The Perpetual Tourist

Every road trip needs music.  Once you get out of the familiar territory of your local stations, you might not find anything worth listening to.  Or you could be like me and never listen to the radio anyway, because you love your own collection too much.

When I’m on the road, especially on long drives, I prefer high-energy tunes and things I can sing along to, which will keep me happy and awake instead of bored and tired.

Here are five of my favorite CDs for the car:

1. Great Big Sea, Road Rage - Great Big Sea is a Canadian folk rock/celtic band, and this is their 1999 live album.  Live albums are great for the road because they’re about the road, and artists always put their best, most fun performances on these albums.  Road Rage has lots of great sea shanties and drinking songs that are perfect for whole-car sing-alongs.  Save the drinking for later, though.  Favorite tracks:  “Lukey,” “I’m a Rover,” “Mari-Mac”
2. Indigo Girls, Retrospective - This is the Indigo Girls’ 2000 greatest hits compilation.  They’ve since put out two more studio albums that rock my world, but Retrospective is solid throughout.  “Get Out The Map” is my personal anthem — a song about the joy of carefree journeying with those that you love most.  Emily Saliers and Amy Ray alternate writing and singing duties, and each woman has a unique sound and style, giving the album wonderful depth.  Favorite tracks:  “Get Out the Map,” “Least Complicated,” “Shame on You”
3. The Decemberists, Picaresque - I admit, it took me a while to come around on the Decemberists.  The lead singer has a distinct nasal, almost phony sort of sound, and it rubbed my ears the wrong way for a long time.  But the songs were just too good for me to sustain my dislike.  The tunes are catchy, but not at all in the way that pop songs are catchy.  This album is full of intense emotion, so I prefer to listen to it when I’m calm and happy, lest it exacerbate any tension I’m feeling.  Favorite Tracks:  “The Sporting Life”  (about a teenager’s ultimate embarrassment — I identify all too well), “The Engine Driver”
4. Hanson, This Time Around - That’s right — Hanson.  I love these guys, and I’ve been a diehard fan from the start.  Unlike other teenybopper sensations, Hanson writes and performs their own music, and they do it well.  This Time Around is their second major studio album, dating all the way back to their teen years in 2000.  It’s my favorite because it’s a little more grown up than Middle of Nowhere (remember MMMBopping to that all summer in 1997?) but it still gives me a nostalgic rush of teenage glee every time I listen to it.  The harmonica part in “If Only” is enough to cause a speeding ticket, though, so save this one for the freeway.  Favorite tracks:  “Sure About It,” “If Only”
5. Cake, Fashion Nugget - You probably own this CD, don’t you?  All the cool kids of the 90’s bought it, back before all music was downloaded.  Hell, maybe you even have it on cassette.  But if you haven’t listened to it recently, you’re doing yourself a disservice.  It’s impossible to feel anything but cheerful and excited when you’ve got this disc spinning.  You’ll laugh, you’ll cry (from laughter), you’ll sing along.  Dust it off and put it in your player for the next hour of your trip.  Favorite tracks:  “Stickshifts and Safety Belts,” “Italian Leather Sofa,” “The Distance”

This list should not be taken as a TOP five.  I love all my music and I couldn’t imagine my life without any one of the 1,000+ discs I own.  There might be artists on here that you’ve never heard of before.  Find their MySpace pages to hear some of their latest stuff for free, or click the links above to buy the albums I’ve recommended.  You really can’t go wrong — not even with Hanson.

I feel guilty for all that I’ve left out, though.  Perhaps I’ll revisit road trip tunes in a future Perpetual Tourist post.  If you have any suggestions for me, I’d love to hear them — maybe they’ll make my next list!

Every time I go to the airport, which is about once a month, something has changed. There are new policies in place, different procedures to go through, and lots of hurdles between me and my destination. Even though I’ve been through dozens of airports already this year, I still get caught off guard from time to time. I imagine air travel must be a real shock to the casual traveler. The changes that followed 9/11 seem minor compared to all that’s happened in this economic downturn.

Money is the driving force behind all of the recent changes. The airline industry is getting hit from all sides as fuel prices make it much more expensive for them to operate at the same time fewer people are flying because their own finances have taken a beating lately. Airlines simply can’t raise fares enough to fully offset rising operating expenses, so they’re taking advantage of every opportunity to boost their bottom lines. What that means for you, ultimately, is more fees for fewer comforts. Here’s a breakdown of some of the major changes we’ve seen over the last few months:

• Airlines going bankrupt, out of business.  Since the beginning of the year, several airlines have shut down.  All of the major carriers are still surviving, though all are hovering just above bankruptcy.  Lots of regional and discount carriers have gone under, which means fewer choices for travelers.
• Airlines cutting routes. Those airlines that haven’t folded yet have been forced to cut out some of their less profitable routes.  If you’re used to flying out of a small local airport, you may find there are no more flights, and you either will be paying much more for the tickets you buy, or you’ll have to travel to a large airport.  There’s an airport just a few miles from my house, but the flights are so expensive that I hardly ever fly in and out of there.  Instead, I drive several hours to DC, Baltimore, or Norfolk, where I can find cheaper flights.  When looking for tickets, expand your search to include as many airports as you can.  The best deals may mean you have to give up the convenience of your local airport.
• Planes are slowing down. I wrote about this back when the airlines first announced that they would be slowing their planes to conserve fuel.  This is something that doesn’t actually affect you as much as you might think.  Most flights are only a few minutes longer as a result of these changes.
• Fewer deals available. Have you tried redeeming your frequent flier miles lately?  It’s not as easy as it used to be.  Airlines are upping the miles required to redeem for free flights, they’re tacking on fees wherever possible, upgrades are almost never available, and you’ll find that so many flights are full that it’s nearly impossible to book the “free” flight you’ve earned.  Plan well in advance when you attempt to redeem your miles, and be flexible, or you may not be able to fly.
• Luggage fees. Almost all major airlines have started charging for checked bags.  Most allow one bag for free, but expect to pay at least $25 for your second checked bag.  This doesn’t just mean passengers are trying to pack lighter — in most cases it means people are pushing their limits even more when it comes to carry on luggage.  And this adds up to big delays at the gate when no one’s bags fit in the overhead bins and you have to wait while the flight attendants check 30 extra suitcases.
• Airport lounges closing. Some airlines have closed their executive lounges to cut costs.  That expensive membership fee doesn’t get you very much anymore.
• Nothing is free. Long gone are the days of a free meal for your cross-country flight, but now you can expect to pay for everything from drinks and snacks to blankets and pillows.  If you want it on the plane, either bring it yourself, or bring a lot of extra cash.  (You don’t want to use the airplane blanket anyway.  According to a flight attendant friend, it’s probably been puked on.)

Everything boils down to money.  The worse it gets for airlines, the more expensive it will be for you to travel, and since fare prices are already as high as the market will stand, the additional charges tend to come in the form of hidden charges.  The best way to avoid unexpected costs is to pack lightly and bring the things that you will need with you instead of planning to ask the flight attendant.  Or take the train instead.

It’s hard to say if airport security lines have gotten better or worse since 9/11/01. Travelers don’t have to jump through quite so many hoops to bring electronics on board a plane, but there are all those new things we have to do like removing our shoes and separating our liquids into tiny clear containers. Getting through security is still a drag, no doubt.

That’s why I was shocked to learn that the TSA plans to lift some restrictions at airport security checkpoints. According to a press release from the TSA, passengers will no longer be required to remove laptop computers from their cases to go through the x-ray scanner, provided that the carrying case meets certain guidelines.

In March, the TSA reached out to bag manufacturers to encourage production of these checkpoint-friendly designs. While the TSA is not endorsing any particular bag, manufacturer, or design, they have announced that approximately 40 new bag designs available for purchase this August meet the acceptable criteria.

The criteria provided by the TSA are as follows:

• The bag must have a designated laptop-only section
• The laptop-only section completely unfolds to lie flat on the X-ray belt
• No metal snaps, zippers or buckles inside, underneath or on top of the laptop-only section
• No pockets on the inside or outside of the laptop-only section
• Nothing packed in the laptop-only section other than the computer itself.

Bags like this are checkpoint-friendly, according to the TSA

You will still have to remove laptops from accordion and backpack style cases

My only concern is that this initiative could backfire when people try to sneak around the restrictions, sending non-checkpoint-friendly laptop bags through the scanner without removing the laptop, thus causing further delays when they have to send the bag through a second time after taking out the laptop. You know it’s going to happen, just like every person on your flight is going to bring oversized carry on luggage.

It’s really nice to see the TSA working with the public to make the airport experience a little less miserable, but until everyone learns that the rules actually do apply to them, I predict that delays are going to be a regular part of the process.

Most people use their vacation time in the summer. They go to the beach, overseas, to amusement parks, on cruises — I go to music festivals. There’s a festival coming up in a few weeks that I’m really excited about.

Hosted by the Steep Canyon Rangers, one of the finest young acts in bluegrass, the Mountain Song Festival at Brevard Music Center in North Carolina is worth traveling for. The one-day event is Saturday, September 13, 2008 in Brevard, North Carolina. The seating area at the stage is covered to protect up to 1800 listeners from the elements, so you’re sure to have a blast rain or shine.

One thing that sets this show aside from others is that it is a benefit concert. I spoke with Steep Canyon’s Woody Platt about the event.

Woody Platt -- photo courtesy www.mountainsongfestival.com

Three years ago, Platt’s mother was the board president of the Transylvania County Boys and Girls Club. She suggested that Woody try to put together a benefit concert for the organization, and the Mountain Song Fest was born. According to Platt, the festival has enjoyed tremendous success since its beginning and has so far raised over $63,000 for the Boys and Girls Club. “Steep Canyon Rangers are the host band and kick the show off every year — we constantly promote the event while we are out on the road. There is a real sense of ownership and pride felt by the Rangers when it comes to Mountain Song,” he says. “Brevard is a great community and the Boys and Girls Club plays a wonderful role — we are proud to help them reach their goals.”

In addition to two sets from the Rangers, this year’s lineup includes performances from bluegrass standouts Cherryholmes, Tim O’Brien, and Sam Bush. The site opens and noon, music starts at 2pm, and Sam Bush closes the fest in the 8:30-10pm time slot. In addition to the great music, visitors will enjoy displays from local craftsmen, non-profit organizations, a kids’ play area, and of course, great food. Woody recommends the BBQ.

What a gorgeous venue! Photo courtesy www.mountainsongfestival.com

You can’t stay overnight onsite, but there are lots of B&B’s in the area, or you can camp at the lovely Pisgah National Forest. For other accommodation information for this area, start here.

Tickets for the Mountain Song Fest are $35 in advance or $40 at the gate. You’ll be supporting a great cause, and it’s the best one-day lineup I’ve seen in the entire summer festival season. Come say hi if you’re there! I’ll be the one crying when it’s over.

www.flippin-seaman.com

Maybe it’s just the excessive heat, but this summer has felt longer than most.  Nothing against summer, but I’m ready for autumn.  Football and fall foliage are some of my favorite things, but I’m especially looking forward to my annual apple-picking trips.

It’s not quite apple season here in Virginia, but farms all across the country are geared up for the start of pick-your-own season.  As the crops come in, farms will open their gates to visitors who will come from near and far to pick their favorite fruits fresh off trees and vines.  It’s a great excursion for families, groups of friends, and culinary artists looking to get a deal on their jam-making supplies.

I usually make a weekend out of it with friends.  We go down to Nelson County, Virginia, to pick apples at my family farm, which is also open to the general public for pick-your-own apple days throughout the season.  We then pitch our tents on the farm and spend the night eating apples and drinking spiked cider by the campfire.  The next day, the more skilled among us (not me - I’m an eater, not a cook) take their remaining apples home and create delicious things like apple butter and apple pie to share with those of us who wish we were talented enough to make these things ourselves.

www.flippin-seaman.com

Apple season is coming soon, but right now there are blueberries, peaches, and blackberries (in the northern US).  Pick-your-own excursions are great fun for kids, and then you can take your load home with you for cooking projects with your family.  Then later in the fall will be pumpkin season — get your Halloween jack-o-lanterns direct from the patch.

In addition to having a fun day outdoors with your friends and/or family, you can save a lot of money on fresh produce when you buy directly from a farm.  To find a pick-your-own site near you, visit this website.  You’ll also find great recipes for what to do with all the fruit you’re going to bring home.

If you find you can’t possibly eat all the goodies you picked (that’s often my problem), be a hero and bring them into your office to share, or have your kids take them to their friends at school.

With the way all of our cities are rapidly morphing into concrete jungles, I think time on a farm is valuable for everyone, but especially kids.  A pick-your-own farm trip is a great excuse to get some of your extended family together for some fun on the farm and a celebratory feast.

www.keenfootwear.com

With luggage restrictions and fees getting a little out of control, we’re all looking for ways to lighten our loads. Shoes have always been a big space hog in my bags, but I’ve had to break my habit of packing a shoe for every occasion.

The search was on for the one pair of shoes that would suit all my traveling needs. I guess most folks would just wear their favorite sneakers, and I could’ve done that, too, but sneakers are a pain when going through airport security, and they’re not exactly great for a beach trip or wading in a river.

For a while now, I’ve been coveting a pair of Keens. They’re those funky new shoes that you’ve been seeing on all your hippie friends’ feet lately. Maybe it’s just the granola talking, but I think these are some sexy shoes. So as a present to myself back in June, I finally bought a pair of my very own.

I’m not going to lie; it took a long time to break these babies in. I had to wear bandaids on the backs of my heels for a few weeks. But it was worth it. These shoes are fantastic.

They were originally produced as water shoes, so they’re great for playing around in rivers and mud. But then people started wearing them on hikes and realized they were great for just about any outdoorsy activity. (That’s also when the price went up from $50 to about $100 a pair. Dang.)

I wear my Keens every day, and when I travel, they’re the only shoe I pack. They slip right on and off, so they’re no trouble in a security line, and you can tighten them on your foot with one tug at the elastic. They’ve been swimming with me in the James River, they’ve been hiking, they’ve been to a wedding (okay, they don’t make great formal shoes, but I like to think I pulled it off), and last week I took them for a run. I’ve tested their limits in every way I can think of, and they’ve held up amazingly well. I love them so much, I’d buy more pairs, but I don’t need to. My first ones are still good as new, only without the blisters.

www.keenfootwear.com

You can find a list of online retailers here, but I’d recommend trying on a pair first. They run pretty small, and I had to go up an entire size when I bought mine. They come in men’s, women’s, and children’s sizes, and Keen keeps adding more styles to their brand. I still like the original designs best, and you can get them in all kinds of funky colors (mine are fuschia).

Do you have a favorite travel shoe? Tell me about it in the comments.

National Aquarium in Baltimore, MD

I have to admit that I don’t love Baltimore, Maryland.  It’s only a few hours away from my hometown, and I’ve visited many times, but it will never be my favorite place to go.  It’s difficult to get around, really expensive, and generally intimidating.  But there are redeeming qualities — reasons to go in spite of all this.  Number one is the National Aquarium.

When you visit the aquarium, you’ll want to leave the whole day open, because it will take hours to see everything, including special shows and various exhibits.  The exhibits at the aquarium are home to more than 16,500 animals.  I used to go on school field trips here as a kid, and I still love the place as an adult — it’s ideal for an educational family excursion.

The aquarium isn’t all fish, all the time.  There are reptile, bird, amphibian, and mammal exhibits to check out, along with the thousands of fish you’ll see.

Australian Frilled Lizard

One of the featured exhibits right now is Animal Planet Australia:  Wild Extremes.  Many Australian species evolved on the island continent isolated from other similar species, and represent the closest living connection to prehistoric animals on Earth.

Another exhibit your family will love is Frogs! A Chorus Of Colors.  You’ll get up close with all different shapes, sizes, and colors of frog, and experience their music in the making.  Check out frog mp3s here.

Some exhibits are hands-on, allowing you to touch animals that you’d never get close to in the wild.  Kids especially love this experience.

As with all good museums, the National Aquarium has a large theater called the 4D Immersion Theater.  Currently showing is Planet Earth: Shallow Seas™ 4-D Experience, a film that explores life in coastal waters and coral reefs.  The film is 3D, while smells and other sensory special effects combine for the fourth “D.”

My favorite part of the aquarium experience, both as a child and now as an adult, is always the dolphin show.  You have to purchase a separate ticket for this, but it’s a must see.  Dolphins are fascinating animals, and I always leave the show wishing I’d worked harder toward a dolphin-training career path.

Dolphins Perform at the National Aquarium

As I mentioned before, Baltimore is pricey — tickets to the aquarium start at $21.95 for adults, but a day here is well worth the price of admission.

Mmm, tofu...

I’ve been a vegetarian for sixteen years. When I was a kid, I was really self-righteous about it, but I’ve mellowed. I don’t like to be the reason people bend over backwards, so usually if a group I’m with wants to go out to eat, I just quietly order the soup and salad, or maybe a vegetable quesadilla, and I don’t bitch about it.

Honestly, I don’t mind ordering the same two or three things every time I go out, so as long as there’s at least one vegetarian item on the menu, I’ll make do. It’s actually easier than when I tell people I’m a vegetarian, and they all want to take me out to an Ethiopian restaurant, because all carnivores think that all vegetarians’ favorite food is Ethiopian.

Meh. Some vegetarians love Ethiopian food, and so do some meat-eaters, but for some reason, everyone who knows I’m a vegetarian always wants to take me out for Ethiopian. Or Thai. And I’ll tell you a secret: I’d rather have a soup and salad at your favorite steakhouse. I don’t like Ethiopian or Thai. For more on the plight of the modern vegetarian, I found this hilarious essay on Slate that pretty much sums up my feelings on the matter.

But now it’s time to turn our attention away from the complaining and onto the kudos. LocalEats is a website that identifies the 100 best restaurants in each of the 50 largest cities in the US — through careful criticism and thorough taste testing, not just polling the residents.

In addition to listing the best food by city, there are top ten lists by category, including the top ten vegetarian restaurants in America.

Five-Grain Croquettes with Carrot-Leek Glaze and Thyme at Angelica Kitchen

It’s no surprise that first on the list is located in New York City, where most of this nation’s finest food is found. Not only is the food at Angelica Kitchen green, the whole restaurant is — environmentally friendly, that is, “where sustainable agriculture and responsible business practices are the main ingredients,” according to the restaurant’s website. You don’t have to spend a fortune to enjoy this top restaurant — you’ll eat here for under $25.

The eastern half of the US dominates the vegetarian list, but I was surprised to find Texas with a restaurant in this top ten category. (When I visited Texas, my only gripe was the lack of vegetarian fare.) Spiral Diner & Bakery in Fort Worth made the list for its superior all-vegan menu.

Spiral was the 2007 VegNews Restaurant of the Year, and has recently opened a location in Dallas as well. The menu prices can’t be beat — expect a hearty vegan meal for under $10.

Looks like meat -- tastes much better; www.spiraldiner.com

The others in the top ten are Beans & Barley in Milwaukee, WI; Blue Sage in Southampton, PA; Cafe Brenda in Minneapolis, MN; Green Zebra in Chicago, IL; Greens Restaurant in San Francisco, CA; Irregardless Cafe in Raleigh, NC; Real Food Daily in Los Angeles, CA; and Tommy’s in Cleveland Heights, OH.

Most meat-eaters scoff at vegetarian eateries, certain they can never be satisfied with such rabbit food. But note that the above establishments are not called the best restaurants for vegetarians — they are the best vegetarian restaurants, for everyone. Try something off one of these menus — I bet you won’t even miss your meat.

Our quest for the best place on Earth to spend the night started in the Netherlands, and now takes us to the Chilean rain forest. Nestled in the Huilo Huilo Reserve in Southern Chile, we find the Magic Mountain Hotel, a fairytale style building with 13 private rooms and an additional 11 cabins elsewhere on the grounds.

www.ayrhoteles.cl

This unique building even has its own waterfall cascading down one side. Each of the rooms looks out into the beautiful natural setting, with condors and eagles flying by and pumas and other native animals wandering the forest floor below.

A snowboarder enjoys the Choshuenco volcano

More than a two hour drive from the nearest airport (Pichol airport in Valdivia, Chile), the Magic Mountain Hotel seems a bit out of the way, perhaps in the middle of nowhere. But there’s plenty to do, even without a big city close by. There is an aerial walkway through the reserve as high as 90m up at some points. You can take in the scenery from the treetops, above cliffs and over valleys. Hunting and fishing are popular summer pastimes (remember that this is the Southern hemisphere, so summer is January-March), and expert skiers enjoy the challenging slopes of the nearby Choshuenco volcano. This is not a ski resort with lifts and trails, but the hotel provides transportation and snow cats for skiers. Other activities offered by the hotel include whitewater rafting and horseback riding.

www.allsouthernchile.com

After a long day of busy sightseeing, there’s no better place to relax than in the tree trunk hot tubs on the hotel deck with a glass of fine Chilean wine — and Magic Mountain has the finest!

Room rates at the Magic Mountain range from approximately $150-$250USD, and the hotel accepts Visa and Mastercard payments. For reservations or further information, call +56 63 1972681.

Also check out the newly constructed Baobab Hotel, located in the same area as Magic Mountain.

Baobab Hotel

This whole area is an architecture-lover’s dreamland, and a haven for any naturalist.

I used to be a very lucky traveler. In all my frequent flying, I was rarely delayed by more than a few minutes and hardly ever ran into any major hassles at any airports. Then the economy shat the bed — and in this analogy, the airline industry might as well be the bed.

Having cut personnel tremendously to deal with rising operational costs, the airlines are ill prepared to deal with the problems that once only created minor delays, but now cause flight cancellations and much longer delays, leaving more and more passengers stranded in airports.

In most cases, if an airline cancels your flight, they’ll put you in a hotel room near the airport for the night — assuming the rooms aren’t all taken by other disgruntled passengers. All too often, you’re going to find yourself forced to camp out in an airport overnight — maybe it’s because your next flight will take off at 5:30am, or because there just isn’t anywhere else to go. In any case, when you fly, you should be prepared to sleep in an airport.

If you end up stranded and can’t get a hotel room, the first thing you should do is ask the airline staff about lounges. Those swanky private rooms that usually require special memberships often have comfy furniture that’s perfect for someone looking to catch a little shuteye. If you don’t have a membership, a little politeness goes a long way — the airline knows they’re the reason you’re stuck, so as long as you don’t scream at the person who can help you, they’ll usually bend the rules to keep you as satisfied as possible.

When that doesn’t work, your next step is to just find the most comfortable space you can. Don’t just go to the gate and wait there — chances are, you can find a better place to plant. Try the arrivals lounge, which tends to have better furniture than the departure area. If that fails, simply look for a quiet corner without as much foot traffic. Pull some chairs together to make an almost-comfortable bed for yourself, or curl up on the floor if you must.

Our travel itinerary may not include an overnight layover, but anyone who flies should be prepared. There are a few small items you can pack in your carry-on luggage that will make airport snoozing much more comfortable for you:

• disinfectant wipes — it’s always a good idea to wipe down any furniture that gets used by dozens of people every day before you collect all their germs, whether you’re spending the night or just a few minutes.
• inflatable pool float — when deflated, these don’t take up much space in your bag, and can be easily inflated for a much nicer “bed” than the floor or airport chairs, and they provide a buffer between you and the germ-infested floor.
• earplugs or headphones — there are constant announcements in airports, and inevitably a screaming child or two. If you don’t want to wake up every two minutes, make sure you have a way to block out the noise.
• wear layers — you never know what the temperature will be like inside the airport. If it’s too cold, you’ll never get comfy enough to sleep without something to keep you warm. If it’s too hot, you can always take your sweater off and use it as a pillow.
• entertainment — in the event that you simply cannot get comfortable enough for sleep, you’ll need something to keep you from dying of boredom while you wait through the night. Books, puzzles, a portable DVD player — don’t neglect to pack these things just because you thought you were only going to be flying for three hours or so. You never know…

www.sleepinginairports.net

No one wants to sleep in an airport, but it only takes a little extra space in your luggage to prepare for an unexpected campout, and packing a few cautionary items can be the difference between a decent night’s sleep and the most boring, uncomfortable night of your life.

For extensive reading on airport sleeping, visit The Guide To Sleeping In Airports.