Wanderlust Words

These images remind me of why I love to travel.

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Geeky Travel Destinations

I'm a geek at heart... and as a result, there are a few places on my travel wishlist that have to do with some of those tendencies.

1.  Hobbiton, New Zealand.  Yes, you can visit Middle-Earth... sort of.  They've actually preserved Hobbiton, for your enjoyment and geeky squeals.  I would have to resist the urge to run around this place barefoot and pretending I'm in The Lord of the Rings.

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2.  Warner Bros. (Harry Potter) Studios, England.  I wish I had a portkey to take me immediately here.  I just have to go here.  Those books and movies were an entire decade of my life.

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3.  Highclere Castle and Chatsworth, England.  Downton Abbey and Pride & Prejudice.  'Nuff said.  I just want to go there and breathe the air.  And maybe pretend I live in another time period.  Don't you get goosebumps just thinking about it?

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4.  Dubrovnik, Croatia.  Dubrovnik IS King's Landing from Game of Thrones.  I wonder which character I would pretend to be...  Tyrion is pretty much my all-time favorite, but my loyalties to all others are continually in flux.

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5.  Warner Bros. Studio, Los Angeles, CA.  I've actually been here before, specifically to see Stars Hollow from Gilmore Girls.  I only got to see the mansion set, not Stars Hollow, due to filming.  I've heard they still have the town mostly intact... and if they do, I need to go there.  NEED.

Do you have a geeky dream destination?

Museums (and Crystal Bridges)

On a recent business trip, I had an opportunity to revisit Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville, Arkansas.  I was even more impressed by the architecture and collection than last time, particularly the temporary exhibit on architect Moshe Safdie who designed the museum.

I've been to a lot of museums in my travels over the years... among my favorites?  (with more photos from Crystal Bridges smattered in there)

For art/architecture...

• The Getty Center, Los Angeles, CA
• The Dali Museum, St. Petersburg, FL
• The Louvre & Musee D'Orsay in Paris, France
• British Museum, Tower of London, and Victoria & Albert Museum in London, England
• Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
• Crystal Bridges, Bentonville, AR
• Prado Museum in Madrid, Spain

For history...

• Tower of London, London
• Versailles, Paris (it totally counts in my book!)
• Museum of Natural History, New York, NY
• Smithsonian Museum, Mount Vernon, Washington, DC
• National WWII Museum, New Orleans, LA
• Carnegie Museum, Pittsburgh, PA
• Independence Hall, Philadelphia, PA

For just plain quirky...

• Museum of Science & Industry, Chicago, IL
• Tate Modern in London
• Centre Pompidou, Musee Picasso, in Paris
• Graceland, Memphis, TN
• LACMA, Los Angeles, CA

What are your favorite museums?

eBags Packing Cubes

I travel fairly often... for business, road trips to visit my parents, and for personal vacations.  One thing I have always done well is organize my suitcase.  I know how to pack a carry-on to last a week, to roll/fold/layer to avoid wrinkles and economize space, and to meet airline weight limits.  It's a fun travel science!

I'm that girl that packs clothes that all coordinate to mix and match, and I only pack one extra outfit per trip.  I even manage with only one pair of shoes most of the time!  This article in the NY Times from a flight attendant, called "10 Days in a Carry-on" changed my life.

One recent investment I made was in some extremely lightweight packing cubes from eBags.  I purchased their value set.

I love these bags.  They weight virtually nothing and collapse completely.  I used to pack outfits in gallon Ziploc bags!  These little "cubes" are fantastic.  You can roll clothes to keep in the larger bags, use the smaller ones for underwear/socks, and even keep one just for phone and camera chargers.  It keeps everything from being completely jumbled around not only as you travel, but as you live out of your suitcase at your destination.

I even use this in my duffel bag when I drive up to visit my parents.  It makes separating clean from dirty very easy too.

Another tip?  I always make a checklist.  It helps me sleep the night before a trip.  I also keep duplicate toiletries specifically for travel: toothbrush, travel toothpaste in baggie, deodorant, etc.  I've forgotten these items too many times before trips to count, and buying them at my destination when I know I have them back at home bothers me.  So now I keep extra on hand.

Do you have any packing tips?

Girlfriend Getaways

My girlfriends and I have a lot of fun together... all over the place!  Here are a few girls-only adventures we've had over the past five years.  Do you have a favorite friends' getaway?

Montreal, Canada (this is at Toque! restaurant)

Savannah, Georgia (with a Labor Day White Party!)

Connecticut

Washington, D.C.

Blue Ridge, Georgia

Maui, Hawaii

Walt Disney World, Florida

Nova Scotia, Canada

30th Birthday Dream Trip: Part II

For my 30th birthday (or sometime within a year of it, anyways) I want to take a big trip to Europe.  Don't know if it will be by myself, with friends, or what, but I've had this in mind for while.  But if you gave me two weeks, here is where I'd go...

WEEK 2

Florence, Italy (2 days)
My sister did a semester abroad in Italy, and I would have loved to visit her then!  (Alas, I was in Iraq.  Boo.)  But following a week in France/Monaco, a week through Italy would be lovely!  During my short stay in Florence, I would cram in as much as possible, including: Uffizi, Piazza della Signoria, Duomo, Galleria dell'Accademia (to see the David), Palazzo Vecchio, and Basilica di San Lorenzo.  And I would eat pasta and drink wine until I'm full to bursting.

Florence (source)

Tuscany (2 days)
For my abbreviated stint in Tuscany, I would spend a day each in Pisa and Siena.  Pisa, of course home of the legendary leaning tower, would also mean a visit to Piazza del Duomo (Campo di Miracoli), Duomo, and Battistero.  In Siena, I would take in the Torre del Mangia, Duomo, and Museo dell'Opera Metropolitana.  If I were lucky, I'd be able to catch an opera somewhere along the way, but these cities are just so picturesque and beautiful.  I'd love to see them in person.

Pisa (source)

Siena (source)

Rome, Italy (3 days)
Okay, I know three days isn't nearly enough time to spend in Rome.  My parents spent a week there and didn't see everything.  But this is a two-week dream itinerary, so in my dream I see it all in just a few days!
I LOVE OLD THINGS!  I'd of course see the Colosseum, Forum, Trevi Fountain and Spanish Steps, as well as the Pantheon.  But I would also spend a day exploring Pompeii (this disaster and the creepy mummies and such really fascinates me) and at least a half day in Vatican City.  I used to love reading about different artists when I was younger, and the Sistine Chapel is definitely one of the big ones on my list.

Rome (source)

Well, there you have it! Two weeks in France, Monaco, and Italy.  Fingers crossed this becomes a reality someday, right?  Did I miss anything important?  Where would you go on your dream trip?

30th Birthday Dream Trip: Part I

Considering my former fluency in French (it's so hard to maintain!), I consider it a travesty that I haven't been back to France since 2005.  Seriously.

For my 30th birthday (or sometime within a year of it, anyways) I want to take a big trip to Europe.  Don't know if it will be by myself, with friends, or what, but I've had this in mind for while.  But if you gave me two weeks, here is where I'd go...

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WEEK 1

Avignon, France (1 day)
Visit the Pont d'Avignon (and dance upon it, bien sur!), the Place de l'Horloge, and tour the Palais des Papes.  (Yup, Avignon is home to a papal palace, where seven Popes once sat!)  If there was time, I might take in one of the museums.

Avignon (source)

Nimes, France (1 day)
Nimes is all about RUINS!  I love old stuff.  Seriously.  Aqueducts, amphitheaters  show me some crumbling old structures.  In Nimes, I would steal away to catch the Pont du Gard, then spend some time exploring in town to see the Maison Carree, Amphi Roman, and Jardin de la Fontaine.

Nimes (photo by my pal Nils!)

Arles, France (1 day)
Okay, I know Nimes was all about ruins... but Arles is another city full of ancient wonders!  I might even use this as a base to visit Nimes for a day.  But I'd definitely have to visit the Arenes, Musee d'Arles Antique, Thermes de Constantin, Theatre Antique, and Eglise St-Trophine.

Arles (source)

Cannes, France (1 day)
I was definitely conflicted about the French Riviera... Should I spend a day in Cannes or St. Tropez?  I felt as though I needed to visit one of these famous, touristy locales.  If I were to choose Cannes, I would stop by Allee des Stars, the French version of the Hollywood Walk of Fame.  I'd take a walk through Le Suquet, the old quarter of town, and explore the cobbled streets and restaurants.  Lastly, I'd walk the Promenade de La Croisette, which is where all of the film festival activities take place.

Cannes (source)

Monaco (1 day)
Monaco is not in France, but it's definitely a must-see while I'm in the area.  I'd have to visit the Palais Royal, Casino Monte Carlo, and maybe the Musee Oceanographique.  And pretend I'm Grace Kelly, or in a James Bond movie.

Monaco (source)

Nice, France (2 days)
I had a tough time deciding whether to spend time in Nice or Marseille, but I chose Nice as it seemed to make the most sense for this itinerary.  I'd take two full days to explore Vieux Nice, maybe taking a bus tour of the city, and seeing the Palais Lascaris.  There are also tons of museums, which definitely interest me.

Nice (source)

Stay tuned for WEEK 2 of my dream trip next Frequent Flyer Friday!

Travel Must-Haves!

I've been flying all my life, navigating airports and transfers all on my own since I was about 10 years old.  I know my favorite airports, where their best food stops are, and what to bring onto the plane with you.  I've got this down to science, and I'm a fast packer!  Here are my tips for your 'personal item' bag to tuck under the airplane seat.

1.  Check all your other stuff at the counter.  I love to check a bag; you don't have to fight for overhead bin space, which has become a battle since the airlines started charging baggage fees. People shove their way through boarding just to make sure their bag gets on board.  You also don't have to drag it through your connections.  If you don't want to pay a fee, ask at the gate if they will accept planeside checking of your carryon before you even board; if you have time at your next connection, this can help you out immensely.

Oh, and my pet peeve?  People who can't lift their carryon into the overhead compartment unassisted.  Okay, if you're elderly, or you're holding a baby and have to haul their stuff too, I understand.  But my personal rule is, if you can't carry it, don't pack it.  Maybe it's the military part of me talking, but I cringe when I see people overpack.  Pack your bag, then go back and remove a few things that are less important; I guarantee you don't need them.

2.  Carry a good, solid bag.  I always carry a large tote, something I can slip my laptop into if I choose to bring it.  I bought a black leather Coach tote years ago, which I think was from the Men's section; it's my workhorse bag.  (It's much like the leather Coach Bleecker Legacy Weekend Tote they sell now.)

3.  Stay organized.  I keep all of my travel documents in a cute, small tri-fold that I bought at a museum in Montreal years ago.  (A similar one is here; simple but functional!)  It holds my frequent flyer information, parking/shuttle receipts, itinerary, and tickets.  I can grab it out of my bag without having to fumble through a billion things.  I also keep track of my flight on my iPhone; I typically fly Delta, and their app is great; I can figure out what my connection is before the plane even reaches the gate.  It even lets me load my flights into my calendar.

4.  Bring along some entertainment.  Travel is a hurry-up-and-wait game.  I usually travel with my MacBook Pro and Kindle.  (I supplement my Kindle with the purchase of a trashy magazine or two at the airport bookstore, so I can read during takeoff/landing.)  I also bring my headphones to listen to music on my iPhone, which also has plenty of games!

5.  Stay hydrated!  I try to drink a lot of water when I travel (it helps to prevent jet lag), so I usually buy a small bottled water once I am through security, then refill at water fountains along the way.

Bottom line?  Keep it simple.  You're going to be hauling this bag for the day.  Sometimes I pack a snack or two, but other than that, my bag is pretty much limited to these items!  Maybe I'll have a pair of sunglasses, definitely my wallet, and any valuable jewelry I might bring along.  But you don't need to haul anything else.