Travel Savings Alerts Newsletter - August 2006 Issue
tips2travel
P.O. Box 91033
Columbus OH 43209
http://tsalerts.fre.espaces.com
travel...@wowmail.com
ISSN: 1542-801X, Copyright 2006, All Rights Reserved
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In This Issue:
Rosen Plaza Back-to-School Special
Shorter Flights for Fewer Miles
Platinum Hotel for $129
Factory Tours Open to Public
DVT Not Caused by Flying
go! Special Miliary Interisland Fares
Bonus Rewards with Red Lion Hotels
$1,000 Off Viking River Holiday Cruises
Seniority Privileges at Historic Inns
Best of Barbados Is Back
50% Off at Swan and Dolphin Resort
First-Class at Coach Prices
Holland America Early Advantage Discounts
EU Tightens Tour Bus Rules
Martin County 'Stay Fr.ee" Program
Half-Price Rooms in Montserrat
Gathering in Gatlinburg by Nicki Chodnoff
FlyAway to LAX
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Rings and Rosy - - This sterling silver necklace is a "must-have" if
you want to wear the hottest new designer style. Configured in the
popular "Y" style, this necklace has it all: a chain made of ringlets
created from the finest sterling silver to form the basis of the 16
inch long necklace.
Add to that, distinctive ruby gold Venetian glass beads to set off the
silver in style.
Get this dynamic, fresh look at an easy on your pocket-book-price of
only $99. Order from AAA Jewelry Outlet at http://www.3ajewels.biz
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Rosen Plaza Back-to-School Special - - Before school starts, the Rosen
Plaza in Orlando has a back-to-school vacation package from Aug. 9
through Sep. 11, 2006.
The "Back-to-School Memories" package is $105 per night, plus room
tax, based on availability. It features accommodations for up to two
adults and two children and fr.ee transportation to Universal Studios
and several other area attractions. As a bonus, book at least three
nights at the special rate and you receive fr.ee breakfast buffet for
two at the hotel each morning of your stay. Kids under six years old
get the breakfast buffet fr.ee. Regular summer rates are up to $155 per
night and don't include breakfast.
The 800-room Rosen Plaza is minutes from Universal Studios Florida,
Sea World and Walt Disney World, and 15 minutes from the Orlando
International Airport. Guests of the Rosen Plaza may utilize a TSA
approved remote skycap service to receive airline boarding passes and
check luggage directly from the hotel.
Rosen Plaza Orlando http://www.rosenplaza.com/backtoschool or
800/627-8258.
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Shorter Flights for Fewer Miles - - American Airlines again offers
travel for up to 40 percent fewer AAdvantage miles when booking your
next award. The Short-Hop MileSAAver awards enable members to fly
roundtrip on nonstop routes under 750 air miles one way within the
continental United States and Canada for a reduced number of AAdvantage
miles when booking award travel on the American Airlinesr web site.
Economy Class roundtrip awards are 15,000 miles, a 10,000-mile
savings.
First or Business Class roundtrip awards are 30,000 miles, a savings
of 15,000 miles.
Short-hop MileSAAver awards are available for travel Sep. 1, 2006,
through Feb. 28, 2007.
Getting an award is subject to seat availability and capacity
controls. Seats for award travel may not be available on all flights.
Open jaws are not allowed for this award. Awards are valid for nonstop
short-hop flights operated by American Airlines, American Eagle or
AmericanConnection airlines.
Sample short hop markets include city pairs such as: Dallas to St.
Louis or Denver, Chicago to Atlanta or Toronto, Miami to
Raleigh/Durham, Los Angeles to San Francisco and Boston-Washington
Reagan.
American Airlines http://www.aa.com/shorthops
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Give a Jaguar -- An Amber Jaguar
The remarkable face of a jaguar is hand-carved onto a lovely piece of
cherry amber that's 33mm x 20 mm in size. The dramatic pendent hangs on
an ultra-chic 18" natural-colored leather necklace cord with a sterling
silver clasp. Boy will this turn heads.
High-style boutiques and jewelers charge $500 or more for this glam
piece. It's yours for only $125 plus shipping & insurance. Order at:
http://www.3ajewels.biz, click on the amber category.
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Platinum Hotel for $129 - - You can visit the new Platinum Hotel and
Spa in Las Vegas, just off the Strip, without breaking the bank, as the
hotel offers suite rates from $129. An added enticement, Nevada
residents who book during this time receive a 25 percent discount on
food and beverages, and spa treatments.
You can stay in one of the hotel's deluxe suites with fully
furnished living rooms, kitchens, and private terraces. The 255 suite
hotel offers views of the Strip and the Sunrise Mountains. All units in
the 17-floor high-rise include large living rooms with sofa sleepers,
fully stocked kitchens, and private terraces. Rooms include 42"
wall-mounted plasma HDTVs, electric fireplaces and whirlpool baths.
The $129 per night rate at The Platinum Hotel and Spa includes:
accommodation for two in a deluxe one-bedroom suite, fr.ee use of the
fitness studio, fr.ee tea and coffee in suite and fr.ee newspaper
delivery.
Prices are valid through Oct. 31, 2006 and based on availability.
Platinum Hotel and Spa http://www.lvplatinum.com or 877/211-9211.
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Factory Tours Open to Public - - Tom's of Maine, a producer of natural
personal care products, now offers tours of its Sanford, Maine
production facility (27 Community Drive,
Sanford, Maine). The company likes to welcome people and to show off
products in its green, state-of-the-art, wind-energy powered facility.
You can stop by and enjoy fr.ee samples. Kids receive a fr.ee coloring
book.
Tours are offered Monday through Thursday at 9:30, 10:30, 1:00, and
2:00, and Fridays at 9:30 and 10:30. They take around 45 minutes. The
last day for 2006 tours is Friday, Sep. 1, 2006.
Reservations are required. Call 800/367-8667 or stop by the Tom's of
Maine Outlet Store in Kennebunk to make a reservation in person.
Tours are not recommended for children under five years of age and are
not handicap accessible.
Tom's of Maine http://www.tomsofmaine.com/about/tours.asp or
800/367-8667.
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DVT Not Caused by Flying - - Deep vein thrombosis, commonly known as
DVT or "economy class syndrome" is not caused by cabin conditions
on long-haul flights scientists in England say. The findings have
important implications for people who are suing airlines for the death
or suffering from DVT on long-distance flights.
The research is part of a program sponsored by the World Health
Organization, the International Civil Aviation Organization, the UK
Department for Transport, the UK Department of Health and the European
Commission. Scientists state DVT can occur whenever a person sits
still for many hours, and is not caused by factors unique to air
travel. And it is not confined to the cramped conditions of economy or
coach class air travel.
Part of the study involved blood tests on teams of volunteers sitting
for eight hours in a flight simulator at a Royal Air Force base where
they were subjected to reduced cabin pressure equivalent to that at an
altitude of 8,000 feet. The results of the flight simulator tests show
that changes in air pressure and oxygen levels in a commercial aircraft
do not have any effect on increasing the likelihood of a passenger
developing DVT.
DVT is a serious condition in which blood clots form in the deep veins
of the legs, from where they may travel up to the lungs, causing
breathing difficulties. In a small number of cases, the lungs collapse,
leading to heart failure and death.
The UK Department of Health (UKDOH) says that while it is difficult to
be certain what the exact causes of travel-related DVT are, experts
agree that lack of exercise or immobility are major underlying risks.
The risk of DVT is greater in people age 40 or older, people who suffer
from heart or circulation problems, or have a family history of blood
clotting. DVT is more common in pregnant women or women taking the
contraceptive pill or hormone replacement therapy (HRT).
The advice to long-haul passengers is to walk around the cabin when
the aircraft is cruising, bend and straighten the legs frequently while
seated, do upper body and deep breathing exercises to improve
circulation, and drink lots of water during long flights. Long-haul
passengers are advised to avoid alcohol, which in excess leads to
dehydration and immobility, and to avoid sleeping pills which also
reduce mobility.
There is no evidence blood-thinning drugs such as aspirin prevent
DVT. Compression stockings may help reduce the chances of developing
DVT in high-risk groups by improving blood circulation in the legs.
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Fr-ee Fun San Diego -- This savings-packed FR.EE brochure features
almost 40 Fun, Fr-ee Things to do in San Diego. When heading to
Southern California, attend concerts or visit a State Historic Park and
keep that cash in your pocket by knowing what you can see and do for
fr-ee.
To order Fr-ee Fun San Diego for a $1 handling fee, send
an email to in...@onthegopublishing.com with Order Fr-ee Fun San Diego
in the subject line.
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go! Special Miliary Interisland Fares - - Hawaii's new interisland
carrier go! offers reduced fares to military personnel and their
spouses and dependents. Active duty personnel from every branch of the
U.S. military are eligible including the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines
and Coast Guard, as well as active duty members of the Reserve and
National Guard.
go! military fares are $55 one way between Honolulu and Hilo, Kona,
Lihue, and Kahalui. Fares are $74 one way from Hilo to Lihue and
Kahalui, Kona to Lihue and Kahalui, and Lihue to Kahalui. In addition
to these discounts, go! will waive all ticket change fees for these
military fares. These special military rates must be booked via the go!
toll-fr.ee reservation number. Seats are limited and may not be
available on every flight.
go! http://www.iflygo.com or 888/IFLYGO2.
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Bonus Rewards with Red Lion Hotels - - Fr.ee hotel nights add up fast
with Red Lion Hotels' "Stay the Summer" promotion, where you have the
opportunity to earn up to 30,000 GuestAwards bonus points.
With Stay the Summer, you receive 5,000 GuestAwards points for your
first stay, 10,000 for your second, and 15,000 for your third. Members
can redeem points for stays at any Red Lion hotel in the U.S.,
Outrigger and OHANA Hotels & Resorts partner hotels in Hawaii, or for
travel or merchandise awards.
Stay the Summer is valid only for reservations made online at the
chain's web site for stays of two nights or more through Sep. 30,
2006. This offer may not be used with any other discount or promotion
and is subject to availability.
You must be a member of Red Lion's GuestAwards program to earn the
bonus points in the Stay the Summer promotion. You can enroll online.
Red Lion Hotels http://www.redlion.com or the GuestAwards Service
Center 888/606-0563.
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$1,000 Off Viking River Holiday Cruises - - Discover a less-crowded
Europe during the winter when tourists are gone and cities come alive
with holiday cheer.
Viking River Cruises offers $1,000 per cabin savings ($500 per
passenger) on all Danube Explorer cruises in November and December
2006. Prices start from $1,099 per person based on double occupancy and
are valid on new bookings only. The price includes port charges of $84
per person. You must book by Aug. 31, 2006, and must pay in full at
time of booking. The cruise price does not include airfare, air
taxes/fees, or transfers. The holiday savings can only be combined with
the Viking River Cruises past passenger discount.
This seven-night cruise travels along the Danube River between Vienna
and Nuremberg stopping at Melk and Linz, Austria; Passau and
Regensburg, Germany, plus overnight stays in Vienna and Nuremberg.
Viking River Cruises ships carry a maximum of 150 passengers and
feature all-outside river-view cabins, each with a private bathroom,
phone, TV, and individual climate control. Onboard amenities include a
restaurant, lounge, sun deck, bar, and library. Included onboard meals
feature regional specialties and American favorites served in a dining
room with panoramic windows for maximum scenery viewing.
Departures during the last week of November through Dec. 23, 2006,
highlight Europe's traditional Christmas Markets where you can shop for
one-of-a-kind handmade crafts, holiday treats and local souvenirs.
To receive $500 off per person ($1000 per cabin), ask for Offer 09M.
Viking River Cruises http://www.vikingrivercruises.com or
877/668-4546.
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Face-It Luggage Tags -- Your Face on Your Luggage -- There's no
mistaking your luggage with the Face-It Luggage Tag. The durable,
laminated tag displays your face and the phrase "This Face Belongs With
This Luggage."
A Face-It Luggage tag makes it less likely for a stranger
or thief to walk off with your luggage and helps you recognize your
luggage at a glance in hotels or airports. Face-It Tags are also
available for briefcases, portfolio books, backpacks, sporting
equipment, bicycles, musical instruments and more.
Click here to order Face-It Luggage Tags
http://www.onthegopublishing.com/face-it.shtml
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Seniority Privileges at Historic Inns - - In September, travelers 55
and older can get a 25 percent discount at the Historic Inns of
Rockland, ME with its "Seniority Has Its Privileges" package.
Starting at $460, the three night midweek (Sunday to Thursday)
package includes accommodations at the Captain Lindsey House, Berry
Manor Inn or LimeRock Inn; breakfast for two daily; two "Discovery
Coast Museum Passports" with admission to six of Maine museums; two
tickets to Captain Jack's Lobster Adventure Cruise where you can pull
lobster traps and keep your haul or the Maine State Ferry to Vinalhaven
Island, the largest inhabited island in Penobscot Bay.
Guests of Historic Inns of Rockland, ME are offered guided educational
tours with docents of the Maine Lighthouse Museum, a tour of
Rockland's Historic Breakwater Lighthouse guided by Ted Panayotoff, a
private walking tour of Rockland's Historic District with historical
society members, discussion groups about the town's history presented
by historical society members and a tour of the three Historic Inns of
Rockland.
The package ranges from $460 to $705 for single or double occupancy. A
fourth night can be added with the same 25 percent discount.
Historic Inns of Rockland http://www.HistoricInnsofRockland.com or
866/762-4667.
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Best of Barbados Is Back - - The 2006 Best of Barbados savings amount
to $800 per couple or more. The program is available for travel from
the U.S. only and passports are required for travel to Barbados.
The new package provides savings and added value, designed to make
Barbados more affordable during summer and fall. Several hotels also
offer fr.ee accommodations and fr.ee meals to children 12 years old and
under.
A seven night stay starts from $399 per person, based on double
occupancy, and includes airfare. Details of this seven night minimum
program include a $200 per person airfare credit; fr.ee breakfast
daily; first night fr.ee; and a $25 meal voucher per couple for the
Oistins or Moontown fish fry attractions. The savings translate to at
least $800 per couple. There are more than 30 participating hotels and
17 attractions offer a 25 percent savings with the 2006 package. Prices
are in US dollars.
Additionally, visit Barbados during September and you will receive a
bonus of an additional $100 air credit, bringing the total air credit
to $300 per person.
The package is available until Dec. 2, 2006 with black out dates
through Aug.12, 2006.
Barbados Tourism Authority http://www.visitbarbados.org or
800/221-9831.
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50% Off at Swan and Dolphin Resort - - This summer take advantage of
value pricing at the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort in Lake
Buena Vista, FL.
With rates 50 percent off peak-season prices, this makes the Swan and
Dolphin the lowest priced deluxe resort on Walt Disney World property
during this period. Rates start at $159 per room, per night, valid
through Oct. 7, 2006.
The resort features five pools, the new Mandara Spa, a white sand
beach, two health clubs, tennis courts, jogging trails, paddle boat
rentals, 99 holes of championship golf and 36 holes of miniature golf,
17 restaurants and lounges, plus 24-hour room service. If mom and dad
want adult time, kids can experience Camp Dolphin which includes
dinner, Disney movies, arts & crafts, and video games.
Ask for the SDFUN rate plan.
Swan and Dolphin Resort http://www.swandolphin.com or 800/227-1500.
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Protect Luggage with Baggage Guard Seals -- The pre-numbered, one-time
use plastic padlocks are the perfect way to protect your luggage since
they cannot be reinstalled once removed. That feature lets you
instantly know if someone tampered with your luggage. Yet when TSAs at
airports need to inspect your luggage, Baggage Guard Seals can be
easily removed. A package of 10 Baggage Guard Seals is still only
$9.95.
Click Here to Order
http://www.onthegopublishing.com/products.shtml#seals
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First-Class at Coach Prices - - The benefits of flying first class are
well known: bigger seats, getting on and off the plane faster, more leg
room and food. The drawback -- the price. So, what's the travel trick
to flying first class but paying coach prices?
In several words, it's a special type of fare. In the industry,
it's commonly known by its code, YUPP fare. Some airlines use codes
like QUPP and Z. It boils down to all the leading airlines offering a
coach seat with an automatic upgrade or deeply discounted first class.
It can save you a bundle. Consider that a full first-class fare can be
double the cost of a YUPP fare. Recently, we checked a roundtrip flight
from Dallas to St. Louis on American Airlines. The YUPP fare was $278,
full first-class $1,730. The YUPP fare was nearly $1,500 less than a
regular seat in first class.
So the next time you want the view from the front when flying, ask
your travel agent for a YUPP fare. If you buy online, search for a
first-class seat. If a YUPP (or the other similar codes) is available,
the fare will automatically show up as the lowest rate. You can confirm
that by checking the fare class.
In addition to sitting in the front of the plane, YUPP seats are
generally fully refundable and you may get extra frequent flier miles
for flying in first.
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Holland America Early Advantage Discounts - - Book a select 2007
Holland America Line cruise by Sep.15, 2006, and receive up to$1,200
off per person with special Early Advantage cruise fares. Early
Advantage pricing represents 10- to 30-percent off current brochure
fares and is available on more than 250 cruises departing in 2007.
For example with Early Advantage fares, you save up to $1,200 when
booking a verandah suite at $3,899 per person on the August 22, 2007,
ms Rotterdam's 15-day Jewels of Europe cruise. Or up to $500 when
booking an outside stateroom and $650 when booking a verandah stateroom
on the July 30, 2007, ms Westerdam's 10-day Mediterranean Enchantment
cruise.
Holland America http://www.hollandamerica.com or 877/724-5425.
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EU Tightens Tour Bus Rules - - Wearing seat belts will be mandatory in
all European Union member states for drivers and passengers on tourist
buses and minibuses where they are fitted. The new regulations, which
take effect immediately, supplement laws that require wearing seat
belts in private cars.
A European Commission study estimated that using seat belts in all
passenger vehicles could save 5,500 lives each year across the EU.
Currently, the compulsory wearing of seat belts applies only to
vehicles under 3.5 tons. In vehicles with more than nine seats and in
commercial vehicles, it was not mandatory to use seat belts when
sitting in the back of vehicles. The new law makes seat belt use
mandatory in all types of vehicles that are fitted with them. It also
specifies that restraints suitable for children must be available and
used by kids under four-feet tall in cars and in tour buses.
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Cheap Tix Chart -- Buy Tickets at a Discount -- Special ticket outlets
sell discounted day-of-performance tickets to theater productions,
films, and sporting events. Discounts can be 50 percent or more. On The
Go Publishing's Cheap Tix Chart, still only $14, lists outlets in the
U.S. and eight foreign cities that sell discounted, day-of-performance
tickets.
Click here to order
http://www.onthegopublishing.com/products.shtml#tix
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Martin County "Stay Fr.ee" Program - - Martin County, a vacation
destination north of Palm Beach, FL, offers a "Stay Fr.ee Day Three"
getaway package. Through Oct. 31, 2006, book a reservation for two
nights and get the third night fr.ee at participating hotels, based on
availability.
Participating properties include bed and breakfast inns, studio
apartments, riverside cottages, deluxe boutique hotels, motels,
oceanfront condominiums, golf villas, and luxury marina and beach
resorts.
Activities within the county include fishing and boating, designer
golf courses, water sports from surfing to snorkeling, eco-activities
like hiking, biking and paddling, historic attractions, and some of
Florida's best dune-lined beaches, all with fr.ee parking.
As an added bonus, the new Sailfish Saver program offers discounts at
local stores, restaurants and attractions.
Martin County, FL http://www.martincountyfla.com or 877/585-0085.
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Half-Price Rooms in Montserrat - - The Vue Pointe Hotel on the
Caribbean island of Montserrat is refurbishing its bar and restaurant
this summer and fall. During that time, the hotel will be open to
overnight guests and rooms will be half-priced, from Aug. 1 to Oct.
15, 2006.
Rates will be $60 per night (including 20 percent taxes and service
charges) for a cottage with a kitchenette. Rental jeeps from the hotel
will be offered at the reduced rate of $40 per day during the
construction period.
Vue Pointe Hotel http://www.vuepointe.com/ or 664/491-5210.
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Gathering in Gatlinburg - - article and photos by Nicki Chodnoff
The change seems instantaneous. No sooner do you drive past Applewood
Farmhouse Restaurant at light 10 on the Parkway, then the concrete
stops and the trees start. You leave behind the many shops and
attractions of Gatlinburg, TN and are on your way to Great Smoky
Mountains National Park and some of the most enchanting scenery east of
the Mississippi.
If nature's is more appealing than Gatlinburg's man-made
attractions, the park is a must-see. The most visited of the national
parks, about 11 million people visit each year, it's the only national
park that doesn't charge an admission fee.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park straddles the crest of the Great
Smoky Mountains for 71 miles. Part of the Appalachian system that lies
on the North Carolina-Tennessee border, the mountains are the highest
range east of the Mississippi and one of the oldest on earth.
The national park has more than 800 miles of hiking trails and maybe
as many waterfalls, given its 2,000 miles of running water. These
rugged mountains were once sacred to the Eastern Band of the Cherokee,
who called them shaconage, or "blue like smoke." The mountains'
name still reflects the smoke-like haze that envelops them. If things
look more smoky nowadays, it may be air pollution from outside the
park. In less than six decades, average visibility has been reduced by
40 percent in winter and 80 percent in summer. Despite the pollution,
the mist gives the mountains an aura of mystery.
In addition to its national park designation, Great Smoky Mountains
National Park is also an International Biosphere Reserve because of its
variety of plant and animal life. More than 90 percent of the park is
forested, and a quarter of that is considered old-growth where huge
trees form a dense canopy, shading the many mosses and ferns that live
on the forest floor.
Each season offers its special beauty as the park boasts 1,500
flowering plants and more tree species than Europe. Along the roads and
trails, dogwood and redbud blooms show off their splashes of white and
pink against the fresh spring green of newly emerged leaves in spring.
Flashes of yellow, white and purple punctuate the forest floor as wild
flowers such as trillium and violets awake from their winter hiatus.
They are a prelude to the vibrant June blooming season for
rhododendrons, mountain laurels, and azaleas.
Despite the millions of visitors, you still get a special tingle when
you gazed from Clingman's Dome, the highest point in the park at
6,642 feet above sea level or the dramatic overlook at Newfound Gap at
5,048 feet. In all directions, you'll see acres upon dark mysterious
acres uninterrupted by highways and hills rippling in blue and gray
pleats.
To get your bearings, start a park visit at Sugarlands Visitor Center
where a video explains the park's and region's history. The central
theme of the video presentation is the park's protected wilderness.
The narrator informs there are "No buildings, no neon signs, no
chain saws or motor vehicles." If that isn't enough, there is also
information on programs and activities and displays of plants and
animals found in the park such as wild turkey, white-tail deer, red
spruce and deciduous beech.
Park Ranger Tim Cruze said 95 percent of visitors to the Great Smoky
Mountains stray little from their vehicles. Most stick to the small
number of paved roads. Many see the park through the window of one of
the hundreds of tour buses that come to the park. Though you may
encounter traffic and crowds, you can see much of what the park offers
from your car. Along the main mountain roads and scenic drives you can
spot wildflowers, flowering trees, mountain vistas, historic buildings
and spectacular fall foliage.
Newfound Gap Road (U.S. 441), the main road across the mountains,
doubles as a scenic drive. Other park roads such as Cherokee Orchard
Road and Laurel Creek Canyon Road link you to the park's nature and
self-guided trails where abandoned buildings unexpectedly appear. The
fragile buildings barely seem to hold their own against the encroaching
forest that devoured most of the once-open fields.
Some of the finest examples of meticulously restored pioneer cabins,
farm buildings, mills and churches are found at Cades Cove, a valley of
open fields circled by mountains. The families that used those
structures were bought out to create the park. An 11-mile loop with
winding, steep and narrow portions, circles the cove. Special
"bicycle and pedestrian only" hours are scheduled on the loop
during the summer.
If you seek solitude, ditch your ride and backpack into what some call
the greatest wilderness in the eastern United States. According to
Ranger Tim, the most popular activities in the park are hiking and
sightseeing. Though the park sprawls for 800 square miles, most of it
is inaccessible by car or truck. Away from people and cars, it's easy
to imagine how this country looked before European settlers arrived.
For the less adventurous, nature and solitude are as close as pulling
off the highway at one of the "quiet walkways." With parking for
only a few vehicles, you can walk along a trail and see waterfalls,
rapids, streams, wild flowers, and mostly importantly, barely any
visitors.
After a park visit, Gatlinburg, a town of 3,700 people surrounded by
forests, meadows and misty blue peaks, provides some diversion. A creek
even snakes around River Street, close to tourist attractions on the
Parkway, the main drag through town that leads to the park. Each
traffic light along the Parkway is consecutively numbered. Locals and
brochures reference traffic light numbers in directions, such as, "go
to traffic light four and make a right." The simple system makes it
easy to get around.
In spring, before the summer onslaught of tourists, traffic on the
Parkway was as slow as mid-town Manhattan during rush hour. Taking the
Gatlinburg trolley is an easy way to get around town and the national
park as the trolley stops at more than 100 locations. Around town
routes are .50 cents. You can also hop on the trolley and visit
Gatlinburg's nearby community of artisans and shops for just $1 (April
through December). The $1 fare provides unlimited trolley access along
the route. The national park route, $2 roundtrip June through October,
includes stops at Sugarlands Visitor Center, Laurel Falls parking area
and Elkmont campground. The fare is $1 each way for the
Dollywood/Pigeon Forge trolley. Exact change is required for all
trolley rides.
Gatlinburg is a study in contrasts. Almost like the midway at a
perpetual state fair,crawling along the Parkway you'll pass a wedding
chapel, Mr. Tablecloth, the Mountain Mall, the Donut Friar, Ripley's
Believe It or Not! Museum, and the Guinness World Records Museum. There
seems to be an endless supply of miniature golf courses, t-shirt
shops, game arcades and tattoo parlors. Yet among this collection of
kitschy attractions, you can find a gem like Ripley's Aquarium of the
Smokies and collector-quality crafts.
For an overview, the Gatlinburg Sky Lift and Space Needle give you
lofty views of town and the mountains. The sky lift glides over the
Little Pigeon River and then climbs to the 1,800 feet overlook. The
Space Needle is a 1970 landmark with an elevator that slowly inches its
way 342 feet up for an open-air, 360-degree view. At street level,
there's an arcade with the ususal games plus pool tables, laser tag
and air hockey.
Not much publicity is given to the area's Appalachian arts and crafts,
yet there is enough to satisfy the most picky collectors. North of the
Parkway, along Glades and Buckhorn Roads, there's an eight-mile
driving loop with the studios and workshops of 80-some artists and
craftspeople. In addition to that crafts community, the Arrowcraft Shop
on the Parkway, features the work of well-known Tennessee artists,
weavers, jewelry-makers, stained-glass experts and potters.
Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies is a surprising find. The most
impressive part is their moving walkway which slowly shuttles you
through the world's longest underwater aquarium tunnel. During the
trip, you're surrounded by 12-foot sharks, moray eels, stingrays and
other sea life swimming above and beside you. At several points, you
can step off the walkway to spend more time at a select spot. Other
attractions include piranhas in a rain forest, a place to hold a
horseshoe crab or touch a sting ray and watch the hourly dive shows.
Sweet Fanny Adams Theater is hokey and silly, but you can't stop
laughing. The area's only alternative to country shows will show
you a good time. It's original shows are quick-witted, funny, heavy in
audience participation and filled with the silliest of slapstick. Two
new original comedy shows are presented on alternating nights
throughout the season.
For more information about Gatlingburg, TN, contact the Department of
Tourism & Convention Center http://www.gatlinburg-tn.com, 800/568-4748
or the Great Smoky Mountains National Park http://www.nps.gov/grsm,
423/436-1200.
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Silky Travel Jewelry Roll -- A must have for travelers. Our silky
travel jewelry roll comes in a random assortment of single-color
jacquards, solid colors and two-color brocades.
This handy travel jewelry roll measures 8 1/2 x 11 inches when
open and closes to a compact 8 1/2 x 4 inches. Our exclusive design
offers a place for everything with one deep pocket, a ring bar and
three zippered compartments.
Price $40. Order at
http://www.onthegopublishing.com/products.shtml
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FlyAway to LAX - - LA's answer for busy travelers, the Union Station
FlyAway bus service that connects downtown Union Station to the city's
main airport, LAX. The service is four month's old and rider-ship
keeps increasing.
Because the bus uses high-occupancy-vehicle lanes, the FlyAway shuttle
takes about 40 minutes during peak traffic periods to travel nonstop
between LAX and Union Station. It picks up incoming, downtown-bound
travelers on the arrival level and drops off departing travelers and
their luggage to the appropriate terminals. The 20-mile ride costs $3
each way for adults, $2 each way for children ages 2 to 12.
Union Station's transit hub connects with bus, subway and rail links
so travelers can reach destinations throughout Southern California or
take these links to reach LAX. FlyAway buses leave from Berth 9 at
Union Station East Portal/Patsaouras Transit Plaza. Buses leave Union
Station or LAX every 30 minutes on the hour and half-hour from 5 a.m.
to 1 a.m. and every hour on the hour from 1 a.m. to 5 a.m. Parking at
Union Station is available at the Gateway Center Garage at $6 for 24
hours with a 30-day limit.
The FlyAway service is also available in the San Fernando Valley
departing from Van Nuys. The FlyAway Bus Terminal is located at 7610
Woodley Ave. Parking at the terminal is $4 per day with a 30-day limit.
Los Angeles World Airports http://www.lawa.org
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Had a good experience on a plane recently? Stumbled across the perfect
place to stay, eat or drink? Tell us about it, email us at:
travelne...@aim.com
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PLEASE NOTE: All links are sent as clickable links. Some email programs
such as AOL, Yahoo, & Hotmail change the links so that they are not
clickable.
If you have problems clicking on a link, just copy and
paste the link into your browser.
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CURE & CLEAN NATURALLY -- Throw out your harmful toxic disinfectants,
cleaners, bleaches and insecticides! Cure and clean with the world's
safest all-natural sanitizer, Hydrogen Peroxide. You don't need to
spend a fortune on fancy store-bought preparations with their "secret
ingredient" that turns out to be Hydrogen Peroxide. Get more than 30
powerful recipes using Hydrogen Peroxide as a foot soak, cold and flu
killer, plant protector, and pet purgative for only $2. To order, send
an email to: cpven...@hotpop.com with Order Hydrogen Peroxide Cure in
subject line.
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READING THIS AD? THEN WHY NOT PUT YOUR AD HERE! Reach more than 180,000
travelers who want to learn about your services or products. Get the
scoop and reserve your spot today at http://tsalerts.freespaces.com
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Live Among the Locals -- Forget about staying in a boring hotel. Live
among the locals in a house or flat. Coach House London Vacation
Rentals offers short term central London rentals with more than 60
properties that sleep from 2 to 12 people. Each rental comes with a
neighborhood guide, breakfast provisions for the first day or two of
your stay, a telephone help line, and what to do and see. Coach House
London Vacation Rentals http://www.rentals.chslondon.com
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NATURE'S MIRACLE PRODUCT -- in today's computerized world, we're
still using a product discovered by chance more than 10,000 years ago
-- VINEGAR!! Throw out toxic cleaners and insecticides that pollute!
Save money and save the environment by using vinegar, one of the
world's safest, all-natural products. Get more than 150 powerful
recipes using vinegar for cooking, health care, gardening, pet care and
household uses for only $4. To order, send an email to:
cpven...@hotpop.com with Order Vinegar Care in subject line.
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EASY IMMIGRATION TO NEW ZEALAND -- Thinking about making New Zealand
your part-time or permanent second home? It is fast and easy! Read the
'New Zealand Immigration & Relocation Report' and transform your future
today. Wake up to a new life. http://www.nzpassport.com
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Gambler's General Store -- The world's largest gambling superstore with
slots, video poker, dice, craps, roulette, books, software and more.
Gambler's General Store http://www.gamblersgeneralstore.com or
800/322-CHIP.
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FR!EE PEARL Necklace & Bracelet -- Direct from a famous jewelry
workshop. Limit 4 necklaces and 4 bracelets per person. ACT RIGHT NOW.
Click here to order http://www.a-bargain.9cy.com/
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DINNER AT 35,000 FEET -- What meals will you get on your flight? See
behind the scenes at airline catering. Preview first- and
business-class menus and pictures of actual airline meals, photographed
and contributed by passengers. More than 330 airlines represented.
http://www.AirlineMeals.net
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RVShark, the online recreational vehicle publication features raw
reviews of RV parks based on real RVers' experiences. RVShark includes
RV for sale listings and an RV parks for sale section. RVShark is
fr.ee. http://www.rvshark.com
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Herd ostrich, ride horses or gather eggs at a family farm in
Pennsylvania, the relaxing alternative to a camping vacation. The 25
family farms roll out the red carpet for families and are found in all
corners of the state. Pennsylvania Farm Vacation Association
http://www.pafarmstay.com or 888/856-6622.