Where Your Memorial Weekend Can Take You

This long weekend is already predicted to be the most crowded on the road in the last 12 years. An estimated 39 million travelers will be hitting the highways to get to their destinations this year. Gas prices aren't any cheaper than the last few years, but the general good economy is getting people out of the house, so be prepared. That said there will also be a lot of people who are facing break-downs and flat tires, so make sure you've gotten your car checked out and you have roadside assistance on-hand for your trip.

While a lot of people use the long weekend to get away and bond with family, there are some people that are hoping to travel child-free, and not just people like me who don't have children. Short trips can be a good way to reconnect with your partner and take a break from being a parent and get you excited for taking that longer vacation with your child(ren) and discovering new, fun things with them.

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A lot of us already have big plans for vacations later in the year, so splashing out a bunch of cash for a long weekend isn't always in our budget. Luckily, it looks like there will be a lot of deals this year, which can be found on Priceline. There are also a lot of ways to skip the flights and take an awesome road trip, but here are 12 destinations that are really budget-friendly, no matter how you choose to get there:

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Boston

Learn about the country's history, with fantastic shopping and seafood dining options. Last-minute deals can take 45% off regular rates, allowing you to visit for much less than other times of the year. If you're looking for things to do, check out this post.

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Cancun (Mexico)

Not only do you get the benefit of cheap food and proximity to the ocean, Cancun hotel rates are halved this time of year, and there are so many things to do outside of laying on the beach and getting sunburned. (Seriously, apply and reapply or you'll never want to go back to Mexico.)

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Catalina Island

When I was younger, I took several trips to Catalina Island off the coast of California. It's a great place to get a small town feel and oceanside accommodations. Hotel rates fall over 50% between May to October, when you can expect to pay under $100 per night, including the ferry ride to the island from Long Beach.

Hawaii

Airfare sales can be found to Hawaii right now and Memorial weekend kicks off summer sale rates for hotels, which can be found as low as $79 per night. Need tips on what to do or where to go? I've got tips for visiting Molokai, Maui or Honolulu.

Las Vegas

As long as you don't gamble away your savings in the casinos, you can totally make a trip to Sin City cheap. Rates at the MGM Grand can run you under $100 per night, and you can spend less at a less-luxurious hotel. Not sure how to keep your money in your pockets? Here are free and cheap ideas and what you can do if you have kids in tow.

New Orleans

The Big Easy has just gotten over the crowds from Mardi Gras and Spring Break. That means it's clamoring a bit for tourists. You can book a hotel for around $129 per night or fin an Airbnb deal for similar (or less). Worried you won't be able to find anything to do besides drink? You'll be treated to parades and here are some other inspiring ideas for how to spend your time there.

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New York City

While you don't normally think of The Big Apple as a budget getaway, prices drop for Memorial weekend. It won't be super cheap, but $159 per night for a 3-star hotel is a deal that won't totally break the bank.

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Orlando

Theme parks are certainly going to be busy over the holiday weekend, but there are tons of things to do in Orlando that aren't Disney World, plus room rates can run you just $100 per night. If you want ideas for what to do in the area, check out my Orlando Pinterest page.

Phoenix (and Scottsdale)

Arizona isn't at the height of its hot temps in May, making it an ideal vacation destination. Get amazing hotel rates or spend a little extra for a luxury resort that may be offering up to 40% off. There are a lot of cool things to see and do there, and tons of delicious Mexican food, too.

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Riviera Maya (Mexico)

It's heating up in Mexico, and maybe you're ready to get a little sun worshipping into your life. Between May and the end of October, you'll face smaller crowds and room rates. Look to spend an average of $80 per night and pack your sunscreen, bathing suit and sunglasses.

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San Francisco

This may seem like a really expensive destination, but if you look for hotels in the Union Square area, you can find rates as low as $112. Find awesome, and affordable, things to do there using this 48 hours post.

Washington, DC

See our nation's capital for less. Once the cherry blossoms fall in April, tourism drops off, so lodging prices drop as well. You can find great deals in May for as low as $69 per night. There are so many free things to do in the city, that you could easily only pay for food each day. Need some ideas? Check out my post from our last trip.

Where will you be spending Memorial Day? I'll be staying home this year and probably firing up the BBQ.

My Portland Coffee Tour - Part 13

Hey! It's that time again and it also means April has come and is almost gone. I don't know who the days just seem to fly by, but there it is. That just means it's that much closer to Summer. Woo! We had a whole week of warm weather here in Portland and now we're back to the 50s and rainy. Joy. 

Just because I didn't make a post for my coffee tour in March doesn't mean my life was coffee-less. I just tended to hit up the Dutch Bros drive-thru, grabbed a cup at Starbucks, or made my own at home, because I didn't have time to get out and enjoy a leisurely cup in a dedicated shop. Anyway, let's look at the first 3 coffee shops I hit up this month (because I had to make up for my slacking last month).

Oracle Coffee Co.

I've been meaning to get out to Oracle for quite some time, and I had a nice Sunday morning where I just drove out to the waterfront to try them out. I found them on Instagram, like I find a lot of shops near me, and I was not disappointed. This well-lit and welcoming shop serves up drinks made with oatmilk and mostly vegan treats. This was the first time I have ever had oatmilk and I am in love with it. The shop is dog-friendly, and I saw several patrons come and go with their pups, since this is in the middle of a neighborhood.

After some discussion, I settled on the Flapjack Latte ($5) and an onion Bowery Bagels bagel with Tofutti cream "cheese" ($3.50). This is also the first time I've tried Tofutti, but I was pleasantly surprised by how like cream cheese it was. My bagel was delicious, despite my thinking that I didn't get enough spread. It was the perfect amount. My latte had a delicate maple flavor and the oatmilk made it less acidic, in my opinion. I greatly enjoyed the flavor combo and the nice smooth coffee they pulled for me. 

Since Eric didn't come with me, I decided to grab a treat for him, so sorry that you get a weird inside-the-bag shot here. This is what they call a Phillycake ($3.50). It's homemade by Shoofly Vegan Bakery and is, essentially, a yellow cake, topped with peanut butter, and then coated in chocolate. It was not what I expected, but the bite I had was really yummy and definitely worth the price. It can be hard to find great vegan food, albeit, not in Portland, so this shop is definitely a gem with reasonable prices in that regard. I can't wait to go back and try something else.

 

Palio Dessert & Espresso House

I wanted to love this place, but it took me too long to find it, even with GPS, and then I wasn't impressed once I got there. Perhaps I made the wrong choices, since a friend raved about their desserts and their giant coffees. She DID just get a drip coffee, so maybe that's it. The shop is adorable though and has a cute little European feel.

Palio has different rooms and little cozy corners. I especially love the little reading nook and the employee was super nice. I ordered the special, which was a Vanilla Rose Tea Latte ($5.75) and a salted caramel cupcake ($3.50) that I didn't have heated up, which may have been a mistake.

My latte was ginormous! Like, the size of my head. It was beautiful, to be sure, with the tea bag settled on the side. Even with no coffee in it (another mistake of mine), it didn't have much of a flavor. It sort of tasted like a vaguely flowery marshmallow, but not a good marshmallow. I made it 2/3 of the way through before I just gave up. The cupcake was good, but was super dense and beside the top, wasn't the most enjoyable. I'm not sure I would have liked it more heated up. It had the consistency of a brownie, but on the plus side, it was too sweet, so there's that. I'd be willing to try again and order different items from the menu, but it's not on the top of my list.

Cellar Door Coffee Roasters

Not too far away from Palio, I found Cellar Door (Google maps is the best sometimes). I went there second, because I knew they had actual food and figured that would be better after sweets than before. You could tell this is a staple of the community based on the outside and I was excited to go in.

I asked for a recommendation and the barista said he prefers a cappuccino, because it has a bolder coffee flavor. After Palio, this sounded perfect, so I ordered a cap with regular milk ($3) and a plain Black Heart bagel with cream cheese ($2.50). Not only did they spread the cream cheese for me, but they gave me twice as much as most other places for cheaper. It was the best. I was also shocked by the low prices, as it turned out to be about 40% less than what I had just paid. 

The barista was not incorrect recommending the cappuccino to me. It was delicious and perfectly made and so, so tasty. I already plan to return when I can, because YUM.

Cellar Door isn't large, but the shop is welcoming and the employees are wonderful. You can tell they enjoy what they do and engaging with customers. The shop has local artwork up on the walls and they offer up few, but tasty food options. They also roast their beans onsite in the basement, which is where the name comes from. This coffee gem should absolutely be on your list if you're anywhere near them in Portland.

I'll save my next three shops for my next post, but you can see all my coffee stops in real time (and see my opinion and ask questions) by following me on Instagram. Where are your favorite coffee shops located?

10 Ways to Stay in Shape While Traveling

When you’re out and about flitting from tourist attraction to subway station to lunch, it’s hard to keep up with your diet and exercise regimen. Even though you’re out walking all day, and it may seem like you’re getting a lot of exercise, you’re probably also eating a lot of high-calorie and fatty foods that pretty much negate all the good you're doing with the walking, hiking and stair-climbing. Those extra pieces of cake and pie for dessert aren’t helping either. Contrary to popular belief, calories do count on vacation, as much as you wish they didn’t. So, if you want to stay on track and earn those meals, you might want to add additional exercise to your vacation itinerary.

Get outside

I love to be outdoors when I travel. It’s the best way to see your destination, so why not get out a little more and burn extra calories?

• Go running – You’re going to bring along a pair of walking shoes anyway, so why not make them running shoes that are also good for walking. If you run at home, then keep your routine set and get up early to run around the block or the hotel grounds.
• Jump rope – This is an easily packable item and gets you great exercise anywhere you have some extra room. Not just little kids love to jump rope. It’s fun and helps you tone and keep in shape. Make sure you buy a nicely weighted one that will stand up to the rigors of the road.

Make your lodging your gym

You walked all day yesterday, but you got up early in order to watch the news or eat breakfast in your room. As much as you know you should put on your workout clothes and hit the gym, the thought of looking presentable just doesn’t sound appealing. You aren’t alone. While you’re waiting for your bagel to toast or you’re listening to the weather report, you can take advantage of the floor space in your room to get in a quick workout.

• Chair crunches – If you have a chair, you have a low-impact gym. Work your abs by sitting on the edge and pull your legs up or pump your legs as if you are riding a bicycle.
• Do lunges – You’ll feel a lot less awkward doing them in the privacy of your room than out in public, too.
• Calf raises – Do these anywhere, like while you are brushing your teeth, making oatmeal or waiting in line to get into the Louvre (for bonus exercise points).
• Resist – Pack a resistance band (or set) in your carry-on and do more strenuous workouts in the time you have available. There are also fancy loop bands you can use to strengthen your legs/thighs.
• Boxing – You don’t have to bring along full gear and a punching bag, but a pair of weighted gloves is a fabulous way to tone your arms and legs. Bring along a DVD to pop into your laptop or just search for a few good training videos on YouTube.

Use what’s available at your accommodation

Your hotel or rental property might have some useful ways to help you work out. If the weather cooperates enough to be outside, then you’re in luck.

• Go for a swim – Almost all hotels have a pool. Pack your swimsuit and you can get in some laps. If a fancy indoor pool is available, then you can swim if the weather is uncooperative.
• Use the stairs – Walk or run up the stairs to your room and you’ll start to feel the burn. Generally, the stairwell is pretty private, so you also won’t be disturbing others if you are up early or late doing this.
• Go for a run – Not close to a park or afraid to go out running in unfamiliar terrain? Strap on your running shoes and do laps around the hotel. Chances are it is surrounded by a parking lot and/or sidewalks that make it easy to get your strides in.

Keeping up with an exercise routine when you travel will keep you motivated to continue doing it at home, even if it takes you a few days to get back into your healthy eating habits. You’ll feel better about yourself and might even add to your regular workouts.