Slider Archives - Page 9 of 9 - Mom's Guide To Travel

Jan 01 2012

Travel and Culture: New Year, New Experiences

Travel is all about cultural exchange – exposure to a new culture, new language, trying new foods. I started off my New Year’s right in this respect. We spent New Year’s Eve with a group of family friends. Everyone is from the South. Except me. This is how a couple of friends celebrated:

Know what that is? Let me show you a clearer picture and see if you can guess?

That’d be chitlins. Yup! In the flesh. This was the New Year’s Eve appetizer for those brave and interested folks. Although my mother says that my grandmother used to make them, I’ve never seen or smelled them until yesterday. What an experience!

This is what breakfast looked like on New Year’s Day – Charleston style:

Now that’s what I’m used to, fish for New Year’s – minus the grits.

It was fun ringing in the New Year with our friends and seeing how they roll. We have our differences when it comes to food but there are many things from our history that make us the same. That’s what I love. I didn’t travel far but all the same, I had a new experience.

Here’s to a new year of travel filled with lots of exposure to culture, near and far.

Dec 29 2011

Family Travel Outlook for 2012

As much as I’d like to be asleep right now, it’s 6 in the morning and my human alarm clock (my 3 year old) has had me up since 4:45. Every once in a while his wired little body performs these foolish antics, allowing me the chance (albeit, ill-timed) to do some pre-dawn deep thinking.

So what am I thinking about today? Besides what 2012 will bring for my own travels and the family travel industry in general, I’m thinking about You.

I’m thinking about my readers, followers, friends, lurkers…everybody that lays eyes on my blog or reads any of my musings wherever they may appear. I’m thinking about how thankful I am for you and how I might be of better service and provide you more of what you need.

So, let’s be honest, what do you need when it comes to doing more leisure travel? You probably need more cash or more savings, right?

If only I’d hit the PowerBall or Mega Millions so that I could grant some of you a break! A nice tropical exploratory break.

Unfortunately, the once-a-year ticket that I buy didn’t pay off. So, that means I’ll have to help you get more money for travel in other ways – through savings. That’s my point. Took me long enough to get to it, but I got there. (That’s what 4 hours of sleep will do to you…lots of rambling.)

My 2012 goals for Mom’s Guide to Travel are to:

Research and publish more travel deals and products for you
Create and disseminate sample family travel itineraries
Stay on top of airfare specials for you
Help you enhance your family travels

I’m excited for every day but I always get uber-excited for the possibilities of the New Year, especially when it comes to travel. I think we’re going to see a lot of developments in the travel industry that will change the way we choose and do family travel. And I think most of them will be born from the womb of social media.

Those who are more plugged in will reap the benefits than those who are not. Simple as that.

Here’s to new discoveries and new travels!

Photo courtesy of UnitedNationsPhoto, flickr.com

Dec 20 2011

Travel, Altruism, and Purpose: Passports with Purpose

I’m in love with the founders of Passports with Purpose and what they’re doing in the social media world for fundraising. I never have girl crushes – just not my thing. But, I have to admit that after doing a little bit of digging and researching on the founders of the organization, I’m really digging their spirits.

Okay. So first, let me just say, for those of you who don’t really know me, butt-kissing or gratuitous accolades isn’t a game I play. I’m a true believer that everyone has their own set of unique accomplishments to be recognized and celebrated. That being said, the types of accolades that truly feed my spirit and force me to step out of my shell to publicly celebrate others, are those of people doing big things, good things for people they don’t know. Debbie Dubrow, Pam Mandel, Beth Whitman, and Michelle Duffy are doing just that and getting others to help them with that charge.

ZambiaLibrary — A Mobile Library in Zambia

I don’t personally know any of them but again, I really like them. Their Passports with Purpose organization, just recently raised $80,000 (EIGHTY THOUSAND DOLLARS! –> Did you hear me?) to build two libraries for children in Zambia. Now that’s what I’m talking about! These women have stepped out of their personal bubbles they call Life, united other travel bloggers and rallied for a cause (actually, a few causes since 2008), giving back to help disadvantaged communities.

So why the crush? They’re contributing big things in a small way to international economic development in global communities. This is exactly what I went to graduate school for – to study International Economic Development and help exact social change in whatever way I can. I’ve sat many nights thinking how to mesh this new travel writing career I’ve sorta fallen into, with motherhood, my Public Policy Masters, my individual giving efforts, and make it all work. To look up and see that these four women have done just that, I can’t help but sit in admiration and slight awe. What a beautiful thing.

I have to congratulate them for their successes and thank them for helping some of the under-served, regardless of racial, geographic, and religious differences. I’m glad I was able to donate to that success. The PwP crew is awesome and if you didn’t have a chance to donate through the widget on my site this year, be sure to look out for it next year.

Oct 14 2011

The spoils of Jamaica: Appleton Rum Review

I should be ashamed of myself. It’s 1 am and I’m downstairs in my kitchen writing and “taste-testing” the bottle of Appleton Estate Reserve rum gifted to myself and 8 other bloggers on our tour of Jamaica last weekend with the Jamaica Tourist Board. I had no intentions of pouring a drink tonight – I was actually coming downstairs to shut everything down. Yet here I am.

I marvel at the fact that I can drink and type. (Actually I’m already done with my drink but who’s counting). I’m not normally a rum drinker unless it’s tucked neatly away in a cold well-blended Pina Colada, a drink I try to stay away from because it is so incredibly delicious, addictive, and fattening when done right. (But again, who’s counting). A-NY-WAY, that’s the only way I’ve ever drank rum…until now. (Drum roll please)

Appleton Estate’s Reserve Rum is wonderful. Don’t quote me, I’m not a rum connoisseur but their reserve rum is smooth. I mixed it with an orange-mango juice blend, 2 parts to 1, and voil`a, I was transported to the sandy beaches of Montego Bay for a few minutes.

The folks over at Appleton Estates even thought enough about us to include a deck of recipe cards so that we can explore more drink combinations. Even as a former bartender, I can’t begin to recall all the ways to enjoy rum other than in a Colada or a cake. However, what I made tonight sufficed and hit the spot. Now all I have to do is suck on my ice and head to bed feeling irie.

Disclosure: Appleton Estates gifted me with a bag of their Reserve rum and some other items. I have not been compensated for this post. As a matter of fact, I don’t think they even expect me to write about their Rum but I am because I love it! All opinions expressed within are my own.

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