This happens every summer: I get a new pair of cute sandals that fit nicely in the store, and then the first day out - bam! Sore feet and blisters. This may sound familiar to fellow fans of soft adventure travel. Non-stressful hiking, plus walking tours, pretty much make up the kind of summer vacation (non-aquatic) exercise I get. That’s why, for me, the who-knows-what-technology-based stuff that goes into Gore-Tex fabric, makes their shoes a real plus. The Gore-Tex fabric is waterproof and wicks away heat, and feels kind of squishy in the sole (but it’s not a gel-based insert, so the TSA won’t make you surrender you shoes on the airport security line). My Ecco and Clark’s shoes have the Gore-Tex insignia, and Merrell, New Balance, and Timberland brands also use the special patented fabric. The company joined with the Adventure Travel Trade Association to suggest a Top 10 list of Summer Adventure Travel Vacation Destinations.

Top 10 Summer Travel Destinations, via Gore-Tex and the Adventure Travel Trade Association

• Australia - From the walkabouts to the rain forests of Queensland to the Great Barrier Reef, there’s adventure travel of almost all sorts here. If shopping is more your summer vacation speed, spend that cash in Sydney and Melbourne.
• Brazil - The jungles here are disappearing at a rapid clip; tourist dollars may show the government a viable alternate use of this great resource. And the beaches of Ipanema and Copacabana are fantastic!
• British Columbia - start at my favorite airport hotel, and have fun in Vancouver, Victoria, and Granville Island for your summer vacation. Migratory marine mammals like whales spend their summers here too; they have the right idea!
• California - Even Los Angeles, with its sad reputation as a faceless city of strip malls, has some challenging hiking trails. I’d also suggest a drive north to Santa Barbara, my favorite spot along the Central Coast. There are also Napa Valley and other less famous “wine countries.”
• France - Can’t beat Paris as a cultural, historic walking city, but you might wear out your shoes trying to see it all. Then there’s Provence, Versailles, biking in the Pyrenees (bordering Spain), and the forests of Fontainebleau. Adventure travel and luxury vacations both fit together perfectly in France!
• Madagascar - The Malagasy, native to Madagasacar, could really use some tourism dollars. The forests of this unique island are disappearing at a pretty rapid clip, and ecotourism may help stem the loss. The lemurs, chameleons, and other interesting critters are endemic to Madagascar, and need their habitat to continue starring in all those nature specials.
• Nepal - Kathmandu is the star here, of course, though getting to Nepal is an adventure in itself. Nepal would be the right fit for someone seeking a special, unique cultural trip; if that’s you, visit Boudhanath Stupa, home to Tibetan Buddhism in Nepal.
• New York - New York City is hot, humid, and gross in the summer - I lived through too many summers there to be in denial. But the Hudson Valley, Niagara Falls, and Adirondacks region are all lovely.
• Norway - This one was included on the Top 10 Summer Travel Destinations list, presumably because it’s too dark and cold to vacation there in the winter. The gorgeous waterfalls and fjords can be toured via walking tours, or hiked and splashed in by more intrepid vacationers.
• Switzerland - An outdoor adventure vacation would feature a hike up the Alps, and possibly hang-gliding back down. Leisure travelers can explore Basel, Geneva, and Zurich.

These disparate vacation destinations were chosen by the quality of both adventure and leisure travel options. Factors considered include uniqueness and authenticity, adventure activity resources (bicycling, hiking, etc), need for sustainable tourism, and undiscovered or little known natural and cultural assets. I think this list represents a nice blend of very popular summer travel spots, and some that are less so.

And me? Well, I have 2 weeks of vacation travel in New York planned for this summer, one of which is in the humid stickiness of NYC. In August! Wish me luck.

Oh, sure, CajunMama’s husband won’t acknowledge the term, but “mancations” are really picking up some traction in the travel industry. Now, most men that I know would rather not vacation at all, than spend their vacation days in a luxury spa, getting their nails buffed. But a lot of men are figuring out that time with their friends is time well spent, indeed. This is why mancations have become increasingly popular.

Mancations, or getaways for men only, can range from low rent (10 college buddies crammed in a Vegas hotel room) to ultra high end (father-son trip to Gleneagles Hotel Golf Resort in Scotland) - with a lot of room in between. Personally, I like the idea of mancations. Dudes hanging our together, doing their dude thing (I don’t want to know too much here), getting smelly, scratching…No women allowed? That’s okay! No, really.

Top Recommended Mancation Vacation Travel Gifts, for Father’s Day and Beyond

There are some great mancation gift ideas out there. If you want to treat the guy in your life with a mancation travel gift, it helps if you can arrange time off work for his closest friends as well. Cabo San Lucas has some fishing vacation packages, and the Waterfall Resort in Ketchican, Alaska provides everything guys need for an authentic Alaska fishing vacation. From what I’ve heard, these mancations sound like really fun outdoorsman trips.

Another special gift that a lot of men would really appreciate is a real NASCAR Richard Petty riding experience. NASCAR fans can travel to one of 25 major American cities including, of course, Daytona. There, guys on mancations can opt to ride shotgun in a stock car - or even drive the NASCAR top series top car themselves! Imagine that: Up to 140 miles per hour, no cops ticketing the dude, and a memory to last a lifetime.

For golfers, mancation-type travel packages abound. One top new contender I like is offered by the Half Moon Resort in Jamaica. Just in time for Father’s Day (but good through the rest of the year), the Guys on the Green golf vacation package is a seriously luxurious mancation, for a seriously lucky guy. The travel package includes 5-star dining, drinks, two rounds of golf at Half Moon’s award winning golf course, and an “Up to Par” massage. Oh, and guests are greeted with an ice-cold beer upon arrival. Golf, manly massage, beer…Talk about a mancation.

These are the Traveling Mamas’ current top recommended mancations for Father’s Day (or any time). But lists are meant to be expanded: Any other favorites out there?

I love the Kentucky Derby, with the big, fancy hats, Mint Juleps, and the thrill of the most exciting two minutes in sports. My son, daughter and I just cheered from home for our picks in the 134th Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs. The excitement was evident as Big Brown #20, the favorite, won the 134th Kentucky Derby. 

Sadly though, the filly who came in second place, Eight Belles #5, broke both ankles and had to be euthanized immediately. I admit I began to cry as I watched the teary-eyed doctor, who was on the scene when it happened, make the announcement on NBC. I just hope Eight Belles died doing what she loved best. We should all be so lucky.

The Traveling Mamas really enjoy vacations in Mexico; I know that for me, the Yucatan Peninsula is just heaven. I loved seeing the Mayan ruins like Tulum and Chichen Itza near Cancun. Cancun has many child-friendly all-inclusive resorts with resort day camps for kids - in case the little ones aren’t up for a day trip to see those pyramids. MountainMama loved her travels in the Riviera Maya, too. But Mexico’s a big, diverse country, and not all of it is so trip-worthy.

The US State Department has just put out an extended travel alert for Mexico. Specifically, border areas in the country are considered too dangerous to visit, what with scary increases in gang violence and drug trafficking. These Mexican border states include Chihuahua City, Juarez, and Tijuana. According to the State Department, dozens of US citizens were actually kidnapped or murdered in Tijuana last year. Yikes.

And wait, there’s more: The New York Times reports (April 29, 2008 ) that besides the enormous threat of kidnappings that are practically a business model in Mexico City, FAKE kidnapping rates are skyrocketing too. These so-called “virtual kidnappings” sound horrifying; one US citizen living in Mexico received a call from a young women purporting to be her daughter, and other parents get calls with the sounds of little children crying out for them (these are not their kids, in fact, but just imagine the panic). There’s no sign that US tourists are being targeted in and of themselves, but with very few arrests so far, the problem will only continue.

Fancy luxury resort hotels in and around popular tourist destinations have heightened security, of course, and there’s almost no chance of gang members barging into the Ritz-Carton in Cancun. On the flip side, staying in an all-inclusive and not venturing outside of the hotel property doesn’t give travelers any real sense of the culture and history of the host country – you could be anywhere balmy if you don’t leave the resort grounds.

This is a tough issue. The travel and tourism industry definitely helps boost local and state economies of otherwise poor countries, and the experience of a family vacation somewhere outside of our own neighborhood (and mental safety zone) is mind-expanding. However, as with practically any family, us mamas’ and papas’ priorities are the health and safety of our children. Without travel package deals, the cost of many inclusive resorts is out of reach for a lot of us, too. Is the answer to simply take our family vacations in the safest parts of the world? Or is the answer to travel to faraway lands, but refuse to venture out of the safety of hotel grounds? What do you think?

I was oblivious to the tourism importance of Man Malls until two appeared near my city. Hotels began to pop up, and even good ole Starbucks opened for business in these no-longer rural areas. My family decided to take a Sunday drive to Cabela’s, located in Gonzales, LA. I was completely shocked when traffic halted on the I-10. It seems as if everyone else in the state of Louisiana had decided to check out this new Man Mall for themselves.

Local police officers were directing traffic into the parking lot (which was full, of course). We hiked a mile to the actual store and I had the Mama Death Grip on my children’s hands so that they would not get lost from me in the mob.

Promotions of Chevy giveaways and pictures with Nascar drivers were strategically placed near the entrance. The whole experience was reminding me of the bargain basement bridal gown sale that always makes the national news. I was expecting to get trampled at any moment.

And then we made it through the doors.

The scene was a wonderland for outdoorsmen (and women). Kids were staring in awe at the wide array of aquatic specimen in nearby tanks. Others were admiring the taxidermy exhibit of animals placed on a mountain. But the truest scene was of women sitting on benches checking mobile phone messages while their men competed for the attention of the store associate. It seems there was a limited supply of discounted knives, and these men just had to have one.

This parallel universe offered a respite, in the form of a General Store, for the women to wait on their men. The homemade fudge slices were calling me, where the kids and I waited for my husband to return triumphantly with his $9.99 knife.

To find a Man Mall the next time you need some hiking socks or a pink fishing pole, visit: Cabela’s, Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World, or Gander Mountain.

Tots on the Go, a Virginia-based company, has teamed with Traveling Mamas to let you guys pick out your own prize, and we’re giving you a month do to it!

From their site:

“We started this business out of the desire to share our knowledge, as fairly new parents, of the many great products available. We spent countless hours researching the latest and great products to make a families life easier. With our personal experience as parents and constant research we will help make the right choice for you.”

Wow. This is the type of shop TravelingMamas.com likes. And they even have a showroom that is opening April 25!

So, what do you have to do to win something? Check out Tots on the Go’s Travel Gear section and choose the item you want to win. Just come back here and leave a comment stating your choice of prize. The product with the most comments is the item we’ll give away to a lucky winner.

We’re giving you guys a month to enter, so be sure to tell all your friends. Contest is open to US residents and immediate family members of Traveling Mamas are ineligible to win. Closing date is May 13, 2008. Winning entry and prize will be announced on Winning Wednesday, May 14, just in time for that fabulous family vacation this summer.

Isn’t it nice when we can justify your egregious spending habits by noting that a portion of our money goes to some kind of good cause? I know that tip helps me, anyway: I rationalize my frequent pit stops at Starbucks with thoughts like, “Hey, Starbucks supports nonprofits,” or “Look, that Ethos water helps some kids get clean drinking water.” It would be more honest for me to think, “I can kiss this 4 bucks goodbye” as I sate my morning jones for caffeine, but that’s just not how we addicts roll.

So imagine my joy when I read about how easy it is to find a Starbucks on the road? Oh, I was happy, plenty happy. And to round out my coffee-themed day, this afternoon I picked up this tidbit: Sign up for a registered Starbucks card (it works like a debit card, and as long as you don’t lose it, it will automatically maintain a minimum balance), and get free refills, free syrup added in, and a free tall - that means small, newbies - cup of joe when you buy a bag of coffee beans for home. Awesome! Starbucks is a good dealer; they know just how to keep us coming back for more.

Now, I don’t know if this is a limited-time offer or not - I just picked up the pamphlet today - but I do know that 1) free is good and 2) I’m not the only one who seeks out Starbucks even when I’m away from home. Forget the maps and sunblock; this registered Starbucks card is a pretty good item to take on vacation. And unless your vacation is in the middle of a jungle (Starbucks stores are everywhere else, it seems), that’s a pretty good tip.

My fellow traveling mamas and I not only love to travel and write (and oh yeah, our kids. We love our kids, can’t forget that bit), but we also love to read about other peoples’ travel tales. Reading about other places isn’t the same as experiencing them personally, of course, but a well-crafted story can come close; that’s one reason that collecting submissions for our anthology is so fun. Another reason is simply the joy of discovering great short stories, which are essentially what any collection of tales are, no matter the theme. A favorite anthology for many is the whole Chicken Soup for the (fill in the blank) series, while I especially enjoy McSweeney’s anthologies.

A lot of new writers get their first break in Dave Egger’s publishing house, and well-established authors have contributed to his anthologies as well. Dave Eggers is probably a pretty good guy. Besides assisting new writers launch their professional careers, he teaches writing at a nonprofit tutoring center called 826 Valencia (he’s in San Francisco, but there are others under the 826 mantle in Seattle, Chicago, LA and New York). This week, we have a great contest giveaway in the form of five McSweeney’s books. Yeah, FIVE! And before you ask, yes, they’re new. I pinky-swear I didn’t read them first.

The McSweeney’s Anthology Books Giveaway Contest includes:

1) The Better of McSweeney’s, an anthology that includes short tales by David Foster Wallace, Zadie Smith, Ian Smith, and many others.

2) Timothy McSweeney’s at War for the Foreseeable Future and He’s Never Been so Scared, an anthology including contributions by T.C. Boyle, Wells Tower and more.

3) McSweeney’s 25, a classy hardcover book with short stories by Joyce Carole Oates, Steven Millhauser, Padget Powell and other writers.

4) Created in Darkness by Troubled Americans: The Best of McSweeney’s Humor Category, which includes contributions by Tim Carvell, Jon Hodgman, Michael Ian Black, and many other hilarious authors.

5) Comedy by the Numbers, a collection subtitled “The 169 Secrets of Humor and Popularity.”

That’s quite a celebration of the written word! Anyone who has thought about starting a collection of anthologies would do well to start with these quintessentially 21st century post-modern short stories. Like all short story collections, they’re great to bring on road trips or vacations, since they can be read in short bursts. How do you win this great collection of anthologies? It’s easy: Just leave a comment below telling us what kind of books you like to take on vacations with you - genre, author, whatever. The contest is open to US residents only, and no relatives of the Traveling Mamas should enter. Contest will close at Tuesday night at 12:01 AM, April 15, 2008. We’ll announce the winner Wednesday, April 16. Have fun!

For those of us who are addicted to coffee and its many variations, finding a decent cup of java while on the road can present a challenge. I’m a big Starbucks fan, but I occasionally frequent independent coffee shops, just for a little variety.

Yesterday, I thought I would try McDonald’s new iced coffee drink that is being advertised. I’ve tried Burger King’s iced mocha in the past, and it would do in a pinch. I’ve also sampled Sonic’s frozen coffee blend, which while the taste was decent, I could feel the fat contained in this concoction sliding down my throat and straight to my behind. Well, all I can say about McDonald’s new iced coffee is, “Run away!”

McDonald’s iced coffee was the most disgusting thing that has ever passed through my lips.

I usually try to find something redeemable to say in my experiences and to make my opinion a bit more palatable, but there is no other way to word this opinion.

So, how do you find good coffee while on the road?

Text: Send a text message to Google (466453) with the subject coffee

Web browser: Find the nearest Starbucks at mobile.starbucks.com

Phone: If all else fails, call 800-235-2883 and the Starbucks operator will assist you in locating the nearest Starbucks.

When I was a kid, long before my first trip to Las Vegas, I heard about the cheap buffets and 99-cent shrimp cocktail Vegas offered. But years later my first trip there was a sore disappointment. Not only did I lose a few bucks, but the buffets were pricey and I didn’t see any 99-cent shrimp cocktail. (Hey when you’re in your early twenties a dollar is a dollar.) It ends up, I was just in the wrong areas. 

Today, I can’t even guess how many times I’ve been to Las Vegas. Between road trips, vacations, weddings, girlfriend getaways, visits to see family (my husband’s), and of course overnights with the airline I worked for, it’s well over 50.

After a little research on the ‘net recently I did find that the “cheap eats” are still in Vegas, you just have to know where to look.

The Super 8 Motel Ellis Island casino (located on Koval near East Flamingo) has a 10 oz steak, baked potato, vegetable, bread and get this - a microbrew (or an EO rootbeer) of you choice all for $7. It’s served 24 hours a day, but it’s not on the menu, so just ask. Think I’m kidding? I’m not.

Terrible Herbst Hotel and Casino (located on Paradise and Flamingo) has a cheap buffet, last I heard it was $5 for the breakfast buffet and $9 for the dinner buffet and on Sunday evenings the main course is prime rib and shrimp ($15). I stayed here many nights while serving peanuts and Cokes as a flight attendant. The multi-flavored fries (jalapeno, garlic, and cajun) in the bar on the main casino floor are pretty good for a late night fried-treat with a pint and the breakfast crepes were quite tasty.

Sadly, it looks like Chapter 11 for Terrible Herbst. Yikes! So get give ‘em some support and throw a few nickels and quarters in the slots while you’re there.

I know you’re wondering - What about the shrimp? The famous 99-cent shrimp cocktail is still in existence at the Golden Gate Casino downtown on Fremont Street or you can go big with the “Big Shrimp” for $2.99.

And yes, free drinks are normally offered to gambling patrons. To keep the cocktail waitress coming your way always tip at least $1-3 a drink if you tip more you are guaranteed to never go empty.

Now, go throw the money you just saved into the slot machines, just don’t let the money you brought to Vegas stay in Vegas.

Financing a vacation can be difficult. You know where you want to go but you just don’t know how you’ll get there.

The average American family spends around $2500 per year on a vacation. Readers might guess that vacation spending would be down, with the economic “turndown” and an increase in cost of basic items like groceries and gas, but this isn’t the case. It seems as if consumers are putting more value on their vacation time, and according to the Travel Industry of America’s annual forecast, travel spending in the U.S. will increase 5 percent this year.

I don’t know about you guys, but my family saves up for our annual vacation in a variety of ways.

Save your change. Each of us has our own container where we place our loose change at the end of the day. This is a great way for the kids to save spending money. All those quarters, dimes, nickels and pennies can really add up. Last year we were able to save around $350 in total.

Have a garage or rummage sale. Once a year, my neighbors and I get together for a multi-family garage sale. We are usually able to earn about $400 per family by the end of the day.

Cut back on unnecessary spending. Our family used to eat out at least once per week. We’ve cut the eating out by 25 percent and are able to put aside at least $75 per month towards our family trip. That’s a savings of $900 per year!

Open a vacation savings account. I’m able to have my bank deduct $50 per paycheck and place in a saving account just for vacations. With my contribution alone, that gives our family another $1200 towards our travels.

Use SmartyPig to save. This company allows consumers to open an interest-earning account with a minimal deposit of $25. Your friends and relatives can even deposit money towards the goals you list with the account. Sounds like a simple, smart, savings plan.

So how does the average family finance a vacation? This is where you, our readers come in. Leave us a comment on how you finance your vacation and you will be eligible to win a $50 Gift Card to open a savings account with SmartyPig.

Contest will close April 8, 2008 at midnight EST.

The winner will be announced on Winning Wednesday, April 9. Giveaway is open to US residents and immediate family members of Traveling Mamas are ineligible to win.

It’s been a sad week for Hawaii travel authorities; Aloha Airlines has declared bankruptcy, and ceased passenger transportation. Some people taking vacations in Hawaii were temporarily inconvenienced, since their round-trip Aloha tickets obviously became one-ways. But airlines serving Hawaii moved quickly to fill the gap, and affected travelers shouldn’t have (or have had, already) much trouble finding seats on outgoing flights.

According to John Monahan, the president of the Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau, the “airline community serving Hawaii anticipated that this might happen and has been quick to fill the void left by Aloha’s closing.”Aloha reps cited increased fuel costs (boy, these affect us all!) and heightened competition for interisland flights - specifically, low-cost carrier Go! Airlines, which offered much lower priced tickets for Hawaii island hopping. This affects Hawaii’s state economy as well, what with around 1,900 people losing their jobs.

I’ve been feeling wistful about Aloha Airlines closing up shop. Every time I landed at a Hawaiian airport, I’d see their planes, with distinctive bird-of-paradise flowers on the tails; the sight instantly helped me relax and know I’d arrived at my favorite island chain. Now, Hawaiian Airlines has a similarly iconic lady-with-hibiscus-flower design. Hopefully, after the appropriate period of mourning, I’ll be able to transfer my feelings over to Hawaiian Airlines fleets’ tails. Even more hopefully, the former employees of Aloha Airlines will find solid replacement jobs, and Hawaii’s tourism-based economy will thrive.

A couple of months ago when my parents flew from Denver to Tucson for a visit my dad thought I would get a kick out of the fact that the voice on the Denver International Airport (DIA) train was that of Denver’s Mayor John Hickenlooper and apparently, a lot of Denver residents recognize the voice. Being that I once worked at DIA for Frontier Airlines I did find it funny.

It just so happens Denver isn’t the only airport using a famous voice at the airport. In fact, it’s been going on for quite sometime. Last month in USA Today columnist Harriet Baskas wrote an article about familiar voices on airport moving walkway PA systems. According to Baskas’ article, Lee Ann Womack greets passengers in Nashville and the Las Vegas McCarran Airport has been featuring entertainers over the moving-walkway PA system since the 70’s.

So, the next time you’re killing time in the airport, tune in and see if you recognize the voice. You might just be able to name that voice.

NativeEnergy helps travelers purchase legitimate carbon offsets, to make vacations more carbon neutral. Community based, Native American, farmer-owned renewable energy projects are supported through NativeEnergy. The benefits are not just environmental, but economic and social as well. With sponsors like Ben & Jerry’s, Aveda and Clif Bars, Native Energy works to both end global warming and build positive businesses for family farmers and Native Americans.

The Untied Nations World Tourism Organization reports that the travel industry alone produces 5% of greenhouse gas emissions worldwide. Megan Epler Wood, a partner at NativeEnergy, says that travel-related carbon dioxide emissions will grow by 75% in the next decade unless people do something about it. And really, with the ice caps melting, droughts, and new record high temperatures every summer, how much more global warming can we responsibly allow to happen? On the other hand, vacations and travel are one of life’s joys.

NativeEnergy’s “10 Reasons to Go Green” for the travel industry are interesting. Not every reason is feasible. I agree with the philosophy behind this list, at least!

1. Green companies save money by reducing their energy outputs.
2. Global warming is threatening travel destinations all over the world.
3. Over 50% of potential customers are more likely to choose travel packages that show a commitment to environmental responsibility.
4. Preparing reports that include carbon footprints (and reductions thereof) and click-through carbon offset purchase options online can position travel companies as being innovative leaders.
5. Green designs are cost efficient and will attract more environmentally aware customers.
6. Providing more responsible transportation options will also attract travelers who are concerned about the carbon impact of their vacations.
7. Plans for more environmentally responsible transportation and lodging are in the works, and will become essential in the future for green travel.
8. The travel industry must prepare to report on industry-wide green policies and how it’s responding to environmental issues as legislative efforts become more common.
9. Finding strategic environmental partners will help the travel industry respond to global warming.
10. An environmentally responsible travel policy for the industry shows concern for the world as a whole, and the people most affected by the climate crisis.

Ever heard of Oberammergau? Know how to pronounce Oberammergau? (It’s “OH-burr-am-er-gow”)

It is a tiny village in Bavaria, Germany, whose residents who have been performing a day-long Passion Play every 10 years since 1634. After months of suffering from the plague, Oberammergauers made an oath to God that they would perform the “Play of the Suffering, Death and Resurrection of Our Lord Jesus Christ” as long as they were further spared from the plague. Indeed, after the vow was made, the plague took no other victims from the small town.

The elaborate staging of the Passion of Christ, from his entry into Jerusalem to the Resurrection, is up to seven hours long, with an intermission for a mid-day meal. It is held in a magnificent open-air theatre that seats more than 5,000.

The only reason I’ve heard of this play is through my work at the travel company Globus & Cosmos, where I was on staff in the mid 1990s. The Globus Family of Brands operates escorted tours to the event that draws hundreds of thousands of tourists from across the globe. Really, the only way an Average Joe is likely to see the world-famous play is to book a vacation with a tour company.

Tickets to Oberammergau performances, which will run May to October 2010, sell out quickly. So do rooms at the local hotels. But the escorted tour operators have already booked accommodations and tickets in bulk. Still, visitors who want to see the performance, in which 2,000 actors, singers, musicians and technicians take part, have to secure their spots on trips sooner than later.

Which brings me to my question of the day. How far out do you book your vacations? Typically, I have a hard enough time thinking about next week, let alone two years from now. Indeed, most of my family’s trips are planned just a few months in advance; we have a rough idea, “We’re going to visit Grammie in August,” but I usually don’t set the dates and book plane tickets until a few months out.

While I’ve thought plenty about how I want to celebrate my 40th birthday and 10th wedding anniversary in 2009 (ideally on a Windjammer cruise, if the company gets its financial act together), I haven’t booked a thing. With young children, I need to plan around school vacations, start and end dates, and extra-curricular activities and sports, and sometimes I just don’t know those dates til closer to the events.

How about you?

Traveling Mamas is putting together a collection of stories written by parents, grandparents, godparents, aunts, uncles, and anyone who has a story related to motherhood (or even just being stuck sitting next to a mother and her crying child).

If you have a heartwarming, funny, or inspirational travel story you would like to share with the world, then check out our submission guidelines on the Anthology page.

We are so excited to bring our stories, and yours, to print. So, get out there and write your own travel story and submit it to us before the September 1, 2008 deadline.

We wish you all the best during this upcoming travel season.

The Specialty Travel Agents Association (STAA) has its 2008 Best Destinations travel trend destinations selections up. This “Top 10″ type list obviously has to leave out a lot of great vacation spots, and includes none in the United States’ Lower 48. However, there is much to commend about this list of interesting international destinations. Take a look: I’ll give my opinion on the travel spots, and you tell me what you think, too.

In no particular order, the STAA Best Destinations for Travel in 2008:

Quebec City, in Canada: July 3rd marks Quebec City’s 400th anniversary, and the celebration will not only be festive, but also will recognize all the outdoor activities, festivals, culture and history that makes Quebec City a top vacation destination. This will be an eight month long celebration (you read that right - what a party!) with genuine French Canadian flavor.
Australia: Europeans are increasingly taking their holidays in Australia (the favorable exchange rate may have something to do with this), and resort hotels are correspondingly becoming more luxurious. But it’s not all luxury travel of course - there’s plenty of budget lodgings and eco travel opportunities in the Land Down Under. It ranks as one of my top places I’d like to see, as well.
Hawaii: Hawaii, and Maui in particular, is consistently voted the most popular tropical vacation island by those in the know (Conde Naste, Travel & Leisure, etc). It’s also the top honeymoon vacation state in the U.S., with each island offering its own unique take on what it means to be in Hawaii. Another plus: I’ve never had bad weather for more than an hour or two there. The weather is perfect.
China: The Specialty Travel Agents Association has chosen China as a best destination largely because of the upcoming Beijing Sumer Olympics games. However, more recently there have been some seriously disturbing issues - those that even make the news - regarding exactly how China is preparing for the games (prettifying a large, polluted urban area seems to mean dislocating a lot of long-time residents), and the country’s sanctioning of murdering monks in Tibet has led at least one country (France) to consider boycotting the Olympics. No country’s politics are perfect, of course, but with all the other great places to visit in the world, I know I have no travel plans for China in the immediate future.
The US Virgin Islands: Okay, I’m biased - my honeymoon was in St John, and in as such it remains one of my most favorite tropical vacation isles. St. John is 2/3 National Park land, and is the least developed of the three US Virgin Islands. St. Thomas has the most hotels and resorts, as well as the best shopping, whereas St Croix has tourism opportunities and what is considered the Easternmost part of the United States. The local saying goes, “Vacation on St. John, Shop on St. Thomas, and Live on St. Croix,” and that pretty much holds true.
India: It’s a large, geographically diverse country, so it would probably take more than one trip to truly get to know India. STAA recommends India for ecotravel - Bengal tigers are an endangered species, and there’s not much time left to see them in their natural state. And the Taj Mahal, needless to say, is also a huge draw.
Argentina: STAA recommends Argentina for those of us travel lovers who have been struggling with the dropping value of the American dollar. Rather than not travel at all, its suggested that Argentina’s bang for the buck combines well with many tourist friendly activities, top-notch restaurants, and boutique hotels.
Vietnam: STAA suggests that Vietnam is the Next Best Thing in terms of luxury golf vacations, calling it the “next premier golf destination.” Really? Well, I’m not sure that golf travel packages in Vietnam will ever be on the same level as Scotland or Hawaii, but it has many other tourist friendly attractions. It’s a very affordable country to visit, for one, and two, the Vietnamese people are among the world’s nicest, most optimistic - Buddhism teaches kindness and forgiveness, and most people in Vietnam are Buddhist.
France: Ah, France! A Top 10 Travel list just wouldn’t seem legit without La Belle France. It’s the most popular country in the world for travel, and has everything any vacation lover could want. Luxury travel is practically defined by the French Riviera, and those of us who appreciate the fine arts go gaga over the Louvre and Orsay in Paris. 2008 is the 150th anniversary of the appearance of the Virgin Mary to a French peasant girl in Lourdes, and seeing that six million people make a religious pilgrimage there already, Lourdes is sure to be a top travel destination this year.
Alaska: Alaska is one of the most popular cruise destinations (with a pit stop in Vancouver, BC). Just as India’s Bengal tiger population is shrinking, so are those glaciers. Environmentally aware tourists are wanting to see the melting ice before it’s too late. The cruise ship vacations to Alaska are, of course, most popular in the spring and summer; it’s too cold for most travelers to come out of their cabins in the winter! The gorgeous scenery, combined with the summer home of many migratory species, makes cruising here an enormous draw.

While I don’t agree with all the destinations on this list being the top 10, shortlists are hard. Winnowing down all the terrific places to see in the world to 10 is never going to please everyone, after all! I give STAA credit for their obviously well thought-out list, but I’d switch out China for a less controversial country, and perhaps replace Argentina with Belize, Costa Rica, or another Latin American country with a stronger emphasis on eco travel and environmentally responsible tourism. But that’s just me - what’s on your Top 10 travel destinations list? I’d really like to know; there’s a comments section below.

It’s common knowledge that airplanes recycle air - and that’s a big reason so many people get sick a couple days after flying. Such a bummer, that: We travel for vacation and come home with a runny nose. Those germs that someone coughed up in first class make their way to business and coach in no time, and with the air being recycled, those perky germs have more opportunities than ever to find a nice new host. That’s why, for years, I’ve taken Airborne before I fly - and upon returning home as well. The cute, friendly packaging was enough to convince me that this was a good, preventive measure against the common cold. After all, it was invented by a teacher, and teachers are smart (was my line of thinking).

But get this - the makers of Airborne just lost a major class-action lawsuit, and have to pay consumers 23.3 million dollars for false advertising. That’s a lot of dollars. Why? There were no clinical trials, as purported by the company - instead, “tests” were carried out by only two laypeople. The Center for Science in the Public Interest (a non-profit advocacy group) said this money goes towards refunding people who bought Airborne. Turns out, Airborne’s no better than a plain old daily multivitamin, and may be worse in the way of being wasteful. Supersizing your daily dose of vitamin C, for example (Airborne has over a thousand percent of our recommended daily allowance!) only taxes our kidneys and then the other 900 percent is turned into…you know, bodily waste. We just can’t use more than 100% of what we need, right?

Airborne has already changed its ad campaign, though the company spokesperson admits no wrongdoing. To me, 23 mil sounds like quite a bit of wrongdoing - in this case, cold-curing claims that are unfounded. Here’s a tip: Colds go away on their own, even if untreated, after a couple of days anyway. If you take a daily multivitamin, adding an Airborne can actually give your body (your poor, sick body) too high a dose of some vitamins. Levels of vitamins A, C, and B12 are pretty high in an Airborne tablet. I’d say, just stick with the cheaper daily multivitamin, and relax over a cup of hot tea. It’s just a cold; you’ll feel better soon.

That Airborne was created by an elementary school teacher supposedly gave it some credence. Now that I think about it, though, I want my medicine created by knowledgeable people in the medical field, and so should you. Would you think it’s a plus to find that the shunt about to be placed in your heart was invented by your mailman? Me neither.

Since Airborne just lost this class-action lawsuit, here are some tips to stay healthy during air travel:

• Stay well hydrated by drinking water. Being well lubricated gives germs less sticky “landing points.”
• Take a daily multiple vitamin, cheaper generic brands are fine.
• Get a good night’s sleep before flying. A well-rested body is less stressed, and better able to fight off germs.
• Travel with a topical antibiotic (like Purell) if you’re especially sensitive to germs. If not, washing hands with soap and warm water should be fine - and we don’t need to add to the growing problems of Purell-resistant Superbugs!

I’m feeling a little let down by Airborne. Its efficacy is no greater than my vitamin pill, and the tablets are really expensive. Now, 30% of people have positive responses (i.e. get better) from placebos, so there might also have been the placebo effect here. Next time, I’ll just plop a Sweet Tart in my water; it should work just as well.

Here’s some fun news: Embassy Suites Hotels, that mid-range, all suite chain, held a creative contest, asking contestants to come up with their own “Do Not Disturb” slogans. You know, for those privacy door hanger signs we all use at hotels, used when we want to sleep late (or have some guaranteed midday alone time)? Yeah, those things. The contest is already done, sorry to say, but the winners are pretty funny.

• The first prize winner, and one with which I’m sure most of us can relate, is “Shh! I’m hatching a plan to bust some little soaps out of here.” This funny-cuz-it’s-true Do Not Disturb door hanger was written by Marty Mintman, who won a three-night stay at The Embassy Suites Waikiki Beach in Honolulu. Yes, Honolulu Hawaii. What a great prize! And: The current soap in my soapdish is a miniature Neutrogena, surreptitiously packed up and taken from some hotel during some trip sometime. Hey! That’s a nice brand! I was proud to bust that little soap out of there. Good one, Marty Mintman.
• The second prize went to the most simple: “Pillow Fight in Progress,” conceived by Susan Suarez. She gets a three-night stay in one of my favorite luxury resorts, La Quinta Resort & Club, in La Quinta (Greater Palm Springs), California.
• Third prize was definitely written by a mom; “There are days when I wish I could wear this around my neck” earned Sandra Parcher three nights at The Embassy Suites New York. I agree. There are plenty of times when a vacation with the kids leaves me feeling like I need a vacation from the kids. That’s what the resort spa is all about.
• Amy Forgette won fourth prize with “I’ve built a pillow fort and I am not opening the door for anybody!” She gets to enjoy her three hotel vacation nights at The Embassy Suites Mexico City. I wonder how you say “pillow fight” in Spanish - anybody know?
• Last, a familiar refrain: “Aww, Mom. Just five more minutes. Please?” Brian White won his three nights at The Embassy Suites Washington DC for that one. And I’m sure we’ve all heard that one a hundred times - those of us with children older than 6, anyway. Wonder how the housekeeping feels about seeing that door hanger.

These 5 winning door hanger ideas were selected from over 1,700 entries. The judges were looking for the cleverest Do Not Disturb signs, and I’d say they found them. Embassy Suites Hotels has almost 200 hotels, and these custom door hangers will actually be displayed at all of them. Pretty cool. I wonder what my entry would have been…

The New York Daily News recently ran an article by Chanize Thorpe regarding passport cards. This informative article offers all the goods on the new passport cards, including a list of pros and cons.

The cards would be valid for travel by land or sea to Mexico, the Caribbean, Canada and Bermuda, so if you travel frequently to these destinations, maybe a passport card would make sense. If you travel anywhere else, or by air, you would still need a traditional passport book.
Maybe the passport card is a good idea, but each card is embedded with a chip that can be read wirelessly up to 20 feet away. The chip contains an id number that is linked to photos and biographical information that is stored by the government in a “secure” database. Those interested can go to the US State Department’s Official Site to get info on passports and id cards.

Okaayyyy. So, this means that I could get a passport card and anyone with the capability could walk within 20 feet of me and scan me for all of my personal information? Hello, Jason Bourne. Where are you?

No offense, but this totally freaks me out. I think I will keep my traditional passport for the moment. To read the article in the NY Daily News, click here.