Priceless Writer - Travel & Recreation

Is there any way to get a cheap flight, nowadays? In the past, I could uncover pretty good deals on Yahoo Travel, scanning the flight deals listed according to my specified cities. However, this feature is no longer available and as the price of gas rises – flying the "friendly skies" seems more of an inconvenience than a pleasurable adventure. New costs are popping up everywhere, from paying $15 for your first checked bag to extra fees for selecting the window seat.

If you're looking for ways to save money on airline flights, consider the following tips:

1) Travel on Tuesdays and Wednesdays

If you fly during the slowest travel days of the week (Tuesday and Wednesday), you stand a chance at saving a bit of money. The reason: Business travelers create a higher demand for seats, as they tend to depart on Monday mornings and return on Friday afternoons. Seek out flights that depart in the middle of the week – preferably in the middle of the day.

2) Fly on Slow Times of the Year

Cheap airfare comes when you travel during the slowest time of the year – meaning cancel out the holidays, summer vacations, winter getaways, and spring flings. Consider planning a trip for between Labor Day and Thanksgiving to take advantage of the best deals.

3) Purchase Tickets at the Cheapest Time of the Day

There are moments when airlines occasionally lower their ticket prices in order to fill up empty seats. Typically, these changes take place three times a day. This means that the early bird may catch a tasty worm if they seek out flights in the wee hours of the morning. Diligent flyers usually check fares every five hours to make sure they don’t miss out on the next deal. For weekend purchases, don’t forget to check early on Saturday morning and once more at 5pm.

4) Consider a Travel Package

While you may not need a rental car or a three-nights stay at the Holiday Inn – compromising with the purchase of a travel package can save money on your overall trip – especially with the airline flight. Travel sites are overflowing with vacation packages that provide hotel stays at exceptional rates and convenient car rental specials. You save big on these last-minute sales when airlines become desperate to fill their seats. If push comes to shove – you don’t have to stay at the selected hotel or pick up the rental car, but take a closer look – the airfare savings found in a travel package are usually too tempting to pass.

The cost of gas and current economic state of the United States is sadly driving airlines to eliminate many of their special perks and discount flights. I fear it won't be too long before we're kissing goodbye the complimentary bag of peanuts and Coke. So – take advantage of what we have today because you never know when cheap flights will be gone tomorrow.

As Tiger Woods addressed the media after winning a sudden death challenge against Rocco Mediate to conquer the 2008 US Open, he made mention of heartfelt memories of Torrey Pines. Unbeknownst to myself, Torrey Pines is actually a residential community (2,600 acres) situated in the northern coastal region of San Diego, California and not just a frequent PGA Tour stop of the Buick Invitational (held every February). While the greens certainly receive its fair share of attention, there are other attractions found in this breathtaking slice of golfing paradise.

Torrey Pines greatly embraces its surroundings with more than 40% of the community serving parks and other interesting wide, open spaces.  Many sunbathers and hikers pay a visit to Torrey Pines State Beach or discover the beauty of Torrey Pines State Park, which is filled with bobcats and foxes hiding amongst the cacti and coastal chaparral.

If you travel to the cliffs of the State Park during whale migration, it is possible to capture a glimpse of these fascinating creatures in action. Head for the southern end of the beach and you'll encounter a large rock nicknamed Flat Rock. However – you may get a surprise – wander off too far south and an unofficial nude beach called Blacks Beach is uncovered.

Of course, the Torrey Pines Golf Course is an attraction that draws in a great deal of vacationers. The coastline views and deep ravines are nearly hypnotic. Wildlife meanders about every corner. Golfing enthusiasts may want to take the time to enjoy the junior golf and adult clinics or browse the award-winning golf shop that carries golf equipment, novelty gifts, and designer golf apparel. The Golf Shop at Torrey Pines is also known for consistently earning the prestigious award of Golf Shop Operations 100 Best Golf Shops in America.

When looking for adventures beyond Torrey Pines, you will find that the community is surrounded by:

Del Mar – former home to Lucille Ball, Jimmy Durante, and author Michael Crichton ("Jurassic Park")

La Jolla – wealthy seaside resort with beautiful sunsets

Mira Mesa – home of the Annual Philippine Festival

Los Penasquitos Canyon Reserve – with access to a waterfall traveling down volcanic rock and a forest full of giant California live oaks

I've been inspired to learn a bit more about Vancouver, Washington and would like to share a few activities and events that you may want to fit into your schedule if you plan on visiting "America's Vancouver" – not to be confused with its Canadian cousin. Below you will learn why this city stands by its motto: "A colorful past, a bright future."

1) Vancouver Farmers Market – Head for the heartbeat of downtown Vancouver (505 W. 8th St) to browse gourmet foods, colorful blooms, unique artisan crafts, fresh local produce, and endless family fun. Every weekend (from April 5th to October 26th), the Farmers Market is waiting for you. If you'd like to explore a list of vendors - click here. Hours of Operation: Saturdays 9am – 3pm and Sundays 10am – 3pm

2) Hit the Trails: There are plenty of nooks and crannies to explore when visiting Vancouver, WA. Peer through the fir and alder forests to take a peek at Mt. St. Helens when you tour the Bells Mountain Trail (7.5 miles) – open to hikers, mountain bikers, and equestrians. Travel back into time when you enjoy the historic and scenic setting of the Discovery Loop Trail (2.3 miles) – typically conquered in about 1½ hour. Hiking and biking adventures unfold on the Steigerwalk Lake Trail (3.5 miles), which touches upon the Steigerwald Lake Wildlife Refuge and gorgeous views of the Columbia River.

3) Esther Short Park Summer Fun: A summer trip to Vancouver means exploring the many outdoor activities and events held about town. The place to be is Esther Short Park (located at 555 W 8th St) – full of music, outdoor magic, and memories. Don’t forget to check out The Terry Lee Noon-Hour Concerts (held each Wednesday from July 9th – August 13th) with "Science in the Park" kid-friendly activities starting at 11am; and Riverview Six to Sunset Concerts (July 10th – August 14th) on Thursday evenings from 6pm to 8pm.

4) Interesting Annual Events: Visit the city in late August to enjoy an intoxicatingly good time at the Vancouver Wine and Jazz Festival in Esther Short Park – the largest jazz festival in Southwest Washington. In September, St. Joseph Catholic School plays host to the Vancouver Sausage Fest, which brings in about 100,000 people over the course of the 3-day event.

5) Festival of Trees: This annual event is held in November, where the lobby of the Hilton Vancouver Washington comes alive with a magical, glittering exhibition of more than 50 magnificently decorated Christmas trees. What a way to bring in the holiday spirit! The fee to enjoy this event is: $5; seniors ($4); 7 to 12-year olds ($3); and kids under 7 are free. Opening Hours: Fri 9am-9pm; Sat 9am-2.30pm; Sun 10am-4pm.

Also – don’t miss out on the tree-lighting ceremony at Propstra Square – held at Esther Short Park. About town, a handful of tea parties will also mark this spectacular occasion.

6) Discover the Firsts: The city of Vancouver, Washington is regarded as one of the first settlements in the Northwest – upholding a long and honored military and pioneer history. Following the British surrender of Fort Vancouver, attractive homes were built to accommodate the officers brought in to man the Vancouver Barracks U.S. military post. Today, the buildings of Officers' Row are now the responsibility of the Vancouver National Historic Reserve and are quite a sight to see. If you get a chance to hit the Columbia River Waterfront Trail – you will come upon the oldest apple tree in the Northwest – planted in 1826.

7) Discover Little-Known Facts: Did you know? In 1956, country legend Willie Nelson relocated to Vancouver to jumpstart his music career with the recording "Lumberjack". The single sold reasonably well, but did not solidify him as a giant in the music world. Nelson worked as a radio announcer and sung in local clubs in Vancouver before getting his big break. The rest…is history.

This post was inspired by Northwest Window Washing – a proud server of the Portland, Oregon and Vancouver, Washington Metro region.

If you thought jumping out of planes, rock climbing, and surfing were extreme in the world of sports – how about the wave of extreme tourism (or shock tourism) catching on around the world? An exploration of this sort of niche travel involves the visitation of "dangerous" places in an effort to test the nerves and gain one of the most exciting rushes of adrenaline in your life.

An increasing amount of people are seeking the never-ending collection of mountains, deserts, caves, and jungles of the world in order to capture their very own slice of immortality. It is the element of risk that generally attracts this type of traveler, who is interested in engaging in extreme sports, such as drifting in the air with the help of a foot-launched power hang glider, wave jumping at tropical locales, or ice climbing under extreme weather conditions.

Usually, these kinds of activities place an individual in the midst of high levels of physical strength, great heights, speed, specialized gear, and fascinating stunts. Adding to the thrill of such extreme adventures is the allure of besting an environmental challenge or obstacle. For example, when competing against other athletes in a game of basketball – there are basics you can always count on that include typical moves, the threat of a foul, or the ticking of the clock.

However, with extreme tourism and sports, there are numerous variables you cannot pinpoint, control, or even count on. In many cases, the weather is uncontrollable and plays an important role in the majority of the sports or activities associated with extreme tourism. One blast of wind, burst of snow, crack in the ice, rush of water, or crumble of the mountain can send you into the arms of danger. This is the sort of uncertainty and challenge that extreme sports enthusiasts (like climbers, surfers, and snowboarders) crave.

Today, extreme tourism is a business greatly expanding throughout destinations, such as Russia, Ukraine, Peru, Chile, Argentina, and even the mountain-dotted lands of Northern Pakistan. For some, industry leaders are only limited by their imagination, creativity, and what Mother Nature has placed before them.

Sound interesting? A couple of exotic and extreme travel suggestions to consider include:

• Brazilian Rope Jumping
• Ice Diving in the White Sea
• Wind Suit Flying
• BASE-Jumping off of a Television Tower
• Zorbing
• Windsurfing Competitions at the Beaches of Eisk
• Cupola Acrobatics – Parachutes
• White Shark Dives in Gansbaai (South Africa)
• Rappelling in South Puerto Rico (Utuado and Adjuntas)
• Tiger Shark Diving at the Farallon Islands – Bahamas
  

 

Haven't taken the time to investigate the beauty and endless natural attraction of Golden Gate Park? Whether you're planning a trip to San Francisco or just curious as to what makes this getaway so special – there is no other place to seek out the best virtual exploration of the third most visited park in the United States than at www.golden-gate-park.com. Today marks the official launch of a rather impressive tour of the park, where you can discover (or rediscover) this true California gem. Just some of the things the park is home to:

• Art Museums
• Rare and Exotic Plants
• An Extraordinary Carousel
• Japanese Tea Garden
• Running Trails
• Dog Runs
• Buffalos
• Shakespeare Garden
• Music Festivals
• Disc Golf Course