TEN PERFECT CITY HOLIDAY CELEBRATIONS

Guest blog courtesy of TheCityTraveler.com

Las Vegas. Sway to Christmas tunes at the Bellagio fountains, indulge in late-night, last-minute shopping, and take a peak as the $8.5 billion City Center complex continues to unveil its many public spaces.

London. Skate in the shadow of kings. Ice skating rinks are seemingly everywhere in Londontown, but to really lose your head (while keeping your balance), try the one at Hampton Court Palace, once home to Henry VIII.

(Photo courtesy of Hampton Court)

Montreux and Lausanne. Taste, sip and spend your way around 100+ stands, decorated like mini-chalets, on the western shores of Switzerland’s Lake Geneva during the annual Christmas Markets. Now through Christmas Eve, local vendors offer crafts, gifts, roasted chestnuts and white wines from the Lavaux vineyards. After shopping, stick around for midnight fireworks.

Nice. Rejoice in the season Russian-style, without the snow and the cold, as Place Masséna is transformed into a wintry wonderland, with a forest of 750 pine trees, an ice skating rink, an ice sculpture, and 60 chalets selling the hand-made wares of French and Russian artisans.

Philadelphia. The Comcast Experience presents its new holiday presentation on the world’s largest LED screen, located in the lobby of America’s tallest building west of New York and east of Chicago. . . and it’s all in 3-D.

Rome. Create your own nativity scene tour — they’re all over the Eternal City these days — then cap it with the life-sized one in St. Peter’s Square, which as of 2007 has substituted a depiction of Joseph’s carpentry shop in Nazareth for the traditional manger.

Santa Fe. Stroll down famous Canyon Road on Christmas Eve, when it’s decorated with farolitos.

(small, sand-filled bags with votive candles) and luminarios (bonfires). (Photo courtesy of Santa Fe CVB)

Sydney. Welcome in the New Year before everyone else, and in your shorts. The Harbor of Lights flotilla features 55 illuminated vessels, including tall ships and commercial charters, bedecked and bedazzling in holiday light.

(Photo courtesy City of Sydney)

Tokyo. The Japanese love shopping, of course, but the main holiday here is New Year’s Eve and Day, a time for slurping noodles and breathing in incense with millions (yes, millions) of others at Meiji Jingu Shrine.

Volunteering During the Holidays

Please welcome guest blogger, Sarah, from VolunteerGlobal.com

If you’ve been on any college campus, you likely have seen flyers for alternative spring, winter and summer breaks. These are trips in which students – high school and college – volunteer for a week or longer on a group project, which can take place on campus or across the world.

Let’s say you’re out of school, yet you still would like to take one of these alternative breaks. You have a full-time job, and you have some time off around the holidays. Maybe you can get a few people together on a volunteer trip! What’s a better way to spread some cheer than to take part in a fulfilling project while giving back to the host community?

To get you started in your search, below is a list of five programs that offer a little something for individuals and groups who’d like to spend a time this winter on a philanthropic project:

Sierra Club: Volunteers work for one week on projects throughout Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, Oceania and South America on environmental conservation, research, and trail building and maintenance. More information: www.sierraclub.org.

Habitat for Humanity: Volunteers work for one week or longer on projects throughout Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, Oceania and South America to build houses, refurbish existing ones and assist with other construction and revitalization programs. More information: www.habitat.org.

Airline Ambassadors: Volunteers embark on short trips throughout Africa, Asia, Europe, North America and South America to donate clothing and toiletries and coordinate food distribution for those in need of assistance. More information: www.airlineamb.org.

Travel & Learn: Volunteers work for one week in Africa, Asia or North America on projects aimed toward educating children. These trips are designed for seniors, and the 2009 schedule only offers a trip to Kenya during the holidays. More information: www.travellearnstudy.com.

Ambassadors for Children: Volunteers work for one week in Africa, Asia, Europe, North America and South America on children’s education initiatives and community development programs. More information: http://ambassadorsforchildren.org.

If you’d like to stay closer to home, but would still like to volunteer some of your time during the holidays, consider checking with local organizations. For example, my chapter of Kiwanis International (http://dcypkiwanis.org) is offering such projects as gifts for the homeless and ornament and card making. Programs like these are a great way to give back, meet new friends and bond with like-minded individuals.

You also might consider checking with other international organizations for ideas on holding a volunteer project of your own. One such example is Operation Christmas Child, which is sponsored by Samaritan’s Purse (www.samaritanspurse.org). Through this program, you put together and wrap presents for children in underserved communities, and then donate them through designated drop-off locations nationwide.

No matter how much time you have available and would like to give during this holiday season, there is an opportunity and a need. Whether you’d like to spend an evening in a soup kitchen, host a daylong gift wrapping party for underserved families, or even embark on a weeklong trip to help a community you’ve never seen, you’ll be able to find the perfect idea to make your holiday this year fulfilling – both for yourself and for those who receive your support.

Images courtesy of Samaritan’s Purse and Habitat for Humanity.



Tasty Thursday – What Really is Australian Food?

Please welcome guest blogger, Irma, from AussieFoodShop.com

Australian food? what is in reality australian food, does australian food even exist? is often the debate happening in many discussion groups on the web.

Australian food has been strongly influence by hundreds of different cultures worldwide: english,italian,greek,spanish immigrants to say a few. Australian Immigrants have brought their traditional food from their home countries and this has been combined with Australian produce and styles resulting in a well renowned and unique fusion, is this australian food some ask.

The native ‘Australian’ Aboriginals too have influenced culinary Australia with their ‘Bush Tucker’ which means ‘ Australian Food ‘ so when you’re planning your Australia visit, prepare yourself for some real local delicacies that are a combination of the familiar with the outrageous, maybe australian food. Some are trying to estabilish that Australian food is actually Aboriginal food as the only real and autentic australian food. Australian food or not it is hard to define.

Australian aborigines infact selected australian food which was available around thema nd ate it for nutritional purposes. There was no refrigeration or storage containers at that time in Australia. In every part of Australia, the local food knowledge of which australian food plants were edible, palatable, or delicious, as well as the best time for harvest, harvest and preparation methods, were passed down by word of mouth to the next generation. That was the real Australian Food for the aborigines.

If you are passing though Australia you may as well taste some of the animals that some consider this to be the ultimate australian food and when back home regret not to have had the opportunity to try. What australian food did you try?

Have you had Kangaroo meat, crocodiles or emus meat many are asked. Crocodile meat though not common throughout Australia is available in some North Territory restaurants, perhaps as a novelty more then anything else and with some restaurants wanting to create Australian food based menus, that include Kangaroo and Emus. You might want to head off there to give that sort off australian food a try, maybe….

To a more conventional australian food, diary in Australia is very popular with a thriving cheese industry that exports worldwide. While we are talking about cheese, we can’t fail to mention the wine produced in large amounts by its wine regions, which have gained a strong reputation overseas. In addition to it’s grapes, Australia regions are ideal for the growth of a good australian food range of fruits from apples and oranges to more exotic fruits like kiwi fruits, pineapples, bananas and mangoes.

So again Australia food …. Australia with its waterways has some fantastic fresh sea food which is cooked in a variety of unique ways. Two examples of popular australian food indulgence are Crayfish and Barramundi. Crayfish are a crustacean like lobster, but instead of large claws the Crayfish have a spiky exterior for defence. Barramundi, a tasty prized fighting fish, are a large fish found in both fresh and salt water especially in the North of Australia a real australian food love.

Damper is a more quintessential example of Australian food. It is a type of bread it was common amongst bush tucker (food) settlers. Macadamias are a tasty australian nut that is a popular duty free item when you’re at an Australian airport so you might want to have have some of this australian fooddelight in your suitcase to show off at arrival.

For a true indigenous australian food experience you could try some traditional Aboriginal food like yams or grubs. You will probably have to be on a tour that involves finding yams or grubs in the appropriate region to sample this type of australian food.

Another well known australian food is certainly Vegemite : an Australian food yeast based spread, similar to the US Marmite. It has an extremely strong distinct taste that is either loved or disliked and some say, likely an acquired taste. What about the great Tim Tam biscuits? The delicious biscuits of chocolate aussies can’t live without!
So…some great australian food that really is worth trying at least once, somethings you can only wish you tried once you have left the airport.

So australian food or not australian food? We leave this dilemma with you to be solved!

You can find more information about australian food at http://www.AussieFoodShop.com

Get Ready for Your Next Ski Trip!

Please welcome guest blogger, Colleen, from SkiGirlSays.com

Counting down the days to that ski vacation you booked? Get the most out of your vacation, by preparing before you travel.   Taking a few basic steps now, will create a more enjoyable trip.

Make Hydration a Habit.  Drinking plenty of fluids is always a good idea.  If you are headed to high altitude on your trip, it is also a preventative measure.  Traveling to heights, means you face a possibility of altitude sickness.   This condition can be debilitating enough to lose a day or two on the slopes.  One of the best defenses against altitude sickness is to drink plenty of fluids before and after your trip.  Remember, beverages containing alcohol or caffeine do not count for hydration.  Stick with water, juice, and non-caffeinated, non-alcohol drinks.  Water is your best option.

Get Moving Now.  Remember your last ski trip?  Were your muscles aching after the first day? Did you quit early, because your legs burned and your skis were wobbling?  Do you remember saying, “I should’ve started working out before this trip?”  So, what are you waiting for? Start building muscle tone and cardio endurance before your trip. As with any fitness routine, check with your physician first– then get moving!

Give serious thought to what your equipment is worth.  I love my skis and my boots. I would never take a ski trip without them. But, many travelers are choosing to take their slopeside vacations sans their gear.  What is it going to cost you to bring your skis? Some airlines will charge little to no extra. Others may charge in the realm of $25 per bag each way.  If your boots tend to hurt, or your skis are dated, or you have narrow skis and are headed for powder, do you need them?  Why not allocate the funds you would spend on your ski bag to renting some high performance demos?  I wouldn’t leave home without my skis. For many, a nice set of rentals are a treat.  If you choose that route, reserve your choice of equipment ahead of time.

Learn the in-town transit options.   Do you have a rental car? Do you need one? In some towns you cannot go from your hotel to the slopes without one.  Other areas don’t require a car at all unless you plan on leaving the resort area for a side trip.  Shuttle busses or ski-on ski-off accommodations may take care of most of your travel needs between where you are staying to the hill. Be sure you also have a means of traveling to dinner, entertainment or the grocery store if that is in your plans.  You can always wait and find transportation once you arrive at your destination.  Planning ahead of time makes the trip go more smoothly.

So congratulations on booking a ski trip. Now start getting ready!

5 Reasons to Book a Hotel, Instead of Staying with Grandma During the Holidays

Please welcome guest blogger, Theresa, from SixSuitcaseTravel.com

Traveling to Grandma’s with your family for the holidays can be great.  You’ve booked your tickets, planned your route and packed your bags.  You can’t wait to see all the friends and family that will be at Grandma’s.  But have you forgotten how cramped staying at Grandma’s can be?

This year give Grandma a break and book a hotel room for your stay.  There are many benefits of staying at a hotel instead of Grandma’s house.  Here are our top 5 reasons to book a hotel room.

1.  Real Beds A hotel room has enough beds for everyone.  Sure Grandma has big couches and air mattresses to help sleep extra guests, but who wants to sleep on the couch with no privacy?  Honestly, we don’t think anyone over 30 should have to sleep on an air mattress, no matter how spendy it is.

2.  Space A hotel room will give your family more room to spread out.  Sometimes just your luggage can take up a lot of space, especially when you have a bigger family.  Heading to a hotel room at the end of the night also gives your family a bit of mental space. -time to wind down, to stick to bedtimes and routines.

3. One Word: POOL! Grandma’s house probably doesn’t have all the cool toys and electronic devices your kids are used to.  While you are quite happy to visit with relatives, kids get bored even with new toys.  What better way to tire them out than a hotel pool?

4. Busy Bathrooms While the rest of your relatives are coordinating morning bathroom routines, your family will have the luxury of your own bathroom at the hotel.  No looking frightful in front of extended family with your Scary Mary hair!

5. Maid Service Grandma will appreciate this one the most.  No extra towels or sheets for her to take care when you leave.

So book your family a hotel room this upcoming holiday.  Enjoy the benefits of having your own space to relax in.  Who knows, you might just enjoy the holidays even more!

Win a Rough Guide of Your Choice at darngooddigs.com!

Darn Good Digs launched its 2^nd Nominate-a-thon this weekend, and we are giving away either a Rough Guide of your choice or the Rough Guide’s new Earth Bound photography book to two lucky winners.  The entire concept behind our site is that budget-minded travelers nominate their all-time favorite places to stay, and our editors select the best of the best to post on darngoodidgs.com.  Nominate your favorite digs or simply sign up for the quarterly newsletter and you have a chance to win the Rough Guide of your choice.  Which Rough Guide would you choose?

We started Darn Good Digs in the summer of 2008 with the goal of creating a guide for budget-minded travelers to the best small hotels, guest houses, and bed & breakfasts around the world. After over a year online, we have put together an eclectic collection of independently owned hotels across the globe, all with rooms under US$150, even in the high season. Highlights include a family-run eco-safari in South Africa’s Madikwe National Park, an exotic fruit farm in northeastern Australia, and a hip, theme-roomed motel in the Catskill Mountains just a few hours from New York City.  Savvy travelers know about these hard-to-find places, and we tap into this knowledge through our nomination process.

Our first Nominate-a-thon earlier this year was a huge success, and we’re hoping to encourage even more in-the-know travelers to check us out and share their favorite places.  Signing up for the contest is free and does not have to take more than a few seconds.  So be sure to nominate your favorite digs and have a chance to win a Rough Guide of your choice! The current Nominate-a-thon is running until December 17, 2009.

Tasty Thursday: San Francisco & Berkeley: Eats in 24 hrs

Foodie Friday has now become Tasty Thursday, and to usher us in to a new day is guest blogger, Cindy, from chubbychinesegirl.blogspot.com

Dear Food Diary:

In between meeting up with family (some of which I haven’t seen in over 1o years) and the 1st FoodBuzz Festival events, I had time to explore and eat around places I’ve missed during my previous 2 visits. There won’t be any Golden Gate Bridge or Fishermen’s Wharf here, just some randomly fun and delicious places I managed to squeeze in.

(I thought the dinosaur trying to eat the tomato was hilarious and a good representation of my weekend ahead)

My first stop, the California Academy of Sciences was highly recommended by SF native Albert. I didn’t think I would enjoy it, but it was actually very cool, everything from feeding penguins, butterflies, clear dome shaped rainforest, aquarium to a their natural ventilation system on the rooftop garden. I had my breakfast at the cafe, peach tea and an really fresh fruit tart.

In the rain, I took the bus back to Union Square, hoped on the BART and walked 10 blocks, just for food…

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Table for one at Chez Panisse

My first time eating alone at a restaurant, lunch was at the cafe upstairs, everything was fine until I couldn’t decide what to order, sharing would of been ideal I thought to myself.

Next thing you know, the 2 gals sitting two tables over approached me and asked if I was a food blogger (guess the camera gave it away) and turned out, they were Liz and Janice from Meal Makeover Moms, who happened to be nominated for a Foodbuzz Award! Chit chatting with my new friends, sharing our wonderful dishes and anticipating the rest of our weekend events.

I never had Cardoon (which resembles cooked celery but tastes similar to artichokes), these came with a potato salad that was tender to the fork but not mushy, it had sprinkles of shaved bottarga di muggine (cured fish roe, sometimes called a poor man’s caviar) that were surprisingly mild, little bit of chive and parsley. Lightly seasoned so you could taste each ingredient.

The waiter suggested the Liberty Farm duck leg confit, very tender and the meat maintained to stay juicy while the skin was crispy and evenly seasoned, paired with frisee, a sweet and tart red pepper relish. The seasonal roasted vegetables that took my mouth on a trip to the farmer’s market, sweet potato, brussels sprout, and poblano peppers that for some reason burned like a hot iron on my tongue, waiter said 1/100 turn out to be this potent, I guess it’s just my luck. Thank goodness for the iced citron green tea.

Pink Lady apple and sour cherry crisp, was very similar to apple pie, only it had the tart cherries for a nice contrast to the sweet. Warm and very buttery, it had a nice crumble/crunch in every spoonful, and the quince sorbet added another layer of fruity aroma, quince is similar to a pear crossed with an apple, adding a delicate taste to the sweet sorbet.

I was delightfully surprised to see foam art on my latte, very strong and milky.

The food, service and unexpected company made it a meal to remember and proved it deserves all the rave reviews. FYI: make reservations in advance and ask for the the sunlit room in the back. Waiter tells me, this is where Chef Dan Barber (Blue Hill) learned about farm to table, while working under Chef Alice Waters.

P.S. Chubby’s RATING:

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Saturday @ Ferry Building Market Place

Sorry Union Square, you just can’t compare. Everything was so beautiful, we all wished we had something like this back home, or at the very least were able to buy and carry it back in our luggage.

Boccalone was my first stop and one I’ve been dying to try.

Chris went to some conference in Napa, so I didn’t get to meet him.

Since there was soooo much to try around the market, I only had a Mixed Salami Cone, salami, prosciutto, pancetta, what’s not too love about cured meats. If I had to pick one, I would say pancetta Piana. I’m kicking myself as I’m typing for not trying the head cheeses, like the Porchetta di Testa, I guess that gives me enough reason to go back.

P.S. Chubby’s RATING:

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My first Guava Pineapple, very juicy though it didn’t taste too much like a pineapple, still very tasty sweet/tart combo. The skin was bitter so we ate around it.

I’ve never seen yellow oysters, nor lemon looking buddha hands, aren’t they purty!? Tried maitake mushrooms during our Foodbuzz dinner for the first time, which are super fragrant and intense, hope I’ll see them on menus more often.

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Got lunch at the Primavera Tamales, while sitting by the water on a warm sunny afternoon, the ground pork sopes had a nice masa, extra crunchy crust, but the ground pork had an odd porky taste that wasn’t pleasing to the palate. The mushroom tamales were very very good, smooth and well seasoned. The chipotle salsa was a clear winner.

P.S. Chubby’s RATING:

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Had to check out the SFMoma, which had 5 floors of fun, interesting and some hmmm questionable stuff. And a gorgeous rooftop sculpture garden.

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Humphry Socombe Ice Cream

My dear friend Marianne drove all the way from Sacramento, and I convinced her to take me and buy me Humphry Slocombe ice cream (cash only). Flavors rotate daily, I was looking for foie gras, pink grapefruit tarragon, boccalone prosciutto or pistachio bacon, but non were on the board, which was a little dissapointing, then again, it’s yet another reason to revisit! After trying all the flavors (the girl behind the counter was really patient) I ended up with McEvoy Olive Oil (you could taste just enough of the olive oil, also a hint of citrus and of course vanilla, I think the oil made it extra smooth, and lips felt a bit buttery afterwards) and Secret Breakfast which had bourbon and corn flakes, breakfast of champions for sure. Nicely creamy, just a kiss of bourbon and tiny little pieces of crunchy flakes, a winner.

P.S. Chubby’s RATING: 3/4

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Tartine Bakery & Cafe James Beard Award 2008

Got the coconut passion fruit bavarian for our family dinner. Generous coating of coconut, moist genoise (sponge cake) plus layers of sweet and tangy passion fruit and lime. Melt in your mouth, creamy but perfectly balanced with the aromatic fruits, so it wasn’t heavy or too sweet. Loved it. The coconut macaroons were a little sweet for me, I would go back just for the cake, although I wanted to try everything.

P.S. Chubby’s RATING:

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Chubby’s Family Reunion Dinner

My aunt and uncle made a whole table of Shanghainese food. The shrimp were brought from Shanghai (shhhhh)! there was shark fin soup, abalone, tofu and crab meat casserole, and some homey dishes my mom would make. We ate and laughed around the table, it doesn’t get any better than that.

After dinner my tasty weekend came to an end. There wasn’t enough time, appetite or luggage room to fully enjoy the city, but what I did experience, made me want to go back.

Essential Guide for Women Traveling Alone in Australia

Please welcome guest blogger, Michela, from RockyTravel.net

Why is Australia a great destination for solo travellers, especially for women traveling alone? Well, first of all, it offers a variety of sites for any taste and interest: anywhere you will find the beauty and tranquility, the adventure, or the entertainment and fun you are looking for.


Next to this, the relaxed and easygoing lifestyle of Australians adds more value to your vacation enjoyment, making you feel like at home. Then, in my opinion, Australia is one of the safest and most comfortable countries for women traveling solo. I can highly recommend it to all women, especially to those who want to make their first experience as a solo traveler. Here below I have compiled a short list with some tips for women who wish to explore this remote and awesome spot of the world.

• Pack your backpack or suitcase with the essential stuff, casual clothes only and keep it to a minimum! Your suitcase weight should not exceed 10kg. Pack private belongings you absolutely must take with you and leave behind everything else you can get locally.Pack good walking shoes, bathing suits and comfortable sandals.

• Book your accommodation for your first 2-3 nights before leaving your country, this will give you relaxation while recovering from jet lag discomfort and thus allow you to fill up with sparkling energy.

• Before leaving home, join YHA (the youth hostelling association) and remember to show your card every time you book a bed in a hostel in Australia. Also, do check out for the discounts offered for various activities.

• Stay in hostels! In Australia there are hundreds of them, most of them offer a variety of facilities including kitchen, laundry, internet, and some run a travel agency too. Australian hostels are great value and a very good way to meet other fellow travelers!

• To travel around Australia you can either use a bus pass, there are plenty to match your itinerary or you can check the hostel notice boards for share, lifts car pooling. Speak to the locals whenever the occasion arises: in a hostel, in a shop/restaurant, on the bus, at the train or underground stations, at the beach, etc. This is the best way of building connections, share experiences and to get an insider’s advice, which will add more value to your trip.

• Get to know the local culture: Drink and eat local food. Get a list of local cultural and sport events. Visit the Uluru or any other sacred sites and get an insight about the aboriginal ancient culture and myths. And enjoy, enjoy enjoy!!

I traveled myself several months around Australia…every time leaving with a recurring thought into my mind…”visualizing my next journey to Australia” If you want to learn more about it visit Australia Travel Inspiration.

The 7 Best Hikes in the Smoky Mountains

Please welcome guest blogger, Jeff, from hikinginthesmokys.com

Every hiker has a list of favorite trails. After many years of hiking in Great Smoky Mountains National Park I decided to compile a list of what I consider to be the best hikes in the Smokies. If you’re new to the Smokies, I think you’ll find this article to be a good starting point in trying to decide where to hike. If you’re a veteran Smoky Mountains hiker, maybe you’ll find a few hikes on this list that you haven’t had a chance to explore yet. The seven hikes that follow are ranked from easy to strenuous.

Andrews Bald (Easy)

Nuts & Bolts: From the Clingmans Dome parking lot, hike 1.7 miles along the Forney Ridge Trail to reach Andrews Bald. Total elevation gain on the roundtrip hike is 900 feet.

Trail Highlights: Only a 1.7 mile hike to see magnificent views? Sounds like a breeze. Well, not so fast. Don’t let the mileage fool you – this is a fairly rugged hike! The trail is littered with rain run-off, rocks and small boulders. But don’t let any of this deter you. Thanks to several acres of open grassy meadow, commonly referred to as balds in the Appalachians, spectacular views of the southern Smokies await you at the end of this hike. Andrews Bald is the perfect place to open up a blanket, relax, and enjoy a picnic.

Trivia Tidbit: Without maintenance from the Park Service, Andrews Bald would be reclaimed by forest.

Porters Creek (Easy)

Nuts & Bolts: This is an easy roundtrip hike of 4 miles beginning out of Greenbrier, just east of Gatlinburg.

Trail Highlights: The Porters Creek Trail just about has it all. You’ll stroll along a beautiful cascading stream through a lush old-growth forest, while walking past many remnants from the early settlers of this area before reaching a little known waterfall. If you hike this trail during the spring you’ll have the additional benefit of witnessing one of the most spectacular displays of wildflowers in the Smokies. The forest floor was carpeted with bloodroot, hepaticas, violets, white trilliums, fringed phacelia, rue anemone and many other wildflowers during a recent early spring hike. At roughly 2 miles, Fern Branch Falls slides and tumbles nearly 50 feet off the ridge to the left of the trail.

Trivia Tidbit: Roughly 1 mile from the trailhead is a short side trail that takes you to the John Messer farm site which includes a cantilevered barn built around 1875. There’s also a cabin that was built by the Smoky Mountain Hiking Club in the mid-1930s.

Charlies Bunion (Moderate)

Nuts & Bolts: Head east from the Newfound Gap parking lot and hike 4 miles along the Appalachian Trail to reach Charlies Bunion. You’ll climb a total of 1640 feet during the roundtrip hike.

Trail Highlights: A long steep climb from the parking lot quickly leaves most of the crowds behind. Eventually you’ll reach a long stretch of trail that traverses a ridge where you’ll be hovering around an altitude of 6000 feet. Being at the highest point along this narrow ridge, with excellent views on either side of the trail, you’ll feel like you’re walking along the spine of the Appalachians.

Originally known as Fodderstack, Charlies Bunion is a precipitous rock out-cropping that offers stunning views of the Tennessee side of the Smokies. If you still have the energy on your way back, take a side trail near the Boulevard Trail junction to visit the Jump-off. The views from this vantage point are well worth the additional one-mile roundtrip.

Trivia Tidbit: The current name of this popular destination is a result of when Charlie Conner was hiking with Horace Kephart, one of the early proponents of national park status for the Smokies. When they paused for a rest, Conner took his boots and socks off exposing a bunion that looked like the surrounding rocks. Looking at Conner’s feet, Kephart remarked, “Charlie, I’m going to get this place put on a government map for you.” And so he did.

Mt. Cammerer (Strenuous)

Nuts & Bolts: Start from the Low Gap Trailhead in Cosby for this 2500-foot climb, 12 mile roundtrip hike to reach the summit of Mt. Cammerer.

Trail Highlights: Climb 2.5 miles up the Low Gap Trail before hooking-up with the Appalachian Trail. While on the AT you’ll cross over a grassy ridge before turning onto the rugged spur trail that leads to the summit. Mt. Cammerer is on the edge of a rocky out-cropping overlooking the Pigeon River Gorge. On a clear day, the views are simply awesome; some even say the best in the Park. For an even better vantage point, step up to the deck of the stone fire tower. This “western” style tower, which was fully restored in 1995, provides you with 360 degree views. Look in any direction and see row upon row of smoky blue mountains.

Trivia Tidbit: The octagonal fire tower was built by the Civilian Conservation Corp in the late 1930s using hand-cut stone from the surrounding area.

Gregory Bald (Strenuous)

Nuts & Bolts: From Cades Cove, climb 3000 feet and trek 5.6 miles up the Gregory Ridge Trail to reach the 10 acre Gregory Bald summit.
Trail Highlights: As stunning as the year-round views are, Gregory Bald is most famous for the spectacular flame azaleas that bloom on the summit from mid to late June. Azalea lovers from all over the world come here to visit perhaps the finest display of azaleas anywhere on the planet. You’ll see a rainbow of colors including fire red, wine red, orange, salmon, yellow, white, pink, and even multi-colored azaleas.
Even if you can’t make it in June, this hike should be on your list for any time of the year. The commanding views of Cades Cove, Fontana Lake and the eastern crest of the Smokies makes it a popular year-round destination.
Trivia Tidbit: This particular bald is named after Russell Gregory, an early settler in the Cades Cove area. He and other cove residents used the field to graze cattle during the spring and summer when the fields in the cove were needed for growing crops.

Mount LeConte (Strenuous)

Nuts & Bolts: Take the 5.5 mile hike up Alum Cave Trail to the Summit of Mt. LeConte. You’ll climb 2763 feet to reach the summit of the third highest peak in the Smokies.

Trail Highlights: If ever there was a classic hike in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the Alum Cave Trail to Mount LeConte would certainly qualify. Sure, there are trails in the Park that are far longer, that gain more elevation, or have steeper climbs, but the Alum Cave Trail is unmatched in its combination of interesting geological features, history, high adventure and stunning views.

To reach the summit, climb through Arch Rock, take your first breather at Inspiration Point, spot a peregrine falcon near the Eye of the Needle, marvel at the imposing Alum Cave, and hold-on tight to the cable hand rails as you pass over the rock ledges on the upper portions of the trail.

Upon reaching the summit, go to Cliff Top near the LeConte Lodge for amazing views of Clingmans Dome and the rolling mountains that lie towards the west. On the other side of LeConte is Myrtle Point which offers outstanding vistas of the eastern Smokies.
Trivia Tidbit: One of the unique things about Mount LeConte is the lodge and overnight cabins at the top. Hikers can spend the night in one the rustic cabins which can accommodate about 50 guests a night (you’ll need to make reservations well in advance).

Rocky Top (Strenuous)

Nuts & Bolts: This is a strenuous hike of 12.5 miles and more than 3600 feet in elevation gain. Start from the Anthony Creek trailhead in the Cades Cove Picnic area.

Trail Highlights: You’ll huff and puff up the mountain for the first 5 miles of this hike, but all your hard work will be paid-off once you reach Spence Field. If visibility is good the grassy meadows up here will afford you with outstanding views of the North Carolina side of the Smokies. If you can arrange it, hike the trail in late spring when Spence Field showcases the most spectacular display of mountain laurel you’ll see just about anywhere. The hillsides and meadows are literally covered in the white and soft pink flowers from this member of the heath family.

Spence Field is a destination in and of itself, but the views get even better if you continue along the Appalachian Trail for an additional 1.2 miles. After another stiff climb of 550 feet you’ll finally reach Rocky Top, the first of three peaks on the summit of Thunderhead Mountain. The panoramic views from here, in my opinion, are the best in the Park. From good ole Rocky Top you can see Fontana Lake, Cades Cove, Townsend, Maryville, and beyond.

Trivia Tidbit: Yes, this is the same Rocky Top that inspired Felice and Boudleaux Bryant to write the famous lyrics that is now the fight song for the University of Tennessee and one of the official songs for the state of Tennessee.

If you would like more information on these trails, or many of the other trails in the Great Smoky Mountains, please visit HikingintheSmokys.com. The site includes trail descriptions, key features, pictures, video, maps and elevation profiles for more than 70 trails in the Smokies.

Foodie Friday – Confessions of a Celtic Cook

Please welcome guest blogger Jacqui from the thecelticcook.blogspot.com/.

I’m sure everyone, no matter how into food they may be, will have at least one dish which they do not like. For me it is one of the most Scottish dishes around. A dish that everyone associates with the Scots. The name of it immediately conjures up pictures of rolling Scottish hillsides, purple heather and strong Scotsmen in kilts.

For me, a Scot, I am ashamed to admit the very mention of this dish sets my gag reflex in motion. What can this awful food be I hear you ask? You may be thinking of Haggis and all it’s components, the heart, lungs and various parts of a sheep’s innards all packed into it’s stomach, strangely enough I find this quite delicious. Okay then, black pudding, this time involving the use of pigs blood and meal. No, not this one either. I particularly enjoy black pudding served with scallops. Yes, I know this may sound like a strange pairing, but do try it. Add some buttery mash and you will have a simple but delicious meal in about 20 minutes, the time it takes to cook your potatoes. I can tell you are not really believing me on this one but there is only one way to know. Try it and see. Back to my nemesis in the food world. Quite simply, it is porridge. There, I have said it. My Scottishness must now be in question! Please allow me the chance to explain.

I believe this hatred of the most Scottish of all dishes began when I was 4 years old and admitted to hospital for a tonsillectomy. Hospitals then hadn’t quite got to grips with making a 4 year old feel happy and welcome. They were strict with rules, to be obeyed at all times, no concessions for a frightened 4 year old. Unfortunately porridge was served every morning for breakfast, and herein lies the tale.

This wasn’t a 2 day stay in a hospital ward, it was 7 days. No rushing you out in those days, oh how I wish they had. I was okay for the first couple of days after the op but then I was presumed fit for regular food. No choices, and no refusals. I remember gagging and choking my way through that first bowl and dreading every morning thereafter. I survived, but, I was scarred for life. To this day nothing would posses me to try to eat a bowl of hot steaming porridge, the very thought of it makes me gag. I do on occasion make it for my husband, and he says I make it very well, but even the smell of it is enough to conjure up the nightmare of being forced to eat it. No amount of cream, honey or jam could convince me, never mind the good old fashioned way of eating it with salt. On this point maybe I have to concede the Scottish gene passed me bye.

Top 10 Things to Do in Yellowstone with Kids

By Ann LoCicero, Our Guest Blogger from KidsCanTravel.com

Our list of top 10 things to do in Yellowstone with kids takes into account all of the above plus one. Kids don’t like to any one thing for great lengths of time. With that in mind we’ve mixed the activities so that you can work your way from one to ten without once hearing, ‘Mom, I’m bored!’

1. Old Faithful & Upper Geyser Basin
Upper Geyser Basin is the best place in Yellowstone to see geysers erupt. It is home to Old Faithful, the best-known Yellowstone geyser, as well as five out of six predicted geysers in the park. What’s more, Upper Geyser Basin boasts the highest concentration of geysers in the world. There are more than 150 of these hydrothermal features in just one square mile!

2. Watch Wildlife
Yellowstone may not be home to nomadic elephant herds or bushy-maned lions yet the wildlife at this U.S. National Park is no less exciting. Watch bison bulls shake the earth as they collide in battle. Observe gray wolves stalk their prey by wit and cunning. View grizzlies feasting on the labors of another species. Yellowstone is inhabited by all the same large mammals as at the end of the Pleistocene era. Black bear, coyote, red fox, mountain lion, moose, elk, pronghorn, mule deer, bighorn sheep, bald eagles, peregrine falcons, river otter and trumpeter swans are just a few of the animals and birds spotted here.

3. Mud Pots
There are three places in Yellowstone to see mud in action: Fountain Paint Pots; Artists’ Paint Pots; and Mud Volcano. The mud pots at Fountain Paint Pots are Yellowstone’s most easily reached pools of hot bubbling mud. The mud pots at Artists Paint Pots are the most fun to watch. And while Mud Volcano no longer erupts this hydrothermal area is the most eerily intriguing spot in Yellowstone National Park. Visit one but think twice before touring all three.

4. Ranger Adventure Hikes
The Ranger Adventure Hikes offered by the park rangers at Yellowstone are a great way to engage the kids and get beyond the boardwalk. One hike takes intrepid walkers to tranquil beaver ponds that hold the promise of sighting wildlife. While none of the hikes are specifically geared to families, kids are welcome on all excursions. Of note, these hikes aren’t strolls. The shortest is 4 hours long.

5. Norris Geyser Basin
Norris Geyser Basin may not boast Old Faithful yet it is one of the best places in Yellowstone National Park to see hydrothermal features. Here are six reasons why. 1. Situated at the intersection of Hebgen Lake Fault, Norris-Mammoth Corridor and Yellowstone Caldera, Norris Basin is the hottest and most dynamic thermal area in Yellowstone. 2. The water chemistry at Norris is more diverse than elsewhere and includes acidic geysers, a rare phenomenon. 3. The colors created by thermophiles and minerals are a true rainbow of red, brown, yellow and green. 4. Silicon salts deposited over a multitude of millennium, 115 to be precise, have bleached the basin ash-white. 5. Steamboat Geyser, the tallest, active geyser in the world, erupts regularly to 40 ft (12m) in between its unpredictable spouts 300 ft (91m) high. 6. The wooden boardwalks at Norris Geyser Basin have none of the crowds found at Old Faithful.

6 Boiling River
Boiling River is an off-map must. This five-star hot tub, one of only two safe (and legal) soaks in Yellowstone, offers a fun break from family touring. Amble the paved ½-mile trail. Watch birds, bison and elk. Soak in a natural spa, a mix of hot (hot spring stream) and cold (Gardner River).

7. Mammoth Hot Springs
The white mountain of travertine is the main attraction at the Mammoth Hot Springs. This fast-changing hydrothermal area, one of the few active travertine terraces in the world, is thousands of years in the making. Marvel at the ornate step-like formation known as Minerva Terrace. Learn about thermophiles – heat-loving organisms that color hot spring pools orange, brown, yellow and green – at Canary Spring. Calculate the length of time it will take Opal Terrace to encroach on the nearby historic house. (Hint: Opal Terrace deposits 1 foot or 0.3 m of travertine a year.)

8. Horseback Rides and Old West Cookouts
Xanterra, the lead concessionaire at Yellowstone, offers a variety of Old West experiences within America’s first national park. Take a horseback ride through sagebrush flats. Enjoy a stagecoach adventure on a horse-drawn, covered wagon. Take one or the other to an Old West Cookout and feast on a chuckwagon dinner. And if you are looking for something a bit more bold sign-up for a backcountry horseback ride with a permitted stock outfitter such as Yellowstone Wilderness Outfitters.

9. Grand Canyon of Yellowstone
The Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone is one of the most picturesque points in Yellowstone National Park. And while it is much smaller than the Grand Canyon in Arizona, storied falls and colorful walls make this big ditch simply spectacular. For adults. For this much-photographed feature to be a top ten for children requires a bit of work on the part of mom and dad. Put on your animation cap and paint, color or draw with the children. A picture of the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone is great addition to any family travel scrapbook.

10. Junior Ranger Program
The junior ranger program at Yellowstone National Park cements the experience in a way no attraction or activity can. Pick up a Junior Ranger Booklet from any of the ranger stations in Yellowstone and watch as your children aged 5 – 12 engage in an exploration through art, history, nature and science. Pin (or stitch) the acquired badge or patch to your child’s jacket or hat. Kids love to show off their achievements.

Ann LoCicero is the founder of kidscantravel.com. Not only does Ann believe that kids can travel, travel with kids is fun and it is a great opportunity to children to the world beyond their backdoor. Top 10 Things to Do in Yellowstone with Kids.

Photos Credit: KidsCanTravel.com

Need Group Travel Ideas?

Welcome Guest Blogger Serenity from adventurestudenttravel.com.

Theme Tours – the Perfect Choice for Groups

With so many great US cities and tons of exciting attractions in each of them, choosing where to go and what sites to hit can be as overwhelming as deciding who sits on the aisle.

Here’s a solution to that first troubling dilemma: Theme Tours. This is great for families and any kind of group travel. Find common interests in your group – like literature, film, art and architecture, or perhaps a love for all things green – and build your travel around that. Here are some cool ideas to get you started.

Architecture: Get the to a city by the water. New York City, Boston, and Chicago are some of the best. Once you arrive be sure to book at least a water cruise – one of the most refreshing views for any skyline – and a view from the top. Observation decks in places like the Sears Tower in Chicago and Top of the Rock in NYC offer not just the view but interactive information about what you’re seeing. Perfect for an interest in architectural design.

Movies: On Location Tours, Inc., offers TV and movie site tours in Central Park and Greenwich Village (and throughout Manhattan) in New York City and Washington D.C. They take you to the outside locations for all kinds of famous scenes from television and movies, both popular and legendary. Throw in a Planet Hollywood or Kevin Bacon’s voice narrating your simulated flight over NYC at the Empire State Building, and you’ve got a tour that’s all things Hollywood.

Literature: Follow in the footsteps of your favorite authors with a three-state tour of some of Laura Ingalls Wilder’s homes or a visit to Mark Twain’s Hannibal, Missouri. Or stay in a New England inn and take a driving tour of beautiful Concord and Walden Pond, the setting for many favorite authors and philosophers. In Concord and nearby Amherst and Salem, you can visit the homes of Louisa May Alcott, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Emily Dickinson, and more. Plus some of the houses that inspired their books, as well as museums filled with their furnishings and personal effects.

Black History: Travel to Boston, Washington D.C., or Atlanta and walk in the footsteps of civil rights heroes as well as some of the first African-American architects, church builders, and more. Boston is one of many cities to offer a Black Heritage Trail, a group of attractions that showcase African-American contributions to the community and to American history at large. This theme is perfect for families and popular for student travel as well.

Hopefully you’re getting the idea. And the point is – to spark ideas of your own. You can find destinations perfect for ecotours, cities made for music lovers, or entire tours built around the theater. (Did you know Broadway offers workshops to coincide with your favorite shows?) The possibilities are endless. Plus, imagine how creative the fundraisers could be.

CheapOair 12 Days of Travel Contest

CheapOair Unveils Official Blog & “12 Days of Travel”

“12 Days of Travel” Contest Starts Cyber Monday with @CheapOair Tweets

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

(NEW YORK, NY – November 19, 2009) CheapOair, a top ten rated online travel agency, is proud to announce its latest endeavor, the CheapOair Blog, which officially launched on October 27, 2009. Readers can find valuable travel information, news, planning tips, and fun things to do while on vacation. Key features include:

• Today’s O Deal highlighting the best in cheap flights
• Video Stories
• Reader Comments
• Immediate searching and booking for flights, hotels and cars
• “Cheap Travel Deals”
• Option to receive blog posts via email

In celebration of the new blog (http://blog.cheapoair.com/), CheapOair is launching a “@CheapOair 12 Days of Travel” contest where customers can win daily holiday gifts including travel and retail gift certificates, and a grand prize on day 12 for free round trip airline tickets within the domestic U.S.

The 12 day contest starts on Cyber Monday, November 30, 2009 and ends on Friday December 11, 2009.

For this contest, followers of the CheapOair Twitter account will be asked to “re-tweet” that day’s message or go to the CheapOair travel blog to find that day’s message to “re-tweet”.

For more information, please visit http://contests.cheapoair.com/.

 

ABOUT CHEAPOAIR

CheapOair.com is the 7^th largest online booking travel site and is a leading supplier of airfares, hotels, car rentals and vacation packages. CheapOair offers the best in value with attractive solutions for today’s savvy traveler. Their portfolio of products includes over 100 million airfare combinations on over 400 airlines, low airfare guarantees, 85,000 negotiated hotel rates, and the technological foundation to deliver affordable tickets to every region in the world. For CheapOair information, call 866-636-9088 or visit CheapOair.com.

Foodie Friday – South Florida Edition

Welcome guest blogger, Dori, who is a South Florida food blogger who runs fatkidsclub.com – a blog about local restaurants and homemade recipes that answer your craving without emptying your savings.

Charming the City off of Deerfield Beach

Year-old burger joint is local favorite that keeps it real and simple

Dori Zinn

With less than a year after opening their doors to their neighbors of Deerfield Beach, Charm City Burger Co. has not only solidified themselves as local burger greats, but they’ve done it their way, on their terms, and had some fun getting there. And they include milkshakes.

Owners Mike Saperstein and Evan David have been partners since 2007, and they even have their own meatpacking company, Green Range Farms that delivers a special blend to Charm City everyday to not only ensure freshness in each burger, but also prepare a one-of-a-kind burger.

While you can get a “Good Ol’ Boy” ($4.95), a standard cheeseburger, Saperstein says the most popular burger by far is the Cowboy. Why?

“People love bacon,” he says. “It’s thick cut and slow-cooked in the oven. If I’m holding it and it doesn’t stick straight up, it’s no good.”

Doused with sautéed onions and mushrooms, cheddar cheese and a homemade secret charm sauce, the 1/3 lb. Cowboy ($6.25) ropes in the most customers. Rightfully so, the combination of Saperstein’s bacon, charm sauce and cheese, the burger may be hard to handle, but it’s delicious.

But sometimes, bigger is better. In this case, it’s The Big Sloppy: double meat, double cheese, double bacon, hash brown, and a fried egg, all on the comfort of a toasted bun. If you can tackle a big sloppy ($9.50), you deserve a medal.

No need to stop at just burgers, Charm City also offers slow-roasted chicken wings (8-pc for $7), a ¼ lb 100 percent Kobe beef hot dog ($6), and stuffed rolls, with your option of soft shell crab, jerk mahi, grilled skirt steak, and more ($6.50-$9.95).

Don’t forget to indulge in the tater tots. Fried to greasy perfection – not oven-baked – the homemade tots ($3) are worth every bit of drool and admiration.

And don’t ever leave without dessert. You could go ahead with the fried oreos and vanilla ice cream ($3), a traditional carnie favorite, or you can indulge in homemade milkshakes with Blue Bell ice cream ($4.50). While you have your options of the traditional chocolate and vanilla, there are nearly 10 different flavors, including the seasonal pumpkin spice and caramel apple. Personal recommendations: chocolate, cinnabon, and peanut butter and jelly. Don’t leave the establishment without a milkshake. You will thank me later.

Adventure Travel Tips

8 No Fail Adventure Travel Tips

Thank you guest blogger, Clay from http://adventureworldmagazineonline.com/.

Having traveled all over the world and being the consummate observer of human behavior, I have developed a list of travel tips that can make your next trip less stressful and more enjoyable with a little planning before your departure.

•  Luggage:  I can’t begin to recount the times that I have watched people at the baggage carousel perusing each black rolling bag that comes of the belt only to discover it is not their luggage.  When picking luggage, choose something that stands out and that you can spot as it comes onto the belt.  It will also be easier to describe should your luggage not arrive when you do at your destination.

•  Pack Light:  With the airlines charging more and more for luggage fees (some being $100 roundtrip if you check 2 bags), it makes more sense than ever to consider what you carry.  We all carry way too much with the anticipation of needing that one item that we never unpack.  Lay everything out that you think that you will need and reassess before placing it in the bag.  And, it will make it easier for you to carry both going and coming.

•  Documents:  Make photocopies of all-important documents and carry them separately.  This includes but is not limited to passports, visas, tickets, immunization record, and any other critical documents.  If traveling in sketchy areas, consider carrying all important documents and cash in a money belt or document pouch under your shirt.

•  Resealable plastic bags:  I am a firm believer in having multiple sizes on hand when packing for any trip.  They are great for organizing clothing, toiletries, gear and more as the contents are visible and contained within the deep recesses of your bag.

•  Health Insurance: If traveling internationally, verify that your regular health insurance policy covers illness or injury overseas.  If not, consider a short-term policy for the duration of your trip.

•  Day Pack:  Consider carrying a daypack as your carryon.  It should be between 1,500-2,000 cubic inches and have multiple compartments and have a hip belt.  While traveling,  you will have a hands free way to carry your toiletries and extra clothes.  At your destination, you will have a great place to carry a water bottle, snacks, camera and extra clothes (your other luggage may be inaccessible during the day) while touring or day hiking.

•  Apparel:  I constantly live by the mantra of ‘Function over Fashion’.  Whether you are on an airplane or climbing Kilimanjaro, dressing in layers will never fail you.  Layers can be removed or replaced as dictated by the weather or activity.  I personally only wear synthetic apparel when traveling.  This includes base layers, tops, bottoms, and shells.  They dry quickly and in the event that you have to wash them in a hotel sink, they will be dry within hours as opposed to cotton. Another item that I always have with me are my convertible pants.  If it gets hot, I can zip off the legs and replace when the temperature drops.

•  Proper Footwear:  It is amazing to walk through a large airport and check out the diverse footwear that you see people wearing in which to travel.  If you must wear that fashion piece, I recommend carrying them in your carryon and putting them on after you have reached your destination.  Flip-flops and high heels are not conducive for running from one concourse to the next after a last minute gate change has been announced.