Next stop: Seattle (again)

Guess who's on the road again. Yup it's me Miss Journey, of course. This time I'm headed back to Seattle, and I've got a one-way ticket. A lot of people have asked why I would return to Seattle after just visiting about a month ago. My answer is "why not?" Honestly, I like Seattle. I've enjoyed myself on my last few visits, and I'm so curious about what else it has to offer. It didn't take much convincing when my friend proposed the idea of me accompanying her 8-year-old niece on the flight for her annual summer visit.

I swear that my friend secretly gets commission checks from Seattle's Tourism Development board because she is so determined to bring everyone to Seattle (and make them stay). I do have to admit that she does show me so much of what Seattle has to offer (probably all part of her tourism training lol) Now that she has convinced me to return with no return date for home, it's only true Miss Journey style to turn this into an adventure. Stay tuned!

Photo: I've always loved those HSBC ads that show the same picture with (as they call it) "Different Points of Value. "As we boarded the plane I saw the one seen here and said yup that's me.

Travel Tuesday: Go Solo

How many times have you wanted to do something but couldn't find anyone to do it with you? I have been there so many times that it has been my inspiration for creating the Her Journey Girls meetup. Although it can be frustrating at times, I have grown to appreciate how doing things alone has pushed me outside of my comfort zone of a number of occasions. I now have no problem doing things alone. I actually prefer it that way sometimes. Doing things alone can certainly open you up to a completely different experience.

In a recent article The Lost Girls address the topic of traveling alone as a woman. Although there are safety precautions that should be taken, solo travel can certainly be ultimately rewarding. The article shares some safety tips and tricks as well as resources for solo travelers. I enjoyed it so much that I thought I'd share. Click here to read the article.

Photo credit: http://us.cdn4.123rf.com/168nwm/paolo77/paolo771009/paolo77100900029/7793846-silhouette-of-a-stylish-girl-with-luggage-talk-on-her-mobile-phone--isolated-vector-illustration.jpg

Travel Tuesday: Deals

Just got a ticket for my friend's wedding (OW OW!), and I am considering a multi-city trip at the end of the summer. For anyone planning a trip in the next few months, check out AirTran's sale, which ends on May 20, 2010. They are offering some great deals.

Photo credit.

Travel Tuesday: Tips and Tricks

Double the Pleasure, Double the Fun

Layovers can be annoying, but not if you use them to your advantage. On a flight to Edinburgh, Scotland, I was stuck with a 13-hour layover in Dublin, Ireland. Instead of sitting in an airport for a very long day, I bought a day pass and hopped on a double-decker bus for some exploring (looking like Dora with my backpack). Embracing this adventurous and independent side of myself set the tone for an AMAZING trip. Also, on a recent trip to Minneapolis I chose a flight with an extended layover in Atlanta and met up with my college roommate for dinner, which was a great BONUS to my trip.

You can go as far as planning an overnight layover for a quick night out with friends in that city. For the price of one flight, a layover can upgrade your trip into a multicity journey.

Safety First

I also wanted to share this e-mail I just received from a friend:

You arrive at your hotel and check in at the front desk. When checking in, you give the front desk your credit card (for all the charges for your room). You get to your room and settle in.

Someone calls the front desk and asked for (example) Room 620 (which happens to be your room). Your phone rings in your room. You answer and the person on the other end says the following, “This is the front desk. When checking in, we came across a problem with your charge card information. Please re-read me your credit card number and verify the last 3 digits numbers at the reverse side of your charge card.”
Not thinking anything you might give this person your information, since the call seems to come from the front desk. But actually, it could be a scam of someone calling from outside the hotel/front desk. They ask for a random room number. Then, ask you for credit card information and address information. Sounding so professional that you do think you are talking to the front desk.

If you ever encounter this problem on your vacation, tell the caller that you will be down at the front desk to clear up any problems. Then, go to the front desk and ask if there was a problem. If there was none, inform the manager of the hotel that someone called to scam you of your credit card information acting like a front desk employee.

Photo source

Fun Foto!

I've been phototagged in this Blogger Pass-it-on Game by the Tica Tattleteller!



Aw man, I lucked out! I could not ask for a better pic to be chosen because this is one of my all time favorite photos. lol.

In the summer of 2006, I studied abroad: 2 weeks in Dundee, Scotland and 3 weeks in London, England, with a bonus: a weekend in Paris (a dream come true!). This picture was taken on 4th of July on the train in London. Even though we were MILES away from home, my friends and I felt it necessary to celebrate our country's holiday. On our way to an American hangout that we discovered we were more than excited, which is obvious from this pic. And this is only the beginning of the night...

And now I'm tagging:
Midtown Girl
Teljer in Malaga
SASSY
Life After College
Pink Heels


Here are the rules:

1. Open your 1st photo folder
2. Scroll to the 10th photo
3. Post the photo (no cheating) and the story behind it
4. Tag 5 or more people

Cash Monies Monday

As much as I enjoy the luxury of travel, I understand that one of the main obstacles of traveling is money. After reading Glinda Bridgforth’s Girl Get Your Money Straight, I realized that it just would not be right for me to promote traveling and living lavishly at the (literal) expense of your financial well being. From here on out it is my mission to also share ways to enjoy the joys of travel in a financially responsible way.

- Take advantage of rewards programs on debit and credit cards but don’t let them take advantage of you. Even though Bridgforth encourages them, she warns to not let the reward of a free flight lure you into a credit card agreement you can’t keep up with. It would be wiser to set up a rewards program with debit cards and get rewards for what you’re already doing without taking the on the risk of creating more debt.

-Being loyal can pay off, literally. Using frequent flier programs, you can earn free flights. A free flight made my most recent trip to Chicago that much sweeter. It’s a good idea to sign up with a few different airlines to give yourself options when looking for flights.

-Saving makes cents. Keeping your leftover change can really add up, and instead of the old school way of wrapping coins, TD Bank’s Penny Arcade is a fun little treat (you don't even have to have an account with them!). Bank of America’s Keep the Change program also allows you to do the same thing with debit card purchases. You can even take your savings strategy a step further, and make it a personal challenge like The Glam Globetrotter's $20-A-Day Vacay. If you need a little extra help, look into vacation savings accounts that only allow deposits.

-Give a little, get a little. With voluntourism on the rise, travel can be even more rewarding. For example, Sage Hospitality’s Give a Day, Get a Night promotion: “Give 8 hours of community service and get a complimentary night stay or 50% discount on hotel rooms at all 53 Sage hotels across the country; AND Disney's Give a Day, Get A Day promotion. You can even get paid to work abroad (more on that later).

Give me your two cents. What other ways do you overcome the financial obstacle of travel?

Image found at The Fabulous Giver, a great philanthropic blog. Check them out!

Chi Town Blew Me Away

Seeing the skyline from the plane (see pics 1-3), I was immediately excited about my first visit to Chicago. Driving through the city, I could definitely feel the old soul of the city and a sense of its rich history. With names like Oprah, Bernie Mac, R. Kelly and Kanye West associated with Chicago, I was excited to see firsthand what’s so special about Chi Town.

What captivated me most was the musical energy. Maybe I was on a high from Jade’s performance (pic 8), but it is undeniable that music runs through the veins of Chi town. I got a chance to see just how serious stepping is when we caught a steppers party letting out_with couples dressed to the nines, fully decked out in furs and hats. After catching a quick glimpse during one of our nights out, I’m slightly obsessed with footworking. Going along with specific footworking songs or house remixes of popular songs, the dancers move so fast it looks like they’re in fast forward. It looks unreal. Even thought I won’t be attempting that anytime soon, I did pick up a little two step.

Like the Waffle House in Atlanta or a diner in New York, Taco Burrito King served as the perfect after party meal. One chicken and one steak (the better of the two) taco was all it took to fill me before collapsing into bed and convert me into TBK fan. Next was FlatTop, my first build-your-own-stir-fry experience (pics 9-15). After conquering an overwhelming selection of sauces and veggies to add, I was more than happy with my creation: brown and white rice, noodles, bean sprouts, one edamame (out of curiosity), red and green peppers, chopped jalapenos, soy sauce, chili sauce, Asian BBQ sauce, FlatTop sauce and chicken, all topped with the most delicious pita bread. And I can’t forget my yummy Lava Colada. Of course no visit to Chicago is complete with trying the deep dish pizza, and I think we had one of the best. Our experience at Giordano’s was unforgettable (pics 35-43). Our waiter Leo was great, the pizza was delicious, and I fell in love with my drink, The Chocolate Runway. I also finished my trip with a chicken salad sandwich from Potbelly’s, which was like all the toasted goodness of Quizno’s mixed with the personalized deli touch of peppers and seasonings added to my liking.

As a wide-eyed tourist, I got to see the Sears Tower (which is now the Willis Tower), The Bean at Millennium Park (pics 20-29) and the Magnificent Mile on Michigan Avenue (pics 33-34). Because of the fog that covered the top of the tower (pic 31), we weren’t able to go up to the Sky Deck…next time! I also saw Navy Pier from a distance, got a recommendation for Garrett popcorn and heard good things about Flirty Girls. Of course the Oprah Store is a must see; all things on the to-do list for my next visit because this was definitely not my last.

Fun (Foto) Friday: Where in the World is Miss Journey?

Do you know where this is? Look out for a post about my latest adventure!

Her Journey Magazine Anniversary Issue

I am bursting with excitement to share the Anniversary Issue of Her Journey Magazine!

In This Issue

^{We’ll take you to:}

^*Trinidad and Tobago

^*Costa Rica

^*Chicago

Also visit us at:

www.herjourneymag.com

www.twitter.com/HerJourneyMag

www.facebook.com/HerJourneyMag

Why I Do This

Someone please tell me that I’m not the only one who falls asleep watching either Food Network or the Travel Channel almost every night. (Side note: I realized that food shows are mildly torturous because you are unable to share the experience with the two very important senses necessary to appreciate food: taste and smell, but I digress.)

I remember back when all Rachael Ray really said was “mmmmmm” on $40 a Day, and now she has her own empire, with a talk show, magazine, cookbook and other shows under her belt. I am always inspired by Top Chef, excited by Duff on Ace of Cakes, salivate at Guy’s Diners, Drive-ins and Dives, a little grossed out but intrigued by Andrew Zimmern and his bizarre food choices, held in suspense by Bobby Flay’s Throwdown, and somehow drawn into Adam's indulgences on Man vs. Food. The Best Thing I Ever Ate is my new favorite show. Various food experts discuss their life changing experiences with a specific type of food. It’s great! I admire all of these people for not only doing that they love but getting paid to do so, as we sit home and watch their every step.

So why can’t I do the same thing? I CAN! I may not have a cable channel team following me around, but I definitely have the passion for food and travel. All who know me know how much I savor and thoroughly enjoy each and every dining experience. They also know to expect that, at any time, I may happen to be in another time zone. Food and travel are the things and make my world go ‘round. They make me happy, and I want to continue to share them with you.

Here are a few clips for you to enjoy:

The chef’s reaction to Bobby’s Flay is one of a true Jamaican. LOL.

Mr. President fires up the grill

This is why I want Charm City Cakes to make me a cake:

I want one of these next year:

My mouth is watering already....mmmmm....: