Vacation Never Ends: Travel Chat

Staycation - new cheap travel trend

Have you heard of the new term, Staycation?  It is referring to taking a vacatin but not going anywhere.  We have done this a couple of times because of money and because it is kind of relaxing. 

With the high gas prices and the recession this is becoming a popular term this year.  Enjoy your time at home!

Here is some more info on Staycations - Plan the Ultimate Staycation

Traveling w/o Kids - It's easier but I miss them

So I'm on a trip where I went all by myself, no kids.  Everyone was talking about how long and tough the trip would be. I keep saying not really because I don't have to entertain kids or lug around a lot of extra stuff.  I was actually looking forward to just sitting and reading, maybe watching a movie, and listening to music. 

It was an easy trip but every time I saw a family go by I wanted to trade places.  I wanted the extra stuff, the crying kids, the mess, etc.  I will get my wish because my family reunion is the week I get back from my trip and we are taking the kids on a 4 hour plane ride followed by 3 hours in the car, bring on the stress and mess!

Not on my travel list but I'm going to Romania

I get to go to Romania for work.  It was never a place on my travel list but I'm very excited to go.  I wish I had to time to go to the nearby mountains from reading the reviews it sounds like a must see. 

I will be in Bucharest, which is also a must see.  I have been spending hours looking for hotels in Bucharest.  I  finally booked a hotel.  I might change it but I have a room which feels good.  I read all the reviews and it sounds like the downtown location is spectacular, but the rooms are small.  I can handle a good location with small rooms! 

Crazy Waterfalls - The Devil's Pool, Zimbabwe

I have to go here.  I totally added this to my travel wish list. 

There is a picture here with a little girl in the pool.  I don't know if I could let my little one do that.  I would have to tie a rope from her to a tree, then maybe I would feel comfortable.

I wonder which of my friends would want to do this too.  I'm setting up a trip in Travel Group Planner to see if anyone is up for it. 

Starting your day off at Ski School Base

My daughter has been in ski school so we have been starting our ski day out at the ski school base. Starting your day from this spot in most resorts is the not the best, since you have ride lifts traverse runs, to get to the part of the resort you want to ski.  My daughter is an attention hungry girl, so I have to come back to this side of the mountain to watch her ski at least once during the day. 

I think ski resorts should have a 'fastest path out of here' indication on the trail map so I can get right to skiing. The ski season is almost over, I need to get up there a couple of more times and soon.

Happy Skiing.

Copper's Coyote

I went skiing at Copper Mountain in January of this year.  I was riding Excelerator and right at the top there was a coyote looking up at me from the run below the lift. 

That was the first time I have ever seen a coyote on a run.  It made me realize they were there before the skiers.  I also wonder if you can ski faster than a coyote can run.

We went the only ones to notice, here is a video of some kids who got closer than me.

Please don't feed the wild animals!

Guided Running Tours

I found a new, unique way to take a guided tour, a running tour. 

City Running Tours provides a guide that will run with you while providing interesting information about the city.  They are available in four cities New York City, San Diego, Chicago, & Washington DC. 

I'm a runnner, when chased kind of person, but I may have to rethink that because this sounds like fun.

Go Kansas City!

When I got married I acquired family in San Diego and my husband acquired family in Leavenworth/Kansas City.  My husband always jokes that he got the short end of the stick. 

Well no more!  It looks like KC is stepping it up: 

•    Kansas City’s $7 billion spending spree putting it on the map
•    Kansas City Official Travel Source

So instead of fountains and 'The Plaza', which I always enjoy, I  plan on showing him the new Kansas City the next time we are there visiting my family.

Travel List Addition - Bokeo, Laos

I had a conversation yesterday about 'The Gibbon Experience' in Laos.  I had to add this to my travel list.  I have no idea when I will be able to do this but it sounds incredible!

Here are some links I found around it,
the legend of singing gibbons
wild planet adventures - laos gibbon experience

Getting to know the places I thought I knew

My husband is from San Diego.  We get to visit there at least once a year.  So after all my trips there I thought I knew the city pretty well.  When I saw an article in Budget Travel titled '25 Reasons We Love San Diego' I was excited to see how many of the 25 things I had done. 

My in-laws have done a really good job showing me around the city!  I was familiar with about half of the list.  I'm bringing the list with me the next time we visit so I can check out a couple new things. 

Budget Travel did miss one thing, The Fish Market.  I love the food and the incredible view of the San Diego harbor. 

I bet if there was a list about Denver, I wouldn't know nearly half of the places listed . I plan on finding a similar list for Denver so I can discover my own city.