Safety first: Tips for camping teenagers and their parents

When children go to camp -- be it a traditional overnight camp,   a school field trip or a adventure halfway around the world --  parents understandably worry about their children's safety. And that worry doesn’t cease when the youngsters reach their teen years. Here, from a Chicago-based service adventure travel company called The Road Less Traveled,  are safety tips for both parents and teenagers.

 For Parents
Choose a credible company.   Select a program that has a great track record and an established reputation.  Don’t be afraid to ask for references or testimonials from previous participants.  Another possibility is to choose a program that is accredited by the American Camp Association. 
 
Check the State Department’s website. At www.travel.state.gov,  you can find up-to-date information on country-specific travel warnings.

Check your family’s overseas medical insurance coverage. Make sure your policy applies to overseas and will cover emergency transportation expenses. If it doesn’t, you might consider supplementary coverage for your child.

Check the certification. See what minimum first aid certification level the leaders are required to have. If your child will ever be more than two hours  from a hospital, the best training is Wilderness First Responder (WFR). The Road Less Traveled maintains that standard first aid, and wilderness first aid, are not sufficient certifications in remote settings.

Talk to the directors of the program. If they are inaccessible when you are making a decision, they may well be inaccessible during the summer. Ask what their mission and values are. Make sure they align  with your own values.

For Teens

Leave a detailed itinerary and duplicate documents. Make copies of your itinerary, passport and credit cards and leave them with your parents. Make sure the itinerary includes addresses, phone numbers and any other relevant information.

 Register. For those traveling in another country, register your trip on Smart Travelers Enrollment Program (STEP). The program is a free service from  the U.S. government to U.S. citizens who are traveling to, or living in, a foreign country.  STEP allows you to enter information about your upcoming trip abroad so that the Department of State can better assist  in an emergency. 

 Locate the American Embassy. Take the embassy phone number and address with you and keep it in a safe place. Should an emergency arise, you may well need to contact them for help.

Stick together. Avoid walking around alone, especially at night.  Stay away from isolated areas and always take a friend or staff member with you if you need to venture away from the group.

Know the laws of your destination. While in a foreign country you are subject to its laws.  Be aware of local conditions and respect  the local culture.

For information about The Road Less Traveled, visit www.theroadlesstraveled.com or call 800-939-9839.

Trivial question
Which country is nearest to Scotland’s Shetland Islands? And no fair peeking at a map. (Answer somewhere below.)

The holidays are half off at this St. Thomas resort
The Wyndham Sugar Bay Resort & Spa., an all-inclusive resort in St. Thomas, has launched an early booking sale for travel this upcoming holiday season.  The Holiday Sale provides a 50% discount on all-inclusive reservations of four nights or more Dec. 23-Jan. 1. Rates start at $$439 a night, including meals and beverages, entertainment, half-day access to the supervised Kid’s Club, and a comprehensive activities program. Book through July 17  by calling 888-582-9104 or visiting www.sugarbaywyndham.com. 

Afternoon tea in London for 11 cents
To honor its 1865 opening, The Langham, London will bring back the original price of afternoon tea  on June 10.  For just 7 pence (or U.S. 11 cents), guests will  experience the Wonderland Tea, normally priced at £38 (U.S. $62). This signature tea features dainty sandwiches, scones with Devonshire cream,  pastries and cakes and a variety of teas. Guests must submit their table reservation request at www.palm-court.co.uk/1865 by midnight May 31. Names will then be chosen at random and  recipients will receive  reservation notifications by email on June 3. I stayed at the Langham a few years back and loved it.

Book those Disney dining reservations early
As soon as you know the dates for a trip to Walt Disney World, you might consider making dining reservations because some dinners, especially those that feature the Disney characters, book up fast. I’m speaking from experience: After booking a trip to Disney World for late September yesterday, I tried to make reservations for Donald Duck’s Safari Breakfast at the Animal Kingdom theme bark. Tables for every day of my stay were already filled. No breakfast with Donald? I don’t know if I can survive this!

Worth quoting
“Throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” — Mark Twain

A special Father’s Day weekend for the golfing dad
The Pinehurst Resort in Pinehurst, N.C., will hold its third annual Father’s Day Weekend  June 17-19 with a celebration of golf and golf stories, and a round on the recently restored Pinehurst No. 2 where guests can attempt to re-create the Father’s Day putt that won Payne Stewart the 1999 U.S. Open.  The package, which starts at $795 per person, includes three nights’ accommodations; a Saturday round of golf on Pinehurst No. 2 with a caddy followed by an early Sunday round on Pinehurst No. 4; access to the U.S. Open VIP room all weekend; breakfast each morning; and two dinners with speakers. Visit www.pinehurst.com or call 800-487-4653.

Trivial answer
Norway is the country closest to Scotland’s Shetland Islands.

15 things you may not know about New York City

 New York is a fascinating city but how much do you really know about it? Gray Line has put together, in question and answer form, some facts that may surprise you. Here goes. 
1. Only one of the five  boroughs that make up New York City is attached to the mainland of the United States. Which one? (answer: The Bronx)
2.  If all the New York Subway system tracks were laid out end to end they would stretch for how many miles? (722)
3. The geographical area of the Bronx is comparable to what major European city? (Paris)
4. The longest running musical in Broadway Theater history is? (Phantom of the Opera)
5.  How many times have the New York Yankees won the World Series? (27 -- Everyone from Boston can now say, "Booooo!")
6.  How long did the Empire State Building hold the title "World's Tallest Building"? (42 years)

 

The World's tallest building -- from 1931-1973

7. From the lower level to the top floor, how many stories are there in the Empire State Building? (102)
8. From the lobby to the 86th floor observation deck there are how
any stairs? (1550) 
9.  The world's largest Gothic Cathedral is located in New York City. What is it called? (Cathedral of St. John the Divine)
10.  What is the largest auditorium in New York City? (ans Radio City
Musical Hall) 
11.  Six U.S. presidents were from New York state. But who was the only one from New York City? (Theodore Roosevelt)
12. From south to north, the three toll-free bridges spanning the East River between Manhattan and Brooklyn spell out a luxury car brand. What are they? (Brooklyn, Manhattan, Williamsburg -- BMW)
13. What is the most frequently visited museum in New York City? (Metropolitan Museum of Art)
14. The oldest house of worship on the island of Manhattan is?  (St. Paul's Chapel)
15. What is the name of the largest park in all of New York City? (Pelham Bay Park, the Bronx -- 2,700 acres)

Trivial question
If you haven't had enough trivia after that New York entry, here's another question. Which countries/states border Italy? (Hint: There are six.)

Spring deals at Vermont's Stowe Mountain Lodge

As the ski season ends and the weather finally begins to warm up, Stowe Mountain Lodge in Stowe, Vt., entices guests with  marble soaking tubs, floor-to-ceiling windows, dual mountain views, a spa, heated indoor access outdoor pool and  farm-to-table restaurants. Another enticement is lowered prices, with these deals among those being offered. They are: Spring Stowecation, with 20% off a 2 night stay and 30% off stays of three nights or more. Rates start at $160/night and are good through June 30. Dinner & Theater Package, with discounted accommodations, prix-fixe dinner for two and two show tickets. Email stowereservations@destinationhotels.com or call 802-760-4755. Spa & Stay Package, for two nights with two 50-minute massages and discounted accommodations.  Rates start at $299 a night and are good from April 1-June 1.  Use booking code SPASTAY.  For more packages, click here or call 888-652-0658.

Worth quoting

"One's destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing things." -- Henry Miller

Win a trip to London during the Royal Wedding

Today through March 31,Travelocity and Virgin Atlantic Airways are offering a chance to win a regal London  getaway for two, including round-trip flights from one of the Virgin Atlantic US gateways to London, in its Upper Class cabin, plus a four-night hotel stay at The Kensington Hotel. Travel dates are April 27 – May 2, giving you a chance to capture the excitement of the wedding of Will and Kate. (Don't expect the prize to include an invite, though.) To enter, log onto http://tvly.com/royalwedding.  

Fascinating fact

New Zealand lays claim to being the first country to give women the vote in modern times. The date was Sept. 19, 1893.

Arctic wonders await Hurtiguten cruisegoers  

Polar bears and Svalbard reindeer roaming icy tundra, the Moffen Island’s walrus colony, and Hornsund Fjord, with its vertical cliffs and glaciers, are among the rare Arctic wonders travelers can experience on  Hurtigruten’s nine-day “Kingdom of the Polar Bear”  cruise. The MV Polar Star, specifically designed to explore areas inaccessible to most other ships, travels round trip from Longyearbyen to the farthest corners of Spitsbergen and explores a  landscape of Arctic tundra,  fjords, national parks and scenic islands. Prices for the voyage, which has 11 departures between June 9 and Aug. 18, range from $6,419 to $10,080 per person, double. Visit www.hurtigruten.us; or call 877-301-3117.

Search Amazon.com for Arctic travel

Trivial answer

Italy is bordered by Austria, France, San Marino, Slovenia, Switzerland and Vatican City. (Tough one, eh?)

Seen them on the screen? Now give them a gander in real life

The Feb. 27 Academy Awards will no doubt inspire many people to see the places where the Oscar nominees took place. CheapOair.com knows this, so has lined up deals linked to the Best Picture category, with reservations required by Feb. 28. Here they are:

Black Swan -- New York: The offer is for the Bentley Hotel, starting at $ 159 per night.  Sample round-trip airfare starts at $288. Click here.

The King's Speech -- London: A package from New York to London starts at $363 per person and includes  airfare and a four-night stay at the Hilton Wembley Plaza. Click here.

 The Fighter -- Boston: A package from Los Angeles to Boston starts at $477 per person and includes airfare and a four night stay at the Hotel Marlowe-A Kimpton Hotel. Click here.

Inception -- Paris: Visit the location where Leonardo DiCaprio taught Ellen Page the intricacies  of The Pasiv dream machine. Starting at $ 119 per night, stay at Holiday Inn Paris La Villete. Sample airfare starts at $468. Click here.

True Grit -- Texas: A package from Los Angeles to Austin begins at  $611 per person and includes airfare and a four-night stay at the Renaissance Austin Hotel. Click here.

Social Network -- Silicon Valley: This deal takes you from New York to San Jose starting at $608 per person and   includes airfare and a five-night stay at the four-star Four Points By Sheraton San Jose. Click here.

You will not be surprised that assorted taxes and fees are extra and that prices may be higher on some dates. 

Search Amazon.com for Academy Awards

Trivial question

What is the southernmost city in Australia? (Answer somewhere below.)

Skate your way to savings with Boston packages

Starwood is sponsoring the first-ever ice rink at the Prudential Center in Boston. The rink will be open to the community for one month. In celebration, the Sheraton Boston is offering two Share the Ice  packages:

The Family Skating package includes four tickets  to the Rink at Prudential Center (a $40 value), and complimentary valet parking (a $44 value), with rooms beginning at $199 and suites from $279. In addition, the first 50 suites booked for stays between Feb. 20-25 get four tickets to Disney on Ice.

The Date Night package offers a romantic skating experience for stays before March 6. This package include a room with an outstanding view of the Charles River, complimentary valet parking and two tickets to the rink.

Stays can be booked at www.sheraton.com/boston.

Travel tip -- and we do mean 'tip' 

When it comes to tipping, hotel maids often get left out. Because few guests actually see the maids, some people figure it is easy to skip the tip. Others might want to tip but aren't sure whether the money they leave just before checking out will go to the maid who has done most of the work in the room. The answer is to tip daily. Leave a dollar or two on your pillow before going out in the morning. The maid who does the work will get the tip and your room will sparkle.

Kennebunkport resort rewards early bookers

The people at the Rhumb Line Resort in Kennebunkport, Maine, say they are tired of seeing the last-minute guest get the best deals. So they are rewarding those who book well in advance, with the best available rates and deals.  With the Rhumb Line’s new Best Booking Deal guests who book well in advance can take satisfaction in knowing that those who wait will pay more. In addition, youngsters 16 and under stay free in their parents' room. Current deals include two nights' lodging, a $25 dining certificate to a choice of several Kennebunkport restaurants, continental breakfast, Free wifi and use of the resort’s indoor pool, indoor and outdoor hot tubs, and fitness area, all  starting at  $125 per couple. Visit www.rhumblineresort.com/specials.htm or call 207-967-5457.

Worth quoting

“Too often travel, instead of broadening the mind, merely lengthens the conversations.” -- Elizabeth Drew

How about Italy for a family spring break?

TourCrafters has an Italy by Train package that takes in the sights of Rome, Florence and Venice. The 11-day/10-night package costs $1,129 ($985 if booked by March 1) and includes round-trip air from New York, an arrival transfer, accommodations at the hotels Brasile in Rome,  Meridiana in Florence and Malibran in Venice, daily buffet breakfast, tickets for the Eurostar train, a half-day tour in each city, a Hop-On-Hop-Off bus tour in Rome, service charges and VAT tax. The package is valid from March 1 to April 15. Air fares from other cities are also available.

For details, visit www.tourcrafters.it.  For reservations, call 800-482-5995.

Fascinating fact

Indonesia has about 13,000 islands.

Forgot Valentines Day? You can still escape the doghouse

Jupiter Beach Resort & Spa in Jupiter, Fla., has created a Get Out of the Doghouse package designed for those who made a mess of  Valentines Day.  The package,  at $1,299,  includes a night of luxury, oceanview accommodations in the penthouse suite, a  four-course dinner for two prepared in grand butler style by the resort’s executive chef, a half-day in the Spa, including two, 50-minute signature treatments followed by a duet massage complete with champagne and chocolate-covered strawberries, flowers, two cocktails called Kiss Up Cosmos, and an  “I’m in the doghouse” T-shirt and leash. Visit www.jupiterbeachresort.com and use promo code UDIRTYDOG.

Trivial answer

Hobart is Australia's southernmost city.

Fun facts about Germany and jelly doughnuts

The bear is the symbol of Berlin, and likenesses can be found throughout the city. (Photo by Richard P. Carpenter)



When, in 1963, John F. Kennedy told a rapturous Berlin crowd, "Ich bin ein Berliner!" the roar of approval was deafening. The translation, of course, is "I am a Berliner!" Later, however, the president's words caused some amusement because a "Berliner" is also a popular name for a type of jelly doughnut. But what the heck: a president can be anything he wants, even a jelly doughnut. Here are more fun factoids from the authentic German website s.m.d. markeur:
* When the perfume brand "Irish Mist" was introduced to the German market, it had to be renamed because in German, "mist" means, ahem, "bullshit." The product became "Irisch Moos," meaning moss.
* Germany has about 1,280 breweries offering more than 5,000 different beer brands.
* There are more than 1,500 types of sausages.
* The country has more than 300 different types of bread and more than 1,200 types of biscuits and pastries.
* In the mid 1800s, the first garden gnomes were made in Thuringia, Germany. They have spread via central and northern Europe as far as America and Australia.
* The first cuckoo clock was made in Germany in the early 17th century.
* It took more than 632 years (from 1248 to 1880) to build Germany’s most popular tourist attraction, the Cologne Cathedral.
* Germany is the only European country that has no overall speed limit on its highways, known as the Autobahn.

A slow start for a German product
Volkswagen sold a mere 390 Beetles during the car's first year in the United States, 1951.

Three places where summertime freebies abound

There's something magical about the word "free," so here are three diverse spots with no-cost summer activities. (In some cases, of course, there are requirements or restrictions.)
* In Colorado, free Vail activities include jazz and rock concerts, guided nature hikes, volleyball, bocce, horseshoes, gondola rides for youngsters, fly fishing clinics, tennis matches, admission to the Colorado Ski Museum and even parking in Vail Village. Rooms at The Arrabelle at Vail Square start at $199 per night and The Lodge at Vail start at $149 per night. For more information, visit www.rockresorts.com.
* The Resort at Paws Up in Greenough, Mont., has several activities that are complimentary to children and adults alike. They include geocaching, disc golf, hundreds of miles of hiking trails, wiffle ball, spin fishing, badminton, basketball, and croquet. Visit www.pawsup.com.

* You can golf free at Grande Lakes Orlando. The Florida resort, which consists of the Ritz-Carlton and JW Marriott allows youngsters 17 and under to golf free every day with a paying adult. Daily golf clinics are also available year-round for guests of the resort. Visit www.grandelakes.com.

Summer savings at 11 London hotels

From July 23 to Sept. 6, all 11 Radisson Edwardian London properties are offering guests deluxe accommodations and picnic essentials to enjoy at a nearby park including a bottle of Prosecco, fresh strawberries and a picnic blanket. Daily breakfast for two and a 25 percent discount on dining at each property are also included in the offer, resulting in a 20 percent discount.

Rates start at about $196 per room, per night. For a list of the hotels and more details, call 800-333-3333.

New ship offers discounted fares to Antarctica

AdventureSmith Explorations is offering an introductory rate starting at $2,795 per person for an 11-day itinerary on its new Antarctic cruises aboard the 124-passenger M/S Expedition. If you've looked into Antarctica trips, you will recognize that that is an excellent starting price.

And speaking of Antarctica ...

The male penguin's job is to incubate the single egg that his mate lays. During the two-month period, the gallant gent does not eat and will lose up to 40 percent of his body weight.

It's all a matter of size

The state of Florida, at 65,795 square miles, is bigger than England, which encompasses 50,346 square miles.

Families can save at a YMCA that is hardly typical

Most people might not make the YMCA their first choice for a family vacation. But there are affordable Y cabin and lodge vacations still available in Colorado, and they appear to be nice indeed.

Both the YMCA of the Rockies Estes Park Center in Estes Park, Colo., surrounded on three sides by Rocky Mountain National Park, and at Snow Mountain Ranch in Winter Park, situated in beautiful Grand County, near Winter Park Resort offer:
* Buy two, get the third night free packages.

* Free activities on-site, from miniature golf to night hikes.

*  Accommodations including fully equipped mountain cabins or comfortable lodge rooms.

* Two free adult breakfasts per lodge room.

At Snow Mountain Ranch, package rates start at  $109 per night in a lodge room that can sleep up to six adults, and includes two adult breakfasts per day. At Estes Park Center, package 
rates start at $164 per night in a lodge room that can sleep up to five adults. Both offers include two adult breakfasts per day.

Visit www.ymcarockies.org or call 800-777-9622.

Fascinating fact

The Taj Mahal took as many as 20,000 workers and 20 years to complete. (But the results are quite nice.)

Hurry, hurry: Virgin is having a one-day sale

Virgin Atlantic is celebrating its 25th anniversary with a 24-hour sale today for flights from Newark Liberty Airport to London, with fares starting at $186. Book by midnight for travel starting on July 1. 

Visit www.virginatlantic.com.

Monkeying around in Waterville Valley

We're giving you plenty of notice on this New Hampshire event. Waterville Valley Resort’s Curious George Cottage Family Festival will take place Aug-7-9.  The Margret and H.A. Rey Center will be host, and among family events will be a Curious George character lunch, nature walks and hikes, children’s games, a lobster bake, Curious George movies, and astronomy and star gazing. Why, there will even be banana pancakes. A lodging package features Friday and Saturday night lodging, admission to the Fireman’s BBQ Lunch, a photo op with  George, a petting zoo, many activities and  a Curious George souvenir. Prices start at $56 per person per night (based on quad occupancy).

Visit www.ReyCenter.org. 

You deserve a cruise, along with extra savings

Through Aug. 31,  members of the Cruise Lines International Association -- both travel agents and the cruise lines themselves --  are staging a You Deserve a Cruise promotion, with savings and  incentives. After all, says Terry Dale, the association's president and CEO, "Now more than ever, a vacation is what people really need." We agree. 

Read all about the offers  here.

You also deserve a chuckle, of sorts 

Two men are engaging in the old debate on whether Hawaii is pronounced "HaVaii" or "HaWaii." 
They ask a passerby, who answers, "Havaii."
"Thank you," says the  first man.
"You're velcome," replies the passerby.

Trivia answer: The statue is in Ireland

Yesterday's mystery photo (see it below) was taken in Cobh, Ireland. The seaport community, once called Queenstown, was  the departure point for 2.5 million of the 6 million Irish people who emigrated to North America between 1848 and 1950. The statue depicts  girl named Annie Moore, and her brothers. Annie Moore was the first person to be admitted to the United States through the new immigration center  at Ellis Island, New York, Jan. 1, 1892. For the honor of being first, she was presented with a $10 gold piece. It was her 15th birthday.

Spin the wheel and save at Connecticut inn

The Whalers Inn in Mystic, Conn., has a unique promotion going on. Log on to the  website, and spin the wheel for discounts. Prizes range from a free night at the inn  to substantial discounts, prizes and gifts. You can also win a Downtown Mystic Savings Pass, offering up to 25 percent discounts with participating restaurants, area attractions and shops.

Visit www.whalersinnmystic.com.

How's that again?

A sign in front of a temple in Bali, Indonesia, lists people who are not allowed to enter, including "Dvotees Getting Impure Due to Death."

Send Dad high into the sky for Father's Day

The Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome in Rhinebeck, N.Y., wants you to treat your Dad to an air show on June 20 or 21, Father's Day weekend. Admission for dad is $15 (a $5 discount), and a $75 biplane ride/air-show combo ticket is also is available. The aerodrome sends people aloft in a 1929 New Standard open-cockpit biplane.

The website is www.oldrhinebeck.org or call 845-752-6481.

Thursday's trivia answer 

The Congo is not landlocked,while Niger,  Chad and Burkina Faso are. (But don't you love the name Burkina Faso. It means, roughly, "Land of the Honorable Men." )

Go on a shopping spree in Rhode Island

The Renaissance Providence Hotel is featuring an Ultimate Shopping Spree package that includes overnight accommodations, a $50 Nordstrom gift card, Nordstrom personal shopper assistance, a complimentary Nordstrom shoe shine and breakfast for two. Rates begin at $204.

For the package, click here or call 401-276-0023. Use promotional code SHO. 

London exhibit gets beneath it all

On June 12, London’s Fashion and Textile Museum will open its its newest exhibition, "Undercover: The Evolution of Underwear." The exhibit covers everything from Stars and their Bras (a look at celebrity branding) to the themes of female underwear such as boudoir and everyday glamour. Displays include a La Perla bra coated with Swarovski crystals and an original Merry Widow corset inspired by Lana Turner in the film of the same name.

For more about the exhibit, click here.