TopDawg Travel

Archive for the ‘Travel’ Category

Beverly Burmeier tells us the delights and beauties of Butchart Gardens on Vancouver Island in British Columbia….

“Every path leads to another spectacular view.  It’s Fantasyland for the horticulturist and Wonderworld for the masses. Famed Butchart Gardens on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, is a blue-ribbon showplace in one of the loveliest corners of the world.

Visitors marvel at the variety and harmony achieved by co-mingling easily recognizable flowers like dainty purple daisies and ruffled pink geraniums with unusual specimens such as teardrop fuchsia and delicate drooping trout lily.  Since passing the century mark in 2004, privately owned Butchart Gardens has featured more spectacular scenes than ever within its 55 acres.”

Read More…….

Gail Hunter gives us her view of the Hudson River Valley. As an experienced sailor, road-trip warrior and travel journalist, she lends her multitude of experiences with her readers….

“Leaving the Tappan Zee bridge behind, the Hudson continues northward unfolding one treasure after another. Tarrytown, New York is a favorite commuter town, being a major stop on Metro North. With easy access from all directions, it became home to many tycoons in the mid nineteenth century….”  Read More…..

Elizabeth Rose tells us all about an evening in Santa Fe at a new favorite restaurant:

The weather is turning colder yet in climately mild Santa Fe, New Mexico you can still stroll the streets in the evening, do a bit of window shopping and, when you get chilled, stop in for a world-class meal at a downtown restaurant.  Housed in an ideal corner location on 229 Galisteo Street at West Alameda, Tomme offers both indoor and outdoor dining. But it was chilly that night and I enjoyed the warmth and minimalist decor of the new Tomme. Awaiting my friends, I had a lovely glass of Malbec at their sleek bar and enjoyed the scenery through the immense windows.  Read more….

Patsy Bell Hobson describes her experience of the Inn on Biltmore Estate:

Any season is a good time to visit the historic and beautiful Biltmore Estate. You may come to see the magnificent 250-room French château built by George Vanderbilt. I came to see the gardens on Biltmore’s 8,000-acre estate.

We stayed at the four-star Inn on Biltmore Estate. I felt like we were treated with the same hospitality enjoyed by the Vanderbilt’s guests. There is a variety of packages so it’s easy to choose the one right for you.

Read more….

So often we think we need to save up our vacation time and go “somewhere”.  So we either never go anywhere or we wait for that two or three weeks of vacation time to accumulate.  Then off we go to a foreign land, a remote island in the Pacific, the grand tour of Europe (i.e., 14 cities in 5 countries in 14 days), or languish in our own backyard, doing chores and wondering what happened to the “grand vacation”.

 

 

 

Since our family no longer accrues “vacation” days, or “sick” days or PTO (personal time off) days, we are learning to take the long weekend and turn it into mini-vacations.  One might wonder about a travel agent/travel advisor/travel consultant who does not take every opportunity to go on those so-called “free” trips that the industry is so noted for.

There are several reasons:

• Those trips are not “free”.  Usually air fares are not covered and if they are, there are still the fees the airlines insist upon charging (whether baggage fees, food and drinks on the plane, Wi-Fi, entertainment,etc.), the cost of meals not included, tips to housekeeping and busboys, and always something you do not expect.
• Those trips take time away from the family.
• These trips are not “vacations” – they are work and hard work at that.  On the “fams”, you are expected to see hotels, destinations, properties, events and restaurants.  You are up early in the morning, walking shoes on the feet and notepads and cameras in hand as you head out to view as many as 10 hotels and numerous restaurants and facilities.  It can be exhausting as you tumble into bed late in the evening, knowing you have to get up and do it again the next day. (My other half used to think I was going on a vacation till he went with me a couple of times and now says he would just as soon stay home with the dog as to go trek around at a hectic and exhausting pace with me.)

So as a family, we have become committed to finding the really interesting three- and four-day trips that we can do by car or train or even bus.  In order for the TopDawg to go along, it means a car trip.  If he stays home, public transportation is a viable alternative.  We just did a three day trip to Portland, OR by Amtrak Cascades.  A very relaxing way to get to Portland. Instead of the I-5 hassles, we sat back, drank our tea and coffee and surfed the Internet via the free Wi-Fi on the Cascades train.  Watching the cars streaming down I-5 towards Portland made me very happy to be on board a train.

Look around and see what is within a comfortable travel distance from your home and start thinking about those lovely two, three and four day weekends and what you can do to unwind and relax without waiting for the vacation/PTO/sick days to accumulate!

Here are some links to articles about Fall Activity related trips from around the country that might interest you…..

Autumn Apple Tours in Southernmost Illinois

Experiencing Santa Fe in the Fall

Two Chicago Area Farms Features Mazes and Pumpkins

Fall Fruit Picking at Battleview Orchards, Freehold NJ