Tour San Diego

It's been bandied about that in terms of climate, San Diego is the best place to live or visit. They only have one season for most of the year, and it is usually in the comfortable low eighties. The sun is almost always shining and if you are visiting, there are tons of things to do!

It has been years since I've been to San Diego, but my kids, who vacation in California all the time, have visited Sea World, LegoLand, Wild Animal Park and the world famous San Diego Zoo. I am not a big fan of amusement parks myself. When I go to San Diego, I'd rather visit old town or walk around Balboa Park. Husband and I love visiting Coronado Island and just walk around the shops or have brunch at the famous hotel. There are enough things to do and see in San Diego to please everyone in the family, young and old.

If you are thinking of visiting San Diego and you've never been there before, you may want to turn to a company like Trusted Tours and Attractions. They can make your visit a lot easier and hassle free by making all the arrangements for you. And if you're thinking of vacationing this winter, make sure you subscribe to the Trusted Travel e-Newsletter and not only will you get updates on great activities and tours at your destination city, you also get a chance to win 4 tickets to your destination city! This offer ends December 14th, so make sure you get on there and subscribe before then.

Fly Down Under for the Winter

The holidays when the weather gets cooler, more holidays are available from work, and more holiday offers are made available, is an optimal time an Australian vacation. Cheap flights to Melbourne and other Australian destinations are now available for those lucky enough to be able to take advantage of these opportunities.

DialAFlight, operating from the UK has travel consultants who can book your travel arrangements for you. By speaking directly with their consultants, you can be sure to get all that you ask for and more.

New York City Pass

I was excited when I heard about New York CityPass. We have been planning on going to New York for the longest time and I think this just might be the impetus we need to get us going.

Sure, we can always find hotel deals, but the thought of sightseeing and all the extra expenses we would have to get a family of five to all the New York attractions is what has held us back. So you can imagine how a $65 pass for adults and a $49 pass for children would excite me. With a New York City Pass, you get to see these famous landmarks that are all included in the booklet: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, the new Greek and Roman galleries, Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), Guggenheim Museum, the American Museum of Natural History, a trip to the top of the Empire State Building Observatory, and tour of the Manhattan skyline from the water aboard a Circle Line Sightseeing Cruise. Doesn't that just about cover a comprehensive yet educational tour of New York?

Not only does the booklet include tickets to these attractions, it also provides you with maps and tips on the best times to go to the different venues. I found it quite amusing that their website has a 'sanity-saving tips for traveling with children' section. I have to say, the tips were very helpful and appropriate.

These passes are valid from December 15 to March 15. If you live on the east coast, that means you won't have to feel rushed to use up all your tickets on one weekend. We are actually planning on driving to the city at least a couple of weekends before the expiration date. That way, we can take our time and just see the sites that fit within our schedule for that weekend rather than rushing through things just to get your money's worth.

The New York City Pass, I think, would be a great Christmas present for the best family on your list. I know the best family on my list will be getting these for Christmas ;)

Uptown Saturday Night

My daughter asked not too long ago how come we hadn't gone to Disney World yet when Florida is just a few states down from us. Hmmm, it's true. We seriously need to start thinking about exploring a little farther south of us.

Disney world does not really hold much interest for me. Saint Augustine Ponte Vedra, the oldest city in the nation, is more intriguing for me. It boasts not only beautiful and pristine beaches, it also has a variety of shopping opportunities. There are a number of Events in St. Augustine that are interesting but the event that caught our attention is Uptown Saturday Night.

Uptown Saturday Night occurs on the last Saturday of every month. On this day, galleries, antique stores and unique shops in the uptown San Marco shopping district remain open between five and nine p.m. During this time, artists, live entertainment and refreshments contribute to the festive atmosphere. It is a free event and what better way to get a feel for the pulse of this quaint city? I would love to just walk around and browse the various antique stores and galleries and maybe stumble on a gem. Even parking is free at the Mission of Nombre de Dios. There are two weekends remaining this year; on November 29th and December 27th. Don't forget this is Florida, so the weather will probably still be nice on those dates. A good excuse to get away from the winter weather, if you ask me. Make sure to make it there one one of these Saturdays.

Winchester, England

Did you know that Winchester used to be the English capital before London? Winchester is on the southern coast of England and as with many towns in the U.K. it has a long history spanning centuries. There are a number of great winchester restaurants that are housed in old historical buildings, adding more to the ambiance and charm when exploring this old town. The city has an interesting blend of historical sites and beautiful English country side that is not to be missed.

Tagaytay Photo Album

Tagaytay

What a glorious way to start the new year. This is where we were last January, right before our scheduled flight to return to the U.S. Tagaytay is a town about 60 miles south of the capital, Manila, overlooking Taal Lake and volcano. It is a beautiful destination not to be missed. This was the first time I had ever been there, and I sure wish we could have had more time to spend there. It would have been nice to at least have gotten a room and stayed overnight. I also wish I could have done the actual beauty of the place justice in my photographs.