I LOVE this store, and love the assortment of travel gear, clothing, and odds and ends that they carry.  And, it just so happens, I spend a lot of money at this store, too.  Which should serve as additional proof that I love the products.

Most fall and winter hats seem to be of the stocking cap, pull over your head and mat down your hair version.  Probably warm and comfortable, but could I get just a little bit of style?!

Then I saw the Devata Hat.  I tried it on a couple times, but really wasn’t sure.  Saw a bunch of other people try it on, and the variety of different ways it could be angled on the head, and I was sold.  It scrunches and adjusts on your head, and even has a cute little hat rim that can be flipped up or down.  Yes, it’s a little bit girly, but it’s did the job of keeping me warm and still looking good, and will look great in the city or country.

The Devata Hat is made with eco-friendly soy and wool, and comes in camel and light pebble. (I got the light pebble.)  Hand wash in cold water, and lay flat to dry.  $30.

Photo credit: Ex Officio

Post from: Fly Away Cafe

Slow Travel gives you an opportunity to connect to a place and its people, rather than racing through a bunch of cities.  It’s about experiencing culture and heritage, not just about finding the nearest fast food drive-thru.  In other words, take time to stop and smell the roses – or look at the sunflowers!

Slow down and take time to look at sunflowers in Italy

As part of the slowing down process, a number of cities banded together to create Cittaslow, and to set up and official Slow Cities charter and designation.  To get the designation, a city must have less than 50,000 residents and meet 55 criteria covering environmental policy, infrastructure, quality of urban fabric, encourage of local produce and products, hospitality and community, and awareness of the Slow City movement.  Applying cities are thoroughly vetted before being granted the designation, and are regularly checked to maintain compliance to standards.

There are more than 120 Slow Cities in 16 countries around the world.  Most can be found it Europe, with the majority located in Italy, but they are also found in Australia and South Korea.  Cowichan Bay in British Columbia is the first Slow City in North America.  It comes as no surprise that there aren’t any Slow Cities in the United States.  Maybe that will change soon.

What do you think of the slow city movement?  Could you slow your vacation down, seeing less but more in depth?  Or do you want to experience more when you travel?

Photo credit:  personal collection

Post from: Fly Away Cafe

I started mapping out what was do-able from Milan, and would still allow us to get to Tuscany timely.  Given our time frame, we would need to stay in northern Italy.  There were lots of ideas floating around, but I knew we were missing something.  So I put the call out to my circle of experts via Twitter as well as using a couple of other media services.  I asked people what I should do and why.  Basically, I wanted to be persuaded about what I should see and do in northern Italy.

Lots of ideas came in, and I sifted through them all.  I looked at the transportation requirements (we eventually decided to rent a car in Milan), travel time, what there was to do (we were looking for a combination of relaxation and sightseeing, but there had to be good food around), as well as a chance for us to see things we had not yet seen.  I did a lot more research, because one way to help ensure your vacation is a great one, is to do your research before making your decision.

The commune of Maccagno is on the northeastern part of Lake Maggiore, Italy

Finally we decided to spend a few days at Lake Maggiore.

We chose Lake Maggiore because of it’s low-keyed, relaxed Mediterranean atmosphere.  I liked getting away from Milan, and the high-fashion demands of the city.  Kicking back lake-side, strolling along the promenades, spending a little time on the lake, and recharging after nearly 24 hours of traveling, sounded absolutely perfect.  Plus, and this really weighted heavily in its favor, Lake Maggiore was partially in Italy and partially in Switzerland.  That meant I could easily make a trip across the border, checking off an additional country visit for the Century Club.

With the location decided, I continued to ask for information and recommendations about what to do and see.  A visit to the Borromeo Islands was on everyone’s list, so this went onto ours, too.   Other than a quick trip across the Swiss border, we left the rest of our time there unplanned.

How did it turn out?

Fabulous!

Check back for a report about our stay at Golfo Gabella, located right on the lake in the small town of Maccagno on the eastern side — and a mere five and a half miles from the Swiss border!

Photo credits:  personal collection

Post from: Fly Away Cafe

And I’m not talking about a vacation to go visit family – I’m talking about a real vacation – for everyone!

Ashford Castle, County Mayo, Ireland

I first tried the holiday vacation plan nearly 10 years ago, and while I don’t do it every year, it’s become an important part of mixing up my holiday celebrations.  It’s also done a lot to restore peace and balance in my life, something for which I am very thankful!  The vacations have occasionally occasionally included extended family members, sometimes not, and I’ve found that getting people out of their usual places and roles, can go a long way toward establishing new traditions and having fun.  You don’t have to do the same thing every single year!

In past years, I’ve celebrated Thanksgiving on a cruise (several times, including cruises to Mexico, the Caribbean, and through the Panama Canal) and in Hawaii.  This year’s plans haven’t been finalized yet, but since I’ll be in London earlier in November, this may be a stay-at-home year.

Need some inspiration to do a mind switch on a Thanksgiving vacation?  Why not suggest something different for this year?

Here’s a Thanksgiving travel package that I came across to get you started thinking outside the box:  Spend Thanksgiving, including a hearty dinner, at Ashford Castle in County Mayo, Ireland.

Ashford Castle is located on 350 acres on the shores of Lough Corrib and the River Cong.  It’s surrounded by the lake, river, mountains, and lots of green.  The Castle has 83 guestrooms, and features an equestrian center, a falconry school (the first in Ireland), a 9-hole golf course, and fly fishing.  There are several dining rooms and bars on property.

For a Thanksgiving stay, you can take advantage of the Thanksgiving special which is a 3-night package that includes breakfast each morning, and a gourmet Irish-style Thanksgiving dinner.  Packages start at €375 (about $548) per person, and is offered for November 26 – 28th.

Don’t get me wrong – I love my family.  Sometimes, though, you have to break with the old to establish new, healthier, and more memorable family traditions.

Have you vacationed for Thanksgiving?  How did it work out?

Photo credit:  Courtesy of Ashford Castle

Post from: Fly Away Cafe

Book accommodations that have a kitchen.  Whether it’s staying at a condo, an extended-stay property, or maybe just a room with a coffee maker and refrigerator, these will all presents ways to help you save on food expenses.  With a full kitchen you can stock up on supplies so that you’re not dining out for every meal, while still keeping in mind that no one should have to cook every meal of every day – that’s not much of a vacation for the cook.  Even if you don’t have a full kitchen, stocking up on some cereal, milk, juice, coffee, and other snacks can help pare down this expense by many dollars each day.

Fill up at an all-you-can-eat buffet

Buy food at the local farmers’ market.  Many cities have these, and shopping there will give you a chance to mingle with the locals in addition to getting some fresh food.  Pick up bread and sandwich fixings for the room and pack yourself a picnic.  Try a local delicacy in a small quantity instead of spending big bucks to try it in a restaurant.  If there’s no farmers’ market, find a local supermarket.  Picking up some snacks to throw in your purse or a backpack will keep you from overspending while you’re sightseeing.

If you can’t get accommodations with a kitchen, look for a hotel that offers free breakfasts and/or afternoon or evening happy hours.  Eliminating breakfast can be a big savings, especially if you’re traveling with a family.  Even if it’s not a full cook-to-order meal, grabbing cereal, fruit, juice and coffee will give you some nourishment to face a full day of vacation activities.  Many hotels are offering complimentary “manager receptions” with reduced or free alcoholic beverages and light appetizers.  If you’ve got plans for the evening, this can be a way to get something light to eat, along with a cheap cocktail, before heading out.

Get take out or delivery service.  Picking up a to-go meal, or ordering in pizza, will get you fed without tempting you to overspend with all the other items on the menu.  You can drink the beverages you have chilling in the refrigerator, and save even more.  Ask for suggestions as the front desk, as most will be able to help give you some recommendations.

Consider the early bird specials.  Many a Seinfeld joke has been made on this topic, but restaurants offer discounts to get people in before (and sometimes after) the dinner rush.  Sometimes it will be a special (and often limited) menu, sometimes a 2 for 1, or maybe just a coupon for dollars off, but it generally represents a good value.  It’s not just for seniors either!  If you’ve had a hectic day, don’t pass up the chance to eat early and have a relaxing evening in your room.  And save money, too!

Make lunch your main meal.  Prices are usually cheaper at lunch, and you can eat somewhere fab for less.
Restaurant Happy Hours can save money on drinks and food.  Happy Hour discounts very between discounts for food, drinks, or both, so you may have to do some scouting around to find the best money saving deals.

Look for kids and senior meals.  Many restaurants offer special deals to these two important groups of guests, and some restaurants offer a kids eat free program.  Don’t be afraid to ask for a senior or kids specials if you don’t see it listed on the menu.  A restaurant may not offer a special menu, but may offer a half portion.  Ask.

Consider an all-you-can-eat buffet.  I’m not a fan of these type of buffets, as I rarely the food is very tasty.  Still, if your short on funds and long on hunger, squeezing this into the day may give you the budget relief needed to eat well another day.  And they’re usually great for families.  Consider making it a lunch buffet and you’ll usually save even more.

Look for a local restaurant rather than a chain.  These can be hard to find sometimes, so you may need to ask at the front desk or other people you meet.  Try asking where they go to eat, rather than for a recommendation.  A little hole-in-the wall place that locals go to will usually be budget friendly.

Use coupons.  From AAA to your hotel to those found in a newspaper or magazine, there are lots of coupons available.  Use common sense though.  It’s not a deal if you’re getting something that you don’t like or if you’re spending more than you normally would to use the benefit.

Have appetizers as an entree or share a meal.  You’ll need to be careful here as some restaurants have a minimum person order or will charge a plate fee to split a meal.  A salad and appetizer, though, can be enough if you’re not super hungry, and is a great way to check out a restaurant that you’re dying to try – and without breaking the bank.

All of these tips won’t work all of the time, and some may just not be your cup of tea.  So pick and choose the ones you can use, and let me know of any others that work for you.

Photo credit:   SXC

Post from: Fly Away Cafe

Luxuo introduces us to a new type of architecture, a house built out of the iconic Louis Vuitton brown and gold print.  It’s rumored to be located in Mexicali.  I wonder how many tourists stop by for a look.

LA Times Travel lures us with exotic details of a cruise to Antarctica.  I would love to be able to afford a trip to this least inhabited of the continents.

Vintage Seattle shows us photos of Sea-Tac Airport circa the 1950’s.  It’s changed!

Tripbase lists 14 juvenile things to do with an underwater camera.  Come one, how many of these have you done while on vacation?

Over at Gadling, Heather lists 20 things you can do inflight with a maxi pad.  Yes, flight attendants really do ordinary items in unusual ways.

Traveling Mamas introduces us to the Broadmoor, a luxury resort in Colorado Springs.  The pool area sounds great, despite her little one’s misadventure.

Travel Writer News shares some airline humor.  Although many of these have been around for awhile, you’ll likely find a new one to chuckle at.

AOL Travel lists some ways to tell if a user generated review of a hotel is real or fake.  Take it all with a grain of salt seems like a good idea.

Almost Fearless gives good suggestions on how to find safe, affordable, and clean places to stay while traveling.  You’ll find these useful whether you’re traveling for a short duration or living on the road.

I’m off to learn more about what to expect in the travel industry for the next year, and what the trends will be.  I’ll have more to report on those topics coming up.

Photo credit: SXC

Post from: Fly Away Cafe

The Cheesecake Factory has partnered with Feeding America, the nation’s largest domestic hunger-relief

September is hunger action month

charity, for the Drive Out Hunger Tour.  The tour consists of visiting 30 cities in 30 days, with an event each day to collect cans of soup to benefit the local food bank.  Feeding America serves a network of food banks in all 50 states, and supplies food and groceries to 63,000 agencies responsible for feeding the hungry.

You can go on tour in your own community, by bring two cans of soup to one of the tour stops.  As a thank you, the Cheesecake Factory is providing entertainment and gifts at the stop:

• A complimentary slice of Stefanie’s Ultimate Red Velvet Cake Cheesecake – for the first 500 people who donate two cans of soup.
• A special gift to use on a future visit to The Cheesecake Factory for everyone who donates.
• Being a part of the bigger picture by getting an official ‘Drive Out Hunger’ Tour photo taken and uploaded to their Photo Mosaic page online.
• Live radio remotes featuring favorite local radio station personalities and music.

If the tour isn’t coming to your community, or if you can’t make it to one of the tour stops, you can still help drive out hunger by bringing two cans of soup to any Cheesecake Factory restaurant on September 30th, 2009.  The restaurant will give you add to your soup donation by contributing an amount equal to 10% of your guest check to the local food bank.

The driving tour end September 30th, but we’re a long way from ending hunger.  Please look for ways you can give back to your community food bank, so that this kind of tour will soon become unnecessary.

Photo credit: SXC

Post from: Fly Away Cafe

It’s easy to forget that being on vacation doesn’t always mean escaping from the practical side of life.

And so today’s post is sort of a public service announcement.  A reminder of something that is important to know whether you are traveling or at home.  I urge everyone to take a bit of time and pick up some basic first aid knowledge, and especially to learn how to perform the Heimlich maneuver.

A choking victim cannot breathe, and needs you helps immediately.  If they can talk, they aren’t choking.  While the situation may progress to something more serious, if a person is able to talk and communicate with you, leave things alone.  A person who is choking will likely be grasping their throat and trying to get air, rather than talking.

If you an individual that is choking, DO NOT slap them on the back, as this could worsen the situation.  Instead, begin the Heimlich Maneuver and ask someone to call for additional help.

To perform the Heimlich Maneuver on an adult:

• Approach the victim from behind, and wrap your arms around their waist.
• Make and fist, place the thumb side of your first against the victim’s upper abdomen.  You should position the fist below the ribcage and above the navel.
• Grasp this fist with your other hand, pressing into the victim’s upper abdomen with a quick upward thrust.  (Do not squeeze the ribcage.)
• Repeat until the object causing the choking is expelled.
• Make sure that the victim seeks medical assistance right away.

Additional consideration and procedures exist for assisting an unconscious person and a child.

Basic first air training is offered by many fire and police departments, community centers, and through many work places.

Photo credit:  SXC

Post from: Fly Away Cafe

These matchbooks were picked up at a little corner store in Cavtat, a town on a bay just south of Dubrovnik.  Matchbooks weren’t available for FREE restaurants or bars, they were sold in local shops.  They cost about 10 kuna, which is the equivalent to about two cents.

Do you have a matchbook that you’ve found in a drawer somewhere?  Or maybe you’ve picked one up in some recent travels?  I’d love to feature it in an upcoming Matchbook Monday.  All you need to do is take a photo and email it to me, including any odds and ends of details about where you got in and when. It’s getting harder and harder to find new matchbooks, so dig deep into your collection and help me out!

Photo credit:  personal collection

Post from: Fly Away Cafe

Typically, I stick pretty close to home during the summer.  After all, it’s a great time to be in Seattle.  But this summer I took a three week trip to Italy, leaving mid-June and returning home in early July, and a long weekend trip to Las Vegas in late July.

I don’t have any further summer plans, although if something came up, I wouldn’t say NO.

I invite you to take my Summer Vacation Poll and let me know IF you vacationed this summer, and please leave a comment tell me HOW your vacationed.

Post from: Fly Away Cafe