Vacation Planning

I’ve been struggling with the state topics each week, and the response hasn’t been overwhelming, so I’m changing up the format again for this blog and I’ll go back to providing vacation tips, hints, and more - randomly, so that I’ll provide more information for more people.

Hope that works for you.

Here’s a money-saving tip I learned last month, and it’s good again this month, so you may want to check it out to save $75!

Travelocity is having a “Holiday Bonus” sale. If you book three nights with a hotel listed on their site, and pay with a MasterCard, you can save $75 off your total stay. You must enter the code BONUS75 when you check out. They seem to have taken the “Holiday Bonus” logo off the site this week (it was there last week) but enter the code anyway - it’s good through December 31st. (Since the logo is gone, just make sure you check your total before you confirm - you don’t want to be surprised if they don’t honor the code.)

If you don’t have a MasterCard, you can still get the savings, by using PayPal. PayPal has a new plug-in (Look for PayPal Plug-in in the left column to access) that allows you to generate a single-use credit card - and it’s a Mastercard.

We did this last month, and plan to do it again for Christmas!

I am going to confess something right here for all the world to see -we travel CHEAP. We scrape every penny and look for the best bargains possible. With that confession, I’ll share the details of our last savings:

We stayed in a nice, pet-friendly, Red Roof Inn (with elevators). Rooms normally are over $40 a night, but with our savings, we paid about $28 a night! We were within one mile of about 50 restaurants and a major mall - it was a perfect location for our purpose. The staff was friendly, the room was clean and odor-free.

You’ll also note on the Travelocity site that MANY of the hotels (from budget motels to luxury hotels) are literally cutting prices - some at unbelievable prices. It sure makes travel much easier in this economy.

And don’t you love the falling gas prices?

There are some great restaurants in the towns I’ve mentioned this week, so be sure to check them out.

In Cartersville:

Ming Moon - this is truly the very best Chinese food you’ll find anywhere. The restaurant was founded by a very young man, and he has slowly built it into a local favorite with great food and great service. The ingredients are fresh, and the flavors perfection. But this recommendation does come with a warning - once you eat there, you’ll have to go back!

The Four-Way and Ross’s Diner - these two landmarks are located in downtown Cartersville, and the best advice I can give you is to go early for breakfast or lunch. If you wait until peak times, you’ll either wait in line or you won’t get a seat at all. They’re both tiny places with really good, really cheap food, and the locals kept them running for over 60 years.

Doug’s Place, just down Hwy. 293 in Emerson (about 5 minutes away), is a great place for any meal. It too is filled with locals, but it’s large enough to handle a crowd. If you want some good homecooking in a casual, comfortable atmosphere, this is the place to be. Doug Jr’s opened up in Cartersville a couple of years ago, and although I’ve not been there, I hear it’s as good as the original.

In Savannah:

Paula Deen fans will want to try The Lady & Sons restaurant, but be sure to get there early and expect to stand in line. Uncle Bubba’s Oyster House is another good option for fans.

On Tybee Island, you must try The Crab Shack. It’s nothing like the chain restaurants - it’s a unique experience all its own. The atmosphere is casual, relaxed, and beachy - perfect for dining on vacation.

The city of Savannah is one of my favorites. The romance, the sea, the history, the square, the massive trees - all of it combine to create a unique destination that makes a visitor want to return again and again.

Savannah is southeast of Atlanta just over 200 miles, but it seems a world away. When you plan your visit, explore the different options you have for accommodations before settling on an ordinary hotel. A bed-and-breakfast or one of the historic inns will make your stay extra special, yet the cost may not be much more (if at all.)

You’ll want to explore the regions of town before you make reservations, so you’ll know the best place to stay to meet your needs. Do you want to stay in the Historic District, or stick close to the airport, or do you want a beach vacation? You’ll have plenty of options, so you might want to look at a map as you make your plans.

The city has an active calendar, so plan your vacation around it to make the most of your experience. Depending on the time of year and the events, you may need to plan ahead.

Plan to spend a lot of time walking - it’s the best way to see the city, and to soak in the flavor and the atmosphere. Take your time - examine the historical markers, sit on a park bench, explore the boats. Unwind and enjoy.

Tybee Island is a short drive from Savannah, but makes a great destination - and one I always include in any visit to Savannah.

I’ll have some good eats in the area posted on Friday, so be sure to check back then.

Georgia is probably one of the most diverse states - in population and geography - of any state in this country. From mountains to coastal regions to rich farmland to big city - you can escape to almost any kind of vacation your heart - family - budget - desires.

Over the next few days, I’ll list a few destinations within the state, and give you links to explore more on your own.

Atlanta is a week’s worth of posts all on its own, so I won’t touch on it here. But here’s a link if you want to learn more before I get around to posting a few of my favorite haunts. One tip - if you’re going as a tourist to see all the attractions, be sure to investigate the CityPass they now have available. It will save you quite a bit of money!

Northwest of Atlanta - just outside of what is commonly referred to as the “metro area” is the city of Cartersville. This friendly town makes a great base for seeing the area, and has a good many attractions of their own:

Booth Western Museum

Red Top Mountain State Park

Etowah Indian Mounds

Barnsley Gardens Resort

The Grand Theatre

An old favorite, the Weinman Mineral Museum, closed down a couple of years ago, but will reopen early next year as the Tellus Northwest Georgia Science Museum. It will include hands-on science experiences, galleries of minerals and fossils, and feature a digital planetarium.

Cartersville is close enough for day trips to Blue Ridge, Dillard, Dahlonega, Rome, Marietta, and Atlanta, for shopping, exploring and sightseeing, and is rich with Civil War history. Once you visit, you may not want to leave! 

Be sure to check back Friday - I’ll have a huge list of great places to eat in the area!

Several restaurants in Alaska deserve mention, but I’ll just list a few - with links - here. Note: Salmon and/or Halibut are on almost every menu in some form or fashion!

Double Musky, in Girdwood, south of Anchorage in the Southcentral region. Alaskan seafood done New Orleans Cajun-style. Notice the portion sizes of plates from other patrons - if you don’t have a big appetite, you may want to share.

Mile High Pizza in Talkeetna, in the Mat-Su Valley of the Southcentral region. Build your own pizza and sample some Alaskan-brewed beer.

Zach’s Restaurant in Fairbanks, in the Interior region.

Moose’s Tooth Pub and Pizza in Anchorage.

Harley’s Diner at the North Pole - well, between Fairbanks and the North Pole on Hurst Road. Just remember, this is a diner, not fine dining, and enjoy the experience.

I know this doesn’t even begin to share all the dining experiences in this great state. Check with the local Chambers of Commerce or city governments for dining options in each town you’ll visit. Then do some research online to see photos, read reviews, or just get the flavor of a place. Be adventurous - the state calls for it!

Happy Thanksgiving!

The Inside Passage region of Alaska features four main areas, and I’ll touch on all of those today, mostly providing you links to find more information yourself. This area of the state, more than any other, tends to touristy, so keep that in mind as you make your travel plans.

Ketchikan is located at the southern tip of the region. Many cruise ships bring passengers to this city as one of their ports, so the tourism ebbs and swells throughout the day. Outside of Ketchikan, you’ll find the wildlife and more primitive side like the rest of the state, so you may want to explore Prince of Wales Island, Petersburg, and Wrangell on your visit here.

Sitka is a coastal town, bordering the Pacific Ocean. The ferry stops here, so you may want to make your visit part of a ferry tour.  The area is rich in history, Indian culture, and wildlife, so you’ll want to spend a little time there. Just take note - the city is accessible only by air or sea.

Skagway is at the northern tip of the region. You’ll want to take a train ride when you’re here - it’s considered one of the most scenic routes in the world.

We’ll end our Alaskan tour with the state capital of Juneau. The city provides a comprehensive travel planning guide so I won’t repeat the information here. On their site, you’ll find everything you need to plan your next vacation.

I don’t know about you, but after all the places we’ve explored this week, I’m ready to head north! (My hubby will take my temperature with that comment!)

What about you? Are you planning a vacation any time soon? Tell us about it!

Share your Alaska experiences with us!

Today, we’ll look at the Southwest and Far North Regions of Alaska.

Southwest:

Kodiak Island is a must for this region. You won’t run out of things to do, but this isn’t one of the big touristy areas either, so in my book, that’s a plus. Expect to see plenty of wildlife and keep your camera handy. You could see bears, fox, weasels, deer, otter, moose, sheep, and more! The city also has great list of events, festivals, fairs and more, so check the Community Calendar to see what’s happening during your visit.

If you seek fishing opportunities, head to Bristol Bay. Many rivers flow into the Bay, and the city is home to the world’s largest sockeye salmon fishery. Since fishing is one of the primary industries of the area, you’ll definitely want to check it out.

Far North:

The Far North region of Alaska is accessible by jet or small aircraft.

Barrow is the northernmost city of Alaska and borders the Artic Ocean. Each spring, they hold a bowhead whale hunt and festival - several varieties of whales migrate to the area every summer. Inupiat Eskimos make up the majority of the population.

Gold mining and oil are the major industries of Nome, where over 20,000 visitors flock each summer. The city’s Web site provides a great list of activities, and you’ll note that they are divided by summer, winter, or year-round events. Be sure to check out the list of events and activities to help plan your visit.

Alaska is much too big to tackle all at once, or even in a week’s time.

The state divides itself into several geographic regions. I’ll explore two of those today, two tomorrow, and one on Thanksgiving Day, then give you some great options on Foodie Friday. By no stretch of the imagination can this blog cover everything, so take the info I provide, and the links I hope to give, and start exploring for yourself. Then come back and share your journeys with us!

Southcentral:

One of the favorite destinations of this region is the Kenai Peninsula with the towns of Homer, Seward, Seldovia, and Seldotna. The ferry is a great way to see this region - the entire trip takes about a week.

The Mat-Su Valley is another great destination in this region. Wasilla is the home of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Racing Headquarters. A hundred miles north of Anchorage is Denali State Park, home of Mt. McKinley.

Interior:

The Denali State Park and Mt. McKinley border the norther edge of the Southcentral Region and the southern edge of the Interior region.

To the east, you’ll find the community of Tok, located on the only year-round highway into Alaska. (That’s a declaration most of us probably take for granted in our own towns, no?)

Gold mining, grizzly bears, and miles of trails will cart you to another world. Just don’t forget the camera!

Fairbanks is located in the interior region, too. You may want to use Fairbanks as your base to explore the numerous tiny villages all around the city. Be sure to check out their Web site for some money-saving tips on your trip. (They even provide a list of inexpensive or free attractions on the “On a Shoestring” page!)

Have you visited, or do you live in, one of these regions? Share some of your favorites with us in the comments! We’d love to hear from you!

Tomorrow, I’ll tackle two more regions.

I discovered a really great resource in my Alaskan research, and before you make one plan for a visit, you should explore the Alaska Toursaver. This travel coupon book offers hundreds of “2-for1″ savings on everything: tours, accomodations, dining, attractions, shopping, and more! It seems a bit pricey at $99.95, BUT, even if you use only one or two coupons, you’ll get your money’s worth.

Some examples:

Purchase at least a 6-day RV rental from ABC Motorhomes, and get three of those days free! There aren’t even any blackout periods. RVs are great ways to explore the country.

Purchase a 1/2-day Salmon Fishing trip from Alaska Trophy Fishing, get the 2nd person’s trip free. You’ll save over $200 on this coupon!

Purchase a 3 day/2 night Fishing Adventure from Alaska Big Five Fishing Lodges, and receive an accompanying trip for free. That alone saves $2475!!

The list goes on, so be sure to check it out if you’re planning a visit to our 49th state. The coupons include boat tours, museum fees, lodge stays, dining, helicoptor tours, and much more.

Anchorage offers a list of special travel deals, so you’ll want to check out their Web site if you’ll be traveling in that area. 

Most of the major cities offer visitors guides and some even offer coupon books, so check the local chamber where you plan to visit for other money-saving deals.

Dining options in Montgomery vary greatly - as does the quality and the price. I’ll list a few of our favorites here, and if anyone else has favorites, please share them in the comments.

As mentioned in Monday’s post - Chris’s Hot Dogs. This diner on Dexter Avenue downtown is a landmark, and has been in operation for over 90 years. It’s a MUST on a Montgomery visit.

Another long-standing restaurant is Peking Palace on 2380 E. South Boulevard (that’s the loop that runs around the town, and at various places has different names, but is just referred to locally as “the Boulevard.”) The staff has been around almost as long as the business and they treat regulars like family. The food is fresh, flavors perfection. Prices are very reasonable too, with many lunches under $5, and dinners under $10.

The favorite seafood place in town is Jubilee Seafood on Woodley Road. A must on the menu - sauteed crab claws. Their regular menu varies to provide the freshest selections possible, so inquire about the specials on your visit.

Three locations for BBQ - all are franchises, but have good food. Country’s, Jim & Nick’s, and Dreamland (of the famous Tuscaloosa franchise.)

The east side of town has flourished in the last couple of years, and restaurants are popping up all over. From fine dining to comfy and casual, you’ll find almost any kind of food you crave. The Montgomery Convention and Visitor Bureau provides a lengthy list of options, and as mentioned in Monday’s post, you can pick up a map that highlights numerous restaurants at the Visitor’s Center at Union Station.

We’ve only touched on Montgomery this week - I’ll share more about Alabama in later posts.