Month: December 2018

What’s In Your Future? Setting Travel Goals For 2019

Ahhhh….Finally the house is quiet and most of the fallout from this holiday season has been cleaned up and put away.  Now it’s time to kick it into high gear and start planning for 2019.  I find resolutions pretty rough on your ego because once you start to backslide or break the resolution entirely, you feel like such a loser, and that is just not good for you or anyone else.  So, for the past few years I have set the same resolution for myself and I always achieve it.  My resolution is to NOT INTENTIONALLY STAB ANYONE WITH A KNIFE OR OTHER SHARP OBJECT.  So far, I have not stabbed anyone, therefore I am a winner and I’m feeling  pretty darn good about myself!!

I do believe in setting goals.  Some goals can be achieved in an afternoon.  Others may take a while longer.  Traveling is no different.  I did away with my bucket list because I found myself just checking boxes to say “been there, done that”.  The past couple of years I have set realistic (sort of) travel goals and this is much more rewarding and less defeating.  So I will list my 2019 goals out for you and that will give me more accountability.

  1. Visit one new National Park.  I am a huge supporter of National Parks.  If you are an American citizen, this is one of the many things that should fill you with pride about your country. If you have friends or family visiting from a foreign country, be a show off and take them to one of our beautiful national parks.  I am such a national park geek. I have a National Park Passport that I always have with me when I travel to get stamped.  You can also get stamps at national monuments,national seashores, etc….Also, if there is a National Park Lodge at the park, I have to stay at the park.  In my mind, it does not count going to the park unless I stay at the official lodge.

Previously, I have planned two separate trips to Zion National Park and Bryce Canyon National Park.  Both times the plans have fallen through because of weddings, the kitchen falling apart and taking all my travel funds to repair, the timing just never worked out.  So I’m trying to decide whether to try one more time to make it out west or maybe go to Florida and do Dry Tortugas National Park and Everglades National Park.

2. Try AirBNB  I have heard nothing but rave reviews from friends that have stayed in AirBNBs.  I even have a favorites list on my AirBNB  profile. I just need to pull the trigger and do it.  This AirBNB can be rented here

AirBNB in Wilmington, NC -Seaside Farmhouse.

 

3. If I come across an inexpensive airfare, just book it.  Usually, if I happen across a cheap airfare to somewhere I haven’t considered before,  I will start nosing around about hotels and other logistics.  This year, if I come across a cheap airfare to somewhere that looks appealing, I’m just going to throw caution to the wind and book it, then worry about hotels and everything else afterwards.  SPONTANEITY!

4. One week at an all inclusive resort on the beach.  I can’t believe it has been about five years since Mr. Global and I have been on a vacation to just sit on the beach and have someone wait on us.  I have a love/hate relationship with A/I resorts, but I do think it is time for an unplugged, relaxed and let someone else take care of the details kind of vacation.

5. Try a low cost carrier and book the bare bones fare.  This really intrigues me.  No seat assignment, last to board, no carry on, personal item only.  Chances are real good I’ll be doing this all by my lonesome.WOW air

6. Work on my photography skills.  Of all my wonderful travel memories, I have maybe a handful of decent photographs.

 

 

 

7. And my last goal is one I have already started planning.  I’m taking my first solo international vacation!! I’ve done international vacations but never solo.  I’ve been on international trips by myself, but they were work related.  This will be my first international leisure trip by myself.  Ten days in Scotland in October!  City sightseeing in Edinburgh and walking on the Isle of Skye!

I’m ready for 2019, so bring it on.  What about you?  Let me know what you have planned for 2019 or where your travels took you in 2018.

And don’t forget, starting in January, Global Girl  Around the World will start a step by step series for planning an unforgettable vacation!!

 

 

 

TOP 10 TRIP PLANNING RESOURCES

TOP 10 TRIP PLANNING RESOURCES

ASP  12/19/2018                           

So many places, so little vacation time! I think I’m one of the weird souls who enjoys planning my trips as much as going on the actual trip.  I have spent many late nights and hours scrolling through Pinterest and sitting at the dining room table with a map (and magnifying glass) trying to decide the perfect destination and itinerary.  With the internet, it is so easy to get information overload and often downright incorrect information.  So I am going to share with you my most trusted tried and true resources.

  1. Pinterest  I love Pinterest.  I could spend all day on Pinterest.  I get most of my travel ideas from Pinterest.  If there is a destination or activity that you have an interest, just search on Pinterest and bam, bam, bam, scroll away until you find the perfect location.  And you can start a board to save and organize all your ideas.  You can check out my Pinterest boards here.
  2. Google Flights  Sometimes I may not have a particular destination in mind, so I will pull up Google Flights and just look at the map to see what the airfares are to anywhere in the world from my departure point.  You can also search by country or region, set price points, dates, etc….  This is especially useful for Europe or Southeast Asia with so many low cost regional carriers. Earlier this fall, I found an airfare from Raleigh to London on American then London to Paris on a low cost carrier that was $350.00 less expensive than flying an all American itinerary  Raleigh-Heathrow-Paris.  A few caveats, but it is always worth it to check this out during your planning phase.
  3. TripAdvisor This is my go to for researching hotels.  I don’t use this to book hotels, but I do use TripAdvisor for hotel reviews and to read through the destination forums.
  4. The Man In Seat 61 This is the go to site for train travel anywhere and everywhere.  It also has information about ferries.  The amount of information here is amazing.
  5. Guidebooks:  The hard copies can become outdated quickly and are cumbersome to carry around during your travels, but I still use them for planning purposes.  I especially like Rick Steves for Europe and National Geographic for National Parks.  Moon Guides are also very good.  Lonely Planet is good for budget travel.
  6. Maps:  Paper maps rule! ‘Nough said.  If you are planning a detailed itinerary, you need a big map to spread out on the table or floor. This is also a great way to get the cat involved with your vacation plans!
  7. Rome2Rio This website is the best planning tool to find the best way to get from Point A to Point B whether they are 5 miles or 5000 miles apart.  Just plug in your travel points and instantly your will get trains, planes, automobiles, buses,ferries, caravan, covered wagon and any combination of these to get you to your destination.
  8. Budgeting tools:  Just google “vacation budget sheet” and you will have one million Excel documents and Google Sheets at your disposal.  I must admit, I always start a budget worksheet at the beginning of the planning stage, but this usually lasts about five minutes. For me, pen and paper are the way to go.
  9. US State Department and CDC If you are planning an international trip (this includes Canada, Mexico, and most Caribbean Islands) to check for travel advisories, necessary immunizations, documents and visas. Also, enroll in STEP (Safe Traveler Enrollment Program).   This lets the US Embassy know you are in a particular country and they can advise you of natural disasters, travel advisories, political unrest, terrorist attacks, anything that may impact your well being.  Always make sure your passport is valid for at least 6 months from your DEPARTURE date.  Many foreign countries make this a requirement for entry even though you have a valid passport.  I’m unsure why some foreign countries have this requirement.  Is this because they don’t want your passport to expire while you are visiting?  Or, they don’t want you to overstay your welcome?  If you know, please let me know.

10 Insure My Trip Insure My Trip allows you to enter all your information, then comes up with several options that best matches your needs needs and level of coverage you desire.  We ALWAYS get insurance for international trips.  The only time we purchased insurance for a domestic trip was our vacation to the Grand Canyon.  My husband’s logic on this was “clumsy wife plus deep canyon equals helicopter evacuation”!  Not trying to be preachy, but I will just give one bit of advice on this topic.  Never buy your trip insurance from the airline, tour operator, cruise line or any other vendor you are booking your travel.  The insurance covers them more than it does you.  Book your insurance independently.

So there you have it!  Ten resources to start planning the best vacation ever.  If you have any other resources you like to use, please share with us.  We’d love to hear from you!

The REAL Capitol of North Carolina

Recently I had the opportunity to visit Tryon Palace in New Bern.  This is a very easy day trip from Raleigh or can be a stop off going to and from the beautiful beaches of the Crystal Coast.  I left around 7:30 am and after a stop at Starbucks, I was in New Bern at 10:15.

First stop you have to make is the North Carolina History Center to purchase your admission.  The North Carolina History Center has  several exhibits and displays to view before heading over to the actual Palace. There is also a quick eight minute film that runs in a continuous loop about the history of Tryon Palace.  At the North Carolina History Center the staff called the shuttle to transport me the palace, but this was totally unnecessary as the Palace is only about two blocks away.  Tryon Palace was late opening due to a Television crew  filming all the beautiful Christmas decorations.  Since I had about an hour to kill I started at the Stanley  House that is located off the grounds of the Tryon Palace.  This is where I had the pleasure to meet two of the best tour guides ever!  When Alma realized I was from Raleigh, she made it a point to  advise me Raleigh was NOT the real capitol of North Carolina.   She and her partner Sherry, were so sweet to give me a private tour of the Stanley House. Well, it was private because I was the only one there, but I’m sure these two wonderful ladies make everyone feel as warm and welcome as they did me.  Alma also pointed me in the direction of the New Bern Historical Society and a brief walking tour within a few blocks of the palace.

Stanly House at Tyron Place, New Bern

When the gate of Tryon Palace opened, I was a little early for the first tour, so I decided walk around the gardens .  I was enjoying the gardens so much, I missed the next two tours.    The gardens are divided into different sections  but flow very nicely together.  Whichever garden I was in at the moment, that was my favorite.  Although I was there in the very late fall, there was so much beauty in the gardens.  I can only imagine this must be a preview of the magnificent display that  comes in the spring.

Formal gardens at Tryon Palace

 

I made my way back to the palace and waited about 10 minutes for the  next tour.  Tours can only be done with a guide and are on the hour and half hour.  You have an opportunity to tour most rooms of the Palace and a brief history of the use, furnishings and artwork.  A few of the furnishings are originals and most of the artwork is original.  My favorite room in the house was the Ball Room that overlooks the back lawn with views to the Trent River.  Here you will find the restored portraits of King George III and Queen Charlotte.

After the tour, it was kind of “don’t let the door hit you on the way out”.  Just a “enjoy the rest of your day,bah bah”.  There is much more to see including the kitchen, stables, a retail shop off to the side of the formal gardens.  Several people were just going to leave because they really didn’t realize there was so much more to see and do.  I was really disappointed about the attitude of the staff at the actual Palace and grounds after the warm hospitality of the staff at the Welcome Center and the Stanley House.

After meandering around for about an hour and one more visit to the formal gardens, I made the quick walk back to the Visitor’s Center.  Due to poor planning on my part, I didn’t make it back for a late lunch before Lawson’s Landing Cafe closed. I should have a grabbed a bite to eat at one of the many cafes or restaurants in the historical district. There is a boardwalk along the Trent River directly behind the Visitor’s Center that I was able to enjoy an afternoon walk in the sun.  This boardwalk is public and is enjoyed by locals and visitors alike.  Just be sure to have some type of jacket with you because the breeze coming off the river is chilly.

This was a lovely way to spend a day and I am already planning a return trip to see the gardens in the spring.  I think for my return trip, I may stay overnight to do a walking tour of the historic downtown and try a few of the local cafes and restaurants.

Fun Fact: Charlotte is named for Queen Charlotte, wife of King George III. Hence, the name The Queen City.   Mecklenburg County is named for her birth home of Mecklenburg, a region/state in Germany.

When I plan a trip, I like to read novels and nonfiction about that destination.  Try these before your trip to Tryon Palace:

New Bern NC: Tryon Palace North Carolina

History Center & More

 

 

Also, if you would like Nicholas Sparks,

The Notebook

Logistics and Recap:

Total miles: 265 round trip

Weather: sunny skies with a comfortable temperature of 55F

What I Wore:  It is late fall and we are in North Carolina.  Chances are real good I will experience all seasons in one day!

Black Jeggings: easy peasy, great for car trips, easy and comfortable for siteseeing.

Black Merino Wool Turtleneck: Merino wool is the best thing ever!

Black, Cabernet, and Navy Merino Wool Cardigan: I repeat, Merino wool is the best thing EVER.

Black Chelsea Boots with thin merino wool socks.  I like wearing my Chelsea boots during my travels in the fall through early spring  because they are extreme comfortable and look more polished than tennis shoes.  Also, they are waterproof.

Lavender Puffer Jacket:  I started out the door with just my red Columbia Pardon My Trench coat, but at the last second, through my lavender puffer jacket in the back seat.  So glad I did.  My puffer proved to be the winner for this day.  The breezes off the river would have been too much for the thin Pardon My Trench.  During the middle of the day I just stuffed the puffer in my backpack and was fine in my turtleneck and cardigan.  Got to love merino wool! The perfect layering material with NO bulk.

Black Convertible Nylon Backpack/Purse:  Okay, I’m trying really hard to get on the backpack bandwagon.  I’ve had this a few months, but while I love the look and style of this backpack, I’m just not in love with this whole backpack as a purse idea.  Every time I need to get anything out of it, I have to take it off and set it down.  But, I do like the fact I can stuff a jacket, water bottle and a plethora of other items in it.

Have you been to New Bern and Tryon Palace?  Please leave a comment and we can compare notes!

 

Holiday Travels? Arrive as a Happy Elf not the Grinch!


asp 12/3/18
Who is traveling this holiday season?  Whether you are flying or driving , this is major stress time!  You are running around trying to finish shopping , baking, decorating, planning and  if you have used all your vacation days for traveling to exotic destinations, you still have to pull the nine to five!

  • Check the weather forecast for home AND your destination.
  • Only pack carry on.  No matter when you travel or the length of your trip, do carry on ONLY.  Hang out with me and you will learn all the tricks to achieve this grand accomplishment.
  • Check in for your flight on line and PRINT your boarding pass. How many times have you had to wait while someone is trying to get their boarding pass to come up on their phone?  What if the airline’s computer system is down?  What if you can’t connect to wifi?
  • Arrive at the airport extra early.  I repeat-Arrive at the airport EXTRA EARLY.   Take into account weather delays, people traveling with children,  passengers traveling for the first time.  Even with TSA PreCheck, everything is moving at the speed of a sloth.
  • DO NOT put wrapped gifts in your carry on.  TSA will make you unwrap them.   People behind you will not appreciate your beautiful, festive packaging nor will they squeal with delight at the sweater you bought on sale at Belk for your cousin’s child you see once a year.
  • If you are driving, pack the car and fill up the tank the night before you depart .  Most major meltdowns at our house occur in kitchen as we are heading out the door.  Also take care of any last minute errands the day before you travel.  Starbucks is the only stop you should have to make when you are heading out of town.
  • Don’t forget about your fur babies!  Make arrangements for their care while you are gone.  Also let the neighbors know you will be away.  We are so blessed with wonderful neighbors to take care of Eduardo and keep an eye on things while we are away.
  • Relax and take a much needed deep breath.  Remember Christmas is celebrated because Jesus Christ, our Savior is born.  That is what the holidays are really about!