CityPASS Giveaway - ENTER NOW!

The wonderful folks at CityPASS have generously offered to give away a pair of passes to one lucky STC reader. Use it on your next vacation or around your hometown. I love that you can skip the ticket queues and save a bundle on a whole slew of activities. I have talked about the awesomeness of CityPASS before and am thrilled to have a reader check it out for themselves. Choose from any of the cities if you win (sorry, the Southern California pass is not included in this giveaway) and hop from activity to activity for FREE! You're gonna love it!

Cities where CityPASS is available:

• Atlanta
• Boston
• Chicago
• Hollywood
• Houston
• New York
• Philadelphia
• San Francisco
• Seattle
• Toronto

Entries will be taken through February 29th and winner will be chosen and contacted on March 1. You will have 48 hours to respond before another winner will be chosen. Good luck!

Presidential Day Trips 2.11.12

Presidents’ Day is fast approaching and I know that many of you are wondering what to do with your three-day weekend. Not like you don’t have a million ideas for what you would like to do and then when you realize you can’t fit your whole list into just three days, you just decide to rent a movie and sit on the couch. I know the feeling. I do it many weekends, though I’m always planning a trip of some kind on the side or doing one of my many things off my to-do list to help you guys take fun and affordable trips. So, your “Woohoo! Three-day weekend!” isn’t followed by “meh…” and instead by “Let’s go do this awesome thing I read about…” Better, right?

I know Presidents’ Day doesn’t sound all that exciting, but since we can’t make every president’s birthday a national holiday – well, I suppose we could, but then no one would work half the year – we celebrate with the first president’s birthday, George Washington, on the third Monday of the month, which is almost never on his actual birthday. And, I should add, we throw in a bit of honor for our awesome 16th president, Abraham Lincoln, because he freed the slaves and was pretty amazing…and because his birthday is on the 12th, making it an easy tie-in. He may not be the father of our country, but he made the most of his years in office, which I think deserves quite a bit of credit.

If you aren’t plotting your course for hitting as many sales as you can next weekend, then possibly you would rather spend your money on something a little more enriching, like a trip that can be fun and educational (super for kids!). Today is all about things to do for fun and cheap in our nation’s capital: Washington, D.C. I have been there once, in my former years, and it was a disappointing trip all around. We drove from Virginia, mostly without stopping, only to get stuck in rush hour traffic and see very few buildings as we inched along at 3 mph. I did see the White House, but as there were renovations being done, the majority of it was covered in plastic. The next thing I remember was turning around and going back home. I didn’t even get to go to the zoo, which I distinctly recall being asked about before we left. You don’t want your trip to be like mine, and I hope that my next trip – which is something that will happen – is a lot more fun and I even get to get out of the car at some point!

Get half-price and discount theater tickets to performances at the Signature Theatre, the Kennedy Center, Folger Theatre, Imagination Stage and more. You can get them same-day or in advance.

Take a free tour of (some of) the White House. Get there early, though, because this is always a popular activity and wait times can be long. You might even catch a glimpse of Obama doing presidenty stuff: taking phone calls, concurring with people ideas, signing documents, wearing a suit, walking purposefully down the hall. Things like that!

Pay homage to our veterans who have passed on with a visit to Arlington National Cemetery. You can visit John F. Kennedy’s grave, along with Jackie O, their two children and his brother Bobby, the Unknown soldier and see the changing of the guard throughout the day.

Wish our 16th president Happy Birthday with a stop at the Lincoln Memorial. Then take a tour of the other famous stops in DC: the Washington Monument (closed for renovations due to earthquake damage), the reflecting pool, the Vietnam Memorial, the Thomas Jefferson Memorial, DC War Memorial, Eisenhower Memorial, Franklin D Roosevelt Memorial, U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, Women in Vietnam Memorial and a whole lot more. You could spend three days just visiting these sites. Go here for a map of the most popular and to start planning your trip.

Print out free walking guides for your trip. Almost 20 different guides are available, so whether you want to stroll the Botanic Garden or visit the Smithsonian, you are covered!

Save money and skip the ticket lines by purchasing a DC Power Pass. Valid from 1-5 days, it enables you to see Washington DC to the fullest. Over 20 attractions are included in your price as well as discounts for shopping. Passes start at just $64.99 and if you buy before day end on February 13th, you can receive 5% off!

About.com for DC has some fantastic solutions for dining on the cheap. For info, including addresses and phone numbers, view the whole list here. The following are local favorites, so you won’t be eating at Burger King or similar fast food venues. You’ll be saving money and eating like the locals do:

·         American City Diner

·         Baja Grille

·         Ben’s Chili Bowl

·         Bullfeathers of Capital Hill

·         Cactus Cantina

·         Capital Q BBQ

·         Couscous Café

·         Hanks Oyster Bar

·         Lauriol Plaza

·         Surfside Restaurant

·         Zorba’s Café

·       And if you’re looking for late-night dining: The Diner 2453 18th St NW Washington, DC (202) 232-8800 An upscale diner that’s open 24 hours.

Stroll along the C&O Canal. The Chesapeake and Ohio Canal used to be a waterway where goods were shipped to the Potomac River. Historic!

Ever seen an aquatic garden? Technically, it’s a marsh, but Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens sounds a lot better and prettier than Kenilworth Marsh. It’s the last natural marsh in Washington DC and you can see amazing water plants and flowers, as well as dozens of species of birds…and it’s all free!

Let someone else show you around the city with the Hop-on Hop-off Trolley. I’m dying to go on one of these and think that my next trip to a big city that has one at a reasonable price might be reason enough to hand over my hard-earned money. For $35 per person ($25 for kids) you can sit back and take pictures and listen to the narration, then get off and back on at any of the stops all day long. The ride covers over 100 points of interest and stops at 20 locations, including the White House Visitors Center and Ford’s Theatre. The full loop takes 2 hours if you don’t get off anywhere, but why wouldn’t you? Book your tickets before March 15 and get use of the trolley for three days instead of just one!

Here’s one to splurge on: Have you ever wanted to be a spy? I mean, like not get shot at and stuff, but be secretive and carry important information? The Washington DC Spy Tour will have you itching to get your hands on that Top Secret envelope full of the country’s secretest secrets! You’ll discover the city’s spy secrets, mysteries and deceptions on this tour and then take part in a secret “mission”. I’ve been dying to do this tour since I saw Samantha Brown do it on her Weekends show. Your $58.99 will also get you VIP admission to the International Spy Museum for more about espionage, traitors, gadgets and more…if you know the secret password! You even get to meet former intelligence officers. Awesome, right?

Even if you aren’t planning to travel to DC over Presidents’ Day Weekend, don’t forget that there are so many amazing things to see and do there for the next time you’re stumped for an affordable trip. Make DC your home base and then take day trips to Maryland or Virginia, too. But, for the love of travel, wherever you go, get out of the car!

Do you live in the DC area or have you vacationed there? What are your favorite tourist spots and eateries?

Pack Like a Pro 2.8.12

Ugh! Do you see the word packing and cringe? There are a lot of things about travel that can be annoying, but packing is one of my favorites. Of course, I know most people would be happy to have someone else do it for them. My husband doesn’t mind so much, but then he really never has to pack anything. At most, I make him pick some outfits that he wants to take, then they are miraculously at our destination. Lucky! Who else wishes this was your situation? I can’t personally come to each of your houses and show you what to bring and then pack it all for you. The best I can do is give you the best tips I have and wish you luck.

I’ve shown you how to whiz through airport security, but you have to get there first, and packing is one of those steps. It's not that difficult to pack light, but it DOES take some practice. You don't want to spend up to $70 for your bag to fly round-trip with you, do you? Just think what you could do with that money instead. (Need more convincing that less is more? Check out My Melange's 7 reasons to travel carry-on only.)

Start with your packing list. I like to make a master list and then fill in specifics for each trip (example: t-shirt - black and white stripe, sweater - teal 3/4 sleeve). Things like your necessities aren't going to change. You're always going to need underwear, shampoo, soap, toothbrush and so on. That will be the easiest part of your list. If you don't know where to start, then you can sign up for my newsletter. Starting this week, you will be able to link to downloadable packing lists only through the newsletter. It's free to subscribe to and there are some fun updates, too. Even if you have a good idea of what to pack after reading this post, it is always a good reminder and can help you to not overpack.

Okay, so you made your list of essentials. If you feel like your 3-1-1 bag could use some creative packing, you might check out my post on how to lighten up your toiletries and makeup selection for travel. Now what? Well, now you start finding clothing items that match and pack well. Lightweight fabrics that breathe and dry quickly will be wonderful travel companions. I especially look for items made with soy, bamboo or coolmax. They are odor-resistant, pack well and feel great. I love shopping Columbia Sportswear's outlet online, as well as REI and ExOfficio. I almost never pay full price for anything at any of these retailers, since I am not all that concerned with specific colors. Discontinued colors and styles go on sale often and you can save big on these. Backcountry has a great selection of all of the best "active wear" at full and reduced prices. These types of clothes are not cheap by any means, but they are more reasonable on sale and they are really well made and can last you a long time, even with everyday wear, making it a great value.

Look to take clothing within the same color palette, so you can mix and match tops and bottoms. I  take neutral bottoms and then more colorful tops that go with all the bottoms. Keep in mind that your shoes will need to match (unless you don't care), so if you are bringing brown ones, make sure you aren't bringing a bunch of black or gray clothing items. You get what I mean. You don't want to get there and realize nothing goes together. If all the tops will go with all the bottoms you bring, then you can make way more outfits with fewer pieces. For 3 bottoms and 5 tops, you can make 15 outfits! And yes, you will have to do laundry, but I promise it'll be fairly painless and you can do it in your downtime, which you need and making time to wash clothes will force you to take it at least once or twice during your trip.

Don't bring all your shoes. Bring two pair. Wear one pair on the plane and then  another, less bulky pair, can be packed in your carry-on bag with your clothing. Look for a really good pair of walking shoes and then a pair that will go with a dressier outfit that you can still walk comfortably in. You can find attractive "dress" walking shoes at places like The Walking Co, Born, Clarks and Aerosoles. Of course, there are plenty of other brands of shoes that are great. Find a good pair and then you'll be a lot happier when you're walking around for hours. Nobody wants ouchy feet while they're on vacation. I always throw a pair of flip flops in my bag, too, because they are handy for everything and take up hardly any space.

Accessorize! Make any boring outfit ready for a night out with accessories. Whether it's a bold chunky necklace, a great tie or even a fancy belt, you can make a new outfit in no time flat. It eliminates he need to pack extra clothes for a night out that you may or may not wear and saves space in your bag. Why pack a sparkly mini skirt or fancy dress that you will only wear once, when you can throw a cardigan and a couple shiny pieces over a tank top and look just as good...and probably be more comfortable?

Bring gadgets that do double duty, like an iPod touch, tablet or netbook. I love gadgets, but they can take up a lot of room in a bag. We swapped out our large laptop for a netbook and iPad for travel. Those two items take up about half the space and allow both of us to get online and check email. We can also play games, watch movies and read books. If you have a smartphone, you can use it as a GPS, send and receive email, look up bus schedules, make dining reservations and more. My favorite travel gadget is my iGo multi-charger. It charges all my electronics (accept for my netbook) with different tips, so I don't have to take nine different adapters and waste all that space in my bag. Even if I take the car adapter, it still takes up about the room of an apple. You can put it in a small case and stuff it inside a shoe.

This brings me to using the inside of your shoes for packing. It's wasted space otherwise. Shove socks in there, or your charger, fragile items on your way home and even a belt. I've used shoes for all these things and it works perfectly and makes room for other things in your bag...or just saves space for when you are returning home with more items. Tip: Don't put snacks in your shoes, unless you want them to smell/taste like feet!

Okay, now you've pulled everything together that you have on your packing list and you think you are good to go. Will it all fit in a carry-on? Of course it will! The best technique? Roll it! Not only will you be able to get more in less space, but it will also help keep wrinkles to a minimum. Any that don't fall right out when you unpack can be remedied by hanging up in the bathroom while you take your hot shower. Don't get excited about all that unused room in your bag, though. You will need some space for goodies you bring back, even if it's just a stack of brochures and menus.

Do you have any other packing light tips or have you been afraid to travel with just a carry-on?