Travel Tips

Traveling the width and length of this great country can certainly excite a person to want to try to take in every sight and every unique experience that is possible in this vast and diverse land. It is a fine ambition if you set it as your goal early in your family life to achieve one of the fun objectives that many try to accomplish before they end their traveling days. Some of the missions people set out on are truly amazing. But you have to know that even if they dont succeed in these quests, they are going to have fun trying.

Many families make it a goal to have a picture of the family with their feet standing on every one of the fifty states of the union. Now, this is an ambitious objective to be sure and one that may take years to accomplish. But as your children get a big kick out of each new photo you take that adds to the count, you will be developing a wonderful travelogue of a lifetime of seeing the best America has to offer. And you can get some help in some places where you can hit more than one state at a time. In the southwest, there is a location called The Four Corners where the four states of Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado and Utah all come to a point in one exact spot. By putting your feet in two states and your hands in two others, you can get four of your states checked off with one stop.

Another terrific way to document a lifetime of sightseeing is stickers or patches. Most of gift shops in the fine sights all around the country will sell you a bumper sticker for your car, a patch for your coat or some other memento to have as a remembrance of your visit to see that great sight. So as you travel, if you pick up a similar item at each fun stop along the way, that can make quite an impressive display on a suitcase or a tapestry of patches from the great sights all around the country.

America is gifted to be home to some of the finest bodies of the water in the world. For many, a visit to one ocean is the dream of a lifetime. But another variation on the theme of great sightseeing missions is to touch all of the oceans of the country in one year. It’s quite a quest to get over to California, Oregon or Washington to touch the Pacific, across the expansive homeland to touch the Atlantic in Florida, Maine or Massachusetts and then back on another long trek to put your hand in the warm waters of the gulf coast. If you can accomplish this ambitious quest, you indeed have some serious bragging rights to show off. So make sure you take dated pictures in case someone doubts that it can be done.

It is never too late in life to make it your goal to see all you can see of this wonderful country we call home. Many who work hard all their lives enjoy the fruit of their labors by purchasing a mobile home and setting out to spend the night in as many of the great national parks of the country as they can. This is a country who has taken great care to preserve vast sections of our wilderness in national parks. So it is quite an undertaking to sleep in every one of them. As you travel on your vacations, you may meet some of these intrepid travelers who may quite literally have no other home than their mobile home.

However, you plan to document your travels in the great country, you will be doing so to pay honor to the fact that you got to celebrate all of the greatness of our wonderful country. And the greatest thing about these quests is that even if you succeed in your chosen goal, you will never tire of seeing this great land and celebrating what is great about being able to say, I am an American.

Visiting Seattle Washington is a great way to get in touch with your inner explorer. Not only can you get out and explore mountains, prairies, streams, rivers, and oceans, but you can also explore the city streets that make this city what it has become. With so many things to do and places to go it seems impossible really to entertain the idea of sleep. Who has time for mundane activities such as that when there is a world of knowledge and beauty to explore right outside your hotel doors?

For those among us who have a difficult time unwinding after a day spent shopping, hiking, biking, boating, whale watching, and sight seeing, perhaps you should consider a wine tasting before bed. This is a great way to relax and unwind. You may even find a new favorite among the wines that you are being exposed to. While many people think of California as wine country, Washington State has shown itself to be an impressive home for wine making as well. Of course you aren’t looking to get tipsy, just relaxed enough that sleep can find you after a very exciting day.

Even if you elect to attend a wine tasting earlier in the day, perhaps you could pick up a bottle or two to bring back to your room with you. This will allow you to wine on hand at the end of a long day without the need to drive afterwards. Nor would you be required to get out of a cab, call a cab, or anything other than putting on your pajamas and heading off to bed. In fact, there is no rule that states you can’t drink wine while wearing your pajamas either. I really can think of few better ways to relax after a long day of anything than to grab a good book and a glass of wine. Well maybe a massage, but now who’s dreaming? Unless of course your hotel offers this service and you are willing to pay the price.

For a good nights sleep, however, I think a glass of wine is a much better price to pay. If that doesn’t help, then grab a really boring book to read. The important thing about getting a good night’s sleep is that it prepares you for the events of the next day. This is especially important if you have children. It is very doubtful that they are going to handle being cooped up in a hotel room while there are adventures to be had on the other side of the door.

If you need more than one glass, go for it, you can always visit another winery tomorrow and buy another bottle. Rest is important although you do not want to drink enough that you wake up sick the next morning. That is definitely not the way to properly enjoy your vacation. Just so you know there are several great wineries in the region and it would actually be quite an adventure to visit as many of them as possible. Some of the more prominent wineries in and around Seattle are: Lopez Island Vineyards, Whidbey Island Vineyards and Winery, Bainbridge Island Vineyards and Winery, and Hoodsport Winery and Tasting Room. Some wineries and vineyards are only open to the public by reservation or during certain hours so be sure that you are aware and have planned accordingly before visiting. Another thing to keep in mind is that there are many more wineries in the Seattle area, these are only a small sampling of the vineyards that abound in these parts so don’t limit yourself if these don’t seem appealing to you.

Sweet dreams are often born of good wine; I hope that you will find not only an excellent flavor to help you sleep but some great selections to bring home with you as well. And wine makes an excellent souvenir for loved ones who weren’t able to travel with you or even gifts for friends who are getting married, buying homes, having babies, having birthdays, well being your friends. Wine is a great gift all around; even if it’s a gift you give yourself.