The Travellers Warehouse

I never leave on a trip these days without taking my Airborne along especially if I fly through the friendly skies. During the last few years each time I flew I would come home with a cold or just not feel very well. There are those who would chalk it up to jet lag or some other travel phenomenon. Airborne was developed by school teacher Virginia Knight-McDowell when she no longer wanted to fall victim to second grade germs. Some may find that it doesn’t work that well for them, but it does for me. Another thing that always goes with me is a light, non-habit forming sleep aid. Equate is the one I use. I found it at Wal-Mart. Sleeping in a strange bed is always hard and it does seem to help. Of course, anyone needs to read the labels and make sure there is nothing in the formula that might have an adverse reaction. What works for one person is not always right for someone else, and a doctor might need to be consulted.

There are other things a traveler can take along with them like Chamomile tea bags. I also look for smaller sample products when going on a trip. The nice thing about that is that you can leave them behind if you run short of room in the luggage, and it leaves more space to place small gifts for friends and family back home.Traveling is supposed to be fun and trouble free. Getting a cold and a fever really puts a snag into an otherwise pleasurable trip. Sometimes, it can’t be helped—like the time my friends and I took turns getting infected with a nasty form of flu found only in Caracas. Certain countries in South America, Mexico, some areas in Asia and Africa need special attention. Before traveling to these places check with the U.S. State Department for latest updates on health and political conditions. They always have up-to-date advisories.

Some years back I went to Ghana and one advisory warned that buying food in some supermarkets could be risky. They suggested that if food needed to be bought that it be purchased from a street vendor because it was likely to be fresher. But, even then one does need to be cautious.I have always been pretty careful about food consumption when traveling to other countries. It is also a good idea to check and see if the country has its’ own water treatment plants. A good rule of thumb is to stay away from fruits and vegetables that grow along or under the ground. In some places contaminated water is used to irrigate the fields. Something like watermelon or cantaloupe is probably alright because the fruit comes encased in a thick skin. At best, make sure that items like carrots and beets are cooked almost to death.

Once in Bogota I ate beets which looked like they were cooked, and in fact, they were marinated. This was one time I really got sick. It pays to know someone who lives in the area when something like that happens. There is no better source than a local resident who deals with these types of issues all the time. My friend took me back to my room and sprinted down the street to the local market and came back with several large South American papayas. Papaya in those areas can be eaten safely because it has a thick covering. It should, however, be eaten right away. My friend surprised me by bringing all the seeds in a bowl and told me to chew them up. This did actually help along with some supplements another friend gave me. I was lucky. If someone gets a really bad case of food poisoning, especially if it is a child or an older person, they should go to a doctor. Following are some other tips that will most likely help to keep a globetrotter healthy. Other tips may appear throughout this website.

• Wash the hands. Yes, it is simple but effective.
• Drink a lot of water. These days bottled water can be purchased almost anywhere.
• Antiseptic wipes are a good, cheap investment.
• Bed sheets are more likely to be cleaner than blankets in a hotel room. Travel experts suggest that the sheets should closest to your face.
• An N95 mask is carried by some travelers. I never use one myself, but it could come in handy if someone is just recovering from a cold and does not want to pick up other maladies from fellow plane passengers.

Check out these websites for more information.

• www.cdc.gov/travel
• http://www.healthytraveler.com/

So travel healthy — practice these travel health tips and really enjoy your trip!

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A few years back when Northwest Airlines decided to re-vamp their frequent flyer program it turned out to be a boon for me. I had a lot of Northwest miles racked in their World Perks frequent flyer program. There was a wonderful opportunity to go to China. When I called them to check out what I could do with my credits they told me that because of the new changes I had enough to get me to Hong Kong with one intermediate stop either in Manila or Tokyo. I grabbed the chance to stop in Tokyo for a few days and then fly on to Hong Kong. From there, along with friends, I took another airline to Beijing. The trip consisted of the stuff that dreams are made of because I bothered to ask the right questions, and it saved a lot of money.

Frequent flyer programs were originally started by some airlines as a promotion, and they have evolved into standard features on most airlines. They include partnerships with foreign carriers, hotels, car rental companies and some cruise ship lines. For the avid traveler these programs are well worth it. I have a friend that got her credit card through a special program where miles were credited to her frequent flyer account. This helped when she wanted to visit family members across the country, and take trips to conventions.

Check and see if the hotel accommodations share a contract with any airline frequent flyer programs. If they do, your visit could give you more miles in a program. Also, some hotel perks might include late checkout, free breakfast, and in some cases an upgrade to a better room. Many car rental firms also have special considerations on frequent flyer promotions that could get customers a larger car without having to wait in long lines. It is good to check and find out exactly what is covered in the program.

Most programs are pretty good. Some, of course, are better than others. The best thing to do is find out where an airline flies. Do they go where you want to go? Business travelers may have different criteria because sometimes a company will send an employee to a lot of different places. Even if an airline does not fly to your preferred destination they may have a partner who is part of their alliances that do. Maybe an airline has alliances with several partners and the frequent flyer miles might be interchangeable. Airlines do make the rules regarding a frequent flyer program and they can change it any time they want to. So, it is good to periodically get updated information. Here are some other tips to remember about frequent flyer programs.

• I always keep my cards with me because I never know when I might need them. It is always good to have them on hand when checking in. When the reservation was made the agent should have made inquiries about a frequent flyer number. Make sure that it shows up on your itinerary or ticket when you check in.

• Check out all the alliances in the program including hotels and car rentals before you leave home.

• Redeeming miles is usually very simple, but keep in mind that there are blackout dates where the frequent flyer program cannot be used or unusual restrictions apply.

• If you can afford it, and a ticket is not too expensive, opting to spend the money and adding miles to the account may be the better way to go.

Flying used to be exciting and a lot of fun. I loved the days when families or friends could meet me at the gate, and the airline served meals as part of the travel package. In those days we called it good service. Today very few airlines have these services available on domestic flights. Passengers pay for everything except coffee and soda. These days I take my own snacks on board or have a meal in the airport or I eat before leaving home. The meals served on most airlines are not worth the price. I don’t pay for anything extra when I fly. Crossword puzzle books, novels and yellow ruled pads for writing out manuscripts have become standard carry-on items for me. Some people carry their laptop computers while others use the time in the air as a chance to catch up on sleep rather than shell out more money for poor service.

The seats on most airlines today leave a lot to be desired. In order to save money the designers put in smaller seats with less backing and very little leg room. Let’s face it—ordinary people like you and I are forced, as a rule, to fly Economy Class. Once in a while we get lucky and end up in First Class.

Check the information about the advantages of your frequent flyer program if you belong to one. Airlines may be able to provide a loyal patron of the program with better seating arrangements. It still may not get the traveler into First Class, but could get them into choice seating in the Economy section.

There are tips from seasoned travelers on how to make a trip more pleasant and trouble free. Of course, it is best to do your homework beforehand, and in some cases it is best to use an agent. Being a member of the American Automobile Association (www.aaa.com) can really help when planning a trip. Membership depends on the type of plan you need. I have a Primary Membership in the AAA Plus Plan, and it runs $76.00 a year. Members receive special consideration when using any of their services and the discounts they provide do help on any domestic trip. AAA has a special travel division, and the agents can give good tips on air travel.

Another very good source of information that I have found is on the travel site at the MSNBC website (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/ ). Christopher Elliott is a Travel columnist and a regular MSNBC contributor. He talks about creeping delays. He writes: “Have you ever sat in a terminal – or worse, on a plane – and been assured by a bored voice on the public.

“It’s called a creeping delay. Airlines used to do their best to prevent them because they drove passengers quietly mad. But this year, strangely, creeping delays have been re-imagined as a tool to deflect the anger of air travelers and divert attention from the incompetence of air carriers. With each update, another party is blamed for the delay: air traffic controllers, the weather, lack of available gates. By the time the flight actually departs, passengers are so confused that they don’t know where to direct their wrath. Mission accomplished!” He goes on to point out that the traveler does not have take this condition lying down. Do your homework. Check the airline website, call the airline and don’t be afraid to ask questions. Learn something about the Traveler’s Bill of Rights. In cases like this the airline may owe you a meal and a hotel.

I wish I had known more about the Contract of Carriage provisions when being stranded in the Pittsburgh airport all night a few years ago. Their excuse was that several big conventions had come to town and they could not put us up at a hotel. The problem stemmed from the fact that there was a very real security issue when coming out of another airport and passengers missed their connecting flights. Flyers can find out more about the Contract of Carriage on the airline website. Read the fine print.

Sometimes travel is funny. You get a deja vu experience when arriving to a new place — that you just can’t explain. You know the landmarks, you know the people, occasionally you even know what they are going to say or what they are going to do. It is an amazing feeling to remember places you haven’t visited.

Sometimes this is because you have dreamed the experience before it happened. I remember going to Chicago, long ago — and having parts of the trip feel like I knew exactly what was going to happen before it happened. It was eerie and exciting all at the same time. About halfway through the trip I figured out that I had dreamed it before. Yet, still I watched the dream become a reality. It was an odd feeling — partially due to the fact that I was 15 at the time. Yet, it helped me know that dreams CAN come true and I could avoid some problems if I took the dreams forewarning.

Another travel adventure was in Japan. The Shinto Garden I visited in a small town so familiar and comfortable. It felt like I had been there before – though it was my first trip to Japan. I think I felt like I knew what I would see before I saw it — but it’s been long enough time ago, that I can’t be certain. I believe this was a past life recall — but would have a hard time proving it to someone.

Traveling opens up a whole new world of experiences. Some try to have recollections like these– others just want an explanation as it is so different than “normal” life. If you are one of these people who want more insight into experiences like these, I recommend Past Lives, Dreams, and Soul Travel. It will help you understand these experiences more fully. Perhaps, if you desire you can have these experiences too.

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When thinking about travel, we often want to include our whole family — even our pets. Cats and dogs can travel easily if you are well prepared. You can even take other types of pets too. Yet, sometimes the task seems daunting — how does one go about traveling with pets on a family vacation?

Considerations For Traveling With Pets

* Will Your Pet Be Welcome?

When flying to Hawaii or destinations outside the US, often a pet needs to be held to guarantee that the pet does not have rabies or infectious diseases. For Hawaii, the minimum quarantine is 5 days and can last up to 120 days. So before embarking on a trip, be certain to make sure you can actually have your pet be able to stay there. As laws change, verify current restrictions before traveling anywhere with your pet.

* Flying With Pets

Most airlines will take at least some pets. However, the rules are different for each airline. In general, it costs extra to bring your pet. One consistent theme is that smaller cats and dogs are easier. Some require that they are brought on as air cargo, others will let smaller animals be stowed under your seat. Be sure you have a Airline Certified Pet Carrier that fits your pet according to the airline’s requirements. If you have a large pet (like a large dog over 100 pounds), you may need to drive if you want your dog to be with you.

* Staying In A Hotel With Your Pet

More and more hotels are allowing their guests bring along their pet. To find such a place go to: Hotels.com and click on the search for Amenity and Landmark. Choose the pets allowed option. Doing this search is an easy way to compare hotels that accept pets.

* Are There Things To Do With Your Pet?

Now that you have arrived at your destination, you will want to make sure you can actually do something with your pet. Just because you can fly and sleep at your desired destination, doesn’t mean that you can do everything you want to do with your pet.

Restaurants and parks are getting to be more pet friendly. Disneyland allows you to keep your non-poisonous pet at their daytime pet care kennel but not in the park itself. Other places are getting more friendly towards pets, but be certain to check before you head off.

* Is it Within Your Budget?

Just because there are amenities to accommodate your pet, doesn’t mean it won’t cost extra. Make sure to calculate the differences in price to make certain that it is worth the extra effort you will be expending.

Once you decide your pet is going with you, all it takes is some planning — and you are on your way to a fabulous trip.

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Being prepared for travel at anytime makes traveling easier and less stressful. Whether you need to travel for work or play, having the ability to travel anywhere on a moments notice is a wonderful feeling. So what do you need to do to be fully prepared? Here is a handy list to help you:

Get A Current Passport

As of October 1st, the US is removing it’s Travel Accommodation that has been allowing people back into the US without a passport. This means, now more than ever, you need to have a passport on hand! If you have never gotten a passport, here are instructions from the US Passport Office. It is actually quite easy. You need 2 pictures, proof of citizenship and a photo id. Unfortunately, it often takes longer than you want, even with express handling — so getting it early saves you time and money.

Great Luggage Is A Must

This sounds pretty obvious, but if your luggage was damaged on your last trip, or you want to only use carry on to avoid having to check in your luggage, getting luggage is a must. A Hovercraft Wheeled Underseat Tote can be carried on the airplane easily. It is very versatile. If you are going on a business trips often, a Samsonite Carry-On Upright Suiter will do everything you want with ease.

Small Toiletries

With the new airline rules, having those 3 oz or smaller toiletries can make a huge difference of time spent in the airport. By being able to travel via carry on you can literally save an hour in some airports. Just put them in a small 1 quart ziploc bag and you are ready to go! Read our article on Travel, the TSA and Security for details and needed links. As policies often change, we highly recommend you checking the official website before you travel.

Travel Can Socks Help

If you aren’t used to walking alot or going on airplanes, getting travel socks can make a world of difference between a comfortable day and one filled with discomfort. Travel Legwear with Smart Compression can help you feel energized after a long plane ride. For people with diabetes or circulation issues, socks like these make a huge difference.

Knowing Who Will Watch Your Mail And Pets

Having a list of people to call to watch your mail, your pets, and perhaps your plants can make your life easier. Then when you are in the midst of packing, you only need to pick up the phone rather than figure out who to call. If you want to take your pet with you, there are other arrangements — but having a backup plan, just in case, is wise.

With planning your trip can be very smooth and easy — and that much more enjoyable!

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Generally speaking a vacation will be what you make it, and there is no reason why booking a budget vacation means that you cannot have the kind of vacation that you want.

The most common way of finding a budget vacation is by looking on the Internet or in agencies for last minute deals. I’ve found that www.lastminute.com is a good place to start. Sometimes you can get an excellent package deal at last minute that you would NOT have found earlier.

Many people think that by booking a last minute budget vacation, they will be limited on choice and location. In some cases this can be true, but not always. It is worth thinking about the vacation that you want before you look at the vacations available. That way you are less likely to be disappointed.

You can often set your mind at rest by doing some of your own research on the area before you book. There are many online reviews written by people who have stayed in the resort that you will be staying at. One thing to bear in mind when reading some of the reviews, is that while they can be a useful way of knowing where not to go, people often do not write about vacations that they have enjoyed. However, this can be very useful if you are looking for something specific. For example, you may not want a busy club resort for a romantic getaway for two.

When you are booking your vacation, make sure that you know exactly what is included in the price. If you will be staying in a hotel, see if it includes breakfast and if so, what kind. Some resorts even include all meals. Check before you go if it is important to you.

Check if transfers are included. If they are not included, you will need to look into the cost and availability of either taxis, limo service or a rental car.

When you are booking any budget vacation, create realistic expectations. Many people are disappointed with their vacations simply because they put too high and unrealistic demands on them. You may have saved hard for this vacation, but you need to be realistic in what the purpose of the trip is. If it is for a week or two of total relaxation, then make sure that you choose a quiet resort. Again, research the area well before you book.

One of the benefits of booking a budget vacation is that it is often possible to stay at hotels that you normally would not be able to afford to stay in, at a knock down price. A typical 2 week stay at a four star hotel may be on sale on a budget vacation website for the normal price of a stay in a three star hotel. To get these deals you often need to be flexible on dates and resort, but they are worth pursuing if you like a bit of luxury at a budget price.

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Sometimes, people skip taking a much needed vacation out of fear for how much it will cost. However, a vacation doesn’t need to be pricey. By following some simple guidelines, you can save money with a little planning ahead.

This doesn’t mean you need to go camping (unless you want to) or stay at a hostel. You can save money even if you want to stay at 4 star hotels or play at a fancy gold resort.

A common tip is, if possible, schedule your vacation at least 2 weeks in advance, preferably a month as generally prices will be lower. Though this isn’t always true, it is true more often than not. Additionally, if you can leave and/or return on a Tuesday or Wednesday, travel costs are often priced less.

Saving Money on Lodging Tips

Simple planning can make a huge difference on how much you pay for your lodging. The first step in saving money on lodging is to compare hotel rates. Is there a hotel down the street that has better room rates for the same features that you want? Comparison shopping over several sites can help. One of my favorites is Hotels.com as it compares many hotels at once. I’ve gotten great deals there.

Once you choose your hotel, you will want to compare rates within that hotel. Are you really going to looking at the beach from your room — or are you going to be spending time on the beach instead? Pay premiums only for features you will actually use. If you aren’t going to look at the beach from your room, you could use that money for something else.

Saving Money on Dining Tips

Eating out for every meal and every snack can be very expensive. You can lessen this expense with planning:

(1) Research Restaurants before you leave on your trip. By knowing price ranges you can budget or plan appropriately. If you know certain restaurants are out of your price range, skip going to them — or see if you can get a coupon before hand. Most cities will mail you a free visitors guide that contains useful information on what to see and do. Often these also contain money saving coupons. As the restaurants are putting them in the magazine to encourage you to visit them, it is recommended to use these free gifts if you would go to the restaurant anyways. It will give you money for other things.

(2) Save Money on Snacks and Drinks: At the beginning of your stay, see if you can stop by a grocery or convenience store for snacks, drinks, and things you have forgotten. If you go to one outside your hotel it is usually much less expensive. Having some nuts and drinks on hand, often is both more convenient and less expensive.

(3) Usually Avoid Room Service. Room service tends to often have a large added fee. If you really want to eat in the room, often you can order from local restaurants with free delivery for much less. Of course, you’ll want to compare prices, but I have found this to be much more affordable.

(4) Make your Own Breakfast? If you aren’t a big breakfast eater, you may want to buy fruit and cereal and eat them in your room. Consider bringing a hot pot if your room doesn’t come with a coffee pot, so you can make coffee, tea, and possibly hot cereal.

(5) Eat Before The Airport. If your schedule allows it, often you will get higher quality food for less, if you eat before going to the airport.

Saving Money On Rental Car

First, decide if you need a rental car. If you are only going to and from the airport, paying for parking is not as economical as taking a taxi. On the other hand, a rental car is often key to seeing everything. If you really want a rental car, compare rates. Often rates vary widely. Occasionally they are even higher rates with a coupon! Consider rental cars that are not on the airport property as they often are much less a day. If you are staying a week or longer, this can save you lots of money. Fox Rent A Car car is one such company.

Possible Package Deals

When traveling, especially last minute, using a package deal can be cheaper. But again, you have to compare prices of the options individually AND if you will use all options. If the package includes a rental car and you won’t use one, it may actually be more expensive. One place to price is www.lastminute.com They usually have extremely competitive prices. Save money on travel while going where you love!

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Th reasons I decided to set up a site for people who love to travel as much as I do is because there is so much to share, and so much to learn from others.

There has never been a time in my life when my feet did not have the itch to travel. When I was small I kept my mother busy looking all over for me. The world was a big place and I wanted to see it all. It was always a challenge to see what was over the next mountain or beyond the next horizon.

It is no wonder that my favorite magazine was the National Geographic. I used to read all of the wonderful articles that told about world cultures and famous landmarks. I could actually see myself standing in front of Westminster Abbey, and Buckingham Palace or St. Peter’s Cathedral in Rome. Everything interested me. At that time I did not realize that all my daydreaming would actually come true. My family didn’t have a lot of money. My father was a miner with six children, and my mother an average American housewife. Dreams do come true.

Then in a college marketing class students were supposed to put together a whole publicity campaign, and present it to the class. My subject was Travellers Warehouse. This happened before the Internet explosion where so much data was literally available to everyone. So, now I can carry that vision into reality. I don’t have to open up a store, or pay for expensive advertising to get my points across. This is a much better way of presenting pertinent travel information, and a whole lot quicker.

There are a number of things I would like this website to do.

1. Provide information about up-to-date travel changes that affect all of us who get on a plane, train, boat, or decide to drive in order to arrive at a distant location.

2. Education. It is good to learn as much as possible about the areas to be visited. I do a good amount of research before going to a another country. It helps a person fit into the local surroundings better, and makes any visit in another part of the world more enjoyable. So, on this website there will probably be some book and article reviews with tips on how to learn more.

3. Provide tips to make a trip easier. How does a family travel together? What can be done to make the trip easier?

4. Furnish links for all types of travel information. This can save a lot of time for the trip planner. It takes a good deal of time to surf the Internet. It would be nice if a lot of information could be accessed from one place.

5. I hope to furnish links to various sites where someone can buy travel supplies at a discount. Perhaps a budding hiker is going on a trip with a group of more experienced outdoorsmen. The group may have some good leads for equipment purchases, but it would be nice to check out other avenues without having to surf the whole web.

The other day after having breakfast with a friend, we went into the hotel gift shop, and picked up a little book called The Itty Bitty Guide to Business Travel. This book can fit nicely into a purse or a traveler’s pocket. It is ideal for the young person embarking on a corporate career after finishing college. There is a whole section in this little gem of a book on “How to Pack Like You Mean Business.” This section would help any traveler. It covers how to pack various types of bags: roller bags, duffle bags and garment bags. This little book would be a great tool for new travelers. There is an old saying, “Great things come in small packages.” There is a lot of information really jam packed into a small space.

I always look for more information that I can pass on to people about the wonderful world of travel. That is the heart of this website.

References:

The Itty Bitty Guide to Business Travel by Stacie Krajchir and Carrie Rosten.

San Diego, California! It’s my town! Well-known because it is the jumping off point into Mexico and the Baja Peninsula, the town is home to the famous San Diego Zoo, Sea World, Lego Land, The Wild Animal Park and the lodging of Presidents and Kings, The Hotel Del Coronado on the island on the southwest side of San Diego Harbor. In addition to all of that San Diego has one of the most congenial climates in the world. Normally, it doesn’t get too hot or too cold. The city lays about 100 miles south of Los Angeles, and Disneyland in Orange County is approximately 45-50 miles away. In addition, San Diego is home to most of the United States Military Pacific fleet.

The Port of San Diego has a huge repair facility for the ships that can be viewed from the Coronado Bridge, and Cabrillo National Monument. Coronado island is where naval recruits are trained for duty. Today, a good portion of San Diego’s military personnel is serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. Camp Pendleton is one of the largest military training areas in the United States.

So, how did it all happen?

Just north of the city is La Jolla, California, one of the most elite and exclusive communities in the Western United States. A little further north on Torrey Pines road (which becomes Highway 101) is the famous stretch of beach known as Torrey Pines State Park. Besides sporting some of the most beaches in California the Park is full of hiking trails for outdoor enthusiasts.

East of San Diego the old mining town of Julian is located in the Desert Mountains that separate San Diego from Palm Springs, California. Julian is known for its’ unique shops, and its wonderful homemade apple pie.

Escondido, which is North of San Diego just off of Highway 15 is the site of the Lawrence Welk theme park.

Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo discovered San Diego in 1542. He was an interesting character. No one knows for sure where he was actually born, or where he is buried. He was a wealthy landowner and shipbuilder who also loved the art of discovery. After landing at San Diego, and doing some exploration, he and his crew continued up the California coast. He sustained an injury on the voyage, and died January 3, 1543. His crew went ahead and finished his work by exploring the whole coastal regions all the way up into modern day Oregon.

San Diego was an area that had only a few houses until 1790 when the population jumped to 200 people. At that time the remained small and there were no homes on the present day site of Old Town. Settlers did not settle in this particular area until 1820.

San Diego struggled as a community, and did not really start to grow until after the Mexican-American War when California was ceded to the United States in the final treaty signed by both U.S. and Mexican leaders. In 1846 the American military moved into San Diego, followed by the Mormon Battalion in 1847. Then in 1848 gold was discovered in Northern California, and the gold rush that followed caused a marked increase in the population all over the state.

San Diego struggled as a community, and did not really start to grow until after the Mexican-American War when California was ceded to the United States in the final treaty signed by both the U.S. and Mexican leaders. In 1846 the American military moved into San Diego, followed by the Mormon Battalion in 1847. Then in 1848 gold was discovered in Northern California, and the gold rush that followed caused a marked increase in the population all over the state.

Today San Diego is the 7th largest city in the United States. Lindbergh Field, the international airport is located on the bay near the downtown area. It is named after Charles A. Lindbergh because the first leg of his historical trans-Atlantic flight originated on North Island on May 9, 1927. He flew from San Diego to New York before making his epic journey to Paris. Palomar Mountain in North San Diego County is home to the famous Hale telescope, and is one of the finest astronomical locations in the Western Hemisphere. Old Town remains a unique shopping and business district visited by many thousands of people each year, The original San Diego Presidio which lies just above Old Town has been turned into a public park, and all along the main waterfront area several historic ships have found their final resting place. This collection is one of the worlds’ finest with The Star of India as the center of attention. The exhibit is hosted and maintained by the San Diego Maritime Museum.

A quick 30 minute drive south is Mexico. Tourists can take also take the San Diego Trolley down to the border. A special pass is needed to cross over into Mexico. By the end of 2008 anyone returning from Mexico will need a passport or special documentation Keep in mind that border regulations are must stricter today than they were a few years ago.

A nice way to see the whole west coast is to ride the train. The Amtrak train station is in downtown San Diego, and has rail service all the way to Seattle, Washington. Travelers would probably need to transfer somewhere on the route in to travel further than Northern California. Amtrak has several different service routes, but there are two that are the most popular. The Pacific Surfliner service goes as far north as San Luis Obispo. The Coast Starlight Service goes from Los Angeles to Seattle.

There is plenty do in San Diego and, for the most part, doing it in beautiful weather. Surf, hike, see the giant pandas and enjoy the easy life of San Diegans for a while.

San Diego! My home turf.