Travel Tip

This one is a nod to my sister, Emily. When Em travels she purchases a couple postcards and records on the back the date, where she was, and who she was traveling with. They are a great, inexpensive way to record your journey and could be displayed in a creative way (shadow box, cork board) to remind you of a wonderful vacation.

How to "travel" without leaving your own community

Last Saturday was one of those perfect days. I didn't have anywhere to be or any set agenda, plus the weather was beautiful! The sun was shining and it was over 40 degrees...in Cleveland that's a pretty big deal in February! This also meant that my boyfriend, Mike, would not be called into work (doing snow removal). So after sleeping in, we decided to walk up to one of our local spots for breakfast. This got me thinking... there are times when you don't have a lot of extra spending money or time time to travel but long to experience new things. A great way of doing this is to explore your local community, city, or state. So I thought I would provide my example of how you can turn your own neighborhood into "travel"...

So as I said at around 10:30am we headed from our neighborhood (Little Italy) up the hill into Cleveland Heights to The Inn on Coventry (http://theinnoncoventry.com) for a hearty and delicious breakfast. This is one of those places that I absolutely love, love, love! Its full of local flavor...always packed, full of all types of people, with wonderfully sweet women that serve you coffee and bring your eggs and bacon with a smile. I've lived in Cleveland for almost 7 years and had no idea this place existed...as Mike reminds me, he'll never steer me wrong when it comes to food.

So after breakfast we decided to take a walk through Lake View Cemetery (http://lakeviewcemetery.com) on our way home. We then spent the next 2 1/2 hours walking through the cemetery and enjoying the beautiful day. This cemetery is the final resting place for some notable Ohioans (President Garfield, John D. Rockefeller, Eliot Ness) and houses the Garfield Monument and Wade Memorial Chapel. We wandered up and down the hills enjoying the chilly but sunny day. Other than falling and skinning my knee pretty badly it was nice...side note, I blame the skinned knee on the fact that I was mocking one of the grave stones and either the dead man's ghost or karma caused me to bite it. My most favorite part of the cemetery are the beautiful mausoleums...talk about going out in style...

I also snapped this photo of a tree stump in the cemetery that was in the shape of a heart... I love the things you discover when you're not really looking for anything...

So then what do you do after a long walk??? Nap?....well yes, eventually. But first we opted to head to Maxi's for a Bloody Mary. Maxi's (http://maxisinlittleitaly.com) is our favorite neighborhood restaurant...its very much a "everybody knows your name" kind of place. Mike has been going there for years so I'm happy to reap the benefit of being his girlfriend and accompany him anytime he wants. The Bloody Mary was fabulous and was the perfect ending to a wonderful afternoon.

So this my friends, is how you travel without leaving the comforts of your own community.

Travel Tip

Use Zip-Lock bags to organize your chargers and adapters. This keeps them from getting lost or tangled in your suitcase and provides a bit of waterproofing.

I love New Orleans!

With Fat Tuesday approaching, I thought I would mention one my favorite cities in the US...New Orleans! I love, love, love this city! I briefly visited for a conference and had a wonderful time. I stayed at the Royal Sonesta http://www.sonesta.com/RoyalNewOrleans/, located on Bourbon Street. While some will advise not to stay on Bourbon Street, I feel the opposite. I'm very glad I was in the heart of the action...could hear jazz music from my hotel room, walked across the street to a cafe every morning for a beniet (delicious little fried dough ball covered in confectioners sugar), and open container! Did I mention how great it is to walk down the street drinking a frozen hurricane at 1:00pm? But what I really loved about New Orleans was the laid back atmostphere. The people are some of the warmest I've ever encountered. I visited post-Katrina and found the French Quarter to be absolutely delightful. The dark, seedy, historic sites are breathtaking.

Here is a fun quiz from Budget Travel about this amazing city "15 Things You Didn't Know About New Orleans" (I scored 11 out of 15) http://www.budgettravel.com/feature/15-things-you-didnt-know-about-new-orleans,8314/?wpisrc=newsletter

London View

"As a plane draws nearer to Heathrow Airport, the view picks up momentum - from green pastures to suburban row houses to the spires, bridges, and landmarks of London gleaming below the clouds." (Courtesy Michael Schoenholtz) www.budgettravel.com

Beautiful photos from Budget Travel (my favorite travel magazine). http://www.budgettravel.com/slideshow/10-scenic-airport-landings-photos,6185/?jumpToPic=10 Love this article about most scenic airports.

This shot of London made me very sentimental and long to go back... London was the first stop on the trip my sister and I went on in 2010. This was not only her first overseas flight, but her first flight ever! So on Valentine's Day Eve I dedicate this post to my baby sis...here's to many more trips together...

Travel Tip

In a pinch, shampoo can double as laundry detergent when hand washing items. This especially comes in handy to freshen up bras on long trips. I always pack Shout Wipes or a Tide pen for unexpected stains but salt and soda water also makes for a quick fix.

Travel Tip

Don't forget about the inside of your shoes when packing as it makes a great place for small items. Gym shoes also provide stability and a safe place to pack small, breakable items.