AOL Travel Ideas

Five things to do if you're stranded on a snow day

Jen A. Miller — 2011-01-28T12:14:00+00:00

Winter weather might be about snow angels and hot chocolate - but only if you're at home. Storms leave thousands of passengers stranded in airports, train stations and random hotels across the U.S.

Here's five things you can do if you get stuck:

1. Make Friends. You're not the only one in a place you'd rather not be. So make friends with your fellow strandees. You can share information, commiserate, or just share a drink with another stranded soul.

2. Contact your hotel. If everyone is stuck, your hotel might want you back. See if they're offering any discounts or deals to their guests snowed in or out. If they're over booked, have them work the phones for you, too. They know it can mean you come back to them on your next trip.

3. Extend your stay. If you have the flexibility, re-book for a few days from now, and further explore the area you're in. Even it's only an extra day or two, you'll avoid the massive rush back to the airport or train once things are running again, and learn something new about a different part of the country.

4. Movie marathon. Not much different than you'd do at home - though stream it through your laptop if you have Netflix, or find where you can get movie rentals close to the hotel so you'll avoid the pricey fees for in-room flicks.

5. Snow it. If you can't beat it, join it. Who said you need to be in your own backyard to make a snow angel?

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Fun Places to Get a Sugar Fix

Jen A. Miller — 2011-01-20T14:30:00+00:00

Filed under: Food + Drink

dbking, flickr

Got a sweet tooth? Here are four places in the U.S. to satisfy that craving - in a fun, colorful way.

PEEPS & Company Retail Store

Holy PEEPS, Batman! This store, which is based in National Harbor, Maryland (a very pretty place to visit indeed) is completely dedicated to that yellow marshmallow chick - and all its colorful counterparts since they're not just for Easter anymore.

IT'SUGAR

Get your sweet tooth fix at one of these (bizarrely punctuated) candy shops. They have three big, bang blow out stores in the U.S. (Los Angeles, Atlantic City, and Myrtle Beach) and dozens of smaller "sugar rush" and "sugar fix" shops around the world. If you go to the one in Atlantic City, make sure to check out the replica of Lucy (a 65-foot wooden elephant from neighboring town Margate) made entirely of jelly beans.

caspermoller, flickr

Dylan's Candy Bar

Founded by the daughter of fashion dude Ralph Lauren, Dylan's Candy Bar is a candy store for grown ups. Not that it's X rated, but it's made with adults in mind. The latest location to open inside the Grande Traverse Resort & Spa in Michigan is 1,300 sq.-ft. of pure confection: 18-foot chocolate wall, 100-bin bulk candy display, 21 flavors/colors of M&Ms, 24 flavors of Jelly Belly Jelly Beans, Lollipop trees that are over three feet tall, which are only topped by an eight foot Chocolate Bar Tree. Other locations include New York, NY; Garden City, NY; East Hampton, NY; Orlando, FL; and Houston, TX.

david.nikonvscanon, flickr

M&M'S World

There is more than one M&M'S store in the world, but we're focusing on the one in Times Square because it's insane - in a good way. M&M'S everywhere throughout the 25,000 sq.-ft. store, along with shirts, lunchboxes, hats, and anything else you can imagine bearing the M&M'S name and faces of those sweet round guys from their television ad campaign. Other locations are in Las Vegas, NV and Orlando, FL. Yum.

For even more sweet treats, see the Top 10 Candy Destinations in the US

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Tourists Go Home: What the Locals are Really Calling You

Jen A. Miller — 2011-01-13T12:30:00+00:00

Filed under: Weird

Seth W., flickr

Travel is a good thing. It gets us away from our desks, pumps money into local economies and exposes us to new cultures and adventures. But for the locals of a particular area, tourists can be a nightmare. Would you want to live in a spot that's overcrowded with outsiders who don't always care what they leave in their path? So, locals have come up with names for whatever breed of tourists frequent their towns. If you hear any of these terms, realize that you might have overstayed your welcome.

goodrob13, flickr
Jersey Shore: Shoobies/Bennys
If you're visiting Atlantic City and south, you're a Shoobie. North? Benny go home. Shoobies are so named because, as the legends go, Philadelphians used to come down the shore on day trips with their lunch in shoe boxes. Bennys means "Bayone, Elizabeth, Newark, New York" - the people who come to the shore in the summer and trash it and its reputation. No, it's not really like on that MTV show. Really.

suewaters, flickr
San Francisco: Fog Hogs
These types are easy to spot because they come to San Francisco in the summer dressed like they're ready for a day at the beach. However, San Fran can be cold and chilly in the summer. Wrap up so you don't stick out.

bluebirdsandteapots, flickr
New England: Peepers
These are the people who drive in droves to peep at the changing colors of fall leaves. While used a lot in New England, the term could technically apply to any place with great foliage. I got swept up with Peepers when at a friend's wedding in Aurora, New York. But, you can't blame the locals for wanting them to get off their country roads.

HBarrison, flickr
Williamsburg, Virginia: Tourons
I don't really need to explain that one to you, do I? If so, consider yourself a touron.

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Grab a Cold One at U.S. Beer Festivals

Jen A. Miller — 2011-01-05T09:00:00+00:00

Filed under: Food + Drink

tnarik, Flickr

Over your New Year's hangover? Good, because it's time to get sudsy. If you haven't been to a local beer festival, make it a resolution for 2011. They're a great way to tap into the craft beer explosion that puts mega brewers to shame. Here are five places to start:

Zwickelmania
Zwickelmania isn't a festival per se. It's more of an open house during which dozens of Oregon breweries welcome in the public. The free event is state wide, so, no matter where you are in Oregon, you can tour your favorite brewery and test their wares . Check the website for a good map to guide you.

Kona Brewers Festival
As if you didn't already need to an excuse to go to Hawaii, this would be a good one. You might not have guessed there were so many breweries on the islands, but the Brewers Festival, which brings together local brewers and chefs, will school you. The event also includes a 5k and a 10k race, golf tournament and a home brew contest. Aloha indeed.

Atlantic City Beer Festival
Spend some quality time down the shore by heading to the Atlantic City Beer Festival which showcases over 75 American and international brewers and breweries. Visitors can buy tickets to one of three sessions where they can sample brews from the likes of Troegs, Flying Fish and Magic Hat. Plus, the event's location is a short walk from the Boardwalk, and all the pleasures and vices Atlantic City has to offer.

Beer City Festival
Check out downtown Asheville, North Carolina with a beer in hand and tune in your ear at the Beer City Festival. The festival is co-sponsored by the Asheville Brewers Alliance, which has over a dozen members - not a bad number considering Asheville isn't a huge town. Still, it's been named Beer City USA three years running, and you can try the best of its brews at this summertime festival.

The OC Brew Ha Ha
Forget what you've learned about Orange County from The OC, or those housewives shows. These guys can throw a beer fest. The OC Brew Ha Ha features over 100 kinds of beers from over 50 Southern California breweries. Even better? It's also for a good cause. In memory of 9/11, a portion of the proceeds benefit the Fallen Fire Fighters Relief Fund and other charities.

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Top Spots For Goofy Travel Photo Fun

Jen A. Miller — 2010-12-30T13:52:00+00:00

Filed under: Best Of

ghewgill, flickr

Taking the goofy tourist photo while you travel is a staple when chronicling your adventures. Here's five top places that you just can't pass up the opporunity for a little photo fun.

Steve Montgomery, flickr

Leaning Tower of Pisa: There are a few ways to take a goofy picture here. The first is obvious: hold the tower up. Second is a picture of all the other people pretending to hold the tower up-the lawn in front of the tower is littered with them. (Someone may even be taking that picture of you!) The third option is something that would make adolescent boys giggle - or the adolescent boys hiding inside the grown up males who pose like this giggle. And, no, I'm not telling you what it is. It's pretty obvious, right?

Stinkie Pinkie, flickr

Gateway Arch: Never will you look so powerful than holding up St. Louis' 630-foot tall Gateway Arch. Use both hands full the full effect, please. Take a moment to enjoy the look on others' faces as they pretend to exert all the effort needed to keep the thing upright.

ghewgill, flickr

Blarney Stone: More than 300,000 people a year kiss this stone, located in Blarney Castle, right outside of Cork, Ireland. It is said that, if you kiss the stone, which was put into the castle in 1446, you're supposed to get the gift of gab - eloquent speech and the ability to flatter. It's up to you whether or not you want to kiss a stone touched by the lips of that many people, but it does make for a goofy shot.

gavinj1984, flickr

Hollywood Sign: Even if you're not traveleing to Los Angeles to make it big in show biz, this is a must do photo-op for anyone passing through. Strike your best movie star pose and let the fabulous soak in. Bonus if you're wearing Ray Ban Wayfarers - a la Tom Cruise in "Risky Business."

bgarciagil, flickr

Cell at Alcatraz: A notorious federal penitentiary from 1934 to 1963, Alcatraz is now a tourism site, located on an island in the San Francisco Bay. Of course you can pose behind those infamous bars. The best picture, though? Put your kid in inside and pretend to throw away the key.

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Gift Guide for Travelers

Jen A. Miller — 2010-12-17T22:51:00+00:00

Filed under: Tips & Tricks, Best Of

Looking for the perfect gift for the avid traveler? Or maybe a gift to make your holiday trips a little easier? Check out these items on our travel gift guide. These are perfect items to spend those holiday gift cards on too!

For the Rugged Traveler: SailorBag Sailcloth Duffel
Wheeled bags have their downsides. They add too much weight, and they're not great for traveling in old cities. That's why rugged travelers would love the SailorBag duffel bag. Made of sailcloth, they're durable and machine washable. Bonus: the bags come with a lifetime warranty. Consider having it embroidered for that personal touch.

For the Connected Traveler: Case-Mate covers
There's nothing worse than losing your phone while on vacation - except breaking one. That's where Case-Mate covers come in. Made to fit iPhones and iPads, they protect your stuff while you're on the road. Covers in the quartet line are made of four different plastic pieces that snap together, and come with six pieces so you can switch up your phone's look.

For the Traveling Family: Scrabble Flash
Trying to keep the kiddos occupied while on the road/plane/train? Try Scrabble Flash, which speeds up and shrinks down this classic Hasbro game. Instead of the old fashioned tiles, each player gets five electronic tiles that keep track of words and points. And, instead of putting words down on a board, players get 75 seconds to make as many three, four and five letter words from those tiles as they can. It's light, portable, fun, and OK for ages eight and up.

For the Green Traveler: Vapur Bag
We know plastic bottles are terrible for the environment, but if you don't want to carry a metal water bottle, what can you do? Try a Vapur Bag. It's a BPA free, reusable container that holds your drink, and when you're done, collapses and folds for easy packing. Oh, and it's washable and freezable too.

For the Frequent Flier: FlightBoard App
If the traveler in question knows the inside of some airports better than the inside of their own home, get them the FlightBoard App. It turns the iPhone or iPad screen into the arrivals or departures board at any of over 4,000 airports. It shows real time what you'd see if standing in front of an airport flight board. Perfect for checking on connecting flights, or staying up to date on changes in flights of the airport you're at without having to get up and check. Did we mention it's cost effective, too?

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Silver Screen Cities: How Movies Boosted Tourism

Jen A. Miller — 2010-12-08T11:45:00+00:00

Filed under: Best Of, Arts & Culture

hey tiffany!, flickr

Movie locations aren't just pretty backdrops on a screen. You can visit a lot of the spots that provided the scenery for some of our most beloved - or reviled - films.

Here are five of our top picks. If you'd like to plot more points on your cinematic trip -- especially if you're starting in Los Angeles -- pick up "Hollywood Escapes" by Harry Medved and Bruce Akiyama, which is stuffed with movie locations you can visit within an hour's drive of Tinseltown.

Place: Forks, Washington | Movie: "Twilight"

ewen and donabel, flickr

This region of Washington State has seen such a tourism boom from the "Twilight" films that the local chamber of commerce started their own Forks Twilight website mapping out the sights fans crave. Even though most of the "Twilight" movies were filmed in Oregon, Forks has still become a Twi-hard destination.

Must do: Take the Twilight Tour. For $39, you'll see all the Vampire goodness (or badness?) that Forks has to offer.

Place: Cleveland, Ohio | Movie: "A Christmas Story"

Steve Snodgrass, flickr

"A Christmas Story" is a classic. Who can forget the Red Rider BB Gun, the leg lamp or the tongue stuck to a pole? The movie has given a tourism bounce to Cleveland, where it was filmed. The Christmas Story home is in the neighborhood of Tremont, and has been restored and opened to visitors.

Must Do: Visit the house, of course, but also make sure to go to the "A Christmas Story" House Museum, which is located across the street.

Place: Philadelphia | Movie: Rocky

hey tiffany!, flickr

For anyone facing a challenge, Rocky bounding up the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art is the perfect inspiration. Go at almost any time of the year, any time of the day, and you'll see copycats running to the top of the stairs, which offers a stunning view of the city.

Must Do: Even if you aren't up to running, make sure to get your picture taken in front of the Rocky statue at the foot of the stairs. Or pick up a copy of "Rocky Stories", which tells the stories of why people have traveled thousands of miles just to run those steps.

Place: Estes Park, Colorado | Movie: "The Shining"

travlinman43, flickr

You might not want to exactly reenact the horror movie "The Shining," but you can experience the creep of the Stanley Hotel. Stephen King stayed at this Estes Park hotel and used it as inspiration for the book that became the movie. Even though the movie wasn't actually filmed there, the Stanley Hotel has become a tourism hot spot for horror fans and those who believe the dead live among us.

Must Do: Take the Stanley Hotel's historic ghost tour, where you'll learn about the history of the hotel and its connections to "The Shining." For only $15 a pop, it's worth the visit - if you dare.

Place: Las Vegas | Movie: "The Hangover"

Håkan Dahlström, flickr

Las Vegas is no stranger to tourist or movies ("Ocean's 11," "Swingers" and "Diamonds are Forever" are just a few that have been set there), but "The Hangover" brought the "What Happens in Vegas Stays in Vegas" slogan to a new cinematic level. The Las Vegas tourism folks even told me that requests for the mega suite at Caesar's Palace that was used in the film - you know, where they wake up with a chicken and a tiger - have shot up.

Must Do: We could tell you, but as the saying goes...

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Re-Banked: The 5 Best Bank Replays

Jen A. Miller — 2010-11-29T22:50:00+00:00

Filed under: Best Of

Olaf, flickr

If you've actually walked into your local bank branch, you probably weren't wowed by the architecture. Blandness? That's all I've seen lately when looking beyond the ATM.

That wasn't always the case, though. Banks used to be a big deal, using exquisite architecture to relay feelings of safety to customers depositing their hard earned money.

Many of those grand buildings have been repurposed into something else. Here's five spots that have done the bank replay right:
B.A.N.K., Minneapolis, MN.

Minneapolis has long been a hub of Midwestern banking. Have you ever walked through downtown on a bank holiday? The place is deserted.

But, next time a bank holiday rolls around you can eat in a former banking center. In 2007, the restaurant B.A.N.K took over the Farmer's Mechanics Building - a stunning example of art deco architecture built in the 1940s. Set under a gorgeous 34-foot vaulted ceiling, this is 200-seat restaurant with 75-seat bar and lounge occupies what used to be the banking floor. Murals depicting farming scenes still ring the walls, and former banking offices are now private dining rooms.

MUST DO: Sit at the Chef's Teller Counter. The 40-foot long dining counter that used to be the work station of bank tellers, now overlooks B.A.N.K.'s open kitchen.

Ritz-Carlton, Philadelphia, PA.

The lobby of the Ritz Carlton wasn't built with that purpose in mind. Built between 1905 and 1908 and made of 9,000 tons of Georgia marble, it was once home to the Girard Trust.

There isn't any banking going on under the building's massive 101 foot dome ceiling anymore, but it's worth a visit even if you're not staying at the hotel. One of the best people watching spots in the city; it's just steps from Philadelphia's City Hall.

MUST DO: Have a drink or dinner at 10 Arts Lounge, the hotel's restaurant-especially if you're a Top Chef fan. Chef de Cuisine Jennifer Carroll was a season six fan favorite and will appear on the upcoming All Star season.

Olaf, flickr

Lancaster Quilt & Textile Museum, Lancaster, PA.

Stop rolling your eyes. This stuff is interesting. The Lancaster Quilt & Textile Museum showcases exquisite examples of hand made art, most done by the Amish who live in the Lancaster area.

Plus, you can gawk at the building itself, too: Built in 1913, this Beaux Arts building with a 64 foot barrel vaulted ceiling is the former home of the Lancaster Trust Company. The bank didn't have a long life, however. It failed during the Great Depression and stood empty until it was restored in 1982.

MUST DO: Check out the "Family & Friends: Quilts and their Connections" exhibit. This exhibit closes on New Year's Eve.

Hotel Le St-James, Montreal, Canada

This luxury boutique hotel (it has only 60 rooms and suites) lies in the heart of Montreal's financial district. That's because it was once the Merchant's Bank building, originally constructed in 1870 - right around the time Montreal began expanding into a major port city. In 1899, four more stories were added to the top of the building. Fortunately for us, the hoteliers don't hide the building's financial history in the renovation, and the hotel rooms and suites are banker opulent.

MUST DO: Hit Le Spa for a hot stone massage, and make sure to look around you. Le Spa is located in the bank's former vault.

Mickael Casol, flickr

Keeling-Schaeffer Vineyards Tasting Room, Willcox, AZ.

The actual Keeling-Schaeffer vineyard is in the foothills of Arizona's Chiricahua Mountains, which is where the tasting room was, too. Now wine lovers can get their fix downtown Willcox, where this local winery opened up a tasting room.

The location they chose used to be the Willcox Bank and Trust Building, built in 1917. The wine library and tasting rooms are in what used to be the bank's vault, no doubt a nice place to keep cool on a hot Arizona day.

MUST DO: Taste Keeling-Schaeffer's Rhone-style wines, of course. The tasting room is open Thursday through Sunday from 11AM to 4PM. Tastings are $5 and include a glass you can keep.

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Credit vs. Debit Cards for Travel

Jen A. Miller — 2010-11-15T11:41:00+00:00

Filed under: Tips & Tricks

JoshuaDavisPhotography, flickr

Debit cards are a popular method of payment for a reason: they offer quick access to cash and are as convenient to use as credit cards, and don't come with the added temptation to splurge on something frivolous. It's no wonder more people are using debit cards over credit cards now.

However, debit cards are not always the best choice, especially when traveling. Here are three reasons why credit cards can be the safer travel option.

1. Debit cards offer less protection if stolen or cloned.
If your credit card is stolen, you're only liable for a max of $50. That's it. You're out the cost of a nice dinner for one.

On the other hand, if you don't report debit card fraud in time you could be on the hook for everything.

According to Federal Trade Commission, you're liable for $500 if you find the fraud and report it within two business days after it happened. You could liable for everything if you don't catch the fraudulent activity and report it before the 60 day mark.

2. Debit card fraud could wipe out everything
This gets even worse if you have more than one account. "If someone gets access to your bank account through your debit or ATM card, they can wipe out your entire account," says Gail Cunningham, spokesperson for the National Foundation for Credit Counseling. "And even scarier, if you have that account associated with another account, say your savings account, so you never overdraw your checking account, it can just keep coming out."

3. You're making a big purchase -- and shipping it home.
If the item is lost, stolen or never arrives, you can contact your credit card company to cover the damages. American Express, for example, will repair, replace or reimburse for anything up to $1,000 per occurrence, up to $50,000 per account per year. Just make sure you find out the card provider's damage protection policy BEFORE going on your trip. That way, you can use the card with the best protections in mind.

We're not leaning entirely in favor of credit, though. Here are three situations in which debit could be the right choice.

1. You don't have access to credit.
Credit isn't always an option for everyone. Maybe you're maxed out, had your credit limits slashed or had a card canceled on you during the recession. Some of you may be too young to have a credit card now that requirements for getting one are stricter than ever for the younger set.

If this pushes you down the debit card path, make sure to sign for all your purchases instead of swiping and using your pin number to authorize the charge. That way, no one can look over your shoulder to steal your pin.

2. You're on a tight budget.
If you've overspent in the past, or just want to stick to a tighter budget, using a debit card can help. Once the money is used and gone, it's gone. The temptation to run up charges to your credit limit is gone when you realize you have to adhere to the specific number in your bank account (even if the $2,000 Italian leather jacket is awesome -- we bet you won't miss it when you get home).

3. You don't want to hold cash.
Being able to pull money out of an ATM means you're not carrying around a big wad of cash for your entire trip. Plus, ATM cards can give you favorable currency exchange rates if you're traveling overseas.

Our suggestion if you are going to bring your debit card when you travel: lock it up when not in use. If your room doesn't have a safe, ask for it to be locked in the hotel's safe.

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