About that Loss Damage Waiver (LDW)

Yes, there are ‘up sells’ even in the rental car industry. On our recent trip to Florida, we rented a car from Advantage and right out the gate, the up sell came out – do you want a convertible or a Jeep?  Wow, what a car company, I thought.  This is great!  My wife chimed in, “Wait, are those the same price as what we signed up for?”  Ummm, no. Those came in at an extra $28/day or an extra $150. So, no on that front.

Next up – the Loss Damage Waiver or LDW – probably one of the more confusing and annoying aspects to the rental car experience.  This was almost presented as non-negotiable – and the sales push was on. We were even warned of ‘dump trucks’ up and down the roads we were going to drive on and even the smallest rock could conceivably hit our windshield which would cause us to be held liable for damage. Out came the question: aren’t we already covered by our current auto insurance?  Most certainly not, we were told – at least, rental cars weren’t covered by the sales agent’s insurance company (of course not!).

We were pressured into securing the LDW resulting in an additional $100 on top of the rental cost, but out of the goodness of her heart the ‘extra driver’ fee was waived b/c we purchased the LDW.  Hmmmm. Spidey senses go off. We drive off headed to our hotel and that nagging feeling sunk in – we’ve been screwed.

On the way to our hotel, we called our insurance company and learned that we did indeed have insurance coverage that extended to car rentals and that we gave in to the sales pitch from the rental car company. So, after hanging up the phone, we turned around at the next exit, drove back, and had the LDW refunded to us. Always push back when confronted with the LDW – if you have full coverage with a reputable company you’re probably okay to forgo the coverage.

Word to the wise: Call your insurance company before your trip to see if your current insurance already extends to car rentals. In some instances, if you book with a Visa or American Express, there are other coverages extended on to rental cars (but not liability insurance).

Ave Maria, Florida

My wife and I traveled to Naples, Florida to see our niece graduate from Ave Maria University.  Founded by Domino’s Pizza founder Tom Monaghan, Ave Maria University just celebrated 10 years in operation and is a Catholic university located about 45 minutes from Naples, Florida. The University is situated in the town of Ave Maria, a planned college community being built around the University and boasts nearly 5,000 residents. The drive in to the University is beautiful – winding roads surrounded by palm trees leading to a family farm, and passing the different developments beginning to spring up as part of the town of Ave Maria (Del Webb, Maple Ridge, etc).  The drive up to the University culminates with the Oratory, a Catholic Church that serves as the de facto center of town. The church is surrounded by town shops which include a Publix grocery store, the Queen Mary pub & grill, and other retail stores. Apartments line the top of these retail stores adding another layer of living in town. What a beautiful, young campus dedicated to the ideals of the Catholic faith! 

Getting here: The closest airport is Fort Myers (RSW).  The University is about an hour from the airport and 45 minutes from Naples, Florida.

What to do: Walk the planned community, shop in the retail stores around the Oratory, or visit the Mother Theresa Museum, the only one of its kind in the United States. Take in a Mass offered daily in the Oratory . The inside of the church is a mix of the old and the modern. Tom Monaghan’s fondness of Frank Lloyd Wright is obvious in the light fixtures throughout the church.

Day trip to Colonial Williamsburg

Recently, while on a work trip to nearby Norfolk, VA, my wife came down for a quick weekend visit. As we wanted to get a bit outside of the Hampton Roads area, we decided to take a day trip westbound over to Colonial Williamsburg. My wife had never been before and this was my first visit in probably a decade or more. Williamsburg is part of what is known as the 'Historic Triangle' (along with Jamestown and Yorktown) and boasts dozens of original and/or recreated buildings dating back to the late 1600s and 1700s. Stroll through some of the recreated buildings off of the main street and you'll encounter re-enacters who will recall to you what life was really like during the 1700s. It really is a cool little town with pebble strewn streets, closed off to vehicular traffic, and also the proud home to the College of William & Mary.

Sir Christopher Wren Building on the Campus of William & Mary

Must dos: Stroll down Duke of Gloucester Street and soak up the history! Lined with a farmers market on weekends and stores on either side, duck into a place or two to bring home some memorabilia. Walk back in time on the campus of William & Mary - a true gem of a campus in the heart of Colonial Williamsburg and home to the oldest college building in the United States [see photo above].

Getting here: About 3 hours from the Washington, DC area - take 95 south to I-295 over to 64 East and follow signs to Colonial Williamsburg. About 45 minutes from Norfolk - jump on 64 West and get off at exit 243B.

Eateries: There are a few places to eat on either side of the main street in Colonial Williamsburg. Check out the DoG Street Cafe - the Rail Sandwich is a must try with a local IPA to wash it down.

Hindenburg Memorial (Lakehurst, NJ)

Visiting my in-laws in nearby Lakewood, NJ offered the opportunity to visit the site of the Hindenburg Disaster Memorial commemorating the loss of 36 people on May 06, 1937 (35 people on board and 1 person on the ground). Situated on what is now Joint Base McGuire/Dix, the Hindenburg exploded and crashed while trying to land on the grounds of then Naval Air Station Lakehurst. Speculation on the exact cause of the explosion swirled at the time with theories involving everything from sabotage, a fuel leak, and static electricity. Whatever the cause that brought down the Hindenburg, it essentially ended the age of dirigible passenger travel.

The memorial marking the spot where the Hindenburg crashed nearly 80 years ago [Hangar 1 can be seen on the far left in the background which housed the Hindenburg].

Plaque commemorating the Hindenburg crash.

Groundhog Day 2014 - The Prediction Heard 'Round the World!

There is a small hamlet in Pennsylvania that is ground zero for weather forecasting every Groundhog Day weekend and watched by millions around the country and the world.  That town is Punxsutawney, home to Punxsutawney Phil, the most famous weather forecaster in the world [sorry Jim Cantore!].

Watching coverage of this event every year, I thought it was time to go see what this experience was all about.  The die-hards begin to descend upon Punsutawney shortly after 3AM and include all walks of life – college students fresh off a brew bus, families with kids, and the elderly. You can’t drive up to Gobbler’s Knob, where Phil makes his prediction, since it is closed off to cars so you have two options. One, you can walk up the 1.5 miles to Gobbler’s Knob or you can catch the bus up from one of three locations around town [Walmart, McDonald’s, and Punxy Plaza] which run fairly frequently. This year, over 30,000 people made the trek up to Gobbler’s Knob for the big announcement.

As a groundhog day rookie, I discovered you really don’t need to arrive by 3AM, but try to arrive by 5 or 6 am.  If you are there early you’ll get a good spot to watch the announcement and may even get to meet the President of the Groundhogs Club and even Weather Channel weather forecaster Jim Cantore who makes the pilgrimage each year [see pic below!]. Leading up to the big announcement, the main stage features dancing, singing [taking Top 40 hits and weaving in a Groundhog flair], and even a fireworks show.

Then, at 7:25, the action begins. The leadership of the Groundhog Club walks down from the top of Gobbler's Knob and then on to the stage to pull Phil out of his sleeping space on stage. Then, the 128^th prediction announcement was read:

A Super Bowl winner I will not predict

But my weather forecast you cannot contradict

Why that’s not a football but my shadow I see

Six more weeks of winter, it must be

With that, Groundhog Day activities came to a close and winter remains at least for another few weeks. Thanks to the good folks in Punxy for putting on a good show!

Must-Dos: Gobbler’s Knob to hear Phil’s prediction, of course!  Make the trek down from Gobbler’s Knob after the prediction and hit Punxy Phil’s restaurant. Waits are long, but the food is good.

Travel: About 4 hours from Leesburg, VA. Consider breaking up the trip by staying in nearby Indiana, PA [about 40 minutes south of Punxsutawney].

Logistics: Some folks spend the night before in nearby Indiana, PA as hotels are limited in Punxsutawney. Once there, park at one of the three launching points [visit groundhogstuff.com for more info on pick-up spots] and pay $5.00 to be bussed up to the Knob.

Travel Musings 2014 – Volume 1 – Quick overview of the miles game

So, you’re asking yourself – how can I get frequent flyer miles if I really don’t fly?! There are tons of ways to earn miles even if you don’t step foot on an airplane [but that helps a lot if you want to build miles fast].  A simple rule of thumb for the miles game is to do things you normally do, but conform to how the airline has it set up. Here is a brief overview of how to get closer to that free airline ticket quickly:

1. The Airline Credit Card: Let’s use United Airlines as a test case as that is my airline of choice [with access to airlines in the Star Alliance Network]. Depending on the credit card offer, you can earn 30,000 up to 50,000 miles just for signing up [and spending a certain amount on the card to secure the full bonus].  From that point forward, count on 1 mile per $1 spent which can really add up depending on your shopping habits.  There usually is a yearly fee, but sometimes that is waived for the first year.  Depending on the size of the sign-on bonus, you could already be flying for free somewhere in the Continental United States or the Caribbean.

Just remember - don’t keep a balance on that mileage credit card – if you do, that free ticket will cost you thousands in interest charges.

2. Send flowers: Valentine’s Day is right around the corner as is Mother’s Day.  Word to the miles wise – go through your airline’s online shopping ‘mall’ to secure your flowers purchase. Some companies offer 10-20 miles per $ spent which could yield a few hundred extra miles into your miles account.

3. Eat a meal: Some airlines offer a ‘Dining Program’ where you can earn 5-10 miles per dollar spent just for going out to eat at your favorite restaurant [assuming you use your  registered credit / debit card at these participating restaurants].   

Try those three things first to get a head of steam going in your quest for a free airline ticket!

Travel Musings, Volume 3 – Resolution Time

You know what time it is – we’re almost to the end of the year where you look at your waistline and say, this is the year I’m going to lose ‘X’ amount of pounds. Or maybe your resolutions are focused on reading one or more of the classics or even the Bible.  One thing I love to do around this time of year is set a target of where I’d like to travel to in the year ahead.  These could be international trips, domestic trips, or even local sites that I’ve never seen before.

Making lists is fun.  Making travel lists is REALLY fun.  It really is a mini-bucket list albeit on a one-year timeline. I do know this – if you don’t write it down you’ll probably never do it. Not only does this apply to goals you have with your career or life, but travel especially. 

Zig Ziglar said it best – if you aim at nothing, you will hit it every time.  Developing your travel list is no different – if you have nothing to shoot for in places to see, you’ll be hard pressed to go see them.  So, looking forward as we inch closer to 2014, what is it going to be?  Have you always wanted to fly to London for a long weekend or take in the sights and sounds of New York during Christmas? Whatever it is, remember that the beginning starts with the end in mind so break the year up into quarters, plan a trip to a place where you want to go, and go do it.

Here’s to a blessed and fun 2014!

Christmas in the City!

Okay, up front, New York City is what you make of it and your experience depends on what you like and want to do. For us, visiting New York City during the Christmas season is one of the best times of the year to see the city. Whether it is visiting Rockefeller Center or saying a prayer inside of Saint Patrick’s Cathedral, the city is magical during the Christmas Season.

This go around we ventured around the city visiting spots we hadn’t seen on previous trips. This was the year that the NBC Studio Tours made the list of places to visit. Getting to see the set of Saturday Night Live was cool, especially as they we got to see the rehearsing for the upcoming Saturday night show [note: you can put yourself in a lottery in August each year for a shot at tickets for the upcoming season. Don’t get your hopes up though – you’ll have a 2% success rate for tickets as there are only 235 seats in the small theater!]. I’ll leave it up to you if you want to spend $24.00 to see one studio, but we were expecting a wee bit more.

After walking back from Rockefeller Center, we stumbled upon Bryant Park which was a surprising treat in the middle of the city. Located behind the New York Public Library, the Bryant Park Christmas Market rises up from the park from November 1^st through January 5^th and boasts 125 shops, an ice skating rink, and a rink-side restaurant called Celsius. The Park even has its own Christmas tree – a great spot to grab a snack, a cider, or even take your chances with a pair of skates.

Speaking of the New York Public Library – you’re probably thinking, a library on vacation?  For this one, the answer is yes, especially on a snowy Saturday in the middle of December. With marble and artwork throughout, it is a must see in the middle of the City. Be sure to check out the Rose Main Reading Room or look up when entering the Main Catalog Room where original artwork adorns the walls and ceiling. Browse through the halls and soak up a small exhibit or two. 

Overall, New York City is a special treat any time of year, but if you’ve never been during Christmas it is time to get it on your lists!

Visit to the Christmas Tree Farm!

A little over 20 miles from our house in the small town of Lovettsville, VA lies Milltown Creek Tree Farms - a self-described “Choose and Cut Christmas Tree Farm” on 100 acres in northwestern Loudoun County.  For the second year in a row, my wife and I made the trek out to this family run farm to search out our family Christmas tree.  For us, this is the way to go when going to pick out a Christmas tree!  Although, this isn’t as simple as showing up, picking one out, throwing it in your car, and driving off.  At Milltown Creek Tree Farm, you park your car, secure a saw and a red wagon, and walk off into the fields to find and cut down whatever tree is ‘the tree’ that will go up in your house for the Christmas season.   

After about an hour of walking the fields, we came upon the tree that now sits in our living room - with a few 'selfies’ with the tree, we sawed it down, placed it in the red wagon, and walked the half-mile back to the cashier.  Although, for whatever reason, it took slightly longer to saw down the tree this year compared to last year – I blame the cold weather.  J

Be sure to visit the little Christmas Tree store on the farm where you can buy Christmas wreaths, ornaments, and other Christmas accoutrements. You can also secure a  complimentary cup of hot apple cider before departing the farm with your tree in tow.  Overall, a great Christmas tradition to share with your loved ones each holiday season!!

Getting there: To get there from Leesburg, travel on Route 7 westbound, take the exit for route 9 west, travel 5 miles and make a right on 287 [Berlin Turnpike] – go 5 miles, and make a left on Householder Road – the farm will be down on the left.  

Other: The farm takes cash or check only.

Travel Musings, Volume 2 - The Bucket List

The bucket list.  We’ve all heard of it. Whether it was the movie with Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman trying to accomplish a life’s worth of wishes before they died within a year or that mystical list of places that maybe one day you’ll want to go see and experience.  

For me, a bucket list grew out of a phone call I received in late 2002.  My buddy Dale Gredler called me to let me know he booked his ticket to Spain to go run with the bulls the following July.  After explaining how cool it would be, his question was simple, yet direct – are you in or are you out? I thought about it – the cost of flights, hotels, spending money, whether I could get time off or not from my new job, etc. Running with the bulls was always something I THOUGHT about doing, but not now.  There were other things to see and do, right?  I mean, I’d probably do it next year if I didn’t do it that year.  In my mind, I remember thinking – no time like the present. The very next day I called him back with an answer – I’m in.

A group of two eventually grew to five and it was one of the best trips of our lives.  Starting off in Madrid, Spain for 4 nights, driving north into Pamplona the day before the San Fermin festival, and then actually running with the bulls.  It was such a surreal feeling standing next to another buddy, T-bone, in Pamplona Town Square with thousands of other people preparing to run with the bulls. It was such an iconic experience that Hemingway once wrote about – the running through the streets, seeing people above in the balconies looking down on us, the sights, the smells, and of course, the bulls.  We all made it out unscathed except for T-bone who got flipped by a runaway bull right in front of me in the arena and landed on his forehead.  A small scar on his forehead is that “badge of honor” that he still bears to this day.

From that point forward, it was now a question for me of where we would go next – the Pyramids at Giza, the Great Wall of China, or a full-moon party in Thailand.  Whatever it was, it was going on a ‘list’ of things I wanted to do and sights I wanted to see. 

Studies have shown if you write down a goal you’re overwhelmingly more likely to accomplish that goal. Like I said before, no time like the present – what’s on your bucket list?  Maybe it’s to see Europe next year or a specific city in South America the following year.  It could be much closer to home like visiting a local town or an historic Civil War site. Or maybe you'll do all of these trips next year. Remember, your bucket list is simply a list of things you want to see, but with a timeline attached to it. So go ahead, write 'em down, and then get to it! 

Trip to the General Store

So when was the last time you were in a General Store?!  My wife and I did a little country shopping this past weekend as we headed west on route 7 for a quick trip to Great Country Farms and passed through little Bluemont, Virginia - Loudoun County's highest community at 680 feet.  Don't blink or you will miss downtown!  The community is home to roughly 200 residents, has a Community Center, and is also home to Boulder Crest Resort [a rural sanctuary for wounded military warriors and their families]. Last but not least the little town of Bluemont has a legit 'General Store' where you can buy used books for $1, sundries, and homemade goods. If you're ever that far out route 7, drop in, say hello, and try one of their homemade breads or cakes - delicious!

Travel Musings - Volume 1

A little bit of an introduction as to why I’ve set up this travel blog.  I have been extremely blessed to have been able to see and experience 42 countries on 6 continents around the world with some cool ‘bucket list’ items along the way. From running with the bulls in Pamplona to hiking the Inca Trail leading into Machu Picchu in Peru, it has been amazing to see and experience some pretty remote parts of the world. I’ve also been able to experience 46 of the 50 US States [missing Kentucky, Alaska, Oklahoma, and Kansas].

This blog is my attempt, moving forward on to the remaining countries of the world and those four elusive US States, to capture those sights, sounds, and experiences of our travels [local, national, and international]. Part of the impetus to this blog is to provide my nephew with a digital record of our trips and hopefully instill in him a similar wanderlust that I have had for a few decades.  Since he was a baby, I have sent him a postcard from every single trip I’ve been on [he has a stack!]. Now, he’ll have a digital “postcard” to augment the paper ones.  The other part is that the older I get the more I want to remember some of the details of some really cool trips.  Little things like the name of a great restaurant or a small tidbit on what you really NEED to do while attending a certain event or visiting a specific city [note: if you ever run with the bulls in Pamplona, get to the arena.  You’ll see what I mean.]

I’ve been travelling since I was a baby – literally. While pregnant with her third of three boys, my mother was part of the official US host delegation of delegates from the former Soviet Union [Ukraine and Georgia] to observe the 1972 Presidential election of Nixon vs McGovern. The delegation members, with my mom included, traveled all around the country: New Orleans, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Greenville, MS, Durham, NC (Duke University), NYC and back to Washington, DC.  So from an early age I was on the move!

Fast forward a few years and I have some vivid travel memories like traveling to Toronto, Canada in our family station wagon for one of my brother’s many soccer tournaments up and down the East Coast.  In fact, for most of my first 14 summers of my life, our annual family vacation was to travel to Singer Island, Florida to stay at the Colonnades Beach Hotel [which is now the site of the Marriott Ocean Shores Resort].  I loved those trips.  I remember being so eager to get into the ocean when we first arrived at the hotel, waiting for my older brothers to get back with freshly caught fish each night which we’d hopefully be able to eat for dinner, or just having a blast as a typical young kid on a beach building sand castles and getting sunburned.  I suspect, though, that my current disdain of long-distance driving probably emanates from those 1,004 mile one-way trips [not that I’m counting] – in a car – with an entire family – in the summer heat.

Part of the travel bug was also instilled in me by my father who took me on some pretty incredible trips around the country.  We hiked Pikes Peak [14,110 feet] when I was thirteen years old [I turned yellow and slept most of the way up the mountain, BUT we made it to the top!].  At fifteen, I went river rafting with dad down the Colorado River – six nights, seven days on pontoon boats camping at small beaches along the way down the river. We also made our way to the Pacific Northwest hiking up Mount St. Helens to the very edge of the rim of the volcano and visiting small towns like Cougar, Washington along the way. For a young teenager, these were very adventurous trips, somewhat dangerous at times, but ones that I vividly remember to this day.

With that said, that is a small snapshot of my love of travel instilled in me at a very young age continuing throughout my life. My wife and I hope you find our glimpses of our travels somewhat amusing, fun, and informative as we make our way traveling through life [Percursatio Vitae].

Toronto, Canada - October 12-15, 2013

My wife Kathleen and I were invited up to Toronto, Canada over the Columbus Day weekend as guests of my wife’s friend’s family to celebrate Canadian Thanksgiving [note: this is a 58 minute flight from Washington Dulles [IAD] right into Pearson International Airport [YYZ].  On our third trip of our marriage, this one was a pleasant surprise!  I hadn’t been to Toronto since I was four years old as we followed my brother up to Toronto for a soccer tournament.  Needless, things had changed a bit in the 30+ years since I had been back.  Overall, we had a GREAT time in this city!  While our primary mission was to celebrate Canadian Thanksgiving, we had some time to wander the city during our few days in the city.

Definitely check out the Distillery District which sits on fourteen acres in downtown Toronto and is Canada’s largest pedestrian-only precinct for arts, culture and entertainment. The site was once The Gooderham and Worts Distillery which was once the largest distillery in the world.  Today, it is the sight of five cafes, seven restaurants, twenty-two galleries, and eighteen specialty shops. 

Duck into a few of these if you happen to visit the District:

Café Furbo: an eclectic little coffee bar right in the heart of the Distillery District.  My wife and I wandered into Café Furbo in the pouring rain and were immediately struck by the cool vibe of this coffee bar.  With a light eccentric music playing in the background, Café Furbo is a coffee bar and then some – fresh pastries and panninis, great coffee, European wines, and desserts. Order up a traditional Americano with a cheese Danish [or any of the other fabulous desserts they have presented on the front counter].  Be adventurous and add a shot of Bailey’s for $4 CD.  Everything on the walls is for sale by local artists.

SOMA Chocolate: SOMA is a chocolate micro-factory also in the heart of the Distillery District so stop by if you want to watch how chocolate is made or better yet sample some great chocolates. For $2 CD, try out some of the amazing chocolate truffles [the Espresso Crisp and the 8 year old balsamic vinaigrette were favorites]. Honestly, you cannot go wrong with anything in the display case by the register.  Be sure to purchase some cookies and/or chocolate bars to take with you!

Mill Street Brewery:  stop by the Mill Street Brewery, East Toronto’s first brewery in over 100 years, and try out one of their 13 beers on tap. If you’re there in the Fall, try their Pumpkin Ale which has a distinct taste with a hint of vanilla.  Or go strictly for their India Pale Ale which has a smooth, distinct taste.  For more info, take a tour of the brewery on the premises.

Ok, so on to a couple of favorites for dinner. I honestly had no idea Toronto was such a foodie town.  We hit two spots for dinner over two nights which should be considered must dos for dinner in the center of Toronto:

Valdez: This is one of the most happening spots on King Street!  Once a top fan favorite on Top Chef Canada, Steve Gonzalez whips up some incredible dishes in this Latin American hotspot in downtown Toronto.  Valdez was probably our favorite meal in Toronto.  For starters, order either a Mojito or the Margarita with paprika on the edge of the glass which adds that extra ‘kick’ on top of a tasty margarita. You can't have just one so go ahead and try another! Next, we tried out several of the ceviches on the menu [the Tuna Ceviche is terrific]. We went with a host of Tapas so here are some must trys: Chips & Guac, Croquetas [rice, chicken, peppers, and roasted garlic aioli], and the Chuzos Al Plancha [3 ounce beef skewers with chimichurri and arepa].  If you’re still hungry, try out the Chaufa [fried rice, duck, confit, eggs, peas, and duck].  Overall, you’re going to love the atmosphere and amazing food and drink at Valdez. 

Buca: Located right around the corner from Valdez, you’ll head underground for the Buca Italian experience. To start off, try the fried olives stuffed with sausage and then get ahold of one of their many flatbreads [you won’t go wrong with any of them].  We topped this off with a couple of espressos and a tiramisu with amoretti gelato.  

As for Canadian Thanksgiving, we were so fortunate to have been hosted by the wonderful Moretti family. What a special treat to celebrate Thanksgiving not only in another country, but with a family who welcomed us into their home with such affection.  Canadian Thanksgiving is a lot like American Thanksgiving with the turkey, mashed potatoes, veggies, and the homemade pies.  An added bonus was the amazing homemade red wine and grappa made by Mr. Moretti which was such a wonderful treat!  The only thing different was the lack of an NFL double-header, but that wasn't such a big deal since the conversation was engaging and congenial amongst the immediate and extended Moretti family.  After six hours of great food, drink, and conversation, our host drove us back to our hotel in downtown Toronto.

We realized this was too short a trip to take in all that Toronto has to offer.  As Toronto is closer by air to us than Frederick, MD is by car, we'll be certain to head back north of the border for a future visit!