I rarely buy books, and I’m not much into shoes. I have no problem avoiding the mall, and I’m more likely to run out of cereal than have an overstock supply of it in my cupboard.
In short, I’m not a shopper.
But then I walked into Le Travel Store, and it was the equivalent of walking into heaven for me. (In fact, I tweeted that finding the store was my version of porn, which got me all sorts of followers I’d rather not have.) The truth is, though, that when I need travel gear, I generally have to buy clothes in one place, books in another and gear somewhere else. Le Travel Store, however, really is a one-stop shop for the urban traveler.
The owners of the store, Bill and Joan Keller, have been perfecting Le Travel Store’s model over the last 34 years. Their extensive travel experience has made them aware of the needs and desires of other travelers. With that in mind, the store stocks quality products at good prices. Eagle Creek, Timbuk2, The North Face, Patagonia, Columbia and Rick Steves brands are all represented.
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Posted in: Go, Resources
Located right off of Highway 191 near Chinle, Arizona, Canyon de Chelly is one of the longest continuously inhabited places in all of North America.
People have lived in these canyons for nearly 5,000 years. First the Basketmakers lived here, followed by the Anasazi (ancestors of today’s Pueblo and Hopi Indians). This latter group moved out of the canyons some 700 years ago, but the Hopi migrated to the area after that and settled in the canyon during the summers. The Navajo followed. Today, Canyon de Chelly National Monument, which was established in 1931, encompasses nearly 84,000 acres within the Navajo Reservation, and many Navajo families still live in the canyon.
There are several cliff dwellings in Canyon de Chelly, which can be viewed from scenic drives and overlooks on both the north and south sides of the canyon. Though this provides a good overview of the area, if you want to get into the canyon, your options are fairly limited.
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Navajo National Monument is tucked off a small road in northern Arizona, about a 90-minute drive from Page. It encompasses a sprawling canyon, which, in its own right, is quite beautiful with the reds and oranges seeping from the canyon walls. An ancient, overgrown forest with gamble oaks, Douglas firs and quaking aspens fills the canyon.
But in this corner of the Southwest, where Zion and Bryce set up shop near the Grand Canyon, it takes something truly magnificent to impress potential visitors (Cedar Breaks is a prime example).
That’s why it’s the ruins at Navajo National Monument that set this site apart from others. Betatakin, which can be viewed from the overlook of Sandal Trail, consists of the remains from an ancient village in an oversized, gaping alcove. These cave dwellings, which were occupied between 1250 and 1300, are the most accessible to visitors; in addition to being able to view them from the rim, there are free guided hikes offered by the National Park Service into the canyon.
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I may be a seasoned traveler according to some measurements, but the truth is that I’ve barely dipped my toes into the ocean of travel. When people found out that I was visiting New York City for the first time last week, people came out in droves to provide advice, insight and words of encouragement and caution. I have to admit, I was a little scared.
Having survived the experience, I can say that the words of encouragement and caution were appreciated, but what I got most out of my first visit to the Big Apple had to be experienced on my own. Here is what I learned from my first visit to New York City:
1. The subway isn’t as intimidating as I had anticipated. The New York subway is no Washington DC metro or London tube system, with their clean and air conditioned stations, but I found it to be safe and reliable anyway. I admit that I didn’t use the subway alone at night, but even if I had, there were lots of people around and nothing out of the ordinary that would have made me feel wary. In fact, the only reason I didn’t take the subway alone at night is because I wasn’t sure I could find my way walking once I got off. Yes, the New York subway system is hot and gritty (and those sewer rats are as big as people say they are), but the overall experience was a positive one.
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When Stephanie Lee began planning her solo round-the-world trip, she struggled to find resources that spoke to her as a young female who wanted to travel on her own. Upon return from her trip, she compiled the answers to all of her questions for future travelers. The result is The Art of Solo Travel, an e-book for women on how to plan and take a solo trip around the world.
Lee breaks her book down into six parts:
The first part, Why Travel Alone?, helps women weigh the advantages and disadvantages of traveling solo. Before leaving home, women will have to sever ties with home and work, and tell family, friends and significant others about the decision to travel the world alone. Lee provides solutions to these dilemmas and also tackles the question on where to go and for how long.
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Posted in: Reading, Resources
Truth be told, I don’t care much for driving when I just have to get myself around town, but drop me in the driver’s seat for a road trip and I’m ready to buckle in for the long haul. I’ve been a sucker for long car rides ever since I was a kid, and, even now, knowing that I have hours to hunker down and bond with my trusty Ford Focus is undeniably comforting and exciting. The road to reach the destination is almost always as interesting and fun as the destination itself.
But I digress.
The point is, I like to road trip … but only if I have a few essential items with me. Regardless of where I go or how long I’ll be on the road, there are a handful of items that absolutely must be in my car. They are:
1. An up-to-date map. It’s not that I get lost. In fact, when I’m not driving, I always play navigator because I don’t get lost. But I am overly cautious when it comes to driving, and I’ll check and recheck a map a dozen times, even though I know I’m going in the right direction. A good map is especially important in the Southwest where the closest town (and therefore the closest place to turn around) is sometimes 50 miles away.
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Posted in: Go, Resources
I’ve tripped across the United States by train and flown from coast to coast, so when we made plans to travel to New Orleans this past spring, I knew I wanted to go by train. I’ve had overnight train travel experiences in Norway and Kenya, and it seemed implausible that I had yet to enjoy slow train travel in my own country.
And so we booked our tickets for a trip aboard the Sunset Limited, an Amtrak train which runs from Los Angeles to New Orleans over the course of nearly 48 hours. Now a veteran of long-distance train travel on three continents, I feel confident in offering the following train travel tips:
For Train Travel in General
1. Pack snacks. Some trains have dining cars, but not all of them have edible food or the food is astronomically expensive. You may also be able to buy snacks, but chances are they aren’t all that healthy, and the selection might be poor. When you’re stuck on a train track 12 hours from anywhere, the last thing you want is to be hungry, so come prepared with a variety of stuff to nibble on. Bonus points for healthy snacks, especially because you’re not going to get a lot of exercise on board.
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Don’t let excuses hold back your travel dreams. Though many Kaleidoscopic Wandering readers are familiar with the travel industry, many others are not. As part of the Why People Don’t Travel series, I’m taking a hard look at five different things that keep people from traveling. In this series, I hope to provide solutions and additional resources for people who would like to travel more.
Today’s travel concern: “I have kids.”
Some people pack a bag and pick up for a weekend getaway. Others plan grandiose around-the-world travels that keep them on the road for weeks or months at a time. Still others take extended boating, biking, hiking or road trips that require dedication, skill, patience and flexibility.
This all sounds great for those who can pick up and go, devote hours on the road or are able to embark on a more adventurous trip. For some reason, though, people with children often find the idea of taking even a “normal” week-long summer vacation quite daunting.
Traveling with kids doesn’t have to be a major ordeal, and, in fact, those who travel frequently with children often say that it is among the most rewarding things they do as a family. The bottom line? Having children doesn’t have to stop you from traveling. In fact, I’ve encountered several families who do so and can’t imagine not traveling with their children.
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Posted in: Family Travel, Reasons to Travel, Resources
I will be the first to admit that navigating through the oodles of travel planning and booking sites on the Internet can be daunting. Travelocity, Expedia, Hotwire, Orbitz, Kayak and Priceline all promise to find the cheapest flights, hotels, car rentals and cruises available. Well, another site has come to play with the big names.
World, meet Travel Grove.
At first glance, Travel Grove looks like many of the other travel booking sites on the web. But the icons across the page highlight more than just cheap flights, hotels, cars and cruises. This site is also a travel community, resource center and forum. Now we’re talking about a site I can potentially get behind.
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Posted in: Resources
Don’t let excuses hold back your travel dreams. Though many Kaleidoscopic Wandering readers are familiar with the travel industry, many others are not. As part of the Why People Don’t Travel series, I’m taking a hard look at five different things that keep people from traveling. In this series, I hope to provide solutions and additional resources for people who would like to travel more.
Today’s travel concern: “I don’t have the money to travel.”
Perhaps you’d like to cuddle with your honey in a romantic destination such as Paris. Or maybe you’d finally like to take your family to the happiest place on Earth to spend a week with Mickey Mouse and the rest of the Disney gang. Or this could be the perfect year to cash in your banked weeks of vacation for a trip through Asia.
At some point in time, we all need a vacation or yearn for a few weeks of unrestrained travel. The problem, of course, is that—regardless of where you want to go or for how long—it’s going to cost money. But that doesn’t mean it’s impossible to get away for a weekend with your significant other or mix and mingle with the seven dwarfs.
In fact, travel can be affordable.
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Posted in: Reasons to Travel, Resources
I rarely buy books, and I’m not much into shoes. I have no problem avoiding the mall, and I’m more likely to run out of cereal than have an overstock supply of it in my cupboard.
