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Dream Destinations for a Delightful Thanksgiving Day

By Liz Kaadou

Need a little pick-me-up when turkey time rolls around this year? Instead of spending the holidays at home slaving over dinner preparations and autumn decor, why not explore a few cities stuffed to the brim with enticing Thanksgiving festivities. Take a scrumptious bite out of these delicious destination getaways. Whether you are looking for adventure, warmth, tradition or family fun- these cities offer a Thanksgiving menu packed with spectacular specials guaranteed to make you say YUM!

 

NEW YORK CITY - The City That Never Sleeps literally lives up to its name for the Thanksgiving season.  The city boasts the beloved Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, filled with flying-high floats, marvelous marching bands and guest appearances from some of your favorite celebs. Catch a Broadway play, ice skate in Rockefeller Center, and if you are really daring- join the crazy crowds on Black Friday for some serious sales on Saks Fifth Avenue.

 

PHOENIX, ARIZONA - We can thank the Native Americans for the time-honored traditions of tummy-filling turkey, scrumptious sweet potatoes and succulent cranberry sauce.  Since Thanksgiving would not exist without them, why not spend the holidays in the proud home of numerous Indian Reservations, like the Navajo Reservation.  Learn about their history and culture with a tour of the Heard Museum or take a walk down the Apache Trail.

 

DENVER, COLORADO - Ski-lovers around the world get ready to slither down the slopes.  November marks the start of ski season with the opening of some of Colorado’s riveting resorts, including Aspen, Breckenridge and Cooper Mountain. What better way to spend Turkey Day than feeling the rush of the slopes followed by a delectable and delicious meal? 

 

MIAMI, FLORIDA -  The Magic City offers travelers a mix of warmth and winter with its famous North Miami Winternational Thanksgiving Day Parade.  Enjoy sunny weather with a winter theme! Plus, you can take a dip in the glistening waters of South Beach and pick and chose from exceptional eateries!

For even more Thanksgiving Day destinations, Click Here.

Source: www.vacationrentals.com

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Unknown Tourist Attractions Around the Globe

By Liz Kaadou

Looking for a little slice of private paradise? We all know about the tourist hot-spots around the globe like Paris, New York and Milan, but what about those hidden hideaways tucked away somewhere in between? Here are a few of the best kept secret tourist attractions anxiously awaiting your arrival.

Graskop, South Africa- a small town perched in the Panorama tourist region of Mpumalanga, South Africa.  Boasting a mix of hip-hop artists and Afrikaner farmers, this secret destination offers up traditional African culture and art.  It is also only a few minutes from some of Earth's wonders, like God's Window, the Lisbon Waterfalls and Blyde River Canyon. Known for its gold panning, abseiling and river rafting, this is the perfect place for any adventure seeking traveler!

Weymouth, England- situated along the English Channel and surrounded by sandy, sunshine filled beaches and beautiful Georgian homes, this large town is home to one of the best diving locations in the world. Waters surrounding the city are riddled with Roman shipwrecks and submarines from both world wars.  The beaches attract thousands of visitors each summer with firework festivals and drag boat racing. If you are looking for a little English charm, this is definitely the place to be.

Willunga, Australia- take a drip down under and experience a taste of heaven, with an overflow of red wines and local pizza parlors. This trendy town is situated in the McLaren Vale area and is home to numerous festivals including the Tour Down Under and the historic Almond Blossom Festival. It also encompasses a number of beaches for sunny family outings and barbeque's.

Gaziantep, Turkey- the aroma of flavorful, exotic foods and spices fill the air of this popular province in south central Turkey.  Home to the breathtakingly gorgeous Gaziantep castle, this province is known for its use of a scrumptious secret ingredient in almost all of its savory dessert dishes - pistachios!

Source: Hotel & Resort Insider

For more travel ideas from RTM, visit our Travel Channel.

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Take a Vacation - At Home!

By Liz Kaadou

 

Not much bang for the buck these days when it comes to traveling? With the current state of our economy, the last thing you need to worry about is purchasing pricey airline tickets and shelling out your savings account for a swanky hotel stay.  It may be time to rethink the traditional vacation, and opt for a more convenient, economical choice, otherwise known as a “staycation.” This new travel trend simply means spending your vacation in the comfort of your own home and saving tons of money while you're at it.  Even though you won’t be soaking up the sun along the beach, these simple suggestions will make other travelers green with staycation envy.

 

1) Explore your own city – dig a little deeper for hidden treasures right under your nose. Most cities have fun festivals during the year, house community centers that offer theater productions, free dance classes and art exhibits, and many even have historical districts with antique shops and exceptional eateries. Check out local parks or lakes in the area for a little fishing fun or picnic party. It’s okay to be a tourist for the week, remember you are on vacation!

 

2) Unplug yourself – if you were flying high in the sky all electronic devices would have to be turned off, so adhere to vacation rules and wander far away from the wireless world.  After all, the whole idea of a vacation is to escape reality for a few days, so set your phone to go to voicemail and check your messages periodically like you would on a traditional vacation.

 

3) Travel the World in a Week – invite friends to your staycation and pick destination theme nights for everyday of the week. Themes could range from "a night in Paris" to "a luau in Hawaii." 

4) Family Adventure Week - spend your staycation as a family. Plan a fun adventure for the week like building a tree house, having a family talent show contest or even creating a time capsule and filling it with great memories. 

For more travel ideas from RTM, visit our Travel Channel.

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Halloween Celebrations All Over the World

Halloween's not just an American holiday, even though almost as much money is spent on it as Christmas in the States. These countries do Halloween up just as well:

Ireland – the Emerald Isle is known for being the originator of Halloween, where Samhain started. Halloween is celebrated widely with large street parties, bonfires and fireworks. Dublin will host its Halloween Festival and Parade, where ghostly creatures take to the highways and byways of the city.

UK – Halloween is well celebrated in the UK especially with children, but adults also get in on the action too. One of the more interesting events this year is the London Zombie walk, where hundreds of people dressed as the undead will walk through the streets of the capital, moaning and groaning as they visit twelve pubs along the way.

Mexico – The Day of the Dead which occurs on the 1st and 2nd of November is dedicated to the celebration of those who have died. It is a joyous festival because it’s believed that this is when lost ones return to earth to visit their families and friends. The celebrations see bright street carnivals with elaborate costumes, skulls and coffins paraded through cities, towns and villages throughout the country.

Germany – While Halloween is still quite a new tradition, it has become increasingly popular with children and adults alike since the 90s. One of the most well visited Halloween events is the festival celebrated at Castle Frankenstein near Frankfurt/Main. Visitors will feel a ghostly chill as 77 zombies follow them through the darkness and hair-raising shows loom behind every corner.

Madagascar – Halloween is little celebrated on this island off the east coast of Africa, but Madagascans do have a particularly unusual way of honoring their dead. The ‘turning of the bones’ is an ancient ritual where the tombs of the dead are opened, the remains removed, dressed in fresh clothes and then passed around and danced with by friends and relatives.

Source: Skyscanner.com 
Picture: CC BY 2.0   

 

For more travel ideas from RTM, visit our Travel Channel.

 

 

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The Top Five Most Haunted Hotels in America

These five hotels may seem just like normal places to visit, with their wonderful amenities, pools and customer service. But if you ask the right people, you could end up convinced that they are haunted - try staying there and you'll know for sure. This top five guide will tell you exactly where to stay and what to expect, in the chances that one of the supposed ghosts will give you a haunt!

 

1. Hotel Provincial: New Orleans, Louisiana - In the center of New Orleans' French Quarter, this gorgeous and charming Victorian hotel used to house a military hospital and 19th century living quarters. Ghost sightings (particularly of soldiers) and other haunted happenings have been reported by numerous honeymooners and guests. Try buliding number five, apparently it is the most haunted of all.

 

2. The Heathman Hotel: Portland, Oregon - This urban hotel in the heart of downtown Portland has a strange "3" enigma. Only guests that stay in a room whose last digits are "03" report strange events - especially room 703, where a man was supposedly almost suffocated by his bed sheets before his suitcases were thrown at him by a dark man who disappeared into the closet.

3. The Carolina Inn: Chapel Hill, North Carolina - Paranormal investigators have documented 20 ghosts in this historic, southernly charming hotel. Guests report being followed by a man who disappears when they turn around. There is another ghost who walks the halls trying to find a door that isn't locked.

 

4. The Sagamore Resort: Bolton Landing, New York - This sports paradise situated in the Adirondack Mountains is said to be home to many lost spirits, like a lost little boy, abusive couple, and a lady in white who blows a cold chill upon sleeping guests' eyelids.

 

5. The Crescent Hotel: Eureka Springs, Arkansas - This hotel has quite an extensive history, but in the '30's one crazy doctor made it into a "hospital and health care center", where the miracle cure was to drink the water. It is now said that the spring water flowing beneath the hotel is high in energy, attracting lost spirits. It is reported that the hotel is haunted by Dr. Norman Baker and other ghosts, some dressed like an assortment of cancer patients, waiters, or even construction workers.

 

(Source: Haunted America Tours)

 

For more about haunted hotels from RTM, read Spooky Stays at America's Haunted Houses.

 

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Oh, the Wonders of Travel: Coming Back Home

By Sara Hoffman

As someone who's been traveling back and forth, this way and that way her whole life, I've always experienced a twinge of homesickness upon arrival home from a vacation or even a little trip. Yep, homesick for vacation - talk about confused. But coming home is a wonder of travel, too - right up there with experiencing other cultures, meeting new people, and having fresh experiences. Home looks different from elsewhere - from a plane, a boat, or even the expressway.

Travel makes you see things differently, including the way you see life at home. Gazing out the window of an airplane literally offers a fresh view of your hometown - all the roads you drive and places you visit are dwarfed in landscapes not noticeable from the ground. Sure, it could make home seem dreary or stressful in comparison to some sunny island resort, or hilly mountain region, but it also makes you appreciate those everyday comforts - luxurious or not - and the people you get to come home to.

Travel time, whether driving or riding along, has always been a time - and is now one of the only times - for me to think and reflect on life. That reflective thought combined with the new experiences of travel and reminiscent experience of coming home can be, well, kinda magical.

And if there's no room for a vacation this month, try Google maps.

For more travel writing from RTM, visit our Humorous Road Trip page.

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Hotel Safety Tips

The biggest thing when traveling away from home is making sure you are safe. When staying in a hotel it’s important to safeguard yourself and your belongings, and its very easy to do when following these tips.

Once you get to your room, keep these tips in mind:

• Keep the room door locked, especially deadbolts.

• Do not let anyone in your room without properly identifying them first. Use the door's peep hole, if there's any question concerning the person's identity, ring the front desk as soon as possible.

• Safeguard your room key at all times. Do not give your key to others. Do not leave your key in the room or in the door.

• Find the location of the two exits nearest your room. Also, count the number of doors between your room and the nearest exit so you will have a reference point if the hallway is smoky. Locate alarms and extinguishers in your area. Look out the window and note height and surroundings for reference.

Click here for a complete list of hotel safety tips.

 

Bargaining in a Tough Market

Whether you're scrounging around the local flea or hunting for treasures in bazaars around the world, you can strike a great deal if you know how to play the game. Hone your skills with these ten tips from "The Fearless Shopper":

1. Try to relax and have fun. It's a game, not a confrontation.

2. Comparison shop. Know the relative value of an item before haggling, to get a feel of the market. Observe how much the locals are buying and paying for items.

3. Before you bargain for anything, decide "What is this worth to me?" and "What is the most I am willing to pay?" Then ask the price. That way you'll know how much bargaining room you have.

4. If a merchant asks an absurd price, offer an equally ridiculous low price. You'll probably meet somewhere in the middle. But if you start in the middle, you'll have less room to maneuver and you'll pay more than you should.

More tips for bargaining your way through the market.

 

 

Tips for Healthy Travel

Each year millions of Americans travel abroad. In 2002, 849 cases of malaria reported to CDC were related to travel overseas. Of the approximately 400 cases of typhoid fever each year in the U.S., 70% are related to trips abroad. In 1997, 40% of all preventable deaths of U.S.citizens abroad were due to injuries.

The good news is that most travel-related sickness and injury can be prevented. You are likely to be a traveler who has an enjoyable trip free from illness or injury when you follow these tips:

·          Be informed: Learn about health risks at your travl destination.

·          Be ready: Get any vaccinations or medications you will need.

·          Be smart while traveling: Make sure you follow travel safety tips and guidelines.

Read more about how to stay safe and healthy abroad.

Ice Climbing Adventures

In Vermont, where winters envelope residents in powder, sleet, freezing rain and subzero temperatures for up to six months. Its tempting to hibernate indoors; however, that is just not possible. While spinning or kickboxing at the local gym have their merit, they lack the appeal of being outdoors. Many might choose a day of skiing but why not forgo these usual activities to try ice climbing. After all, Vermont is legendary among those who climb vertical glass.

"Vermont is one of the best places in North America to ice climb," says Alden Pellett, a well-respected climber and professional photographer from Burlington.

The Bristol Cliffs nestled on the west of the Green Mountains south of Burlington is the best destination for ice climbing. Bristol Cliffs is a 80-foot wide, 220-foot high slope of cascading ice, rolling down from the roof in a 40-degree pitch. At the very top lies a swath of vertical ice, ice climber's nirvana.

Read one writer's experience with ice climbing.