Good news for budget travelers, the National Park Service announced today that it will waive admission fees on 17 selected dates throughout 2011, encouraging all Americans to make a New Year’s resolution to visit a national park this year.
“Many people have made resolutions to spend more quality time with loved ones and to get outdoors and unplug in 2011,” said Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar. “There’s no better place than a national park to help keep those resolutions. Parks offer superb recreational opportunities, making them perfect places to enjoy our beautiful land, history and culture, and nurture a healthy lifestyle.”
Salazar noted that with 394 national parks throughout the country, most Americans live within a few hours of a park, making them places for easy and affordable vacations any time of the year.
“In these tough economic times, our fee-free days will give families many opportunities to enjoy our nation’s heritage and natural beauty in meaningful and affordable ways,” he said.
The 2011 fee-free dates will be the weekend of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day (January 15-17), National Park Week (April 16-24), the first day of summer (June 21), National Public Lands Day (September 24), and the weekend of Veterans Day (November 11-13).
The first fee free days are centered on the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday (January 15 - 17, 2011).
Ellen Barone is an American writer and wanderer. She co-founded and publishes the group travel blog YourLifeIsATrip.com and is currently at work on her first book "I Could Live Here".
Every once in a while a travel hunch pays off. Such was the case during a recent stay at the Santa Fe Sage Inn. I’ve had the Inn on my travel steals and deals radar for awhile. To keep abreast of their latest news on special savings and vacation packages, I subscribed to their newsletter and followed them on facebook and twitter, but up until now, I hadn’t had a reason to book a visit.
I love a good deal as much any traveler on a budget. And finding one in trendy Santa Fe, especially in the heart of the summer high season, can take some sleuthing.
The Sage Inn promised affordable downtown lodging with a slew of tempting freebies - complimentary continental breakfast, free wireless high speed Internet, comfortable renovated rooms, free parking, and free Plaza shuttle. So when my husband’s college-aged granddaughter came to visit and wanted to spend a few days in Santa Fe before heading back to our place in the southern mountains of New Mexico, the Sage Inn sounded like just the ticket.
And it was. It was also clean, convenient, and super friendly. Imagine that.
Ellen Barone is an American writer and wanderer. She co-founded and publishes the group travel blog YourLifeIsATrip.com and is currently at work on her first book "I Could Live Here".
Coming up with the perfect Father’s Day gift is never an easy task. But if Dad’s been looking for an excuse to hit the Big Apple, the New York Pass grants access to more than 55 of the top sites and attractions across the city for a single price, many with exclusive “fast-track” entry privileges, allowing card holders to whiz past long lines.
Some of the 55 New York Pass attractions include Top of the Rock; The Metropolitan Museum of Art; The Guggenheim; The Whitney; The Museum of Natural History; the Museum of Television and Radio; Bodies…the Exhibition, and MOMA. Behind-the-scenes tours at Madison Square Garden; NBC studios; Lincoln Center, and Carnegie Hall. Free entry to zoos, aquariums, parks and gardens, and places of interest like Madam Tussaud’s; The Empire State Building Observation Deck; New York Skyride, the Statue of Liberty and the Ellis Island ferry. The New York Pass also includes shopping discounts at stores like Macy’s and Bloomingdale’s-it even includes discounts on New York City helicopter rides.
New York Pass offers single-day passes regularly priced at $75 for adults, $55 for children; two-day passes, $120 for adults, $100 for children; three-day passes, $150 for adults, $130 for children; and seven-day passes, $190 for adults and $150 for children.
Ellen Barone is an American writer and wanderer. She co-founded and publishes the group travel blog YourLifeIsATrip.com and is currently at work on her first book "I Could Live Here".
words + photos by Jenny McIver
Five years ago I had a dream – to take the trip of a lifetime “Round the World.” Visit the Pyramids, the Taj Mahal, the Great Wall – there was so much of the world I longed to see. So I did it. I cashed in all the airline miles and hotel points that a decade of business travel had afforded me and after a solid year of planning, I made it happen. It was the most amazing experience of my life and forever changed me as a person and as a traveler. I confess…I am hooked.
What I thought would be a once in a lifetime trip quickly turned into an annual adventure to ring in the New Year. And as I embark upon my 5th circumnavigation of the globe this month, I am happy to say there’s no turning back now.
Why RTW? Well, any old vacation can take you to Rome or Thailand or Australia, but only an around the world trip can take you to all of them on one plane ticket. That’s the draw. More bang for the buck, so to speak.
There is quite simply no better way to see as much of the world in as little time. Though my own journeys have taken about a month each, if you have as little as two weeks or as much as a year – a RTW trip could make an addict out of you, too.
Ellen Barone is an American writer and wanderer. She co-founded and publishes the group travel blog YourLifeIsATrip.com and is currently at work on her first book "I Could Live Here".
TAKE STRESS OUT OF THE HOLIDAYS AND LET FAIRMONT DO THE PLANNING FOR YOU
Does the mad rush of holiday shopping, baking and party-planning leave you without any time to enjoy the season? Forgo the lights, decorations and in-laws this year, and let Fairmont take the lead with its collection of stress-free holiday offerings. Whether you’re seeking a beach vacation free from ice and snow, or an enchanted winter getaway at a picturesque Château, Fairmont offers guests a stree-free opportunity to gather loved ones and enjoy a cup of cheer with these holiday packages and winter getaways:
Holiday Packages at Fairmont:
The Fairmont Washington, D.C.’s Holiday Lights and Breakfast Delights Package is guaranteed to make spirits bright this holiday season. Guests can take-in the festively decorated lobby and courtyard, which is transformed into a crystal garden, filled with thousands of tiny white lights, shimmering holiday trees and animated reindeer. Next to the garden is a 20-foot holiday tree and gingerbread village created by the hotel’s executive pasty chef. Outside of the hotel, families can delight in the Downtown Holiday Market, ice-skating, the National Christmas Tree and National Menorah on the White House Ellipse and much more. Offer includes nightly accommodation and continental breakfast for two. Available from November 20, 2009 to January 11, 2010, rates start from $142 USD per night.
Ellen Barone is an American writer and wanderer. She co-founded and publishes the group travel blog YourLifeIsATrip.com and is currently at work on her first book "I Could Live Here".
Prices Are Hitting Record Highs, Know How To Keep Costs Down When Renting a Car
Car rental prices are skyrocketing across North America, so Hotwire.com®, a leading travel discount site, has announced five car-rental savings tips that will help you drive off the lot with a full wallet.
Here are five tips to help you lower car rental expenses this summer:
1. If you see a good rate, book it right away. Prices are expected to continue rising through July and will stay high all the way through August.
2. Rent on the weekends. When business travelers have gone home for the weekend, there is more inventory and lower prices for the consumer.
3. Rent away from the airport if possible. Off-airport and local rental centers can often be cheaper due to lower taxes and fees. Often, by sacrificing convenience, you can save money.
4. Make sure to fill up the tank before returning your car. Rental centers charge a hefty fee for those who forget to do this. If you don’t want the hassle, many rental car companies will also allow you to pre-purchase your tank of gas to avoid fees, but it’s still cheaper to fill it up on your own.
5. Book opaque. Although prices are expected to spike this year, by booking through opaque sites such as Hotwire, consumers can save up to 45 percent and rent a car from $13.95 a day.
Ellen Barone is an American writer and wanderer. She co-founded and publishes the group travel blog YourLifeIsATrip.com and is currently at work on her first book "I Could Live Here".