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June 2006
What to do on the Fourth of July?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
July Fourth may be a celebration of the nation’s independence, but to me it spells summertime.
It means picnicking at the lake, swimming and sunning, stirring up a pitcher of sangria, and, in the evening, lying on a blanket watching fireworks. All those things don’t necessarily happen on any given July Fourth, but that’s the picture I carry around.
What’s your ideal celebration? Do you travel somewhere? Do you stay at home and have a barbecue? Stay at home and do nothing?
Do you plan travel around festivals?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
This week, as we do at the start of every quarter, we ran the Southeast Tourism Society’s list of best festivals and events for the coming quarter.
Do you use this list to help plan short trips around Georgia or the Southeast? Do you attend the same festivals year after year? What’s your favorite? Have you ever attended one that disappointed?
I love apple harvest time North Georgia in fall, and try to get up there for a festival. The Dogwood Festival at Piedmont Park used to be one of my favorites when I lived near the park though I haven’t been in years — the traffic is just not worth it. One spring, I was in Washington in cherry blossom season and it was beautiful. We’ve attended quite a few boat show/boat races in Sarasota, Fla., around the July 4th holiday. And I’ve been to a couple of events that weren’t that entertaining for adults but kids were having a great time. One annual event that shall remain nameless was particularly miserable: hotter than hot and not much interesting going on, and worse, I went with a group and couldn’t leave. But that’s been the exception. .
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$100 from AirTran?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Travelers on AirTran Airways this week had some unexpected delays when the airline’s updated computer software balked at getting passengers aboard planes. And they got an unexpected $100 voucher for a future trip, as compensation for their time and aggravation.
What do you think about that? Was it a savvy PR move from AirTran or should the airline have done more? Do you think other airlines would have made a similar offer? Were you affected by the computer glitch?
Permalink | Comments (14) | Categories: About the airlines
Would you jump a train? Hitchhike?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Hopping a train is “one of the last true thrills in America,” says Betty Moylan, known by her hobo name, Connecticut Shorty. She’s among the hobos and friends who regularly attend the National Hobo Convention in Britt, Iowa, each summer.
At the gathering, people share memories of their rail-riding days. Many camp near the railroad tracks in the town’s hobo jungle.
Have you ever jumped a train? Have you ever hitchiked? Would you do it again? Do you think these are crazy ways to get from one place to another or do you see an appeal?
Travels with Charlie
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
When I found out that Georgia State Parks started allowing dogs to stay in cottages in May, I leapt at the chance to head for the mountains with our once stray mutt, Charlie.
We had a great time. Each state park has designated at least one cottage as dog-friendly, though some parks have more than one cottage where pets are allowed.
Do you travel with your pet? You’d be in good company — the Travel Industry Association of America estimates 29 million Americans took their pets along on trips in the past three years. I’d like to hear some of your stories. What’s the best place you’ve stayed? What hotel chains are happy to take your pets? What’s the longest trip you’ve been on? Will you be trying out a dog-friendly state park cottage? They’re a great value for a weekend, or longer, getaway.
We take our dogs with us whenever we can. They much prefer it to the doggie hoosegow, aka the vet’s boarding kennel. On a road trip to New Hampshire a couple of years ago, we took our two Shiba Inus, Yuki and Haiku, and stayed at a great B&B called the Lazy Dog Inn in Chocorua, NH. We’ve also stayed at Days Inns and Holiday Inns that welcome pets, and once at the beautifully-appointed AAA Five Diamond Hermitage Hotel in Nashville, a historic hotel where dogs are treated like four-legged royalty. Then Charlie joined our pack — he started playing with our dogs a year ago when we’d take walks in the Lee’s Crossing neighborhood in Marietta, but he wouldn’t let us near him. He was lively and entertaining, and we tried to make friends to no avail. Eventually, animal control picked him up, and we went to rescue him. He’s turned into a wonderful creature who finally trusts us. Our travels with three dogs are mostly on hold right now; Yuki is too old to enjoy the trips now and too feeble to be left in the hoosegow. And while hotels might welcome two dogs, they tend to balk at three. So, on the state parks trip, Charlie got to go but the other two and my husband Russ had to stay behind. We brought home photos and tales of his adventures in the woods.
Permalink | Comments (25) | Categories: Traveling with pets
Love that luxury?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Sunday’s Travel section is all about luxury travel, though the main story about staying in castles converted to B&Bs, is more the feel of a luxury vacation than the cost.
How do you travel? Do you like to go top-of-the-line when you can or travel frugally so you can go more often? Have you taken a splurge trip for a special occasion? In my personal travel, and for most of my newspaper travel, it’s strictly budget. I love the idea of luxury but rarely get to experience it, unless a new luxury resort is opening in the Southeast and the newspaper pays for us to check it out.
I envy those who can book a trip without once asking, “how much?” On the other hand, planning and budgeting often makes for a rich experience; if you can’t do everything, you pick the activities that have the most meaning for you. And if you’re finding your way around on your own, you meet and interact with the natives. Taking the bus is usually a lot more interesting that calling the chauffeur.
Do you have stories from a budget or a luxury trip? I think I always fear I’ll pay a bundle for luxury, then be disappointed. Has that happened to you?
Permalink | Comments (4) | Categories: Hotels we love
Cellphones in the air
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
A survey crossed my desk today about cellphone use on airliners. Seems 67 percent of the more than 1,000 people who responded don’t want the rules changed to let people use personal electronic devices while in the air. Though the survey, by Airlines.Ws, was based on safety concerns about the devices potentially interrupting airline navigation systems, many people who responded were more concerned about disruptive talk, talk, talk if cell phones get the OK.
Where do you stand? Do you think people should be able to use their phones? Do you think it would be annoying to other passengers? Have you sat near someone in a restaurant or on public transportation whose conversation could be heard by people sitting within a few tables or seats or even further away?
I personally dread the possibility of phones in flight and hope they don’t get approved. There would be endless yak, yak, yak, and don’t you just know how every conversation would start? “Hey, I’m on a plane to (fill in the blank) and have a few minutes to talk.” Then you’ll hear everything from their knee operation to the latest neighborhood gossip, in excruciating detail. Most of us just want to read, nap or sit quietly.
Permalink | Comments (53) | Categories: About the airlines
What’s your favorite city to visit?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
In Sunday’s Travel section, I did a brief review of Lonely Planet’s new coffee table book, “The Cities Book, a Journey Through the Best Cities in the World,” which ranks the top 200 cities in order. Atlanta didn’t make the list. Do you think it should have? What’s your favorite city to visit and why?
A few Southeast cities did make the cut, including New Orleans (No. 39), Memphis (No. 98), Savannah (No. 164) and Miami (No. 194). Frankly, my dears, having lived in Memphis and Atlanta, I would rank Atlanta much higher.
Lonely Planet ranked Paris as No. 1, and you have to admit even if you’re not a fan of French politics, that it’s one beautiful city with unparalleled attractions such as the Eiffel Tower and fabulous museums. No. 2 on the list was New York City; No. 3 is Sydney, Australia; No. 4 is Barcelona, Spain; and No. 5 is London, followed by Rome, Italy; San Francisco; Bangkok, Thailand; Cape Town, South Africa, and Istanbul, Turkey.
You have to admire Lonely Planet for taking on this project, though. For me, having to pick a favorite would be like choosing a favorite sibling or child, just impossible — you love them all for their unique qualities.
By the way, here’s the review, which newspaper readers won’t see until Sunday: It’s hard to resist perusing “The Cities Book: A Journey Through the Best Cities in the World,â€? a $50 coffee-table book from Lonely Planet. As it sat on my desk, staffers would thumb through it and comment on the cities selected.
I can’t argue with some of the picks for the top 200 cities, but it’s easy to find fault with the rankings. How could Seattle (one of my favorites) be a lowly 55?
The book is beautifully photographed and includes each city’s strengths and weaknesses. Seattle gets marked down for rain, traffic, racial segregation, climbing house prices and struggling public transport, some of the same issues Atlanta — which didn’t make the top 200 — struggles with.
Permalink | Comments (80) | Categories: Cities we love
What’s the best spa?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Our Getaway story today to Berkeley Springs, W.Va., is all about taking the restorative hot spring waters, in a quaint, homey setting. Today’s spas are much more luxurious, and not necessarily in a town with natural hot springs.
What’s your favorite place nearby to take a spa treatment? We’ve written about some excellent ones at upscale lodgings, but you don’t have to check into a Ritz-Carlton to get a top-notch spa treatment. Where do you go when you need to unwind? Can you recommend a place?
I don’t often have time to indulge in a spa visit, but I had an amazing one once at Charleston Place in Charleston, S.C. And some years ago, my sister and I treated ourselves to the spa at the Arlington Hotel in Hot Springs, Ark., very much a hot springs town but quite a bit larger than Berkeley Springs. It was pretty fabulous to soak in a deep tub, then be wrapped from head to toe in hot towels, before an expert massage. It wasn’t exactly today’s standard for spas — for instance, when we were wrapped in towels, we were lying on tables in a long line of women — but we left feeling pampered and nearly too relaxed to walk.
Permalink | Comments (21) | Categories: Spas we love
What’s your hurricane quotient?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Pedro Famous Diaz / AP
Tourists on the beach in Oranjestad, Aruba.
A story today lists the Caribbean islands considered least likely to get hit by a hurricane. It also gives advice: Buy travel insurance that covers your costs if a hurricane affects your trip, for example.
Are these good considerations, or are they just too picky?
In other words, are you the type who would eagerly surf in front of an oncoming hurricane ? Or would you avoid the Islands altogether from May to November?
Destination weddings?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
This being June, the bridal month, I’ve been bombarded with public relations pitches touting destination weddings, with a long list of reasons why a couple should choose wedding packages to Jamaica, or Hawaii, or Bermuda, or the Bahamas or on a cruise ship.
Did you get married with one of these packages, or attend the wedding of friends or family who did? What was it like? Can you recommend the perfect place to tie the knot?
Permalink | Comments (7) | Categories: Destination weddings
