Day-Cation — Travel at Home

Let’s face it—sometimes you just don’t have the funds to hit the road and go on vacation. Stay-cations are big right now – but how about some day-long options more adventurous than exploring local museums and finding a new indoor water park?

Turn off your TiVo and take a day to see your home in a new way.

You don’t have to go abroad to skydive. From Milwaukee to Kansas City and beyond,

http://www.skydiveorange.com/tandem4-300-400.jpg

companies offer skydiving excursions to see your city from a new level. Lightening your wallet around $200 a pop, tandem jumps in the good old US of A are a lot cheaper than the dive I took in the Swiss Alps.

Not just for Spring Break any more – try zip lining near you. Enjoy the outdoors while experiencing an adrenaline rush. This adventurous option has chances for you to participate in states like Indiana, Wisconsin and Ohio – which is, in fact, the Midwest’s largest. Set aside around $75.

If you’re looking to save some time or even more money – or you just have a free afternoon on a rainy day – Google your local indoor rock climbing location, round up some friends for a round of bowling, find out if a local business offers horseback riding lessons, or even pick up some funny postcards from your hometown. I know my parents find it both funny and thoughtful when they get a corn-covered card from Iowa. It’s all about the Fields of Opportunity, baby.

Photography – Maintain your Memories

Last post, you told me why you travel. Memories and new perspectives were a common thread through your comments.

And one way to keep the vacation going after getting home is photography. (There’s a reason no one makes photo albums of everyday events.)

To make the best of your snapshots, follow these three simple tips:

1.)  Make your pictures pop. Follow the rule of thirds – make the subject of your picture one third or two thirds of your picture — and put them right on the gridlines (see below). Or for a landscape, fill the photo with two thirds of the land you’re admiring.

Rule of Thirds Grid

2.)     Balance people pictures with those landscapes. If you look back on photos, you won’t necessarily remember what that pretty church is, but pictures of people make the best keepsakes.

Friends and I in Cinque Terre, Italy -- smiling with the beautiful background

3.)    Keep them forever – in a photobook. Save 20% on a Shutterfly photo book until April 14, 2010. (Promo code: APRIL20)
 Or head to Snapfish and get $10 off purchases of $30 or more. (http://birthday.snapfish.com/)

I hope these three simple tips can keep your pictures pretty and your memories preserved for years to come.

Do you have any tips to share?

Why Travel? Experiences Mean Memories.

Last night, I was at a Tyrone Wells concert. Toward the end, he got to talking about being alive – remembering that life is not infinite.

And one of the most meaningful parts of life is travel.

So why travel? Why create experiences beyond the bounds of home?

Allison’s Aussie Adventures: Student Spotlight #3

Allison Hoppe, this week’s spotlight, is studying abroad in Perth, Australia.

http://nickpark.com/image/Australia/perth/perth_australia_map.jpg

When she returns to the United States, she will be a senior at the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee. But until then, she’s enjoying her adventures.

Take a look at her amazing photos and the stories that go along with them.

This is Fiji, on an island called Beachcomber.

“It was paradise! We took a boat there for day, and spent the day on the beach swimming in the clearest water I have ever seen. The waves played with us and the heat was unreal! You couldn’t stay in the sun for more than a half our without leaving to go get water to drink. We went snorkling there and met people from all over the world. You could stay the night there but we only paid for the day. In the middle of the island, there was a hut with loads of beds under one roof in one room. They gave us a buffet lunch, which was delicious, and provided us with the most beautiful scenery.

Celebrity Sightings

So yesterday my friends and I ran into Miley Cyrus in IT’SUGAR in LA. And no, we didn’t take a picture. Have you ever had any celebrity sightings when traveling? (And did you take a picture?!)

The interaction went like this:

Me: “Is this a line, or is that [points to other line] just the line?”
Miley: “I don’t know.”

Hollywood's Walk of Fame -- Where Miley Will Never Be.

Wow.

Another question: Is Miley really a celebrity? Or just someone famous with a catchy song, famous dad, and kind of strange speaking voice?

Either way, LA is glorious.

Suitcase on Spring Break

Spring Break is next week. And those bags aren’t going to pack themselves.
Or should I say that bag. Singular.

With new baggage restrictions and luggage fees heftier than the suitcases themselves, packing light is essential. Check out these tips inspired by onebag.com. And make that bag a carry-on.

Take a vacation from luggage stress.

Why?

Security: If you’re with your luggage at all times, it can’t get lost, and it’s much more likely not to get broken.

Price: Cut tons off your total bill by forgoing the luggage fees. (Air Tran makes you pay $15 for a suitcase. For Delta, it’s $23.)

Flexibility: Flight changes, delays, and complications are just made more complicated when your suitcase is aboard the plane that just took off – without you.

Lisa in Alicante: Student Spotlight #2

This week, I am featuring Lisa Myers. She is a Drake University sophomore spending her spring semester in Spain.

http://www.holiday-villa-spain.co.uk/images/map.jpg

“I am studying in Alicante, Spain.  With my program, we get to take a lot of trips to various places around Spain. This picture was taken in Granada, inside of a center where there used to be plays. I’ve had so much fun with my new friends exploring a new country!

In Barcelona, we visited a park that had a lot of awesome sculptures. It also had the longest bench in the world! It was made of tons of different colored broken tiles pieced together to make a bright and colorful mosaic. It overlooked the city and was a lot of fun to sit on. I wished I could have had all of my Alpha Phi sisters sitting there too!

Spring Break: Travel on the Cheap

Spring break is coming up in a few weeks.

As if you don’t have enough projects, planning and stressing to do.

Turn that vacation anxiety into excitement – -seriously, it’s spring break — and find the best way to utilize those nine days off.
Even if you have to stay in the snowy Midwest.

Your Destination?

Friends’ Colleges
With varying spring breaks, odds are you have a friend from home that’ll still be at school when your spring break freedom finally arrives.

Not that kind of greyhound...

If you don’t have a car, try the Greyhound – they offer 20% student discounts. (Ex: Chicago to Minneapolis would only lighten your wallet about $22 with discount.)
Amtrak offers limited stops but student discounts as well.

Out of State
Try Student Universe. Name says it all.
Also, STA Travel plays nice with students, offering travel help and decent fares. Both in the country and…

Long distance relationships

Let’s face it – a lot of travel in college revolves around relationships.

With Valentine’s Day approaching, here are some tips to make a long distance relationship work –
or at least make it fun for now:

1.) Road Trippin’: People across the pond make weekend trips to other countries. Why not over here? Find a friend that wants to go where you’re going – no matter how far. Split the driving time and quit your excuses – just bring some homework to do along the way.

2.) Meet Me Halfway: Cut that distance in half and meet in between for a fun weekend just the two of you. If you’re with the right person, even a tiny Midwestern city can be an adventure.

Galway Girl: Student Spotlight #1

Starting today, dear college travelers, I’ll feature stories by current study abroad students every other Monday.
Take a moment and enjoy the fresh perspectives and amazing experiences — and feel free to contact me with any questions about studying abroad.

Check back on Fridays for more informational posts.
Like how not to get tricked into travel plans. Or how to travel from your couch.

This Monday, I’ll start with Kelsie Sherman.
She’s a Drake University junior studying this year in Galway, Ireland. Yes, that’s right — all year.

“Studying abroad has been simply the most exhilarating time of my life.
The experience was so unbelievable that I had to extend my term abroad to a full academic year.

In the photo, I’m paddling off a fall on the River Bunduff
in County Donegal, Ireland. At the beginning of the semester, I joined
the National University’s of Ireland, Galway’s Kayak Club. After
learning skills every week, the club took a massive amount of people
on a kayak trip where we paddled a river and that waterfall. These
kayakers have become my good friends out here in Galway and are a huge
part or why I wanted to return so badly.