Brand USA officially launched at this past week’s USTA PowWow in Los Angeles. Brand USA was created in 2010 to encourage travelers from all over the world to visit the United States. The public-private marketing entity works in close partnership with the travel industry to maximize the economic and social benefits of travel in communities around the country. Through its website, Discover America, Brand USA will inspire travellers to explore America’s boundless possibilities. As part of the new branding campaign, Brand USA commissioned Grammy Award-winning singer/songwriter Rosanne Cash to create a song that could serve as a new anthem for America. An anthem that represented the diversity of this country and that would invite and welcome visitors from around the world to our country. Featuring guest artists that include Los Lobos, Bebel Gilberto and TREME, I think the video captures […]
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Opportunity Knocks: TBEX 2012
I’ve been busy with a few travel-related projects, and I’m excited to fill you in on one of them. I’ve been named the Conference Director for TBEX. I’m going to take this minute to brag on this opportunity a bit, and to fill in many of you unfamiliar with TBEX, and so will just publish the press release announcement. I’m VERY excited about this opportunity, and hope that some of you will consider attending the awesome event at Keystone Resort in Colorado (in photo above). It will be a great opportunity to learn about travel blogging from some of the best in the business, as well a chance to network with travel industry representatives. SAN DIEGO, April 11, 2012 /PRNewswire/ — Recently acquired by BlogWorld, TBEX ’12, the world’s largest gathering of travel bloggers is taking place at the Keystone […]
Read MoreRemembering Tuscany: Opening Wine Sent Home From Italy
You know how there are those moments when you get to re-live your travel experiences all over again? Well tonight is one of those nights for me. For the last few years that we’ve been in Italy, we’ve made a point to send a case (or two) of wine home. The process isn’t difficult, we head off to Montepulciano where we have a favorite wine shop, do a little tasting, select a nice combination of favorites and new discoveries, and let the shop take care of the packing, shipping, and customs part of things. We look for a combination of wines that we love, wines we cannot get at home, and choices that represent good value. It’s not a precise science or art, but I choose wines I like and that’s most important to me. Tonight I opened a bottle […]
Read MoreOn Safari with a Toddler
Taking a two year old on holiday is always a little daunting, even for the experienced traveler. No matter whether you are staying close to home or going long haul, successful holidays with pre-schoolers take precision planning. For our first holiday as a family, we decided to push the limits and go long haul, opting for South Africa for a family safari, more specifically, Cape Town, the Garden Route, followed by a few days at a family safari lodge. During the build-up to our safari holiday, we primed our son with the Lion King, Madagascar and all Disney characters that pertained to an African safari, making sure he knew the names of the different animals he might be fortunate enough to see. We bought all our travel essentials, including perhaps the most useful (in hindsight) a pair of toddler […]
Read MoreHow to Choose Your Spa Experience
Spa travel and spa visits have become an integral part of the experience for many travelers. With tons of spa deals available. it can be hard to choose, so here’s some information to help you decide if you’d like to incorporate a spa experience into your travel plans. Structured Spa A stand alone destination spa, often in a resort environment, will mean your every need is catered to. The program is often set up on a fixed schedule, meaning you need to commit to staying the required days (usually 3, 5, or 10 days), but some allow a rotating arrival and departure day. At the spa, or occasionally in advance of your arrival, you’ll fill out a profile indicating your health history, interests, and spa goals, and from that the spa will structure your activities, appointments, treatments, and food plan. […]
Read MoreHello 2012: Bucket List Update
Last year around this time I published my bucket list – a stream of conscious list of things I wanted to do, places to go, and things to see. I knew it was pretty ambitious; it was meant to be. Instead of having all these ideas rolling around in my head, I wanted to put them down on paper and see just how things stacked up. Despite a fair amount of traveling in 2011, I only crossed one item off my bucket list – a visit to Quebec City. So if I was traveling a lot, but didn’t cross anything else off the list, what in the heck was I up to? Here are a few details. San Francisco I’ve been a fan of the City by the Bay since my first visit back in high school, and this week […]
Read MoreThe Arc de Triomphe: The Triumph of Paris
Standing in the center of the Place Charles de Gaulle (also called the Place de l’Étoile) at the western end of the Champs-Élyseés, the Arc de Triomphe is the largest triumphal arch in the world. It honors those who bravely fought for France, particularly during the Napoleonic Wars, and beneath the arch is the tomb of the unknown soldier from World War I, the grave marked by the very first eternal flame. The flame burns in memory of those who died, but were not identified, in both WWI and WWII. The English translation of the inscription reads “Here lies a French soldier who died for his fatherland 1914-1918.” It’s said that this flame was the inspiration for an eternal flame being placed on the grave of assassinated President John F. Kennedy. The Arc de Triomphe stands about 165 feet tall, […]
Read MoreAirport Calm: Chicago O’Hare in the Early Morning
I spend an inordinate amount of times in airports. Some weeks it’s near daily. I have my favorites (Portland, San Jose, Vancouver BC) and those that I’d just as soon avoid (Atlanta, LAX, San Francisco). For most travelers, airports are a hot mess of crowds, frustration, and stress. I see it as an office environment. Much like the elevator that the office worker must be navigated to get to the cubicle, I see the airport as a means to an end, the route to my office – the airplane. During the day time, and the busy morning and evening bank of flights, the airport is a crazy place. But other times of day, the afternoon lull, the very early and late hours, and the middle of the night, you may find that you have it all to yourself. And that’s […]
Read More4 Tips to Plan a Ski Holiday
If your idea of the perfect vacation includes fresh powder, crisp mountain air, and long days on the slopes, it’s time to book your holiday ski vacation. Skiing holidays are the perfect option for any group, large or small: Families, work and corporate retreats, and singles groups can bond on and off the slopes and trails, while accommodating all skill levels. Couples will find everything they are looking for when they book an invigorating, romantic ski vacation, too; put in a long day on the slopes or trails, and then enjoy spa treatments, romantic dinners, and a nightcap next to a roaring fire in the afternoon and evenings. To help you plan and prepare your skiing holiday we have prepared a list of tips to make the process go more smoothly – all you will have left to do is […]
Read MoreHow to Choose Your Cruise Cabin
For many people, cruise holidays represent the best of travel – it’s as much about the journey (your time at sea) as it is the destination (your ports of call). Deciding to take a cruise is just the first of many decisions you’ll need to make, and like all travel decisions, this is where research, personal preferences, and budget come into play. One of the decisions you’ll need to make for your cruise is how to choose your cruise ship cabin. If money is no object just opt for the best available. But most of us are on a budget, even if it’s a generous one, so think about how you want to spend your time on the journey and then try to match up your preferences and budget with the best cabin category choice. Cruise lines give a variety […]
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