Top 3 Strategies for USA Travel

Chess Table

Travelers, here are my Top 3 Strategies for USA travel.  The payoff was big for a summer week in Vail, Co.  These strategies apply for business, leisure, and (combined) bleisure travel.  Travel these days is a bit like a chess game but the rewards are greater! #1 Book One Way Air Reservations I only book […]

Summer in Vail, Colorado is “Like No Place on Earth”

Sitting on a Rock at Booth Falls

Vail’s moniker “like no place on Earth” is fitting for this Colorado town.  Although it’s better known as a top rated ski resort, the summer experience, in my book, beats winter by a landslide.  For that reason, we head to Vail one week or more every summer for a little piece of Rocky Mountain heaven. […]

This Amazon Prime Packing System Prevents Travel Nightmares

Carry-On Suitcase & Personal Item

Carry-on luggage has been my go to method for business, leisure, and bleisure travel for 20+ years.  My system is pictured above.  This Amazon Prime Packing System prevents many travel nightmares, which are more the norm these days, versus the exception.  Recommended travel products at TravelToolsTips.com include, for example, bags, chargers, and adapters, and include […]

SAVANNAH GA IS A HISTORICAL TREASURE

Forsyth Park Fountain

Conde Nast readers included Savannah in the Best 8 Small USA Cities list in 2021.  It’s been on my watch list for a long time.  A scheduled work conference in nearby Atlanta triggered a great escape for forty-eight hours in Savannah’s Historic District in the Fall of 2021.  Good to Know Savannah is a coastal […]

Asheville NC is a Time Capsule of the Best Kind

Blue Ridge Mountains at Craggy Pinnacle Trail

Asheville’s nickname “Land of the Sky ” is fitting for this North Carolina town, along with its other monikers “Paris of the South” and “San Francisco of the East”.  Travel and Leisure named Asheville in its 50 Best Places to Travel in the World in 2020.  That got my attention, sweetened by a short nonstop […]

Hyatt’s Carmel Valley Ranch Takes the Gold

Doodles & Cows at The Corral

Pickleball was the carrot that got us to Hyatt’s Carmel Valley Ranch for a four night stay. What we discovered was a gold mine filled with outdoor activities and animals of every flavor.  This place gets recorded in my top three USA favorite destinations, taking the podium with Nantucket, MASS and Vail, CO, and earns […]

Sailing the Caribbean on the Celebrity Edge Cruise Ship

Celebrity Edge Cruise Ship

One week cruising on Celebrity offered a change of scenery, plus stops at two never visited Caribbean islands, St. Thomas and St. Martin.  Expectations were reset.  The cruise industry was firing back up after the COVID shutdown. The Celebrity Edge, our vessel, was the first cruise ship to resume travel in the USA, just one month […]

Camp Rosemary Beach Gets My Vote

Biker Near Rosemary Beach Sign

Visits to 30A in Florida are a family tradition that started 5 years ago.  This year, with international journeys on hold, two weeks were assigned to 30A, and Rosemary Beach is where we landed.   Good to Know Rosemary Beach is located in Florida’s panhandle on the Gulf of Mexico.  It’s referred to as the Emerald […]

Fredericksburg, TX for the Perfect Weekend Getaway

Bluebonnets

Fredericksburg is an ideal weekend getaway in the Texas Hill Country, and is an easy drive from most Texas cities.  Wildflowers bloom March – May, plus there are abundant draws all year long. Good to Know Weather Atlas provides average rainfall and temperatures.  Take a look.  Temps get high during the summer months June-September.  Another […]

Starry-Eyed for Scottdale & the Andaz Resort

Andaz Hotel Buggy

A long weekend in Scottsdale was born out of a renewed focus on exploring USA spots, popular for hiking.  A quick nonstop was also a must.  Good to Know Scottsdale is in the Sonoran Desert.  Avoid June – Sept when Scottsdale highs are at or over 100 degrees.  If you are extremely sensitive to heat […]

Palm Springs Earns a Spot on the US Bucket List

Conner & Barry Family at Joshua Tree

National parks have skyrocketed in popularity, and Joshua Tree National Park is in the lineup.  Palm Springs, the nearby town, has become a draw for travelers other than retired golfers or LA weekenders.  A last-minute flight was booked to see what the buzz was all about.  Five days flew by.  Palm Springs is exceptional, and […]

Super Side Trips along the Orange County PCH

Orange VW Van on Beach

Laguna Beach is a great place to drop your bags when spending time in Orange County, CA.  Huntington Beach, Dana Point, and Balboa Island are divergent stops that offer great half-day trips from Laguna Beach, along the Pacific Coast Highway (PCH). Editor’s note: This article has been updated with current information (April 23, 2021). Huntington […]