WALL-E and Thoughts on Responsible Travel Plans

If you have kids, you know about WALL-E. And if you don’t, here’s a primer: It’s the latest movie made by Pixar, the folks who brought us Monsters Inc., Finding Nemo, and many other CGI movies that are great fun for children and adults alike. WALL-E is no exception. Get ready to stand in line, because every child in the United States is going to be begging to see this one. And hold onto your wallet, because the market is surely about to be flooded with adorable WALL-E tie-in products and toys. Isn’t that always the way?

But one thing you don’t have to do is brace yourself for an agonizing 2 hours of kiddie fare. WALL-E is a terrific movie, and the creative geniuses at Pixar have skillfully balanced a child-friendly story (with more screen time for cute robots than people) with an enjoyable, futuristic tale of how said robots help humans (living in outer space) reclaim their own lives. The underlying theme of the environmental degradation of our planet is, amazingly, not depressing: This is above all an optimistic film, with hopeful messages about the resourcefulness of “the little guy” (or ‘bot) and the importance of taking care of planet Earth.

That being said, there are real ecological problems on our planet here and now. We don’t have to go 700 years into the future to see entire cities of garbage and human refuse. How can the Traveling Mamas, fervent proponents of the joy of travel, promote an activity with such a huge carbon footprint? Easy – because we also reduce our carbon debt in various ways, and to varying degrees. And you can too.

Tips and Resources to Travel Green

Airplane travel is certainly the fastest way to get to distant vacation destinations; travelers can buy carbon offsets to support sustainable travel practices. I like Sustainable Travel International as a resource for purchasing carbon offsets that invest in clean energy and help offset CO2 emissions.

Here’s a tip from a great resource, the Rainforest Alliance: “Have a fun vacation and make a difference.” The Eco-Index Sustainable Tourism site is a listing service for approved tourism businesses that strive to conserve natural resources in travel destinations (and improve the livelihoods of local cultures nearby). The Eco-Index is also recommended by Traveling Mamas as a reliable resource.

The Rainforest Alliance itself is in itself a trustworthy resource for eco-travel. The Go Green SmartGuide to Sustainable Travel is recognized as a great source for information regarding hotels, restaurants, and other elements of the travel industry that help promote or operate with environmentally sound business practices.

If you’re taking a car trip this year (and with air fare the way it is these days, who can blame you?), consider switching your auto club membership to Better World Club. It’s a “green” alternative to AAA.

There are many ways to be kind to the Earth and still travel around it. The future represented in WALL-E is avoidable, after all. We don’t have to live in such disposable ways, in such a consumerist culture – the choice is ours. We can see the world and help keep it healthy.

US Airways to Start Charging for Soft Drinks and Water

Oh, we’ve followed the nickel- and dime-ing of the airline industry since we started Traveling Mamas in January. First it was Southwest Airlines charging for a third checked bag. Later we discussed American Airlines charging customers for travel pillows and making us pay a fee for a first checked bag (with United Airlines and US Airways jumping on that bandwagon yesterday).

But in addition to charging $15 for a first checked bag later this summer, US Airways said it will start charging customers for in-flight beverages. We’re talking no more free Diet Coke, coffee, tomato juice or bottled water.

In addition to current sales of alcoholic beverages on all domestic flights, US Airways will begin selling all non-alcoholic beverages (including sodas, juices, bottled water and coffee) in its domestic coach cabins for $2 effective Aug. 1, 2008. Alcoholic beverages will be available for $7 (currently $5). Complimentary beverages will continue to be served in domestic First Class, US Airways Shuttle flights, trans-Atlantic Envoy and trans-Atlantic economy class. Unaccompanied minors will also receive complimentary non-alcoholic beverages.

I just had to pick my jaw up from the ground after reading this. I’m so disillusioned.

But I guess it’s nice to know that if my kids ever travel by themselves, they won’t have to spend their hard-earned allowance on a cup of orange juice.

Bah!

Budget Travel: Discounts to Hawaii

The Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau is making it much easier on your wallet to book a vacation to Oahu, Maui, the Big Island, Kauai, Lanai & Molokai this summer.

Through partnerships with American Airlines Vacations, American Express Vacations, Classic Vacations, Expedia, NWA WorldVacations, Orbitz, Pleasant Holidays, Travelocity, and United Vacations, travelers can save at least $200 on vacation packages this summer – and often much more!

While the offers vary on the different islands and at various resorts, incentives include deeply discounted airfare, free hotel room nights, free meals, free rental cars, and free food and beverage dining credits.

HVCB has created a dedicated website listing all of the special packages at GoHawaii.com/summerfun. You’ll need to move quickly — for many of the deals, you must book by July 15.

Budget Travel: AffordableTours.com Cheap Vacations

Full disclaimer: I am employed by AffordableTours.com as a marketing copywriter. But I thought these vacation deals were too amazing not to share with Traveling Mamas’ readers, so here goes!

New LeisureScapes by AffordableTours.com vacation packages are targeted to folks (namely retirees) who have plenty of free time to travel. So, they’re not for everyone — or for families traveling with young children (kids over age 8 are welcome on these trips, and they receive a 10% land-only discount).

But if you have 13 to 22 days to spend in a warm-weather locale, and you don’t want to spend a ton of money, consider these escorted trips that include accommodations, transportation, daily breakfast, some additional meals, sightseeing, services of a tour director and more — for as low as $79/day!

The relaxed itineraries feature resort stays in southern coastal locations in Italy, Spain, Portugal and Croatia as well as tropical Costa Rica. A tour director is on hand for participants throughout their trip, and city sightseeing tours or other excursions are included in each overnight locale. There’s a ton of unscheduled time for travelers to soak up the local culture on their own, participate in optional excursions (for an additional fee) or relax at resort accommodations.

Here are the seven LeisureScapes vacations (prices are land-only; air-inclusive is also available):

• Italy: Rome & Sorrento, 15 days, $1,630 ($109/day)
• Italy: Rome & Sorrento, 22 days, $2,300 ($105/day)
• Italy: Sicily, 15 days, $1,675 ($112/day)
• Portugal: Estoril Coast & Algarve, 15 days, $1,390 ($93/day)
• Spain: Costa del Sol, 18 days, $1,600 ($89/day)
• Croatia, pictured above, 15 days, $1,180 ($79/day)
• Costa Rica, 13 days, starting at $1,339 ($103/day)

All of the Europe trips depart November 2008 to March 2009; Costa Rica trip is available year round.

For more details, call 800-721-8526, or click here.

Fresh Snow in Colorado Rockies

Okay, I was shocked when it snowed in my front yard in May. But to wake up to snowfall on June 11??? Craziness! Especially, since record heat has blasted the East Coast. My heart goes out to all of you Easterners who are suffering in heat, humidity and temperatures soaring toward 100! Temperatures in Providence, R.I. reached a record 97 degrees yesterday.

But, nope, not here in the mountains of Colorado. I canceled my kids’ outdoor swim lesson this morning, since it was 37 degrees at 9 a.m.. And snowing. Granted, the precipitation may have been closer to sleet, and it didn’t stick to the ground, but there were big chunks of white something-or-other coming down from the sky this morning. This photo doesn’t do the little squall justice (can you see the few white spots of snow falling?):

With plenty of snow remaining on top of Aspen Mountain, the slopes are actually open for skiing this weekend! It’s also the annual Food & Wine Classic, three days of eating and drinking debauchery. Ski a few runs in the afternoon, then spend a couple of hours attending such seminars as “Sake for Wine Lovers,” “Party Drinks: Punches and Sangrias,” and “America’s Great Craft Beers,” followed by all-you-can-drink at the Grand Tasting Tent. It’s certainly looking like an amazing weekend to be in Aspen.

Universal Studios Rewards Fire Fighters

That fire at Universal Studios was pretty big news, at least out here in La-La-Land. Now that the fire’s out and tour groups are being bussed around as usual, Universal Studios did a solid: The “Salute to California Firefighters” initiative allows all firefighters – who of course put out the fire and saved much of the back lot – can get free general admission to the studio. This is good for one fireman, and up to three guests get 50 percent off their general admission ticket too. Now, the freebie is for all fire department personnel, not just the ones who doused the flames. To obtain free admission, firefighters must show current photo employee identification at the Universal Studios Hollywood box office. Sounds like a nice way for firefighters to have a family-friendly day in Los Angeles!

It turns out that the massive fire was started by a blowtorch. The New York City movie set was destroyed (sorry, King Kong), but Wisteria Lanes has emerged unscathed. I guess those housewives have a little less to be desperate about.

Bye, Bye Miss American Pie

What is up with all the airlines’ nickel and dime-ing consumers? United Airlines announced today that it is cutting 1,000 employees and 100 flights. What the heck is going on? Just last week they had a free-for-all sale of $300 round-trip flights to Hawaii from certain hubs. Will these purchased tickets still be valid come August if they are cutting flights so soon after the sale? Will United also be jumping on the charge-for-a-bag bandwagon that American Airlines is implementing come June 15?

I flew American last week and for a short-haul flight I could purchase a blow up travel pillow for $5. I chose to roll up a sweatshirt to use as a pillow. My longer portion of the journey was eight hours and only offered complimentary soft drinks and juice. If I was hungry, I could purchase a turkey sandwich for $10. What a deal. All this and you can pay for your checked bags, too.

No wonder American Airlines is cutting back on flights to the Caribbean. Word throughout the travel industry grapevine is that American will be eliminating 300 jobs in San Juan and cutting back to 18 flights per day there, as well (come September 2008). We’ve also heard that American Eagle may be reducing flights into the Caribbean by up to 70 percent for some destinations.

So what does this mean for American families wanting to travel by air? I say look to airlines such as Air Jamaica to take up the slack and profit from the US-based airlines’ lack of customer service, because that is what it all boils down to. They can cry crude oil prices all they want, but when you treat your customer poorly ($5 pillows, no more peanuts, $15 checked bag) the customer then shops elsewhere.

Mama on the Move: Segway of Hawaii

The other night I strolled along Waikiki Beach with my local friend Jeanne whom I met a few years ago. We watched the fireworks at Hilton Hawaiian Village that occurs almost every Friday night. I noticed a bunch of people on Segways and they looked like they were having a blast. So, I went ahead and booked a morning three-hour tour of Honolulu History and Culture.

First I was given a helmet, which made me feel a bit dorky, but for safety reasons I was glad to have something to protect my super powerful rock star brain. Alan, Segway of Hawaii owner, gave me a training lesson before the tour. At first I was hesitant, because this thing is just two wheels. It doesn’t look like something I should step my chubby body onto, but Alan assured me the weight limit is 280 lbs, so I’m all good on that problem.

I stepped onto the Segway, thinking it would tip over, but to my amazement the thing balances itself. Before long, I was gliding in and out of cones and able to stop on a dime (almost). Michael, my tour guide, felt confident that I was able to maneuver the streets of Honolulu, so off we went.

We started off on Waikiki Beach, where people stared and pointed. Yes, I wanted to tell them, it is CajunMama in the flesh, don’t be intimidated. We were almost like street entertainers, performing a ballet of environmentally friendly, gas free transportation, and I was the star.

Michael took Jeanne and I through bustling Chinatown, where I felt sure I was going to take out a pedestrian, but I did well, even when a store curtain blew into my face blocking my vision of the sidewalk baskets of fruit. Thanks to my pre-tour training, I was confident enough to maneuver around three baskets of bok choy and two elderly Asian ladies with canes. Whew! Crisis averted.

We stopped for a breather at Iolani Palace and glided by the King Kamehameha statue. Our return trip provided an open area for me to glide open wide. In fact, I think I’m ready for the Segway races now. I was glad I took the time for this environmentally friendly tour of Honolulu. The price of $130 for a historic, cultural and fun three-hour tour is worth it.

Now I can say, “This is how I roll.”

Father’s Day Contest Giveaway: Lush DAD Gift Box

Father’s Day is coming, and I still haven’t recovered from Mother’s Day. What’s that? Breakfast in bed? Oh, thank you, my sweet children – ugh, that’s orange juice on my sheets now, isn’t it? - you really are so thoughtful. Father’s Day is usually completely different; while the moms are typically given time away on OUR day, dads are expected to spend some real Quality Time with their kids. Sure, it’s archaic – a vestige of the days when most moms stayed home and most dads hardly saw their growing children – but traditions are traditions (dads still generally don’t take the weekend off with their buddies on Father’s Day). This year, add a little adult twist to that tradition with a Lush Gift Box for men. Lush is that handmade, organic bath and body products company we’re constantly raving about.

Those kind folks at Lush are supplying the Traveling Mamas Father’s Day Contest Giveaway with a DAD gift box. This box itself is brightly colored and fun to receive. Inside, you’ll find an Ice Blue soap, New! solid shampoo bar, and Happy Hippy shower gel. Ice Blue soap smells like peppermint and really is a nice blue color; I like the sea salt for its scrubby action too. The New! Solid shampoo is great for travel (no getting bothered by those TSA guys at the airport security line) and is made with organic peppermint and cinnamon, smelling mostly like cinnamon. It stimulates the scalp during shampoos. Last, the Happy Hippy shower gel is a strongly citrus-scented gel that can sub as a shampoo.

As if Lush isn’t happy enough to share their products for Father’s Day, they kindly threw in my favorite melty massage bar too. The Wiccy Magic Muscles massage bar heats to the touch (or the backrub) with cinnamon leaf oil, and aduki beans add pressure to the massage. I love the Wiccy Magic Muscles massage bar. A massage with this Lush bar would be the perfect way to end Father’s Day.

To enter to win this great Father’s Day gift box from Lush, simply leave a comment describing your ideal Father’s Day. The Father’s Day gift box giveaway is only open to US residents. Sorry, MudslideDad, you and other relatives of the Traveling Mamas may not enter this contest! For the rest of you, leave your comments below; the contest remains open until 11:59 PM Tuesday, June 3rd. And guess what? June 4th, the Winning Wednesday on which the contest winner will be announced, is my father’s birthday! Happy birthday, Dad. Hope Mom treats you to a massage.

Travel Warning for Popular Mexico Vacation Destination

Is the travel situation getting worse in Mexico, or is it just that the media is picking up more stories about the drug cartels, gangs, and other generally illegal acts in our neighbor to the south? TravelingMamas posted earlier about the US State Department’s travel advisory against taking vacations in certain parts of Mexico. At that point, two suggestions was to stay in an all-inclusive resort, or to travel to the most popular tourist destinations, like Cancun and the Mayan Riviera. But a Canadian tourist was recently shot inside his hotel room in Cabo San Lucas (Calgary Herald) and the increase in criminal activity in Tijuana is well-known.

On the Gulf side (the Yucatan), Cancun and the Riviera Maya are gorgeous tourist destinations, with white sandy beaches and archaeological marvels that would make Indiana Jones drop his hat. The Riviera Maya starts at Playa del Carmen and ends in Tulum. Certainly worth considering for a family vacation, right? Consider this: The “hotel zone’ of small charming hotels and restaurants in Tulum is experiencing a scene right out of the Wild West.

One of those charming Tulum restaurants, owned by an Australian-born US citizen, was literally invaded last week by a group of men working for a corrupt local politician. John Kendall, who bought the land six years ago, already has a certified local presence in the Mayan Riviera; his acclaimed Mezzanine hotel overlooks the sea in along the same historic stretch of Mexico. The Mexican politician, Gaston Alegre, has called Kendall the “Devil of Tulum” and sent police (and 30 private security guards) into Kendall’s beachfront restaurant to take the property by brute force. The restaurant, El Pez, was filled with tourists and customers; they were kicked out, and the restaurant was completely trashed. When Kendall attempted to take back his property, corrupt police from nearby Playa del Carmen fought him off. Kendall has said, “Gaston Alegre still thinks he’s in 1930’s Mexico.” Kendall will get his day in court, of course, but clearly corruption runs deep in many travel destinations here. This illegal land grab illuminates the need for stronger anti-corruption laws in Mexico (or at least that the ones on the books be upheld).

Criminal activity in Mexico has not just increased in recent months, but also has begun to spread into popular tourist destinations. Pack more than just your bathing suit and sunblock for a vacation south of the border; take some extra precautions as well. Watching Indiana Jones on the big screen is one thing. Finding ourselves in the middle of frightening battles in real life, quite another.

Solar Phenomena or Secret Experiment?

A solar phenomena occurred during my visit to Key West a few weeks ago. I was riding along Duval Street when I noticed people stopping to look up at the sky. It was freaky and disturbing, like a scene out of a space movie.

So, of course I had to poke my head out the window to see what made people get out their cars in the middle of the road. I looked up in the clear sky and saw a shaded rainbow ring around the sun. It scared the heck out of me. I just knew that we probably had about three hours left on the planet before the END OF THE WORLD.

Actually, I picked up the phone and called a friend who was standing next to someone who knew someone at the National Weather Service. Its kinda like a cousin’s cousin’s uncle thing. The NWS explained that the ring was a product of ice crystals in the atmosphere mixed with smoke from the Yucatan. Ummm. Ok. The sky was clear. Something fishy was going on.

Me being the nosey Mama that I am, I dug around a bit and met a guy who is a former journalist. He admitted that he had been conducting his own investigation into this occurrence.

The ring around the sun that seemed to be shaded a bit inside was actually a military experiment to see what fallout would look like. The substance is supposed to be made of clay and chalk.

I have no idea what to believe, but that sure was a pretty rainbow around the sun. I just hope that pretty rainbow isn’t harmful and I’m glad to know it wasn’t some iridescent mother ship hovering over Key West.

The Legend of the Crystal Skulls

Mystery has always surrounded the Legend of The Crystal Skulls. I’ve heard different versions of the legend throughout the years, such. I had heard the legend originated with the Native Americans. I also visited Chichen Itza and noticed all the skulls at this ancient site. Others say that aliens gave the skulls to mankind and that all thirteen will be revealed when the world is ready to know the truth. Ummm, I don’t know what that truth is, but I do know that the Crystal Skulls do exist.

The release of Indiana Jones: The Kingdom of the Crystal Skulls has brought this legend back into popularity. I know I’ve always been interested in the Mayan and Aztec civilizations and stories of other cultures who seem to have disappeared from the planet. A recent article in Archaeology Magazine dismisses any claim of authentic crystal skulls that are ancient.

The British Museum released a statement about testing of the skulls, which many people claim is proof that these skulls are all fakes.

“Contrary to popular belief there are currently no scientific techniques which can be used to accurately establish when a stone or mineral object was produced. Research has therefore focused on how the skulls were carved, where the quartz originated from and what is known about the early history of the skulls.” Read the entire release here and here.

From what I comprehend, there is no way to date the skulls, so how can they be authenticated, or more importantly be unauthenticated? People like to believe in unbelievable things.

So here is a list of the current “authentic” crystal skulls that those believers of the legends recognize.

• Mitchell Hedges Skull
• Mayan Crystal Skull
• Amethyst Skull
• British Skull (British Museum)
• Paris Skull
• Texas Crystal Skull (MAX) (owned by the Parks Family of Houston)
• ET Skull (private collection of Joke van Dieten Maasland in Miami Beach, Florida)
• Rose Quartz Crystal Skull (last seen in Honduras and Guatemala)
• Aztec Skull
• Sha-na-ra
• Jaguar Man
• The Rainbow Skull (These three were recently found in an excavation in Guerro Province and are now privately owned)

As you can see, only twelve are listed. I guess we’ll have to wait for the thirteenth to reveal itself to find out what is really going on with these skulls, or we can all just go see the latest installment of the Indiana Jones series of movies.

On the Move Approved – Kids Topics to Go, for Family Travel

There are several ways to deal with – er, I mean, enjoy – a family road trip. Keeping children entertained in the car is so important, because the incessant whines of “I’m bored,” “Are we there yet?” and “She’s touching my side of the seat!” make long car rides intolerable. Some of us prefer to plug the kids into portable DVDs and enjoy the ensuing peace and quiet. Some pass small toys back to eager hands, only to have them dropped into some inaccessible corner of the car floor. Some of us play Punch Bug, or other versions of I Spy. And some of us try to promote a little family bonding through conversation. That’s where Kids Topics To Go comes in.

Kids Topics To Go is basically a portable conversation starter; 40 questions come in a plastic case. I tested it out this past weekend, with the help of 6- and 9-year olds. They immediately opened it and decided to “play” by each reading a question to the other. Some questions they liked were “Would you rather see a movie, a parade, or a magic show,” “What makes you feel better when you feel sick” (listening in, I was hoping for “Mommy” as the answer, but they agreed that ice cream trumps all) “What would you love to invent,” and “Who is the funniest person you know?”

There are no inappropriate question here, the only caveat being that to fully participate, a child should be able to read at a first- or second-grade level. There is a version for teens as well, and several non-travel versions called Table Topics, with 135 question cards. I really enjoyed driving quietly, while my kids talked to each other in the back. It’s a card game with no winners or losers, a way for siblings to share their experiences, and a useful way to pass time during family road trips.

Best of all is the price. At only $9, it’s Traveling Mamas On the Move Approved.

Top 10 Summer Adventure Travel Destinations

This happens every summer: I get a new pair of cute sandals that fit nicely in the store, and then the first day out – bam! Sore feet and blisters. This may sound familiar to fellow fans of soft adventure travel. Non-stressful hiking, plus walking tours, pretty much make up the kind of summer vacation (non-aquatic) exercise I get. That’s why, for me, the who-knows-what-technology-based stuff that goes into Gore-Tex fabric, makes their shoes a real plus. The Gore-Tex fabric is waterproof and wicks away heat, and feels kind of squishy in the sole (but it’s not a gel-based insert, so the TSA won’t make you surrender you shoes on the airport security line). My Ecco and Clark’s shoes have the Gore-Tex insignia, and Merrell, New Balance, and Timberland brands also use the special patented fabric. The company joined with the Adventure Travel Trade Association to suggest a Top 10 list of Summer Adventure Travel Vacation Destinations.

Top 10 Summer Travel Destinations, via Gore-Tex and the Adventure Travel Trade Association

• Australia - From the walkabouts to the rain forests of Queensland to the Great Barrier Reef, there’s adventure travel of almost all sorts here. If shopping is more your summer vacation speed, spend that cash in Sydney and Melbourne.
• Brazil - The jungles here are disappearing at a rapid clip; tourist dollars may show the government a viable alternate use of this great resource. And the beaches of Ipanema and Copacabana are fantastic!
• British Columbia - start at my favorite airport hotel, and have fun in Vancouver, Victoria, and Granville Island for your summer vacation. Migratory marine mammals like whales spend their summers here too; they have the right idea!
• California - Even Los Angeles, with its sad reputation as a faceless city of strip malls, has some challenging hiking trails. I’d also suggest a drive north to Santa Barbara, my favorite spot along the Central Coast. There are also Napa Valley and other less famous “wine countries.”
• France - Can’t beat Paris as a cultural, historic walking city, but you might wear out your shoes trying to see it all. Then there’s Provence, Versailles, biking in the Pyrenees (bordering Spain), and the forests of Fontainebleau. Adventure travel and luxury vacations both fit together perfectly in France!
• Madagascar - The Malagasy, native to Madagasacar, could really use some tourism dollars. The forests of this unique island are disappearing at a pretty rapid clip, and ecotourism may help stem the loss. The lemurs, chameleons, and other interesting critters are endemic to Madagascar, and need their habitat to continue starring in all those nature specials.
• Nepal - Kathmandu is the star here, of course, though getting to Nepal is an adventure in itself. Nepal would be the right fit for someone seeking a special, unique cultural trip; if that’s you, visit Boudhanath Stupa, home to Tibetan Buddhism in Nepal.
• New York - New York City is hot, humid, and gross in the summer – I lived through too many summers there to be in denial. But the Hudson Valley, Niagara Falls, and Adirondacks region are all lovely.
• Norway - This one was included on the Top 10 Summer Travel Destinations list, presumably because it’s too dark and cold to vacation there in the winter. The gorgeous waterfalls and fjords can be toured via walking tours, or hiked and splashed in by more intrepid vacationers.
• Switzerland - An outdoor adventure vacation would feature a hike up the Alps, and possibly hang-gliding back down. Leisure travelers can explore Basel, Geneva, and Zurich.

These disparate vacation destinations were chosen by the quality of both adventure and leisure travel options. Factors considered include uniqueness and authenticity, adventure activity resources (bicycling, hiking, etc), need for sustainable tourism, and undiscovered or little known natural and cultural assets. I think this list represents a nice blend of very popular summer travel spots, and some that are less so.

And me? Well, I have 2 weeks of vacation travel in New York planned for this summer, one of which is in the humid stickiness of NYC. In August! Wish me luck.

Top Recommended Mancation Vacation Travel Gifts

Oh, sure, CajunMama’s husband won’t acknowledge the term, but “mancations” are really picking up some traction in the travel industry. Now, most men that I know would rather not vacation at all, than spend their vacation days in a luxury spa, getting their nails buffed. But a lot of men are figuring out that time with their friends is time well spent, indeed. This is why mancations have become increasingly popular.

Mancations, or getaways for men only, can range from low rent (10 college buddies crammed in a Vegas hotel room) to ultra high end (father-son trip to Gleneagles Hotel Golf Resort in Scotland) – with a lot of room in between. Personally, I like the idea of mancations. Dudes hanging our together, doing their dude thing (I don’t want to know too much here), getting smelly, scratching…No women allowed? That’s okay! No, really.

Top Recommended Mancation Vacation Travel Gifts, for Father’s Day and Beyond

There are some great mancation gift ideas out there. If you want to treat the guy in your life with a mancation travel gift, it helps if you can arrange time off work for his closest friends as well. Cabo San Lucas has some fishing vacation packages, and the Waterfall Resort in Ketchican, Alaska provides everything guys need for an authentic Alaska fishing vacation. From what I’ve heard, these mancations sound like really fun outdoorsman trips.

Another special gift that a lot of men would really appreciate is a real NASCAR Richard Petty riding experience. NASCAR fans can travel to one of 25 major American cities including, of course, Daytona. There, guys on mancations can opt to ride shotgun in a stock car – or even drive the NASCAR top series top car themselves! Imagine that: Up to 140 miles per hour, no cops ticketing the dude, and a memory to last a lifetime.

For golfers, mancation-type travel packages abound. One top new contender I like is offered by the Half Moon Resort in Jamaica. Just in time for Father’s Day (but good through the rest of the year), the Guys on the Green golf vacation package is a seriously luxurious mancation, for a seriously lucky guy. The travel package includes 5-star dining, drinks, two rounds of golf at Half Moon’s award winning golf course, and an “Up to Par” massage. Oh, and guests are greeted with an ice-cold beer upon arrival. Golf, manly massage, beer…Talk about a mancation.

These are the Traveling Mamas’ current top recommended mancations for Father’s Day (or any time). But lists are meant to be expanded: Any other favorites out there?

134th Kentucky Derby – A Day of Joy and Sadness

I love the Kentucky Derby, with the big, fancy hats, Mint Juleps, and the thrill of the most exciting two minutes in sports. My son, daughter and I just cheered from home for our picks in the 134th Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs. The excitement was evident as Big Brown #20, the favorite, won the 134th Kentucky Derby. 

Sadly though, the filly who came in second place, Eight Belles #5, broke both ankles and had to be euthanized immediately. I admit I began to cry as I watched the teary-eyed doctor, who was on the scene when it happened, make the announcement on NBC. I just hope Eight Belles died doing what she loved best. We should all be so lucky.

Mexico Travel Warning

The Traveling Mamas really enjoy vacations in Mexico; I know that for me, the Yucatan Peninsula is just heaven. I loved seeing the Mayan ruins like Tulum and Chichen Itza near Cancun. Cancun has many child-friendly all-inclusive resorts with resort day camps for kids – in case the little ones aren’t up for a day trip to see those pyramids. MountainMama loved her travels in the Riviera Maya, too. But Mexico’s a big, diverse country, and not all of it is so trip-worthy.

The US State Department has just put out an extended travel alert for Mexico. Specifically, border areas in the country are considered too dangerous to visit, what with scary increases in gang violence and drug trafficking. These Mexican border states include Chihuahua City, Juarez, and Tijuana. According to the State Department, dozens of US citizens were actually kidnapped or murdered in Tijuana last year. Yikes.

And wait, there’s more: The New York Times reports (April 29, 2008 ) that besides the enormous threat of kidnappings that are practically a business model in Mexico City, FAKE kidnapping rates are skyrocketing too. These so-called “virtual kidnappings” sound horrifying; one US citizen living in Mexico received a call from a young women purporting to be her daughter, and other parents get calls with the sounds of little children crying out for them (these are not their kids, in fact, but just imagine the panic). There’s no sign that US tourists are being targeted in and of themselves, but with very few arrests so far, the problem will only continue.

Fancy luxury resort hotels in and around popular tourist destinations have heightened security, of course, and there’s almost no chance of gang members barging into the Ritz-Carton in Cancun. On the flip side, staying in an all-inclusive and not venturing outside of the hotel property doesn’t give travelers any real sense of the culture and history of the host country – you could be anywhere balmy if you don’t leave the resort grounds.

This is a tough issue. The travel and tourism industry definitely helps boost local and state economies of otherwise poor countries, and the experience of a family vacation somewhere outside of our own neighborhood (and mental safety zone) is mind-expanding. However, as with practically any family, us mamas’ and papas’ priorities are the health and safety of our children. Without travel package deals, the cost of many inclusive resorts is out of reach for a lot of us, too. Is the answer to simply take our family vacations in the safest parts of the world? Or is the answer to travel to faraway lands, but refuse to venture out of the safety of hotel grounds? What do you think?

Man Malls

I was oblivious to the tourism importance of Man Malls until two appeared near my city. Hotels began to pop up, and even good ole Starbucks opened for business in these no-longer rural areas. My family decided to take a Sunday drive to Cabela’s, located in Gonzales, LA. I was completely shocked when traffic halted on the I-10. It seems as if everyone else in the state of Louisiana had decided to check out this new Man Mall for themselves.

Local police officers were directing traffic into the parking lot (which was full, of course). We hiked a mile to the actual store and I had the Mama Death Grip on my children’s hands so that they would not get lost from me in the mob.

Promotions of Chevy giveaways and pictures with Nascar drivers were strategically placed near the entrance. The whole experience was reminding me of the bargain basement bridal gown sale that always makes the national news. I was expecting to get trampled at any moment.

And then we made it through the doors.

The scene was a wonderland for outdoorsmen (and women). Kids were staring in awe at the wide array of aquatic specimen in nearby tanks. Others were admiring the taxidermy exhibit of animals placed on a mountain. But the truest scene was of women sitting on benches checking mobile phone messages while their men competed for the attention of the store associate. It seems there was a limited supply of discounted knives, and these men just had to have one.

This parallel universe offered a respite, in the form of a General Store, for the women to wait on their men. The homemade fudge slices were calling me, where the kids and I waited for my husband to return triumphantly with his $9.99 knife.

To find a Man Mall the next time you need some hiking socks or a pink fishing pole, visit: Cabela’s, Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World, or Gander Mountain.

Tots on the Go Giveaway

Tots on the Go, a Virginia-based company, has teamed with Traveling Mamas to let you guys pick out your own prize, and we’re giving you a month do to it!

From their site:

“We started this business out of the desire to share our knowledge, as fairly new parents, of the many great products available. We spent countless hours researching the latest and great products to make a families life easier. With our personal experience as parents and constant research we will help make the right choice for you.”

Wow. This is the type of shop TravelingMamas.com likes. And they even have a showroom that is opening April 25!

So, what do you have to do to win something? Check out Tots on the Go’s Travel Gear section and choose the item you want to win. Just come back here and leave a comment stating your choice of prize. The product with the most comments is the item we’ll give away to a lucky winner.

We’re giving you guys a month to enter, so be sure to tell all your friends. Contest is open to US residents and immediate family members of Traveling Mamas are ineligible to win. Closing date is May 13, 2008. Winning entry and prize will be announced on Winning Wednesday, May 14, just in time for that fabulous family vacation this summer.

Travel Tip: Pack Your Registered Starbucks Card

Isn’t it nice when we can justify your egregious spending habits by noting that a portion of our money goes to some kind of good cause? I know that tip helps me, anyway: I rationalize my frequent pit stops at Starbucks with thoughts like, “Hey, Starbucks supports nonprofits,” or “Look, that Ethos water helps some kids get clean drinking water.” It would be more honest for me to think, “I can kiss this 4 bucks goodbye” as I sate my morning jones for caffeine, but that’s just not how we addicts roll.

So imagine my joy when I read about how easy it is to find a Starbucks on the road? Oh, I was happy, plenty happy. And to round out my coffee-themed day, this afternoon I picked up this tidbit: Sign up for a registered Starbucks card (it works like a debit card, and as long as you don’t lose it, it will automatically maintain a minimum balance), and get free refills, free syrup added in, and a free tall – that means small, newbies - cup of joe when you buy a bag of coffee beans for home. Awesome! Starbucks is a good dealer; they know just how to keep us coming back for more.

Now, I don’t know if this is a limited-time offer or not – I just picked up the pamphlet today – but I do know that 1) free is good and 2) I’m not the only one who seeks out Starbucks even when I’m away from home. Forget the maps and sunblock; this registered Starbucks card is a pretty good item to take on vacation. And unless your vacation is in the middle of a jungle (Starbucks stores are everywhere else, it seems), that’s a pretty good tip.