Traveling Thursday – Make a list

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Last month when Mr. McB and I were headed to my parents for the weekend, I forgot to pack his underwear. I’m a veteran traveler. I’ve packed our bags countless times and yet I almost always work off a list for this very reason. In this case, it was easy and inexpensive enough to run out to the store and correct my mistake but that’s not always the case when you forget something while traveling. This is why you always make a list of what needs to be packed. Always.

As soon as you start thinking of what you want to take, start making that list. TravelSmith has a great printable checklist that can be downloaded from their site. I know many frequent business travelers who use lists like this to create their own custom packing list spreadsheet using their most frequently needed items. They just cross off any unneeded items and add a quantity for those things that they are packing.

The Universal Packing List site is an interesting way to start generating ideas for things that you need to pack and tasks you need to take care of before your trip. There are also a number of apps for this very purpose.

This list could also come in handy once you’re on the trip too. It’s a great way to make sure you haven’t left anything behind when it comes time to pack up and go home. If your luggage is lost and you need to file a claim, the list can be very helpful. Without it, you might not remember to list all the items that were in your bag.

Happy packing and don’t forget the list!

 

Traveling Thursday – Try a little haunted history

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As the temperatures drop and Halloween decorations appear in our neighborhood, I’m reminded of how much fun it can be to add a haunted history tour to your itinerary.

Just like a great teacher who uses an engaging story to educate the class, good ghost tours are a fun way to learn about an area’s history and culture. These tours often tend to focus on “forgotten” history or personal histories set against the backdrop of history’s big events like the Civil War or natural disaster. I find that these tours can really help to add context to what I’ve read in the history books.

From our experience, some tours are better than others. If you really want to have an educational experience, try a tour that is brought to you by a history museum, architectural society, or some other scholarly group. Often these organizations use ghost tours as a fundraiser during the month of October.

If those options aren’t available, do a little digging on the company that offers the tour. Some operators are more interested in giving their guests the ghost “hunter” experience instead of focusing on the stories and history. Ask questions and find the tour that fits your needs and interests.

No matter what time of year you’re traveling, consider a little ghost adventure of your own with a haunted history tour.

Traveling Thursday – Flying with Oxygen

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It hasn’t always been easy for passengers on oxygen to attempt air travel. Now passengers are allowed to bring FAA-approved portable oxygen concentrators on board domestic flights or international flights starting or ending in the United States.

Passengers do still have to abide by a number of guidelines including advanced check-in, medical documentation, and batteries charged to 150 percent of the flight time.

To learn more about the procedures for flying with oxygen, please visit the FAA’s site and the Airline Oxygen Council.

 

 

 

 

 

Traveling Thursday – Leaf peeping

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Pumpkin spice latte season  Err, I mean autumn officially starts this weekend and soon, many of us will take to the road to do a little leaf peeping. I’ve put together a list of links to make your planning easier and your trip just a bit more enjoyable.

Oh before we get to the links, did you know that the US Forest Service has a fall color hotline?  800-354-4595

The Foliage Network (frequently updated maps)
Fall Photography tips
Unexpected Fall Color Spots
State by State Guide to Fall Color (includes links and state-specific numbers)
Fodor’s Guide to Fall
Travel + Leisure Ultimate Fall Guide
Scenic Drives in the Northeast

And a few links highlighting spots that are close to home, for me anyway…
Upstate SC Best State Parks for Color
Upstate SC Leaf Report
Romantic Asheville’s Fall Foliage Info
Blue Ridge Parkway
Blue Ridge Parkway Gas Availability Map
Blue Ridge Parkway Fall Guide

No matter where you go to see the leaves, remember to have fun and be patient on the roads. Take your time and be open to unexpected stops like apple orchards, craft fairs, and small diners. Remember, it’s an adventure and not a race.

Traveling Thursday – Greetings and salutations

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We’re always busy. We’re always running. We ask someone how they’re doing but rarely want to hear anything more than a cursory response. I’ve made it my goal to slow down a little and really mean it when I ask someone how things are going.
Even if you don’t do this during your everyday life, I challenge you to do it on your next vacation. I know it’s not always reasonable to have a long chat with everyone you encounter during your trip but when you have the chance, take it. Be a warmer, friendlier version of yourself.

Find out if the person at the front desk of the hotel is having a good day before diving into your questions about local attractions and restaurants. Talk to the servers at the restaurants and your tour guides. I’m not saying you have to find out their life history, or share yours, but just take sometime to treat them like a human being and you’ll be surprised how the conversations you’ll have can add to the enjoyment of your trip. By taking this approach, I’ve heard amazing stories, learned about other cultures and customs (even when traveling domestically), laughed my butt off, and been treated to great recommendations. You’ll also find that when you are friendly to those you encounter, they start to look out for you which is fantastic when traveling solo.

By doing this on vacation, I’ve also found it easier to incorporate this approach into my daily life. You be surprised how something so simple can make you happy and help bring a little of that vacation feeling into even the most mundane things.

Traveling Thursday – Alerts from your airline

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Mr. McB’s last two business trips have involved flight cancellations the day before departure. In both instances, the cancellations were not weather related. Thankfully, he signed up for the airline’s alert service when booking the flight and received a call to announce the cancellations and give instructions for rebooking.

Every traveler should sign up for these notifications when booking a flight. Each airline has its own way of doing this  but it’s always pretty simple and I believe some automatically opt you in. Seriously, say yes to the alerts and save yourself a lot of hassle.

Oh and for those of you who are often on airport pickup duty like I am, I highly recommend FlightStats to track your loved ones travels. They also have a mobile alert system.

 

Traveling Thursday – Time to breathe

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While I can occasionally be satisfied with a relaxing vacation spent hanging out on the beach or by the pool, I’m usually cramming a lot more activity into my vacation days. There are times when I wake up with ten hours of carefully scheduled activities in front of me. I must admit, my body doesn’t always appreciate being pushed to the brink when it’s been looking forward to a break.

I know I’m not the only one who travels like this. With the rising cost of transportation and hotel stays, we push all we can onto the schedule. It makes sense, especially if you are traveling a great distance but it might also be robbing us of some of the joy we should feel on vacation.

Here are a few tactics to add some relaxation back to your next trip.

Buy good shoes, even if they’re expensive. Foot pain will make you feel tired and grouchy. Invest in a good pair of shoes, and break them in before traveling.

Prioritize the things you want to see and do and then draft an itinerary. Plan for the “musts” and pencil in the rest.

Ge organized before you go. Write down the hours for all the attractions that interest you. Print out directions to these places. Think about what you’re going to wear. Planning all of this before you leave adds to the anticipation and helps save you time on the trip.

Give yourself at least one late wake-up during the trip. Whether it’s the first day or the last, treat yourself to a little extra snooze.

Do something to treat yourself whether it is a massage, spa treatment, performance, or something sweet.

Don’t beat yourself up if you don’t see everything. It’s OK. You can go back. What’s really important is that you thoroughly enjoyed everything you were able to see.

Wasted time, Amish and the Georgia Aquarium

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Yes, it’s a blog post and no, it’s not Thursday. I know I need to get into a routine, especially because I have things to write about but it’s not always easy. When my husband is home, I want to spend time with him. When he’s away, I seem to find ways to fill my time whether it’s working on projects, reading, cleaning or watching TV.

Take yesterday…I planned to write a post and then I wound up watching an Amish: Out of Order marathon on NatGeo. Before you start rolling your eyes, this series isn’t the trashy. It’s an honest and often heartbreaking look at what Amish face when they decide to come to the English world. As I watched it, I couldn’t help but feel grateful for the family I was born into and the life I have. I can’t imagine that there’s anything I could do to make my parents reject me and yet these ex-Amish men and women are literally shunned by those who are supposed to life, guide, and care for them. By time the last episode aired and poor Cephas died in that horrible car accident, I knew I wasn’t going to write.

Tonight, there is no TV or reading until blog posts are written. So please journey back to early June with me as I write about our trip to the Georgia Aquarium.

I’ll share just a few thoughts and then some photos from the trip. First, admission to the aquarium is expensive but it’s worth it. The whale sharks are just amazing. If the aquarium was nothing more than four whale sharks, it would be worth the cost of admission, just watch a feeding and you’ll agree.

Second, food in the dining area is expensive and worth it only because you can’t bring in outside food and you’ll need some kind of fuel to keep you going through the aquarium because it is a lot more than just whale sharks. I suggest getting a few sides and sharing. The food isn’t that great so you’re just looking for something to keep you going.

Here’s a random list of do’s and don’ts…some of which McB and I learned the hard way.

  • Avoid the aquarium on Saturday if possible. Arrive early if you are going on Saturday. My guess is Sunday is pretty nuts too.
  • Buy your ticket in advance.
  • Be prepared for crowds and general rudeness.
  • Know how to turn the flash off on your camera. McB wrote a nice little post about becoming a zenmaster and shooting gorgeous pictures in a crowded aquarium.
  • Get a schedule and go to a feeding in the Ocean Voyager area.
  • Experience at least one touch tank but don’t terrorize the animals. Yes, kids are always bad about this but on our visit we saw some misbehaving adults as well.
  • Don’t expect the dolphin show to be educational. It’s high production value, singing and light-up costumes but it is not educational. I was disappointed in what I saw so if you need to cut something from your schedule, cut this.
  • Bring some hand sanitizer.
  • Be sure to see the Beluga whales. They’re really neat creatures and it’s great fun to see them blow bubble rings. (not my video, not the GA aquarium) We learned that they have to put some effort into blowing these rings and seem to just do it for fun.
On the conveyor belt

Looking up from the people mover in Ocean Voyager

Diver at the Georgia Aquarium

Scrub-a-dub-dub This diver has to clean a giant “tub.”

Diver and whale shark (right) in the Ocean Voyager tank

Shark  Unlike the whale sharks, he has large teeth.

Colorful fish

More from Ocean Voyager

Traveling Thursday – Grocery store souvenirs

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Last summer while traveling in Switzerland, I was appalled at the prices of…well, nearly everything. I wanted to bring home some souvenirs but I was not willing to spend a small fortune on meaningless nick-knacks.

Thankfully, I was able to solve my problem with just a little trip to the grocery store. Instead of picking up items that would simply collect dust, I bought a variety of cookies, jams, and chocolate that were uniquely Swiss for a fraction of the cost. I did a little research and also picked up a few small bottles of Rivella, a soft drink that is made with byproducts of the cheese-making process. None of my friends and family were disappointed with their gifts, in fact most were eager to try something new and “exotic.”

Next time you’re visiting a new place, even in the states, take a trip to the supermarket when looking for a low-cost souvenir. Ask around to find out if there’s a special item that’s popular with the locals and then bring it home for the special people in your life. This type of gift allows them to experience your travels more than a t-shirt or snow globe. It will also prove to be much easier on your pocketbook.