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January 2009
What takes you to Tampa?
The Super Bowl is returning to Tampa Bay this weekend for the fourth time. How "super" is the city itself, and how often do you return to Tampa for a vacation?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
This weekend, the Pittsburgh Steelers and Arizona Cardinals will descend upon Tampa, Fla. for Super Bowl XLIII. While the eyes of football fans will be focused on the matchup inside Raymond James Stadium, the host city deserves a serious look for anyone in need of a getaway.
With dozens of festivities and parties surrounding the Super Bowl, it’s easy to see why people might be flocking to Tampa this weekend. My friend Jen, who lives south of Tampa, doesn’t have tickets to the big game but she’s planning to make the trip just to check out the interactive games, football clinics and autograph sessions at the NFL Experience.
But what about the rest of the time? You know… when Tampa is simply that city situated on the central west coast of Florida. Tampa Bay’s beautiful beaches and warm temperatures might invite visitors to lounge on the white sands and gaze at the Gulf all day; but I like the area because it’s chockablock with many other attractions to keep you busy day and night.
Sport-mad travelers can catch professional games throughout the year by checking the home schedules for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (National Football League), Tampa Bay Rays (Major League Baseball) and Tampa Bay Lightning (National Hockey League). Spring training fans can also indulge in pre-season baseball action at the 13,000-seat New York Yankees training facility and home to the Tampa Yankees Single “A” team.
In addition, the area has more than 20 golf courses and tennis facilities, along with water sports and fishing, that can take the sporting traveler out of the crowd and put them the middle of the action.
Families like the African-themed Busch Gardens amusement park, where visitors can see African animals and ride wild coasters from “Morocco” through the “Serengeti” and the “Congo” and all the way to “Timbuktu”. Other attractions to check out are: Dinosaur World, Big Cat Rescue, Adventure Island Water Park, the Florida Aquarium and Lowry Park Zoo. (The Disney World theme parks, Sea World and Universal Studios in Orlando are close enough - about 90 minutes - that we’re thinking of staying in Tampa and exploring the area a bit more the next time we take the kids for a day or two at Disney.)
Tampa also hosts several crowd-pleasing festivals each year, including the winter Gasparilla Invasion and Pirate Fest. You can watch the pirate ship flotilla “capture” the city and party through the streets on February 7 this year.
What are your thoughts on Florida’s west coast city by the bay? Do you go for the attractions? The beaches? The sports? Have you ever been to Tampa Bay for Spring Training? The Pirate Fest? Are you going to the Super Bowl there this weekend?
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Is Super Bowl Sunday a super weekend to go to Disney World?
Going to Disney? Is there a “best” time to visit the Magic Kingdom?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
For years, I have heard that Super Bowl Sunday is the best day to go to Disney World. Temperatures in central Florida are generally comfortable in early February (highs around 70 degrees), and long lines are hard to find. Bound by the common cultural identity that is our American football championship, we apparently leave the streets of Mickey’s kingdom virtually empty to congregate in front of millions of high def plasma TVs.
Whether that’s just myth or reality, I don’t know. I’ve never tested the theory. Our family does the Disney thing every couple of years, but we always end up in Orlando at the height of summer crowds, heat and humidity. We do have friends who make the Super Bowl weekend trip to the Magic Kingdom an annual tradition - and they never complain about crowds.
It’s possible that this year could be different. The Super Bowl will be played just 90 minutes away from Main Street USA. An early-rising traveler could get in a few good hours of Space Mountain coasting, Mad Teacup spinning and Dumbo flying before heading back to Tampa for kick-off.
Disney is also offering incredible deals to lure travelers right now - which could encourage some people to fill the parks during the typically-slower months between Christmas and Easter. The best deal right now seems to be the “seven nights for the price of four” package that runs from January through June 2009. I mentioned this one back in December after Disney threw in a $200 Gift Card (good through the end of March) to sweeten the deal. You can use the card for dining, gift shops and more at WDW. A family of four staying at one of the Disney value, moderate or luxury resorts between now and March 29 can save between $515 and $1,622 on hotel, park tickets, dining and souvenirs with this package.
I have also heard of people using websites like Craigslist to acquire below-cost Disney tickets at the last minute. A friend recently told me of a family she knows who bought seven Magic Kingdom tickets through Craigslist. The regular daily admission for adults is $75. Children’s tickets are $63 per day. The family posted their asking price ($50) and jumped in the car for Florida. Several people contacted them over the next few hours. The next day, they met one of the ticket holders, paid $50 for each ticket and enjoyed their time in the park. If you trust that those tix are real, this might allow families with fewer days to spend in the park or little desire to stay on site to see Mickey and still save money.
Have you ever been to Walt Disney World on Super Bowl Sunday (or that weekend)? Are the crowds noticeably thinner and lines significantly shorter? Are the Disney incentive packages big enough to lure you to Orlando this winter or spring? Have you tried sites like Craigslist for tickets to places like Disney?
What are your money-saving tips for the Magic Kingdom (or any of the Disney parks)? Is there an optimal time to go to enjoy good savings, warm weather and slim crowds? Share your best advice for making the most out of your trip to the Disney theme parks in Orlando.
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Are you making the trip to DC for the inauguration?
Atlanta travelers can share their plans for next week's inauguration and check back with stories when they return.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Next week, the U.S. capital is expecting record numbers of visitors for the inauguration of our 44th President. Regardless of your politics, Barack Obama’s swearing-in will represent a significant milestone in our country’s history. Many people from throughout the nation are flocking to Washington to witness the event.
I love Washington, DC. I worked in the U.S. Senate for several years and enjoyed every season I spent there. When you live in the nation’s capital, you become accustomed to the inevitable road blocks, black SUV caravans and Secret Service escorts that go with transporting the world’s most-powerful leader. You also adjust to the various swells of visitors throughout the year. If it’s Spring Break and/or cherry blossoms are in bloom, you schedule extra time to drive down Independence or Constitution Avenue. You understand street parking or a quiet place on the Mall is impossible to find on a pretty summer day.
But Inauguration Day is like combining those spring and summer crowds with heightened security, roadblocks and often bad weather - then putting the whole thing on steroids.
Shortly after this election, a few people asked if I had any travel advice to share for the 2009 Inauguration. My answer was… stay home. Not exactly what most would expect from a travel blogger. Actually, I said don’t go, unless you have tickets to one of the Inaugural events.
As cool as it is to be in Washington on any inauguration day, I personally wouldn’t travel there without a seat for the swearing-in or tickets to one of the Inaugural balls. Even then, I would want admission to one of the “good” balls where the new President or Vice President was likely to drop by. Without tickets, I would feel like I made a special trip to stand on the Mall watching a Jumbotron in the cold.
That said - millions travel to DC for the swearing-in every four years. Only a fraction of those have access to the big events. So many people would disagree with my point of view on inauguration traveling.
The weather in Washington next week is expected to be near freezing, and road and bridge closings around the capital are already being publicized. If you are traveling to DC, make sure you’re prepared for the weather and plan your travel routes ahead of time to ensure you can get where you want to go. Also, don’t forget to check the AJC’s Inauguration travel guide for everything you need to know about the many inaugural events, crowd control, street closures and other useful tips.
Are you heading to DC for the inauguration? Do you have tickets or are you just getting there early and hoping you get a good spot along the parade route? What will you do/where will go after the swearing-in ceremony? When are you heading up and when are you returning?
Have you traveled to Washington for inaugural events before? Do you have advice for first-timers?
If you make the trip — check back with us when you return to share your stories and/or photos. You can submit your photos here and then see other inaugural snapshots from Atlantans in the photo gallery next week. Oh, and stay warm.
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Where can you go this winter to mix fun and fitness?
Resolve to make your next trip work out for you
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
I never bother with New Year’s resolutions until the kids go back to school and the family returns to a normal schedule. Sadly, when I packed the kids’ backpacks yesterday, I realized I was donning my “eggnog sweater”. The sweater is so named because it ably camouflages the mid-drift I dare not bare after a month of indulging in rich holiday treats. Today, I am sitting alone in a house full of chocolates resolving to steer clear of the temptations in the kitchen.
This time last year, we discussed southeastern fitness vacations, where you can go to kick-start a healthy new lifestyle. Spas, resorts and health institutes offer programs that teach you the basics of proper eating, exercising and weight maintenance. These are great destinations, and I would never argue the price of good health. However, these vacations can be costly and may be more instruction than some need.
I don’t need to kick-start a healthy new lifestyle. I do pretty well 11 months out of the year. I just need a kick in the behind to get me (and my family) moving again after a holiday hibernation — an incentive to get out of the house and back on track. Those swimsuit catalogs that are already arriving aren’t enough. There are still too many weeks of “eggnog sweater” weather before I need worry about swimsuits.
So I started looking around for places to go or events in which to participate that might provide that sense of immediacy to get us off the sofa and on the road to post-holiday recovery. Some are a day trip away, and some require a little further travel - always a good thing, in my opinion.
While it may be too cold in other parts of the country to consider running a road race, you can usually get out and run at this time of year in the South. The promise of good scenery or a great after-run destination provides added incentive - like the Mardi Gras Marathon through historic New Orleans on February 1. Don’t worry; they also have a half-marathon and 5K option, and Mardi Gras festivities await you at the finish line. Callaway Gardens also has a fitness series event which includes a marathon, half-marathon and 5K through the beautiful gardens on January 25. Here are a few other road races coming up nearby.
Beech Mountain, NC is known to most southerners as one of the local ski destinations, and skiing is a good form of exercise. Because I’m more of a water-skier than a snow-skier, I like the guided hikes that Beech Mountain also offers throughout the winter. The next one is a 4.5 mile hike on January 20.
Sugar Mountain, NC, another regional ski spot, offers guided snowshoe tours on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays during the winter season. This Saturday is National Winter Trails Day, when folks new to snow sports can try snowshoeing for free throughout the day. Guided tour and snow shoe rentals are included.
These are just a sampling of places I found that made me want to get out and get moving again. Are you trying to fit in a bit of fitness in your upcoming travels? Would you make a special trip that includes exercise - like entering a road race in another city to reap the travel and fitness benefits? Do you have other ideas for getting out of town and getting fit? If you are out of town for other reasons, would you use the gym facilities at the hotel as a way to keep up a New Year’s fitness routine?
Thanks to everyone who posted comments and photos last week of your favorite vacations from 2008. Your photos, stories and travel ideas were great. Check out the gallery of pictures. Here’s to even better travels in 2009!
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