Archive for the ‘Travel’ Category
What Are Camping Showers?
December 22nd, 2010 |What Are Camping Showers?
Camping is a beloved pastime for many American families. Many people use camping as a cheap way to take a vacation. Still others see camping as a destination in and of itself–getting out into the wilderness and enjoying the great outdoors.
Camping showers are exactly what they sound like–portable hot water and shower systems that are designed to be used on a campsite. Camping showers range from propane heated tubs to vehicle-mounted complete hot water shower systems. Some camping showers use the heat of the campfire to warm water for bathing and…
How Do You Get a Passport?
April 15th, 2010 |How Do You Get a Passport?
A passport is an easily recognized travel document authorizing travel and identifying you. You need a passport to enter and return to the US from most countries. Get a US passport through the government, not commercial passport application agencies, even if rushing a US passport application.
Get a Passport Wallet
Prepare to pay a little bit — the US passport fee is $100 if you are over 18 (good for ten years) and $85 if you are 17 or under. The “youth passport” is only good for five years.
In order to…
What Are Gift Experiences?
April 13th, 2010 |What Are Gift Experiences?
A “gift experience” is any gift that allows the receiver to have a completely interactive experience. As opposed to regular gifting, in which you give a person a wad of cash or a new pair of boxers, “gift experiences” are usually one-time-only experiences that last for a few hours.
Gift Experience Vouchers and Certificates
What Are Some Examples of Gift Experiences?
The term “gift experiences” covers a huge variety of gifts, from skydiving trips to rock-climbing, surfing, and even all-day spa visits. Here’s a short list of some…
Is It Illegal to Drive Barefoot?
March 10th, 2010 |Editor’s Note as of July 26, 2010 — Apparently the original post below was in error. Rather than delete it, we’ve left it here in its entirety, along with the comments correcting the error. We apologize that the original author of this post made this mistake, and we’re taking steps to make sure this kind of mistake doesn’t happen again.
Is It Illegal to Drive Barefoot?
There’s nothing like the feel of the open road — just you, your car, and miles of highway stretching off into the distance. Driving is the definition of freedom, a past time as American…
Is It Illegal to Sleep In Your Car?
March 9th, 2010 |Is It Illegal to Sleep In Your Car?
We’ve all been on a long distance car trip and felt the need to pull over for a quick rest. In fact, most driver’s education programs advice just that for road weariness — pull safely to the side of the road and take a nap. “Sleeping it off” is much safer than pressing on to the next available motel or to your final destination. Road weariness leads to more accidents than anything besides drunken driving.
The question many people have is “Is it illegal to sleep in your car?”
Legalities of Sleeping…
What Are the Most Famous Places in the World?
February 18th, 2010 |What Are the Most Famous Places in the World?
Some spots on Earth are so beautiful or unique in a way that makes them stand out. From the canals of Venice to bright lights of Broadway, there are a few places on the map that are recognizable to any human anywhere on the planet.
Here are the top ten most famous places on Earth in no particular order.
1. The Kremlin
The Kremlin is really one of a series of fortified units within Russia, but the one in Moscow is the most famous. Kremlins are Russian-style citadels usually befit with…
Where Are the Most Beautiful Places in the World?
February 17th, 2010 |Where are the most beautiful places in the world?
Beauty is a subjective trait — what is beautiful to one person may be detestable to another.
I’ve picked five of the most beautiful spots on Earth to highlight. This list is a mix of man made and natural beauty and contains five sites that no one could argue with.
Looking for a vacation to a truly unforgettable location? Any one of these spots would be the trip of a lifetime.
The Grand Canyon
The only American site on our list is maybe the grandest of all the natural beauty in…
Where Are the Best Historical Places to Visit?
February 16th, 2010 |Where Are the Best Historical Places to Visit?
Even though our country is relatively young compared to the rest of the world, we have amazing historical places to visit right here in America. You probably don’t have to travel very far from your neighborhood to see these historic sites.
Here’s a short list of my favorite American historical places to visit.
North
Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum — Springfield, Illinois
Lots of places lay claim to Lincoln, from the small town in Kentucky where he was born to several sites in southern Illinois looking…
Where Can You Find the Cheapest Hotels?
February 13th, 2010 |Where Can You Find the Cheapest Hotels?
Finding cheap hotels is easy using the Internet. There are plenty of websites advertising cheap hotel rates and package deals. Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is poring over hundreds of hotel deals and gimmicky websites to find a good deal.
We’re going to talk about a few of the most popular discount hotel websites and test them by looking for the same hotel stay on different sites. For this article, we’re booking a weekend hotel in Boston in March.
Priceline
These guys are known for having goofy commercials and offering…
Where Can You Find the Cheapest Flights and Airline Tickets?
February 11th, 2010 |Where Can You Find the Cheapest Flights and Airline Tickets?
Just a few years ago there were only a handful of websites offering cheap airline tickets. These days you have so many options it’s easy to get lost. Since you’ll be paying pretty much the same price at a lot of different websites, it becomes important to know how these services rate in terms of customer satisfaction.
Here’s a breakdown of three popular sources of cheap flights on the Internet.
Cheap Tickets
Deal we found — Round trip ticket from Dallas / Ft. Worth to Boston, $190
Everyone talks about…
Where Are the Best Places to Elope?
January 27th, 2010 |Where are the best places to elope?
The best places to elope are places with lax marriage laws and beautiful scenery.
Eloping is a lost art. There was a time in our history when sneaking away with your lover to get married was downright honorable.
People elope to sneak out of a bad situation or to get married without parental approval. These days, some people elope just for the heck of it — they see it as a unique alternative to a traditional wedding.
Certain parts of the country are better destinations to head for if you’re planning on eloping;…
Where Are the Best Places to Propose?
January 25th, 2010 |Where are the best places to propose?
If you have a little cash saved away you can make your proposal really memorable.
Here are the ten best places to propose, according to me:
1. The Taj Mahal
The Taj Mahal is a monument to love that outlasts life. If you propose in the early morning or late evening hours, you’ll avoid the overcrowded Taj Mahal atmosphere and the white marble of the monument will glow with the sun’s rays.
2. Niagara Falls
Niagara Falls has been synonymous with romance for decades. Niagara Falls offers massive waterfalls and romantic walks. It’s…
Where Are the Best Places to SCUBA Dive?
January 16th, 2010 |Where are the best places to SCUBA dive?
Choosing the right spot for your SCUBA experience means considering the quality of diving as well as the quality of “topside”. After all, you can’t spend all your time underwater. (Fifty Places to Dive Before You Die offers a lot more information about the best places to SCUBA dive, but we’re going to tackle the subject a little more briefly here ourselves.)
To pick a diving spot, first decide what type of sights you want to see and how hard you’re willing to work to get to a solid dive experience. Looking…
Where Are the Best Places to Study Abroad?
January 15th, 2010 |Where are the best places to study abroad?
Avoiding the Groucho Marx joke I could make about “studying a broad”, choosing a location outside of America to go to for a semester or two of college could mean the difference between an exciting educational experience and a run of the mill one.
More people are studying abroad these days, most likely due to more university participation in study abroad programs.
Studying abroad is an opportunity to learn about another culture, to learn a new subject, to experience life outside the US, and to expand your mind in all sorts of…
Where Are the Best Places to Honeymoon?
January 13th, 2010 |What are the best places to honeymoon?
Modern Bride magazine published the results of a poll about the best honeymoon vacation spots.
Here are the 10 best places to honeymoon and a few notes about each destination.
Hawaii
It’s a cliche to say you’re going to Hawaii for your honeymoon. But stereotypes exist for a reason. This is the number one Honeymoon destination because the word Hawaii is synonymous with luxury, beauty, and relaxation. Whether you want long walks on the beach, thrilling watersports and activities, or great food and drink, Hawaii’s the perfect spot for a honeymoon.
Italy
Romantic…
Where Are the Best Places to Travel?
January 9th, 2010 |Where are the best places to travel?
Figuring out the best place for you to travel is a matter of deciding what kind of trip you want to have and picking a spot. Simple as that — just decide if you want a budget vacation, an exotic destination, or a family-themed getaway.
Best Budget Travel Spots
If you’re trying to make your money stretch a little further, you’re going to have to vacation to places where the US Dollar is strong against the local currency. If you’ve been keeping an eye on the financial section of your local
…
How Do I Buy the Best GPS Navigation System for My Car
October 27th, 2009 |Buying an Affordable GPS System Suited to Your Needs
Buying the best GPS navigation system for your car situation often comes down to deciding how much you want to spend on a GPS navigation unit. There are a few particulars about the GPS systems that work better for one customer than others, such as in-dash GPS or portable GPS units.
There are a few frills that some people have to have (like voice-activated GPS), while others only want a GPS unit that gives them the information they need. So buying the best GPS system for you is getting a piece…
How Do I Reserve Child Safety Seats with a Car Rental?
October 26th, 2009 |Reserving Child Safety Seats at a Car Rental Service
When you’re renting a car from a car rental service, there are likely to be dozens of questions you have about how the car rental works. When you’re preparing for a car trip with your family in a rental car, there are going to be even more items you need to pack in your luggage and things to bring along on your trip.
One set of items you can’t forget is the child safety seats, which can get lost in the shuffle of a big trip and the normal hassles of…
How Old Do You Have to Be to Rent a Hotel Room?
October 19th, 2009 |How Old Do You Have To Be To Rent a Hotel Room in the United States?
18 is a good rule of thumb, if you have a picture I.D. and a credit card or debit card. In most hotel chains in the United States, customers need to be 18 years of age to rent a hotel room. The age is often 17 in Canada. With locally-owned hotels, the age of motel rental is often left to the discretion of the hotel owners or the staff on hand when you ask to rent a room.
As big of an issue as…
How to Fend Off a Shark Attack
September 11th, 2009 |How to Fend Off a Shark Attack
So you’re in Australia on your dream vacation. One minute you’re snorkeling with the family, wondering what you’ll eat for dinner, not thinking about work, maybe you’re even a little bit happy. Suddenly, below you, the distinct outline of a shark appears. Before the hair on the back of your neck has time to settle, three more sharks appear. This is not good.
If you know how to fend off a shark attack, you’ll be less likely to soil your wetsuit should you find yourself in this scenario.
The best way…
What Is Bloomsday?
June 16th, 2009 |What is Bloomsday?
Every June 16th, people gather in Dublin, Ireland to celebrate the life and works of Irish writer James Joyce. The day, known as Bloomsday, is a chance for fans of Joyce and his novel Ulysses to relive the events of that novel, all of which took place on June 16th in Dublin in the year 1904. The name “Bloomsday” comes from Leopold Bloom, the protagonist of the novel Ulysses. Interestingly enough, June 16th was also the date of Joyce’s first lengthy date with his future wife Nora Barnacle. On June 16th, the young couple walked to…
When Will the Statue of Liberty’s Crown Re-open for Tourists?
May 8th, 2009 |When will the Statue of Liberty’s crown re open for tourists?
There is good news for people traveling to New York City this summer. One of the most popular spots for tourists will be open for traffic after nearly 8 years. The Statue of Liberty’s crown, an observation area high above Liberty Island with great views of the New York City skyline and bridges, will reopen on the 4th of July. Millions of tourists have made the trek up winding staircases and elevators to get a view from Lady Liberty’s crown. The crown was closed after the September 11 terror…
What Is the “Body Worlds” Exhibit?
May 8th, 2009 |What is the “Body Worlds” exhibit?
Body Worlds is a traveling exhibition by German anatomist Gunther von Hagens in which human and other animal bodies are preserved and displayed through a special process invented by von Hagens known as “plastination”.
The exhibit is controversial for its gruesome display of the deceased, often posed in humorous or even erotic positions. There have been 6 unique Body Worlds presentations since the exhibition’s inception in 1995, and the exhibits have traveled to over 50 museums in America, Europe, and Asia.
Each Body Worlds exhibition contains around 25 full body “plastinates” with special views…
The World’s Best Places to Live in 2009
May 1st, 2009 | Looking for a new place to live? Here are some of the best places in the world to live in 2009, along with some details on each city.