Vacation Planning

What is it they say about the best laid plans of mice and men? They oft go astray? Yep, that’s me this week. I had hoped to have numerous destinations for New Year’s festivities, and it didn’t happen. I’ll approach that again at another time.

Tomorrow, I’ll announce the winner of the $25 gift card, and then on Monday, I’m going to start something new.

One of our readers suggested some sites in Montana, and I commented that we might do a 50 states in 50 days kind of tour. That was MUCH to ambitious, so instead, we’ll do 50 states in 50 weeks. For the next 50 weeks, we’ll tackle one state a week, 3 days a week. I’ll share with you destinations of special interest in each state, some of the history, some of the sites and must-sees or must-dos, and of course, we’ll have our foodie Fridays. too.

The states will be presented in random order, and because of the request I’ll start with Montana. If you have a request for a particular state, just leave it in the comments, and I’ll try to accomodate.

I’m enjoying sharing travel with you - and I’m enjoying the community we’re building. Hope  you’ll keep coming back and keep leaving comments.

I’m sure my next comment about Baltimore will come as no surprise to my regular readers. It’s one of my favorite places! (And for you new readers - I say that about almost any place I visit! I find some special about almost everywhere! There have only been a couple of places I’ve been that I just didn’t like, and don’t want to return, but I still found something likeable there.)

The water taxis, the history, the ships, the museums, restaurants, the layout of the entire harbor - all of it is extra special, and will create a wonderful memory for you you and your family. The choices are almost endless, so keep searching until you find exactly what you want or need for lodging, dining, and entertainment options.

The Port Discovery Children’s Museum hosts an annual “Noontime New Year: An International Celebration,” highlighting a different country each year. This year Italy will be featured. Your kids will make their own noisemakers, and ring in the Noon hour with milk and cookies, and other activities and events throughout the day will teach the Italian culture. If you have kids, but can’t go, be sure to check out Port Discovery’s Web site - it’s fun and interactive and your children will have a blast!

Strolling around the Baltimore Harbor is special enough, but New Year’s Eve is spectacular. From 9 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. New Year’s Eve, the Ports American New Year’s Eve Spectacular pulls out all the stops, with live music and entertainment, and of course fireworks!

 Check out Baltimore, and let me know what you think!

Last week in all the discussion about holidays, I focused on Thanksgiving and Christmas destinations. This week, I’ll tackle destinations sure to make your New Year’s Eve celebrations memorable.

Roanoke County, Virginia makes a GREAT destination if you like variety! Vinton hosts Enchanted Eve, a family-friendly celebration, complete with entertainment, activities, and alcohol-free. Purchase buttons online in advance to save a few dollars, or purchase tickets at the gate. Even at full price, the tickets are reasonably priced.

Revelers will each be given a “passport” to visit seven “ports” through the downtown area - a Venetian Carnival, Hawaiian Islands, Japan, France, and more. Musicians and entertainers offer a wide variety, too, including rock & roll, jazz, a ventriloquist, comedians, Celtic Music and Fire Dancers.

And of course, fireworks top off the evening!

Dublin offers a Hillbilly Opry New Year’s Eve Dance at the McGuire’s Family Campground.

Floyd Country Store offers an alcohol-free celebration with bluegrass music and dancing.

In Roanoke, the New Year rings in formally at the New Year’s Eve Gala at the Hotel Roanoke. Dinner, dancing, live music, and a champagne toast round out the evening.

These are just a very few of the offerings in Roanoke County. Check out this page for a complete listing, with choices for parties, foodies, and even the budget-conscious.

Tomorrow, another New Year’s Destination. Do you have a favorite for your own celebrations? Share them with us!

Last quarter, my Pix-N-Pens blog participated in the Bloggy Carnival and we had great fun, so I’ve decided to participate with all my blogs this quarter.

Here at Vacation Planning, we’ll give away a $25 Amazon Gift card - perfect time to buy that next travel guide! All you have to do is look through all the other posts on this blog and leave a comment on one of those posts. The comment must be relevant, and not just a simple “great post.” You may enter up to 3 times, but each entry must be on a different post, and must apply to that particular post.

Deadline is Friday, October 31st, midnight (central time). I’ll announce the winner one day next week.

Be sure to leave your e-mail address in your post so I’ll have a way to contact you if you win!

For a chance to win other prizes, check out my two other blogs - Peace and Quiet and Pix-N-Pens, and then check out Bloggy Carnivals - a huge list of contests happening this week only!

Since I’m doing destinations this week, I decided to tell you about a tiny little spot near Lawton, Oklahoma, and the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge, where you’ll see buffalo, deer, elk, bison, and Longhorn cattle.

Meers was founded during the gold rush days, and became a mining town. During its peak, 500 residents lived in the town of drug stores, grocery stores, one cafe, and several doctors, but when the mines didn’t produce what was expected, the town dried up.

Fast forward to 1949 when Lee and Gladys Myers purchased the Meers store and expanded it to include living quarters. Gladys began making such delicious hamburgers that they sold over 14,000 in a year! (For a town the size of Meers at the time, that was a tremendous feat!)

The restaurant changed hands over the years, and the hamburgers were enlarged to a whopping 7″ to create the “world-famous” Meersburger, made with lean Longhorn beef raised by the owners of the store. It has been declared the “Best Burger in Oklahoma” and the restaurant has been visited by Food Network, and awarded by Bon Appetit as one of the “Top American Restaurants.” It’s also a favorite of the cowboys.

The restaurant offers it’s own Meers Gold Beer, barbecue, steaks, and a wide selection of other items on the menu.

You’ll have as much fun as I did when you visit - eat a burger for me!

Tip: Take your camera, and have it ready as you drive through the Refuge. You never know what wildlife you’ll spot!

Last year, we attended a writer’s conference in California, and since I was an independent contractor for a company in San Diego, we decided to make a stop there, too. I searched the area, and decided that La Jolla looked interesting.

When we arrived, I fell in love.

This charming, seaside city is adorable, fun, funky, unique. Here are some of the places we experienced:

La Jolla Inn - a small bed-and-breakfast with terrific ocean views. In fact, the photograph in the header of this blog - the surf - was taken from our hotel balcony. Personal service, breakfast served to your door, plush and comfy beds topped with handmade quilts - and all of it decorated beautifully - made our stay memorable and delightful. The Inn only has 23 rooms and 2 suites, and is located on a prime corner so that almost anything you want to see or do is within easy walking distance.

Jack’s of La Jolla - unique property with three (or more) restaurants all under one roof. We dined at the restaurant on the upper level - the Ocean Room. Food was delicious - seafood and grilled asparagus to die for! - and the atmosphere relaxing and pleasant. A talented piano player took requests and played our entire meal. Enjoyable experience all around. Reviews for the other restaurants are top-notch, and if we’d had time, we probably would have sampled them all! This business is ever-changing - new themes, menus, decor - so expect the unexpected when you visit.

La Jolla Cove - Walking beside the ocean is always one of my favorite parts of a beach trip, and La Jolla will always be one of my favorites. The terrain is absolutely beautiful and unique.

The Cave Store - La Jolla has seven sea caves, and through the Cave Store you can access only one by land. The rest are visible and accessible from the ocean only. The caves are definitely a MUST SEE.

Have you ever visited La Jolla? What’s your favorite spot?

For years, I’ve explored the idea of all-inclusive vacations - and eventually I’ll take one. The two biggest draws for me are the ease of planning an all-inclusive, and the final budget of knowing exactly how much we’ll spend. I was trying to think of the two biggest reasons NOT to take one of these vacations - and I haven’t come up with any! Have you experienced an all-inclusive before? Share with us some of your own thoughts below.

As you research, keep a few things in mind. First, you’ll need to decide what kind of vacation you want. Resorts offer a variety of options, and some of the things you’ll need to decide upon are:

Who are you traveling with? Family-friendly resorts are available if you’re taking the kiddos. But if you’re traveling as a couple, check into the Couples Only resorts. Be sure to check the ages allowed - there may be minimum age requirement at a few of the locations.

What activities do you enjoy? Golf may be included at some resorts, while skiing or scuba diving is offered at another. Some offer a little of it all. Some have spas, sports, casinos, numerous dining options, special activities for children. Explore all the options offered to make sure what’s included best fits your idea of vacation.

Where do you want to go? Is there a particular location you’re wanting to discover? Search for all-inclusives in the area you’d like to go.

Depending on the time of your travel, it’s a good idea to invest in travel insurance. Some of the resorts offer it themselves, but I’d check with a travel agent or do a search online and compare prices to make sure you’re getting the best deal. Check your chosen resort for their Hurricane Policy, too, if applicable.

Some companies have “add-on” fees for some activities, or events, or meals, or drinks, while others do not. Be sure to check the fine print, and ask any questions you may have before you make the reservation.

Look for the specials offered by each company. Some have seasonal specials, single-parent specials, or discounts for special events. If your schedule is flexible, plan your vacation to fit the deals.

Planning a wedding? Check into all-inclusives for special options. Some include a free wedding when you book the honeymoon!

Here are a few Web sites to help you get started:

Beaches - these all-inclusive resorts cater to families, with special activities planned for different age groups.

Sandals - Same company as beaches, but these resorts cater to couples only. Locations include Jamaica, St. Lucia, Antigua, and the Bahamas.

All-Inclusive Vacations - a “mega-store” for all sorts of all-inclusive vacations - an “online travel agency” for discounted vacations. This is a great site to do research on MANY types of vacations. I’ve never used this service, so I can’t offer a recommendation one way or the other, but their Web site is loaded with information to help you make wise choices for your vacation.

Club Med - You’ll find a variety of options here, including short stays, last-minute deals, and even a “7-Day Weekend.” One interesting note I discovered on their Web site - they work with Carbonfund.org to help reduce their carbon footprint. ClubMed resorts are located worldwide, and they even offer a Club Med cruise line.

SuperClub Resorts - These resorts include Breezes, Grand Lido, Hedonism, and Starfish.

Palace Resorts - Locations throughout Mexico and the Dominican Republic.

This is more than enough to whet your appetite for now. I’d love to hear a trip report if you’ve been to an all-inclusive, so share it with us!

Here are some more ideas for travel during the holidays. In researching these trips, I realized I’m much more familiar with locales east of the Mississippi - so if any of you out west have some favorite destinations, share them with us! Today, my focus is West, but I’m sure I’ve missed some great ones!

Guthrie, Oklahoma

I’ve mentioned this town once before, but it’s deserving of a second mention - and it’s one of my favorites. The yearly Territorial Christmas Celebration commences with a parade, the merchants light up their storefronts, and a Victorian Christmas is born. All throughout the month, special events mark the holidays - be sure to check out the Pollard Theatre, Byron’s Double Stop Fiddle Shop, and the Lazy E Arena.

Lindsborg, Kansas

If you love the holidays, and love staying busy, Lindsborg is a great place to be. Starting mid-November, this town knows how to celebrate. From Tis the Season Sundays, the annual Sweet Fest, the lighting of the Old Mill Bridge to the Old Fashion Christmas at the Old Mill Museum, the Lucia Festival, the Trail of Trees, and the Christmas parade, there’s always something festive for you and your family.

San Antonio, Texas

Thousands of lights and luminaries illuminate the River Walk from Thanksgiving to New Years, and special events take place all over the city during the holidays, including a River parade, street fair and market, an arts & crafts shopping celebration, concluding with a special New Year’s Eve celebration, San Antonio-style. The magic of San Antonio is learning to just rest in its culture, absorbing its personality. For those on a budget, San Antonio is a great choice - many of their attractions are free!

Monterey Bay, CA

Holiday events abound in this region of the country. In November, attend the Big Sur Harvest and Craft Fair in Monterey, the Holiday Tree lighting in Carmel, and the Parade of Lights in Salinas. Then in December, take your pick from the Streets of Bethlehem in Salinas, Cowboy Poetry and Music Festival  or Brighten the Harbor in Monterey, or several other festive events throughout the area. A visit to Fisherman’s Wharf is a must, as is Christmas in the Adobes.

Next week, I’ll provide some more destinations for the holidays - I hope you’ll share some of your favorites with us, too!

Several destinations were mentioned this week, so I’ll give you just a few ideas for dining in some of the locations. If you know of others - or discover others as you travel - keep us posted!

Plimouth Plantation, Plymouth Massachussetts:

This outdoor museum offers four dining options for Thanksgiving dinner. At Thanksgiving in the Courtyard, you’ll enjoy a full, traditional Thanksgiving dinner from turkey to cranberry sauce, desserts a la carte. Dinners are $16.99 for 2008, and no reservations are taken. Museum admission is required.  

For a less traditional meal, you can stroll the museum, and just pick up individual items that suit your fancy. Items such as clam chowder, deli sandwiches, hot cider or cocoa, and a full cocktail bar, are available a la carte throughout the day.

Reservations for the Thanksgiving Day buffet can be made as early as June each year, so two of the seatings are already sold out. You can still make reservations for the 11:00 a.m and the 6:00 p.m. seatings. The $64.95 price includes admission to the museum. Museum members will only pay $45.95.

A true Victorian dining experience is sold out for Thanksgiving Day, but if you don’t mind celebrating on Friday, reservations are still available. The $85.95 includes museum admission, and promises to be an experience you’re not soon to forget.

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania:

Talk of food in Philly isn’t complete without talk of the cheesesteak. I love the city of Philadelphia - I could actually imagine myself living there, as long as I lived right in the middle of the historic district. I’ve sampled all of the “major” players in Philly, so I’ll share my own assessment - realizing that all of this is subjective to each individual:

People-watchers or celebrity-spotters will enjoy Jim’s Steaks, 400 South Street. Expect to stand in line on the sidewalk, but it moves quickly, and it’s part of the experience. Celebrity photos cover every inch of wall space. Head to the back and take the stairs up for more seating options.

Geno’s Steaks, 1219 S. 9th Street, has a great reputation, and the ordering process is incredibly fast. Know what you want to order - exactly - before getting in line. No indoor dining, but plenty of picnic tables under awnings. They’re open 24/7 so if you get a craving, you’re in luck.

Pat’s King of Steaks, ”where 9th Street crosses Wharton and Passyunk Avenue,” is my favorite, with onions and Cheese Whiz. Truly a gourmet meal! They’re opened 24/7, closing only on Thanskgiving, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Eve. There’s usually a crowd gathered around the order window, but don’t let it scare you away. The wait is short, and well worth every second.

Chattanooga, Tennessee:

I’ve explored Chattanooga several times, and it remains one of my favorite places, too. Here are some of my faves:

Aretha Frankenstein’s - funky, fun place with a unique menu.

Chattanooga Southern Belle River Boat - festive, romantic, fun adventure, especially during the holiday season.  They offer several different options from November to January: Thanksgiving Cruise, Christmas Carol Dinner Cruises, Tis the Season Luncheon Cruises, and two special cruises for New Year’s Eve - an early bird dinner cruise, and the Gala cruise with light hors d’oeuvres.

The Station House Restaurant at the Chattanooga Choo-Choo: Steaks are delicious, and the servers are fun and talented - they entertain diners with a lively show, between service to your table. Talent and food are top quality.

There are not enough blog posts to cover all the great destinations for the holidays, so for this post and the one on Saturday, I’ll give you snippets of information about a handful of places and let you explore the ones that suit your fancy.

I tried sorting the destinations by holidays, but it was impossible. Then I tried by region - that’s a little easier, but still not very organized, so I’m just going to make a list:

Plimouth Plantation - great destination for Thanksgiving Day. You can tour the outdoor museum in about 3 hours, and have a choice of dining options. For this year, some of those options are already sold out, but there are others available on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Nantucket - from the Friday after Thanksgiving through December 31st, this island  hosts a month-long celebration beginning with the lighting of 150 Christmas trees, and “Christmas Stroll” weekends, complete with Victorian costumes, parades, bell ringers, performances, exhibitions, and more.

Philadelphia - I include this town because it’s one of my favorites, has a great Christmas parade, and it’s a short drive to Longwood Gardens.

Jefferson, Texas - another one of my favorite destinations. The town works as a whole to create an experience for you that you won’t soon forget. Touring of historic homes, a guided tour of the Big Cypress Bayou, a show at one of the many theaters or playhouses, and a wide range of dining options create an active and memorable vacation destination for the entire family.

I’ll add more in the coming days. Don’t forget, tomorrow I’ll do a roundup of dining options for FOODIE FRIDAY.