Well, I've been a little lazy in posting recently, but I've added a few travels and some crafts to the "done" list so I'll have fresh material for a while. Aren't you folks lucky?!
The more I travel, and perhaps the more I age, the more I appreciate a comfortable location to rest my weary head. I'm fine with a random hotel, especially on road trips. Still, I'll admit that if I'm going to stay at a destination for an extended period of time then the better the facility, the happier I'll be. This is where Home Away comes into play.
Home Away is a website on which people list rental properties. People will rent everything from apartments and condos to full scale luxury homes. The site is user friendly, allowing you to search by variables including location, price, number of occupants, etc. Most owners have fairly comprehensive listings that include photos and a list of amenities.
My friends and I have been using Home Away for a while now. We've used this site to rent houses for large groups of friends on holiday weekends. On or around New Year's we rent a house in the Hamptons on Long Island, New York. Then on or around the Fourth of July we rend a house in the Poconos in Pennsylvania or Upstate New York. We basically rent a summer location during the winter and a winter location during the summer to get cheaper off-season rates. After several years of doing this we've had a lot of great experiences. In fact after about 10 or so rentals we've only had one house that did not meet our expectations. At the time it was annoying. Now it makes for some great inside jokes. As Matchbox Twenty sings, "bad trips can make great stories." Still, I'd like to emphasize that we've had some great houses and Home Away has been incredibly useful.
The most recent house we rented was near Hunter Mountain. There were plenty of activities available. We went hiking one day and river tubing another. At the house we had plenty of room for games, dancing, cooking, eating and lounging. This house was a little larger than we usually rent and for 20 people for a four day weekend we each paid $122. We each had a bed, there were plenty of bathrooms and we had the space and resources to cook all of our meals at the house. Including food costs we were able to have a weekend getaway for about $140 per person plus travel costs.
In June I went to Gettysburg, Pennsylvania with three girlfriends for an extended weekend trip. This was the first time we used Home Away for a small group. We were able to rend a condo just a couple blocks from town center. We were within walking distance to nearly everything and the cost was close to that of a hotel. The bonus being that we had two bedrooms, a full bath, a living room and eat-in kitchen for the price of a hotel. All in all, it was a fantastic place to stay.
Tips for using Home Away:
1. Shop around. When you've chosen a location call a few people. We had one person in the Gettysburg area try to charge us almost twice as much as the condo and he was a few miles outside of town.
2. Don't be afraid to bargain. If there is a cleaning fee and your willing to do your own cleaning at the end of the trip see if you can get that waived. Some people will say yes, some say no, but it's never hurt us to ask.
3. Each rental property will be different. Make sure ask for details. You'll want specifics about parking, cooking utensils provided, utilities, garbage removal, linens, etc.
4. Look up the closest grocery store before you leave home. If you're traveling with a small group you may want to shop closer to the rental property instead of worrying about transporting perishables in coolers. If you are traveling with a large group at least one person is bound to forget something, need something or want something.
5. Don't forget to add items like toilet paper, paper towels and soap to your packing list. Little items that are usually included in hotels may not be included in rental properties.
6. Before you arrive make sure you have a contact number to get in touch with the owner if you have any questions or problems during your stay.
Happy Travels!
Friday, July 26, 2013
Saturday, May 4, 2013
Cross Country Road Trip Days 9 & 10
Baltimore, Maryland to Long Island, New York
Day 9: Fun in Baltimore
Day 10: Go home
Highlights:
1. Maryland Crab Cakes from Jerry D's Seafood. It's a local place, far away from the tourist traps. It's awesome. Go there, thank me later.
2. A trip to the National Aquarium in Baltimore's Inner Harbor. They have some great exhibits & a fun dolphin show.
3. Food, particularly desserts from Vaccaro's Pasticeria. Unfortunately I didn't get a shot of my dessert because we took it to go. But it was AMAZING. This is one of the few places in Baltimore's Little Italy that keeps late hours (from a New Yorker's perspective) so it does get crowded, but it's worth it. The Mufalato, marinated artichokes & lemon drop martini I had was great too!
4. Charm City Cupcakes in Inner Harbor. Maybe you've noticed a theme, but I was basically taking a food tour of Baltimore . Drinks, shrimp & a funny wait staff at Dick's Last Resort was fun too.
5. Last bit of hang out time with my friend Michelle, who invited me on this once I. A lifetime trip... And some last quality time with her adorable cat & dog.
Reality check: After seeing so much variety, so many colorful people & having such a great time I've confirmed / learned that I am an East Coast gal 100%, I miss having pets, I drive better in cities than I ever gave myself credit for & I really want my own house. That last bit may sound weird, but seeing so much gives one a great appreciation for home.
Playlist:
1. A Brighter Day by The Doobie Brothers
2. What's The Rumpus? By Gaelic Storm
3. Where I Sleep by Emeli Sande
4. Comin' Home by Lynyrd Skynyrd
5. The Once And Future Carpenter by The Avett Brothers
Day 9: Fun in Baltimore
Day 10: Go home
Highlights:
1. Maryland Crab Cakes from Jerry D's Seafood. It's a local place, far away from the tourist traps. It's awesome. Go there, thank me later.
2. A trip to the National Aquarium in Baltimore's Inner Harbor. They have some great exhibits & a fun dolphin show.
3. Food, particularly desserts from Vaccaro's Pasticeria. Unfortunately I didn't get a shot of my dessert because we took it to go. But it was AMAZING. This is one of the few places in Baltimore's Little Italy that keeps late hours (from a New Yorker's perspective) so it does get crowded, but it's worth it. The Mufalato, marinated artichokes & lemon drop martini I had was great too!
4. Charm City Cupcakes in Inner Harbor. Maybe you've noticed a theme, but I was basically taking a food tour of Baltimore . Drinks, shrimp & a funny wait staff at Dick's Last Resort was fun too.
5. Last bit of hang out time with my friend Michelle, who invited me on this once I. A lifetime trip... And some last quality time with her adorable cat & dog.
Reality check: After seeing so much variety, so many colorful people & having such a great time I've confirmed / learned that I am an East Coast gal 100%, I miss having pets, I drive better in cities than I ever gave myself credit for & I really want my own house. That last bit may sound weird, but seeing so much gives one a great appreciation for home.
Playlist:
1. A Brighter Day by The Doobie Brothers
2. What's The Rumpus? By Gaelic Storm
3. Where I Sleep by Emeli Sande
4. Comin' Home by Lynyrd Skynyrd
5. The Once And Future Carpenter by The Avett Brothers
Thursday, May 2, 2013
Cross Country Road Trip Days 7 & 8
St. Louis, Missouri to Baltimore, Maryland
After spending extra time in St. Louis & in an effort to gain some extra time in Baltimore we pulled another all nighter. There are pros & cons to this plan. On the downside fun side stops and sights are closed. On the bonus the roads are often clear. If you're attempting such a trip I recommend working within your personal limits. Here we have two people who work overnight shifts and are often wide awake in the middle of the night, so we used that to our advantage.
Highlights:
1. Going out to dinner & shopping in Inner Harbor in Baltimore. We scoped out the sights, took it easy & made plans for the next day.
2. We stopped in Indianapolis for Sushi. My travel mate was in the mood for sushi so we put Yelp to the test & found a winner.
3. Relaxing once we got to our final destination. My friend's new apartment was ready & waiting. After an overnight drive a shower, a nap & painting out nails put us on the right foot before going out.
4. Healthier options at chain restaurants. I try not to splurge calorie wise on every meal. Surprisingly Cheesecake Factory had some lighter options that tasted great.
5. Sleep. A good nights sleep helps reset for the next days activities.
Reality check: Overnight drives don't eliminate your need for sleep, they just help you get to a specific sleep destination.
Playlist:
1. Black Water by the Doobie Brothers
2. Oh Hey by the Lumineers
3. Drops of Jupiter by Train
4. Daylight by Maroon 5
5. Good Morning Baltimore from the Hairspray Soundtrack
After spending extra time in St. Louis & in an effort to gain some extra time in Baltimore we pulled another all nighter. There are pros & cons to this plan. On the downside fun side stops and sights are closed. On the bonus the roads are often clear. If you're attempting such a trip I recommend working within your personal limits. Here we have two people who work overnight shifts and are often wide awake in the middle of the night, so we used that to our advantage.
Highlights:
1. Going out to dinner & shopping in Inner Harbor in Baltimore. We scoped out the sights, took it easy & made plans for the next day.
2. We stopped in Indianapolis for Sushi. My travel mate was in the mood for sushi so we put Yelp to the test & found a winner.
3. Relaxing once we got to our final destination. My friend's new apartment was ready & waiting. After an overnight drive a shower, a nap & painting out nails put us on the right foot before going out.
4. Healthier options at chain restaurants. I try not to splurge calorie wise on every meal. Surprisingly Cheesecake Factory had some lighter options that tasted great.
5. Sleep. A good nights sleep helps reset for the next days activities.
Reality check: Overnight drives don't eliminate your need for sleep, they just help you get to a specific sleep destination.
Playlist:
1. Black Water by the Doobie Brothers
2. Oh Hey by the Lumineers
3. Drops of Jupiter by Train
4. Daylight by Maroon 5
5. Good Morning Baltimore from the Hairspray Soundtrack
Wednesday, May 1, 2013
Cross Country Road Trip Day 6
Kansas City, Missouri to St. Louis, Missouri
Highlights:
1. Feeding the fish at the marina at Longview Lake in Lee's Summit with my friends from the area.
2. Getting to St. Louis early enough to enjoy the evening. I particularly liked the Drury Hotel we stayed at. It was a 15 minute walk from both the stadium & the Arch. Plus they have a free happy hour & breakfast.
3. Going to a baseball game at Busch Stadium! Beer, cotton candy
4. Roadside stop at Nostalgiaville, USA... It's a great kitschy little shop & it breaks up the monotony of the usual stops.
5. Grabbing drinks after the baseball game at The Outfield bar. Great drinks, atmosphere, city view & music.
Reality check: We originally planned on only stopping for lunch in St. Louis. The game changed our minds... And breaking up really long driving days with fun days makes for a great pace. Flexibility makes a trip like this work.
Playlist:
1. Drive by Incubus
2. Starlight by Muse
3. Steady As She Goes by the Raconteurs
4. When I Come Around by Green Day
5. Open Your Eyes by Snow Patrol
Highlights:
1. Feeding the fish at the marina at Longview Lake in Lee's Summit with my friends from the area.
2. Getting to St. Louis early enough to enjoy the evening. I particularly liked the Drury Hotel we stayed at. It was a 15 minute walk from both the stadium & the Arch. Plus they have a free happy hour & breakfast.
3. Going to a baseball game at Busch Stadium! Beer, cotton candy
4. Roadside stop at Nostalgiaville, USA... It's a great kitschy little shop & it breaks up the monotony of the usual stops.
5. Grabbing drinks after the baseball game at The Outfield bar. Great drinks, atmosphere, city view & music.
Reality check: We originally planned on only stopping for lunch in St. Louis. The game changed our minds... And breaking up really long driving days with fun days makes for a great pace. Flexibility makes a trip like this work.
Playlist:
1. Drive by Incubus
2. Starlight by Muse
3. Steady As She Goes by the Raconteurs
4. When I Come Around by Green Day
5. Open Your Eyes by Snow Patrol
Tuesday, April 30, 2013
Cross Country Road Trip Day 5
Denver, Colorado to Kanas City, Missouri
For those of you who haven't examined a map of the US lately, Colorado is separated from Missouri by Kansas. One state, sounds easy... It's not. It's long, flat & boring. Based on the billboards along the road I can tell you that the only things to do are sleep at any number of road side motels, loose an hour if your traveling east & go to the "2nd friendliest" yarn store. Of those we made a run for the border and lost an hour of time... That's it. Luckily we found salvation in Missouri.
Highlights:
1. Staying with some friends in Missouri.
2. Gate's BBQ in Kansas City!
3. 75 MPH speed limit.
4. Starbucks at the rest area.
5. Leaving Kansas.
Reality check: Michelle & I will now refer to long work days as "Kansas Days."
Playlist:
1. International Harvester by Craig Morgan
2. Jimmy Olsen's Blues by The Spin Doctors
3. Rain Is A Good Thing by Luke Bryan
4. Save Me by Remy Zero
5. Something Good This Way Comes
For those of you who haven't examined a map of the US lately, Colorado is separated from Missouri by Kansas. One state, sounds easy... It's not. It's long, flat & boring. Based on the billboards along the road I can tell you that the only things to do are sleep at any number of road side motels, loose an hour if your traveling east & go to the "2nd friendliest" yarn store. Of those we made a run for the border and lost an hour of time... That's it. Luckily we found salvation in Missouri.
Highlights:
1. Staying with some friends in Missouri.
2. Gate's BBQ in Kansas City!
3. 75 MPH speed limit.
4. Starbucks at the rest area.
5. Leaving Kansas.
Reality check: Michelle & I will now refer to long work days as "Kansas Days."
Playlist:
1. International Harvester by Craig Morgan
2. Jimmy Olsen's Blues by The Spin Doctors
3. Rain Is A Good Thing by Luke Bryan
4. Save Me by Remy Zero
5. Something Good This Way Comes
Monday, April 29, 2013
Cross Country Road Trip Day 4
We spent all day in Denver!
Highlights:
1. I spent all morning visiting with my great aunt & cousins! A couple hours of family stories & reminiscing is always a good thing.
2. Wandering around 16th Street Mall in Downtown Denver for shopping & drinks.
3. Dinner at The Buckhorn Exchange. I saw the place on a Travel Channel show & it met the hype. The Rocky Mountain Oysters are a fun bucket list food item. The elk steak & quail was an amazing quality steakhouse meal.
4. Knowing that there had been snow covering the city last week & we were walking around in skirts & t-shirts was a thankful feeling.
5. Seeing the mountains as a backdrop to everything was awesome.
Reality check:
I enjoyed the whole day. I just wish I had a bit more time to explore.
Playlist:
1. Live A Little by Kenny Chesney
2. American Pie by Don McLean
3. Up On the Mountain by Jakob Dylan
4. Good Life by OneRepublic
5. American Honey by Lady Antebellum
Highlights:
1. I spent all morning visiting with my great aunt & cousins! A couple hours of family stories & reminiscing is always a good thing.
2. Wandering around 16th Street Mall in Downtown Denver for shopping & drinks.
3. Dinner at The Buckhorn Exchange. I saw the place on a Travel Channel show & it met the hype. The Rocky Mountain Oysters are a fun bucket list food item. The elk steak & quail was an amazing quality steakhouse meal.
4. Knowing that there had been snow covering the city last week & we were walking around in skirts & t-shirts was a thankful feeling.
5. Seeing the mountains as a backdrop to everything was awesome.
Reality check:
I enjoyed the whole day. I just wish I had a bit more time to explore.
Playlist:
1. Live A Little by Kenny Chesney
2. American Pie by Don McLean
3. Up On the Mountain by Jakob Dylan
4. Good Life by OneRepublic
5. American Honey by Lady Antebellum
Sunday, April 28, 2013
Cross Country Road Trip Days 2 &3
Los Angeles, California to Denver, Colorado
Our original plans to leave LA early on Day 2 and stop in Utah changed to staying late in LA to see the Hollywood Walk of Fame & drive overnight.
Highlights:
1. Sunrise driving through Utah. The word "majestic" comes to mind.
2. Mom's Cafe in Salina, Utah... After driving all night the eggs, bacon, biscuits & gravy in this little town really hits the spot!
3. Making a rest stop at Georgetown, Colorado. A few minute break at the visitor center & stopping in the tiny espresso/outdoors gear store is a great way to recharge on the road.
4. The ability to throw snowballs in 70 degree weather. Yeah Colorado!
5. The lights of Nevada... And the novelty of there being slot machines at a gas station rest stop.
Reality check: An all nighter driving trip takes more of a toll on me than it used to!
Playlist:
1. Rockin' Down the Highway by The Doobie Brothers
2. Take It Easy by The Eagles
3. Rise Up by Diane Birch
4. Good Life by One Republic
5. Rocky Mountain High by John Denver
Our original plans to leave LA early on Day 2 and stop in Utah changed to staying late in LA to see the Hollywood Walk of Fame & drive overnight.
Highlights:
1. Sunrise driving through Utah. The word "majestic" comes to mind.
2. Mom's Cafe in Salina, Utah... After driving all night the eggs, bacon, biscuits & gravy in this little town really hits the spot!
3. Making a rest stop at Georgetown, Colorado. A few minute break at the visitor center & stopping in the tiny espresso/outdoors gear store is a great way to recharge on the road.
4. The ability to throw snowballs in 70 degree weather. Yeah Colorado!
5. The lights of Nevada... And the novelty of there being slot machines at a gas station rest stop.
Reality check: An all nighter driving trip takes more of a toll on me than it used to!
Playlist:
1. Rockin' Down the Highway by The Doobie Brothers
2. Take It Easy by The Eagles
3. Rise Up by Diane Birch
4. Good Life by One Republic
5. Rocky Mountain High by John Denver
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