A Traveling Dog, The Travel Blog

Now, I’m not saying this because I was born there, but Tampa is pretty much the best city in Florida.

Miami? Psh. Lame!

Key West? A few days there is fine, but after you’ve toured Hemingway’s house and drank your body weight in margaritas, you’re ready to get back to the mainland.

Orlando? Gross! If Disney doesn’t scare you away, it’s like pretty much armpit of Florida.

That can only leave Tampa. It’s Cuban roots run deep through the city, especially in the former Cigar-making district, the lovely Ybor City. When in Ybor, you have to grab a cuban sandwich and some flan at the historic La Tropicana Cafe, and take a stroll down 7th ave. On 7th and on the surrounding streets and aves. you’ll find all sorts of old cigar factories and other architectural relics of Ybor’s glory days turned into antique shops, vintage stores, bars, restaurants, music venues, and lots more bars.

In addition to Ybor, you have the beautiful Gulf beaches 25 minutes away in St. Petersburg/Clearwater, PLUS awesome roller coasters at Busch Gardens. Oh yeah, and every January there’s Gasparilla. Gasparilla is a Mardi Gras-esque parade where giant ships of costumed pirates invade the bay and “take over the city”. What’s not to love?

If you have severe flying anxiety like I do, chances are your family members draw straws to see who has to sit next to you on a flight.  In addition to victims of flying anxiety, the list of sufferers do not end there.  Sitting next to someone who is tense for the entire duration of the flight, potentially losing the feeling in their arms when squeezed at any sign of air turbulence, and having drinks knocked onto their laps isn’t fun for anyone.

As a victim of severe flying anxiety, I’ve learned to keep a few things in mind before, during, and after a flight to put the trip at ease for myself and those around me.  Try some, if not all of the following steps the next time you hop on a plane:

Before boarding:

• Dress comfortably so you can fall asleep easily
• Avoid eating a full meal or drinking too many liquids; you don’t want increase your nausea or have to deal with going to the restroom during take-off
• Don’t immediately go to your gate’s seating area to sit and stew; walk around the shops and try to relax with your family and friends

During the flight:

• Remember that turbulence is normal
• If you begin think negative thoughts, remind yourself that the chances of getting struck by lightning are greater than any type of flight-related incidents
• Have you seen a plane from the outside?  You are in a strong, reliable and well-maintained aircraft
• 3 million people fly every day; flying is routine and extremely safe
• Have a glass of wine, it’s worth the $5

After the flight:

You’ve made it.  Now remind yourself how easy it was and that you can do it again and again and again.

Follow these helpful tips and stop cutting off your loved ones’ circulation.  Take care, relax, and happy flying!

For the traveler who rolls their eyes at the idea of staying in a hotel, and even bunking up in a hostel elicits a yawn, CouchSurfing.com is the answer to their prayers. CouchSurfing.com is a worldwide network linking travelers with the communities they’re visiting. Since 2004, member have been using the site to find places to stay in over 230 different countries. The site prides itself on serving as a bridge between people who would otherwise never meet. Hosts have the opportunity to meet people from all over the world without leaving their home and travelers have the opportunity to meet people and stay in another country for free.

Check it out and see if it’s for you!

Looking for a different way to stay abroad? Try an “untour”—a supported self-directed tour. You’ll stay in an apartment in the heart of the city furnished according to local custom rather than in a hotel. You’ll be able to immerse yourself in the country and culture at a depth that would be otherwise impossible.

Untours was founded in 1975 by by Hal Taussig and his wife Norma with a mission of offering Americans a profound exposure to other cultures. The company donates nearly all of its profits to charities since the Untours Foundation was founded in 1992. These donations take the form of low-interest social investment loans that build low-income housing, support Fair Trade certified products, and jobs for workers in the developing world and disenfranchised populations. Loan recipients include the Landless Workers Movement in Brazil (assisting over one million formerly landless people to reclaim fallow land and achieve self-sufficiency) to Fresh Look Hair in Delaware (a family business that offers all natural products to straighten  hair without harsh chemicals).

Tours are available throughout Europe, as well as New York City, Buenos Aires, and Quebec City. Since these tours are about total immersion, they must last a minimum of seven days. Visit the Untours site and book your own unique and unforgettable trip at untours.com.

New Mexico features a wealth of things to see when on vacation, and it may be a little hard to delegate time to visit each one of the must see stops this great state holds. One definite stop for the adventurous types should be the Carlsbad Caverns. The main event here is the beautiful rock formations on the walls, ceilings, and floors of the caves. This journey isn’t for the faint of heart, you need to travel nearly 70 stories below the earth’s surface to get there.

Continuing on the the road trip theme, tourist attractions are a staple in Americana and a must-see for anyone traveling highways and byways. We’re not talking about beaches and theme parks either. These places speak to lovers of the strange and bizarre and probably aren’t in your standard travel guide.They’re like America’s deformities:  so weird, we just can’t look away! Here is a list of a few odd U.S. tourist attractions that still attract hundreds of road-trippers every year.

Babyland General Hospital (Cleveland, Georgia):

This  institution is sure to cater to the 8 year-old girl in all of us. It’s the magical place where Cabbage Patch Kids are stuffed and certified. Although the craze for Cabbage Patch Kids has died down since the 80s and 90s, they still have quiet a few visitors in the summer.

Precious Moments Chapel (Carthage, Missouri):

What’s creepier than those popular teary-eyed, angle-winged Precious Moments figurines? A whole chapel adorned with Precious Moments characters painted Sistine Chapel in a Missouri church. Still, this place rakes in the visitors every year.

Prehistoric Forest (Marblehead, Ohio):

Dinosaurs are cool! Dinosaur replicas are less cool. At Prehistoric Forest in Marblehead, you can gaze at dinosaur statues that are set up to look like a less threatening Jurassic Park. The coolest part is the tram ride in which visitors are handed fake M16’s and are told to “kill the monsters”.

There’s nothing more American than a good old-fashioned road-trip.

It’s a great way to travel and explore the country you live in, see the underbelly of areas that you often overlook, and bond with your fellow road-weary traveling partner in the process. A cross-country road trip is on many people’s bucket list, so if you’re looking to cross that off of your’s, National Geographic has what you need to get some inspiration.

On their website they have a really great section profiling the most scenic highways and byways in the US. It separates the suggested routes into regions, so whether you want to head north, south, east, or west, there are plenty of facts and information to get your travel bug going.

One that’s definitely on my list is the Blues Highway drive. Blues Highway, also known as Highway 61, is a route between Memphis and Vicksburg that runs along the mighty Mississippi River. It’s a road trip must-drive for any music lover. On this highway traveled by Muddy Waters, John Lee Hooker, Bessie Smith, and BB King, you’ll find smoky juke joints nestled under pine trees, the sweet sounds of southern gospel music billowing through open church doors, and of course, some famous Memphis BBQ. Memphis is home to Stax Museum of American Soul Music, which is named after the famed Stax records that put out Otis Redding, Issac Hayes and the Staple Singers.

To read more, or find another incredible road trip destination, check out the website.

Travel insurance is a highly debatable commodity in the traveling world. Some people struggle with the decision–to purchase, or not to purchase?

Here are 9 reasons to buy travel insurance according to TODAY, check them out:

Reasons to buy travel insurance
1. Your flight has been cancelled.
2. Your bags are lost and your medication is in it. You need to have an emergency prescription filled.
3. Your passport and wallet are stolen, and you need emergency cash and a replacement passport.
4. You’re involved in an accident and adequate medical treatment is not available. You need medical evacuation.
5. You need to cancel your trip due to illness.
6. Your cruiseairline or tour operator goes bankrupt. You need your non-refundable expenses covered and to get to your destination.
7. You have a medical emergency in a foreign country.
8. A terrorist incident occurs in the city where you’re planning to visit and you want to cancel your trip.
9. A hurricane forces you to evacuate your resort, hotel or cruise.

Procrastination is widely viewed as a bad habit and sure sign of someone who just doesn’t have their stuff together. But sometimes, procrastination pays off.

A few days ago I stumbled upon this great site called Lastminutecruises.com. They offer incredible deals on Caribbean and Mediterranean cruises for the person who just can’t book things in advance. For example, a 3-night cruise from Miami to the Bahamas was $169… that’s nearly 61% off regular ticket price.

In addition to the traditional Carribean cruises that go to Mexico and the Bahamas, there are several different destinations that one could consider if they want something a little different. Other cruise destinations include Alaska, Bermuda, Canada-New England, Hawaii and North Europe–at amazing prices!

Here is a great video from National Geographic, profiling the beautiful and exotic, South Africa.
Check it out!