrate the holiday.  But however, you celebrate, I hope you are with family and that you have plenty of food, warmth and happiness.  From my house to yours, Happy Holiday!!!!

Grand Canyon National Park

“The glories and the beauties of form, color, and sound unite in the Grand Canyon-forms unrivaled even by the mountains, colors that vie with sunsets, and sounds that span the diapason from tempest to tinkling raindrop, from cataract to bubbling fountain.” 

John Wesley Powell

Grand Canyon became a National Park in 1919, three years after the creation of the National Park Service.  It receives close to five million visitors each year.  I have visited the Grand Canyon National Park twice, and it overwhelmed my senses with its immense size and beauty.   The park is 277 river miles long, 18 miles wide and is one mile deep.  The Colorado River runs through the canyon and is what carved the canyon.  The average distance across the canyon is only 10 miles, it takes 5 hours to drive the 215 miles between the park's South Rim Village and the North Rim Village.

Me at the Grand Canyon, South Rim

The majority of visitors only visit the South Rim, and most of them see it in one day from their car, or the shuttle bus, and at overlooks along the rim.  The South Rim is the most accessible part of the park and is open all year.  A much smaller number of people see the canyon from the North Rim, which lies just 10 miles directly across the canyon from the South Rim.  The North Rim is closed in the winter months due to weather conditions.  The Inner Canyon includes everything below the rim and is seen mainly by hikers, mule riders, or river runners.



The steam engine on the Grand Canyon Railway

The Grand Canyon is located in northern Arizona.  Both times I visited the park, I arrived by the Grand Canyon Railway.  It leaves Williams daily and makes its way to the park.  It is a great way to get to the park, but certainly not the only way.  The most common way to get to the canyon is to drive.  If you live far away, then you will probably fly to either Phoenix or Las Vegas, and then rent a car and drive to the park.  Both places are equally close, about a 3 hour drive.   Once you get to the park there is a free shuttle bus you can ride within the park, which will not only save you money, but is more environmentally friendly than driving your own car to the different lookout places.  To learn more about the Grand Canyon Railway, go to my posting in June: http://havelistwilltravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/grand-canyon-railway.html



TheTrans-Canyon Shuttle runs between the north and south rims of the park once each day, in each direction, and the travel time is about 4 1/2 hours each way. This is the only regularly scheduled service between the north and south rims of the park.

    The shuttle leaves the north rim at 7am and arrives at the south rim at noon.

    The suttle leaves the south rim at 1:30pm and rrives back at the north rim at 6:30pm.

Reservations are required and can be made by calling 928-638-2820. Scheduled service is available between May 15th and October 15, with a limited schedule between October 16 and October 31.

Watchtower at the Grand Canyon NP

Once you are in the park, there are many things that you can do.  There are guided tours you can book that will take you to some of the lookout points, as well as the Dessert View Road and the Watchtower.  The Watchtower is a round stone building which was designed by Mary Colter, one of the first woman architects.  She is often referred to as the architect of the southwest.  I have a book on her, and I think she was a fascinating woman.  She also designed the Bright Angel Lodge which is one of the hotels you could stay in if you spend the night (more about that when I talk about accomodations in the park.)



Inside the Watchtower

As you get closer to the building you might see how well it blends into the environment. It is difficult to tell where the rock of the canyon walls end, and the tower begins. From Desert View… aptly named because of the views to the east of the Painted Desert…you can see the Colorado River make a big bend and continue to the west, the North Rim more than 10 miles away, and a panoramic view for well over 100 miles on a clear day.




Also, while in the park, there are many hiking trails, both above and below the rim.  When we were there we took the free shuttle bus out to the last of the lookout points and then hiked the trail back towards the village.  The trail runs along the edge of the canyon and even sometimes dips below the rim.  The trail goes from one lookout point to the next, and at any point you can hop back on the shuttle bus. 

 

Mule trip

There are mule trips to the floor of the canyon if you are feeling adventursome.  There are also some shorter mule trips available.  There are weight limits and age limits.  They say the mules like to hug the outside edge of the trail, so you are hanging over the edge of the canyon on parts of the ride.  Unless you are comfortable with heights, it might not be that much fun.  If you go to the floor of the canyon then you will spend the night at Phantom Ranch and return the next day.  Mule trips should be booked in advance as they are popular and tend to sell out.

 

White-water rafting
the Colorado River

Something I have seriously considered doing is a white-water rafting trip down the Colorado River and through the canyon.  I think seeing the canyon from the bottom up would be quite wonderful.  The rafting trips are anywhere from 3 days to18 days.  They are guided trips with professional guides who know the river.  You camp along the way.  If you do the trip just half way and get out at Phantom Ranch, then you will have to climb the trail back to the rim - a steep climb.  There are no one day rafting trips through the Grand Canyon.  We did, however take a half-day smooth water rafting trip from Glen Canyon Dam, which is north of the Grand Canyon and takes you through a smaller canyon.  That was fun, but not nearly as adventursome.

 

El Tovar Hotel

There are many lodging options for you within the park.  The most luxuious of the hotels is the El Tovar.  Located on the Canyon rim, it features a fine dining room (open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner), lounge and curio shop with newsstand. El Tovar offers its guests Concierge and room service and is a Registered National Historic Landmark.  Also available is the Bright Angel Lodge which was designed by Mary Colter in 1935.  It has a natural, rustic character, and is also a Registered National Historic Landmark.  It is located just a few feet from the Canyon rim.  Other options include The Kachina Lodge and The Thunderbird Lodge, both of which are conveniently located between El Tovar and Bright Angel Lodge. They are both contemporary hotels.  Maswik Lodge is a modern facility spread over several acres of Ponderosa Pine forest, located just 1/4 mile from the canyon's edge.  It features a cafeteria that is open from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Here you will also find a Pizza Pub with wide screen TVs, a curio shop stocked with handicrafts and gifts, and a transportation activities desk.  Yavapai Lodge is Grand Canyon National Park Lodges' largest facility and is surrounded by Pinyon and Juniper woodlands, about 1/2 mile from the rim.  Yavapai Lodge features the Canyon Cafe, which is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The curio shop has a wide range of gifts and a transportation / activities desk is located in the lobby.  There are also some cabins available, some of which are also on the rim.

 

Phantom Ranch on the floor of the Grand Canyon

Phantom Ranch is also available to stay in, but it is on the canyon floor and to get to it you must either hike down or take the mule trip.  Remember that if you hike down, you will also have to hike back up.  The ranch was designed by architect Mary E. J. Colter and completed in 1922. The rustic cabins and main lodge are built of wood and native stone and do not intrude on the natural beauty and solitude of the setting. Overnight accommodations at Phantom Ranch consist of dormitory spaces and cabins. Cabins and dormitories are heated and cooled during the summer months.

 

Campgrounds are also available within the park.

 

Pets are permitted in the park, and must be leashed at all times.  They can be on any of the trails above the rim, but are not permitted on the trails below the rim.  They are also not permitted on the free shuttle bus or in any of the rooms within the park system.  They are allowed in the campgrounds.  There is a kennel at the park where pets can be boarded, for a price.

 

For more information about the park, including admission fees, park passes, and other things to see and do, visit:  http://www.nps.gov/grca/index.htm

 

Sedona, Arizona, near the Grand Canyon

When planning your visit to the Grand Canyon, you might also want to consider visiting some other things in the area.  Whenever we are anywhere near that area, we love to stop in Sedona.  The red rocks and mountains around the town of Sedona are quite beautiful, and the color is more intense than the colors within the Grand Canyon.

 

Another place that might be worth visiting is the Grand Canyon Skywalk, which is not inside the national park, but not far away.  The Skywalk is owned by the Hualapai Indian tribe.  To get to it you do have to drive 10 miles on a dirt road.  The Skywalk is a transparent horseshoe-shaped cantilever bridge which is suspended out over the edge of the canyon, about 4,770 feet elevation of the Colorado River.

Skywalk

 

When we visited the canyon we had a week, so we combined the trip with Lake Powell, Bryce Canyon and Zion National Parks, all are to the north of the Grand Canyon, but not that far.  If you have the time, they could be easily combined with a visit to the Grand Canyon National Parks.  I will be writing about both Bryce and Zion National Parks in upcoming editions.

 

 

Last Minute Christmas Ideas for the Traveler

"As we struggle with shopping lists and invitations, compounded by December's bad weather, it is good to be reminded that there are people in our lives who are worth this aggravation, and people to whom we are worth the same."

 Donald E. Westlake, crime fiction writer

Christmas is just around the corner.  If you still need to get a gift for that special someone and that person is a person who loves to travel, then here are a few ideas of things you can get for him or her.

Zip-Linq retractable
earbuds for iPod

Music - Those long airplane rides can be made more enjoyable with music.  How about upgrading those flimsy earbuds for the iPod with headphones?  There are many good modes of headphones for under $100.  And if you don't want headphones, then think about at least getting earbuds with retractable cables, so that you don't have those cables getting all tangled up.  I have a pair which are called zip-linq and I love them.  I got them at one of those stores in the airport and they were less than $15.

Neck Pillow
with speakers

Comfort - Neck-pillows are always popular with travelers.  You can get inflatable ones or bead filled ones.  There are even neck pillows now with built-in speakers.  I haven't tried them, but was told that they are about $25 and they plug into a MP3 or iPod.  The speakers are inside the U-shaped pillow so the speakers sit directly beneath your chin on either side, so that you can listen to the music without disturbing others nearby.

Packing cubes

Convenience - Packing cubes are becoming quite popular with travelers.  They are usually made from lightweight fabrics.  They are zippered and designed to fit inside your luggage.  They compress your clothing so that you can fit more into your suitcase.  And if you get to the airport and one piece of luggage is too heavy, you can easily just remove one packing cube and shift it to another suitcase or to your carry-on.  Also, it helps to organize your suitcase.  Socks and underwear may go in one cube, shirts in another. On the trip home, you can separate clean clothes in one cube, and dirty in another.  They also, can carry non-clothing items, such as electronics, books and papers, or cosmetics.

America Weighs Luggage Scale

Handy Gadget - Speaking about baggage being overweight, another great idea is a  digital portable light-weight travel scale.  You can carry it with you, so when you are heading home, after purchasing things on your trip, you can weigh your luggage to make sure that it is not over-weight, which will cost you a fee.  They usually attach to the handle and you just lift it, and it weighs your bag.  Most of the ones I have priced are less than $15.  Very handy item for the traveler.

Door Alarm for travelers

Security - Another idea might be a portable alarm that you can hang on the door of your hotel room, so that if someone tries to enter during the night, the alarm will go off and warn you.  Especially if you have a nervous traveler, these can be handy, just to give confidence. 

Pamper Them - Travel can be stressful.  Help your traveler de-stress with a gift card for XpresSpa, which offers manicures, pedicures, haircuts, facials, shaves and massages at 46 airport spas.  Pricing varies by location, but in most places $25 covers a manicure and $50 would cover a massage.  Gift cards can be purchased online at www.XpresSpa.com.

Stocking Stuffers - Good stocking stuffers might include small travel size bottles (3 oz.) of shampoos, lotions, mouth wash.  Or small deordorants and toothpaste - again 3 oz. size.    Or fun luggage tags to identify your luggage, something that will stand out and be different.  My daughter gave me some fun ones a few Christmas's ago.  They said things like, "This is not your suitcase", and "Don't even think about taking this".  Also, activity books are fun stocking stuffers.  If your traveler enjoys Sudoko there are books for that, or Crosswords, or many other types of fun things to keep you busy on a plane.

I hope some of these ideas help you with your last minute shopping.  I know I would like any of the things listed above, they would make traveling just a little easier or more fun.  Merry Christmas!

Acadia National Park

"In Wildness is the preservation of the earth."
Henry David Thoreau

Acadia National Park in the Fall

 

In late September 2012, my husband and I visited Acadia National Park.  We were on a cruise and one of the stops was Bar Harbor, Maine.   Because we were on a cruise, we only had a few hours to see the park, and really you need more time than what we had, to see any of our national parks.  But even though it was a quick visit, it gave us an idea of the beauty of the place.  Especially since it was fall, and we got to see some of the fall foliage.
 

Me at Acadia NP

Acadia was the first national park east of the Mississippi.  People have been drawn to the rugged coast of Maine throughout history. Awed by its beauty and diversity, early 20th-century visionaries donated the land that became Acadia National Park. The park is home to many plants and animals, and the tallest mountain on the U.S. Atlantic coast, Cadillac Mountain. Today visitors come to Acadia to hike granite peaks, bike historic carriage roads, or relax and enjoy the scenery. 

While Acadia National Park is open all year, the best time to visit is from April 15 through October.  Many of the parks roads, picnic areas and campgrounds are closed during the winter months, including Cadillac Mountain, due to weather conditions. 

There are many things to do and to see while in the park.  There are numerous hiking trails.  You can rent bikes and bike the main roads through the park.  You can swim, fish or kayak.  You can go horseback riding or birdwatching.  There are carriage rides available.  And there is a park ranger program called "Knowing the Night" which is a ranger led night exploration for ages 8 and up.  And from April 15 through October, the Island Explorer bus is free and it will take you to many of the main tourist sights – however it does not go to Cadillac Mountain.

Acadia National Park covers much of Mount Desert Island   The town of Bar Harbor is also part of Mount Desert Island.

The main tourist sights are:
 

Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse

Hulls Cove Visitor Center is a good place to start your visit.  It opens at 8am during the summer.  A 15-minute show will acquaint you with the park's history and its mountains-meet-the-sea character.  You can also pick up a free map and other park literature here.

Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse is the only lighthouse on Mount Desert Island. Currently a private residence for the commander of the local Coast Guard unit, the lighthouse has short trails on either side that provide spectacular views. The lighthouse is located along Route 102A in Bass Harbor, on the west side of Mount Desert Island.

View from the top of Cadillac Mountain

At 1,530 feet, Cadillac Mountain is not only the tallest mountain in the park, but also the tallest mountain along the eastern coast of the United States. Rising high above the town of Bar Harbor, Cadillac Mountain offers magnificent views of the Porcupine Islands and Frenchman Bay. Explore the summit of this granite mountain along a .3-mile trail, which includes wayside exhibits about natural and human history. Cadillac Mountain is accessible via a winding, narrow, 3.5-mile road. The road is closed from December 1 through April 14 and whenever weather conditions (e.g., dense fog or ice) require.



Isle au Haut coast area

Isle au Haut or "High Island" which is the English translation is the name given by the French navigator Samuel Champlain during his explorations of the Maine coast in 1604. About one-half of Isle au Haut is federal park land, the other half is privately owned, with summer residents and a year-round fishing community.

Islesford Historical Museum - Visit the maritime past at the Islesford Historical Museum on Little Cranberry Island. Exhibits tell the story of the Town of Cranberry Isles and its people through ship models, dolls and toys, photographs, and tools.

Park Loop Road - The 27-mile Park Loop Road system offers outstanding views of the park's ocean shoreline, coastal forests, and mountain silhouettes. This historic road system is open from April 15 through November 30, weather permitting (small portions remain open all year).

Sieur de Monts Spring Area

Sieur de Monts Spring Area is the heart of the park. Facilities include the Nature Center, the Abbe Museum, and Wild Gardens of Acadia. Set out on one of many historic hiking trails that begin in the area.

No lodging is located within Acadia National Park, except for two campgrounds on Mount Desert Island and a small, primitive campground (reservations required) on Isle au Haut. There are many other types of accommodations in the nearby town of Bar Harbor

The outside dining area of
Jordan Pond House

The Jordan Pond House Restaurant, the only dining facility in the park, serves lunch, tea, and dinner from mid-May through late October. The restaurant is operated by the Acadia Corporation, a Maine-owned company working with the National Park Service to provide food service and merchandising facilities in the park.  Jordan Pond House is famous for its popovers, which are “must haves” while in the park.  We had lunch here and I can also recommend the lobster stew which had huge chunks of lobster in it and comes with 2 of the popovers.  I can’t say enough good things about the popovers, they were “melt in your mouth” good.

Jordan Pond House Popovers
and Lobster Stew

Entrance Pass - $20 June 23-early October; $10 May 1-June 22 and early October-October 31.  Good for entrance into Acadia National Park for one vehicle for seven days, including the date of purchase.

Individual Entrance Pass - $5  Good for entrance into Acadia National Park for one individual (pedestrian, motorcycle, bicycle, etc.) for seven days, including date of purchase.

We have a senior pass which you can get when you turn 62.  The cost is $10 but it is good forever, and it gets you into all the national parks, and most national monuments and memorials.

Pets are allowed in the park but must be kept on leashes no longer than 6 feet.  They are allowed in most of the park areas including trails.  They can even ride the Island Explorer bus, as long as they sit in the back of the bus.

 



The schooner Margaret Todd

The town of Bar Harbor is just outside the park and is a great place to explore also.  It has some wonderful shops, great restaurants and if you are staying in a hotel then you will probably be staying in Bar Harbor, since there are none in the park.  It has a pretty harbor area.  You can catch a whale watching cruise, go deep-sea fishing or lobster fishing from Bar Harbor.  There is also the four-masted schooner The Margaret Todd which as 2 hour sails daily with a park ranger onboard.  The ranger will discuss local history and goegraphic points.  You may see bald eagles, seals or porpoises.



Town of Bar Harbor

You catch the free buses into the park at the town green.  Bus #5 will take you to the Jordon Pond House.  From there you can take the loop bus which will take you completely around the park on the loop road.  The loop bus will not bring you into town, so you would have to change buses to get back into Bar Harbor, which is what we did.  None of the buses will take you to Cadillac Mountain and it is worth going up to, unless it is an overcast day.  The views from there are spectacular.  We took an hour tour trolley from the harbor for $15.  It took us to the top of Cadillac and gave us about 20 minutes up there to walk around.  If you have a car then you can drive the loop road and up to Cadillac Mountain on your own

Whatever you decide to do while visiting this area, you will certainly enjoy the charm of Bar Harbor and the scenic beauty of Acadia National Park.


 

The Harbor at Bar Harbor

Yellowstone & Grand Teton National Parks

One of the geysers in Yellowstone National Park

Of all the national parks, Yellowstone stands out in my mind, probably because it is so unusual.   The landscape is like nothing else on this earth.  In places it is like a moonscape, and in other places it is trees and rivers and beautiful.  There are geysers everywhere, and some of them are sulphur, so they can be smelly.  It is very diverse landscape, and one of the most interesting places to visit.



Elk Horn Arch in Jackson, Wyoming

When we went to Yellowstone we drove from Southern California and it took us 4 days on the road.  The trip was about 10 years ago.  We head to Washington every summer because of our cabin and also because we have family there.  Sometime we detour and take in other areas along with our trip to Washington and that is what we did that year.  We went up the I-15 through Utah and then cut across to Wyoming and Yellowstone.  On our way to Yellowstone we stopped in Jackson, which is a cute little town with some really great shops and restaurants. Anyone going through the area should definitly stop in the town and look around.

Then we headed north, which took us through Grand Teton National Park.  We actually headed into that park in the morning and spent the whole day wandering through the park, only exiting and heading onto Yellowstone in the evening, because we had reservations for the night at the Old Faithful cabins.

If you don't want to drive all the way from where you live then you could fly to Salt Lake City (which is the closest hub and therefore probably the least expensive place to fly to) and rent a car. From there you can drive all the way to Yellowstone in one day, but if you want to see Jackson and the Grand Tetons then an overnight in that area would be a good idea.

The Grand Tetons

Grand Teton National Park has some spectacular scenery.  Located in northwestern Wyoming, Grand Teton National Park protects spectacular mountain scenery and a diverse collection of wildlife.

The central feature of the park is the Teton Range, a 40-mile long mountain front rising from the valley floor some 6,000  feet. The jagged range includes its signature peak Grand Teton at 13,770 feet and at least twelve pinnacles over 12,000 feet. Seven lakes adorn the base of the range, and more than 100 alpine lakes dot the backcountry. Elk, moose, mule deer, bison and pronghorn are commonly found in the park. Black bears roam the forests and canyons, while grizzlies wander throughout more remote portions of the park. More than 300 species of birds can be observed including bald eagles, peregrine falcons and trumpeter swans.

Jenny Lake in the the Grand Teton National Park

There are many outdoor recreation activities to choose from at Grand Teton National Park. During the summer you can hike, walk, view wildlife, take photographs, backpack, camp, climb, fish, swim, boat, float, canoe and bike. In winter skiing and snowshoeing are popular activities.

There are 4 visitor centers and well as an information center.  There are several lodges where you can stay, several areas have cabins for rent and there are 6 campgrounds within the park.  Dogs are allowed in the park as long as they are leashed, but they are not allowed on many of the trails.  There are entrance fees, and they are basic to what other  national parks charge, and they allow for multiple days.  I have talked about the annual passes and the military and senior passes in other posts.  If you have want more details about the fees, go to http://www.nps.gov/grte/planyourvisit/feesandreservations.htm

The distance from the north edge of Grand Teton National Park to the south entrance of Yellowstone National Park is 6.6 miles.  So if you are doing either of these parks, they are a natural to combine them and see both in one trip.

Geyser in Yellowstone National Park

Yellowstone was our first national park, established in 1872.  It is a mountain wildland, home to grizzly bears, wolves, and herds of bison and elk.  Old Faithful and the majority of the world's geysers are preserved here.  The park is open all year, but during the winter months many roads are closed to wheeled vehicles, and only accessible by snowmobile.  The road between Gardiner, Mammoth Hot Springs, and the Northeast Entrance/Cooke City is plowed year-round and open to the public.

Yellowstone Falls

In winter, a number of other Yellowstone roads are open only for snowcoach and snowmobile touring between December 15 and March 15, (weather and snow conditions permitting). The East Entrance will open December 22 and close March 1 for snowmobile and snowcoach travel. Travel over Sylvan Pass on the East Entrance Road will be subject to avalanche-related safety delays and closures.

Visitors wishing to visit the park on a snowmobile or in a snowcoach must either travel by commercial snowcoach or accompany a commercial guide on snowmobiles (private, unguided snowmobiles or snowcoaches are not allowed). Best Available Technology snowmobiles are required, and there is a daily limit on snowmobile and snowcoach entries. Off-road use of snowmobiles and snowcoaches is prohibited.

There are 8 visitor centers in the park as well as every kind of service you will need.  There are numerous lodges and cabins to rent, as well as many campgrounds.  There are stores to purchase food and supplies, and restaurants at all of the lodges.  There are gas stations, boat rental places, horseback riding and llama backpacking trips that can be booked.

On the road with Natasha

Dogs are allowed in the park, but are not allowed on most trails, and cannot be left unattended in cabins, campgrounds or in cars.  So when we went to Yellowstone, with our dog Natasha, we had to take turns hiking out to the different geysers, while the other stayed with the dog.  We did have an incident in the park, or at least, an almost incident.  We were driving a convertible on that trip, and we had Natasha in her car seat in the back, strapped in.  She had doggles to protect her eyes, because the top was down.  We were on one of the main roads through the park when a small heard of buffalo decided to cross right in front of us.  Naturally we stopped to let them go.  Natasha got very excited and started barking.  The head buffalo, a huge guy with enormous horns turned and came right towards our car.  I yelled at my husband to put the top up, but he said that wouldn’t do any good, I had to keep her quiet.  I reached behind me and grabbed her around the mouth and kept her quiet.  Her little eyes were starting to bug out, but she wasn’t barking.  That buffalo came close enough that I could see how red his eyes were.  But once she stopped barking he turned and sauntered away. 

Buffalo in Yellowstone NP

The main attraction in the park is the different geysers.  Some of them go off at regular intervals, some go off irregularly.  There are trails out to the geysers, and most of them do require some hiking to get to them.   The exception to that is Old Faithful, which is right near the Old Faithful Lodge and Cabins, and you can have a seat and wait for it to erupt, which it will do, faithfully.



Bear in Yellowstone NP

You will certainly see some wildlife there also.  We saw quite a few different animals while there.  Besides the buffalo mentioned above, we also saw deer, elk and coyotes, as well as many different kinds of birds.  Bears are quite often spotted.   For safety you should stay away from the wild animals. It is important to stay on the marked paths. Yellowstone's thermal features, rare among the earth's wonders, are extremely fragile. Boardwalks and trails protect you and preserve delicate formations. Scalding water underlies most of the thin, breakable crust. Pools may be near or above the boiling temperature and can cause severe, possibly even fatal, burns.

 
For more information about Yellowstone National Park, the fees, lodging and campgrounds, and how to make reservations for those (which is important as the park is booked well in advance), go to:  http://www.nps.gov/yell/index.htm

We also saw some elk in the park