Travel is Good for Your Health

I'm not going anywhere this holiday season. Luckily, almost all our family and friends live close by, so we can see everyone pretty easily through Christmas and New Year. We also feel like using your hard-earned vacation days (and budget) to visit family doesn't really count as a real vacation. When you only have finite dollars to spend on trips, you have to pick an choose carefully. Go visit your aunt and uncle in Ohio or take that cruise to Mexico? You can justify a trip to Ohio by also seeing the sights only so many times before you start to feel regretful that you don't go somewhere you want to go. So, if you haven't been on a real trip lately, start planning one now, because not only is it fun, but it is also good for your health.(Maybe your aunt and uncle can meet you there.)

Now you know, I'm a big believer in traveling no matter how much money you have. Budget for it and go somewhere, preferably somewhere you haven't been before. You can't make excuses anymore, because you can argue that travel is good for you and your health. Once I get on a plane, I feel like I can finally breathe deeply. It relaxes me and starts me off on a clean slate when I get back home, so I feel recharged and renewed. How does travel make you feel?

Stocking Stuffers and Email-Worthy Gifts

So, you're still working on your gift list for the holidays and you've run out of ideas or have no idea what to get for the people who don't live nearby? Well, you're in luck It's not too late to stuff stockings, buy real gifts on a budget or buy for far away friends and family. If you missed my main gift list, go check it out first. Remember that though Amazon doesn't wrap gifts, they will put a nice note in the box for the recipient, and if you're a Prime member, shipping is free or super cheap.

Turn their phone into an awesome(r) camera with cell phone lenses. This kit from Photojojo works on iPhones and other brands of mobile while it lets travelers take all kinds of funky pics, like through a fisheye lens.

Give them a personalized tour with the Anywhere Travel Guide deck of cards, which inspires creative traveling wherever you go. You could even use it in your own hometown.

By now, you probably already know that I love games and I love one more than all others when I travel, because it's cards, it's fun and it can be played anywhere. I'm talking about Fluxx. We have three different versions, which can be played together or alone. We even got our friends to play when we had a recent game night an it was big laughs. It's easy to learn and it's never the same game twice, plus you can get them with different themes. We have original Fluxx, Monster Fluxx, and Zombie Fluxx. I think Holiday Fluxx might be next on my list.

Kids love games, too, especially board games (in my experience). While it's not always feasible to pack up the Game of Life or Sorry, there are always the travel versions of some games and then there is this fun little board game that fits in your carry-on. It's called Zombie Kidz and it is easy to play and fun for all ages. Eric and I own it and it employs simple strategy and teamwork to win.

It's always nice to have a drink on hand and when you're expending so much extra energy out traveling then it's imperative to keep hydrated. The Vapur Water Bottle collapses when it's empty, making it easy to carry and ensures you always have a bottle on hand to fill up wherever you go. It rolls up to fit into your pocket and also has a clip on it to hang on your day bag or belt loop.

3-1-1 bags can be a pain to deal with, but Travelon has some great ones that I use and totally recommend. The one quart plastic toiletry bag is sturdy and last way longer than your zip-top bag you are probably using, plus it comes with travel-size bottles and jars. The wet/dry bag comes in fun colors, has travel bottles and allows you to keep everything in one bag, plus it's TSA approved. One side is your 3-1-1 bag and the other side holds your other toiletries. Get something in between the two with the Deluxe one quart bag. It is basic, but trimmed in color and comes with a set of bottles and jars, too.

 

Give them the gift of cheaper travel with copies of my ebooks right to their inbox. Do they often travel in summer? Get them my Secrets of Summer Savings ebook. If they more often travel during the holidays, you can purchase How To Survive Holiday Travel on a Budget. they are so affordable, you can even buy both for the rabid traveler.

Know someone who goes on a lot of long plane rides? help them keep the blood circulating in their legs/feet/toes in style with a pair of compression socks like these from Sockwell. If, like me, they have swelling problems even from long days of walking, they will think you're a travel angel. 

Wearing shoes on the plane can be the worst and totally confining. Nobody wants to put their bare feet on the dirty floor though...and nobody really wants to see you without shoes, no matter how pretty your pedicure is, in such close proximity. Nufoot makes these awesome Neoprene slippers that are like shoes, with the comfort of socks. They have slip-resistant grips on the bottom (for when you are traipsing around your hotel room and lobby for continental breakfast) and are antibacterial, too.

Keep all your delicious travel snacks together and looking scrumptious in the Bentgo Bento Box. Not only will it keep your fruits, veggies and homemade granola bars from getting all squashed in your bag, but it also comes with utensils if you happen to pack something that needs a fork or spoon. 

Don't you hate it when your phone runs out of battery in the middle of the day and you want to call someone or look up a restaurant address? Yeah, me too. Everyone does. The HALO portable battery pack can charge your phone twice, but it also charges anything else that uses an iPad, iPhone or mini USB tip, like your iPod mini. I carry mine with me everywhere I go and it has come in handy quite a bit. They're fun too, because you can get them in different colors an patterns.

Hopefully, this helps you complete your holiday gift list for the traveler on your list. What are some of your favorite travel gifts to give? 

A Beer-Lover’s Guide to Minneapolis

Traveling to Minneapolis in the winter? While some may call you crazy, it can be a perfect time to visit. The city may be cold, but there are lots of things to do that are indoor if you aren’t into playing in the snow. Keep warm by hitting up the local breweries and taste-testing handmade beers and ales without spending a ton of money.

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Surly Brewing Co.

Take a tour of Surly and learn how the beer is made and the story of the brewery. At the moment, tours are only running on Saturdays for a limited amount of people, but a new brewery is scheduled to open and then the more frequent tours will be available. Head into the Beer Hall for some great food and affordable brews. Sample a few of the funky named beers on tap: Coffee Bender, Cynic Ale, Surly Furious, Witch’s Tower, Abrasive Ale, Over Rated! and more.

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Town Hall Brewery

Purchases of malted barley and grains from all over the world enables Town Hall to make 5 standard beers and around 40 seasonal beers throughout the year. The brewing is the work of many dedicated staff brewers who strive to make the best beer possible. While you can get some good grub here, you’ll want to try at least one of their signature brews: Dortmunder Local, Masala Mama IPA, Hope and King, Black H2O Oatmeal and West Bank Pale Ale. There’s something for everyone’s taste, from full-body and malty to light and zesty.

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Fulton Brewery

If you’re hoping to get a tour here, you must sign up in person at the brewery for one of the few spots on the weekly Saturday tours. The taproom is generally only open Wed-Sat, so make sure to check the calendar before your visit. You won’t find any food here. The beers on tap rotate, plus the brewery makes their own soda, including blood orange mint and citrus ginger ale. The usual suspects found year-round at the taproom are Lonely Blonde, The Ringer and Sweet Child of Vine. A Winter seasonal (December through February) is the deep, dark Worth Adversary. Depending on when you visit, you can try one of the varieties of the Garage Series, the experimental alcohols from the Fulton “lab”.

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Harriet Brewing Co.

For evening live entertainment and a cold beer, this is your spot. Save $1 off all on-tap brews during happy hour or book a 30-minute brewery tour on Wednesday evening or Saturday afternoon. They’re free! If you want a full tour, which lasts twice as long, with samples and Q&A, they are available by reservation (and $5 per person) on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Harriet specializes in microbrews with names like Sour Divine Oculust, Dark Abbey, Rauchfest, Luv Jus and Wodan Weizen. Definitely, there’s something for everyone. And did I mention the art? The tap room is covered in artwork from local artists.

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Dangerous Man Brewing Co.

This is a small craft brewery and taproom house in a former bank. They keep a continually rotation of beers on tap, with a choice of a dozen at any given time, as well as homemade soda, kombucha and cold-press coffee. Only closed Sunday and Monday, Dangerous Man offers plenty of bike parking (nice!) and right on the bus line (double nice!). They don’t serve food, but encourage you to bring your own, either from home or take-out. Here’s a sampling of what you might find on tap: Imperial India Pale Ale with lemon and mango flavor, thick and creamy Chocolate Milk Stout, House Rye IPA with slightly orangey notes and Peanut Butter Porter (‘nuff said, I think).

{Please drink responsibly and either walk or take a cab back to your hotel after sampling some beers. Look for a budget-friendly place to stay – either a hotel or vacation rental – on Hipmunk that is convenient to beer tasting and brewery tours.}

Disclaimer: This post was inspired by my partnership with Hipmunk - a great site to find low hotel rates wherever you travel. #hipmunkcitylove