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2008 Travel Photo Contest
Beaches, nightlife, sunsets and underwater scenes. See the winning photos for the New Jersey, Domestic, International and Road Less Traveled categories. Travel
Nov 23, 2008
Holiday in Orlando
Universal Orlando is getting ready to kick off its annual holiday celebration with a month of parades, shows and other special events running Dec. 6-Jan. 1.
TRAVEL.ALLTOP
It can be a chore to stay on top of all the travel blogs out there. Even if you're Web-savvy enough to customize an aggregator or load up your Google RSS feeder, do you remember to look at it? They are easy to forget, posts back up and news gets old. Travel.Alltop.com is here with its big green cape to save you.
Atlantic City: Girls-only at the Chelsea
The deal: Girls' OTB (On the Boardwalk) Weekend at the Chelsea in Atlantic City. Get five of your girlfriends to join you on this extravagant getaway to one of the newest non-gaming boutique hotels in America's Playground.
Best travel credit cards
Banks and airlines are pushing plastic harder than ever. The marketers like to toss around words such as "security" and "convenience," but it always pays to do a little homework before deciding to fatten your travel wallet with another card.
Holiday in Orlando
Universal Orlando is getting ready to kick off its annual holiday celebration with a month of parades, shows and other special events running Dec. 6-Jan. 1.
Travel deals
The deal: Anniversary Package at the Westminster Hotel in Livingston. Whether it is your anniversary or not, celebrate the two of you at this Four Diamond hotel just minutes away from the Mall at Short Hills.
Record on the Road: California
While visiting their son in California, Carol and Joe Gugel traveled from San Francisco to Santa Monica by way of Yosemite National Park, Sequoia National Park, San Simeon and Hearst’s Castle, Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo. When searching for a unique restaurant for lunch, they discovered a 120-year-old stage coach relay station that is now a charming restaurant/tavern called Cold Spring Tavern, near Santa Barbara. Serving hearty lunches and out of the ordinary dinners, including rabbit, venison, pheasant, elk and wild boar, the restaurant also has delectable desserts, such as the Rum Walnut Chocolate Chip Pie. The prices were reasonable, especially for California. Although it is in a remote location, the restaurant enjoys a rather large clientele.
NJ Passport: Cheesequake State Park
It can be a chore to stay on top of all the travel blogs out there. Even if you're Web-savvy enough to customize an aggregator or load up your Google RSS feeder, do you remember to look at it? They are easy to forget, posts back up and news gets old. Travel.Alltop.com is here with its big green cape to save you.
Ski deals available nearly everywhere
Mike and Pam Mathe have taken their two kids skiing at Beaver Creek, Colo., over Christmas break each of the past five years. It's their one big vacation for the year, a luxurious respite from Mike's traveling and the kids' classes.
Record on the Road: England
Every year, we travel to Crufts, the world’s largest dog show. There are 23,000 dogs exhibited from all over the world. This grand event is held at the National Exhibition Center in Birmingham, England. We are huge dog lovers, owning two golden retrievers ourselves; they are not show dogs, but rather rescue dogs from the Golden Retriever Rescue Organization of New Jersey. It is our pure love of dogs that brings us across the pond every year during the first week in March. It is not only a dog show, but also includes agility events, Fly Ball, Good Citizen demonstration, hundreds of dog-related vendors and lots more.
HOTELS GIVE DINING CREDIT
In this season of economic belt-tightening, Loews Hotels' Harvest of Benefits Package offers $50, $75 or $100 in dining credit to guests staying two, three or four consecutive nights, respectively, valid at Loews' onsite restaurants or for room service. This harvest may be gathered through Dec. 30 at most Loews Hotels, with the best rates starting at $119-$239 per room per night, depending on location. Tax and tips are additional. (800-23-LOEWS; loweshotels.com)
Best travel credit cards
Banks and airlines are pushing plastic harder than ever. The marketers like to toss around words such as "security" and "convenience," but it always pays to do a little homework before deciding to fatten your travel wallet with another card.
Record on the Road: New Hampshire
Pat and Bob Wild enjoyed their riding with great friends Joanne and Pope Balog during Motorcycle Week in Laconia, N.H. One great place to ride is the Kancamagus Highway, which stretches 34.5 miles. This picture was taken near the lower falls, where we all enjoyed seeing moose, waterfalls and the beautiful White Mountains.
Think small to maximize your Caribbean experience
There are cruises. And then there are cruises for people who hate cruises — at least of the big-ship variety.
Record on the Road: Spain
In 1984, I was an exchange student to Buñuel, Spain, a small village in the province of Navarra. Since then, I have gone back to visit my host family and friends numerous times, and they've been to my house as well — most recently for my wedding in 2005.
Record on the Road: Dominican Republic
This year, we decided to venture outside of the U.S., which was a first for our 7-year-old daughter, Rachel. We decided an all-inclusive Caribbean vacation would be perfect. We chose the Coral Resort Costa Caribe in the Dominican Republic, which has everything to offer for adults and children as well. The beaches are beautiful and the people very friendly.
Record on the road: St. Maarten
In the photo is my wife, Celeste, her mom, Trudy Rothenberger, our children Caroline and R.J. and myself at our timeshare at La Vista Resort on the Dutch side of St. Maarten.
Bold Coast of Maine wild and worth it
GETTING THERE: Heading north on U.S. 1, turn right onto Route 191 in East Machias and drive 17 miles to the trailhead. Southbound travelers turn left off U.S. 1 onto Route 189 at Whiting, then right on 191.
Nov 16, 2008
Planning an inauguration trip on the Web
Making arrangements for President-elect Obama's inauguration on Jan. 20? A few online sources can help you plan, whether you're coming to town or hosting friends. Expedia has a section devoted to the inauguration (expe dia.com/inaugu ration), with travel deals and Washington-area information for out-of-towners, plus discount tickets to guided tours and museums.
Contemporary Berlin is for the 'poor, but sexy'
If you show up in Berlin strapped for cash, you're in good company. The German capital's sizable student population, high unemployment rate and swelling starving-artist contingent makes penny-pinching a citywide obsession.
Record on the Road: Peru
My daughter Janet, son-in-law Sultan Aziz, and I traveled to Lima, Peru, for a family wedding. Our tour included an hour flight to Cuzco, which is high in the Andes at 11,000 feet. There, we visited ancient Inca temples and the Sacred Valley. The highlight was Machu Picchu, "The Lost City of the Incas." We felt like we were on top of the world!
Garden exhibits fine art in 3D
Inspired by Impressionist paintings, Johnson creates sculptures that invite interaction.
Travel briefs
Free Colorado lift tickets
Record on the Road: Italy
Here we are at the Boboli Gardens of the lavish Pitti Palace in Florence, Italy, overlooking the Duomo. This city is loaded with artistic masterpieces, such as Michelangelo’s David — a must-see. The streets are crowded with many American students studying at the many universities in this cultural capital — our daughter Danielle was one of those fortunate students. We took a day trip to the Tuscany countryside, visiting many wineries and olive gardens. We then went on to Siena, a town located on a hilltop, where we wandered the narrow streets with no automobiles in sight; they have been banned from the main piazzas since 1966.
Travel deals
The deal: Maine Lobster Tale package at Kennebunkport Inn in Maine. This waterfront inn on the southern coast of the Pine Tree State offers a quintessential Maine getaway year-round.
Why don't airlines load through two doors?
Q. I was wondering why airlines load only through one (front) door? Thirty years ago on my first international trip, I flew out of JFK in New York and that was the first and last time I experienced two-door loading of an aircraft. We all know that the backup into the aircraft starts on the jet bridge almost as soon as the second set of rows is called to board the plane. Why not use two doors?
Books show the beauty, and horrors, of travel
Feeling bad that you can’t afford a vacation? Travel books with titles like "Don’t Go There!" and "I Should Have Stayed Home" may make you feel better. For $15 or so, you’ll get a laugh out of vacation horrors that you’ll be happy to miss.
Family Fun
The Appalachian Mountain Club is extending its new family weekend series through the winter with programs that range from snowshoeing and cross-country skiing to animal tracking and learning how to build a snow shelter.
Dining in Paris
Washington Post food critic Tom Sietsema's monthly report from the road:
Around the world, America rocks!
If you never considered the inextricable link between travel and politics, this Obama Victory thing has got to convince you how hard-wired they are.
Art Lovers Getaway package at the Farmington Inn in Farmington, Conn.
The deal: Art Lovers Getaway package at the Farmington Inn in Farmington, Conn. This luxury hotel's package includes admission to the Hill-Stead Museum, featuring impressionist art and overlooking Farmington Valley, and a voucher for a meal at the Italian restaurant next door.
Record on the Road: California
On a trip to sunny California, we stayed in lovely Brentwood. The weather was perfect. Here, Evelyn Tanis and I are standing on the steps to Rodeo Drive. We toured Hollywood, took a VIP tour of Warner Brothers, had lunch at the Beverly Hills Hotel, went sailing on the Pacific Ocean, had lunch at the Santa Barbara Yacht Club and ate dinner at the Hotel Bel-Air. We were busy every day and night. It was a great vacation!
Record on the Road: Europe
Here we are on the deck of the Star Princess at Ponta Delgado, Azores, our first landfall after a five-day trans-Atlantic crossing from Fort Lauderdale, Fla. The 17-day cruise went on to Portugal, Spain, France, England, Belgium, Netherlands, Norway and Denmark. From the medieval pilgrimage site of Santiago de Compostela to the D-day landing beaches in Normandy to the Kon Tiki boat and museum in Oslo, we covered thousands of miles and thousands of years of fascinating history.
Record on the Road: Orlando
Last year our family spent a week in Orlando. This picture of our daughter, Danielle, and twins Matthew (left) and Brian was taken at Epcot when they were 8 and 6 1/2, respectively. Our group also included my wife, Gabrielle, and in-laws Carol and William Panza of Emerson.
Record on the Road: Mexico
Perched on the cliffs of the Yucatan Peninsula is the ancient city of Tulum, the only Mayan city on the east coast of Mexico. Bob and Fran Freudenrich are standing in front of the remains of a temple near the Caribbean coast, where loading and unloading of boats took place as part of the Mayans’ commercial trading activities with people on the peninsula as well as those in Central America. |
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