Indulge all Five Senses in Vermont This Fall

August 15, 2017 by Ivana De Domenico

We may be approaching the end of summer as August rapidly ticks by and children prepare to go back to school, but that doesn’t mean your travels need to end with the season! Summer may be an ideal time for travel when kids are off of school, the weather is sunny and warm, and families can focus on spending some quality time with each other; however, I find myself preferring the crisp, mild days of fall over the scorching days of summer, and some of my best travel experiences have been in the fall.

When I think of fall travel, the most quintessentially “autumn” place in the United States that comes to mind is Vermont. The state is known for its fall foliage, idyllic country drives, and quaint fairs and craft shows. There’s no better time to visit Vermont than in the fall when a drive or walk down country roads is truly a treat for all five senses. If you’re planning a visit to Vermont this fall, be sure to add these suggestions to your itinerary for a stimulating experience.

Taste

Vermont is foodie’s paradise with its abundance of farm-to-table eateries and farmers markets offering local, organic produce. Vermont is known for its farms, and visitors and locals alike can rest easy knowing where their food came from. Stop by an apple orchard and savor the sweet juice of a crisp, fresh-picked apple as you bite into its firm skin. Or prepare a meal utilizing the fresh ingredients you purchased from a roadside farm stand that morning. In Vermont, it’s never difficult to embrace a healthy diet.

Touch

In Vermont, there are so many opportunities to get close to nature. Vermonters are known for practicing healthy, active styles, and if you visit the state, you can do the same! Nothing beats a hike down a country lane where you can breath in the fresh fall air. Or, feel the tug of a fish on your line as you fish from one of the state’s ample lakes, streams, or creeks. There are so many ways to feel nature’s presence in Maine!

Smell

If Vermont were a candle, it would probably smell something like this: a smoky-sweet blend of fresh-baked apple pie, a campfire, leaves, and maple syrup. There are so many foods and products made right in Vermont such as syrup, ice cream, cider, beer, and cheese that it’s easy to imagine some of the scents you can breathe in on a fall day spent in the countryside.

See

A visit to Vermont would not be complete without taking some time to engage in outdoor activities. Be sure to experience the blazing inferno of leaves that is Vermont in the fall with a drive or walk. There are so many ways to embrace the season in Maine with the state’s many attractions including parks, festivals, farms, corn mazes (be sure to check out the Great Vermont Corn Maze for the largest corn maze in New England), pumpkin patches, and iconic venues like the Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream factory and The Vermont Country Store.

Hear

There are many ways to take in the sounds of Vermont, from a hike through the woods accompanied by the chirping of birds and crunch of leaves underfoot, to the melodic notes of local, regional, and international musicians at one of Vermont’s many fairs and festivals.
Visit vermontvacation.com for more information on Vermont and assistance planning your next trip to this bucolic state.

Rockin’ Road Trip Guide

June 27, 2017 by Ivana De Domenico

In an accompanying blog post, I offered a guide of some of the most scenic drives in America. There are gorgeous views all over the country, and all it takes to experience them is the will, a car, and enough gasoline to make the journey. However, I’d be lying if I were to gloss over the fact that travel can be stressful, especially when you’re trapped in close quarters with people for long periods of time; it’s easy to grow irritable and people who started out as friends could turn into nuisances by the end of the trip.

Whether you’re traveling with friends or family this summer, and whether your road trip is the star attraction or merely the path to your vacation spot, follow these tips for a fun, stress-less road trip!

1. Research the route- Make sure you’re prepared before heading out by mapping your route. Know which roads you want to take to avoid running into boring or high-traffic areas, know which attractions you want to hit up, and know where you can stop for gas. Luckily, paper maps are a thing of the past and there are a plethora of travel apps available to help you map out your route.

2. Clean out your car- No one wants to ride for hours on end in a dirty car. Spare yourself the embarrassment and clear your car of the all the gum wrappers, fast food bags, and pet hair that accumulate over time.

3. Pack plenty of snacks- Stopping to eat every few hours can really take a toll on your wallet and also cuts into time you could devote to other activities. Make the most out of your time and money, and pack snacks that everyone enjoys so that when hunger hits, you’re covered. Some easy snacks that can be eaten in the car include bottled water, chips/nuts, cheese sticks, granola bars, and cut veggies.

4. Bring a camera- Just about everyone owns a smartphone, so it’s probably a given that you have a camera on hand. Be sure to put it to use and capture priceless memories along the way.

5. Don’t overpack- no one wants to be stuck in an overstuffed car for hours. Have everyone in your travel party limit themselves to one bag so that everything fits in the car neatly and no one feels cramped and uncomfortable.

6. Have some go-to games and music- It is especially important, if you’re traveling with children, to keep them entertained. Avoid the notorious “Are we there yet?” with an arsenal of classic travel games such as a scavenger hunt or license plate-spotting game. You can’t go wrong with a mix of your favorite tunes either- crank up the volume and have a sing-along!

7. Get your vehicle inspected before the trip- The most important item on your road trip checklist should be to get your vehicle inspected, as failing to do so could be dangerous. Take your car to a mechanic to make sure its brakes, fluid levels, wiper blades, and tires are in top shape and make sure that your vehicle is equipped with emergency supplies such as a spare tire and jumper cables.

America’s Most Scenic Drives

June 20, 2017 by Ivana De Domenico

I’ll admit- traveling can be stressful, and oftentimes the process of getting to your destination is what makes it that way. There’s getting through security at the airport and the fear of missing your flight. There’s dealing with bickering children (your own or someone else’s) and being in cramped quarters. Sometimes you have to put up with inconveniences like lost college or unexpected fees. Other times, however, if you actively let go of your stress and worries, the journey is the destination and getting to wherever you want to go can be just as enjoyable, if not even more enjoyable, than the destination itself.

One of my favorite novels is Jack Kerouac’s On the Road. This book is classic Americana at its best, as it details the journey of Kerouac and his friends across the highways of 1950’s America without a destination in sight. You might not be able to follow in Kerouac’s exact tire tracks today as you could have when the book was published, as Route 66 doesn’t exist today as it did then- but there are plenty of drives throughout the United States that are just as entertaining and breathtaking. This summer, I challenge you to embrace the joys of traveling and take a road trip with your family and friends. I can just about guarantee that if you take one of these scenic drives, you will not be disappointed.

Blue Ridge Parkway, Virginia to North Carolina

This 469-mile stretch of highway through the Blue Ridge Mountains is so breathtakingly beautiful that it’s managed by the National Park Service. Known as “America’s favorite drive,” it offers unparalleled views of the vast Shenandoah Valley, towering mountain peaks, and verdant forests and meadows.

Route 66, Illinois to California

Route 66 may not exist any longer as a main, unbroken highway, but you can still drive parts of this iconic highway. The most scenic stretch is the mountainous region extending from the Grand Canyon to the Colorado River. Be sure to experience Americana on your journey and stop at the kitschy roadside attractions, mom-and-pop shops, motels, diners, and vintage service stations.

Pacific Coast Highway, California

You’ve most likely seen pictures of Big Sur with stretches of elevated highway winding alongside seaside cliffs. That’s because the 100-mile stretch of road running from Monterey to Hearst Castle is so famous. Gasp in awe at the beauty of this drive and maybe stop at a beach while you’re at it.

Highway 12, Utah

If you want to feel small and awestruck, then this is the drive for you. Red-tinged sandstone cliffs tower above snaking expanses of highway between Bryce Canyon and Capitol Reef National Park.

Route 100, Vermont

The classic New England drive is best enjoyed in the fall when the foliage takes on fiery shades of red, orange, and yellow. Route 100 is stretch of country road that winds through forests and over hills, from Stowe south to the Massachusetts border.

This is just a mere sampling of some of the gorgeous drives that can be found in the United States. Grab your crew and hit the road this summer for a real travel treat!

Famous Literary Locations Around the World

May 20, 2017 by Ivana De Domenico

If you happen to be both an avid reader and a globetrotter, why not plan your next vacation around one of these famous literary locations? Think how incredible it would be to walk in the footsteps of your favorite author- to sit where they sat brainstorming their next masterpiece and wander the same streets they tread upon in years past. When all that stands between you and one of these locales associated with a famous author is a plane ticket, you do not want to miss out on what could be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to take a visit. Instead of going to the same old place your family vacations every year or shoveling thousands of dollars into a luxury resort vacation, consider planning your next vacation around one of these famous literary locations.

Prague, Czech Republic:

If you’re willing to make a trip all the way out to the Czech Republic, you’ll find yourself in the birthplace and final resting place of novelist and short story writer Franz Kafka, one of the most prominent literary figures of the 20th century. Spots you’ll want to hit include the author’s childhood home (although the house was rebuilt, the original front door was preserved), the Old-New Synagogue where he attended services, the home where he spent his adult years at 16 Dlouha, a monument to Kafka in the city square, The Kafka Museum, and Kafka’s grave at New Jewish Cemetery.

Bath, England

In addition to being a charming English city teeming with history from its 18th century Georgian architecture to its ancient Roman baths, the city of Bath is a mecca for Jane Austen fans. While in this city, take time to indulge in everything quintessentially British: Stop for afternoon tea and a famous “Sally Lunn Bun” at Sally Lunn’s Historic Eating House, and afterwards browse through some of the acclaimed independent bookshops in the city, such as Mr. B’s Emporium of Reading Delights and Topping & Company. Oh, and then celebrate the Great English novelist, Jane Austen, behind such famous works as Pride and Prejudice and Sense and Sensibility by touring the Jane Austen Centre, a museum dedicated to Bath’s most famous resident.

Yasnaya Polyana, Russia

Leo Tolstoy, author of Anna Karenina and War and Peace is regarded as “one of the greatest authors of all time.” With a visit to Yasnaya Polyana, the author’s birthplace and residence throughout his life, you can tour the writer’s home where he penned his most famous works and visit his grave nearby.

Dublin, Ireland

In between pints of Guinness, take some time to explore some of the iconic literary landmarks in this beautiful city. Visit the Trinity Library where you can view the Book of Kells, believed to be written in 800 AD. Also, if you’re a fan of Oscar Wilde, you can visit the author’s childhood home. Dublin was the home to Irish author James Joyce as well, and you can learn more about his life by visiting the James Joyce Centre and taking a tour through the city of locations that served as inspiration for his works.

Oxford, England

In addition to being home to one of the largest bookstores in the world, Blackwell’s, and the world’s premium institution of higher education, Oxford was the stomping ground of J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis. The two author friends, who dubbed themselves “The Inklings,” would meet at the Eagle and Child Pub to discuss their literary endeavors.

Paris, France:

Paris is a dream romantic and cultural getaway as it is, and bibliophiles will delight in its literary offerings. First and foremost, Paris played host to “The lost generation” of writers including Ernest Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Gertrude Stein, and T.S. Eliot, American expatriates who wrote some of their most famous works there. You can also tour the nooks and crannies of the famous Shakespeare and Company bookstore.

Edinburgh, Scotland:

A trip to Edinburgh for any Harry Potter fan would not be complete without a visit to The Elephant House, the cafe where J.K. Rowling started writing the Harry Potter books as a struggling, down-on-her-luck writer living on welfare. Who knows? You when you take a seat with your cup of tea, you may be sitting in the very spot J.K. Rowling once was.

Hartford, Connecticut:

Most of these locations are in Europe, so if you live in America, you won’t have to travel as far for this one. Make a trip out to Hartford to visit the Mark Twain House and Museum, a National Historic Landmark and the victorian home where Mark Twain lived and wrote from 1874-1891. While you’re there, you won’t be at a shortage of things to do; Hartford is a bustling city, and there are plenty of shops, restaurants, and beaches nearby in places like Greenwich and Mystic.

Stratford-Upon-Avon, England:

Another English city (you could plan a literary tour through England!), Stratford-Upon-Avon is believed to be the birthplace of the one-and-only, enigmatic William Shakespeare. You can visit the 16th-century restored Tutor home where Shakespeare is believed to have been born and learn more about the author’s life, as well as the childhood cottage of Anne Hathaway, Shakespeare’s wife. Stratford-Upon-Avon is also home to the Royal Shakespeare Company, a theatre troupe that performs Shakespeare’s plays throughout the year at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre.

Amherst, Massachusetts:

If you’re a fan of Emily Dickinson, be sure to pay a visit to the Emily Dickinson Museum in Amherst, where you can visit two historic homes associated with the reclusive poet. The Homestead was Dickinson’s birthplace and home, while the Evergreens located next door was the home of her brother Austin, his wife Susan, and their three children.

6 Books to Read if you Have a Serious Case of Wanderlust

May 3, 2017 by Ivana De Domenico

The word “wanderlust” has been tossed around a lot lately in travel lore and the word itself, without even knowing what it means, evokes a sense of travel, the way it musically rolls off the tongue. The dictionary definition of wanderlust is, “a strong, innate desire to rove or travel about.” Do you have the wanderlust bug?

If you happen to be both an avid traveler and a bookworm, like myself, then consider picking one of these books up for your next read. Summer is just around the corner, and what better way to enjoy a day on the beach than with a good book? Even if you’re only at your local beach this summer and not some exotic locale, with one of these books in your beach bag, you’ll feel as though you’ve been around the world.

1. Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert

If the best thing about travel, for you, is the diversity of food and cultures around the world, then this is the book for you. Author Elizabeth Gilbert recounts her travels as a young woman through Italy, India, and Indonesia, in search of her true self. Despite the outward appearance of a successful life, Gilbert realized that in order to understand her place in the world, she first had to experience it beyond her sheltered corner of the universe. Let this book take you on a journey and maybe you will learn something about yourself as well.

2. The Geography of Bliss by Eric Weiner

Can happiness be found? Or must we create our own happiness? It’s a question that has haunted mankind from inception. The grumpy and misanthropic author sets out on a journey from America to Iceland to India in the pursuit of happiness and an attempt to answer those questions for himself. With a sarcastic sense of humor, Weiner provides some interesting food for thought.

3. Wild by Cheryl Strayed

Feeling a little lost? Like you just want to break away from everything that’s tying you down and start anew? Then you’ll be able to relate to author Cheryl Strayed as she narrates her experience, at the age of 22, of losing her mother, and her crumbling marriage as a result. Four years later, feeling that she had nothing left to lose, Strayed set off on a journey of strength and healing as she impulsively hiked over a thousand miles of the Pacific Crest Trail on her own.

4. Paris in Love: a Memoir by Eloisa James

What if you could just quit your day job and take off to wherever you wanted to go in the world, no strings attached? For most, this lifestyle is only a fantasy, but for author Eloisa James, it was reality. The author tells of her year in Paris, when she took a sabbatical from her job as a Shakespeare professor and sold her home in America to live in the beautiful city of love.

5. The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

The only work of fiction on the list, this classic novel tells the story of Santiago, a shepherd boy who yearns to travel the world in search of treasure. What he finds, instead of material riches, is something far greater: the importance of following our hearts and our dreams to arrive at a deeper understanding of life.

6. The Lost Girls by Jennifer Baggett, Holly C. Corbett, and Amanda Pressner

If, again, you’re feeling a little lost like you’re just going through the motions of your life, it may be time to put it all behind you and explore everything you’ve been missing in the world. If you can’t do that, then you can start by picking up this book. The three authors and friends tell how they quit their high-pressure media jobs in New York City to backpack through four continents of the world.

Tips to Avoid Overpacking

February 21, 2017 by Ivana De Domenico

As a woman who travels a lot, I’ve had to learn how to cut back on what I bring. With airlines such as United Airlines getting stricter about their carry-on regulations and airports in general enforcing tighter security, it is especially important that you know how to avoid overpacking. There are certain essentials for any trip that you’ll want to make sure you include, but if you follow these tips, I think you’ll find that there are many items you can afford to leave behind.

If you’re traveling on a plane you should, of course, be aware of the carry-on limitations, such as the maximum dimensions for carry-on bags (9”x 14”x 22”), prohibited items, and the liquids rule established by the TSA. Nevertheless, whether you’re escaping for a week-long getaway to an exotic destination or just an overnight trip, there are some general guidelines you can follow for a smarter, less-stress packing experience. Why lug a giant suitcase around and practically throw your back out hoisting it into your trunk or onto the baggage check conveyor belt when you end up using only half of what you brought? Follow these simple tips and you’ll be an expert packer in no time!

Tip 1: Plan your outfits ahead of time for every day of your vacation and pack one extra. Instead of aimlessly throwing shirts and pants into your suitcase, actually put pieces together and pack one extra outfit just in case of an emergency (spills, rips, etc.). Certain pieces of clothing, such as jeans, can be worn more than once. You will save yourself a lot of space and also a lot of anxiety over whether or not you’ve remembered everything if you plan ahead.

Tip 2: Make a list. Again, to save yourself from unnecessary stress, make a checklist of everything you absolutely need for your trip. If you’re unsure about something, then you probably don’t need it, but if it helps, you can divide your list into sections- definitely and maybe, for instance- and cross off items as you go.

Tip 3: Check the weather before you go. There’s no sense in taking up extra space and weight in your suitcase with heavy, bulky clothing if it’s going to be 80 degrees and sunny wherever you’re going. There’s a glorious invention called the internet that allows you to check the day-to-day weather predictions several months into the future.

Tip 4: Use organizers. Organizers are your travel buddy when it comes to efficient packing- this is what they were made for! Use a separate pouch for your toiletries, makeup, and jewelry to save space and keep your things organized.

Tip 5: Give yourself plenty of time. Trust me, you do NOT want to make the mistake of scrambling to pack your bags an hour before you have to leave to catch your flight. That just creates unnecessary stress! Have your bag completely packed (zipped and ready to go) at least the night before you leave so you won’t impulsively toss in excessive items in your haste to leave on time.

What to do?