Be like Armstrong – but with more wine and cheese

Watching the coverage of the Tour de France leads me to two thoughts. The first, how badly I need to get in shape. And the second, how amazing it would be to bike through the idyllic towns of France. Fortunately, you can do both at the same time without having to compete in the grueling, famous race.


There are tour groups that offer bike rides through most countries in Europe. I personally believe traveling by car is the best way to see the country, but can you imagine seeing it by bike? You would be fully able to take in the breathtaking views while trying to catch your breath.


And with all the delectable food you’ll be eating, you can burn off the calories the next day. The downhill side of these types of tours would be inclement weather and tough terrain. But whatever, bring a poncho, and of course, train like Armstrong before the trip.

The ultimate adventure: sailing around the world

I saw this report recently and it truly amazed me. A teenager sailing around the world by himself? Unbelievable. He’s battled squalls, pirates and perhaps worst of all, loneliness. I think the only adventurous thing I did in high school was drink Zima.

But it got me thinking, how amazing would that be to sail the seas of the earth. In one seamless timeline you see exotic cultures, architectural wonders and breathtaking landscapes. I would imagine it being a life-changing experience.

But if you’re like me and would rather watch the world sail by in the luxury of a stateroom there are cruise lines out there that offer world voyages.

This one from Holland America is 111 days long and takes you everywhere from Mumbai to Cape Town, and of course the always exotic Ft. Lauderdale, FL.

But if you can spare 111 days, why not 365. This one from Cruise West is the length of a full year and you visit all the ports in the Holland America cruise plus many more. Some of the wonders include Easter Island, which is on my short list of places to see before I end up in a nursing home.


But to be away from the real world for a year will cost you nearly $234,000. Hmmm….maybe I’ll just hop on Zac’s boat next time he sails the world.

The pride of Illinois

Since it's the 4th of July holiday weekend, I thought I'd indulge my patriotic side with some Presidential history.

Illinois might be notorious for seedy corruption, but it's famous for its Presidential roots. As most know, this is the adopted home state of President Obama. But you may not know that Ronald Reagan and Ulysses S. Grant were both born in Illinois. And of course, Illinois is the Land of Lincoln.

The tourism bureau for the state of Illinois prides itself for these legacies and has created trails that history buffs and Illinois residents can travel through. Check it out here.

This is also the most opportune time to do the trail on Lincoln. Honest Abe celebrated his 200th birthday this past February and a commission was granted to honor his bicentennial. Celebrations at spots that commememorate pivotal events in his life and career have been going on for the last 18 months, and will continue throughout the year.

In addition, his presidential library in Springfield has underwent a lot of changes and created new exhibits for the occasion.

So next time you're in the Land of Lincoln, you'll know just where to go to learn more about one of our greatest Presidents.

BTW, I heart the 4th of July.

Like most Americans, I always associate the holiday with sparklers, the beach and barbecues. And if I partake in these activities, or others, its always with immense pride for being an American. Happy Independence Day!

Your own private audio

I still reminisce often about one of my favorite memories made while spending a summer in New York City in 2000. No, not the partying until 6am at clubs, or accidentally wandering into an S&M bar. Though those still make me laugh. It was taking a historical tour of Greenwich Village. It was on this tour that I took a step back in time and heard stories that still blow me away.

Naturally every time I return to NYC I always want to rekindle this memory, but the tour’s scheduling never seems to work out with my own. But now anyone with an iPod can take a step back in time 21st-century style, without having to be limited by tour schedules.

In many major cities across the US you can download to your mp3 player an audio tour of a neighborhood or tourist attraction. There are companies that sell them, or many tourism bureaus offer them for free. In San Francisco you can walk through Golden Gate park to learn more about the serene nature scene, as well as the iconic bridge. In Chicago, you can stroll around the city and learn the history of blues, with Buddy Guy as your guide. These tours are a great way to learn the nitty-gritty details of a city at a schedule you make. Plus you can rewind if you need to.

And if you’re going to Paris anytime soon, Rick Steves (my favorite Europe travel nerd) has some free audio guides for you. Take a step back in time for a few moments and listen below for a history lesson on the art of the Venus de milo. It will make you want to jump on the next flight to Paris.

Louvre.mp3

Hotel crashing made easy

Lounging around in a hotel room is one of my favorite parts of a vacation. Drinking coffee in the morning, wearing a plush robe, and gazing out the window onto an unfamiliar city can really take you away from reality.

Unless of course you stay at an overpriced, unclean, smelly hellhole, which has happened to everyone. But it’s a recession, so don’t do this to yourself. Do the research and get a bargain!

Some may think it’s best to plan ahead and book a hotel room early. Not these days. Getting on line even a week before can get you a hotel room for cheap. And if you do book ahead, get alerts on Yapta.com when your rate drops. Also, believe it or not, calling and ASKING for the bargain can sometimes get you a better rate.

Across the country, occupancy is down 10.9 percent and the average daily rate is down 7.7 percent, according to Smith Travel Research. Look at how much the average daily rates have gone down in some of the most popular summer destination cities:

New York
2009 - $203
2008 - $273

Chicago
2009 – $124
2008 – $135

Hawaii
2009 – $189
2008 - $212

Hotel chains like Marriott and Starwood are offering great incentives with lots of amenities. In addition, luxury hotel chains such as the Four Seasons have been hardest hit during the downturn. So if you’re a Holiday Inn kind of traveler, you may be able to spring for the good stuff. A good deal in a high class place makes that comfy robe even more comfy.


The famous, 4-star Waldorf Astoria costs $199 per night this summer

Check out these cribs

When it comes to seeing how the other half lives, I’m fascinated. Going to open houses of million-dollar homes, browsing through expensive furniture stores and watching HGTV all day, can be an exercise in futility for my husband, but I think it’s fun. Visiting mansions of a bygone era, however, is an experience everyone can take pleasure in.

If you ever visit Newport, R.I., don't only eat the lobster or shop in the idyllic village. Take in the gargantuan mansions sitting on the cliff. You can enjoy the view by walking on the path cut along the rock, but go inside to take a trip back in time. The most impressive to me is The Breakers.



The mansion was built by a Vanderbilt, and no one did mansions like these guys. The family (Anderson Cooper is an heir - no kidding!) made a fortune through railroads and steamships, and their many "vacation homes" served as symbols of American power and wealth.

Luckily many of them are still standing and now we call all take a glimpse inside how THAT half lived in the gilded age. Read this tidbit of history.



Moving toward the Mason Dixon line is another Vanderbilt vacation home: the Biltmore. This one boasts 250 rooms! You can’t stay the night, but you can book the Inn on the premises.

When I think about these mansions I can't help but apply it to today's economic times. The Great Depression made these super-duper mansions become nearly extinct and the Vanderbilt family eventually fell from prominence and wealth. Many millionaires today are doing the same. I read this article recently about how the current recession is forcing some of the rich to liquidate everything they own. Or some, as the couple featured, are simply yearning for a simpler life. Some say the days of excess are gone. I say, these days of excess are nothing like they once were.


But, whatever, this is America...dream about your McMansion. And there's always the local Tour of Homes to help with that.

On Clearance: The Mother of all Gas Guzzlers

You can call it a home-on-wheels, or a vacation-on-wheels, but soon I think it will become a relic-on-wheels. With the advent of the environmental movement, a deep recession, and the volatility of gas prices, the RV is in trouble. Big time.

RV shipments in the first quarter fell 63 percent since the same time last year, according to the Recreation Vehicle Industry Association. Elkhart, Ind., which is the RV manufacturing capital, is dying because of the fall-off in business. Jobs hemorrhaged from this city earlier this year, with the unemployment rate spiking to nearly 11 percent. All because consumers are not purchasing RVs anymore.

But if you want to be like Warren Schmidt (one of my favorite film characters of all-time) and take your retirement on the road then now couldn’t be a better time to cash in on some big wheels, according to this article. And with gas prices being low for now, a family can still have a fun, low-cost vacation in one of these bad boys. A “staycation” can be appealing for so long.

I wrote last week about hitting the road and seeing the country. Pulling up to an RV camp, seeing the beauty of a national park, meeting some interesting characters, it all sounds like a good time to me. But filling up the gas tank would not be. But maybe there will be an RHV (Recreational Hybrid Vehicle) one day.