Traveling USA

It’s hard to imagine when you’re stuck in rush hour traffic on the Washington Beltway or creeping bumper to bumper through the Baltimore Harbor Tunnel that the serene small towns of the Chesapeake Bay are just a short drive away.

Maryland’s Eastern Shore is far removed from the urban corridor of the Mid Atlantic coast. Its Southern roots run very deep. This was one of the areas first colonized by the British and its people embraced the bucolic plantation culture that thrived prior to the Civil War.

Those who remain there live close to nature and move at a slower pace. Much of the work, culture and recreation revolves around the dominating body of water we call the Chesapeake Bay. Here a just a few of the interesting places to consider for a Chesapeake Bay vacation:

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I love vacation rentals.?� I have a husband, 2 kids - and a couple dogs - so when we vacation it’s a moving department store/zoological park.?� We are dragging around the favorite bunny for sleeping, the special pillow, extra pup treats and the video games.?� That’s a bunch of junk to cram in your run-of-the-mill hotel room.?� Vacation Rentals are the perfect alternative - there’s plenty of room, you can cook breakfast (or throw donuts at everyone, including the dogs) so you dont have to get up at 7am while you’re on VACATION.?� Bonus points - they usually have a washer and dryer - and more than one TV.?� It’s like being at home - but you’re not!?� A vacation rental at the beach is a necessity - here’s why:

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Staying with a host family can be such a great experience, it’s hard to know how to thank your hosts properly.

Photo by Orin Optiglot

The best memories of my recent trip to Ecuador come from the family in Quito that graciously opened their home to me.

After nearly two months of traveling, home-cooked meals and real beds with clean sheets were just what I needed. Plus, my host-family had lived in Quito for decades and were eager to share their city with me.

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Like millions of others, I have been plotting my round-the-world journey and absolute cultural immersion for years.

Sometimes, a lengthy trip just isn’t possible. For various reasons (such as family commitments, financial priorities and other responsibilities), you may end up working the 9 to 5 gig. This means you are given a few fleeting vacation days off a year, often amounting to just two weeks. That’s 14 days out of 365 you can dedicate to venturing into the unknown.

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Planning a trip to Europe? You’ve got options beyond the traditional rail-pass.

Here are some practical, budget-minded tips about where to book planes, trains, boats, buses and automobiles when visiting the Old Continent.

Take to the Skies

You’ve probably heard of them by now; budget friendly flights are all the rage in Europe and offer some of the best deals when it comes to country-hopping.

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