The Savvy Tourist

The Golden Bee

Just recently I was treated to a night out at "The Bee" by my favorite USAFA kiddo. I was visiting for the weekend and was informed that we would be going out to celebrate a friend's birthday at The Golden Bee at The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs. Unbeknownst to me, this was some kind of torturist birthday ritual started by our extended host family in Colorado Springs. The highlight of the evening is the massive amounts of beer you can drink in one sitting. Your favorite beer is served in "yards" and "half yards" depending upon your ability to pour it into your mouth without drowning or involving the table next to you. Drinking a yard of ale is actually a famous drinking game in pubs in the UK. I must say after watching several hours of this, it does appear to take some actual skill, although I don't expect to see it as an Olympic event any time soon.

 You can all probably guess how the drinking game ended, so I will tell you a little about "The Bee". The Golden Bee is a 19th century pub that was shipped to the US from London in pieces and later purchased  and reassembled at the request of William Thayer Tutt, Chairman of The Broadmoor. Mr. Tutt was looking to offer an authentic "English Pub" experience for his many guests visiting Colorado Springs so he purchased the pub from an English Ale company known as Whitbread.  Whitbread asked, as part of the purchase agreement, that Mr. Tutt serve their ale. And so he did.

In May of 1961, The Golden Bee opened in the lower section of the International Center of The Broadmoor.  They have since served yards and yards and yards of ale and become a favorite for locals and tourists alike. The Bee isn't just about the drinkin' though. The authentic English Pub food is a great compliment to the atmosphere and libations. That night I had the age old English favorite, Fish and Chips. The fish was very moist and flavorful while being served in what looked like an old newspaper, just the way they did it in merry ol' England. The menu also offered other traditional English fare such as Shepherd's Pie and Bangers and Mash.

 What else could you possibly want from an old English pub besides beer and food? Well, how about a fun time singing along to tunes being played by the piano man? That's right, after dinner you get a chance to sing along with the rest of the crowd from The Golden Bee song book. Luckily there are enough to go around for those of us that don't know all the words. There is tons of fun for the whole family at The Bee, but watch out for the bees buzzing about the room, one might land on you.

Unfortunately, The Bee is not very large in size. It is first come, first served and they do not take reservations. So, get there early or you will be one of those people in the lobby looking in and watching the rest of us having a grand ol' time, pub style!! The Golden Bee is located at 1 Lake Avenue in Colorado Springs, CO.

 

Huntington, West Virgina

Huntington is a city in Cabell and Wayne counties in the U.S. state of West Virginia, along the Ohio River. Most of the city is in Cabell County, for which it is the county seat.^[3] A small portion of the city, mainly the neighborhood of Westmoreland, is in Wayne County. Its population was estimated at 49,129 in 2009.^[4] Huntington is a part of the Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH, Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA). As of 2009, the MSA's population was 285,624. Huntington is the largest city within the MSA and the second largest city in West Virginia, behind Charleston. The city is also the home of Marshall University.

The city was named for Collis P. Huntington, who founded Huntington in 1870 as the western terminus for the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway (C&O) on the land west of the mouth of the Guyandotte River at the Ohio River. It was created as a railroad town for the C&O, when it initially stretched from Richmond, Virginia to the Ohio River. The city houses numerous railroad shops which expanded east to Newport News (and coal piers) and west to eventually reach Cincinnati and Chicago in the years after its founding.

Well folks, those are the facts, straight from Wikipedia. Now let me tell you a little about Huntington from my point of view.

You see, I recently had to travel to Huntington for a family funeral. Not exactly a vacation hotspot, but you can't exactly pick where your relatives choose to live and die. I had a picture in my head of what I thought Huntington was from when I was a little girl and visited my grandparents on occasion.

Downtown Huntington was made up of old brick buildings with architectual character that took you back to another era. There was much hustle and bustle from the many shoppers and all the people that worked in the area. There were small diners and small boutique shops and also fancy restaurants and huge department stores. When my grandmother took me shopping at Stone & Thomas, I was enchanted with the fact that every department practically had it's own floor.

Huntington was home to the coal and chemical industries as well as glassworks and steel. Huntington Alloys Corp., known more recently as Special Metals Corp. was begun in 1922 as a processing mill for nickel alloys melted at the Orford Works of the International Nickel Company in Constable Hook (near Bayonne), New Jersey. This company is still today one of Huntington's greatest life supports. The coal industry has lost a lot of it's appeal and many other companies and factories have shut down.

The current economy has taken it's toll on Huntington. The five-story Stone & Thomas building has been vacant for years (since the company went defunct in 1998) as well as many other surrounding buildings. Broken glass and emptiness is what you see downtown as several small specialty shops and a few restaurants struggle to survive.

Huntington is still home to Marshall University, which for some people was unknown until made famous by the movie "We Are Marshall" depicting the town's struggle after the horrible crash on November 14, 1970, of a chartered Southern Airways McDonnell-Douglas DC-9 jet transporting 75 Marshall University football players, coaches, staff, and supporters. Everyone on board was killed.

The Delta Queen Steamboat used to serve the city's downtown port and brought much tourism and gaety to the area with it's music and enthusiasm for the good life. Now, it has sadly become a floating hotel docked in Chattanooga, TN. Huntington has had many things going against it over the years, but it has the potential to thrive again with the help of a new generation. This small West Virgina town affords a comfortable lifestyle, a low cost of living, state-of-the-art health care, modern educational facilities and unrivaled natural beauty.

 

 

Delta Queen Photo Credit: Jon Tschiggfrie

Turn your move into a vacation

When we take on the daunting task of moving, whether it be just a few hundred miles away or possibly across country, we never think about how relaxing or enjoyable it might be. At least I know I don't and I have done it. The problem with the move I made is that I did it with just the help of my own family. I tried to save money by not hiring a mover. I packed up the house after living in it for over 13 years, so you can imagine the accumulation of "stuff" I had to deal with. Then I rented a truck, hoping it would be big enough. Then I loaded the truck...twice. The first time it wasn't loaded properly and some "stuff" wasn't going to fit. Since I was going across country, I also had to rent a car dolly to pull my car behind the truck.  I don't know about your driving skills, but try backing up a 27 foot moving truck with a car on a pivotal dolly system. Everywhere we went we had to make sure we could pull in, and pull out. No reverse required.

Then, as if that was not enough, since I am a plant hoarder, I loaded my car with all of my house plants so they would be in plain site for the Dept. of Agriculture going across certain state borders. Had I not checked into the agriculture rules for every state ahead of time, my plants would have been confiscated at the border and I would have been heartbroken.

None of this included the fact that I had 1 kid, 1 dog, and 3 cats that also had to move across country. After I got me, the truck, my car, and all my "stuff" where it needed to be, I flew back and packed up the remaining kid, dog and cats! Then we all flew together back to our new home...far, far away. Now, doesn't that sound like fun? I didn't think so.

The point I am getting to is that hiring a mover will save you money, time, aggravation, and possibly your sanity in the long run. Let's say you are planning a move to Arizona from many states away. Who knows more about moving to and living in Arizona than movers in Arizona? They will have all the information you will need to participate in a smooth move, and can also hook you up with realtors, insurance agents, and other local establishments that you will need to start new services with like gas, water, electric, trash removal, etc. I tried doing all this myself too, only to find out that I didn't know there were 2 gas companies, 2 trash companies and other assorted services that I didn't even know I needed. I was coming from rural farm country and moving to suburbia. I had no idea you actually had to pay for water.

Let's say you were moving to Tucson, Tucson moving companies would be able to provide you with local information about your new city like things to do when you get there such as movies, restaurants, museums and local events. Normally this would all be stuff you figure out after you get settled in, if you ever do.

The best part though is that they do all the work!! Let them pack, load, drive, gas up, unload and deal with all the aggravation of moving (and backing up at the gas station). They are paid to take the stress out of moving, therefore leaving you and your family the ability to turn your move into a mini vacation. Load up the family car with kids and dogs and take your time driving. You can stop off and see the World's Largest Ball of String or maybe something better like Mt. Rushmore or The Grand Canyon.

Even if you absolutely have to do this move yourself, there is a great place to visit online for assistance. If you are possibly moving to the Phoenix area, go to Billy.com Phoenix movers and you will be able to access tools to make your move easier such as a moving checklist, moving tips, and useful information on traveling with pets and children. Believe me when I say you do not want to do it the way I did it.

Whatever city is destined to become your next home, check out Billy.com before making the big move.

Day Trippin' to Oak Glen

Tucked away in the mountains between Beaumont, CA. and Redlands, CA is a little tiny burb called Oak Glen. I think it is officially located in Yucaipa, CA., but it is not exactly on the beaten path. Years ago, while wining about missing the East Coast and my annual apple pickin' escapades, a friend mentioned to me that I could find some great apple orchards up in Oak Glen. So, while savvy auntie was still visiting we made this one of our day adventures.

It really is like a different world when you get to a mile high in the mountains. The rolling hills and clear blue sky that we discovered up in Oak Glen, along with the apple orchards and working cider mills were enough to take me back in time. There is a scenic route through town that leads you to each and every orchard, farm, market, restaurant and even petting zoo.

Beginning our self-tour was a stop at Riley's Farm where they feature "u-pick" apple orchards, hoedowns, tours and hayrides. They also do a schedule of civil war reenactments. If you are really adventurous they have Primitive Historical Farm Stays by reservation only.

We did not have time to stop at every single establishment, which I am sure offers some sort of unique addition to the area. (I hear the spicy peanut butter is to die for!!) There is enough to keep you busy all day, especially if you are looking for something to do with your kids. Right in the middle of the scenic route sits Oak Glen Village where there is a Curio Shop, Art Gallery, Candy Kitchen, Bakery, Leather Shop, Country Store, and Animal Park.

 

If you want to make a weekend of it, try The Sage Herb Farm where they offer Garden Getaway Weekends, along with herb classes and garden tours. There is also camping and RV accommodations in the area for you savvier tourists.

So, young or old, there is something for everyone. Experience a heart-warming meal and a slice of apple pie, then stop by one of the shops so you can take home fresh apple butter, jams, jellies and candied apples.

Don't forget to check back in the summer months when you can pick fresh raspberries!

Wine Tasting in Temecula

My originally planned trip to San Francisco got scrubbed due to an illness in the family...mine!!! The flu caught up with me and changed my plans drastically.  So, no long distance travel for my savvy little family this time, but we did find a few day trips that were quite enjoyable and close by.

Wine tasting is one of our main attractions here in the Temecula Valley, whether you are a local or a tourist, it never gets old. We are known as Southern California's Wine Country and we are quite proud of it. There are over 25 wineries tucked away in our beautiful little valley and they each have something special to offer. So, we took a day and checked out a few of them, actually just three of them to be exact.

Our day started off with lunch at The Ponte Family Estate Winery in their very quaint all-outdoor dining restaurant, The Smokehouse. The warm Autumn day could not have been more perfect for outdoor dining, but then again, that's why we live in Southern California. The service was exemplary and generous. I say it like that because not only did our waiter take great care of us, he allowed my "Savvy Aunt" to leave with all of the wine glasses on the table...and the menu...and the dessert menu...and the napkins...only kidding, she didn't take the napkins. Lunch gave us the opportunity to do a little wine tasting with our food so we didn't do any official wine tasting in the Tasting Room as much as we just enjoyed the views of the vineyard and the mountains and the beautiful countryside. We also enjoyed the gift shop with all of it's specialty items including more incredible food and wine. The Ponte Winery is one that I highly recommend to anyone whether you are in the valley for a long visit or just passing through. I for one can't wait to try their Sunday Brunch Buffet one of these days soon.

Our next stop was going to be what I thought was Van Roekel Vineyards. I have lived in the valley for over 12 years now and knew this winery existed. I saw their wine in the local grocery stores, but couldn't for the life of me find them on "winery row". I thought they had been affiliated with another winery once so we went there instead.

Maurice Car'rie Vineyard and Winery was one of the first vineyards planted here in our region back in 1968. The actual winery was founded by Budd and Maurice C. Van Roekel in 1986. Hence the affiliation I had heard of!  The Maurice Car'rie Winery is gorgeous as well as warm and inviting. Buddy and Cheri Linn are the current owners of this award winning winery known for it's sweet and fruity varieties of Chenin Blanc and Riesling, along with the traditional greats of Chardonnay and Merlot.

While my savvy hubby and savvy auntie were partaking in the wine tasting passport offered at this establishment, I did a little asking around. I found out that I wasn't losing my mind after all and the so called Van Roekel Winery is now known as La Cereza Winery, the sister winery to Maurice Car'rie. Just so happens there is a combo wine tasting passport that can be purchased so that wine lovers can sample wines at both establishments for one low price.

La Cereza Winery is also run by the Linn family and shares the talents of the same veteran winemaker, Gus Vizgirda. Both wineries have their own distinctive label, identity and wine list. La Cereza Winery has received a little bit of a face lift since being known only as Van Roekel. Although still very European, they have added some personal pizzaz with their new signature series "Girlfriends" wine and cigar products.

Maurice Car'rie and La Cereza are both on my list of places to revisit, maybe for the upcoming holidays!!

San Fran or Bust

In a few weeks I will be traveling to the city of San Francisco for a short visit with my Aunt. She has never been to San Fran and I would really like to show her a wonderful time. The trick is...it is only for a few days so it has to be an abbreviated wonderful time. As a travel agent, I do realize the millions of things to do in San Fran. My question to my savvy readers is......what are the BEST things to do that you wouldn't want to miss no matter what? We aren't marathon runners so we can't exactly cram in 20 things a day (much to my Mom-In-Law's chagrin). I would like to actually enjoy this trip and leave her wanting more, maybe for next year's visit. So, bring on the suggestions folks.......I'm all ears!

 

My Mom-In-Law sent me a book to carry along with me on my trip and I have to admit it is the coolest little travel tool ever. It is called The Little Black Book of San Francisco. I highly recommend that you check out Amazon for a Little Black Book of Anywhere you are thinking of traveling!!!!!

Mt. Palomar Observatory

We live so close to  San Diego that many of our day trips are actually spent down in that area. We have a whole repertoire of activities that we like to do depending upon the weather or perhaps the visiting relative at the time. It just so happens that every time we start to head south we drive right by Mt. Palomar and my mother says "I would really like to see the Mt. Palomar Observatory sometime." Of course, we are already on our way to somewhere else so her wish always goes unfulfilled. Just recently while trying to think of something special for her birthday, we remembered her desire to drive up Mt. Palomar and see the Observatory.

Our day started off unusually warm even for SoCal. It was in the mid 80s with those warm Santa Ana winds blowing. We knew better than to be fooled though. We were planning to trek up over 5000 feet so we knew it would be a little cooler and we remembered to take a few jackets, just in case. We pile in the truck and decided (as we usually do) that we were all hungry. What is it about a road trip that makes people so hungry? There just so happens to be a very small burger stand right off the exit we take to start up the mountain so we thought we would try it. I had heard great things about it, but it  always looked abandoned whenever I drove by. This little stand I refer to is called Nessy Burger. If you follow that link, you will enter a food blog that did a detailed report on the Nessy Burger. I can update a few things like...they are now open on Sundays and the burger is a little more expensive, but other than that, this guy really hits the nail on the head. I thoroughly enjoyed my Nessy Burger, although I could feel my arteries clogging while I ate it. The burger had an awesome flavor and was very juicy and fresh. The dining ambience...well there really isn't one unless you call sitting next to a busy freeway exit on a picnic bench with migrant workers ambience. Then again, that's pretty much authentic SoCal and I like it!

After we finished stuffing ourselves, we headed on up the mountain for our adventure. It turned into quite a pleasant day. The skies were clear which made the views breathtaking. The traffic was minimal and we had several chances to stop and take some pictures. We were able to see the charred reminders from the fires in the last few years. That part was kind of sad, but there were many signs of  new life sprouting up around the dead trees. Of course as we made our trek higher and higher, it started to get considerably colder. When we rounded the corner at the top of the mountain and headed toward the Observatory on the north side, there was snow and lots of it. The roads had been cleared but there was snow piled  up on either side with people who had stopped just to get out and build snowmen and slide down the hills. I took in the beauty of the meadows that were covered by a blanket of undisturbed snow. I did see one guy who was making a snowman in the back of his pick up truck to take home with him. I'm not sure if he thought this all the way through or was perhaps just trying to make his kids happy.

We finally arrived at the Observatory and it was a blustery 41 degrees. It was quite refreshing for a few minutes, then it was just plain cold. The few extra jackets we brought did not begin to keep us warm enough for this weather. I am not complaining though, I really enjoyed seeing the snow and feeling the cold. I surely did not feel as though I was in sunny SoCal and that was okay for a little while.

   

I can actually see the Observatory from my house on a clear day, but I had no idea of it's actual size being as it is so far away. This structure is magnificent, and the size of the telescope inside is unbelievable. It is an awesome site for both young and old. The history behind the Observatory is very interesting in that it took over 40 years to actually be realized, including taking a break for WWII. One of the most interesting parts to me is the transportation of the 200-inch mirror up the mountain. The trip that took us only 1 hour including "Kodak Moment" stops, took 3 trucks 32 hours to arrive safely with this precious 40 ton cargo.    

  

Julian, CA.

When most people think of Southern California, they think beaches and sunshine and probably movie stars. Well, we do have all that, but we have much more. Since I was raised on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, I am more used to seasonal changes and some occasional weather issues like cold temperatures and snow. That is something I kind of miss...maybe just a little. The rest of my family, except for maybe my son, thinks I am a bit mental.

The other day we took a day trip to Julian, CA. to share with my Aunt who was visiting from West Virginia. I like to visit Julian occasionally because there I can experience all four seasons. At just over 4,000 feet elevation, Julian provides a mild Summer for hiking, camping, and fishing, and a colorful backdrop for fun Fall activities.  The Winter brings the perfect wonderland for the holiday season and then Spring produces all the flowers and new nature that warms our hearts after a cold Winter.

Julian, CA. is an historic gold mining town that was founded after the Civil War. Although it is quite popular with tourists, it has remained small in general population and retains it's old world charm. The tiny town has since taken on new found fame as "Pie Town" because of The Julian Pie Company, who ships pies out by the hundreds to all over the country.

There is plenty to do in Julian for the whole family. They have shopping (my favorite), Art Galleries, historic sites, dining, wine tasting, and of course, many types of lodging. A trip to Julian makes a great day trip if you live in the area, but I think I will stay for the weekend next time I go so that I can experience all the dining options. That is very hard to do in just one day, especially when there is pie involved!!

It all started...

About 20 some years ago I did one of those impromptu trips that began by blindly opening up an atlas and pointing to a random spot on the not-so-smartly chosen page. This trip, now that I think of it, was the beginning of many adventures to come...and boy was it an adventure.

Let's just say I was very young and dumb naive at the time. We ( I was traveling with a new friend who quickly became one of those friends that will be there for life because she knows all my secrets and weaknesses) no sooner left the Denver airport after securing a rental car when we heard on the radio that a major airliner had crashed in Denver. How did we miss that? It made us a little nervous knowing how close we were to such a disaster and not being caught up in it. We were leaving the airport while everyone else was arriving for the crash and it's aftermath. It kind of made me feel like I had started my own little chain of unfortunate events. I was leaving a trail of death and destruction behind me. Okay, too dramatic?

Anyway, we continued on our journey to our destination of random choosing, Manitou Springs, CO. It is a small, quaint town about an hour south of Denver and just west of Colorado Springs. One of those places that seems quite removed from the rest of the world. The town is located right at the base of Pike's Peak. It is as though it is being protected on all sides by the strong arms of the mountain.

This was my kind of town. One of those "everyone knows your name" kind of places. The locals had been there their whole life. They thrived on the tourists that came to visit and shop in their unique stores and eat in their homestyle restaurants, and then leave. What they liked best about tourists,is that they are temporary. Even though the natives were friendly, it was their world, not ours. Many people had come to Manitou Springs over the years and decided to make it their home. Mostly because it is known as the healthiest place on earth. The combination of fresh mountain air and mineral spring waters were known to have a special healing power for the sick. Lucky for the folks in Manitou Springs, we were only here for a short time.

 It was a very cold and damp November and I very much enjoyed the crisp air while ducking in and out of the little shops that held the wares of the local artisans. There were so many wonderful things to see, most of which is from the Native American heritage that still holds it's roots in this tiny town. One of my most memorable moments was spent sitting in a little cafe by a window sipping hot apple cider while the snow lightly dusted the sidewalk. Of course, sitting on a bar stool sipping some Irish Cream in the evenings became a fast favorite too!

One thing I did learn about this part of the country is that people are much more prepared and confident in inclement weather conditions. One day we started up Pike's Peak (in our rental car) for a day of Christmas Shopping at The North Pole. I love collecting ornaments for my Christmas tree from different places so that was all I could think about that day...until we realized the roads were a sheet of ice and our little rental car was in no way prepared for this trip.(Did I mention we were young and stupid?) Not only did we stop making any progress up the mountain, we began sliding backwards down the mountain. At this point I was wishing I had purchased the extra insurance, among other things. The car did eventually stop sliding, but that didn't really improve our situation. We were stuck there to die in our rental car on a small mountain road in Colorado where no one would know to look for us. Too dramatic again?  Just as the panic was beginning to set in and we were trying to decide how to bail out of the car and let it slide down the mountain without us, a few strong young guys showed up with chains and rope and brains and walked our car back down the mountain safely. (And to think my therapist doesn't understand my fear of heights.)

I made my way back to the safe comfortable bar stool and stayed there until I thought it was safe again. Well, it turns out that was just the beginning of my harrowing driving experience in the Colorado snow. The very next day, the weather man was talking about a full on blizzard headed our way. Being as we had jobs to get back to, we thought that maybe we should cut our little adventure short and head back to the Denver airport before we couldn't get there at all.

Too late! Did I mention that this quaint little town was surrounded and protected by this nice big mountain? Well, we no sooner got out of town (just a few miles down the road) then the blizzard was already rearing it's ugly head. I started our snowy trek out on the freeway only to realize that there really weren't very many cars on the road. The ones that were out there appeared to be more prepared than I was, again! After what felt like hours of driving at 20 mph, I decided I couldn't trudge through 6 feet of snow with a rental car any longer. I pulled off at the next exit, only to find out I had arrived uninvited at the United States Air Force Academy. Believe me when I say "there are no rooms at the Inn". The guard at the gate was less than delighted with my presence and informed me that I would have to continue back from whence I came and find a hotel. Two hours and two exits later, we came upon a Sheraton and found shelter for the night. The attendant at the reservation desk was very surprised to see us as he informed us they had closed the freeway hours ago. They must have done that while I was making my way somewhere between civilization and the USAFA.

The next day, the freeway was open and the sky was clear so we headed up to Denver, once again. This time, it was so much easier driving in 6 feet of snow, behind 18-wheelers, with the sun shining on the snow and reflecting in my eyes. NOT!!!!

Upon arriving at the Denver Airport, we remembered the tragedy that we had left behind us only days before. The passing blizzard had only made matters worse at the airport and there were people camped out all over the place. Even with all those people spread out everywhere, there was a horrible somber silence due to the crash, and I wasn't sure I was ever getting on an airplane again. Of course my boss, awaiting my arrival on the East Coast had other plans! It is a wonder I ever traveled again.

Not only did I travel again, I find myself going back to Manitou Springs quite frequently these days and sharing it with my family, while one of the kids is actually attending the USAFA nearby. Little did I know back then...

This one is for you Cleo...although still my dear friend, never have I traveled with since.

Time has forgotten Bodega Bay

After one final stroll through the Town of Tiburon, we headed out north on 101 toward Petaluma. The first Petaluma exit is Petaluma Blvd. We turned off the highway there and headed west towards the coast, connecting with Bodega Ave. in the center of town. Bodega Ave. takes you on a beautiful and relaxing journey through the country all the while smelling the ocean getting closer and closer. As we drove for about 40 minutes, enjoying the scenery and peacefulness of the countryside, I started to realize I felt as though I had traveled back in time. The closer to Bodega Bay I got, the stranger things felt. That must be what Alfred Hitchcock felt like when he decided to film The Birds. A lot of this famous thriller was actually filmed in Bodega Bay and the small town of Bodega back in 1963. Believe me when I say nothing has changed since then.

While waiting for family to arrive to meet us for lunch, we had some time on our hands and decided to check out the area and walk along the harbor's edge. I expected a lot of activity considering this is July. Don't all people flock to the coastal towns for vacation in July? Well, not here. Again, I felt as if time was standing still here in Bodega Bay. There were hundreds of beautiful boats in the harbor, but no one there to use them. It was low tide and there was a beautiful expanse of beach to enjoy, but only one lone person digging for clams. There was an abandoned boat in the middle of the harbor that just gave you the feeling that everyone had disappeared and didn't care what they left behind. It was actually starting to make my skin crawl, and I knew exactly why Alfred Hitchcock picked here to film his horror movie. I am thinking that a remake is in order because nothing has changed, if anything it is creepier now!

We had lunch at a small diner located on the opposite side of the harbor. It was pretty busy, but I think it was only because there are not that many choices in town. I got the distinct feeling that they do not cater to tourists. The service wasn't that great, the flatware wasn't that clean, and the food wasn't that fresh. The clam chowder was incredible, but that is where it ended. The bill wasn't very reasonable compared to the quality of the whole experience. I felt as if they were serving food as a means of survival. Almost like everyone in this town is trapped here and has to make do with what they have available to them. I would not have been surprised had I received a "Help us" scribbled at the bottom of our receipt.

We took a few moments to drive through the actual town of Bodega as that is where the house that was used in "The Birds" is being kept as a landmark. It is only open to the public during the weekends on certain hours, so we didn't get to see inside. From what I understand this is the main attraction in town, but again, I feel like it has been forgotten and neglected like everything else in this town.

A savvy vacation choice

With the price of gas (and everything else) everyone is looking for new and improved ways to budget. Having been a travel agent, I can tell you that vacations are the first thing to either get thrown out of the budget completely or else purchased as cheaply as possible. Unfortunately, when you skimp on your vacation, you are essentially cheating yourself out of the best time you have with your family and friends. Personally, I would rather clip coupons and carpool than skimp on my vacation. I was always sorry when I booked a "budget" vacation.
There are ways to have a great vacation without skimping and one of them is by renting a house, possibly with friends and family, instead of paying resort prices. Sharing the cost of a house or condo is always more cost effective. You have facilities to cook some meals instead of eating out 3 times a day. You don't have to pay for parking your car, you don't have to walk through the lobby in your swimsuit, you don't have to tip anyone or cram 4 people (or more) into 1 hotel room. Everyone has a little more space to call their own and in some cases, you can take the family dog. One of the online booking agencies that I recommend is HomeAway. There are more destinations to choose from than you can imagine. Whether you prefer Italy or Martha's Vineyard, North Carolina or Africa, there is a home to suit your vacation needs. There are even homes for rent for RV travelers to "take a break" and spread out for a little while. I consider this a much more savvy way to travel, and I will always recommend it over timeshares any day.

Therein lies a tale....

...as only Al can tell it. A dear friend of mine is currently on his annual trek across the country in his RV with his 2 beloved traveling companions, Max and Merlin. Max and Merlin are Al's traveling companions by default. They get no say in the matter because they are dogs. They just smile and go along for the ride, without the foggiest notion what is in store for them. Al's journey, along with Max and Merlin, can be quite eventful and always fun to read about. The only thing better than reading Al's stories is actually hearing them. To fully appreciate his eloquent verbiage and sense of humor, travel over to his blog, The CafeMerlin and check out his new audio posts and his traveling dash cam.

A toast to my 100th post!!!

I am sure you all know by now that hubby travels a lot for work. Well, his last trip found him in none other than the famous Raffles Hotel Singapore  where the legendary Singapore Sling was created around the year 1915. Apparently, people really knew how to mix a cocktail back then because this particular drink is very popular (and tasty, I was informed). It has been said that the recipe for the original Singapore Sling may have been revised slightly over the years (or perhaps just remembered incorrectly), but the Long Bar found at the Raffles Hotel makes it as close to original as they know it to be. Below you will see a picture of the recipe card used at the Long Bar for their version of the decadent drink. So, just in case your travels won't be taking you to Singapore any time soon, I am sharing this with you in hopes you will toast my 100th post here on The Savvy Tourist.

SINGAPORE SLING The Singapore Sling was created at Raffles Hotel at the turn-of-the-century by Hainanese-Chinese bartender, Mr. Ngiam Tong Boon. In the Hotel's museum, visitors may view the safe in which Mr. Ngiam locked away his precious recipe books, as well as the Sling recipe hastily jotted on a bar-chit in 1936 by a visitor to the Hotel who asked the waiter for it. Originally, the Singapore Sling was meant as a woman's drink, hence the attractive pink colour. Today, it is very definately a drink enjoyed by all, without which any visit to Raffles Hotel is incomplete. Recipe 30ml Gin 15 ml Cherry Brandy 120 ml Pineapple Juice 15 ml Lime Juice 7.5 ml Cointreau 7.5 ml Dom Benedictine 10 ml Grenadine A Dash of Angostura Bitters Garnish with a slice of Pineapple and Cherry

                                                    

 

                                                                                                                                                      

Scenic route back to Nashville

After our fabulous lunch at The Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. we meandered through a few stores admiring the local wares until it was decided we needed to head for home to beat the traffic. Traffic? What traffic? I guess the idea of "traffic" in general depends on what you are used to. I live in Southern California where it can take 5 hours to travel 80 miles to the Los Angeles International Airport. That is traffic! What I observed here in quiet little Gatlinburg, TN. was a few cars traveling slower than normal. I figured they were all just savvy tourists trying to take in all the sites. If you have been following this series, you will remember that I am not driving and I really have no clue where I am going from the backseat so I go where the driver decides we go. That being said, we decided to go another route that would be more scenic and have less traffic. Now again, if you've been following this series, you know this doesn't usually go well for us, but we did it anyway because...well, I don't know...we're tourists? Instead of heading North on Rt. 441 out of Gatlinburg towards more civilization, we headed in more of a Southwesterly direction on a road known to the locals as Little River Road because it travels beside the Little River.
The sun was shining through broken clouds and the river was rushing alongside the road like it had somewhere to be, making me feel like we had traveled back in time. This is what being in the Great Smoky Mountains is all about. This was a beautiful drive that I will never forget. We were able to pull off the side of the road safely and take pictures along the way. We finally got some good photos to commemorate our trip to Tennessee. We eventually rounded the bend near civilization, the small road turned into a parkway, connected with U.S. 40 towards Nashville, and we were headed home from our little adventure. It is amazing what you can see when you are just along for the ride.

Here are a few photos that we took along the way. You can click on the thumbnail for a larger image.

The Bubba Gump Shrimp Co

Now that our 3 hour tour had been canceled (Gilligan should be so lucky), we decided it was time to eat again so we traveled back down the road a bit into the town of Gatlinburg. Yes, you heard me correctly, we were actually in the town of Gatlinburg. There were cute little shops and restaurants and it was just so quaint. It was a little busier than I would expect for February, but I soon learned that Gatlinburg is pretty much a year round destination. There is skiing in the winter, river rapids in the summer, and festivals all year round. There is always something to do in Gatlinburg, whether it is shopping, dining, or playing.
Now, back to the eating.....one of my most memorable moments on this particular trip was the fabulous dining experience at the Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. Restaurant. The atmosphere was friendly and fun and the staff was very helpful since it was our first time visiting. They had wonderful recommendations, all of which I took. I started out with Jenny's She-Crab Soup: An Alabama twist to a low country favorite. It was very creamy and rich and just perfect. My main course was the "I'm Stuffed!" Shrimp: Large shrimp stuffed with crab, baked in garlic butter, and topped with Monterey Jack Cheese served with Jasmine Rice.   Of course I started the whole meal out with a Peach, Love, Rock 'n' Roll: DeKuyper Peachtree and Razzmatazz, Cointreau and Pineapple Juice and Lemon-Lime.

Needless to say, that set the mood for the rest of the day!!

 

The waiter started our experience with a few Forrest Gump trivia questions:

What was Forrest's favorite drink?

What did Forrest say to JFK when he met him?

That was my little dose of trivia and I answered them correctly....can you?

Cabin Sweet Cabin

I was never so happy to see that cabin as I was at this particular moment. Now that the panic had worn off, we all realized we were utterly and completely famished! It was necessary to re-heat our dinners in the oven since we had taken a little detour with our food. Now that all was back to normal, it was very cozy to be at the cabin with the fire burning and the smell of those ribs permeating the room instead of the trunk of the car. We decided to make it a family night and play some games and watch some movies. Actually, it turned into just watch movies because we couldn't decide which games to play. We should have just brought one game with us so that we didn't have a choice to argue over, but as usual we were well over-prepared and indecisive. It's in our genes!
So, we stayed up late watching movies with plans of sleeping in late, going out for breakfast, maybe taking in a few sites and then heading out of town at a reasonable hour to be home in time for a pre-scheduled dinner engagement with friends. And this was going to be our easy day!
As luck would have it, bright and early the next morning the sun decided to show it's smiling face for the first time since we had arrived in Tennessee. Much to our dismay, that also meant my mother-in-law showed her smiling face with her usual "Goooood Moooorniiiing" (you have to hear it to fully appreciate it) much earlier than promised. Since we are all budding photographers at heart, she felt we needed to get up out of bed and catch some photo ops that included sunshine. She was probably right, although very difficult to admit before the first cup of coffee. So....change of plans.....we had to hurry up and get ready so we could go do the Motor Nature Trail in Gatlinburg which takes several hours. This is a slow, gorgeous drive through the Great Smoky Mountain wilderness on Historic Nature Trail (formerly Airport Road), which turns into the Park's Cherokee Orchard Road. There are many hiking trails along the way where you can see waterfalls, wildlife, the famous rhododendrons and the river running through the trails. This seemed like the perfect place to put our amateur photographic skills to the test, except for just one small problem....it was closed! This Motor Nature Trail happens to be open from early Spring through December 1st. Since this was February, we can only imagine what we got out of bed early to see. Oh well, maybe next time! Here's a picture I grabbed off their website.

Lost in the Woods.......

.....like Hansel and Gretel! That's where we were just moments after retrieving my misplaced credit card from the store. You see, we were curious as to how far we actually were from our cabin (you know, as the crow flies) given it felt like we had traveled in a circle to get where we were (are you confused yet?) so we turned on the GPS. That was our first really bad idea. If you have been following the series at all, you will remember that I mentioned we were forewarned that the GPS might not be very accurate in the mountains. They weren't kidding!!! After leaving the store, we made an immediate right turn onto a small country road that looked pleasant enough, but wasn't exactly easy to find on any map we had in the car. The driver (you remember who that is, right?) was confident that the GPS knew exactly where it was going, so off we went. Keep in mind we are also trying to beat the eerie darkness from getting to the cabin before us. We traveled for a few miles, made a few uneventful, seemed like a good idea at the time turns and there you had it....we were officially lost. One of the many things that I think contributed to our situation was that if a road was "unmarked", the driver was pretty sure that was the road we were supposed to take. The other problem was the GPS did not know her right from her left. I will call it a her just because it spoke so sweetly while telling us to turn left to our death all the while highlighting a right turn on the screen so as not to arise any suspicion on her part. This GPS was very confused (or hateful, I'm not sure which). We decided to pull off the road stop in the middle of the road and reset the system by turning it off and turning it back on, allowing it to clear it's head and think about where the heck we were. That didn't really help. The closer it looked like we got to our destination, the more the GPS wanted us to turn around and go the other way. The scariest part for me was that it seemed we were just going higher and higher, yet not really getting anywhere. At one point my sister-in-law had to get out and walk ahead of the car to make sure we could actually drive where we were headed. I think that is about when some of the panic started to set in, or at least that is when we admitted the panic was setting in. I had felt the tension building for awhile now, especially since I was sitting in the back seat with most of it. After a few more times of foolishly going where the GPS suggested, we actually got close to the road the cabin was on. You could see the road from where we were, but you couldn't exactly get to it. If only we had a 4-wheel drive, a pair of bolt cutters and a few pairs of hip waders we would be home free. We didn't have any of those things therefore we were left to stare longingly at the road we wanted to be on, while contemplating going back the way we came, whichever way that was. Good thing those bears were hibernating because our trunk still had our carry out rib dinners from Damon's Grill that were permeating the air around us. Had it been Spring, we would have been followed and eaten for sure. I won't bore you with the twists and turns and nice words that we used to get down the mountain and finally back to our cabin one and a half hours later (some shortcut). Just rest assured we made it, despite ourselves and our helpful little GPS system, and we lived to tell about it....obviously!

After looking at our trek on Google Earth, it became clear to me where we went wrong. It was that first right hand turn when we thought it would be a good idea to take a shortcut. I have included a picture of the area with labels on the Arts and Crafts Community and our cabin. Enjoy finding your way from one to another. You can click on the image for a larger view. Happy Trails!

The tale of three cities......

All that fresh mountain air made me sleep like a baby. It really does feel good to get away from it all every now and again. The first thing we did was grab a fresh cup of coffee from the Tassimo machine and head out onto the back deck. Any other season would have been more colorful for photographic purposes, but there was a certain peace and serenity in the mountains that morning that was easily captured by the camera.

   

It was very quiet and very still (I swear I'm gonna call Stephen King), almost like every living thing was just waiting for Spring. The woods were filled with wild rhododendrons just waiting for a sign that it was time to bloom. I can only imagine the beauty that overtakes this area when the weather warms up a bit, but for now, it is still winter. The bears are hibernating and thankfully so were the snakes. Don't get me wrong, I love bears.....but from a distance.....or stuffed. Snakes, I am not as fond of and was very happy not to have to look out for them while I was crawling through the wooded paths in search of an unsecured Internet connection with hubby's new iTouch. It takes me awhile to acclimate to my environment and I was so craving access to my blog life. Luckily, we also took the camera on my search for civilization and came up with a few nice shots.

   

It didn't take long for the peace and quiet to end, moments actually. It was apparently time to go on our daily trek down the mountain and see some sites. My mother-in-law had a few specific things she wanted to see and when she sets her mind to something, well let's just say, there was a reason she was doing the driving. She probably wouldn't get to do anything she wanted to do if she didn't have us all trapped in the car like rats headed in the direction of her own agenda. Hopefully when she gets done curling her nose up at this remark, she will laugh because she knows I am right!

At this point I am still hoping to catch a glimpse of Gatlinburg, although I am realizing that there is a fine line between Sevierville, Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg. Even the GPS got confused. I told you about some of the exciting attractions in Sevierville, but you may recognize Pigeon Forge as the home of Dollywood, Dolly Parton's Great Smoky Mountain Family Amusement Park. At first I thought this to be a little hokey (even though I am a huge fan of Dolly's singing), but I am finding out that hokey is part of the fun around these parts! Dollywood offers rides and attractions like rollercoasters and kiddie rides. There is also shopping, crafts, shows, and many special events including Five of the South's Largest Festivals. The dining experience is renowned at Dollywood with it's famous southern cooking and choice of venues. We did not actually go to Dollywood this time around, but I think I might suggest it for next time. I hate to admit it, but it sounds like fun.

We were headed to a place called Alewine Pottery that had caught someone's eye on a TV ad. We were finally headed to Gatlinburg so I was cool with this plan. We drove down the road a piece (about 4 miles) and lo and behold there it was....Gatlinburg. I was just starting to see a few stores and hotels and some more cabins on the ridge, when we hung a left and were headed back out of town again. Everything for the next few miles was all about goods and wares crafted by local artisans. A unique characteristic of Gatlinburg are the craftsmen who demonstrate their special talents and skills. An historic 8-mile loop has been designated as Tennessee Heritage Trail. Established in 1937, the artisans whittle, paint, sew, weave and carve to create original collectibles.

After making our way through the arts and crafts village, we decided that we would pick up an awesome BBQ rib dinner from Damon's Grill and head back up to the cabin before dark and enjoy a little family time with games and movies. This time it was me who threw a wrench in our otherwise grand plan. When it came time to pay for our carry out meal, I realized that while running my mouth in a cute little store where I bought a cute little stuffed alpaca bear, I forgot to get my credit card back from the merchant. In a little bit of a panic, we hurried back to the store to retrieve my card. This set us back about a half an hour which made getting back to the cabin by dark almost a problem. So, we decided to take a short cut.........with the help of the GPS.........in the mountains.......

The Gatlinburg Cabin.....in Pigeon Forge

We finally got off the "main drag" and headed through some pretty authentic Tennessee hills in search of our sight unseen cabin. We had a map (I use this term loosely), my mother-in-law was driving and my sister-in-law was navigating all while using a Garmin GPS system that we were informed might be a little sketchy in the mountain areas. We were all set, don'tcha think? Did I mention it was almost dark?
The roads were thin, wet, steep, and mis-labeled, but, believe it or not, we only made 2 or 3 wrong turns before finding the cabin. These cabins are controlled by lock boxes with key codes that are provided by the rental agency. We tried several times to unlock this lock box so as to retrieve the key to the door before being eaten by any stray hungry critters. No luck, we were idiots! Couldn't even work the key box, now what? While some of us were looking to see if there was yet another way into this place, others of us were looking at the picture and saying "this cabin doesn't look like the one in the picture". Of course it doesn't because we were at the wrong cabin. So, we backed out of this steep, thin, wet drive only to discover that we had driven right by our cabin in search of someone else's cabin. This was quite typical of us and we were actually quite proud that we did this well without any real event to speak of, so keep that in mind.
We had no trouble operating the correct key box and entering the correct cabin....

Only kidding.................
This is actually our cabin and it was gorgeous. The map says it is in Sevierville. the GPS says it is in Pigeon Forge, and I thought it was in Gatlinburg, but hey, we found it anyway!

You can tell from the picture why they call them the Smoky Mountains. It is very misty with a Stephen King kind of setting going on during the winter months. Wouldn't be up here alone, I'll tell you that much! The cabin was very cozy and inviting and I could've stayed a week in front of the fire or in the beautiful king size bed with the homemade quilts. There was a hot tub out on the back deck that was also very inviting. I could picture myself sitting in front of the window, watching it snow while the fire was burning and I was writing my memoirs blog. Only problem...NO INTERNET ACCESS!

On The Road Again....

It didn't take me long before I realized that particular Cracker Barrel wasn't that special. There just happens to be one located at every exit in Tennessee to meet all your hunger needs, anytime of day.

Usually I dread a long drive when I am riding in the back seat, but I settled in with hubby, the Tassimo machine and my trusty iPod and I was all set. It only seemed appropriate to listen to some country tunes while traveling through the hills of Tennessee. When in Rome......ha, ha! After a few songs I was definitely in the mood for this country adventure. There was just one thing I realized - folks in Tennessee do not do anything as fast as Gretchen Wilson sings. Maybe I should have brought some Merle Haggard instead.

The drive actually flew by since all the scenery was fresh and new to me. I kept myself busy trying to get a good picture of an old barn along the side of the road. I think they make the coolest pictures no matter what the season. Well, I don't care who you are, it is hard to take a picture from the back seat of a car while you're moving, but that didn't stop me from trying.

As we grew nearer to our destination, I never really saw a road sign leading to Gatlinburg. What I did see was Sevierville, TN. which I had never heard of and I didn't think sounded very inviting. Upon our arrival in Sevierville, I began to understand that this was the "Tourist Trap Capitol" of Tennessee. There were restaurants, souvenir shops, museums, attractions and just all around "goin's-on" for as far as you could see. Some of the attractions that Sevierville offers include the Black Bear Jamboree Dinner & Show, Cirque de Chine, Floyd Garrett Muscle Car Museum , Smoky Mountain Deer Farm & Riding Stables and don't forget to check out Wonder Works, an amusement park for the mind with over 100 hands-on exhibits plus the Hoot N' Holler Dinner Show. We, however were there for the 2 main attractions....the Tanger Outlets and The Apple Barn Cider Mill and General Store. I have to admit I was anxious to see The Apple Barn. I like apples and just about all things apple related. This place had apple everything, along with a restaurant that brings apple fritters and apple juleps to the table before even taking your order. The Applewood Farmhouse Restaurant has undeniable country charm and homestyle country cookin'. My mother-in-law made sure to pick up a few "fried apple pies" for breakfast the next morning, just in case.

Now I won't bore you with the Outlet Mall because as soon as my mother-in-law could not find what she came for, it apparently lost all it's appeal. We weren't there very long. We finally made our way towards our cabin as it was getting late and we didn't want to be cabin hunting in the dark. We figured we would get settled in and then go out for dinner afterwards. At this point I am still wondering where exactly Gatlinburg is, but I was pretty sure we would see it eventually, even from the back seat........

Gatlinburg here we come..........

Except for that 5 minutes into the trip we decided to stop for breakfast. We aren't exactly the world's most efficient travelers, but hey, we were hungry. We pulled into everyone's favorite southern fried restaurant, Cracker Barrel where they serve gravy as a beverage for breakfast, lunch and dinner. (They don't really, but it is a family joke so I had to throw it out there.) I have spent my fair share of time in the "South", but I never managed to be near a Cracker Barrel during eatin' time so I was pretty intrigued by "ye old homestead" ambiance that was rocking on the front porch. Just the smell of the place makes you want to live on a farm, raise your own chickens, churn your own butter, and milk your own cows.......okay, maybe not quite that bad, but it did give me a warm fuzzy feeling inside. The menu offered a lot of everything including eggs, bacon, sausage, assorted potatoes, oatmeal, biscuits and gravy, flapjacks (that's pancake to the rest of the world) and you know it......grits!!!! Now I know all you Californians out there think breakfast consists of granola and yogurt and some fancy named decaf latte, but let me tell you that you haven't lived until you have had real southern biscuits and gravy with some grits and flapjacks on the side. The coffee wouldn't be right either if it didn't come with the usual dose of good ol' southern hospitality, which loosely translated means that as soon as you get it fixed just right with equal amounts of cream and sugar, the waitress tops it off for you and you have to start all over.

After stuffing ourselves like Thanksgiving turkeys, we ventured into the gift shop. That's right, your meal is so memorable you need to pick up a souvenir to commemorate the experience. There are jellies and jams, country crafts, and homemade quilts. I could've spent all day in there, but like I mentioned before, we had bigger fish to fry and need to get out of Nashville and on our way to Gatlinburg. I am so glad we stopped though because who knows when I will see another Cracker Barrel.........

Getaway to Gatlinburg

Before I was so rudely interrupted by my  Las Vegas adventure, I started to tell you about my travels to Tennessee. Well, lets get back to the hills of Tennessee for a much more relaxing experience.
We arrived in Nashville late due to some unexpected delays on Delta as mentioned in my previous post Delta Disappoints. We were picked up at the airport by my in-laws and spent the night at my sister-in-law's town home in Nashville. We didn't really have time to tour Nashville on this visit, because we had bigger and better things to explore beginning bright and early the next morning.
I was under the impression we were just spending a few nights in a cabin up in the mountains, but by the looks of the packed trunk of my mother-in-law's car we were prepared for a month long pilgrimage. She is the queen of snack food and by God we had it all! We had to take the case of bottled water and stuff individual bottles in the spaces between the chips and canned chili. We had games to play, movies to watch, books to read and enough camera equipment to go on an expedition with. We even managed to get a few clothes and a change of underwear squeezed into the backseat between hubby and me, along with the Tassimo  machine and the laundry detergent. Keep in mind this is a 2 night trip. Despite all the crap we had managed to pack into the car, we were all looking forward to this peaceful outing in the wilderness. Now,when I say wilderness, or cabin, I am afraid many of you may get the wrong idea and think that I am roughing it in a cabin with just a wood burning fireplace for heat and an outhouse with a resident snake. Nope, not me! My mother-in-law rented us a gorgeous 3 story, 3 bedroom, 3 bath log home in the hills of Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. She booked this cabin online with American Patriot Getaways which had many great cabins to choose from. Being the spoiled rotten travelers that we are, we opted for the cabin with the view and the hot tub on the deck. Our cabin was called Smoky Mountain Mist and we were anxiously awaiting our arrival there. Unfortunately, we had about 3 to 4 hours of driving ahead of us first............

And now....for the rest of the story!

I am going to try and wrap this up in what I will refer to as "The Final Chapter" of the Las Vegas Liar and My Encounter in Sin City.
Now that I had escaped the clutches of Westgate Resorts , my son and I decide to relax and enjoy a leisurely breakfast and try to put all this behind us. We ate at a lovely place called Lombardis Romagna Mia where the service and the food were impeccable. That calmed me down a bit to once again be treated like a human being.
While waiting for my parents to complete their "3 Hour Tour", we decided to try and come up with something fun to do later when we were all reunited. We decided the Comedy Magic Show that my parents would have tickets to after the tour would be fun. I would just buy our tickets so we could all still go together, even though I was being punished. The show times were 1pm and 3pm so we planned on the latter. It was now only "noonish" (that is a technical airline term I have been informed by one of my readers).
One of the "perks" of staying at Planet Hollywood is it's convenient location to shopping.  Miracle Mile Shops is basically attached to Planet Hollywood. It is what used to be the really cool outside-like shopping experience at the Aladdin. The ceiling is painted to feel like the open sky above, and the floor is tiled like an old cobblestone walk. But don't worry, they are changing all those quaint little features into more glitz, glitter and excitement for your future pleasure. Anyway.....we window shopped while we waited for my parents. We waited........and waited.....and waited. By 2:30pm I was very worried and figured my father had picked up where I left off and possibly they too had been impounded for their behavior. Finally, nearing 3pm, I heard from them. It had been a horrible experience and had we not already paid for a second night at the hotel, we would be leaving immediately, I was informed.
This had been much worse than your typical timeshare routine. They had been given a tour alright! They showed them the model suite of the "yet to be built" Planet Hollywood Towers, the building site, and the lovely shopping mall. Then they dragged them into a room with what looked like a bunch of telemarketers (land salesmen) feeding everyone Kool-Aid and discussing their future on "vacation ownership". My parents have always been very "savvy" with their investments and were anxious to read the fine print and fully understand what the offer entailed. They wanted to read the paperwork, discuss their options and also talk to a lawyer. Can you imagine someone wanting to do all those things before buying real estate? They must be crazy!! Westgate was having absolutely no part of that. They either bought right now, on the spot, or the price goes up $3,000. If they walk out of that room to discuss anything with anybody (namely me), the deal was off the table. At this point, several options had been tossed at them, and all the facts and figures were very fuzzy. They asked if they could take some paperwork with them to look over for awhile. The answer was "NO". They needed to buy right away, before this opportunity to vacation next door to George Clooney passes them over. What? I am going to have to call George and see if he knows they are throwing his name around to sucker people into buying here. Believe me when I say "buying" is loosely interpreted. For your purchase, you get the chance (Las Vegas lingo) to possibly vacation at Planet Hollywood, if it is available, or possibly "somewhere else" just like every other timeshare offers. You also get the privilege of paying real estate taxes on the 1/12th of the ownership, but you do not get any income from the rental profit. Sound familiar?
After my parents repeatedly declined the offer(s), the original salesman just up and left the table. In walks "a higher up" to give them one last chance. He is the only one that has this ability, yeah right!! Do you feel like you are buying a car yet? Anyway, after once again declining the offer, yet another guy came in to "escort" them out. There was no thank you, nice to meet you, we appreciate your time, nothing!!! Just get the hell out!
Hey .....what about breakfast? Oh....you can grab a sandwich out of the cold box on your way out. OMG!! Can you believe the lack of professionalism here? I figured if the "product" was worth anything, it could easily sell itself. Real Estate usually does. Instead, these people try to shove it down your throat and then threaten you and withhold nourishment. So, if they had actually bought anything, would they get the "breakfast" carrot that had been dangled in front of them? Well, guess what? Not only have they not eaten anything all day, we have managed to miss the only 2 show times that were available for the Comedy Magic Show. There's some worthless gifts. As for the "rest of the gifts", we took advantage of the 2 buffet tickets to the Sahara and we managed to win $137.50 at the black jack table with the $100 worth of "non-negotiable" chips.
The next morning we got the hell out of there so fast it would make your head spin. Who wants to vacation in something that looks like the ass end of an old Cadillac anyway?

Being in college (and always thinking), my son decided I needed a "nice" business card, like the one I gave to Westgate, and a "not so nice" business card for times such as these. He said he didn't think they felt very threatened by my cutesy little pink and white card. So, a new business card is on the drawing board for "Annie Ego", the much feared travel critic. Any suggestions from my readers would be welcomed.

Las Vegas Liar

After a pretty good sleep in my beautiful room at Planet Hollywood I was anxious to see what this tour had to offer, especially the breakfast part of it. First things first....coffee! Uh oh, where's the coffee pot? How could this be? Such a beautiful room and they forgot the coffee pot? Of course they didn't forget the coffee pot, they would prefer you go back downstairs (all 34 floors....again), stumble through the casino and pay $7 for a cup of coffee. That's where the coffee pot is...it's in the coffee shop! I'm catching on now! This is not about my convenience at all.
Westgate Resorts has their office on the Mezzanine level of Planet Hollywood so that is where our tour begins. We checked in on time at the reception area, once again showing photo id and presenting paperwork that had been included with our reservation and confirmation. This time, the gentleman at the desk point blank asked me if I was married. I said "Yes, I am, but I am traveling as a single female, as my husband is out of the country". Well, you would have thought I was either the millionth customer or I had committed murder. (Let me give you a clue...there were no balloons or confetti dropping from the ceiling at this moment). I was told that I would not be allowed to take the tour and I was then escorted downstairs where I was informed I would incur my penalty. My what? Holy Crap! Is this some sort of police action? I felt like I had accidentally lifted a can of tuna from a Sack O' Suds in Alabama and forgot to pay. Due to the serious faces on my "escorts", my parents decided they better go with me wherever I was being "escorted" to, along with my son. I guess the family that travels to Vegas together gets put in the slammer together. Don't worry, I didn't really get arrested. Instead I got royally scolded and had all my toys taken away. Seriously, the show tickets, the buffet tickets, the gambling chips, all gone! Wait, they had never really given them to me had they? (I believe this is the fourth flag up the pole).

Westgate Resorts proceeded to inform me that I had lied about my marital status and therefore I was  ineligible for the vacation package at the discounted price. They would now be charging me the full price of the room for the 2 nights and I was not getting any of the "complimentary" gifts. Somehow, that part I knew!  I informed them that I had not lied, I had always been clear about how I answered the questions. No one ever directly asked me if I was married, that is, until the guy at the reception desk. I had always clearly stated that I was traveling as a single female. The original reservation agent had stated that I had to answer the questions properly to get the package (and she, her commission). That is exactly what I had done. I answered the questions properly and without lying.....give me a break, I'm a woman, it's not that difficult. At this point, my sense of humor was dwindling. I asked these people if they were really that stupid or was it me? I said "you do know we are coaxed into answering the questions in order to qualify for this, right?" The assistant manager then glared at me and said  she was getting her manager. Great! Get the manager and while you are at it, give him my business card because I was here to write about your little presentation that has turned into a huge production. Did you forget we are in Las Vegas and your marital status can change at any minute around here?

You may be wondering what my poor supportive family is doing right about now and how proud of me they must be, ha ha!! This is the last family vacation I will ever convince my 18 year old to take, let me tell you that much. I urged them to go ahead and take the tour and get me lots of information about the place. I also didn't want them to incur all these penalties and beatings taking away of gifts that I was getting.

As you can guess, the manager never came out of his hiding place and only sent his assistant back to inform me they had made their final decision and I was being charged the full amount, blah, blah, blah. She also informed me that if I felt I had not lied, they would be glad to pull the tapes from my conversation with the reservation agent. I told them I thought they should pull the tapes and maybe they would be enlightened as to what really goes on (like they don't already know). They took down my cell phone number and said they would call me in a few hours as soon as they had a chance to listen to the tapes. That was one week ago...............

Who's afraid of the 34th floor?

Me! That's who!! You guessed it, my room at Planet Hollywood was on the 34th floor. How lucky for me, NOT! So, we checked in at the  PH front desk with little to no trouble. The rooms were prepaid and we could check in with Westgate Vacations for the rest of our package up until 10pm that night. After being in the hills of Tennessee without Internet service, I asked the guy at the front desk if Internet was provided in the rooms. He informed us that Wi-Fi and cable hook-up were provided in all the rooms. I was ecstatic! That is such a great amenity for hotels to provide these days. We proceeded to the elevator and I held my breath for 34 floors. Ordinarily not an easy task, but we had the "express" elevator that basically flies past the first 23 floors (again, lucky me). The rooms were absolutely fabulous! That particular floor had recently been remodeled (Planet Hollywood used to be The Aladdin) and we had a gorgeous bathroom with huge jacuzzi tub, large shower, and lots of room overall. There was a 42 inch wide-screen TV for our viewing pleasure and a very comfortable bed with lots of pillows. We were able to get adjoining rooms so that made it really fun, like being in a suite. So far, I was pretty impressed. Everyone else appreciated the view too. Me, not so much.
Anyway, I plugged in my laptop and began following the steps to hook up to the Internet. While reading the directions posted I noticed there would be a charge of $12.99 per day. I guess "provided" or "available" does not actually mean "complimentary". I was sure that front desk guy had left me with the impression the service was free, but then again, they have a knack for that in Las Vegas. You think something is complimentary, but you later find there is a catch that requires a purchase of some kind. At this point, I was so happy just to have Internet available to me I wasn't too bothered with having to pay for it. This could easily have been my error. (Please make note of how reasonable I can be, it will come in handy later). I followed all the procedures for Wi-Fi hook up as it really wasn't very difficult. At least not until I actually wanted to visit a website. My computer was pretty sure it was connected, but I couldn't navigate to anywhere. I called the Internet help number and was put on hold by a computer that was busy helping other customers for almost 30 minutes. Finally, after much time went by it was determined by Cox Communications that the hotel has not turned on the Internet access to my room because they do not have a credit card on file for me. Are you kidding? So, I called the front desk and tried to give them my credit card over the phone so as to gain access to the Internet. I was told I would have to come back downstairs for that......all 34 floors. Yikes!!!! Tell me they didn't know they needed my credit card when I asked them if I had Internet available in my room. Maybe that is another reason I thought it was a free service........silly me! Well, far be it from me to waste a good trip downstairs so I decided to go ahead and check in with Westgate Vacations and pick up the rest of our amenities (gambling chips). We did a rather uneventful check in that required a photo id and a signature and instructions to meet at 11:30 am for our tour the next day. Unfortunately, their "system" was down and they were unable to provide us with the dinner tickets, show tickets, or chips. They asked if we would mind waiting until tomorrow and pick everything up when we came for the tour. We were still very unsuspecting at this point so of course we were agreeable. Third flag up the pole........

Sin City Saga continued.....

I should probably fill you in on a little "back history" as to how we got involved in this mess to begin with. We wanted to visit some relatives who live in Las Vegas and I thought it would be a good time to show my parents some of the sights and maybe take in a show. So, I sent my mother on the great quest for a good "middle of the week" deal at a hotel on the strip. I figured if we were going, we might as well be where the action is, or at least some of the coolest hotels. Well, my mother is not only a "savvy tourist", but also a "savvy shopper". She can spot a deal a mile away. I told her not to go cheap, since you do get what you pay for in Vegas, but stay within reason. She found a great deal on the Internet for a "vacation package" offered by Westgate Resorts. When she called the toll free number they were anxious to book this package for her. Listen to all you get.........2 nights at Planet Hollywood, 2 tickets for the buffet at the Sahara Hotel, 2 tickets for a comedy magic show, a free breakfast presentation and $100 worth of gambling chips. All this for $149. We thought Mom had found her usual great deal. Apparently these packages were of "limited availability" and they only had certain packages available for a certain demographic of people at these prices. I figured this was some sort of promotional thing that happens in Las Vegas so as to rip people off in every age group, race, religion and sexual preference category. So as luck would have it, they had a package available for a married couple, and one for a single female. So, my parents took the "married couple" package and I took the "single female" package. I informed them that I was "traveling as a single female" (knowing my husband would be out of the country for work). The customer service rep informed us that we had to make at least $60,000 per year and fit into the category (married, single) that we booked to qualify for all the special amenities that we were being given, including and most important, the 90 minute breakfast presentation. (This is where the first red flag went up.) 90 minute breakfast presentation? I heard breakfast but I had no idea it was going to take me 90 minutes. For what exactly I asked. Oh, it is just a little tour and presentation showing us the new Planet Hollywood Towers I was informed. Tour? Who said anything about a tour? Anyway, the rep explained a few things about how Planet Hollywood was building a new resort and it was being offered as a vacation opportunity. Oh, now I get it, it's a timeshare! She tried to say everything except "timeshare", since it carries the same stigma as "Amway". Believe it or not, I was actually kind of excited to see this new "vacation opportunity" since I write a travel blog and hope to be that "much feared" travel critic some day. I planned to bring home lots of great information for my readers. The next step was being transferred to the Confirmation Center and having us answer these questions we were prompted for on a recorded phone line.(second flag up the pole). So, yes I make at least $60,000 per year, and yes, I am traveling as a single female. The damage was done, the trip was booked and paid for and we would be on our way to Vegas in a week for a fun filled adventure. Or so we thought............

Pardon this brief interruption......

I know you are all anxiously (humor me) awaiting more great news about my trip to Tennessee, but I must interrupt the scheduled posting to rant about my brief (and last) trip to Las Vegas, NV. Please keep in mind that I do not intend to belittle anyone's love for this crazy city. I understand that millions and millions of people flock to this absolutely chaotic excuse for a money sucking black hole of a tourist trap and they love every minute of it. It's just not my bag baby!  I came to Las Vegas to meet some relatives that actually live here and also some that were visiting from Colorado. That part of my experience (I use that term loosely), was actually quite pleasant and enjoyable. After having a lovely dinner with family, we should have just driven straight home, no passing GO, no collecting $200! My nightmare with Las Vegas started almost immediately after leaving my cousin's house. We managed to get ourselves lost getting back to our hotel after being given very good directions and told we looked "perfectly capable" (keep in mind these particular relatives don't know us very well). We finally found our way to the hotel by keeping The Stratosphere Hotel in view at all times. Once we found "the strip", how hard could it be? Well, let me tell you, it can be quite the challenge getting where you need to be without getting run over or running someone over. Patience is not their strongest virtue in this city that never sleeps.

We  were booked for 2 nights at Planet Hollywood through a "vacation package" offered by Westgate Resorts. "Vacation package" is slang for "get sucked into a 3 hour tour of a property that has not yet been built, in which you will be forced to make a huge financial decision within moments of hearing the offer and have absolutely no time to think about it or read the fine print first". Okay, now I think you know where I am going with this. Unfortunately, it was such a horrible experience that I have to gather all my thoughts carefully before I write them down for the world to read. I have to interview a few other folks that were involved, and possibly consult my lawyer to make sure I cannot be sued for slander after stating my opinion and writing about my own personal experiences. Just a little back history, I have actually attended several "timeshare presentations" and of course you all know I own a timeshare with Disney, so I am not new to the procedures involved. I went into this with an open mind, but I came out of it with what should be an attention getting story. To be continued.............

Delta disappoints......

Everything started out pretty well with my travels on Delta Airlines. I printed out our boarding passes at home, which I think is a great tool for speeding things up at the airport. We went through the normal strip search procedures required at security. (I wished I had known I could've waited and dressed at the airport instead of at home.) Anyway, we had plenty of time so no worries. All was well until it came time to board and I believe we were only 10 minutes before scheduled departure. Delta does this "zone" boarding thing that seemed quite intriguing until I saw it in action. Silly me, I assumed that the "zone" boarding would allow people seated in the back of the airplane to board first or maybe all the window people to board, then the middle seat people, then the aisle people so as to alleviate the need to crawl over people. Well, if that was actually the plan, it failed miserably. We were seated in row 38 I believe, seats A and B (window and middle) and we were boarded almost last. So, if anyone knows the secret behind this "zone" boarding, I would love to hear it. This boarding took over 40 minutes from start to finish thanks to the people who still think it is appropriate to bring the kitchen sink on vacation with them. You see, although the rules (I think they are more like guidelines) state only 1 carry on and 1 personal item per person, there is no more reinforcement because of the "check in" at home process. I took them at their word and made sure I only had my suitcase and my purse. I even left a few items behind at home. I appeared to be the only one not carrying a suitcase, laptop and backpack. I guess rules mean nothing to people which is why I now refer to them as "guidelines".
We finally got on our way to Atlanta after the very amusing boarding process and I was pleasantly surprised by my new traveling companion. No, not my hubby, I already new about him. A gentleman that I will here in after refer to as my new friend, Fred, sat down beside me and we talked from take-off in San Diego to landing in Atlanta. That was such a pleasant experience for me especially since I do not usually spend a lot of time talking to people sitting next to me on airplanes. Fred had some wonderful stories to share about his family, especially his daughters, and their many travels. I am hoping to get them to guest author on here and share some of their experiences with us. He is also a great listener, which makes a conversation so much more enjoyable. So, no matter what Delta pulls on me from this point forward, I will always be thankful for meeting Fred. I know we will keep in touch.

We almost got to Atlanta close to on time, but just enough off for Fred to miss his shuttle connection for home. Sorry about that chief!!! Hubby and I knew we had time to grab a bite to eat before continuing on to Nashville, what we didn't know is that we had time to take in a show to go along with it. There was some noise about a missing flight attendant coming in on a late flight. Well, I completely understand that issue having come from the industry and that being one of the daily nightmares thrown my way. This really didn't bother me much and besides, I wasn't going to miss any connections, as this was our final destination flight.  (Notice how understanding I am being?) So, after a few hours of standing near these automatic trash compacting contraptions that are plugged in every 10 feet or so, we boarded the plane and headed for Nashville. This was a pleasant flight with a lot of cool air coming out of the overhead a/c so I was a happy camper. Or so I thought I was until the Captain kept telling us to expect turbulence from the storm surrounding the Nashville area. There never really was much turbulence to speak of, but since he kept speaking of it, there were a few green people on board. Go figure! We arrived in Nashville almost an hour late. Little did I know at the time, this was just the beginning of things to come.

Well, the Delta saga will continue but I have decided to write about my trip in chronological order so you will have to keep checking back to hear more about my adventures in Tennessee first.

Do you know what they have in Tennessee that we don't have in California?  Varmits!!! And I think they live in something called a "Holler". What's a holler?

Travelin' to Tennessee

We are off to Tennessee tomorrow morning. I actually bought my tickets online through Travelocity and we will be traveling on Delta Airlines connecting in Atlanta. Believe it or not, I have never traveled on Delta and I am very excited to see what they have to offer. After all, since I plan to be a famous "Travel Critic" someday, I better start paying attention to detail while I am actually traveling. I usually use travel time to completely zone out, but this time everyone better be on their toes, because here comes Annie, the soon-to-be much feared Travel Critic. (Okay Jay, you can stop laughing now!!) My hubby calls me "Annie Ego", after the not so beloved food critic, "Anton Ego" from Disney's Ratatouille.

The main focus of the trip is to visit family in Nashville, but we will all be headed to the Great Smoky Mountains for some much needed R&R in a beautiful cabin in the woods. How cool is that? This is also going to be one of those trips where we try to implement our amateur photographic abilities and get some really great pictures. So, I am being told I will be out of touch this weekend as there is no Internet access available up at the cabin. We shall just see about that!!! Isn't there a Starbucks like every 100 feet now?

Disoriented Down Under

Part One of what might be an endless series......

As promised, here begins my Disoriented Down Under series on Sydney, Australia. I was hoping for a little assistance from my readers (especially the ones from Oz), but no one responded to my request, so I will just wing this and we will see how you like it. Once I actually get started, you may feel the need to participate after all.

Sculpture By The Sea

Along the coastal walk between Bondi and Tamarama, there is a one-of-a-kind outdoor art show called Sculpture by the Sea. This is Australia's largest annual free to the public exhibition of sculpture. 2007 was the 11th annual showing featuring over 100 sculptures from 18 different countries. Today I will share with you some of the extraordinary pieces of art that were selected to show in November of last year.

"G'day Mate"

These little tin men look like they are working hard.

                                             The artist calls them "Making our own way"

This is probably the best thing you can do to a Plymouth, if that is what it is.
The artist refers to it as "Mobile Home".

This is called "Tetrapus". Can anyone tell me what a Tetrapus is,
maybe it is a sea creature from Bondi Beach?

This is my all time favorite.It reminds me of the old sci-fi flicks of the 50's.

 

Two of the most colorful and appealing sculptures in this show are a "Ribbon" of flowers

that reminds me of the Wizard of Oz (no pun intended)

 

and finally "Where they fell" which looks like the coolest game of pick up stix ever!

For more information and a gallery of previous showings you can click on Sculpture by the Sea. 

International Fruit Cocktail Cake Day!!

I bet there is not one of you out there that has heard of this renowned International holiday. Well there is very good reason for that.....I made it up! Today is actually my mother's birthday (Everyone say Happy Birthday to Mom!). Her favorite cake in the world (I am trying to keep this travel related in any way I can) is Fruit Cocktail Cake and we try to make sure she has it for her birthday every year. So, today while baking this annually honored cake, I thought it might be a great idea to share it with you all. Some of you have probably heard of it or have made some rendition of it in your lifetime, but here is our version. I hope it becomes a part of your family like it did mine.

Fruit Cocktail Cake

1-1/2 cups sugar
2 eggs
1/2 cup veg oil
2 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons baking soda
15 oz. can fruit cocktail and juice

Beat together cake ingredients, then add fruit cocktail and juice. Mix well. Bake in 13 x 9 greased and floured pan at 350 degrees for 40 - 60 minutes. (40 is usually enough for me - I am at 1100 ft and use a dark glass pan). Spread (pour) topping (see below) on hot cake.

Cake Topping

1-1/2 sticks of butter
1-1/8 cup sugar
3/4 cup evaporated milk

Cook 3 minutes (boil), then add:
1-1/2 teaspoons vanilla
3/4 cup of chopped nuts
3/4 cup shredded coconut