Vagabonding Lulu

Romantic Escape: Tubac Golf Resort & Spa

2012-01-30T12:46:00.000-08:00

So alluring is the Tubac Golf Resort & Spa that it was chosen by Hollywood insiders as the setting for a romantic comedy starring Kevin Costner and Rene Russo. Parts of the film Tin Cup were filmed in the delightful Stables Ranch Grille restaurant, on the Island Green and near a famous hiking trail.

Located along the Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail, the romantic resort is also perfect for people who like to hike together. Hikers will enjoy the historic trail as they following the Santa Cruz River that runs through the 500-acre resort. The Anza Trail is designated as a National Historic Trail to commemorate the 1200 miles that members of a Spanish colonial expedition walked and rode on horseback in 1775-1776.

After a leisurely hike, we recommend that love birds retire to a 650-square-foot Hacienda Suite with sunken living area and gas fireplace. Bring bath salts for the large jetted tub and a bottle of champagne for the fridge. Hikers could lounge in the bathrobes provided on the patio, or they could borrow the DVD from the front desk and watch Tin Cup on the flat screen television. Guests can take advantage of other romantic amenities including a Couples Massage in the new, upscale spa or a dreamy dinner at The Stables Ranch Grille.

The Tubac Golf Resort & Spa is located at One Otero Road in Tubac Arizona, just 35-minutes from Tucson. The resort is set on 500 lush acres at the base of the Santa Rita Mountains on the historic Otero Ranch. A member of Historic Hotels of America, this iconic resort features a 27-hole championship golf course, a full service spa and salon, Stables Ranch Grille and boutique shopping. Adjacent to the resort, the Village of Tubac is home to over 100 shops, galleries and eateries.

For more information about the Tubac Golf Resort & Spa visit www.TubacGolfResort.com.

Stacey Wittig, "Vagabonding Lulu" is a freelance Arizona travel writer who offers free travel tips. Enjoy this article? Then simply "subscribe" in the upper right to get the next travel tip delivered to your email box.

Cruise Lines in Alaska – your best bets

2011-09-07T13:51:00.000-07:00

Sun sets on ws Westerdam in Victoria, a favorite port for cruises to Alaska

We’ve found the most obvious contenders for those of you planning a cruise to Alaska. This ancient landscape is the natural habitat of adventurous cruisers, who seek not just relaxing on-board entertainment and a fully-stocked bar, but also the alien, extreme terrain and the unspoilt beauty of a wildlife-filled, breathtakingly empty natural wilderness.

American Safari

American Safari began operation in 1997 with just one 12-guest yacht. Now they run a handful of small vessels which take guests on exclusive tours of Alaska. They travel only during the day and moor in small harbours at night, ensuring you don’t miss any of the scenery.

Carnival

Carnival has a much larger fleet than American Safari, both in terms of vessel size and number of ships. But they still provide intimate hospitality on all their routes while cultivating a louder, more family-friendly atmosphere.

Celebrity Cruises

This company specializes in absolute pampering. The slogan for their Alaskan routes is “being supremely spoiled in an unspoiled land”. You’ll be invited to watch spectacular wildlife from your private veranda while enjoying the ship’s hospitality.

Inner Sea Discoveries

This is another cruise company specializing in smaller vessels which give a more intimate feel to the beautiful Alaskan coast. They call themselves the “un-cruise”, offering you the chance to “smell a whale’s breath”. They also offer kayak adventures.

Holland America

The Alaskan routes offered by Holland America (pictured above) date back to before Alaska was even a state of the USA. They offer enough time for you to properly explore areas like the Denali National Park and have a unique heritage in the Alaskan waters.

NCL

Norwegian Cruise Lines operates three spectacular vessels on their Norwegian routes – Norwegian Jewel, Norwegian Pearl, and Norwegian Star. Norwegian Jewel and Norwegian Pearl offer sixteen dining options, while Norwegian Star has thirteen and eleven bars.

Princess

Seven Princess ships tour the Alaskan routes, each with their own quirks, dining options and on-board entertainment. The Star Princess has a British pub on board, for example, while the Diamond Princess has an adults-only Sanctuary.

Regent Seven Seas

“Once you’ve been to Alaska, you never really come back.” Regent’s routes around the Alaskan coast bring you close to the scenery and wildlife that makes Alaska so special. They also offer connections with trains and light aircraft.

P&O

These cruises don’t just take you around Alaska. P&O’s routes take in the great North American cities on the way – New York, Boston, Vancouver and LA. You might even go via the Caribbean. P&O’s ocean-going heritage is enormous but this is their first foray into Alaska for forty years.

Disney

The Disney cruise line might not appear to have all the airs and graces of some of the more majestic operators, but the ships are packed with activities and the routes are as breathtaking as any other. The cruises tend to be very child-friendly.

Cunard

Operator of the legendary Queen Mary 2, Cunard has an almost unrivaled heritage in the cruise industry. These heavyweights of the ocean-going world will take you on a literally unforgettable adventure to Alaska alone, or including Alaska as part of an epic round-the-world trip.

Royal Caribbean

It might sound surprising, but Royal Caribbean runs some astonishing Alaskan cruises for a some equally astonishing prices. Look out for “repositioning” deals – vessels need to be moved around the globe for logistical purposes, so the cruise line will take fare-paying passengers for a very low price.

Silversea

The slightly smaller vessels in Silversea’s fleet will take you up Alaska’s Inside Passage and past the crystalline landscape. If you book far enough in advance, Silversea will give you up to $1,500 on-board spending money.

These aren’t the only cruise lines operating off the Alaskan coast, but they’re the ones we’re most familiar with and they’re the ones we’d trust the most. Each cruise line – each individual vessel – caters for a slightly different traveller on a slightly different journey. Whether you’re on a tiny, twelve-person American Safari yacht, or the largest cruise ship in the world, Royal Caribbean’s Allure of the Sea, a cruise gives you the opportunity to see the world in luxury, style and grandeur.

For more information go to iglucruise.com

Don't like the view? Wait 20 minutes... This revolving hotel is "Bucket List" material

2011-08-16T10:39:00.000-07:00

When I lived in Colorado, we had a saying, "Don't like the weather? Wait 20 minutes." Now that saying can be applied to the view from your hotel room. Rent a luxury hotel room at the Marmara Antalya's Revolving Loft and get a rotating room that ensures a stunning 360-degree panorama afforded by the hotel's cliff top location. You could have the unique experience of falling asleep overlooking a beautiful seascape and waking up with a view of the rugged countryside. This is "Bucket List" material!

From the 24 rooms in the Revolving Loft to the 208 light, spacious and cuttingly-modern standard rooms everything about The Marmara Antalya is designed to maximise its strongest asset; incomparable views of ancient but thriving Antalya, Turkey.

These natural assets are taken and built upon with the familiar Marmara values of service, quality and above all a desire to ensure the guest feels good. Key to these aims are the unique blend of culture and relaxation with sport and health amongst the hotel's facilities, all accompanied by a healthy dose of fun.

The Tuti floor provides the perfect location to relax, surrounded by glass on three sides and scattered with Turkish pillows this light area space is perfect for those who wish to read a book from the extensive library, grab a bit to eat or simply check emails. The floor also houses an art gallery showcasing an ever changing array of exhibitions from a wide variety of artists.

Access the hotel's secluded private beach by a 70-meter tunnel studded with stalactites and stalagmites. The beach is hidden amongst the cliffs totally out of sight of the bustling city and offering stunning views of the Bey Mountains. Those who don't fancy sand in their shoes can cool off in the hotel pool or relax in the Jacuzzi.

Relax in the traditional Turkish Hamam complete with steam room, sauna and shock showers for the brave.

Families visiting this unique hotel can now enjoy a 30% discount on all children under 16.

Conceived in 2005 by French architect Christian Allart, the Revolving Loft operates on the principals of buoyancy and varies in revolving rhythms of between 2 and 22 hours. Sitting atop the cliffs on 28 specially landscaped acres, The Marmara Antalya not only features 24 uniquely designed rooms; it also offers 208 standard rooms.

Stacey Wittig, "Vagabonding Lulu" is a freelance Arizona travel writer who offers free travel tips. Enjoy this article? Then simply "subscribe" in the upper right to get the next travel tip delivered to your email box.

Seattle: Limitless Urban Adventure

2011-07-07T21:55:00.000-07:00

Living in rural America, my husband Dan and I always get a kick out of using the public transportation when we visit major metro areas. And although we usually chase adventure via dirt bike or downhill skis, mapping out the light-rail system to get to the airport, scrambling aboard the monorail or asking street people about a bus connection can get the adrenalin flowing for us country kids. In Seattle, ferry boats can be thrown into the public transportation equation.

The heart of Seattle – Pike Place Market – beats with a happy, metro vibe that infects visitors as well as the locals. Long stalls stocked with brilliant and fragrant floral bouquets entice hoteliers and restaurateurs looking for fresh table garnishment while the fish market brings in chefs and shoppers searching for the special catch of the day. Bargain hunters stalk tiny eclectic shops for pipes, antique jewelry or crystal geodes and string musicians fill the stairwells with precious sound.

If you’re not claustrophobic, head down to the market on a Saturday morning. You could spend all morning there. We enjoyed egg sandwiches on newly-baked ciabatta with market-fresh tomato and lettuce at Sound View Café (go under the Market’s clock and then straight down the hallway.) You won’t need a window seat to get a view of the blue waters below or the backdrop of snow-capped Olympic Mountains. Conversely, you could get a cup o’Joe at the nearby Starbucks – the very first Starbucks – where Japanese tourists clamor for photos near its front door. Hey, so did I!

You’ll either love the energy of fishmongers throwing whole salmon and local farmers slicing off juicy hunks of peach for you to try right off their knives, or you won’t. “I don’t know why your mother wants to come down here every Saturday,” bemoaned one local father to the toddler he pushed in a stroller. Mother loves it; daddy’s got a different opinion. Never-the-less, Dan agreed with me that Pike Place Market makes for impressive people watching and remarkable photo ops.

Just down the hill from the market is Argosy Cruises which leave from Pier 55 for a one-hour narrated harbor tour. (Adult fare, $22.75.) The fun cruise aboard the ship-shape Spirit of Seattle was a great way to acclimatize to the city in a short amount of time. We learned about the Seattle Space Needle and the development of the spectacular downtown skyline. We also discovered that the Lion’s Club was holding their national conference in town over the Fourth of July weekend. No wonder hotels were booked and we had difficulty finding an affordable room.

Because room accommodations were a bit pricy, it was a good thing that we had procured the Seattle CityPASS. The CityPASS allowed us to experience six major attractions at a much reduced rate. We spent a full day at the Museum of Flight that rivals any air and space museum in the country. I was able to walk through a Concorde supersonic airliner (the closest I will get to my life’s dream of flying to France in half the time of a regular passenger jet.) And we heard the history of World War II through sound recordings of actual bombers and videos that showed the stories of the young men and women aviators as we walked among the full-sized aircraft. (Adult admission without CityPass $18. I promise you, you will not be able to see the whole museum in one day.)

You can meet the world at the Space Needle. We met visitors from Spain, India and the UK who were all having a “jolly good time.” The views of harbor ferries, lake regattas and Mt. Rainier were so enjoyable that we went back a second time to buy a Coke, watch the sunset and then view it all again under city lights. Beer, wine and coffee are also available on the observation deck. (Adult day and night pass without CityPass, $24.)

At the foot of the Space Needle, head on into the PacificScience Center where the IMAX theater shows all day long. I loved the ugly bug zoo and enjoyed chasing butterflies with my camera in the 4,000-square-foot Tropical Butterfly House. (Adult admission with IMAX sans CityPass, $18.) We sailed through the Frank O. Gehry-designed Experience Music Project | Science Fiction Museum when we boarded the monorail. Avatar: The Exhibition was showing ($18 without CityPass for adults.)

On our final Seattle day before boarding the light rail for the airport ($2.25 per person,) we returned to Pike Place Market for a few last photos and then walked down the stairway to the bay front where we experienced the Seattle Aquarium. The cheery sea otters are not to be missed by those of any age. Wonderful docents and interactive exhibits make this a must-see! (Adults without CityPass, $19.00.)

So, if you’ve done your arithmetic, you can see that Seattle CityPASS got us into $119.75 worth of top attractions. And the price? A drum roll, please. Only $59 for adults and they offer a child (ages 4-12) pass for only $39. The pass is valid for up to 9 days from the first day that you use the pass, and we were able to skip most ticket lines. Go to citypass.com for more information. CityPASSes are also available for Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Hollywood, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Southern California and Toronto.

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Stacey Wittig, "Vagabonding Lulu," is a freelance travel writer based in Flagstaff, Arizona. Like this article? Get a message sent to your email when a new article is posted. Click onto "Subscribe to" in the upper right hand column.

No Fixed Address: 7 Vagabonding Nomads Who Are Always on the Move

2011-04-27T20:29:00.000-07:00

Vagabonding Lulu drops her pack in northern Spain.

Ever wanted to run screaming from your cubicle and buy a one-way ticket to beyond the horizon? Of course you have -- we all have, almost without exception. But having the guts to sell all your belongings and strike out with only a loose plan in mind is something only a select few possess.

Here are six such vagabonds. Their actions are an inspiration to the rest of us, and their blogs allow us to travel vicariously as they report on their unfolding adventures.

#1 The Professional Hobo

A.k.a: Nora Dunn
Time on the Road: Four years
Currently Located in: New Zealand

In 2006, Nora Dunn sold her lucrative financial planning business, and just about everything else she's owned, to begin her adventure of a lifetime. Dunn spent most of her time in Australia and New Zealand last year (and why not?) but has also toured much of Europe and Canada. Where next? Who knows.

Read More: Dunn's site is very candid both in terms of her feelings on the road and the financial and practical implications of full-time travel.

#2 2 Backpackers

A.k.a: Jason and Aracely Castellani
Time on the Road: Two years
Currently Located in: Central America
After a couple of years packed with crazy backpacking experiences, Jason and Aracely dropped their corporate lifestyles and, seemingly on a whim, took off into the sunset. There are very few places (or activities) they haven't dipped their collective toes into, and the resulting write-ups and photography is an inspiration to any travel fanatic.

Read More: The 2 Backpackers site is professionally presented, and when the guys aren't writing there is always a knowledgeable guest poster who is.

#3 Everything Everywhere

A.k.a: Gary Arndt
Time on the Road: Four years
Currently Located in: Hawaii

A.k.a: Gary Arndt
Time on the Road: Four years
Currently Located in: Hawaii
Gary Arndt is another heavy-hitter in the online travel network. The genesis of his site, came when Arndt sold his house, put all his stuff into storage and made his way to the Pacific without so much as a second thought. Speaking for all fans of great travel bloggers, we're certainly glad he did.

Read More: On the aforementioned Everything Everywhere.

#4 Working your way around the world

A.k.a: Thursday Bram
Time on the Road: Four Years
Currently Located in: Maryland
If you dream of travelling the world and getting paid as you do so, you're certainly not alone as the vast majority yearn for it but only a handful manage to pull it off. Here is the personal blog of Thursday Bram, a lady who did just that having built up her writing business to enable her to work from anywhere in the globe (while at the same time helpfully offering advice to anyone looking to follow in her footsteps).

Read More: The blog which came as a result of writing a top book on the subject.

#5 Business Backpacker

A.k.a: Brooke Ferguson
Time on the Road: Many years
Currently Located in: Thailand
Even as a kid, Brooke was a traveler by proxy having moved around a few times for schooling and then higher education. The revelation of wanting to live a traveling lifestyle forever came at the age of 12 on a trip to Canada, and nearly two decades later she's attained the dream by setting up a business and lifestyle consultancy which takes her around the world to inspire like-minded individuals.

Read More: Brooke's nomadic entrepreneur site, in which she imparts life lessons and traveling business tips.

#6 Nomadic Chick

A.k.a: Jeannie Mark
Time on the Road: Just under a year
Currently Located in: India
As the Nomadic Chick herself points out, "[there is] a scarcity of blogs devoted to someone like me, a single lady on the cusp of forty, ready to leave everything she's known." And that's exactly what she did in 2010, ditching life in an office to plunge headfirst into a life on the road starting in Calgary and taking her all the way to deepest Asia. She's ill at the moment, so drop her a line and wish her well.

Read More: Pick any one of Jeannie's posts and you're certain to find a genius turn of phrase to describe an aspect of her location or the culture she's immersed in.

Read about more vagabonding nomads at http://www.movebuilder.com/press/best-travel-blogs/

Variety is the Spice of Life

2011-04-04T18:11:00.000-07:00

Vagabonding Lulu slept here.

My favorite travel destinations offer a wide array of experiences. Take Reno, Nevada. Reno offers mountain activities like skiing, hiking and kayaking as well as plush resort hotels, fabulous restaurants and world-class spas. Variety is the spice of life and so I enjoy mixing exercise with relaxation.

With over 40 feet of snow falling in North Lake Tahoe since October, ski conditions are phenomenal and I am “Jonesing” to get in one last ski trip. One of my fave Reno resorts is offering a great ski package through the end of April. Atlantis Casino Resort and Spa offers one night room and tax complete with lift ticket to Mt. Rose Ski Area, for only $89 per person based on double occupancy.

That’s like offering heroin to the junkie. Atlantis didn’t have to add the $20 food credit and $20 free slot play per room to get me there. And, as if the cake needed icing, a bottle of Baileys or Kahlua is included with every ski package room.

Not a skier? No worries. Take advantage of Atlantis Casino Resort and Spa packages that include spa treatments. You might see me there – soaking my skied-off leg muscles. Last year, I fell in love with the award-wining Spa Atlantis.

The “other-worldly” experience of Spa Atlantis is a great way to escape the cares of this world, and slip into another realm. When entering the spa, I felt as if I was crossing the threshold into a delightful underwater world. First, I discovered the Aqua Spa Lounge where you can loose yourself under a waterfall that pours over you and into soothing, warm pools. Then I headed for a poolside shower where -- in a private alcove -- I dialed-in a warm tropical rainforest shower, complete with sound-effect thunder. In the Nature Experiential Shower you can choose your very own water experience: Ice Fog, Tropical Rain, Thunderstorm or Waterfall. I called it heavenly.

I loved the Laconium Relaxation Lounge where the warm, tiled lounging benches fit my every curve. Laconium isn’t a mineral pumped into the water or air, as I first thought, but it is the name of the luxurious, warmed relaxation rooms that are popular in today’s upscale spas. They are less humid or hot than a traditional steam room, and Atlantis’s Laconium made me feel as if I were underwater again. The gold-tone tiles reflected like a sandy ocean bottom, while candles flickered in niches in the aqua ocean-colored walls. A thousand points of “stars” twinkled above. The refreshing heat treatment calmed me like a warm ocean.

Laconium stimulates circulation, purifies and detoxifies the body while reducing stress. I pulled my plush cotton robe around me and “floated” to the next treatment room. Was I really turning into a mermaid?

Next, in the darkened Brine Inhalation Light Therapy Lounge, I unrolled a fresh, fluffy towel and laid it over a reclining chaise. Watching light illusions dance over a waterfall of decorative white rock, melted away any lingering care. The colors included in the spectacle were chosen for their ability to stimulate your senses both psychologically and physiologically. While Inhalation of the salts helped with my respiratory system, I could hardly keep my eyes open to watch the soothing, calming and peaceful colors of the ocean. The best part? All these spa experiences are included in the daily spa fee, or if you indulged in a skin or body treatment, they’re included in the treatment price.

Voted Best Casino Hotel Spa in the 2010 SpaFinder’s Readers Choice Awards, Atlantis Spa offers amazing treatments including the healing Cleopatra Milk and Honey Cocoon body wrap.

US Air offers five daily flights direct to Reno from Phoenix for only $219 including taxes and fees. Add some spice to your life with Reno’s variety of active and relaxing getwaway choices. See you there!

Vagabonding Lulu’s travel tips: order a ski package through Atlantis’ 800# and get free shuttle service from the resort to slopeside and back.

VAGABONDING LULU WINS TRAVEL WRITING COMPETITION… AGAIN

2011-03-08T10:01:00.000-08:00


Vagabonding Lulu and National Geographic Traveler Editor-in-Chief at 2009 NATJA Conference

PASADENA, CA-- The North American Travel Journalists Association (NATJA) today announced that Stacey Wittig of Flagstaff, AZ won a bronze award in the 2010 annual awards competition in the “Byline Travel Column – Less than 250,000 Circulation” category. The competition, now in its 19th year, honors the “best of the best” in travel writing, photography and promotion that cover all aspects of the travel industry worldwide.

Wittig, a freelance writer who has lived in northern Arizona for over 16 years, was chosen for a consecutive year and joins others like Keith Bellows, Editor-in-Chief, National Geographic Traveler and Raphael Kadushin writer for Bon Appétit and Condé Nast Traveler who were distinguished in the most recent competition.

NATJA Awards recognize excellence in travel writing, photojournalism, social media, multimedia platforms, advertising, marketing and public relations for the travel and tourism industry. NATJA received more than 500 submissions.

“We are extremely pleased with this year’s entries; they were outstanding, both in quality of work and range of coverage,” said Helen Hernandez, CEO of the organization. “The number of entries is the largest we have ever received and the level of creativity and professionalism is reflective of the vibrancy of the travel journalists’ community. I also believe this year’s entry pool is an indication of the overall economic recovery and its positive effect on the travel industry.”

NATJA is the second largest travel media association in North America. Members include travel media professionals, convention and visitors bureaus, social media, hotels and attractions, and other travel marketing agencies. NATJA publishes Travelworld International Magazine (www.travelworldmagazine.com). For more information about NATJA or a complete list of 2010 award-winners, visit www.natja.org.

One of Vagabonding Lulu's Favorite B&Bs Awarded Top Honor

2011-02-03T21:08:00.000-08:00

Let the breakfast begin!

Last month in my syndicated travel column, I wrote about Chocolate Turtle Bed and Breakfast outside of Albuquerque, NM. The hospitality shown fellow wine-lover Melanie Nelson and me during January's New Mexico Wine Tour was outstanding. I guess we weren't the only guests to get the "special treatment."

This week I learned that the Chocolate Turtle Bed and Breakfast was chosen as one of the Top 10 B&Bs and Inns in the United States (out of HUNDREDS of B&B's, I must add) with the help of guest reviews on TripAdvisor®. If you enjoy being treated like someone special, then the Chocolate Turtle is for you. And 100% of the Turtle's 147 TripAdvisor guests agree.

The cozy retreat was singled out by TripAdvisor® in its recent 2011 Travelers’ Choice® awards. “With the help of millions of travelers around the globe, TripAdvisor is thrilled to recognize the world’s most outstanding hotels and B&Bs and inns for the ninth year of the Travelers’ Choice Awards,” said Karen Drake, senior director of communications for TripAdvisor. “From the best bargain hotels and to best luxury hotels, B&Bs and inns, remarkable service, value and quality are the hallmarks of our Travelers’ Choice winners.”

Chocolate Turtle Bed and Breakfast in Corrales, a historic farming village on the Rio Grande near Albuquerque is just a short drive from Santa Fe, NM. Warm hospitality and southwestern charm describes this four-guestroom B&B with private baths, full breakfasts, and high speed wireless internet. The Chocolate Turtle is a perfect getaway, while being close to working studios, art galleries, historic sites, local restaurants, shopping, and wineries. Walking along the historic Spanish acequias, bird watching in the Bosque (habitat for 183 species of birds) and biking are enjoyable in the mild climate. Roadrunners, quail, and cottontails entertain guests while they unwind on the portal while watching the ever-changing Sandia Mountains. For more details go to www.chocolateturtlebb.com

The Sandia Mountains stand over Corrales wine country.

For reviews on the Chocolate Turtle Bed and Breakfast, go to http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g46998-d79654-Reviews-Chocolate_Turtle_Bed_and_Breakfast-Corrales_New_Mexico.html

Enjoy this article? Receive e-mail alerts when Vagabonding Lulu's new articles are available. Just click on the “Subscribe” button above.Stacey "Vagabonding Lulu" Wittig is an Arizona travel writer based in Flagstaff, AZ.

Photo by Wittig Published by National Geographic Traveler

2010-11-28T15:18:00.000-08:00

Tanzania's Zanzibar Coastline - Photo by Stacey Wittig

A photo of Tanzania's amazing coastline by Stacey "Vagabonding Lulu" Wittig is featured in an article by National Geographic Traveler this month. The article, "Places Rated: Tanzania's Swahili Coast" by Jonathan King appears on page one of National Geographic Traveler's "Intelligent Travel" blog at http://blogs.nationalgeographic.com/blogs/intelligenttravel/2010/11/places-rated-tanzanias-swahili.html.

Wittig captured the photo on the east side of the island of Zanzibar, just off the Tanzanian mainland. Tanzania is located in East Africa. Wittig took the photo while on holiday after serving on an educational mission to the Kilimanjaro region of Tanzania.

"The colors of Zanzibar are captivating. I couldn't resist this shot and waded out into the Indian Ocean to where this boat was anchored. There was a funny, narrow sidewalk that was about twelve inches high made of concrete. I said to my hiking buddy, Dorane, 'This thing is dangerous. Someone not paying attention could easily slip off this walkway and turn an ankle.' After my return from taking the still photo, that's exactly what I did -- with FLIP video camera in hand." Here's the unedited video:

Wittig has several stories of her African adventures pitched to editors. If you know of publications that may be interested in travel, mission or "healing with natural herbs" pieces, contact her at wittigwriter@gmail.com

Fresh, New Eating Places in Flagstaff, AZ

2010-09-24T14:10:00.000-07:00

The Flagstaff, AZ restaurant scene has ripened with new restaurants this past year. If you haven’t been to the historic mountain town for awhile, you’ll be surprised to reap a whole new variety of taste treats. The following three eateries sprouted from tried-and-true favorites, so you won’t have to “experiment” with your restaurant dollars.

Brix earned “Top 95 New Restaurants in the World” by Conde Nast Traveler in 2007 and now owners Paul and Laura Moir bring that success to their new inception Criollo Latin Kitchen. The couple’s collaborative efforts are built upon the philosophy of local and sustainable foods. Their latest endeavor, Criollo (pronounced kree-OH-yo,) is named after a Spanish breed of beef cattle brought to Arizona in the 1400’s that is well-suited to the local climate.

Criollo’s brunch menu features local foods such as the ancho-coffee rubbed skirt steak from organically-grown beef and chimmichurri in the “Steak and Eggs.” For lunch you can choose from such delectables as Ostiones Fritos (Masa Fried Oysters,) Cebiche del Día (citrus-cured seasonal fish with jalapeño, tomatoes and cilantro) and, of course, a Criollo Burger served with pickled red onion, watercress and chipotle aioli.

I don’t know if paella has ever been seen on a Flagstaff menu before, but this Latin-inspired restaurant is offering one of my favorite dishes, Paella Criollo, made of seasonal fish and shell fish, chorizo, tomatoes, fennel and saffron-infused Arborio rice. Or try the Pollo Mole Burrito, Bistec de Mojo Ajo or Tamarind Marinated Pork Tenderloin plated with grilled cactus and yucca fritters. There are plenty of vegetarian items on the menu.

I’ve been impressed with their selection of Spanish wines that I sip while enjoying the tapas (small-plated, traditional Spanish appetizers) and dream about traveling across the Iberian Peninsula. Don’t let the hostess sit your group in the three-walled alcove. The acoustics are terrible when nearby tables get loud.

The Lumberyard Brewery is the love child of family-style Beaver Street Brewery and the over-18-crowd Brews and Cues Billiards. The new restaurant offers a comfortable, sports-bar atmosphere with flat-screen TVs on every wall and lots of outdoor dining. Part of the building was constructed in 1890 during Flagstaff’s timber heyday. Much of the old lumber was repurposed for the new restaurant’s embellishments.

Nosh with nachos, wings, sliders or our fave, Yin Yang Hummus “East (black bean hummus) Meets West (Edamame hummus)” served with crunchy wontons and corn chips. Salads are huge and come in the chef’s metal mixing bowls. Skip the BBQ vinaigrette; what was I thinking? The deli sandwiches are healthy (in size) as well.

After taking your first bite, you might just feel the earth move under your feet. But no worries, it’s just the passing train. The historic building sits at the side of Flagstaff’s famous railroad tracks. Fortunately, the excruciating train whistles were banned and silenced forever before the restaurant opened this spring. We expect the Lumberyard Apricot Ale to be as award-wining as other brews in the Beaver Street stable of winning beers and ales.

For the past 16 years I’ve said, “Flagstaff would be the perfect town if it had a decent baguette.” Well, I am here to tell you, folks, perfection has arrived. Wildflower Bread Company offers more than the coveted baguette: their breakfast, lunch and dinner are each an understated, mouth-blessing experience.

“We’re offering white tablecloth quality food with fast, casual service and at family prices,” said Louis Basile, the company’s founder last week. “You get your food fast, but you can stay in the restaurant as long as you wish.”

Basile was in town for an informal gathering of tasters; I was fortunate to be invited. “We constantly ask, ‘Is this the best I have ever tasted?’” said the restaurateur about choosing quality ingredients and menu items.

I didn’t realize that Wildflower is an Arizona company. I first experienced the bistro in Prescott, and thought it was a national chain. After tasting their fresh, flavorsome wares in Sedona and Prescott, I lined up with other Flagstaff foodies for their grand opening in February.

My favorite breakfast is the Roasted Tomato, Feta and Egg Sandwich that is layered with fresh basil. All the salads are superb, but it’s hard for me NOT to order the Emerald Spinach which is a scrumptious combo of gorgonzola, bacon, red onion, spicy pecans, oranges, strawberries and red grapes

I suggest you try Wildflower Bread Company and ask yourself, ‘Is this the best I have ever tasted?’ I believe your answer will be ‘Yes!’ Don’t forget to buy a baguette to take home.

Criollo Latin Kitchen

16 North San Francisco Street
Flagstaff, AZ 86001
928-774-0541

Lumberyard Brewery

5 South San Francisco Street, Flagstaff
928-779-2739

Wildflower Bread Company

530 East Piccadilly Drive, Flagstaff

Southeast Corner of Butler and Lone Tree

928-233-5010

4 Tips to Pack Light

2010-09-01T14:02:00.000-07:00

Last week I began my initial packing for my trip to London and Spain. The tricky business about this pack job is that after my London business trip a la ballroom gown and business attire, I will be hoisting my backpack and trekking across Northern Spain on El Camino de Santiago. What to do with the high heeled-shoes and strapless accouterments to the formal evening wear?

I checked prices with UPS, DHL, FedEx and a boutique luggage handling company for shipping the biz clothes home. FedEx offers the lowest estimated price, but the actual price will be determined by the weight of my returning bag. Therefore, I need to pack light as possible.

Here are a few tips I've learned over the years about how to pack light to travel well:

1.) Make a calendar of the days you'll be gone. Write down the outfit you plan to wear for the morning- for me that's work, and more formal - and then the evening, more casual. Include every item that you'll need. What color shoes? Do you need a belt? Which one? What from the first outfit can you wear two days later? Perhaps the top you wear under your suit can double for a work-out T later on. I plan to first use a piece for business when it is crisp and clean, and then use it a second or third time in a more casual venue. Once you have everything written down, you can start to edit. Do you really need black, brown and navy shoes? Re-plan your wardrobe so you only need one pair of dress shoes, and one pair of comfortable, casual shoes. What from Day 4 can you wear again on Day 6? Mix and match. Get rid of anything that you can't use at least twice. Once you've reworked your list, pack only the clothes on the list. Not one item more!

2.) Try on everything before you pack it. You may need to run it to the dry cleaner. By trying on that backless evening dress, you'll remember the special foundation that you bought to go along with it. How does it fit since the last time wore it? Take your shoes out for a 'dry run'. Will you really be able to comfortably walk around Europe - or wherever - in the shoes you are planning to bring?

3.) Pack everything in the bags you plan to take several days before you leave. Feel how heavy your bags are. Do you REALLY want to be schlepping this much weight around the airport, the train station or the quaint bed and breakfast that you picked out on the internet - that has no elevator? Re-open you bag and take out 20% - or more - of what you already packed. How do you get rid of 20% of your packed panties? Get rid of 50% by using panty liners. Day 1 use fresh underwear with pantyliner. Day 2 - throw away panty liner. Get rid of the extra hair products. Put cosmetics in small containers, don't bother with your pretty, but heavy, designer cosmetic bags. Ziploc bags are light and functional. Repack. NOW will you be able to lift your carry-on bag over your head to put in the overhead compartment without dropping it on the head of the person below? If not, start again from the top.

4.) Tear out the pages that you need from tour books and leave the rest at home. Books are heavy. Duct tape is much lighter to 're-bind' the book into a smaller version. Clear packing tape works well, too.
Use these four smart tips to pack light, and you WILL travel well to any destination.

Would you like to learn more travel tips to improve your business or pleasure traveling experience? Check out our blog, http://www.wittigwriter.blogspot.com/ for more information about London, Spain and trekking El Camino de Santiago.

Wittig Wins National Travel Writing Contest

2010-07-31T13:49:00.000-07:00

Journalist’s Cleveland-Based Article Earns Recognition

06.28.2010 – Cleveland, Ohio – Stacey Wittig, a freelance travel writer and Flagstaff, Arizona resident is the grand prize winner of the 2009 North American Travel Journalists Association (NATJA) Cleveland Plus Writing Award. Wittig’s was named the winner at the 2010 NATJA Conference and Marketplace in Reno, Nevada earlier this May.

Wittig, whose winning travel article appeared in Lake Erie Lifestyle Magazine, was a part of the more than 100 writers, photographers, editors and tourism professionals that visited Northeast Ohio as part of the NATJA annual conference (June 2-5, 2009) hosted by Positively Cleveland, the Ohio Tourism Division and regional partners.

Following the conference, attendees were asked to submit their Cleveland-based travel stories for a chance to win a grand prize vacation package valued at more than $2,000. The competition reeled in more than 30 article entries, touching on everything from the region’s diverse culinary scene to the excitement of vacationing on a Lake Erie island.

Wittig wrote about the wineries in Northeast Ohio and how they appeal as a travel destination to both women and men in her article: “Take the Guys on this Girls Getaway.”

“I found it was really interesting how the wineries were incorporating beer gardens and car shows into their offerings,” Wittig said. “I thought, hey, the girls could take the guys on this typically girls’ getaway!”

Wittig also highlighted three major winegrowing families in the area including Ferrante Winery, Debonne Vineyards and Grand River Cellars, all boasting nationally-recognized wines.

“Stacey’s article truly captured the charm of wine country in Cleveland Plus,” said Tamera Lash Brown, Positively Cleveland’s VP of Marketing. “Her take on our Lake Erie wineries really embodied how travelers to this region are often pleasantly surprised by a bevy of unexpected attractions while visiting.”

Wittig, a Minneapolis native and University of Minnesota graduate, currently writes for seven publications, including Lake Erie Lifestyle Magazine and Arizona Vines and Wines Magazine. Wittig lives with her husband, Dan, in Flagstaff, AZ. She also has an affinity for archaeology, hiking and skiing.

Without Prior Notice: Temecula Valley Southern California Wine Country

2010-05-26T12:36:00.003-07:00

Reprinted from Pinewood News, Munds Park, AZ, May 24, 2010

by Stacey “Vagabonding Lulu” Wittig

Travel Writer

Do you like surprises? I do. When driving past the golf course at night, I am pleasantly surprised when dark, humped shadows turn into elk cows and calves grazing peacefully.

I like the unpredictably of our Arizona sunsets. Would we so admire the hot reds, fuchsias and purples if they were visible from our Munds Park decks at every setting of the sun?

Just the thought of a surprise birthday party terrifies me. But I love being blown away by the complexity of the first taste of an unpretentiously-priced wine.

I like surprises and so I am liking Temecula Valley Southern California Wine Country. I didn’t do much research before coming, but I did look at a map. I envisioned Temecula as a flat expanse of dull, plowed agricultural lands. From all my travels to grape-growing regions, I should have known better. Grapes are best grown on rolling hills that provide drainage and optimal sunlight. But on the two-dimensional, beige-colored map flattened on my Munds Park dining room table, the area looked … well, frankly it looked … beige and flat.

Now in Temecula, I am first surprised by tall, rolling hills striated by grapevines and back dropped by dramatic granite-bespeckled mountains. Here horses, golfers and grapes live in harmony. Lush green hills around golf courses and horse properties are dotted with squat olive trees and spires of Olympic cedars. Rose gardens spilling with ample blossoms and parcels of thick forests skirt the edges of golfers’ and riders’ views.

Outside the door of my room at Temecula Creek Inn -- home base for my southern California stay -- I am pleasantly surprised as the “flower” near which a hummingbird hovers is shifted by my perspective and turns into a nest. She hops in and finds a quiet respite.

Dinner at the Thornton Winery amazes with simple, gourmet cuisine. “Over the years I’ve learned to get back to the simple things … three or four ingredients so you can taste what you are supposed to taste,” says Chef Steve Pickell, schooled in DC in the 1980s and working in New York City, Chicago and LA before returning to southern California.

The pan-roasted Pacific Sea Bass with lemon, olives and bay leaves from Chef’s on-site herb garden was laid on Mediterranean Cous Cous. Four ingredients, and to die for! “Lobster used to be my favorite sea food,” reveals fellow foodie and travel writer Marilyn Hill. “But now I prefer sea bass. The chef can do so much with it to make it his own using local ingredients.”

Local foods are an integral part of Temecula’s dining scene. Southwest Riverside County has the highest number of boutique farms per capita than any other in California. Chef Pickell celebrates his relationship with local growers by presenting the freshest tastes to his guests.

Wine maker Don Reha has paired Thornton’s 2008 Viognier with the course that we are enjoying out of doors. I remind myself that it snowed last week in Munds Park. “It’s one of the best that I’ve made,” says the young, unpretentious wine maker who has twenty-six harvests under his belt. “I am learning every day. My philosophy [on wine making] is always changing.”

And so I get my third surprise: Thornton’s 2008 Viognier. It is a complex, multi-layered wine: peach in the nose, tangerine in the mouth, and fire in the belly. Temecula Valley Southern California Wine Country, an unexpectedly satisfying destination, is so close to home. One hour north of San Diego, one hour south of Orange County and one hour west of Palm Springs. An easy fly or drive from Phoenix or Munds Park.

When You Go:

Temecula Creek Inn – spacious guest rooms over-looking a championship golf course rated Four Stars by Gold Digest Places to Play. www.temeculacreekinn.com

Thornton Winery – tastings, tours, food, wine, and jazz concerts from April through October. www.thorntonwine.com

Stacey “Vagabonding Lulu” Wittig is a freelance travel writer based in Munds Park, AZ. Find more travel tips at www.vagabondinglulu.com and book your travel at www.travelwriter.rovia.com.

Flagstaff's Wine Dinner at Pesto Brothers

2010-02-04T18:15:00.000-08:00

Jeff Saville, Flagstaff entrepreneur is the Cochise of Flagstaff Tastecasters holds Richard's menu.

Flagstaff, AZ -- Flagstaff Tastecasters are tasting wine and food pairings LIVE at Pesto Brothers divine restaurant. We're streaming live on Flavorsof Flagstaff.com. Already to second course. Fantastic Arizona wines. Arizona Stronghold Tazi white was our started wine. Crisp, Sauvignon blanc-like. Not too fruity.

Eric Glomsky, wine maker for Page Springs Cellars and co-owner of AZ Stronghold Vineyards is here to present the backstories on the wines, and answer questions. Mangus is the red we're drinking with the duck pasta with walnut pesto sauce.

Eric tells us that Mangus was Cochise's father-in-law. This wine could be compared to a Super Tuscan which are are usually super tanic. The complex of Arizona-grown grapes makes Mangus a more approachable as a young wine. Historically, Chiricahua Apaches teamed up with the Mimbres Apaches as freedom fighters. Mangus was only 140 lbs, so not as massive as ... like the Super Tuscan you would get from Italy. Tastes more like a Pinot Noir to me.These grapes were grown in Cochise County and fermented in Page Springs, AZ.

Eric reminds us that Open wine/food production = the new Organic. Arizona Stronghold is an "Open" wine producer. Get to know your local wine or food producer.

Richard 's cuisine at Pesto Brothers (Handcrafted authentic Italian food served since 1999) is well presented and, of course, tasty. I particularly enjoyed the Seared duck ravioli with walnut herb pesto and shaved manchego cheese. I recommend ordering ANYTHING on Richard's menu that includes the walnut herb pesto! Brings my tastebuds memories of Cinque Terra on Italy's western coast.

Let's not forget the espresso Panna cotta with roasted banana sauce. Emmessimo! La Dolce Vita!
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Stacey Wittig (Vagabonding Lulu) is a freelance writer based in Flagstaff, AZ. Her culinary adventures have led her up the Inca Trail in Peru eating fried caterpillars and roasted guinea pig, across the plains of northern Spain on El Camino de Santiago enjoying tapas and steamed barnacles, and through the vineyards of Cinque Terre sipping Chianti Classic. “Northern Arizona is a remarkable place to call home,” declares the wandering writer who loves sour cream enchiladas at El Charro Restaurant in Flagstaff, AZ.
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Arizona State of Emergency, Condemned Supermarkets and Avalanche Warnings

2010-01-22T16:04:00.000-08:00

The intersection of I-40 and I-17 on Thursday. Both interstates closed at 6 pm.

In what the National Weather Service has called a "Top 5 Weather Event" for Flagstaff, AZ, snow continues to accumulate. Originally in effect until midnight tonight, severe winter storm warnings have been extended until noon MST Saturday.

A series of Pacific storms continue to pummel the state. Monday's storm dumped more than 12" of snow in the high country and locals in the low lands were warned of hazardous flash floods. Within the next twenty-four hours, the second storm dropped another 24" on top of the initial accumulation and areas schools closed.

After the third storm, Governor Jan Brewer declared a state of emergency for the entire state Thursday. The declaration releases $200,000 from the Arizona governor’s emergency funds to pay for emergency response and recovery expenses from heavy rain in lower elevations and deep snowfall in the mountains. An eight-year-old boy was swept away by floods near Mayer, AZ and is presumed dead.

Today, Arizona Snowbowl, the ski area perched high above Flagstaff, is closed due to extreme weather conditions including high winds and 57"-82" of new snow . The Coconino County Sheriff's Department is warning of avalanche dangers on the San Francisco Peaks. APS crews are coming in from around the state to help reinstate electrical service to residents and businesses such as Arizona Snowbowl that has been without power for quite some time.

Mund's Park, AZ snow berm on Wed., January 20 before AZ governor calls state emergency.

Some northern Arizonans report shoveling 70" - 80" of snow since the beginning of the week. "I can barely keep up with it," said local contractor Bobby Philpott. "I can't throw the snow much higher," added his friend from behind a seven-foot high pile of the white stuff.

Thursday morning snow brought this berm up, but afternoon rains eroded it to this level.

After the roof caved in at Bookman's used book store, officials condemned flat-roofed Flagstaff supermarkets. The of risks of heavy snow collapsing roofs on shoppers stock-piling for the extreme weather are too high. Currently, Fry's is the only grocery store open in Flagstaff as the community keeps trying to shovel out.

Closure sign on Flagstaff supermarket: "This building is deemed unsafe for human occupancy."

Sno-pacalypse Now

The National Weather Service reports (screaming at us in caps), "STORM SYSTEM TOTALS SINCE MONDAY EVENING ON THE WESTERN MOGOLLON RIM CURRENTLY RANGE FROM 40 TO 60 INCHES." The people of northern Arizona hope their snow shovels hold out until tomorrow at noon. Unless of course the severe winter storm warnings are extended. "I was at Hunt's Hardware to buy a snow shovel," said one shoveler. "Clerks were taking them out of the crate and handing them to the customers who were standing in line waiting for them to get unpacked."

Enjoy this article? Then click the "subscribe" button above this article. Stacey Wittig "Vagabonding Lulu" is an Arizona travel writer and Flagstaff hiker who enjoys sharing free travel tips and travel news about the Southwest USA . For Arizona hiking info click here.

Batten Down the Hatches: Top 5 Flagstaff Weather Event of All Time

2010-01-20T20:17:00.000-08:00

Hundred-year-old Ponderosa pine snapped in recent Flagstaff wind/snow storm.

Flagstaff, AZ. - Could this be worse than the snow storm of 1967? After two snow storms have hit the area this week, the City of Flagstaff continues to remind all citizens to be prepared for a significant snow event over the next two days. The National Weather Service is calling this one of the top five of all time, weather event for the greater Flagstaff area. The most intense part of the storm is expected to bring heavy snow and possible rain on Thursday and Friday.

BE PREPARED. Citizens should already be prepared in case of snow-ins and power outages in these storms.

Be prepared to stay home for several days. Please check on your neighbors and let friends and families know that you are okay. Items you should have at home include: extra bottled water and non-perishable food, prescription medication, flashlights, battery-powered radios and extra batteries. Anticipate needs for infants, elderly, special needs family members and pets. Your vehicle should be winterized with snow tires, chains, blankets, water, a first aid kit, ice scraper, extra clothes, and the gas tank at least half full. You should also have enough extra gas for snow blowers, generators, and gas containers.

SNOW LOAD ON ROOFS AND VENTS. Clearing snow off of roof tops should be considered for structures with flat roofs and ice buildup or drainage problems. Buildings and carport canopies with flat roofs; especially commercial buildings and mobile homes, are in danger of collapse until their roof weight loads are reduced.

When clearing snow, first assess the safety of the roof. Look for obvious signs of sagging, cracking, leaking, or other structural deformities. If deformities exist, call 911 and evacuate the building. If safe to do so, try to clear snow and ice from ladders being held in place by other workers. If it is necessary to get onto the roof in order to clear it, make sure that it is safe and work first along the edges to clear the snow. Once the edges are cleared, work inward from there. Try to clear drains (and keep them clear) so that ice does not accumulate on roofs.

Vent pipes for fuel-fired appliances may become obstructed with snow and could cause a buildup of carbon monoxide inside the building. However, most vent pipes are constantly warm and should remain relatively clear even with large snow amounts. If necessary, try to clear pipes from ladders with hand tools (rakes or push-brooms). Avoid climbing on steep roofs. If carbon monoxide is suspected, call 911. For all emergencies call 911. For roof and vent pipe questions, contact the Building Department: 779-7610. For structural issues, contact the Building Dept or Fire Dept: 779-7610 or 779-7688

POWER OUTAGES & SHELTERS. APS is staged and prepared to address possible power outages due to the pending storm. Please report all power outages....do not assume that APS is aware of them.

Residential power outages 1-800-253-9405
Business power outages 1-800-253-9407

The American Red Cross and the Salvation Army and also prepared to open shelters in the community if necessary.

SAND BAGS. The City of Flagstaff Public Works Division will have sand and sand bags available at the Thorpe Park Softball Fields area beginning tomorrow (Thursday) morning. You must bring your own shovel and fill your own bags.

TRAVEL. Severe weather conditions will impact travel. We encourage all citizens to stay off the roads as much as possible throughout the storms. If you need to know about interstate travel and road conditions/closures please call 511.

PLOWING. City snow plows will run continuously throughout the storm, however citizens are reminded that the main roadways will be the first priority for plowing and it could be quite some time before plows are able to work in residential areas. Please do not park on Flagstaff streets between midnight and 7:00 a.m. Please help your neighbors clear snow and snow berms whenever possible.

TRASH & RECYCLING. Trash and recycling residential pick up service has been canceled for Friday. The Cinder Lake Landfill will also be closed on Friday.

EMERGENCIES AND OTHER INFORMATION NUMBERS. If you have an emergency, please call 911. Snow plow crews and emergency service personnel will prioritize all emergency notifications and respond accordingly. If you have non-emergency questions please call the Coconino County Message Center at 1-888-679-8393. Volunteers will answer the phone from 8:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. on Thursday and Friday. A recorded message will be available off hours.

COORDINATION OF AGENCIES. The City and multiple agencies around Northern Arizona are working together to address all safety issues related to our residents and this storm. Officials in all agencies are meeting on a regular basis to address community conditions and response.

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Vagabonding Lulu is an Arizona travel writer based in Flagstaff, AZ. She shares travel advice and news of the area.

Three favorite peak hikes in Phoenix, AZ

2010-01-20T11:03:00.000-08:00

Where's Waldo? Find the hiker trekking Piestewa Peak within Phoenix, AZ city limits.

Although known as the Valley of the Sun, Phoenix, Arizona offers many mountain-top hikes – right within the city limits. The valley lies low, hot and flat, but mountains of schist, metamorphosed granite rise abruptly out of the city. Metropolitan Phoenix is built amidst a typical Basin and Range topography of broad valleys and parallel mountains.

The City of Phoenix has set aside preserves and parks around many of the craggy mountains and maintains trails to some of the summits. Peak hiking, although strenuous, can provide respite from the hotter valley floor and tremendous views of the city below. Here are three popular peak climbs in the Phoenix metro area.

A favorite summit hike is Piestewa Peak (2,608 ft., 795 m.) formerly called Squaw Peak. The Quartz Ridge Trail follows the ridgeline 1.7 miles to the summit of Piestewa Peak. Although rated moderate, it is a steep hike with an elevation gain of 1,190 feet in that short distance. The trail is busy with trail runners so take care to give uphill hikers the right-of-way.

North Mountain at 2,104 ft. (641 m.) is lower and northwest of Piestewa Peak. The summit can be reached by following the moderate-to-difficult North Mountain National Trail #44. The 1.6-mile loop trail begins at the Maricopa picnic area in North Mountain Park. Follow it north up an incline and set of steps. Follow the paved road to the top of the mountain. Bear left just below the towers and continue along the ridge to the junction with #44A. The trail continues south from the junction along the ridge and ends at the picnic area near the pumping station. After your hike take time to explore the North Mountain Recreation Area. Don’t miss the petroglyphs located in North Mountain Preserve.

The red profile of Camelback Mountain looks like a tired camel with its telltale sandstone hump pointed skyward and its boxy head lying on the ground. A Phoenix icon, Camelback Mountain is one of the steepest and more difficult summit hikes in the area. Take the 1.2-mile Summit Trail over sharp terrain to the mountaintop at 2,704 feet. This strenuous trail is not for beginners, and you will see seasoned hikers clinging to a vertical safety handrail along one precipitous boulder field.
The views across the Valley of the Sun and the cool breezes are plenty reward for the hiking effort on any of these three favorite summit hikes.

1.) Camelback Mountain Summit Trail 1.2 miles one way
Elevation gain: 1,264 feet
Recommended for experienced hikers.
Directions: From the corner of Camelback Road and 44th Street, take 44th Street north and follow along as it curves to the east. Take the first right turn after Tatum onto Echo Canyon Parkway. Parking is limited; park in designated spaces only.
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Stacey Wittig, "Vagabonding Lulu" is an Arizona travel writer who loves to share hiking adventures and travel tips.
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2.) North Mountain National Trail
1.6 miles loop
Elevation gain: 614 feet
Moderate to difficult.
Located in the Phoenix Mountains Preserve at 7th Street and Peoria.

3.) Piestewa Peak/ Quartz Ridge Trail
1.7 miles one way
Elevation gain: 1,190 feet
Moderate
Directions: from the corner of Hwy 51 and Glendale Avenue, follow Glendale east to Squaw Peak Drive. Take a left and follow Squaw Peak Drive to the parking lot on the left.

Grand Canyon death in "The Abyss"

2010-01-08T09:45:00.000-08:00

Grand Canyon, AZ -- “If you gaze long into an abyss, the abyss will gaze back into you,” said German philosopher Frederich Nietzsche. The man whose body was found this week hundreds of feet below “The Abyss” in Grand Canyon National Park may have been gazing. Or perhaps he went over the steep edge intentionally.

Grand Canyon hiking tip: Don’t be mesmerized by the scenery and forget to watch your footing.

On the afternoon of Tuesday, January 5, Grand Canyon patrol rangers noticed a light-colored passenger vehicle parked on Hermit Road at The Abyss. Upon returning the next morning to check on the vehicle and finding it still unoccupied, park officials called a search investigation and first used a spotting scope to glass the area below the rim. A helicopter reconnaissance crew was called in.

Grand Canyon National Park’s The Abyss is notable for its steep drop. The south rim comes to an end near the roadway and visitors report “there is only air in front of and below you.”

On Wednesday, January 6, the helicopter crew reported spotting the body of a lone male approximately 300 feet below the rim at the Abyss which is on far west end of the south rim. Search and rescue personnel then rappelled down to prepare the body for transport. The body was transported to the rim by helicopter via long-line operation and then transferred to the Coconino County Medical Examiner.

The incident reminds adventurers to always be cautious when hiking canyon country. Vagabonding Lulu hiking safety tips include:

Hiking Safety Tips #1: Drink plenty of water; dehydration can cause dizziness and unbalance -- not good symptoms when hiking near the edge.

Hiking Safety Tips #2: keep pets on leash - jumping pets can create unbalance

Hiking Safety Tips #3: avoid hiking alone

Hiking Safety Tips #4: tell people where you will be, give them a phone number to call if you don’t check back in after your hike.

Always be alert of the dangers of falling. Don’t be mesmerized by the scenery and forget to watch your footing. Beware: if you gaze long into an abyss, the hypnotic effects of its beauty may cause you to forget your physical surrounds. The abyss could suck you in.

The Grand Canyon National Park Service is conducting an investigation into the incident.

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Vagabonding Lulu (Stacey Wittig) is a freelance Arizona travel writer based near the Grand Canyon National Park. She offers free travel tips and free travel advice for your next adventure.

Arizona Trails on the Map for New Federal Monies

2009-12-09T17:25:00.000-08:00

Arizona trails lead through Saguaro forests in the Sonoran Desert.

Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail has made the list of 17 National Park Service (NPS) trails that have been awarded federal grants. The national historic trail located in southern Arizona will be part of a new project connecting the trail to other Federal facilities.

The $96,000 project will connect the Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail to three NPS sites in southern Arizona: Casa Grande Ruins National Monument in Coolidge, AZ; Saguaro NP near Tucson, AZ and Tumacacori National Historical Park in Tumacacori, AZ.

The money is designated for restoring or improving existing trails and trailhead connections, providing better wayside and interpretive services, encouraging innovative educational services, supporting bridge and trailhead designs, and providing planning services for important trail gateways.

In addition to operating park areas across the United States and its territories, the National Park Service plays a vital role in operation of the 52,000-mile National Trails System. The Trails System dates from 1968 legislation that created the Appalachian and Pacific Crest National Scenic Trails. Today, the National Trails System is comprised of 11 national scenic trails (NSTs), 19 national historic trails (NHTs), and more than 1,050 national recreation trails (NRTs).

Stay tuned to vagabondinglulu.com where you will get more information about this and other vagabonding opportunities in Arizona and around the world. Stacey Wittig AKA Vagabonding Lulu ia an Arizona travel writer and offers you free travel tips and travel advice. Simply subscribe on the right side of this blog.

Over the Edge: Another Canyon Visitor Falls to Death

2009-12-07T12:19:00.000-08:00

Flagstaff, AZ -- Last week the body of a Grand Canyon National Park visitor was found 200 feet below the canyon's rim. National Park Service rangers rappelled down to the body located between Mather Point and Pipe Creek Vista on the South Rim. The body was transported out of the canyon by helicopter.

Unfortunately death has not been that uncommon in canyon country this year.* Although warnings are posted on Grand Canyon National Park websites, brochures and newspapers, many ignore precautionary advice. Since the November 28th death has been ruled accidental, it sounds as if the visitor ignored warnings to keep back from the edge, or advice to "stay on the trail."

Vagabonding Lulu's travel tips for a safe Grand Canyon experience:

keep pets on leash - jumping pets can create unbalance
avoid hiking alone
tell people where you will be
it takes twice as long to hike up than down
start physical conditioning months before your hike

The accident happened on a Saturday, a high-visitation day, and there were plenty of other visitors to help and call in reports to the Park Service. However, after a fall of 200 feet onto rock surfaces, there was not much more that anyone could do to help. Last Friday a memorial service was held in Broomfield, CO for the 62-year old man who fell to his death.

Hiking the Grand Canyon is unlike hiking anywhere else on this planet

*Related articles: Canyon Hikers Dropping Like Flies, Park Service Investigates Hiker's Death ,
Canyon Adventurers Find Loose Footing Deadly.

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Stacey Wittig, "Vagabonding Lulu" is an Arizona travel writer who publishes free travel tips and free travel advice. Subscribe to her blog - it's free - on the right side of this window. Learn more about northern Arizona, Africa, Spain and other fascinating travel destinations.

EXPERIENCE A CLAM BAKE IN SONORAN DESERT?

2009-12-01T08:49:00.000-08:00

Fire and water: Enjoy a Sonoran Desert evening at Fairmont Scottsdale

For a special Friday evening in Scottsdale, AZ visit The Grill for a Clam Bake on the patio. Seafood lovers will enjoy little neck clams, Saltspring Island mussels and shrimp. The Grill Restaurant is located at TPC Scottsdale the home of the PGA Tour's FBR Open. The Grill Restaurant, ranked the #1 Steak and Seafood restaurant in Arizona by Conde Nast Traveler, provides the ultimate fine dining experience while overlooking the Stadium Course 18th green.

Friday Night Clam Bakes are only $28 for adults and $12 for children six to twelve and include gourmet desserts like brownie cheesecake and raspberry short-cupcakes. Children five and younger dine free with the purchase of an adult entrée.

May I have a side of "Sustainability" with that Clam Bake?
As part of Fairmont Scottsdale's commitment to environmental stewardship, The Grill at TPC Scottsdale has partnered with the CleanFish Alliance, an organization that carefully selects fisherman and artisan fish farmers to support sustainable practices. With this partnership comes an all-new menu, featuring the highest quality sustainable seafood.

Beyond the Clam Bake, The Grill’s menu includes entrees like Florida spiny lobster, Loch Duart salmon and striped bass as well as beef, chicken and pork selections. And don't forget to try the dessert items, including Cheesecake Tic Tac Toe, Warm Monkey Bread and Pie Quartet, all while overlooking the beautiful Sonoran Desert.

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Vagabonding Lulu (aka Stacey Wittig) is an Arizona travel writer. Subscribe to this blog for free travel advice and timely travel tips. Why wait? Subscribe or follow now in the right-hand column of this blog. It's free and takes only minutes to subscribe to upcoming travel tips and insightful travel advice.

Vagabonding Lulu Tip: Book Now to Ring in the New Year from a tower in London

2009-11-25T12:02:00.000-08:00

Beat the crowds and book one of London's most desirable room for New Year's Eve. Where else could you sleep in a tower? No, not THAT Tower, but pretty close. The Royal Horseguards' Tower Suite is the only hotel room in London in its very own unique tower and offers unrivalled views of the annual firework display over the breath taking River Thames.

The hotel's Tower Suite is an 'upside down' suite with the bedroom on the lower floor, and the sitting room area on the upper level, giving spectacular panoramic views of some of the most famous sights in London including the London Eye, St. Paul's Cathedral and Big Ben.

In addition to this gorgeous suite The Royal Horseguards has a further 280 bedrooms and suites for the international traveler to ring in the New Year. Every room offers a built-in iPod docking station; free Wi-Fi access; BOSE surround sound; mood lighting; sensory mini bars; individual climate control; international plug sockets; a waterproof plasma TV, under floor heating and steam-free mirrors in the bathroom as well as sumptuous soft furnishings. In addition, the super king-size mattresses are branded by their manufacturer, 'the most comfortable mattresses in the world' and even come with the Royal seal of approval. Truly a bed fit for a Queen (or King)!

Recently refurbished for a total cost of $27million, the Royal Horseguards is full of surprises. There is no where else in London where guests can soak up breathtaking river views from the sanctuary of a flower-filled terrace, dine in an award-winning restaurant with a fascinating history, listen to a talented harpist in the lobby during afternoon tea or rub shoulders with politicians, past and present.

Availability and rate information may be found on the hotel's official website, www.theroyalhorseguards.co.uk.

Vagabonding Lulu Travel Tip: Fan's of Mexican artist Diego Rivera can view his work over the holidays at London's British Museum. Admission to Revolution on Paper: Mexican Prints 1910 – 1960 is free.

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Vagabonding Lulu loves to share free travel tips and travel advice with her readers. Stay up with the most unique and adventurous travel suggestions by "Subscribing" or "Following" this blog - it's free and takes one minute.

Subscribe now to Vagabonding Lulu's free travel tips on the right side of this blog. Follow the Arizona travel writer on Twitter: Travelwriter.

Sedona Secret: First of Seven

2009-11-18T18:31:00.000-08:00

Natural light from above and below make this stone ledge a mystical retreat.

Sedona, AZ -- Hike back into one of Sedona's lonely red rock canyons and you feel that you are in a strange world. Most hikers' spirits are quieted as they escape further back into narrow canyons made of stratified formations. Others get downright giddy. Giggly newcomers to the wondrous red rock country are a common occurrence along Sedona's many trails.

Sedona Canyon Hike

Yesterday photographer Charles Bame and I found a respite from others in a secret place off a Sedona side canyon. We crawled through a hole in the rock hidden by Arizona Sycamores and scruffy pine trees and spent several hours photographing and writing. Do you recognize our mystical retreat? Probably not since it is hidden under tons of rock and is one of Sedona's seven secrets. If you think that you recognize this womb-like spot, let us know by leaving a comment.

Sedona's Seven Secrets

Chuck and Vagabonding Lulu are collaborating on a book project that will reveal the seven secrets of this other-worldly red rock country. Subscribe on the right hand side of this website, and we'll let you know when the book will be available for on-line purchase.

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Stacey Wittig, "Vagabonding Lulu" is an Arizona travel writer - yeah, she writes about Arizona travel AND is an Arizonan who writes about travel throughout the world. Subscribe to this blog and get FREE travel advice... and learn all of Sedona's Seven Secrets.

Navajo Artist Talks About Sweat Lodge

2009-11-17T19:46:00.000-08:00

Navajo artist and Flagstaff, AZ resident Shonto Begay commented on the Sedona Sweat Lodge tragedy in a recent news column. An October 8 sweat lodge ceremony conducted by self-help guru James Arthur Ray ended when 21 retreat participants were transported by air and ambulance to area hospitals. Three people died.

Native Americans for whom the sweat lodge is a cleansing ceremony are talking about the Anglo version that went bad. Says Begay in a Flagstaff Live! magazine commentary:

For us, sweat lodge ceremonies are always serious undertakings. They involve the elements of water, wood, fire, rock. In ancient stories, they are presented to us by bighorn sheep, by beaver, by horsefly, by blue heron. Sweat lodge ceremony was the gateway into the fourth world, much like the airline security gate, I suppose. Back in the time when the third world was flooded and beings were forced into the fourth world, when cicada claimed the grounds between the four sacred mountains by tricking the monster beings, by defying death, this is where the beings earned the right to enter the sweat lodge. In the sweat lodge, we put to rest our demons. In the heavy and dark heat, in a tight space, strong prayers are uttered and pains are talked through. It’s a place of transcending your pain. It is not a $9,000 place of enlightenment. It never was. The price is your reverence, not your gold.

Begay goes on to explain:

That’s all that has ever been asked to live in harmony in this fourth world. Sweat lodge symbolically places us back in the beauty and the holiness of the womb, in the protection and in the company of the great mystery. It is not the place to cheer on your pain. It is not the place to give command. It is certainly not the place to mix genders. A long and ancient set of tenets have always ruled the use of sweat lodge. Upon reading the details of the Sedona incident, everything that could possibly go wrong was encouraged: two hours rather than 20-minute increments; mixing genders; a goal of enlightenment rather than spiritual cleansing; a dictatorial prophet/profit.

...Continue to love us and our culture, but tread carefully and with great respect. You cannot appropriate all without a price.

Read the entire article at http://www.flaglive.com/flagstafflive_story.cfm?storyID=207339&sid=122

Read Vagabonding Lulu's commentary at
Romanticism of Native Traditions goes bad in Sedona Sweat Lodge

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Stacey Wittig "Vagabonding Lulu" is an Arizona travel writer who shares FREE travel tips and travel advice about Flagstaff, Sedona and the Grand Canyon. Don't miss your free travel tips or travel-savvy hot topics by subscribing to her blog in the right column.

How to get from DCA to Downtown DC

2009-11-13T16:42:00.000-08:00

How to travel from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) to downtown Washington DC?

For stress-free, convenient transportation around the DC area, we used the Metro to get from Reagan National Airport (DCA) to our hotel near China Town in the Penn Quarter. We found the signage at DCA quite good, and simply followed the signs to the centrally located station. Metro system maps and information are readily available at the airport’s metro station. Aptly named “Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport” Station, you may access either the Yellow or Blue line there.

Our wheeled luggage pulled easily through DC’s Accessibility-compliant sidewalks and escalators.

Washington DC Metro Pass machine takes cash and credit cards.

Free Washington DC travel tips:

Vagabonding Lulu’s travel tip #1: When purchasing multiple fare cards for friends or family with a credit card, select the “B” button, then click the same button one more time for 3 passengers, click again for 4, and so one. Saves time and credit card slides. We paid a mere $1.35 per person for fares from Reagan International Airport to China Town.

Vagabonding Lulu travel tip #2: If you’re a Republican, call Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport “Reagan.” My liberal friend corrected me when I said I had flown into Reagan. He said, “I call it National.” So to be politically correct, if you are Democratic, call Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport “National.” If undecided you could always fly into Dulles International Airport (DIA) one hour south of DC, although DIA has no DC Metro service.
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Stacey Wittig is "Vagabonding Lulu" an Arizona travel writer based in Flagstaff, AZ. Don't miss her free travel advice-- subscribe and follow this site on the right hand side of the blog.

Park Service Investigates Hiker's Death in Canyon

2009-11-10T20:52:00.000-08:00

Visitors need to use caution while hiking in unfamiliar environs.

Flagstaff, AZ -- Another hiker has died in the Grand Canyon this season, this time on the popular Bright Angel Trail. According to the National Park Service, at approximately 6:00 p.m. on Monday, November 9 Grand Canyon's 911 dispatch center received a call reporting a man down on the trail just below "mile-and-a-half-house." The reporting party said that they found the man not breathing, unresponsive and bleeding from the head.

The hiker was identified as Joseph Mitchell, 63 of Clarkdale, Arizona. The National Park Service is conducting an investigation into the incident. This death comes less after 60 days after the bodies of two hikers were found in separate incidents in September.

The hiking tragedies reminds all visitors to carry water, watch their footing and use caution when hiking in the arid canyonlands. Avoid canyon hikes gone bad by heeding Park Rangers' advice.
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Stacey Wittig, "Vagabonding Lulu" is an Arizona travel writer interested in hiking safety.

GIRL’S NIGHT OUT CELEBRATES RELEASE OF “THE TWILIGHT SAGA, NEW MOON: THE MOVIE” AT THE WESTIN KIERLAND RESORT & SPA

2009-11-06T14:11:00.000-08:00

Cocktails, shopping and gifts for a movie-themed Arizona Girl’s Night Out

Get the girlfriends together for a “Girl’s Night Out” at The Westin Kierland Resort & Spa to celebrate the highly-anticipated movie premiere of “The Twilight Saga, New Moon: The Movie” on Friday, Nov. 20. Whether you are looking for a weekend getaway or just a night out with the girls, the Scottsdale, Arizona resort is offering a weekend inspired by this blockbuster movie.

You'll enjoy an exclusive “Girl’s Night Out” with specialty themed cocktails, hors d'oeuvres, shopping event with select retailers from adjacent Kierland Commons, and a private screening of the latest movie in “The Twilight Saga.” Additionally, each guest will take home a special “Vampire-Chic Gift Bag” to complete the mystifying night to remember.

Individual tickets for the Resort’s “Girls Night Out” Event to celebrate the release of “The Twilight Saga, New Moon: The Movie” are available for $75 per person and include:

Special registration at the Resort’s “Kierland Mining Co.”
“Twi-tini” Cocktails sponsored by Alliance Beverage and hors d'oeuvres at Dreamweaver’s Canyon Courtyard
“New Goth” Fashion Show featuring “Twilight-inspired” fall looks
Transportation and tickets to see the new Twilight movie at Harkins 101
“Vampire-Chic Gift Bag” (one per guest)
Kierland Commons Shopping event with select retailers including LATHER, Ruby Boutique, Cos Bar and Stash
A chance to win private transportation to the theater with Sanderson Volvo’s “What Drives Edward” promotion

Individual tickets for this girls getaway are based upon limited availability. This Scottsdale, AZ event is available to guests 21-years-old and up. To purchase individual tickets call 480-624-1202.

What Drives Edward? Sanderson Volvo will be on hand at this “Girl’s Night Out” event inspired by “The Twilight Saga, New Moon: The Movie” to show guests what “drives” Edward. The Volvo XC60 and C30, the models Edward drives in the movie, will be on display during the event and Sanderson Volvo will be offering two lucky guests the chance to receive private transportation to the movie with a friend! One grand prize winner will have the chance to drive a Volvo for the entire weekend.

Guests can make it a Girl’s Getaway and stay the night on The Westin Kierland’s “Girls Night Out” Resort Package starting at $249 a night, based on double occupancy. The “Girl’s Night Out” Resort Package includes:

Entry for two guests to “Girl’s Night Out” evening event on Nov. 20, including transportation and tickets to see “The Twilight Saga, New Moon: The Movie.”
One-night stay at The Westin Kierland for the night of Friday, Nov. 20
Rates starting from $249 per night based on double occupancy
Late check-out, based on availability at check-in

To book the “Girl’s Night Out” Resort Package call 800-354-5892 and ask for promo code: NEWMOON. Rate is based on two adults 21-years-old and up, and is subject to availability. Additional cost of $75 per person will apply for additional individuals staying on the package. Access will not be granted to the event and or the movie without advanced reservations. Package can only be booked by calling the Resort directly.

Third Death in Sweat Lodge Bungle

2009-10-19T11:39:00.000-07:00

Flagstaff, AZ -- A third victim of the Sedona sweat lodge tragedy died Saturday after being in a coma for over a week. Earlier this month, two other sweat-lodge participants were pronounced dead at the hospital after the cleansing ceremony went a rye. Nineteen other people were taken to area hospitals with illnesses ranging from dehydration to kidney failure.

On October 8, over fifty people were inside a temporary sauna-like structure as part of a "Spiritual Warrior" retreat conducted in Sedona, Arizona a center for New Age practitioners, vortexes and knock-off Native spiritual rituals. I spoke with a Navajo man in the Grand Canyon last week. He confirmed my understanding that a traditional sweat is conducted with a much smaller group. "Maybe 10 or 12 at the most," Ross said. "We use hot rocks only. No water." The Navajo man also explained that participants are segregated by sex. "Only men are in the sweats," he said. "Sometimes if the rocks are still hot, after the sweat, the women will go in."

Sedona Red Rock Country attracts New Age practitioners.

The Spiritual Warrior sweat lodge that has now produced three deaths, was filled with both men and women. James Arthur Ray, the self-help guru conducting the sweat lodge promises on his website that during the +$9,000-per-head Spiritual Warrior retreat "You'll accelerate the releasing of your limitations and push yourself past your self-imposed and conditioned borders..."

I am so sad that seekers of spiritual truth walked this path made crooked by the romanticized white-man's version of Native ritual practices and that they will no longer have a chance to seek further. "I am the way, the Truth and the life," said Jesus. "No one comes to the Father except through me." Why are we compelled to run from those words that present such a simple formula? Comments welcomed.

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Vagabonding Lulu is an Arizona travel writer that shares travel news, free travel tips and commentary. Subscribe and "Follow" on the right hand side of this page and you will not miss any travel-savvy comments or free travel advice.

Romanticism of Native Traditions goes bad in Sedona Sweat Lodge

2009-10-10T11:36:00.000-07:00

Anglo's romantic notions about Native cultural traditions can lead down the wrong path. Those searching for spiritual fulfillment sometimes use vacation time to experiment with Native American ritual practices. Unfortunately non-Natives conducting First Peoples' ceremonies and rituals and catering to tourists don't always get it right.

Angel Valley resort located in Yavapai Indian Country includes Oglala Sioux-type tepee.

This could be the case at the Sweat Lodge Ceremony gone bad in Sedona, Arizona Thursday night. Two people died and an estimated nineteen others were taken to area hospitals. Fox News reports that about 50 people were in a "sweat" structure located at Angel Valley Resort in Sedona. The facility provides spiritual retreats for visitors to Sedona's famous Red Rock Country.

Angel Valley retreat center claims on-property vortex sites

Living in Indian Country, I've had the opportunity to visit Native sweat lodges. I've turned down invitations by Native people to participate in sweat lodge ceremonies. But I have never seen a traditional sweat lodge that could sit 50 people. That's where I get the opinion that the 50-capacity sweat lodge must be an Anglo-version of a typically healthful and safe Native tradition.

Thursday night's tragedy shocks and horrifies us local people living in northern Arizona. It saddens me that those on a journey to spiritual fulfillment never had a chance to find it. I pray that those who survived will chose to walk where the good way is. "Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls. But you said, 'We will not walk in it.' " Jeremiah 6:15-17

Vagabonding Lulu's Free Travel Tips:

As in "buying only Native-made silver and turquoise jewelry," likewise "buy" only Native-operated Indian ceremonies, practices or tours.
trust your own body, if you start feeling sick, get out of the situation
When in Sedona, visit the Chapel of the Holy Cross for the weekly Taizé service on Monday at 5pm. Light a candle for the victims of this tragic spiritual experiment.

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Vagabonding Lulu is an Arizona travel writer based near Sedona, AZ. She offers free travel tips and travel advice. Subscribe to this site in the right column and you won't miss the latest travel news for your next trouble-free vacation.

Flagstaff Leaves A Changin'

2009-10-09T14:34:00.000-07:00

Flagstaff, AZ -- The San Francisco Peaks are alive with color this weekend. You can expect an illuminating car ride or hike as turning Aspen trees are dressed in glowing shades of golds and greens.

The Arizona Daily Sun reported that "none could remember a better fall day of cycling to the Inner Basin than Saturday." So I decided to hike up the Kachina Trail just outside the Arizona Snowbowl yesterday. The trail is relatively flat - considering you're on the side of mountains that contain Arizona's highest peak, Mount Humphreys at 12,637 feet (3,852 m).

But even at the lower trail, the 9500 ft above sea level elevation put a cramp in my breathing. Once I blew the spider webs out of my lungs, I was entering The Kachina Peaks Wilderness Area. I was inspired to bound from rock to rock by the doe prancing through the terrain ahead of me. As she bounded up the steep slope to the left, I got a glimpse of her twin fawns. They looked hardly big enough to survive the soon upcoming snows of winter. When the doe stopped to look at me over her back, both fawns mimicked her, duplicating her pose.

"I need my camera mounted to my forehead," I sigh my favorite last words before the picture of the bull elk, herd of mulies or gaggle of turkeys disappear into the underbrush. This time, all three pictures disappeared before I could get my Lumix out of the day pack slung over my shoulder.

The photo below is all I got of the Mule deer doe and her babies, that I named Ray and Mi as I sprinted along making up stories in my head.

As you can see, the colors were disappointing on the Kachina Trail. The gold Aspens on the road to Snowbowl were more memorable. I zoomed by them in my truck as photographers were straightening their tri-pods and making quite a fuss in front of the glowing plumage. That was at about 3:30 on Thursday.

I was surprised to see so many wind-downed trees on the Kachina Trail. The forest service has cut paths through those fallen across the trail. It looked to me that a heavy wind came down the mountain from the northeast and snapped many of the tall Aspens. The winds usually come from the west here. Perhaps the trees had grown strong against the westerly winds, but when one came from the northeast, snapper-rooney! I'm no forester, but I'd like to check out my theory. Looks like it happened some time since late spring, since the broken trees had plenty of leaves. The forest service had time to clean up the trail, so it must have happened over four weeks ago, I am surmising. So my guess is that the wind storm happened sometime between July 1 and September 8. Anyone know? Leave a comment below.

Kachina Trail's varied terrain makes it a personal favorite. You start out on a well-worn, serpentine trail that gradually climbs through tall ferns. Later you step over igneous rock blown off the top of the volcanic peaks above. The trail snakes around some huge boulders and you can wonder at the force of that volcanic explosion. Kachina Trail eventually breaks out of the forest and takes you across wildflower-covered meadows where you can get good views of Arizona below. The ferns are crumpled brown by night-time frosts and the only fall wildflowers-- hearty lavender-colored asters and something small and yellow -- can be seen now.

I recommend that you head out to Lockett Meadow this weekend. There will probably still be color left along the Water Line Trail. I'm going to go look for it. Maybe I'll see you out there. I'll definitely check out the Waterline Road Extension toward Bear Jaw Canyon as recommended by Randy Wilson of the Arizona Daily Sun. On second thought, maybe I'll just park at the Bear Jaw Trailhead and hike from there. I remember a lot of aspen trees in that area. Let's go for the gold!

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Vagabonding Lulu is an Arizona travel writer based in Flagstaff, AZ. The trippy journalist loves to share free travel tips and insider information. "Subscribe" on the right side of this page and you won't miss any of her wacky travel advice or Arizona traveler's secrets.

Photo at right: Strong bicyclist enjoys fall colors along SnowBowl Road.

Airline Asks Passengers to "Go" in an Effort to "GO Green"

2009-10-07T15:39:00.000-07:00

A Japanese airline is attempting to reduce carbon emissions with a new ploy: Have passengers go to the bathroom before boarding.

All Nippon Airways (ANA) believes that empty bladders means lighter passengers, which means less fuel needed to transport them, UK's Daily Mail reported. ANA hopes the weight saved will lead to a five-ton reduction in carbon emissions over the course of 30 days.

ANA airline staff at boarding gates reportedly are asking passengers to relieve themselves before getting on their flights.

The one-month trial started Oct. 1, just as reports that Al Qaeda suicide bombers may hide devices INSIDE their bodies.

Ryanair, a UK budget airline, announced earlier this year that they were looking at charging for in-flight trips to the bathroom. Read more: http://vagabondinglulu.blogspot.com/2009_02_01_archive.html

Perhaps Ryanair should do a study to find if credit-card readers added to bathroom door locks will reduce carbon emissions. It could depend on if the lock is placed on the entrance side or the exit side of the toilet door.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1218473/Airline-goes-green-asking-passengers-use-toilet-boarding.html#ixzz0TI3nxaSK

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Vagabonding Lulu is an Arizona travel writer crazy about sharing free travel tips and travel advice. Subscribe to this site and don't miss any zany travel tips that might just save you money or time...or a bonus trip to the bathroom. The trippy journalist from Flagstaff, AZ is a member of North American Travel Journalists Association and Travelwriters.com.

Say 'Goodbye' to 'Achoo': Allergen-Free Hotel Rooms

2009-10-01T16:12:00.000-07:00

Phoenix, Arizona -- The Pointe Hilton Squaw Peak is the first resort in Phoenix, AZ to feature PURE Rooms, an allergy-friendly room that allows guests, especially those who suffer from allergies and asthma, the cleanest, freshest air and a more restful sleep during their stay. With already upscale accommodations, the resort has transformed six double suites and five king suites into PURE allergen-friendly environments that have been treated to remove up to 98 percent of bacteria and viruses. On Vagabonding Lulu's list of top 20 Phoenix hotels and resorts.

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Vagabonding Lulu is a Flagstaff travel writer who loves to share free travel tips. Follow or subscribe to this blog -- in the right-hand column -- and you won't miss any of her travel-savvy tips or value-packed travel advice.

Canyon hikers dropping like flies

2009-09-30T17:33:00.000-07:00

Flagstaff, Arizona -- Yesterday's news paper report that another Canyon hiker had bit the dust, this time by falling 70 feet (21.33 meters) into the waters of Glen Canyon Recreational Area, reminded me that ALL hikers need to use caution in Canyon Country. Unfamiliar territory, temperatures and weather conditions all take their toll on visitors and locals alike.

Earlier this month, while the 7-days All-Women's River trip was getting their safety instructions, another hiker disappeared into the recesses of the Grand Canyon. They found his body while we were down there. Another hiker died on his Canyon hike the day after we pulled out. And now this 49-year old male falls off the side of a cliff while traversing an area of loose rock far above the Escalante River just off world-renown Lake Powell.

Vagabonding Lulu Travel Tip: While in Canyon Country avoid dizziness by drinking lots of water and eating more food - especially salty snacks - than you normally ingest. Take caution and always watch your footing. Go with an adventure company that has a long history in the Canyon - like Canyoneers, the river company that outfitted and guided our 7-day Grand Canyon river rafting trip. Learn more at www.canyoneers.com

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Stacey "Vagabonding Lulu" Wittig is a Flagstaff travel writer. Learn more free travel advice by "subscribing to" and "following" Vagabonding Lulu on the right column. You won't miss Lulu's entertaining travel stories and free travel tips.

Bird Watching at the Bottom of the Grand Canyon

2009-09-16T15:43:00.000-07:00

Flagstaff, AZ -- Just returned from the inner sanctum of mother earth: The Grand Canyon. I was surprised to see so much wildlife: Great Blue Herons galore, Desert Bighorn Sheep and the endangered, but ugly, Humpback Chub. On our 7-day Grand Canyon river rafting adventure we did see a diving loon-like bird that no one could identify. So I dug up this Grand Canyon bird checklist from the NPS:

Grand Canyon bird checklist

If anyone can name that white and reddish-brown diving bird, please leave a comment! Thanks to our great Canyoneers all-women's crew and guests! We all had an outstanding outdoors adventure.

Vagabonding Lulu's FREE Travel Tip: I recommend that you go to Canyoneers website now to reserve your spot for 2010. Canyoneers - Choose Your Trip
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Vagabonding Lulu is a zany freelance Flagstaff travel writer who loves to share free travel advice with you. Never miss a tip: on the right column of this website, you can "Follow" and "Subscribe" to get free travel tips delivered directly to you each time she writes. It's easy ... and it doesn't cost a dime!

All-Gals River Trip Launches

2009-09-09T05:35:00.000-07:00

Photo by Jim Anderson Photography, GoalBusters Consulting 2009

One last hot shower (at Home) before we launch the All-"Girls" River Trip. The photo above is from a Canyoneers trip last month. Cold shower a la Ma Nature.Canyonners guide Morgan gave an informative orientation last night in Flagstaff, AZ. Meeting the group at 6am at Holiday Inn Express for departure. No internet access at the bottom of the Grand Canyon. Stay tuned for details!

Grand Canyon River rafting, here we come!

This money belt does the job!

2009-09-08T13:10:00.000-07:00

A "Vagabonding Lulu" reader just called my editor and asked where to find the money belt that I recommended in my article, Don't Let Wallet Theft Ruin Your Vacation.

I'll reprint the travel column below. The $$$ belt that I have been using for years is an American Tourister, and I found this link online:
http://www.etravelergear.com/amtourwassec.html

Happy Travels! --Vagabonding Lulu

Don't Let Theft Ruin Your Vacation

A well-traveled girlfriend just returned from a month-long tour of Turkey and Greece. Let's call her Denise. "The threat of pick-pockets and bag-snatchers has increased since the last time I was in Europe," Denise revealed. "A good friend from Turkey has been excited to show Bob and me his country. But he warned us before we left that there are more gypsies than ever, and that pickpockets are an increasing problem. His friends had wallets sliced right out of their trouser pockets." Then she confessed, "In Athens my backpack was stolen off my shoulder."

"What did they get?" I asked.

"My Nikon SLR camera, my wallet -- there wasn't much cash in it -- but they got all my credit cards and both of our passports. All my IDs were in my wallet in the backpack. I couldn't even get through the door at the US Embassy to get a new passport because I didn't have ID."

"Both your passports were in the same wallet?" I thought incredulously, but said instead, "Did you have copies of them back at your room?"

"No, I didn't think to make copies of our passports, but I did have the passport numbers recorded. That helped Bob expedite the process of getting duplicate passports from the US Embassy in Athens."

OK, Denise is no newbie traveler. She traveled Europe extensively with her college-aged daughter during summer breaks. She lived in Africa and recently ventured to Mali as a solo traveler. Denise's African travel expertise is renowned and she's spoken to groups on how to pack and prepare for trips to that continent. As a grandma, she now rounds up the whole family for twice annual trips to

Mexico

Maybe like you, she never thought to do simple things to avoid big problems because she never before had experienced theft. Although the following steps won't prevent theft, they will make it easier for you if someone does snatch your wallet. Don't let theft ruin your vacation by following these simple steps:

1.) Wear a cotton money belt around your waist. Why cotton? Cotton is more comfortable next to your skin and won't make you sweaty like a nylon waist wallet will. Before I leave on a trip, I run the wallet through the washing machine several times to soften up the fibers. I put my passport, ATM card, extra credit card and extra cash in a Ziploc plastic bag, fold it and put it in the wallet. (Merchants don't like handling sweaty money any more than you or I do!) Use this wallet as if it were the safe in your room. It's just your back-up "safe"; it's not the wallet you will be using at the market or in a restaurant. Who wants to be digging in their pants in front of the waiter or cashier?

2.) Always keep the money belt with you. I remember the story my friend Scott tells. He was in a Paris hotel, left his waist wallet hanging on the hook of a locked door as he went down the hall for his shower. Ten minutes later when we returned to his supposedly-secure room, poof! His wallet with passport, IDs and money had vanished.

3.) I carry a second wallet for use throughout the day. This wallet contains a small amount of cash, a second credit card, my driver's license and copies of my passport. This is what I like to think of as redundancy. I have cash, credit cards and picture ID in two places. If one gets stolen, I have a backup with the other. Of course the secret to success with this strategy is that you never keep both in the same place. The second wallet is usually small enough to fit into a zippered pocket or is the kind that goes around my neck, depending on the destination. I don't use the 'round-your-neck wallet at the beach in southern

France

, duh! Or in a tropical climate. (While at the beach, I check the waist belt into the hotel's safe.)

4.) Make sure the credit cards you bring are from two separate accounts. If one gets lost or stolen, you can close the account and still keep the second card open for business.

5.) And while we are on credit cards, call your credit card companies before you leave and let them know you'll be using the cards out of the country. For fraud protection of your account, many credit card companies won't authorize sales from areas outside of your habitual buying zones. I first learned of this years ago when my hefty purchase at a gold jewelry shop in Luxor, Egypt was denied. (The shopkeeper, familiar with the problem, was kind enough to process my card without the authorization code.)

6.) Finally, I keep copies of every thing -- the two credit cards, the ATM card, my passport, and my driver's license -- in a third location, usually in a sealed envelope inside a zipped pocket in my suitcase. I copy the front and backs of the credit cards and then I have all the contact phone numbers in case I have to cancel either credit card. Leave copies with someone back home as well. You could call them for the information if all is lost.

7.) When traveling with another person, don't stash both your passports or cash in the same place, unless it's in the hotel safe.

These travel tips might sound paranoid, but since the preparation is made before you leave home, you can leave your worry behind as well. If you do run into the problem of theft during your travels, no worries! You have a back-up plan and you can continue your fun without much interruption.

Stacey "Vagabonding Lulu" Wittig, a freelance writer based in Flagstaff, AZ. Her culinary adventures have led her up the Inca Trail in Peru eating fried caterpillars and roasted guinea pig, across the plains of northern Spain on El Camino de Santiago enjoying tapas and steamed barnacles, and through the vineyards of Cinque Terre along the Italian coast sipping Chianti Classico . “Northern Arizona is a remarkable place to call home,” declares the wandering writer who loves the green chile enchiladas at El Charro. www.vagabondinglulu.blogspot.com

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The Road to Remarkable: Biltmore Fashion Park

2009-09-05T11:34:00.000-07:00

I love driving into town to meet girlfriends at the Biltmore Fashion Park in Phoenix. Its central location at 2502 E Camelback Road makes it an easily accessible gathering place from any direction in the city. I always look for "my landmark" the tall, beautiful Ritz Carlton hotel on the corner of Camelback and North 24th Street, and I pull into the Biltmore Fashion Park's parking lot across the street.

The Biltmore Fashion Park in the heart of the desirable and upscale Biltmore neighborhood is a short cab ride from the Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport. The easy access parking is another thing that I love about the Biltmore Fashion Park. If its in the triple digits I use the valet parking. Otherwise, the parking is so close to the shops, I just walk in past all the colorful garden landscaping. (When I get in the car in under the pine trees in mountainous Flagstaff, AZ and then get out two hours later into palms, fushia bouganvilleas and brilliant desert flora, I always feel like I am on vacation!)

Last week the girls met to "try out" the new True Food Kitchen at the Biltmore Fashion Park. True Food Kitchen is an innovative new eatery developed in partnership with Arizona's own best-selling author Dr. Andrew Weil.

I started out with the Medicine Man drink - tasty and refreshing after the long drive. They call it an antioxidant blast, and was one of the only blended drinks offered with caffene. Made of Olivello Juice, Pomegranate Juicce, Cranberry Juice, Black Tea, Soda Water and muddled blueberries. After the drink was gone, the plumpt, fresh blueberries (not too muddled) stared at me temptingly trapped below the ice in my tall tea glass. I could have used a iced tea spoon to remove them. I am still lamenting about leaving those temptresses in the glass.

The salmon son my open-faced sandwich was done perfectly (a Super Food that didn't allude my palate.) I should have passed on the Bok Choy Slaw salad - good tasting, but too chewy for a girls getaway when your mouth is already too busy trying to get a word in edgewise... The dessert: divine! What better place to have dessert than a restaurant that promises to nourish mind, body and spirit? No guilt trip there!

My yummy Lemon Olive Oil Cake with strawberries and Greek yogurt came in a bowl. With a side of caffine and cream, I now had my afternoon "kick" and was ready to shop!

Biltmore's classic outdoor shopping experience reminds me of shopping in St. Tropez or another snazzy ville in southern France. The tree-lined walk ways, a smell of flowers (that I can't quite figure out - ah, must be "foreign") in the air. You can shop CALYPSO, Escada, Bebe, Ralph Lauren and more. I love L'Occitane en Provence ever since I experienced their products at the Beverly Hills Wilshire Four Seasons over five years ago. Of course, being a (sud) francofile adds to my addiction to the shop!

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Stacey "Vagabonding Lulu" Wittig is a Flagstaff travel writer who shares free travel advice, travel tips and zany gilrs getaway ideas with you and your friends. Sign up to "Follow" on the right hand side of this page. If you "SUBSCRIBE" you can get FREE travel advice delivered right to your Google Reader or Yahoo account. Sign up now!

VLL's free TRAVEL TIPS:

Stay at the Arizona Biltmore Resort and Spa and get FREE shuttle service to the Biltmore Fashion Park.

Eat at TRUE FOOD KITCHEN, but skip the Bok Choy slaw salad.

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The Great Girls Getaway Spa Tour

2009-08-31T21:06:00.000-07:00

Just home from Girls Getaway Trip touring Greater Phoenix area resort spas.

What an itinerary: InterContinental Montelucia, Arizona Biltmore Resort, Biltmore Fashion Park, True Food, Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort & Spa at Gainey Ranch (say that three times fast,) Westin Kierland Resort & Spa; Willow Stream Spa at Fairmont Scottsdale Resort! Sprinkle that with a personalized tour of the Heard Museum and Arcadia Farms luncheon at Phoenix Art Museum and you have the perfect gal pal trip.

Doesn't get much sweeter than that!
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Vagabonding Lulu is a Flagstaff travel writer who loves to travel with girlfriends. Ask her about upcoming Girls Getaway Weekends that you can you can sign up for now! Email wittigwriter@gmail.com

Girls Getaway to InterContinental Montelucia Resort

2009-08-29T23:47:00.000-07:00

Milene Mattei the Italian-born aesthetician who did my facial at Joya Spa at Montelucia resort last night gave be the best compliment. We were discussing the green hills of Umbria where she grew up (hiking and hunting snails). She’d like to hike the Inca Trail into Machu Picchu. I told her she would love it. The hills are green, the jungle is thick, and the wisps of fog are magical. Nothing like I’d seen in Italia or anywhere. “It must be very spiritual,” she said.

“Yes, you are walking in mist, and then all of a sudden the clouds open, and there before you on the next outcrop of the Andes mountain is an ancient ruin. You see it for a moment and then it is gone. And then soon, as you trod the trail paved 100s of years ago, you come to the ruin, and go inside to explore.

And then here comes the compliment: “You should be a travel guide,” says Milene. She gave a great facial, and we hugged goodbye after I promised to send the article about Perugia I just read in a travel magazine. I just need to remember WHICH travel magazine!

Photos: Girls getaway to Joya Spa at InterContinental Montelucia Resort after welcoming from charming host Valeriano Antonioli. Montelucia Resort sits at the base of beautiful Camelback Mountain which blocks the lights of downtown Phoenix. Thus, the resort so close to the iconic, backlit mountain was named Monte(Mountain)lucia(of light.)

Casey Wohl of Girls Getaway Guide (she had breakfast w/Robert Redford on Thursday), Hillary Atkin, LA reporter (she's interviewed Keira Knightley and Steven Spielberg) and Susan Aavang, publisher of Biltmore Lifestyles.
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Vagabonding Lulu is a Flagstaff travel writer who enjoys giving travel tips and travel advice and talking about Machu Picchu while having facials at Joya Spa in Phoenix, AZ. But, alas, has never had breakfast with Robert Redford.

Arizona Biltmore Resort - A shady respite

2009-08-28T16:47:00.000-07:00

Good thing that Frank Lloyd Wright knew how to build hotels in the desert. With temps in the triple digits today, the Arizona Biltmore Resort & Spa is a shady respite for the sun-soaked shopper. After shopping and lunch at TRUE FOOD at the Biltmore Fashion Park, the girls arrived at the Arizona Biltmore Resort.

The cool inner sanctum of the main lobby/reception area opens up to understated elegance. Wright always liked to compress the space at a the building's entrance area, and then open it wide in the main living space. The effect always opens my heart, and I enjoy the soaring feeling everytime a walk into a FLW-designed space. The coolness of the interior is freshing as I reach what could almost be called the inner sanctum: a historic resort hotel known to host Presidents, movie stars, Frank Sinatra and Vagabonding Lulu.

Did I mention Frank Sinatra?

Travel tips:

The Arizona Biltmore is one of the most prestigious of Phoenix resorts. Check out their special Phoenix hotels' summer rates. www.arizonabiltmore.com
follow them on TWITTER for TWITTER SPECIALS.

Calling all girls: Ride the Waves with Vagabonding Lulu

2009-08-25T14:18:00.000-07:00

Late-breaking Travel Tip:

Four places open for All-Women's River Trip! Such a deal... Leaves 9-9-9 for a magnificent 7-day Grand Canyon River trip. Call 928-526-0924 now. Tell'em Vagabonding Lulu sent you!

I will be on this CANYONEERS trip writing about the wonders of being in what some call the womb of Mother Earth. I expect to be awestruck by the mighty creation of my father God! Orientation on Wed., Sept. 8 at the Holiday Express in Flagstaff, Arizona. Then off bright and early with your new-found women friends to a new adventure. Transportation to and from Flagstaff included.

We put in at Lee's Ferry and ride the river to Lake Meade. Food, fun, laughter, hiking, guided history and geology narrative. WhooHoo!

Call some gal pals. This will be a lulu of girls getaway!

PS we will be rafting - not taking a wee little wooden boat like that pictured!
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Vagabonding Lulu is a trippy journalist and Flagstaff travel writer who loves to share travel deals and travel tips with her followers. Subscribe to this blog in the right-hand column. Hey, what does it hurt? You might find the travel deal of a lifetime!

TWITTER: Travelwriter

Kidz at Heart Team talks about Africa Teacher Training

2009-08-24T11:25:00.000-07:00

Flagstaff, AZ -- About 130 people showed up for the Kidz at Heart International - Tanzania presentation last night - it was awesome to be so supported by friends, family and prayer supporters. For those of you who could not attend, the notes for my five-minute talk follow.

Dorane King opened the presentation with an actual Kidz at Heart opener that we do at the seminars. Ishmael Munene translated it into Swahili so the audience got a flavor of how the seminars go w/translation... Pastor Doug closed w/a Kidz action story and got all to participate. Holy fun!

Notes:
During this trip, I saw so many examples of the Goodness of God. I have time to share only three.

Richard, was staying at the Lyamungo Retreat Center where we slept and ate our breakfast and evening meals. He was retired, and the Bishop had ordered him to this tranquil retreat center. Because, I think, the grief of losing his wife in March was damaging his health.

Us chatty and gregarious Americans befriended him, right away calling him by first name, Richard. At dinner he taught us the Swahili names of what we were eating. Our favorite word for a yucky-tasting vegetable: “nya nya chungu” -- he translated the word as “something nasty.” We attended a local wedding with our new friend and he taught me that greeting an older person or a person of honor should be done with “Shika Mow” not the "Karibu" I had been using and was appropriate for people of my own age or social status.

This was especially interesting for me because I am a student of anthropology and was the “Cultural Expert” of the trip. Kids at Heart’s title, not mine…I can assure you. It was several days into our growing Christian friendship with Richard that he admitted, in a whisper, “But I am not a retired pastor, I am a retired Bishop.” You can imagine our surprise –and embarrassment – as we looked back at what he had been trying to teach us about honoring others.

God is so good, and he loves Richard so much that He sent us to be with Richard during those two weeks. We laid hands on him and prayed for his healing. One of our members was led by the Holy Spirit to pray in tongues and another look part in the healing when his grief and sorrow was spiritually transferred to her for a matter of time. Bishop Richard appreciated our prayers. He said, “Pastors have people that pray FOR them, but not WITH them. Bishops don’t have either.”

It was by the goodness of God that we were shifted to an unexpected venue for our Kidz at Heart teachers training. He wanted those Sunday school teachers to come and learn funs ways to present the gospel. He loves those teachers and those kids so much that the wickedness of men would not stop the training! We were blessed to observe the teachers using the methods we had shared in the next Sunday's classes.

Four of us extended our stay in Africa and visited the island of Zanzibar. An island means a ferry ride. Unfortunately we didn’t know that July’s windy season made the ferry ride miserable. I should have known when they handed out barf bags – with the ferry company’s logo imprinted on it – that it would be a bad sailing day. The big plastic containers in the middle of the aisles were where the seamen dumped the full “personal relief” bags. As they picked up a full bag, they would hand the poor seasick passenger another, And that is how it went for two hours. 80-90% of the people were sick. The poor Muslim ladies all covered in their black burkas with the little slits for their eyes.… and our poor was Mary sea sick for two hours.

But God loved Mary so much, that he had made arrangements for taking care of her. Before we left, we had decided last minute to order a car and driver to pick us up when we got off the ferry. If it were not for the two big, handsome men that came with the taxi that took each one of Mary’s arms into their own and helped her down the steep gang plank, I don’t know what we would have done.

Thank you all for being part of our team. You all were to me, on this trip, examples of God’s goodness.

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Stacey "Vagabonding Lulu" Wittig is a Flagstaff travel writer who just returned from Tanzania, East Africa where she served on a Kidz at Heart International mission team. Follow her travel escapades on her next adventure, Grand Canyon River rafting with Flagstaff-based Canyoneers river company by "subscribing" to this blog in the right-hand column.

Scrimping on Toilet Paper During the Economic Downturn?

2009-08-21T16:45:00.000-07:00

Are you using less toilet paper during the economic downturn? Have you noticed the empty roll at your hometown restaurant? Are you squirreling away toilet paper from home to use during banquets at local hotels or, gasp, the gas station advertising "Clean Restrooms"?

Maybe its time to complain, as this restroom negligence could be affecting your local economy. Today SCA Tissue North America announced that the shrinking demand for toilet paper and other paper products is causing lay-offs.

The Flagstaff plant supplies toilet paper to hotels and restaurants in Arizona, California and parts of Colorado.

A press release blamed the lay-offs on a “softening in customer orders due to the weakened economy.”

I suggest that hotel management starts buying local, not just for their gourmet chef, but also for their hosekeeping departments. SCA Tissue uses recycled paper to produce their sustainable products.
By Local - Buy Recycled Toilet Paper?
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Stacey "Vagabonding Lulu" Wittig is a Flagstaff travel writer that writes about quirky travel facts, travel tips and gives FREE travel advice. Communicating from Flagstaff, AZ today.

Lions Poisoned in Kenya and Tanzania

2009-08-08T21:26:00.000-07:00

20 years ago there were 200,000 lions in Africa. Today there are 30,000 lions in Africa. Lions are being poisoned in Kenya and Tanzania. Learn more at

Watch CBS Videos Online

Travel Tips: Make Travel Easier

2009-06-20T17:47:00.000-07:00

Men, now go through security without having to remove your belt. This bridle-leather beauty has no buckle. It is made in the USA and sell for only $29.50 at Duluth Trading. Tell them Vagabonding Lulu sent you.
http://www.duluthtrading.com/store/clothes-footwear/womens/vests/61024.aspx

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Vagabonding Lulu is a travel writer based in Flagstaff, Arizona. She hates seeing her stocking-footed husband and other male traveling companions taking their laptops out of their bags, balancing other valuables and removing belts while trying to look cool going through airport security. The Flagstaff travel writer has just returned from the North American Travel Journalist Association's annual conference where she missed her return flight. And you're taking air travel advice from HER???
Follow the zany twavel writer on TWITTER: Travelwriter

Turning Down a Table: Confessions of a ‘Picky Seater’

2009-06-20T17:13:00.000-07:00

Turning Down a Table: Confessions of a ‘Picky Seater’

Travel Writers Discover Cleveland's Food Secrets

2009-06-13T15:04:00.000-07:00

Vagabonding Lulu was in Cleveland last week for the North American Travel Journalists Association's conference. In the video above, ABC affiliate follows the travel writers during a Foodie Tour of Ohio City's West Side Market. You may catch a glimpse of Lulu sampling sweet baklava. Chef Timothy Maxin of the Ritz Carlton, who shops at the market, hosted the intimate tasting tour.

Earlier that morning, the travel writer was afforded the opportunity to meet and talk with print, TV and cooking panelists who provided "needed insight to write delicious copy that captures the attention of jaded travel editors." The four-person panel, headed by Joe David author of Gourmet Getaways (50 top spots to cook and learn in the United States), discussed how to add a culinary slant to travel pieces that will make them stand out in the marketplace.

Read more about the travel writers panel at http://www.gourmetgetaways.us/events/natjeconventionohio.html

Travel tips: The Ritz Carlton - Cleveland offers the Fresh Market Package which starts with a Continental breakfast for two with Chef de Cuisine to review the day's events and discuss food preferences. The Chef-guided walking tour of the West Side Market includes samples of treats and ingredients guests may select as inclusions in their personalized Fresh Market Lunch following the walking tour. The $489 price tag includes room and in-room amenity of a Ritz-Carlton market bag, bottle of Ohio wine and cheese.
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Vagabonding Lulu is a Flagstaff travel writer who enjoys writing about food. Her culinary adventures have led her up the Inca Trail in Peru eating fried caterpillars and roasted guinea pig, across the plains of northern Spain on El Camino de Santiago enjoying tapas and steamed barnacles, and through the vineyards of Cinque Terre sipping Chianti Classic. “Food reflects the heart and soul of a culture,” declares the wandering writer who loves sour cream enchiladas at El Charro Restaurant in Flagstaff, Arizona.
Follow her on TWITTER: Travelwriter

8 Spots Left for Grand Canyon River Trip

2009-06-08T07:59:00.000-07:00

Vagabonding Lulu learned late last night that Canyoneers, one of the most experienced Grand Canyon River rafting companies has eight spaces open for their July 2009 Grand Canyon River rowing trip. I got this insider's tip from Canyoneer owner/operator Joy Staveley whose husband Gaylord has continuous experience in the river running business since 1956.

Transform Your Soul
Anyone who has taken a river trip through the magnificent Grand Canyon will attest to the transformational quality of the canyon experience. In seven short days you could be a different person!

Mention Vagabonding Lulu and get a discounted rate of $1665 per person (a savings of $310 per person off published rate)for the upper portion of the trip. That's 6 days and 5 nights (Flagstaff to Grand Canyon south rim). It's a HUGELY excellent price.

Passengers meet in Flagstaff the evening of July 15th. You board the transportation from Flagstaff to Lees Ferry early the following morning. The trip launches on July 16th and passengers hike out the morning of July 21st.

Learn more at http://www.canyoneers.com

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Vagabonding Lulu is a travel writer based in Flagstaff, Arizona. Follow the Flagstaff travel writer's blog for tempting travel tips and inspiring travel stories. Twitter: Travelwriter

Keith Bellows, Editor-In-Chief, National Geographic Traveler

2009-06-02T21:41:00.000-07:00

Cleveland, Ohio--Twelve trends that will shape travel journalism in the next five years was outlined by Keith Bellows, Editor-In-Chief of National Geographic Traveler tonight. Travel journalist from Canada and the US gathered to hear Bellows share as the keynote speaker at the 2009 North American Travel Journalists Association Conference (NATJA.)

The ways that consumers receive travel information is changing. Journalists, editors and CVB administrators are looking for new ways to deliver travel content. Bellows urges not only the means of delivery is changing, but the travel needs of the next generation will change, too.

1.) The days of luxury travel are over. When the economy is down, people turn to core values, specifically community, spirituality and family. "There have never been more young people and more older people living at the same time," states Bellows. The energy and idealism of the youthful generation coupled with the desire of their elders to leave a legacy leads to the trend towards increased generational travel.

2.) The transportation industry in North American will change. Bellows predicts the demise of the airline industry. We will see a new travel landscape.

3.) The USA government needs to get serious about the travel industry, or they will easily lose market share. Bellows sees a need for a National Travel Policy.

4.) Sustainability will become more important as millions of new tourists start traveling from the developing nations of Brazil, Russia, India and China. "The Grand Canyon will be besieged. Venice will become a pay-for-view theme park," warns the travel expert. "The Taj Mahal will be under glass in a climate-controlled bubble. You'll be able to visit for $10,000 per visit."

5.) Travel will continue to become more global. "Our insularity is our undoing," he challenges the US citizens in the audience charging the US with being a "reclusive, isolationist country."

6.) Children who learn to travel will travel to learn.

7.) A transforming experience is as important as place.

8.) Authenticity is no longer simply a buzzword. People art traveling to find an authentic experience. Connecting with local people makes for an authentic experience.

9.) The younger generations use travel as a search for meaning. Travel shifts from an external experience to an internal experience.

10.) Self Improvement. Health Travel providers will offer plastic surgery, orthopaedic procedures and even heart surgery in addition to the current spa offerings.

11.) "Journalists, we must reinvent ourselves," advised Bellows who related that in a recent trip to Peru he did video, slideshows, ambient sounds as well as picking up the pen and taking notes.

12.) Print will be a diminished part of multimedia. How do we make the shift? "We are not going to die as content providers," predicts the magazine editor.
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Vagabonding Lulu is a travel writer based in the Southwest USA. The Flagstaff travel writer is probably the newest member of NATJA. In fact, she just learned how to pronounce the acronym tonight.

Photo of Keith Bellows, editor-in-chief of National Geographic Traveler and Vagabonding Lulu at NATJA Cleveland Conference. Cleveland Rocks! Photo by Kate Pocock http://www.haliburtonschoolofthearts.ca/index.cfm/go/programs/sub/coursePT/code/012294/sc/HSA/q/sum/style/h.cfm

Santa Fe: the Perfect 3-Day Getaway

2009-05-29T07:45:00.000-07:00

Travel+Leisure magazine gave Santa Fe, New Mexico its prestigious 2008 World's Best Cities Award, Outside Magazine called it a "Best Town" on their 2007 list, while American Style named Santa Fe in their Top 25 Art Destinations for 2008.

Better yet for my Pinewood neighbors, Santa Fe is an easy six-hour drive away. Easy because you're driving on open, four-lane Interstate highways. Many vacationers are opting to stay near home this summer. If you are one of those "staycationers," Santa Fe -- a world-class destination located right in our back yard -- might be the perfect choice for you.

Called the "City Different" for a reason, Santa Fe is unlike any other place on the globe. Its long and colorful history and its cutting-edge arts community are a couple of the reasons that Santa Fe is ranked among the world's most prominent getaways. Historic adobe structures line the downtown plaza where European visitors buy exquisite silver jewelry from local Native Americans. The sorrowful chords of a Spanish guitar may stray out from a narrow alleyway. The smell of green chilies and blue corn tamales is in the air.

Santa Fe's favorite artist Georgia O'Keeffe said about New Mexico: "It's something that is in the air; it's different. The sky is different. The land is different. The air is different." We left lazy Pinewood one Friday at 6:30AM to check out the "City Different."

With road tunes cranked, we passed the fiberglass dinosaurs guarding Petrified Forest National Park. At Gallup, we drove right on by my favorite restaurant, El Rancho Restaurant located in the historic hotel of the same name. By 12:30 Arizona Time we were pulling up to the Museum of International Folk Art in Santa Fe. A mere 399 miles from the Pinewood Post Office.

The Museum of International Folk Art is one of the only museums in the US that has a wing dedicated to Hispanic/Latino cultures. Check their calendar for current exhibitions. So many fascinating museums fill Santa Fe that it's difficult to narrow your choices. For a three-day stay, we recommend the $20.00 pass to any of five museums (Museum of Indian Arts & Culture, Museum of International Folk Art, New Mexico Museum of Art, Palace of the Governor's Museum and the Museum of Spanish Colonial Art).

Santa Fe is a historic "walking city." You'll feel comfortable strolling around the Plaza day or night. The landmark La Fonda hotel has attracted visitors to the city center for decades. Or you could choose the adobe, eye-inspiring Inn and Spa at Loretto, an up-market property located next to the famous Loretto Chapel and just off the Plaza.

We opted for the Native-American owned, Hotel Santa Fe with a short, ten-minute stroll to the Plaza. They offer a generous shuttle service with friendly and prompt drivers. The feel is intimate and friendly and you'll enjoy exploring the grounds while photographing the inspiring sculpture gardens. Special touches include live native flute performances on scheduled evenings and colorful tribal dancing during the summer months.

One of the splendors of Santa Fe is its fabulous cuisine, so Friday evening we venture out to sample the food fusion for which SF's award-winning restaurants are famous. We choose Chef Brian Cooper's kitchen. The renowned Chef makes his culinary headquarters at the Inn and Spa at Loretto's new restaurant, Luminaria. He fuses Southwestern and Mediterranean tastes by using seasonal and organic fruits and veggies grown right in the Santa Fe area.

The professional wait staff is friendly and polite as I ask for names of ingredients that I can't quite wrap my brain (tongue?) around. It's chipotle in the pumpkin seed biscotti. And, of course, blue corn in the tasty, moist muffins. The Jicama in the crispy slaw is a stumper, but I can sure taste the cucumber in the sorbet topping the raw oyster appetizer.

The scallops and Spanish chorizo on a bed of lemon spaetzle, wilted arugula and sweet corn sauce is to die for! But if this sounds too frou-frous for you, cowboy rib eye steak, buffalo NY strip and filet mignon, too, are on the menu.

We took a stroll through the delightful Luminaria's patio -- which has an incredible nighttime view of the illuminated Loretto Chapel -- before we walk off the strawberry-rhubarb claufois and vanilla ice cream strolling back to Hotel Santa Fe.

For an easy way to get to know any city during a short stay, I always recommend a walking tour. So on Saturday morning we meet our friendly guide in the lobby of La Fonda. (I like to practice what I preach.) Knowledgeable Joel packs into two hours much more that I could ever read in a history book. He sifts it all out and makes Santa Fe's stories come alive as we walk streets that have been trod since the 1600s. Santa Fe is the oldest continuous capital city in the nation. It has been under the rule of Spanish kings, Mexico, the US and even the southern Confederacy.

After the tour you could head to La Boca, one of Santa Fe's newest spots for tasty tapas with new friends from the tour. Or you could try my ol' stand-by for lunch: The Blue Corn Café and Brewery. I douse the fire in the Grilled Corn and Chipotle Soup with the Rio Chama Amber Ale, as recommended by out tattooed waiter, Mica.

Gallery hopping and shopping was the rule for the remainder of the day. That evening we relax listening to native flute music with quite a crowd at the Hotel Santa Fe's lobby/lounge. Then off for margs at a local's haunt, The Shed.

"You've been to Santa Fe, but never to The Shed?" crooned the blonde bombshell at the bar. I learned that she has two homes: one in Santa Fe and one in LA. "I just got off the plane; haven't even been home yet. I just had to stop in here first and have my "regular." If her regular was THAT good, I had to have one, too. The Silver Coin Margarita, made with El Tesoro Silver Tequila and Cointreau went down just fine.

Any 45-minute wait at a locals' restaurant is a promise of good food, but my source had said, "Some of the best New Mexican food in the state. I have been eating there for twenty years." Blue corn chicken enchiladas smothered in green sauce with hearty beans and posole on the side. No food fusion here: 100% Northern New Mexican cuisine! My source was spot-on!

On Sunday morning you have time for a horseback ride before you mosey back to Munds. There is no better way to experience the desert Southwest than from the back of a horse. At Bishop's Lodge Ranch Resort & Spa, our horses were well-trained and the views of the Sangre de Christo (Blood of Christ) Mountains were breath-taking. Disclosure of height, weight, age, and level of riding experience are required upon making a reservation, but the wrinkled wranglers promised not to share my personal information with anyone else. As a special Sunday treat, the resort's restaurant, Las Fuentes offers a fabulous champagne brunch. The Bishop's Lodge is a nice hideaway and makes for a memorable launching pad for your trip back home.

Vagabonding Lulu's Hot Travel Tips:

For a limited time, book two nights and get 15% off the Best Available Rate at the Inn and Spa at Loretto. Hey gal-pals, there are also Spa Packages available! Sweet! www.innatLoretto.com.

Don't miss any of the Santa Fe experience: walk with professional guides that truly love their 'City Different.' They'll show you why. www.historicwalksofsantafe.com

Fill your tank and coffee cups at Winslow's Flying J (gas typically ten cents less per gallon than in Flagstaff). Just west of Albuquerque -- a friend from Wales loves to say that word -- at Exit 102 there is another Flying J.

Directions: Simply grab I-17 north to Flagstaff and hang a right onto I-40. The only tricky part is merging onto I-25 north when you are in Albuquerque. But the signs reading "To Santa Fe" are big and green, and easy to follow through that stretch.

Reprinted from The Pinewood News, May 20, 2009

Vagabonding Lulu Travel Column

Flagstaff, Munds Park, Pinewood, Arizona

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Vagabonding Lulu Awarded as 1000th member of Climbing for Christ

2009-05-09T12:48:00.000-07:00

Vagabonding Lulu -- AKA Stacey Wittig -- was awarded as the thousandth new member of Climbing for Christ this week. The NY-based organization announced, "We praise God for the growing membership and pray that those who join Climbing For Christ will seek to serve the Lord through prayer, giving, and/or going."

The Christian organization of climbers and mountaineers announced the folowing list of new members in their monthly newsletter:

* Stacey Desrosiers of San Jose, Calif.
* Janine Diekmeijer of Groningen, Netherlands
* Brandy Everts of Pincher Creek, Alberta, Canada
* Daniel Manahera of Jakarta, Indonesia
* Stacey Wittig of Munds Park, Ariz.

"We rejoice and offer thanks that all of these climbers have been moved by the Spirit to join us on this great adventure as we climb in His direction," added Gary Fallesen, President and founder of Climbing for Christ.

Wittig was thrilled to be recognized as the 1,000th member of the organization. "It was exciting to see my name listed with other new members from places like Groningen (Netherlands), Alberta and Jakarta," she said. Learn more at www.ClimbingForChrist.org
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Vagabonding Lulu is a freelance travel writer based out of Flagstaff, Arizona. She enjoys sharing FREE travel tips and zany travel deals with her readers and friends. Subscribe to this blog for fun travel stories and more FREE travelers advice.

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Travel Song to Rock your Travel

2009-05-07T18:43:00.000-07:00

Stay Strong
lyrics by the News Boys

... Stay strong
You are not lost
Come on and fix your eyes ahead
There's a new dawn to light our day, our day
You've gotta stay strong
You and I run
For the prize that lies ahead
We've come too far to lose our way, our way

We've seen the tragic flaws
The tortured souls
The saints with feet of clay
Here's where sin becomes cliche'

We've come through wilderness and watched
The cloud by day
The burning sky into dawn
Have you forgotten who you are?
Did you forget whose trip you're on?

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Vagabonding Lulu is a Flagstaff travel writer who offers FREE travel tips and trippy journalism to her readers. Subscribe to this site for more travel savvy advice for travel in the American Southwest,Spain and Tanzania, East Africa. Check out her twavel advice on TWITTER by following TRAVELWRITER.

Tinderbox Restaurant Opens with a BANG!

2009-05-01T22:09:00.000-07:00

Although they called it a "soft opening," the Tinderbox Restaurant's door flew off its hinges with a bang tonight. If the noisy, happy crowd was any indication of things to come, the restaurant will be a Flagstaff favorite for quite sometime.

Happy diners nibbled on chicken liver pate, smoked salmon on coins of cucumber and cheddar fritters. Executive Chef Scott Heinonen promises a seasonal menu of "redefined" American Comfort Food. Jalapeno Mac-N-Cheese with Duck leg confit should ignite the tastebuds. I'm looking forward to trying Scott's Sweet & Spicy Sausage links served with creamy blue cheese grits and shaved fennel slaw. Just don't tell my doctor -- Dee Kaserer -- who has FINALLY got my cholesterol down to normal levels!

The T-Box opens for biz on Tuesday, May 5 for dinner. Read more about the restaurant at http://65.36.178.41/article/Local_News/Local_News/The_Tinderbox_Kitchen_American_Comfort_Food_Redefined/18181

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Vagabonding Lulu is a travel writer based in Flagstaff, Arizona in the American Southwest. Her friends request her opinion of restaurants and food, but the Flagstaff travel writer would never call herself a food "critic!"
Travel well!

Steps for SWINE FLU Prevention

2009-04-30T16:01:00.001-07:00

CDC Recommendation:
Don't do this!

Swine Flu vs. Travel Fun

2009-04-29T13:55:00.000-07:00

To travel or not to travel that is the question: Whether tis nobler in the mind to suffer
the slings and arrows of Swine Flu (or any other travelers' pestilence),
Or to take arms (medical masks) against a sea of troubles...?

To take a the thousand natural shots? For Vagabonding Lulu to not travel is to die. So I pull up my sleeve and head off to the local county health organization. Thank God the Yellow Fever vaccine is good for 10 years! It looks like I may be due for my Typhoid booster (due every two years.)

Although there is no Swine Flu vaccine for humans as of yet, I did just order 30 days of Malarone. That funky malaria med that affects people in different ways. Makes me feel as if I've just had two glasses of champagne. Sans the bubbly, tant pis!

I'm headed to Tanzania, East Africa and if the Swine Flu doesn't get me before I leave the Southwest USA, malaria, dysentery or the common cold on the other side of the globe may.

AIR TRAVEL
That's why I stay up on all travelers shots and meds, take plenty of vitamins and get lots of rest before I leave. Traveler Tips: Emergen-C better than Airborne. Ups your immune system and comes in handy pouch. Order an extra glass of water on your next airline flight and pour it in. Bring an extra supply for the guy sitting next to you. He might have Swine Flu.

Only one reported case of Swine Flu in Arizona so far. My luck, he'd be sitting right next to me on the flight from Phoenix to Tanzania.

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Vagabonding Lulu is an award-winning twavel writer from Flagstaff, AZ. Follow her on TWITTER: Travelwriter. She started the TWIBE: Twavelwriters. Join her there!

Flagstaff Tea Party - Tax Protest

2009-04-15T20:21:00.000-07:00

250 - 300 citizens showed up in blowing cold to support the Tea Party in Flagstaff, Arizona at Flagstaff City Hall today, April 15. The deadline day for taxpayers to submit their taxes, or pay hefty penalties. Many protesters said they are worried about the government's over spending.

"The media reports the three trillion dollar spending as if it were like picking up the tab at Starbuck's," announced Bradley Beaucamp, a US Constitution expert. "Do you have ANY idea of how much 3 trillion dollars is?" he asked the crowd. "If you taped $100 bills together, they would reach to the moon! And then came back again. You can't even count to three trillion in your lifetime. Unless you can count to 400 in one second."

World War II veteran, Peter Wainwright spoke on patriotism and said he was offended that the government was labeling returning veterans as 'terrorists.' Former Sheriff Joe Richardson and 60-year Flagstaff resident warned protesters that tomorrow they will be minimalized by the media as in "only a few protesters showed up." "We're here because we love Flagstaff," Richard said in refuting what the press will surely label as a "hate gathering."

Workers driving home in rush hour traffic past Flagstaff's City Hall honked and waved thumbs up in support of the protest.

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Vagabonding Lulu is a Flagstaff travel writer who loves to share travel deals and travel tips with her readers. Although she somehow walzed around Con Law (Constitutional Law) while attaining her BA in Political Science back in the 70s, VLL still is up for a good political protest.

Air Travel News: America's Rip-off Airports

2009-04-14T18:19:00.000-07:00

I just read an article entitled "America's Rip-off Airports." Its writers Jon Bruner and Zack O'Malley warn savvy travelers of added expense incurred when flying through their list of over-charging airports.

One would expect Bangor, Maine's airport to be on that list. Don't you have to be going only there to get to there? Not exactly a hub... The data is taken from the Department of Transportation's Origin and Destination Survey. It measures the cost of the average fare per route mile for itineraries that begin at the airport listed.

Sure, try to compare the robust destination like Florida's Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport at only .16 per mile to poor little Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport's average fare of 48 cents per mile. Hardly a fair (fare?) comparison!

Now one would expect Chicago (home of Big City Bosses and the St. Valentine's Day Massacure) O'Hare to be one of the "Rip-Off" airports but who would have suspected my favorite -- and friendly -- Minneapolis St Paul International Airport (MSP) would yield the same .34 rating? Lansing, Michigan's Capitol City Airport came in at .35 -- but who even knew they HAD an airport in Lansing? I don't even remember an airport when I lived there in the early 60s, much less a "swindling" airport.

And Appleton, Wisconsin -- a Rip-off? Isn't that near the infamous "Oshkosh Fly-In" where private pilots from all over the world choose to fly into ... no matter what the cost per mile? Or price per barrel of oil? Remember that ol' countrywestern song, "I threw up in Saginaw, Michigan?" I always thought it was from too much drinking, but perhaps it was because the pilot was trying to take the plane down too fast -- to avoid the hefty .36 per mile rating. Get out the air sick bags, please.

So what is the purpose of this "Airport Black List?" If you need to get to La Crosse, Wisconsin, what do the writers' propose? That you WALK? I just recently enjoyed flying through Memphis (and seeing all the FedEx planes) and didn't feel a bit "ripped-off."

I am sure that the poor slob who needs to get to Johnson City, Tennesee is quite happy that there is an airport there at all. He is probably even ecstatic to get fleeced the additional .19 per mile to get to JC -- wherever the heck it is.

Well at least my Arizona home town airport, Flagstaff Pulliam Airport (FLG) wasn't rated R. But, oh no! Duluth, my beloved Duluth, Minnesota situated overlooking the big lake they call Gichee Gumme* has been black-balled! Why you? Could it really be... that you are a Rip-Off airport? Say it isn't so!

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Vagabonding Lulu is a travel writer based in Northern Arizona. The Flagstaff travel writer is a frequent flier but will be DRIVING to Santa Fe and Taos at the end of the week. She loves to share travel deals and clever travel tips with her readers.

*Lake Superior

Frommer's and OPERA NEWS Announce the Top 10 Destinations for Music Lovers

2009-04-09T10:21:00.000-07:00

Since I am headed to Santa Fe and Taos for a press trip on April 17, my interest was perked by the headline "Frommer's and OPERA NEWS Announce the Top 10 Destinations for Music Lovers." I figured that Santa Fe would be included on the list of prestigious world destinations.

And so it is. Here's the list of 10 destinations that every opera music lover should be ticking off.

GERMANY: Göttingen International Handel Festival Home to the world's oldest Baroque music festival, this tiny, half-timbered university town in Lower Saxony fêtes the glories of George Friedrich Handel's artistic output for two weeks each summer. A profusion of top-notch chamber concerts, late-night recitals and oratorio performances make use of the village's fetching historical venues, while opera presentations in the 500-seat Deutsches Theater boast the kind of cozy authenticity that is the stuff of dreams for period-instrument purists.

RUSSIA: St. Petersburg The Mariinsky Theater Named for its royal benefactress, Empress Maria Alexandrovna, wife of Tsar Alexander II, and inaugurated in October 1860 with a performance of Mikhail Glinka's A Life for the Tsar, the Mariinsky Theater remains a crown jewel in the cultural life of St. Petersburg. The beautifully restored welcomes Mozart, Verdi and Puccini favorites as well as once-forgotten operas by Russia’s own Mussorgsky, Tchaikovsky, Prokofiev and Rimsky-Korsakov. During the summer months, the theater glittering White Nights Festial draws operatic and classical music royalty — along with nearly one million Russians — to St. Petersburg for the motherland’s largest public event.

IRELAND: Wexford The Wexford Festival This southeastern Irish town's opera festival, which runs through October and November, abounds with a distinctly Gaelic allure. A sense of discovery that's just as potent as the municipality’s omnipresent aroma of burning peat proves to be this festival's calling card: emerging young stars take part in little-known operas, presented with remarkable musical and dramatic merits under artistic director David Agler. Away from the festival's presentations, one can find myriad opportunities to revel in Wexford's charms, from poetry recitations in Thomas Moore Tavern to incomparable suppers at Forde's Restaurant and — should the muse strike you — the Guinness International Singing & Swinging Pub competition.

THE UNITED STATES: New York City From the Metropolitan Opera, to Carnegie Hall, to a thrillingly modernized Alice Tully Hall — and let’s not forget about outer-borough venues like the unique Brooklyn Academy of Music — there’s a reason New York remains the cultural capital of the world. The Metropolitan Opera, now operating under the auspices of its innovative general manager Peter Gelb, has become an increasingly accessible institution. Likewise, a revitalized New York Philharmonic, led by native-son Alan Gilbert, can tackle symphonic rep ranging from Bach to Schoenberg. Splendid Manhattan-bound classical and operatic fare need not be experienced within confines of the Upper West Side, though: Le Poisson Rouge, a trendy Bleecker Street nightclub presents some of the best jazz, contemporary-classical and chamber music the city has to offer, allows its patrons to quaff hearty hefeweizens or smoky pinot noirs in an atmosphere so easygoing as to make Brahms and Ellington seem like kissing cousins.

ITALY: Milan Teatro alla Scala Milan’s operatic history — which dates back to the seventeenth century — is no less dazzling than the world-famous fashion houses that make this city one of the modern world’s top destinations for cutting-edge design. [Teatro alla Scala has been the city’s operatic pride and joy since the eighteenth century: the official opening of the La Scala season is almost always on December 7, the feast day of St. Ambrose, Milan’s patron.] La Scala remains hallowed ground on which divas-in-the-making must prove their mettle, and where the world first heard Puccini’s Madama Butterfly, Verdi’s Otello, Donizetti’s Maria Stuarda, Rossini’s Turco in Italia and Bellini’s Norma — and scores of other classics.

FRANCE: Paris Has any place inspired more operas than Paris, perhaps the most romantic city on earth? Paris’s newest home for opera is the spacious but somewhat chilly Opéra de la Bastille, which boasts an unrestricted view of the stage from each of its 2,700 seats, but the city’s most famous operatic landmark remains the opulent nineteenth-century Palais Garnier, familiar to lovers of Broadway’s Phantom of the Opera. Don’t miss a chance to visit Théâtre des Champs-Élysées, an Art Deco masterpiece that is one of Europe’s prettiest theaters, or the devastatingly elegant Théatre du Châtelet. Also worth a trip is the Salle Favart, its frothy good looks an apt metaphor for the light-hearted attractions of its home company, the Opéra-Comique.

THE UNITED STATES: Chicago Chicago’s Civic Opera House is one of the most beautiful buildings in a city that prides itself on its architecture. Built in 1929, this ageless amalgam of Renaissance revival and Art Deco has superb acoustics, excellent sightlines and sumptuous public spaces, including a handsomely proportioned lobby designed by Jules Guerin. The theater was home to several Chicago opera companies before its most distinguished tenant, the Lyric Opera of Chicago, arrived in 1954. The Lyric established the City of Big Shoulders as an international opera capital, offering the opera world’s brightest stars in top-notch productions. After the Lyric season ends in late winter, Chicago’s opera lovers hold on until spring, when the adventurous Chicago Opera Theater presents its three-opera season at the slick new Harris Theater for Music and Dance in Millenium Park.

SWEDEN The Drottningholm Court Theatre Built in 1766 for the Swedish queen, Lovisa Ulrika, the Drottningholm Court Theatre—located in the Royal Domain of Drottningholm, only a short bus or boat ride from the capital city of Stockhom—is a thing of exquisite artifice. The theatre was a beehive of musical and theatrical activity during the late eighteenth century, but when Lovisa Ulrika’s son (and political enemy), King Gustaf III was assassinated—an event used as the basis for Verdi’s opera Un Ballo in Maschera,—the theatre fell into disuse; it was a storage facility for much of the nineteenth century. Drottningholm was recalled to life in the 1920s and now presents a brief summer season each year, with the repertory usually drawn from the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. Spring and summer tours of the theater and the palace grounds are relatively infrequent, in order to spare its eighteenth-century charms from the wear-and-tear of twenty-first-century life. Early booking is advisable.

THE UNITED STATES: Santa Fe In 1957, New York conductor John Crosby started an opera company in a highly unlikely locale: the breathtaking mountains of northern New Mexico. Crosby’s impossible dream has endured: every July and August since then, Santa Fe Opera has presented an imaginative, exciting mix of familiar classics, rarely-performed treasures and brand-new works, their casts generally populated by the best young singers in America. Opera lovers from all over the world have been thrilled by Santa Fe’s singular natural beauty, an element in the company’s appeal celebrated by its dramatically proportioned adobe theater, which has unequalled views of the high desert landscape — and the heart-stopping beauty of its sunsets. Daytime hours in Santa Fe can be spent sampling the myriad charms of the city itself and of its thriving local community of world-class artists and artisans.

ENGLAND: Glyndebourne Festival Opera, Sussex The thoroughly English character of Glyndebourne Festival Opera reflects the personality of its eccentric founder, John Christie, who developed the ambitious scheme to offer festival-quality opera performances on his East Sussex estate beginning in 1934. Christie’s original theater was eventually replaced by a completely new facility in 1994, but the abiding presence of the Christie home and the continued involvement of Christie’s descendants in festival life have allowed Glyndebourne to retain much of its original atmosphere. The operas of Mozart have been at the core of Glyndebourne’s repertory for all of its existence, but more esoteric fare — including some world premieres — is also among the company specialties.

Perhaps Flagstaff, Arizona would have been on the list if we'd continued to host the Phoenix Opera Company for their magnificent performances of Der Wings Die Nieberlungen. As a member of the Flagstaff Chamber of Commerce's Ambassadors Committee, I coordinated finding ushers for all events. The opera cycle attracted opera fans from all over the globe. Let's get 'em back, Flagstaff!

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Vagabonding Lulu is a trippy journalist who loves to give FREE travel advice and opinions on how to make your next trip simply fabulous. VLL is a freelance travel writer based in Flagstaff, AZ.

Grand Canyon Hiker's Symposium

2009-04-07T19:52:00.000-07:00

Grand Canyon hiking enthusiasts gathered at the South Rim of the Grand Canyon on April 4, 2009 for the Grand Canyon Hikers Symposium. Endorsed by the Grand Canyon Hikers and Backpackers Association and the Grand Canyon Field Institute, the symposium attracted speakers from across North America.

The purpose of the symposium was to to share hiking and backpacking exploits and explorations in the Grand Canyon, as defined by the geographical region from Lee's Ferry to the Grand Wash Cliffs, rim to rim.

17 presenters shared stories of Grand Canyon escapades and adventure to an attentive audience of over 90 people. The annual event took place inside the Shrine of the Ages at the South Rim of the Grand Canyon, Arizona while near-record winds howled outside.

Bill Ferris's PowerPoint presentation documenting a four-night back packing trip in the East Canyon was one of my favorites. His pre-timed slides of maps and photos of Canyon vistas had him hit the 20-minute limit with time to spare for questions. See more about Ferris' trip at http://www.gcadventure.com/tanbeamesc.html I was honored to have lunch with Ferris of Flagstaff and his son, Matthew at the Bright Angel Lodge. Photographer Charles Bame, Symposium presenter NAU professor Dennis Foster and his wife, Cara Lynn rounded out our party for the lunch break between sessions.

Don't miss next year's symposium -- it will give you insider scoop on your next Canyon hike.

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Vagabonding Lulu is a travel writer based in Flagstaff, AZ. Subscribe to her blog for insider travel tips and travel deals for making your next travel experience awesome. VLL has lived in the Southwest USA for 25 years. Grand Canyon, Flagstaff, Sedona and Phoenix, AZ and Santa Fe and Taos,NM are a few of the places where she can show you locals' secrets. She writes about the American Southwest, Spain and Tanzania, East Africa.

Vagabonding Lulu Article Featured in Women's Adventure Mag

2009-03-10T22:39:00.000-07:00

"Phoenix, Arizona - Insider Travel Tips" an article by Vagabonding Lulu is featured on WAVE Journey's homepage: www.wavejourney.com.

WAVE Journey is an on-line magazine touting women's travel adventures.

Vagabonding Lulu is a travel writer based in Flagstaff, Arizona known for her travel-savvy fun facts and budget travel tips. Watch her blog for low airline fares, travel deals and value rates on up-market travel accommodations. The Flagstaff travel writer is your Northern Arizona travel connection.

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State Department issues Travel Warning: Mexico

2009-03-04T13:29:00.000-08:00

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Bureau of Consular Affairs says:

Crime and Violence Throughout Mexico

The greatest increase in violence has occurred near the U.S. border. However, U.S. citizens traveling throughout Mexico should exercise caution in unfamiliar areas and be aware of their surroundings at all times.

Mexican and foreign bystanders have been injured or killed in violent attacks in cities across the country, demonstrating the heightened risk of violence in public places.

In recent years, dozens of U.S. citizens have been kidnapped across Mexico. Many of these cases remain unresolved...

U.S. citizens should make every attempt to travel on main roads during daylight hours, particularly the toll ("cuota") roads, which generally are more secure. Occasionally, the U.S. Embassy and consulates advise their employees as well as private U.S. citizens to avoid certain areas, abstain from driving on certain roads because of dangerous conditions or criminal activity, or recommend driving during daylight hours only...

U.S. citizen visitors are encouraged to stay in the well-known tourist areas of the cities. Travelers should leave their itinerary with a friend or family member not traveling with them, avoid traveling alone, and should check with their cellular provider prior to departure to confirm that their cell phone is capable of roaming on GSM or 3G international networks. Do not display expensive-looking jewelry, large amounts of money, or other valuable items.

Violence Along the U.S. - Mexico Border

Mexican drug cartels are engaged in an increasingly violent conflict - both among themselves and with Mexican security services - for control of narcotics trafficking routes along the U.S.-Mexico border. In order to combat violence, the government of Mexico has deployed troops in various parts of the country. U.S. citizens should cooperate fully with official checkpoints when traveling on Mexican highways.

Some recent Mexican army and police confrontations with drug cartels have resembled small-unit combat, with cartels employing automatic weapons and grenades. Large firefights have taken place in many towns and cities across Mexico but most recently in northern Mexico, including Tijuana, Chihuahua City and Ciudad Juarez...

The U.S. Mission in Mexico currently restricts non-essential travel to the state of Durango and all parts of the state of Coahuila south of Mexican Highways 25 and 22 and the Alamos River for U.S. government employees assigned to Mexico. This restriction was implemented in light of the recent increase in assaults, murders, and kidnappings in those two states...

A number of areas along the border are experiencing rapid growth in the rates of many types of crime. Robberies, homicides, petty thefts, and carjackings have all increased over the last year across Mexico generally, with notable spikes in Tijuana and northern Baja California. Ciudad Juarez, Tijuana and Nogales are among the cities which have recently experienced public shootouts during daylight hours in shopping centers and other public venues.

The situation in Ciudad Juarez is of special concern. Mexican authorities report that more than 1,800 people have been killed in the city since January 2008. Additionally, this city of 1.6 million people experienced more than 17,000 car thefts and 1,650 carjackings in 2008.

U.S. citizens should pay close attention to their surroundings while traveling in Ciudad Juarez, avoid isolated locations during late night and early morning hours, and remain alert to news reports.

U.S. citizens are urged to be alert to safety and security concerns when visiting the border region. Criminals are armed with a wide array of sophisticated weapons. In some cases, assailants have worn full or partial police or military uniforms and have used vehicles that resemble police vehicles. While most crime victims are Mexican citizens, the uncertain security situation poses serious risks for U.S. citizens as well...

copied from State Department http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/pa/pa_3028.html

Vagaboding Lulu, Flagstaff Travel Writer and Travel Tipster

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Mountain Man Bill Williams: Cannibal or Not?

2009-03-01T20:08:00.000-08:00

When you travel in the American Southwest, you will run across the name "Bill Williams" in many places. That is because "Old Bill" as he was called, covered a lot of territory in the mid-1800s. Pueblo, CO; Taos, New Mexico; Los Angeles, CA to name a few of the the trapper, trader and scout's favorite haunts.

Bill Williams Mountain outside of Williams, AZ is named for him. The photo is a statue of Bill Williams by sculptor Bill Pettit. There is quite a variance of commentary over his controversial life. Missionary to the Indians, horse thief, friend of Kit Carson and cannibal. What's true?

Stay tuned as I do more research on this 19th-Century vagabond. Vote now with you comment below: Was famed traveler Bill Williams a cannibal?

Vagabonding Lulu is a Flagstaff travel writer and your source for travel deals and travel tips to make your journey easy and fun.
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Vagabonding Lulu

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Calling all girls: Ride the Waves with Vagabonding Lulu

Late-breaking Travel Tip:

Four places open for All-Women's River Trip! Such a deal... Leaves 9-9-9 for a magnificent 7-day Grand Canyon River trip. Call 928-526-0924 now. Tell'em Vagabonding Lulu sent you!

We put in at Lee's Ferry and ride the river to Lake Meade. Food, fun, laughter, hiking, guided history and geology narrative. WhooHoo!

Call some gal pals. This will be a lulu of girls getaway!

PS we will be rafting - not taking a wee little wooden boat like that pictured!________

Vagabonding Lulu is a trippy journalist and Flagstaff travel writer who loves to share travel deals and travel tips with her followers. Subscribe to this blog in the right-hand column. Hey, what does it hurt? You might find the travel deal of a lifetime!

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Mountain Man Bill Williams: Cannibal or Not?

PS we will be rafting - not taking a wee little wooden boat like that pictured!
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