Favorite Vacation Spots

You can fall in love at first sight with a place as well as a person.
-- Alec Waugh

Hello, dear reader, and welcome.

Someone asked recently where our 'favorite' place is. That's a hard question to answer.

Home comes first, filled with memories and favorite things. It's the refuge we come back to after we've been away.

Our favorite seashore is Virginia Beach for sentimental reasons. We started going there when our daughter was small. We've been dozens of times, and keep going back. Another favorite is Ft. Meyers in Florida, again for sentimental reasons. It was my dad's favorite – the place he took us for Christmases long ago. After that, it's anywhere with sun and sand …

For mountains, Aspen CO tops the list. It's not at chic as some other resorts in the Rockies, but it's filled with historic flavor in a beautiful setting. Of course, the Great Smokies are also magnificent. We see them more often since we live east of the great Mississippi.

For fun, it's Oatman AZ, a real 'ghost' town, turned tourist mecca and artist colony on old Route 66. Clark Gable and Carole Lombard honeymooned there. We also enjoyed Williams AZ, a former pony express stop and rail depot, also on Route 66. It's now home to the Grand Canyon Railway – an experience in itself, and a great way to see the Grand Canyon.

We'll tell you more about each of them in future posts. You can also join our mailing list at www.touringwithus.com to get our monthly travelzine. It's loaded with travel trivia, vacation ideas, tour and cruise information, and some fun. We hope you'll join our TWU family – whether you're an armchair traveller or a vagabond. Happy travels!

Mini-Vacations not "Nay-cations"

Just read an article telling the reader that 2009 will be the year of "nay-cations". He listed nine reasons why Americans will say NO to travel, among them: the economy, the hassle, and the added costs/fees/surcharges.

I'd like to disagree. Giving up vacations is like giving up chocolate! No matter how tough life gets, we still need to reward ourselves with things to look forward to ... things to enjoy. Travel is important to personal well-being.

Here are some tips to make your vacation planning more cost-effective.

Mini-Vacations Not "Nay-cations" - Seven Money-saving Travel Tips

Don't give up the things that keep us sane. Knowing there's a trip in your future gives you something to look forward to. Happy Traveling!

Mini-vacations: easy, economical and everywhere!

Have you made plans yet
for your annual vacation?
Are you thinking about
the fun and relaxation,
Or are you bumming
about the airfare or fuel expense?
The cost of a hotel for a week or more?

Here's a suggestion …
plan shorter trips
more often,
closer to home.

Mini-vacations are a great way to add
more playtime to your life without a lot of expense.

Explore your own hometown like a tourist.
Then explore the next town!
Pick a destination that's only a few hours away
for a quick three-day getaway.

Then let us know how much fun you had!
We'd love to hear your vacation stories.
Happy travels!