My trip to Solvang, California is posted! Head over to My Adventures and read all about it. Make sure you check out the pictures in my Photo Gallery too by clicking into the the album through one of the pictures posted or by visiting my Photos page.

Date of trip: July 2005

Those of you who saw the movie Sideways, know that Solvang is a Danish town located in Santa Barbara county. Solvang is known for it’s Danish architecture, it’s Danish food, it’s wine as there are many vineyards in the area and of course it is best known as the shooting location for the aforementioned movie, Sideways.

Highlights:

-The food in Solvang is amazing! Will and I just couldn’t stop eating. From the Danish pancakes at Paula’s Pancake House to the prix fixe “Sideways” dinner at the Los Olivos Cafe, everything was delicious! There are also many little bakeries perfect for for a snack…remember that Denmark is famous for danish so it’s perfectly acceptable to indulge in a pastry while you are in Solvang.

-Wine tastings in Solvang are fun and affordable. There are many little wine shops in the shopping area that offer tastings of 5 or more wines for a mere $5 and if you stop into Olive House, you can pair each wine with a different gourmet stuffed olive for a couple of dollars more as wine country is also olive country. There are some vineyards in the area that also offer tastings and a good one is Kalyra which is featured in Sideways and seems to be a hot spot for a younger crowd. I think the nearby town of Los Olivos is a fine place to taste as there are many places close enough together to walk to so you don’t have to worry about driving after.

-The cute little shops in Solvang are a great place to buy something unique for a friend or for yourself. Will and I especially liked the Jule Hus which features Danish Christmas ornaments and decorations and Pebble People, a clock store that has a fine collection of German cuckoo clocks.

-Nojoqui Falls is a perfect place to visit if you want to get away from the town and feel close to nature. It is beautiful and just a ten minute hike from the Nojoqui Falls Park parking area. Will and I went in the morning and only saw a couple of other people.

-A trip to Solvang would not be complete without stopping at OstrichLand. There are many farms and ranches in Solvang and it is fun seeing the horses and cows, but seeing a farm of ostriches is a sight unlike any other. Not only can you get up close enough to them to feed them, but they seem to like posing for pictures too. There were even a couple of baby ostriches there when we went. A gift shop offers ostrich eggs both empty and full and ostrich feathers and meat. Wondering what you could make with an ostrich egg? Well, anything you would make with a chicken egg, just keep in mind that one ostrich egg equals 24 chicken eggs!

For more pictures, please visit my Photo Gallery or click on any of the photos posted above.

Solvang Links:
Solvang Official Site
Olive House
Kalyra Winery
Pebble People
Nojoqui Falls
Ostrichland

Sometimes you don’t want to leave your valuables behind for even a second, but what about when you are out on a water excursion? Paqua makes waterproof bags in a variety of sizes to keep everything from your cell phone to your digital camera to your wallet safe and dry. Two of their pouches are even submersible so you can strap them around your waist or over your shoulder and wear them while you dive or swim. Paqua is an Australian company and sells in outdoor shops all over the country. Outside Australia, you can buy the products on many sports outfitter websites that ship internationally. To learn more and for purchase information visit the official website:

Paqua

Source: Vacations & Travel

For years, communications experts have been arguing that cell phone use while flying is safe and should be allowed. So far, the Federal Communications Commission refuses to drop the ban in the United States, but some international airlines are deciding to let passengers make their calls. Quantas will soon allow usage in Australia only and Emirates will let 6 passengers use their phone at a time with calls permitted only during daytime hours. International roaming rates will apply. Air France and Ryanair are working on similar programs and Jetblue is considering a Wi-Fi feature that will allow text messaging.

I suppose it’s good that people will be able to get in touch with loved ones in an emergency, but I dread the day when I have to listen to 20 different phone conversations and ringtones left and right while I am in flight.

If you haven’t had a chance to watch the fantastic documentary, Planet Earth, that has been airing on the Discovery Channel this past month, you really must check it out. This amazing 11 hour film, is split up into sections by environment, like “Caves”, “Forests” and “Mountains”. It took 5 years to film and incredible devotion and risk on the part of the camera crew. The result is magnificent. You will see footage of far off places and rare animals never before caught on film. It will definitely give you a jolt to get off the couch and travel to see more of our beautiful planet or at the very least, to appreciate it more.

Planet Earth can be seen at various times on the Discovery and Science Channels and it’s also available to rent or buy on DVD. For more information and to view footage, visit the official website:

Planet Earth

Did you know that many hotels offer a deeply discounted rate for the first few months after they open? The idea is that they will be ironing out any issues involved with the new property during this time and also that the low rate will entice travellers to try a new place. Last year when the Westin Boston Waterfront hotel opened I saw rates up to 50% off! You can find new hotel openings on industry websites such as the Hotel News Resource.

Hotel News Resource New Openings Page

Source: Sunday Times Travel

Have you ever been walking around a city and thought……if only I could take a quick nap? To the rescue is Yelo, a place that’s somewhere between a hotel and a spa. Check in for a 20-40 minute power nap and you will be assigned to one of their 60 soundproof cabins or as they call them, “YeloCabs”. Each YeloCab is equipped with a specially designed, luxury chair that reclines while still holding your legs above heart level to produce a feeling of weightlessness. Music of your choice fills the air, the lights dim and off to dreamland you go. Reflexology is also offered for the ultimate in relaxation. When your time is up, LED lights simulate a gentle sunrise to wake you. Prices start at just $12 for a 20 minute snooze. The company claims they are experiencing a huge demand and plans to open 25-30 more locations in NYC plus 70 more in cities throughout the world! For more information, visit their website:

Yelo

Source: ForbesLife

One of my friends gave me the best tip when I asked her to send me a postcard from her coming vacation. She prints address labels before she leaves and just sticks them on the cards when mailing them. I can’t believe I never thought of this! Such a great idea! For one thing, you save space by not lugging around an address book and you don’t have to worry about forever losing the contact information of everyone you know. Plus, if you’re like me and send more then ten postcards on a trip, this will save time and your wrist which will likely be tired from writing all those messages! I’m definitely going to use this one!

At one time or another, most of us have been exhausted in an airport and gazed longingly at a VIP lounge. With high annual fees and restrictions, memberships have long been worth it only to frequent business travelers who stay loyal to one airline. Recently, I learned about a program that offers a glimmer of hope to the rest of us. Priority Pass provides unlimited access to over 500 lounges in over 90 countries for its members regardless of the airline being flown. Most popular airports participate and the best part is that it’s actually affordable. At the lowest level of membership, you pay just $99 annually plus $24 per lounge visit. If you bring a guest, it’s an additional $24. Not bad for VIP treatment around the world! For more information and to learn about higher membership levels, check out their official website:

Priority Pass

Source: ForbesLife