Today I have a guest post from a recent friend, Sue Henly.  Sue and I met at a travel event, and charmed me with her Australian accent.  I think she’ll charm you with her writing as well.
—
In the soft grey light of early morning, we sit quietly on a bamboo mat, wicker baskets of sticky rice beside us, across from a shuttered colonial mansion heavy with bougainvillea.  Birds chatter in the flame trees until a gong sounds, momentarily startling them into silence.
Around a corner, dozens of barefoot monks and novices appear in a swish of saffron, golden bowls hanging …read more

I found myself traveling to colder weather a few weeks back, and realized that I had not packed appropriately for cold weather.  What was I thinking?!  Fortunately for me, one of my favorite travel stores is located right at the airport, and I popped into Ex Officio to have a look around.
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 …read more

I am pleased to introduce you to a fellow travel blogger, Cat Lincoln, who has generously offered to share a guest post about her city with us while I’m on vacation.
—
 
I love sightseeing, but the pressure to hit a laundry list of attractions can make your vacation feel like a competition, or even worse, work! One tactic that helps me keep my “must see” list under control is to limit it to three destinations. List checkers like my husband still feel like they’ve “accomplished” something. And it gives dawdlers like me enough space on our itinerary to enjoy a second …read more

Shopping is one of the top vacation activities, and that’s part of the reason why I’m always on the lookout for great shopping places to write about.  Of course, the other reason is that I love a good shopping spot myself!
A great LA shopping experience, from both the shopping and the experience point of view, is the Rose Bowl Flea Market.  This is not some lightweight flea market, no sirree!  This is a monster event, with over 2,500 vendors attracting 15-20,000 buyers.  Operating the second Sunday of every month, you’ll find vintage jewelry, clothing, handmade crafts, antiques, plants, collectibles, …read more

There’s nothing like combining a little shopping with traveling, and today’s Matchbook Monday comes from Tommy Bahama’s Tropical Cafe where you can do just that.
Tommy Bahama is known for its casual and comfortable leisure wear – pretty much all things tropical.  It’s island fabrics and styles for those of us who may only envy or visit the island lifestyle.
Many of the shops have added cafes where they feature island flavors and selections.  It’s a perfect spot to leave the non-shopper to sip a tropical drink and nosh on some appetizers, while the shoppers in the group take care of …read more

Happy Black Friday – the day the retail business counts on putting itself into the black for the year.  With difficult economic times, I’m not sure if they’re as optimistic this year as in years past.
Shopping, however, is the Number One tourism activity in the United States.  That’s why you’ll find so many retailers and shopping facilities promoting themselves with a tourism approach.  Whether it’s free shuttles from hotel to malls, special hotel stay/shopping packages, or shopping promotions tied in with conference events, retailers with a tourism focus are experience stronger overall sales results.
As I think about it, I …read more

Last week I wrote about things to do in Denver (besides the Democratic National Convention0), and this week the country turns its attention to the Republican National Convention in Saint Paul, Minneapolis.
While I’m a little less familiar with Saint Paul, I’ve still spent some time in the area.  I still have a few things left to do and see on this list, but here are my Saint Paul list of suggestions:

Check out the Science Museum of Minnesota, across from the RiverCentre.  It is surrounded by parks and walkways, and is a wonderful spot to learn and to relax. …read more

When we travel we often forget that things are not always as they are back “home.”  Here’s one difference that international visitors may find when they visit the United States:
Unlike many countries, the United States has no national sales tax that is comparable to the GST (goods and services tax) or the VAT (value added tax) that is found in many other countries.  Instead, each state, county and/or municipality sets their own tax rate.
This means that what you pay in tax in one location may be different from what you’d pay in another location.
Additionally, in some locations certain goods …read more

Tonalá is a city of around 350,000 located near Guadalajara, in central Mexico.  The city is well known for its ceramics, glass, and other native arts and crafts, and its Thursday and Sunday open air markets.
Market days will find the neighborhoods full of good displayed on the sidewalks, and often spilling out into the streets.  Ceramics, pottery, glassware, papier mâché items are all good buys.
If you practiced up on your Spanish, it will come in handy.  Although many locals do speak a little English, it’s probably going to take a fair amount of Spanish, English, and some gestures, to …read more

Olvera Street (845 North Alameda Street, Los Angeles), also known as El Pueblo Historic Monument, is the birthplace of the City of Los Angeles.  The block-long street, one of the oldest in the city, features historic buildings lining a traditional Mexican style plaza, and is home to one of the most colorful marketplaces that you’ll ever see.
The street was originally a short lane, called Wine Street.  The lane was eventually extended, and the name changed to honor Agustin Olvera, the first county judge of Los Angeles.  Although it became a dirty, unused alley for a period of time, the …read more