The Window Seat

Home is Where the Birth Certificate is

Wed, 14 May 2008 06:17:33 -0600

Yesterday I was posed an interesting question by an acquaintance. After finding out that I was born and raised on Manhattan (that’s right ON Manhattan—it’s an island. See The High-Minded Highjacker), she asked a question she said she asks every homegrown New Yorker: at what point could she consider herself a New Yorker? One’s hometown is a big part of travel; it’s one of the first things people ask you about when they hear you’re traveling. After all, to be in transit, you have to be from somewhere.

Travel Advisory: Mind the Mooch

Tue, 13 May 2008 08:40:01 -0600

Travel mooching: many are guilty of it (I’m talking to those of you in the back, trying sheepishly to avoid eye contact). They take that trip to Prague with a friend whose brother lives there and can offer free accommodations; they show a keen interest in visiting those distant relatives with a house in the Hamptons; they call up that high-school classmate they ran into over the holidays to announce—surprise!—that they’re planning to visit the city, but man are hotels expensive. Sound familiar? Few of us have escaped: it’s hard to avoid the advances of a mooch.

Photo courtesy of IgoUgo member vondrejech

Cures for Post-Trip Depression

Mon, 12 May 2008 09:55:05 -0600

Is there anything more depressing than the trip home from the airport when you’ve just arrived back from a vacation? Besides the likelihood that I’m jet-lagged—and the fact that my homecomings always seem to coincide with midnight and rainstorms—for me, this leg of a trip marks the beginning of what friends have termed my “post-trip depression” period: two weeks of grouchiness characterized by statements like, “I think I want to move to [insert most recent destination here].”

Stargazing in Paradise: The ‘Imiloa Astronomy Center of Hawai'i

Fri, 09 May 2008 00:00:00 -0600

You may not be aware of this, but it snows regularly on the Big Island of Hawaii.

Yes, you read that right--at a staggering 13,790 feet, the dormant volcano Mauna Kea (“White Mountain” in the native Hawaiian tongue) dons a sparkling cap of snow in wintertime. (Its counterpart, Mauna Loa, does the same, although snow on the latter is less visible due to its more rounded peak.) Because of Mauna Kea’s unique assets, native Hawaiians have long considered it a sacred site.

Incidentally, the summit of Mauna Kea is also an ideal place for stargazing, given its height and remoteness from major cities. Hence, it now houses several of the world’s leading astronomical observatories. Native Hawaiian groups are displeased with these developments, protesting that the developments defile the sacredness of the site.

Photo courtesy of the 'Imiloa Astronomy Center of Hawai'i.

Weird Amusement Parks in America

Thu, 08 May 2008 00:00:00 -0600

I grew up in Florida so it's only natural that I was born with an innate love of bone-chilling, heart-pounding, hair-raising amusement-park thrills. But like most junkies, I eventually tired of the same old thing and went in search of new kicks. This is how I became obsessed with America's weirdest theme parks. Check out my top five picks below.

5) The Holy Land Experience - This theme park is a Vegas-style miniature version of certain sights in Israel. It boasts Judeo-Christian "thrills" such as the world's largest indoor model of Jerusalem, the Dead Sea Scrolls cave, and a faux-Jerusalem street market. But there are no rides, making this park lower on my list.

4) Dollywood - America's favorite buxom blonde has her own amusement park and it's a knee-slappin', foot stompin' good time. Only at Dollywood could you enjoy a sawmill-themed roller coaster, watch an "artisan" make soap, and then top off the day with some delicious meat on a stick. Dollywood is jolly good, y'all.

Podcast Episode 5: Cities

Wed, 07 May 2008 15:08:59 -0600

Welcome to The Window Seat Podcast!

In this episode, we're exploring some of the greatest cities in the world: New York, Los Angeles, London and New Orleans – after dark. You'll hear from New Yorkers about their favorite things to do in the city that never sleeps, see a movie in a Hollywood cemetery, find out where Londoners go for a night on the town, and get a tour of the French Quarter's lurid past.

Listen to the whole show: [26:40]

Download Episode #5: Cities (mp3) (right click and select 'save as')
Subscribe to The Window Seat podcast in iTunes
Or listen a la carte:

New York [6:59]

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Who knows New York City better than ... New Yorkers? A few Manhattanites reveal what they love about their city at night.

Los Angeles [7:14]

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After New York, Los Angeles is the most populous city in America, with nearly 13 million people – no wonder traffic is so bad! Locals on both coasts have a long-standing debate over which is better: New York or LA? When it comes to nightlife, both are heavy contenders – even if LA is notorious for shutting down at 2 a.m. Reporter Apryl Lundsten discovered there are still plenty of things to do in Los Angeles before last call.

London [6:09]

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London is a modern metropolis made up of dozens of picturesque villages – some as ancient as Canterbury Tales. Evolved from settlements and manor houses, these boroughs have turned into urban neighborhoods, bustling with nightlife. Reporter Laurel Moglen talked with a London travel expert to find out what Londoners do – after hours.

New Orleans [8:33]

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Known as the birthplace of jazz, New Orleans starts jumping as soon as the sun sets. Bourbon Street is more crowded at 9 p.m. than 9 a.m. – which is when most people are sleeping off the effects of a night of fruity drinks. If you've been putting off going to New Orleans since Hurricane Katrina, you should know that tourism has rebounded and most of the city's hot spots have reopened. Reporter Apryl Lundsten tours The Big Easy.

Trash Talk: Dealing with downright disgusting travelers

Wed, 07 May 2008 00:00:00 -0600

An article in the Wall Street Journal leads with this statement: You'll never look at, or reach into, an airline seat-back pocket the same after reading this.

The columnist goes on to describe a number of disgustingly horrific things passengers do on planes; things they would never do in most public settings. Let’s just say that after reading this, I’m operating under a strict BYOB policy. That is: Bring Your Own Blanket.

The truth is, there may not be much you can do to stop the bad behavior of other passengers, but there are some coping tactics that you can use to make the flight as enjoyable as possible. I talked to The Window Seat editors to get their tips on manufacturing some ambiance on your next flight, even if the guy next to you happens to be picking his nose.

2008 Summer Beach Reading

Tue, 06 May 2008 00:00:00 -0600

With Memorial Day weekend just around the bend, it’s time to start planning your summer beach reading list. Yesterday, the AP came out with a list of books that “blend food and travel,” including the appetite-worthy titles of Hamburger America and Clotilde's Edible Adventures in Paris, the latter of which the author blogged about here on TWS just last week.

As far as my list is concerned, I’ll kick off my summer with Zadie Smith’s White Teeth, which is my book club’s next selection, but beyond that, I’m not sure. Should I go with a Pulizter Prize winner, the best-seller list on the New York Times, or one of my friends’ picks on the book recommendation sharing web site Good Reads?

If you’re looking for a suggestion, here are five books I’ve recently read that I think will pair well with sandy toes:

Family Fun, A Natural Thing?

Mon, 05 May 2008 07:57:00 -0600

Richard Louv coined the phrase Nature Deficit Disorder in his book LAST CHILD IN THE WOODS and ever since I read about it, I've been thinking about how the majority of us are nature deprived; and as a result, in some way, suffering. How many times are you outside walking about but barely taking in the world around you? Have we forgotten how to truly see? Louv claims that in really seeing, and more importantly in experiencing and interacting with, nature we are more able to deal with the troubles that life hurls our way. He links ADD and ADHD among other symptoms that can be healed through more interaction with nature.

I got to thinking about how our vacations are our time (especially as adults) to stop and sniff the roses. It's how we recharge. But how many of us return from vacations exhausted? So my question is, are we getting that time? And Louv would contend that this issue is critical when we look at how families vacation because we must teach our children to embrace nature. For if we don’t, they will never develop an appreciation for and a commitment to nature. Without that, our environmental stewards will die off within just a few generations and the outlook for the world will be bleak.

I polled Travelocity’s travelers and asked them about how they spend time on family vacations to see what has changed over the past several generations. Here are the highlights of what I found.

Photo thanks to IgoUgo member Caromeow

DECISIONS, DECISIONS: HOW TO CHOOSE AN AIRLINE

Thu, 01 May 2008 00:00:00 -0600

I like knowing what I'm getting into. Before I eat at a restaurant, I check out Yelp for reviews. Before I head to a new destination, I devour anything I can find about it on IgoUgo. And before I fly---or often before I even choose a carrier to fly with---I browse Skytrax.

The concept of Skytrax is pretty simple: it's like any other review site, but the subject matter is all air travel, all the time. Along with constantly updated reviews of pretty much airline you've ever heard of---and many, many you haven't---there are hundreds of reviews of airports (will you make that connection in Miami? is there anything decent to eat at JFK?) and even airport lounges, for those of us lucky (or swanky) enough to be invited into them.

Summer Travel on a Budget

Wed, 30 Apr 2008 08:34:57 -0600

Today on Live at 9 in Memphis, I talked about what travelers can expect this summer and how to stay on budget amid rising fuel costs and added fees. Travelers can expect two things for sure: higher airfare and crowded planes. The high cost of fuel is one of the main factors driving up summer airfares, so to stay on budget, travelers are going to have to be smart and find other ways to save.

One way to find a great deal is to try booking at the last minute. Since last minute travel inventory is unpredictable, this option is ideal for people who know they want to get away for a long weekend, but who don’t have their hearts set on a particular destination.

Get Outside & Play

Tue, 29 Apr 2008 06:00:00 -0600

This week, I’m visiting local TV stations to raise awareness of a looming generational crisis: nature-deficit disorder. A term coined by Richard Louv, author of Last Child in the Woods, this “disorder” isn’t a medical diagnosis, but a description of the “human costs of alienation from nature,” he writes. In his book, he recalls fond memories of being outdoors: hiking deep into the woods where he climbed trees and felt the exhilaration of nature swarm around him. In one powerful statement he divulged that “nature was my Ritalin.”

Airline Fees: What You Need to Know Before You Take to the Skies

Tue, 29 Apr 2008 04:45:02 -0600

It started with US Airways, and quickly snowballed into an industry-wide trend. Beginning in May, no longer will you be able to check two pieces of luggage free of charge. Six major airlines – American Airlines, Continental, Delta, Northwest, United, and US Airways – will all charge $25 for passengers to check a second bag. Several smaller carriers – Air Canada, Alaska Air, Air Tran, and JetBlue among them – have enacted similar policies.

Travelocity’s FAQ page is constantly updated with the details of each policy.

When Vacations Don’t Go Exactly As Planned

Tue, 29 Apr 2008 00:00:00 -0600

Let’s say you get the flu as soon as you step out onto the beach. Or, your romantic hotel room is right next to a family with screaming toddlers. Often, you can find hidden opportunities in these small tragedies. Maybe the flu that keeps you inside also keeps you from getting sunburned like the rest of your family. Or, the screaming toddlers later befriend you in the hotel pool and you spend a giggle-filled afternoon seeing the world through their eyes.

Just over three weeks ago, my friend Brooke and I set out from Denver for a Vail vacation. Brooke and I have known each other since college at U of M, and we spent much of the nighttime Rocky Mountain drive catching up with one another. One minute, we were laughing and reminiscing, and the next minute we hit a spot of black ice, lost control of the car, smashed into the left guardrail, spun across the interstate in circles, got hit by two other cars, and finally landed front impact in a snow bank. We were stunned, terrified, badly banged up and bruised, and very lucky to be alive.

Obviously, this wasn’t supposed to happen.

The Keepers of Local Color

Mon, 28 Apr 2008 09:53:26 -0600

Every city has its characters. They’re the eccentric local fixtures whom everyone knows by name; they’re the self-appointed representatives of their cities’ imaginations; they amuse and sometimes frighten tourists; to encounter them anywhere outside their cities would be difficult, if not impossible, to imagine. In my eyes, they’re the lifeblood of a city’s local color—encountering them, knowing them, and occasionally spotting them around town make me feel more at home in a city than anything else.

Photo courtesy of IgoUgo member alex_nyc