The Best National Parks

January 24, 2018 by Ivana De Domenico

With its vast acres of undeveloped land and wide-open spaces, it is no surprise that the United States was a pioneer in preserving and conserving significant parcels of land to be enjoyed by all. These magnificent parks, which highlight the pristine beauty of many different topographies and biomes unique to the US, are a major international tourist draw. National parks were, at their inception in the late 19th century, a uniquely American concept, and the attraction endures. Here are a few that highlight the variety of natural wonders on display:

Yosemite
California’s Yosemite is widely considered to be the crown jewel of the national park system. It proudly offers visitors the opportunity to view Yosemite Falls, otherwise known as America’s highest waterfall, and El Capitan, considered the tallest uninterrupted granite monolith in the world. This is definitely a park to visit to check off some bucket list items.

Grand Canyon
Two billion years of geologic history are on exhibition here, with 40 layers of rock displayed via buttes, spires and cliffs. The 277-mile gorge, carved by the Colorado River, is a must-see from any vista, though a hike to the river, a mile below the rim, is especially thrilling.

Denali
Six-million-acre Denali provides the best chance to experience wildlife of any national park. With vehicles only permitted on the first 15 miles of the single, mostly unpaved, 92-mile road through the subarctic wilderness, this may very well be the most pristine of all of the national parks. Great for visitors looking for a hike.

Hawai’i Volcanoes
This park contains two of the world’s most active volcanoes. Visitors can watch as erupting Kilauea send up plumes of gas and its lava lights up the night sky. The park is home to a plethora of rare native species, like Hawaiian honeycreepers and hawksbill sea turtles. Petroglyphs and 13th-century ruins round out the variety of magnificent viewing opportunities for visitors. There is really something for everyone here.

Glacier
Comprised of the United States side of the Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park, in addition to abundant alpine lakes, plunging waterfalls, mountain peaks and a spectacular springtime wildflower display.

Acadia
In case one gets the mistaken idea that all of the magnificent national parks were west of the Continental Divide, Acadia National Park, in Maine, debunks that notion. This park encompasses 47,000 acres of rugged Atlantic coast on Mount Desert Island. Comprised of fog-shrouded granite boulders and lush spruce-fir forests, Acadia is an east coast gem.

How To Stay Sane During Holiday Travel

December 1, 2017 by Ivana De Domenico

With millions of people traveling this holiday season, it can be easy to be overwhelmed at the thought of navigating unfamiliar cities to reach your loved ones. Already out of your element, even the smallest issue can become a big problem. The best way to avoid stress and enjoy your journey as much as possible is to plan ahead as much as possible. You can’t predict everything that can befall your journey, but you can take steps to ensure that you’re as prepared as you can be.

If You’re Flying

Give yourself ample time to get through security at the airport. Even if you’re a frequent flyer and know exactly what you’re doing, remember that many of the other people you’re there with can be inexperienced flyers or total rookies. They will be the ones who don’t have their IDs ready, who forget to take all their loose change out of their pockets, and who take forever to get everything back together once through the scanners. Not to mention, the bag they’re sure should fit in the overhead compartment might be nowhere close. All that to say, give yourself at least an hour more than you normally would, to ensure you have plenty of time to make your flight.

If You’re Driving

Plan ahead to know the route you will take. Consider any large cities along the way, and be familiar with alternate routes in case of an accident on the interstate. Also, be aware of changing weather conditions, especially if you’re headed north. The last thing you want to do is get caught in an unexpected snowstorm and not know what to do. Check weather forecasts ahead of time, or keep an eye on the local weather with your smartphone.

In addition, have an emergency kit packed to include jumper cables, emergency blankets, snacks, a first aid kit, roadside flares, and additional motor oil, windshield wiper fluid, and coolant. Another good idea is to have an air compressor that operates from your auxiliary power outlet, in case you start to lose air pressure in your tires. It’s good to be able to take care of as much vehicle maintenance as possible on your own, as roadside assistance and mechanic shops could be totally closed or severely delayed, given the influx of new people in a given city.

Above all, pack your patience. Realize that, at any given time, there are probably hundreds of other travelers around you who have the same simple mission: to get home for the holidays. Appreciate any shared misery as a chance to make friends with strangers, and when you do finally arrive, soak up every moment you have with those you love.

The Best Fall Festivals in America

September 27, 2017 by Ivana De Domenico

There’s something about fall that makes it an ideal time for festivals. Maybe it’s because so many people, myself included, appreciate the mild temperatures and the fiery foliage. Unfortunately, not every region of the United States gets to experience the change of seasons that makes fall so wonderful, but the fact that festivals paying tribute to the season are held all around the country means that people will still do whatever they can to celebrate all the comforts and joys this season represents. Here are six idyllic fall festivals held throughout the United States. If you happen to live near to live near one of them, you should be sure to check it out, and if you don’t, find one in your area- there’s bound to be one nearby!

Fall Foliage Festival- Jim Thorpe, PA

If you live anywhere near the charming riverfront town of Jim Thorpe and are interested in a visit, you’re in luck because the town’s Fall Foliage Festival is held the first three weekends of October, giving you plenty of time to plan a trip. The festival features live entertainment, a scarecrow contest, an arts and crafts fair, children’s activities, and scenic train rides to take in the splendorous fall foliage.

The National Apple Harvest Festival- Biglerville, PA

Do you like apples? Do like them enough to attend a festival dedicated to them? For a lot of people, the answer to that question is a definitive yes. The festival may be held in the tiny rural Pennsylvania town of Biglerville just outside of Gettysburg, but it has the word “national” in its name for a reason. People travel from all around the country to visit this festival to pay homage to the apple with plenty of apple food and drinks to consume, and apple-themed (and non-apple themed) arts and crafts to purchase.

Oktoberfest Zinzinnati- Cincinnati, OH

If you can’t make it all the way to Germany for an Oktoberfest, then America’s largest Oktoberfest celebration held in Cincinnati, Ohio is the next best thing. The event features authentic polka music and German dancing, plenty of food and bee to go around, and even a “running of the wieners” dachshund race that demands to be seen in person.

Vermont Pumpkin Chuckin’ Festival- Stowe, VT

What better way to celebrate your love of fall than to hurl pumpkins through the air with giant trebuchets in a little friendly competition, as you watch them splatter their gooey orange guts onto the ground? The one-day event, in its ninth year, may not be heavily publicized (its website is a blog), but it is growing every year and promises loads of fun with a chili cook off, live music, and kids activities. Admission is $10.00 and proceeds benefit a local charity, the Lamoille Restorative Center.

Hood River Valley Harvest Fest- Hood River, OR

Most people tend to think of the east coast when they think of fall, but Oregon knows how to celebrate the season in style with this old-fashioned fall festival in its 35th season, held this year October 13-15. The event features seasonal food, crafts from local artists, live music, and activities the whole family can enjoy.

North Carolina Pecan Harvest Festival- Whiteville, NC

Southerners love their pecan pies, so much so that one North Carolina town has a festival dedicated to the nut. With several events leading up to it, the festival will be held Saturday, November 4. In addition to all the pecan food you can purchase, the event will also feature a parade, pecan cooking contest, kids activities, car show, pecan growers educational stations, art show, and tractor, RV, and boat show.

Restaurants Worth Traveling For

September 25, 2017 by Ivana De Domenico

One of the best parts about traveling to a new place, for me, is the opportunity to visit new restaurants and try new foods. If you’re anything like me, you’ll look up the best restaurants of wherever traveling to and scour their menus, maybe choose what you’d like to order for dinner, before even setting foot in your destination. Food is a universal language. It brings people from all cultures and backgrounds together and the range of flavors that exist are like words on a page spelling out various emotions and reactions.

Travel publication Conde Nast recently released a list of the best restaurants in the world called “The 97 Restaurants We’d Travel the World For.” There were so many phenomenal options in the United States alone that Conde Nast published a separate list called “The 49 Restaurants We’d Travel For.” Experiencing exotic new flavors is pretty much a given when traveling to a foreign country, so I thought I’d pull out a few of the 49 U.S. restaurants Conde Nast features. It may seem a little crazy planning a vacation around a restaurant, but like I said, food is such an essential part of traveling for people, that we do it all the time without even realizing. Maybe food isn’t the only reason for traveling to a certain place, but it’s a pretty big part, so here are a few restaurants throughout the United States so good you could plan a trip around them.

Woodberry Kitchen- Baltimore, MD.

Chef Spike Gjerde takes the idea of cooking local to extreme and uses only locally-sourced ingredients in all of his dishes. He doesn’t even use olive oil for cooking because it’s not local to the mid-Atlantic! Housed in an old warehouse, the restaurant features local specialties like Maryland crab soup and Chesapeake oysters.

Lilia- Brooklyn, NY.

How do you choose just one restaurant from New York when New York city is the unofficial restaurant capital of the world? Well, Conde Nast chose 14, but I thought I’d highlight this one. There are a plethora of award-winning restaurants in the city that charge top dollar, but Lilia isn’t quite one of those. You’ll still have to contend with NYC prices, but the restaurant isn’t pretentious. It features classic Italian dishes with a modern twist that are both comforting and refined.

Herbsaint- New Orleans, LA.

Herbsaint is NOLA soul food at its best. The head chef, Rebecca Wilcomb, prepares all of her dishes with love and passion, and she won a James Beard award for her cooking. You can try classic, yet refined creole dishes like gumbo or plates featuring local meats and seafood.

Alinea- Chicago, IL.

Alinea is regarded as one of the finest restaurants in the world, but it’s not the food alone that makes it so special. With three distinct dining areas, Alinea offers diners a culinary experience like no other. According to travel writer, Elaine Glusac, Alinea, for all its delicious ingenuity, isn’t about food. It’s about theater.” You may be asked to hold your plate and eat street-food style, for example. If you want to find out more about the Alinea experience is all about, you should find out for yourself- just be prepared to shell out a small fortune and book a reservation.

Shed- Healdsburg, CA.

Shed is probably unlike any restaurant you’ve been to before; it’s a market, cafe, and community gathering space all in one. The winner of a 2014 James Beard Award for restaurant design, the restaurant considers itself a modern day grange and is situated on a family farm, so you know you’re consuming only the freshest, healthiest ingredients.

I only skimmed the surface of the 49 American restaurants and 97 international that Conde Nast chose to feature, plus there are so many other amazing hidden gems that didn’t even make the list! If you want to satisfy your adventurous palette, check out this list, and be sure to do some exploring of your own as well, and let your love of food guide you.

A Nomadic Lifestyle

May 21, 2017 by Ivana De Domenico

If you could leave everything you’ve become accustomed to (your job, your house, your car) behind in order to travel the world, would you? For most people, this idea rarely even entertains their thoughts because it’s not an option. We’re tied to our jobs, whether we love what we do or not, for a steady stream of income and these lives we’ve built for ourselves can become such impenetrable fortifications that the thought of starting over in favor of a new way of life just seems impossible.

I’m always fascinated by stories of lifestyles different from my own. In the case of the Holcombe family from Boulder, Colorado, I can relate to their desire to see the world. Sometimes I feel like there’s this unquenchable fire in me- a desire to break away and see as much of the world as I can, while I still can. But unfortunately I am a prisoner of my own life, the life that I’ve chosen for myself, and while I’m fortunate enough to have visited all the continents but Alaska, there is still so much I want to see. The idea of leaving it all behind to travel is an attractive one, but unfathomable.

The Holcombe’s didn’t let societal constraints stop them from pursuing the lives they wanted to live. Three years ago, Kathy and Peter Holcombe sold their home in Colorado, and (along with their daughter Abby) they’ve been on the road ever since. They’ve covered 49 states and a total of 120,000 miles in their RV, and they have no intentions of throwing in the towel just yet. “We are at our best outside in the wild. That’s where we love to be as a family,” said Kathy.

In the time that they’ve been traveling together, the family has had some incredible experiences. For instance, Abby was the youngest person ever, at 12 years old, to kayak the entire 280-mile stretch of the Grand Canyon on her own. I think we can all learn something from Kathy’s advice: “Sometimes life gets in the way of living—so make sure to get out and live and do incredible things together.”

To learn more about the Holcombe family and their nomadic lifestyle, read more here, and watch the video below.