Travel Further

    We are all familiar with the same old Las Vegas tropes of drinking, gambling, Sin City and the whole "yuk yuk yuk" line of, "What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas." Well, what if I told you that you could have a totally normal multi-day vacation in a city that has some pretty amazing and often over looked resorts, is full of amazing restaurants and fun bars, and is just pretty much a city all unto itself that in my opinion is trapped in a narrative that just do not do it justice. Most people I know go to Vegas for a quick weekend trip where drinking by a pool during a pool pary, gambling into the early morning hours, and kind of just indulge and be debaucherous is the deal because, being there for more than 48-72 hours in those circumstances is just kind of, well, unbearable. And it truly is under those circumstance, especially staying on the strip which has a tendency to suck the life out of you. I had to be there for work two times many years ago for longer ...

     What do you do with a random flight credit? Further, what do you when your awesome Neighbor Lady, Lynn, but I like to call her "Neighbor Lady" got the same flight credit? Clearly you roll it into a quick girls weekend to Denver, because it is an awesome city, with tons of stuff to do. It was around 70 degrees the day we arrived and to my surprise   horror surprise, it was the same weekend as the volleyball qualifier I used to play in. Yay! Over-crowded restaurants filled with teenage girls 😎! However, it never posed a problem because, we never really ventured out of the Highland neighborhood where we had rented a sweet house. Now, why rent a house you ask? You are a travel agent, but, remember the volleyball players I was telling you about? Getting away on a cheap plane ticket, only to spend $300 a night on a hotel room is just not justifiable. Aside from being a topic for another day, there are many cities in this country who have horrible hotel rates and as...

    I will be the first to admit that I have zero cool when it comes to an irrational fear of dying in a plane crash. So when it was decided that we would fly in a private jet to Charleston Race Week I have to admit how apprehensive I was about it. However, it was also pretty amazing and worthy of copious amounts of excitement that helped fight the fear. We got to the airport at Kenosha (a whopping 15 minutes from our house, woo hooo!) 15 minutes before our scheduled departure, there was no security lines and I could bring my coffee with instead of slamming it and scalding my throat or having to wait until after the security line to get my caffeine fix, making Shannon grumpy. All of conveniences also made up for the intense fear I felt during both take-offs, perpetuated by my ignorance of how these planes work. In retrospect, the convenience combined with the amenities made flying in a private jet pretty damn sweet. Thanks Wheels Up !    End of trip pro... Sli...

   This week, we are excited to head to Charleston Race Week for our first adventure with a client. Being too familiar with the sailing program :) allowed me to be really creative, but below is the itinerary for the long weekend! Stay tuned for updates and pictures- 

        Scotland. How can you begin to describe a land so haunted by its prominent ghosts and traditions, yet also basks in its own unique modern culture and vibe? Really, you just can not. From the narrow Close’s in Edinburgh’s Old Town, where amazing restaurants hide among the bends and stairs awaiting discovery, to the vast open spaces of the Highlands which possess views so stunning they render you, well, speechless. Scotland is a contradiction of sorts. It is wild and untamed, yet home to a passionate intellectual tradition and witty sarcasm. It can be cold and damp with its schizophrenic weather patterns, yet, every door open to a visitor will have a warm hearth and open hearts. I went to Scotland looking for something,  not quite sure of what however. Perhaps solitude, a spiritual awakening, a calming force to settle my very unsettled soul. (Still looking...) Regardless, I was too distracted by its constant beauty, by its welcoming citizens, and by it...

      The other morning I was in my doctor's office filling out the usual paperwork in the waiting room. The televisions all had on a local morning show that I find particularly annoying, and when I turned my head to see what they were talking about my readiness to be annoyed did not go unfulfilled. As this Friday is St. Patrick's Day, they predictably were doing a "segment" about Irish food and drink, as are all morning shows this week. One of the hosts, interviewing Irish chef Clodagh McKenna, (Who seems to be Ireland's version of Giada de Laurentiis with her tastefully curated website, fun recipes, and calm demeanor.) told her about her recent experience in Ireland this past summer leading with, "When I was in Ireland this summer, I told the bartender that I wanted the best Irish whiskey." ("My cat's breath smells like cat food...."- Ralph Wiggam)       My eyeballs hit the ceiling, literally. I rolled them so hard I thought I might n...

      For anyone who loves music, you know that time of the year is creeping up on us...music festival season!! And no, I am NOT talking about Coachella or Lollapalooza, at times those can feel like music festivals for teenagers and people who just want to be seen....I am talking about the real deal, the more grown-up oriented, awesome food and music, music festivals. The places where people wear sensible clothing and shoes because they want to feel the groove all day with the rest of the plebs in general admission, we who make these festivals run every year. I am talking about South by Southwest, the eclectic Beale Street, Shaky Knees, Firefly, Panorama, Newport Folk Fest, New Orleans Jazz Fest, Hangout, Franklin's Pilgrimage, Summerfest, Boston Calling, Bottle Rocket, and closing out with Austin City Limits, and Voodoo Music Experience and many more in between.       Now, I don't want to rag on Lolla or Coachella here at Travel Further, but, they are...