Zoo Atlanta

If you are in the Atlanta area, Zoo Atlanta is a good place to visit for a staycation. Have you been to the zoo lately?

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Every time I mention a trip to the islands a relative (she knows who she is) mentions the American tourist, Natalee Holloway who disappeared from Aruba in 2005. While browsing one day on the Internet, I recall that a lot of Americans said that they would not visit Aruba because of the incident and how it was handled by the government there. In fact, I found an article stating that another American had disappeared from Aruba 7 years before Natalee did. I don’t want to get too political, but I want to put a question out there. If given the chance, money, time, etc., would you visit Aruba?

Aruba is beautiful, and I think that I visited the island on a press trip before the young lady disappeared. I was definitely shaken up by the incident after I heard about it, and I must admit that I haven’t seriously made arrangements to visit again, although after I visited I had vowed that I would return soon. I have serious mixed feelings about this. I don’t think that the problem of kidnapping, or women mysteriously disappearing is an Aruba problem. There are safety issues everywhere. I usually feel safe while traveling, but I am careful and most importantly prayed up as well. I’m saying that because I honestly feel that even people who you think you know can put you into risky situations, and it takes belief in a higher power and faith to keep you safe. Just my beliefs. 

Do you take extra precautions or are you a little more guarded when you reach your travel destination? I’m not talking about airports but in resorts, hotels, or on cruises.

I wanted to bring you all a closer look of Tybee Island. Enjoy this short video. Soon, I’ll be bringing you all an update on my Bikini Challenge!

 I ended up having to choose between going to Hilton Head or Tybee Island. I chose Tybee Island. Thanks to the nice ladies at the Inn at Mulberry Grove, 101 O’Leary Road, for making the recommendation. You rock! Tybee is cool because it’s colorful but not too commercial. I think that’s why so many people like it there. There are some really neat T-shirt shops and stands where you can buy $5 T-shirts. I wish that I’d picked up a few, but I was determined not to spend any money after having to fuel up the car several times.

I just settled in at Tybee beach with a $9.99 beach chair that I picked up at Wal-Mart and watched the scene around me. I vendor on the beach tried to rent a beach umbrella to me for $20 for the entire day. I didn’t have any cash and she didn’t take debit cards or I would have been tempted to shuck out the money for the umbrella. The sun was beaming down on me.

Where is Tybee?

Tybee Beach is roughly 45 minutes away from Savannah, Georgia. It’s an easy drive to Tybee Beach. There was very little traffic an no construction on the road when I went. I took 80 East/Ga-26 to get to the beach. I just kept driving until I saw the signs for beach parking.

Parking at Tybee

Oh, and parking wasn’t bad at all. I arrived at around 10 a.m., and there were plenty of spaces. Tybee Island has a North Beach and a South Beach. I parked on the south side. The lot was nearly empty when I arrived. It filled up by 1 p.m. There were still some street spaces, though. Did you all know that they now have parking machines where you can pay using a debit card to park? I had never seen such a machine before, but I was glad that they were at the beach. I didn’t want to have to put a bunch of quarters in the machine and then come back out and check on it.

I paid about $4 -$5 to park for about four hours or so, if I am remembering correctly. A parking pass pops out of the machine with the time allotted for parking. I put the pass on my dashboard and was able to park in any of the beach lots. Very cool. 

One Weird Guy

Everything was fine at the beach accept for the fact that I was accosted by a drunk guy who said things like, "Hey cutie. You sho are fine," very loudly and rudely.  I don’t mind being called cute, but it was the way he said it, as though he was undressing me or something. Yuck! I think that I said something back like, "I’m not your cutie!" Hmmm. Somehow that didn’t make the impact that I would have liked it to have made. I’ve never been good at making quick comebacks, especially after spending about four hours in the sun.

 

You never know what can happen to you in Savannah. I got caught in a tornado while there. Read on.  I was visiting Savannah, doing a little sightseeing, collecting tour information and chilling. I got in late on Wednesday. On Thursday, I started looking around. I took a trolley around downtown on a tour and decided to get off at the Davenport House, a historic home which was essential in beginning preservation of historic homes and buildings in Savannah. Anyway, it started to rain while I was taking pictures in the square, waiting for my home tour to start. It started raining harder. I picked up my camera, and tripod and jogged inside. The tour was okay. The home was a little sparse, but they say that’s what homes were like during the Federalist period.

Now it was raining harder. It was lightening and thundering, the whole shebang! I stayed at the home until the rain let up a little and I saw my trolley coming. I ran screaming with my Savannah brochures and maps in a plastic shopping bag. My tripod for my camera was slung over my shoulder and my dreadlocks were flying. I made the trolley. Thank God! Off we went. The rain had stopped and I wanted to see the City Market, so I got off a few stops down. I realized that the Telfair Museum of Art was also on that stop, so I asked for directions and began walking to the museum.

 

As soon as I got into the Museum I was told that there was a tornado watch or warning; I’m not sure which. What? Some other tourists and I were ushered downstairs into the basement of the museum. Apparently, there was a tornado during the storm. I sat in the basement of the museum in a folding chair with some of the workers at the Telfair and the other tourists who were as unlucky as I. It wasn’t so bad. The museum workers were entertaining as were about to play some funny, yet embarrassing party games. They didn’t take off, or I threatened that I’d have a YouTube video of the entire thing. We were not held hostage; we were allowed to go if we chose. I opted to stay. It looked okay outside, but I didn’t want to take any chances.  I’m still not sure of exactly how long I spent in the basement of the museum, but I know that we were allowed to go at about 4:30 p.m.

More About Savannah

Savannah, Georgia is well-known for its historic homes and history. It’s also a popular destination for the River Boardwalk and nearby beaches. The landmark historic district in Savannah is located east of Boundary Street.  The Savannah River is North of the district and Victory Drive borders the south of the district.

Parking

Parking can be difficult in Savannah if you don’t know where to go. Go to the Savannah Visitor’s Center or the Parking Services Department, the Bryan Street Parking Garage (at Bryan and Abercorn Street) to get a two-day parking pass for $8. This pass entitles you to park at any city metered space (with a meter of one hour or longer) for free. You simply need to display the pass on your dashboard. You can also park in any city owned parking garage with this pass. The visitors passes cannot be used during certain special events.

There is free parking at the Robinson Garage, 912-651-6478, which is on York and Montgomery Streets, Mondays through Fridays from 6 p.m. through 6 a.m. There has also been free parking all day on the weekends in this garage during some construction in town. Inquire about free weekend parking when you arrive. Free parking is also available at the State Street Garage, 912-651-6473, on State and Abercorn Streets on Mondays through Fridays from 6 p.m. until 6 a.m. Both garages may charge during special events. 

Touring Savannah 

When you first arrive in downtown different trolleys or tours that you can take to tour Savannah. Olde Town Trolley, $25 with on and off privileges; $22 for one complete loop, was my choice because you can get off at stops, take a look around and catch another trolley to continue your tour in about 15 to 20 minutes. Catch the trolley at 234 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. for free parking. In fact, you can visit several other trolley services at that location and choose the best one for you. The Visitor’s Center, with maps and brochures is also at the address.  The Old Town Trolley tour is about 90 minutes long, but trolleys stop running at around 4:30 p.m. from the first stop. Tours begin at 9 a.m.

If you have a weekend or a day, try to see these attractions:

• City Market, located between Barnard, Congress and Bryan Streets
• Juliette Gordon Low Birthplace, founder of the Girls Scouts, 142 Bull Street
• Andrew Low House, 329 Abercorn Street
• Ships by the Sea Museum, 41 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
• River Street, shops and restaurants along the river, located below Bay Street
• First African American Baptist Church, 223 Bull Street

Have you visited Savannah? What is your favorite place or attraction there?

A woman walked from the hotel lobby into the bright sunshine and baking Atlanta heat. Tiny earplugs in her ears indicated that she was probably listening to a favorite song on her mp3 player. The attendant at the front desk noticed her, and called out.

"Is that your baby? I didn’t get a chance to meet your baby." The lady, oblivious to his calls, kept walking. The attendant managed to catch up with her. She turned around, smiled and introduced him to her tiny dog, who was trailing behind her on a leash. Welcome to Hotel Indigo.

Hotel Indigo is a lovely boutique hotel in midtown Atlanta with 140 guest rooms. Located across the street from the famous Fox hotel, the circa 1920s building has a homey, fun, yet refined ambiance. The common areas feature brightly colored walls with  lavish chandeliers cozy seating. Guestrooms have large beds with comfortable duvet comforters. When I visited Hotel Indigo, I noticed the poetry (haikus) throughout the room.

There was a haiku for conserving water, another for finding services in the hotel, and still another on the door, instead of the standard Do Not Disturb sign, for guest privacy. The rooms also have hardwood floors, high speed Internet access, and CD players. Soothing spa music played in my room as I entered it. At first, I thought that the music was coming from the television but it was actually coming from the CD player. Most rooms in the hotel have showers instead of baths. When I visited, however, both hot water heaters broke so there was no cold water. The problem had not occurred before, and I was impressed that the front desk attendant called every guest and me to make us aware of the issue and to tell us that we could shower in a nearby hotel. The entire incident occurred on Friday the 13th.

Hotel Indigo’s restaurant and bar, called the Golden Bean has sandwiches, fresh pizzettas (small personal pizzas) and a small selection of entrees. Entrees on the menu include sirloin steak, lump crab cakes, grilled salmon and herb roasted chicken. The entrees are between $14 and $16.

Nearby attractions include, the Fox Theater, the Aquarium, the New World of Coca Cola, Underground Atlanta, the Georgia Dome, and Phillip’s Arena.

Hotel Indigo loves and accepts pets of all sizes. The hotel donates some proceeds to the Humane Society. And no deposit is required for pets, because, as Innkeeper Gabriele Webster said, people love their pets as much as children and they wouldn’t charge a deposit for children. The pets, she said, do no damage. On Tuesdays, Hotel Indigo offers a patio dinner for guests and their pets.

I truly enjoyed my visit to Hotel Indigo and my only regret is that I didn’t bring my poodle, Coco, with me.

 

Hotel Indigo
Address	683 Peachtree Street Atlanta, Georgia
Phone	404.874.9200

Complimentary accommodations were provided to review this hotel.

Panama Beach, Florida is another popular destination for a beach vacation. Panama Beach is experiencing explosive growth. So, you may take a vacation there, and also decide to stay in Panama Beach. Take a look at this YouTube video on the growth in Panama Beach, Florida.

 

You may have heard of the movie, Sleepless in Seattle. With so much to do and see in Seattle you’ll stay busy if you suffer from insomnia. Thank goodness that Seattle has a good transportation system. There is a free bus system downtown as well as trolleys, a monorail and the Seattle Waterfront Taxi. While in Seattle, remember that Avenues go from north to south and Streets are from east to west.  Use My Neighborhood, a mapping system to help you travel in Seattle’s neighborhoods.

The Convention and Visitor’s Bureau also has a map of downtown Seattle. Some places that you would want to visit in Seattle include:

• The Chinatown International District featuring an Asian museum, market and historical areas. The district is south of downtown, anchored by Yesler Way and Dearborn Streets. The Chinatown International District has Uwajimaya, one of the largest Asian markets in the United States. Chinatown Discovery Tours provides an extensive tour of Chinatown for both newcomers and natives.
• The University of Washington Arboretum, 230 acres with an internationally recognized plant collection.
• Pike Place Market, the oldest farmer’s market in the United States
• Science Fiction Museum Hall of Fame has artifacts from some names that you may recognize from the science fiction genre. A small sample of the science fiction geniuses that you’ll see represented include: Isaac Asimov, H.G. Wells, George Lucas, Gene Rodenberry, and Steven Spielberg. Imagine what you’ll find in Seattle.
• The Museum of Flight, Seattle’s contribution to preserving our flight history includes a museum dedicated to pilots like the Wright Brothers. You’ll have the chance to see more than 85 historic aircraft and your family will have fun with the interactive games at the museum. Get there early. Hours are from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The museum is open until 9 p.m. on the first Thursday of every month.
• The Underground Tour, offers visitor a view of old town Seattle underground. The tour will take you under Pioneer Square where you can see ruins of the life before the 1889 fire in Seattle. You’ll hear tales from the old days in Seattle, too.
• Argosy Cruises allow you to tour Seattle by water. Argosy Cruises range from 90 minutes to about 2 1/2 hours. Dinner, lunch and brunch cruises are also available. Some excursions have live music.
• Washington State Ferries are also fun to ride. If you are looking for great photographs of the Seattle, take a ferry and bring your camera or camcorder!

Photo Credit: Fddi1, Flickr Creative Common License

Welcome to the May 23, 2008 edition of destinations. I posted this carnival a bit early since I had so many great submissions and didn’t want to wait to share the knowledge. Thank you to everyone who participated. I am looking for submissions to the June edition!

Madeleine Begun Kane presents Planning To Travel With Friends? Are You Sure That’s Wise?
posted at Mad Kane’s Humor Blog

AdmirableIndia.com presents Nagarhole National Park(Rajiv Gandhi National Park), Karnataka
posted at admirableIndia.com

Sally Thompson presents 50 Best Sites and Resources for the Ultimate in Luxury Travel posted at Travelhacker.

Tip Diva presents posted at Tip Diva, saying, “When traveling, it’s not the best idea to carry around a lot of valuables with you. But there are situations when you have to, so here’s how to best protect yourself.”

attractions

Andy Boyd presents 18 Of The Best Places To Swim With Sharks posted at
ProTraveller, saying, “I would struggle to go swimming with sharks, but apparently it’s fast growing in popularity: Here are some of the best places to go swimming with sharks.”

Sara Ost presents Bright Green Spotlight Stone Barns Center for Food and Agriculture posted at Sara Ost.

Jeff Sullivan presents Six - Best New Shows In Branson posted at Branson Travel Attractions.

sarah presents Directory of NYC museum free/pay-what-you-wish days posted at >SARAHSPY.

destinations

Amy @ The Q Family presents A day in Helen and beyond! posted at The Q Family Adventure.

Marilyn Terrell presents Exploring Armenia posted at Intelligent Travel, saying, “what to see and do in Armenia”

Linda presents Interrail 2005 : Wien, part 1 posted at Mes crazy expériences, saying, “This is the description of a day in Wien (Austria) especially Schönbrunn during an interrail travel in 2005, with picture.”

Davexplorer presents The Five Most Unusual Travel Destinations posted at 5 Most Unusual

Davexplorer presents Five Most Unusual Buildings posted at 5 Most Unusual.

ThatsBlog presents Coorg, Madikeri posted at AdmirableIndia.com.

AdmirableIndia.com presents Talacauvery posted at AdmirableIndia.com.

Kristie presents Rome, Italy: Our Accommodations and Our Arrival posted at Norway - An American In Oslo.

Alison presents Carbon Offsets — Native Energy posted at Green Me.

Maryam Montague presents Zagora: and a desert tale posted at My Marrakesh, saying, “Our trip to the desert in Morocco”

Amy @ The Q Family presents Oh.. I’m jealous!!! posted at The Q Family Adventure, saying, “Amsterdam, Netherlands”

Alex Bo presents Dental Tourists Visit Mexico for Cheaper Dental Care posted at Worldental - world dental treatment guide.

Global Traveler presents Should You Rent A Car On Vacation? posted at Traveling Around The World, saying, “Whether you should rent a car or not on your next vacation.”

travelcat4 presents Costa Rica Vacation - Wow, Great From Day 1!! posted at Ultimate Vacation Guide.

Linda presents >Interrail 2005 : Praha, part 2 posted at >Mes crazy expériences, saying, “description of a da in Praha”

Neelakantha presents 100 Best Travel Journal Blogs posted at >Travelhacker.

Global Traveler presents Budget Traveling In The Caribbean posted at Traveling Around The World, saying, “The Caribbean is a great place to travel at any time of the year for a tropical island vacation.”

resorts

Global Traveler presents Packing For Your Budget Vacation posted at Traveling Around The World, saying, “Packing for your vacation is a delicate balance of bringing the necessities and handy extras without overpacking.”

Tip Diva presents Tip Diva | Top Ten Tips - Staying At A Hotel posted at Tip Diva, saying, “Staying at a hotel is supposed to be relaxing, but sometimes you are barraged with so many choices that it makes your head spin. Here is how to make a hotel stay easier and more enjoyable”

restaurants

Linda W. presents Eating Well On Your Budget Vacation posted at The Eclectic Female, saying, “Eating out cheaply while on vacation can be tough, but is definitely doable.”

Lokendra Rathore presents JAIPUR-A Fun Place-Even By Night « Karan’s Guest House posted at Karan’s Guest House.

 

Miami is my hometown, and this summer it’s certainly going to be hot in South Beach. Fast cars, beautiful people, if you are craving some summertime fun, take a look at this video. South Beach is a great beach for people-watching, but no matter which beach you plan to visit, go out and have a good time this summer! Don’t let the high fuel prices keep you out of the sun and away from the sun. Spend at least one weekend at South beach, another beach, or the park or even the mountains.