Hello Everyone:
A FEW HINTS ON RESEARCHING YOUR TRIP
Have you ever been on a trip, returned home, and found you missed an attraction or restaurant that should have been on your “Must See” list? To prevent this, here are some tips.
Do some research to discover what is located in the area you’ll visit. Guidebooks are an excellent source. I prefer to purchase those that are state or regional guides produced by Fodors and Frommers. I also like the Off the Beaten Path series and Oddball books. The various Insider Guides cover one major city or area in detail. In the case of Oregon, I found one on Portland and another on the Oregon coast. AAA guidebooks, free to AAA members, provide brief summaries of restaurants and attractions
I read through the guidebooks, marking the side and top of each page when I find a listing of a site or restaurant of interest. I then start at the beginning of each book page by page. I type the basic information on each marked restaurant or attraction into my computer. This includes the name, address, phone number, web site, hours, admission, and type of cuisine.
Using more than one guidebook, you’ll sometimes find duplicate listings particularly of popular attractions and dining places. However, while the basic information, in these cases, remains the same, descriptions differ. Since authors have divergent interests, you’ll find their emphasis varies.
After the basic information is entered, I check the web sites of each restaurant and attraction. The main reason for checking the sites is it takes authors time to gather information and for publishers to print books. Places can close or change addresses, hours, admission fees, and menus. By checking them out, you’ll be current. Keep in mind that information can change in a matter of months. It’s always wise when you are on vacation to call ahead, if you have to travel a distance to a restaurant or attraction, to see if they’re open and what their hours are.
Another great source for getting vacation ideas is to consult the convention and visitor bureaus or chambers of commerce of cities and towns you will be touring. The web site is given in most tour guides or you can go the Internet and Google the name of a city+CVB. The information about a city will be on line, and you can request a visitor guide. If you prefer to talk to someone, call and request the guide and ask for pertinent attraction brochures for their town.
You may question whether an attraction is worth seeing. I like to look at videos that are on an attraction’s site. But the vast majority of the web sites don’t offer these. I now go to utube and Google in the attraction’s name. Yes, you’re looking at someone’s posted video, but you can learn valuable information. Are the exhibits static or interactive? Does the attraction appear to be worth the cost of admission or is it a tourist trap? Are the exhibits indoors, outdoors, or both? If you’re still not sure whether you want to go, you may want to check out online reviews on such sites as Trip Advisor.
TIPS FOR PACKING AND PREPARATION
Now that you have the information it’s time to pack for your trip. Since it’s easy to forget something you’ll need or want on your vacation, feel free to use checklists. I have a three-page one I use to make sure everything is in our motorhome. For cruises, I write down what I am taking for clothes, medications, cameras, and writing supplies.
We have found that by loading laundry baskets with food items, clothing we place in our drawers, supplies, etc., it cuts down on the number of trips out to the motorhome. We combine similar items, i.e. one load each for folded clothes. For our hanging clothes, we place them on our beds. Earl stays in the motorhome to hang them up while I bring them from our house to the RV door. It saves on steps for both of us.
Feel free to modify your list. You will find your needs can change depending on where and how you are traveling as well as the length of your trip. Just make sure you cross off your list’s items when you are packing them in your RV or your suitcase. Otherwise, you’ll find yourself questioning whether you have packed them or not.
You may want to make another list of the activities you will be doing before you leave. These can range from stopping the mail to doctor appointments to even acquiring house and plant care.
Regarding the mail, it’s important to fill out a hold mail or transfer of address form and hand it to the post office two weeks ahead of your trip. The post office does not tell you that it takes up to a week to process your request. They don't advise you of this on their form or when you turn the form in.
A FEW HINTS ON RESEARCHING YOUR TRIP
Have you ever been on a trip, returned home, and found you missed an attraction or restaurant that should have been on your “Must See” list? To prevent this, here are some tips.
Do some research to discover what is located in the area you’ll visit. Guidebooks are an excellent source. I prefer to purchase those that are state or regional guides produced by Fodors and Frommers. I also like the Off the Beaten Path series and Oddball books. The various Insider Guides cover one major city or area in detail. In the case of Oregon, I found one on Portland and another on the Oregon coast. AAA guidebooks, free to AAA members, provide brief summaries of restaurants and attractions
I read through the guidebooks, marking the side and top of each page when I find a listing of a site or restaurant of interest. I then start at the beginning of each book page by page. I type the basic information on each marked restaurant or attraction into my computer. This includes the name, address, phone number, web site, hours, admission, and type of cuisine.
Using more than one guidebook, you’ll sometimes find duplicate listings particularly of popular attractions and dining places. However, while the basic information, in these cases, remains the same, descriptions differ. Since authors have divergent interests, you’ll find their emphasis varies.
After the basic information is entered, I check the web sites of each restaurant and attraction. The main reason for checking the sites is it takes authors time to gather information and for publishers to print books. Places can close or change addresses, hours, admission fees, and menus. By checking them out, you’ll be current. Keep in mind that information can change in a matter of months. It’s always wise when you are on vacation to call ahead, if you have to travel a distance to a restaurant or attraction, to see if they’re open and what their hours are.
Another great source for getting vacation ideas is to consult the convention and visitor bureaus or chambers of commerce of cities and towns you will be touring. The web site is given in most tour guides or you can go the Internet and Google the name of a city+CVB. The information about a city will be on line, and you can request a visitor guide. If you prefer to talk to someone, call and request the guide and ask for pertinent attraction brochures for their town.
You may question whether an attraction is worth seeing. I like to look at videos that are on an attraction’s site. But the vast majority of the web sites don’t offer these. I now go to utube and Google in the attraction’s name. Yes, you’re looking at someone’s posted video, but you can learn valuable information. Are the exhibits static or interactive? Does the attraction appear to be worth the cost of admission or is it a tourist trap? Are the exhibits indoors, outdoors, or both? If you’re still not sure whether you want to go, you may want to check out online reviews on such sites as Trip Advisor.
TIPS FOR PACKING AND PREPARATION
Now that you have the information it’s time to pack for your trip. Since it’s easy to forget something you’ll need or want on your vacation, feel free to use checklists. I have a three-page one I use to make sure everything is in our motorhome. For cruises, I write down what I am taking for clothes, medications, cameras, and writing supplies.
We have found that by loading laundry baskets with food items, clothing we place in our drawers, supplies, etc., it cuts down on the number of trips out to the motorhome. We combine similar items, i.e. one load each for folded clothes. For our hanging clothes, we place them on our beds. Earl stays in the motorhome to hang them up while I bring them from our house to the RV door. It saves on steps for both of us.
Feel free to modify your list. You will find your needs can change depending on where and how you are traveling as well as the length of your trip. Just make sure you cross off your list’s items when you are packing them in your RV or your suitcase. Otherwise, you’ll find yourself questioning whether you have packed them or not.
You may want to make another list of the activities you will be doing before you leave. These can range from stopping the mail to doctor appointments to even acquiring house and plant care.
Regarding the mail, it’s important to fill out a hold mail or transfer of address form and hand it to the post office two weeks ahead of your trip. The post office does not tell you that it takes up to a week to process your request. They don't advise you of this on their form or when you turn the form in.