Atlanta has been home to the World of Coca-Cola, a museum which showcases the soft drink’s history since 1990. In April of this year, they closed for 6 weeks to undergo $97 million dollars in renovations. When they reopened in May, they unveiled a huge 62,000 square foot facility twice the size of its predecessor. The new Coke mecca has over 1,200 artifacts, interactive exhibits including a multi-sensory 4-D movie, a 7ft polar bear and a tasting room where visitors can sample over 70 different Coca-Cola products from around the world.

With this new attraction and the world famous Georgia Aquarium next door, Atlanta is fast becoming a world class tourist destination.

World of Coca-Cola

Source: travelgirl

I’m aware of the photo album issues and we’re working to correct it.

Thanks!

UPDATE: All fixed!!

Lugtagz has come out with the most creative and unique luggage tags I’ve seen in a long time. They are brightly colored and come in 9 theme varieties like Gal Tags, Man Tags and Retro Tags. All have cute, campy messages sure to put a smile on your face when you’re stressed with delays at the airport. For the practical, the tags are scratch resistant, waterproof and even fireproof!! My favorites are the “I Love Travel” and the “I Miss My Dog” Go Tags.

Customized tags are offered so whether you are looking for a cool gift for a traveler or personalized party favors for an event, Lugtagz could fit the bill.

$9.00 Lugtagz

Source: travelgirl

While a visit to a spa is a logical addition to a relaxing vacation, many people are too intimidated or even afraid to go. I often get asked questions about spa etiquette and treatments so I decided to post a few tips for the apprehensive.

1. Start Simple - I always tell people that they should arrange a simple treatment for their first spa visit. A standard massage is a good start but if you are nervous about being touched or being exposed, try starting with a shorter treatment that only involves the waist up. Do not go for a body wrap if you are claustrophobic.

2. Ask Questions – When you book your appointment, find out what kind of facility you will be visiting. Sometimes there is a gym or a steam room to use before treatments. Often there is a relaxation room where you can chill out and have a drink and snack before and after. Many spas request you check in 15-30 minutes before your allotted time and some even require you take a shower there. Also, you can always request a male or female therapist so be sure to ask for whoever you will feel most comfortable with. Early morning or late evening appointments during the week are the best if you want to avoid sharing the locker room and the amenities with too many other guests.

3. Preparation = Comfort – Many spa phobias are related to body issues. Trust me, therapists have seen every body type under the sun and they are going to be ok with yours. The most important rule to ensuring the comfort of the therapist and yourself is to be clean. Shower before a body treatment, make sure your nails are clipped and clean and if you need to shave, try to do it at least a few hours before so your skin won’t be too sensitive to anything applied during your visit.

4. Speak up – Before a treatment, be sure to tell the therapist about any injuries or issues you have. You can also mention any concerns or fears. If you’d rather they avoid touching a certain area or you’d prefer to keep your undergarments on, just let them know. Likewise, if you want them to focus on a body part, they are usually happy to comply with such requests.

5. Relax – Remember that spas are there to help you unwind and relieve stress. The employees want you to be comfortable. People who work in spas are usually very friendly, kind and helpful. They want you to leave feeling refreshed and happy so you’ll recommend them to others and return yourself.

As of August 4th, the Transportation Security Administration is allowing standard lighters in carry on luggage while flying. The ban was lifted because lighters “no longer pose a significant threat” and because the cost to remove and dispose of up to 30,000 lighters per day was almost $4 million annually. Torch lighters which create thin, needle like flames and reach up to 2,500 degrees Fahrenheit remain on the no fly list.

Two months ago Kyla Ebbert boarded a Southwest Airlines flight to Tucson. After taking her seat, a flight attendant asked her to follow him off the plane where she was told her clothing was inappropriate and asked to change. Since she would only be in Tucson for a few hours for a medical appointment, she had no luggage and therefore no change of clothes. She was then asked to go home and take a later flight wearing a less revealing outfit. Ebbert insisted she be let on the flight so she wouldn’t miss her appointment and after much arguing, she was allowed but asked to cover herself with a blanket.

When I heard this story, I figured Ebbert must have been dressed just obscenely to incite such attention, but when I saw this photo of her wearing the so called scandalous outfit, I just shrugged. Sure her skirt was short, but I don’t think her outfit was that bad. I’m sure I’ve seen much worse while flying. I suspect a lawsuit may be filed and I think Southwest owes Kyla Ebbert an apology at the very least.

Source: San Diego Union Tribune

Travel search engine Kayak has added a new feature which helps you find weekend flight deals. Instead of typing in specific dates, you can now opt to search the next 5 weekends or a specific month of weekends. You can even choose to start the search as early as Thursday and end it as late as Monday. I am a big long weekend traveler so I’m very excited about this new tool.

Kudos to Kayak!!

Kayak

Cologne Cathedral in Germany unveiled a new stained glass window last month called the “Symphony of Light.” Designed by German artist Gerhard Richter, it replaces a facade shattered during World War II. More graphic than gothic, the 11,500 four inch panes of glass in 72 colors that make up the 65 foot tall window are meant to simulate computer pixels. It’s a dazzling new twist on an old classic.

The Cathedral is the landmark of Cologne and one of the most popular tourist attractions in Germany.

I only wish the window was complete when I visited the city earlier this year! On the bright side, now I have a reason to return. You can read about my visit to Cologne here and get more information on the Cathedral from the official site.

Cologne Cathedral

Source: Wired

What is Zorb you ask? It’s an extreme sport in which you climb into a giant inflatable ball and roll down a hill like a hamster. Although it was invented in New Zealand, Zorb is becoming quite popular with locations popping up around the world. The first U.S. Zorb center is set to open at the Smoky Mountains in Tennessee very soon.

It may seem a bit weird, but if you are looking for a unique way to spend your next vacation this would be hard to top.

Check out the Zorb official site for more information and locations.

Source: Travel & Leisure Family

Date of trip: August 2007

Although Will and I travel extensively, it is the rare trip that takes my breath away and leaves me struggling for words to describe it. Our adventure in Ontario was fun, cool, scary, exciting, tiring, etc, etc, etc. I’m afraid I will never be able to do it justice in my description, but I will do my best!

Highlights:

-Cedar Meadows Resort in the city of Timmins seems like a standard hotel until you take their wilderness tour. You are loaded into a cart and driven out onto the grounds where you are soon surrounded by bison, moose and deer. From the safety of the wagon, you can feed the animals but it’s important to be careful as they are still wild at the end of the day.

-Ontario’s polar bears are up by the Hudson Bay and there are no roads that lead there. We flew Air Creebec from Timmins to the native Cree community of Peawanuck to meet our guide, Sam Hunter. He took us by canoe to a remote camp where we settled into canvas tents. Later, we rode snowmobiles (on the grass!) up to Polar Bear Provincial Park to find caribou, eagles and four polar bears. The bears are much bigger and more intimidating than I expected and it was an intense and humbling experience to be so close. It is amazing to see the world’s largest land carnivores in their native habitat but important to remember that you are on their turf and you must show them the utmost respect to stay safe. There are other parts of Canada where polar bears are found but with nearly 30 years of experience giving tours, Sam knows the animals better than anyone. He also cooks a mean caribou stew according to Will.

-Another plane ride and a water taxi landed us at the Cree Village Eco Lodge on Moose Factory Island. It was the perfect spot for Will and me to recuperate after several days of traveling and excitement. The hotel was designed for minimal impact on the environment and is one of the most advanced facilities of its kind in Canada. Everything is “green” and if you are brave enough, four of the rooms even have composting toilets with wiggler worms! The hotel can arrange boat or bike tours and there is also a native museum on the island. We took a boat out to James Bay and our guide talked to us about Cree life and their culture. Just keep track of the time if you want to eat at the restaurant as it is only open for a couple of hours at mealtimes and there’s not many other dining options around.

-After a quick water taxi from Moose Factory to the town of Moosonee we hopped on the Polar Bear Express train to Cochrane. The trip lasts 5 1/2 hours, but passes quick as there is so much on board to keep you occupied. There’s a kid’s play car, a bar car with entertainment and a gift shop, a snack car and two dining cars with restaurants. We spent the bulk of the trip in one of the two high observation cars where we watched the sunset through the domed ceiling windows.

-In Cochrane we visited the Polar Bear Habitat and Heritage Village, home to four rescued polar bears. The draw at the facility is the pool next to the bear enclosure separated by a glass window, allowing guests to “swim” with the bears. Unfortunately the window was cracked during our trip so we were unable to go in the water, but we had a great time watching and learning about the bears. Later we toured the Heritage Village which features antiques, all in working order, from the early 1900s. There is a collection of cars, snowmobiles and farm equipment and a re-creation of an old town with a general store, a barbershop and a school house. We were impressed by the knowledge and enthusiasm of the staff who answered all of our questions and demonstrated how the equipment was used.

Will and I covered so much ground here! By plane, boat, train, and even snowmobile we found stunning landscapes, awe inspiring animals and most impressively, kind and generous people happy to allow us into their territory and share their lives with us. This was a trip I will never forget and I will always treasure what we experienced and learned. Everyone knows Toronto and Niagara Falls, but they are only a tiny sample of what Ontario has to offer visitors. I sincerely thank everyone who made this journey possible for Will and me and I hope many people will get the opportunity to travel to this corner of the world.

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

Northern Ontario Links:
Ontario Official Site
Moccasin Trail Tours
Cedar Meadows Resort
Air Creebec
Sam Hunter’s Polar Bear and Fishing Tours
Cree Village Eco Lodge
Polar Bear Express
Polar Bear Habitat and Heritage Village