Labels: Cristina Valdivieso, Jon Connor, New York, New York City, Travel Videos

As it snow falls outside and I contemplate exactly if I am ready to walk outside and play. Perhaps I can just stay inside, stay warm, enjoy the beautiful outdoors from the indoors and reflect of the summer that seemed to just pass by. Then I remember that I am going to Asia next Thursday and all that comes to mind is this song by Yeasayer.

"Wait for Summer"
Yeasayer
All Hour Cymbals

Labels: All Hour Cymbals, Music, Music Videos, Travel, Travel Songs, Wait For Summer, Yeasayer

If I had a large amount of disposable income then I would have to say that a ticket to anywhere would be the best travel gift for all Holidays. Alas, such is not the case and I immediately default to what you can buy for when you travel.

Books were an escape for me when I was younger and adventure books have always been a favorite (go figure). I would get lost in the stories and often see myself as the protagonist. It so happens that I found a gift that can sweep kids away even more effectively and I think it will be my signature Christmas gift to all my little cousins and friends' children going forward.

Little Heroes creates adventure books for children starring your little kid! Meaning, if you want to make your aspiring little paleontologist go back in time to see the world filled with dinosaurs, you can have a customized adventure book designed to do just that. In fact, why send him there all by himself? Send the whole family! It is not just a name that changes but everything from hair color to glasses or you can even take a stab at illustrating your own family members!

Labels: Adveture Books, Books, Children's Books, Christmas Gift, Little Heroes, Travel Gifts

I have now had a chance to ride all the major bus fleets from DC to New York including Greyhound. Quite frankly, I am going to exclude Greyhound from this list because they seriously fall flat on their face when it comes to this simple shuttle service. Ok, so let's start with the basic stats (click to enlarge).


My top three are in the following order: Bolt, DC2NY and Mega Bus and here is why:

3rd Place Mega Bus: If you book way in advance you can score $1 one way tickets, they have wireless internet and outlets to plug into. Three things I don't like about them 1. They stop in Baltimore but don't stop where you can jump off to get a snack 2. They are a double-decker bus so they have to take a specific route that I learned is not the fast way. 3. If you ride at the top level of the bus while the driver goes fast, it can be a bit nauseating since it is top heavy and you feel every sway with every turn, change of lane or the forward thrust when the driver steps on the breaks.


2nd Place DC2NY: Decently prices tickets with complimentary water and wireless Internet. The ride is generally smooth, efficient and the driver is kind enough to take a vote asking the customers if they would like a movie and if they would want to take a rest stop. They have two stops but both are in DC and both are conveniently located feet from the metro entrances.


1st Place Bolt Bus: It has all the amenities of Mega Bus, same ticket price offerings but the ride is smoother, faster and they don't stop twice unless it is in the departing/arriving city. They also don't stop at rest stops, which I like because it makes getting between the two cities so much faster.

Labels: Bolt Bus, Bus, DC2NY, Greyhound Bus, New York City, Vamoose, Washington DC

Looking for that wilderness adventure with a twist? Check out Trekamerica's twelve day Twilight tour where Twi-hards can follow in the footsteps of their favorite vampire, or warewolf...or teenage girl that fell in love with a dead guy; your choice.


The tour includes:

Forks and La Push Twilight Tour
Sightseeing locations used in the Twilight Movie
Nocturnal Kayak Tour
Puget Sound Ferry Ride
National Parks and Monuments: Mount Rainier, Mount St. Helens, and Olympic.
Services of a TrekAmerica tour leader
All transportation by private adventure vehicle
11 nights camping fees & equipment (except sleeping bag)

Yeah, but WHICH places in the movie??

That place where Edward and Bella go on a date, and that book store she goes to! oh oh, and the field Cullens played baseball. O - M - G!

Well, it is not my bag of crisps but anything to get the kids (or obsessed girlfriend in late twenties) out of the house on a tour of the wilderness is a good thing right? What about cultural impact? Well, for one, don't expect to be immersed in local culture and two expect to be laughed at by the locals as they watch you go by simultaneously reconsidering their moving to Canada.

Labels: Oregon, Tilight Tour, Trekamerica, Twihard, Vampire, Warewolf

I traveled the world with my father quite a bit and for that I am eternally grateful because it made me who I am today and sparked my crusade to inspire people to travel. I have always been asked, "Were there any trips you did not like?" and the answer is; sure there was. For me it was the occasional resort and traveling with other families that were truly a drag. It honestly was not that bad, but then again, what would be? What could possibly be the worst place to bring a teenager?

Here, I present to you, ten places to never bring your teenager on vacation. While you are reading this, put yourself back to those days of long drives with mom and dad - this is important, you have to think like a teenager here. Think of teenage road trip essentials & the arsenal of technology; iPod/MP3 player, magazines, Axe and Bliss products, laptop, PSP, iPhone/cell, digital cam, a lot of attitude and maybe a Flip Cam. Now imagine that all those things got all used up/ran out of power during your two week trip through the Steppes. Uh-oh is right.

Before we continue, I know some of these places are beautiful and I understand that there is no chance you would venture to a few of them on your own, let alone with your child. Although, I have to say, that most people would be surprised as to where people bring their children. Honestly.

That being said, hold on to your printed boxer shorts and ponytails here we go on a list starting from "If there is a God please send me home" to "This is sooooo boring my face is melting."


Kids LOVE Christmas but being in Santa Clause, Indiana where it is Christmas 365 days a year would surely send your teenager through the roof. Not only that, imagine the hours of PR work they would have to clock in after you post that family picture on Facebook and tag them for all their friends to see, ugly sweaters with Santa and all.

Labels: Barrow, Chernobyl Ukraine, Family Travel, Fantazy Land, Greenland Ice Sheet, Gulag, Linfen, Santa Clause Indiana, Steppes, Traveling with Teenagers, Tristan de Cunha