visit us online at www.viamag.com
Take the road less travelled. visit us online at www.viamag.com
Take a sneak peek at our moodboard and what we have to offer you this month!
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6 MAY 2011
TABLE OF CONTENTS
18 30 40 52 10 12
Features FIND NATURE WITHIN AN URBAN JUNGLE THE STEEL ROAD LESS IS MORE IN THE PLUM PIT
Departments TRAFFIC JAM 4 Games for Long Trips
CONCIERGE Hidden Gems in the City
64
ROUND TRIP
66
HITCHHIKING
Wisconsin Wine Trail
Travel on a Budget
“Without new experiences, something inside of us sleeps. The sleeper must awaken.”
– Frank Herbert
VIA MAGAZINE
➡
Round Trip Contributors
VIA MEANS “TRAVELING THROUGH (A PLACE) EN ROUTE TO A DESTINATION.” WE HOPE FOR OUR YOUNG READERS TO DISCOVER THEMSELVES THROUGH ADVENTURE. VIA means “traveling through (a place) en route to a destination.” We hope for our young readers to discover themselves through adventure. WE want you to learn the difference between “direct” and “nonstop” flights, and always opt for the latter. We also want you to make sure you buy your ticket under the your name that also that appears on your ID. It might seem obvious to you that Betsy is a nickname for Elizabeth, but it may not to a skycap, a desk agent, or a security officer�any of whom could ask you to show ID. OTHER passengers might be able to nab those seats 24 hours before the flight, but we hope to teach you you can get the same price as those last minute passagers, without the worry or stress of last minute purchases. Get to your gateway city as early as you
8 MAY 2011
can. “Since delays stack up as the day progresses, it’s smart to book the first flight you can into a hub [if you have a connecting flight],” says Dunnagan. hope you learn all of this and more in your VIA magazine and get to experience the less travelled roads in a more unique way. Let us know how we are doing and check out out at via.com
WE
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> AMANDA Traveling Hobo “When you come to a fork in the road…. take it”. Claire is our fashion and budget director and gives VIA magazine style.
> CLAIRE Fashion & Finance “Adventure is out there!” Claire is our fashion and budget director and gives VIA magazine style.
> LAURA
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Life Experience “Home is where your rump rests.” Laura is our life experience editor and consultant, and adds life to VIA.
> LAUREN Day Tripper “It is not down in any map; true places never are.” Lauren takes VIA on everyday adventures.
VIA MAGAZINE
Round Jam Trip Traffic >>
FAVORITE STAFF GAMES FOR TRIPS
4
We didn’t lose the game; we just ran out of time. –Vince Lombardi
for long trips
10 MAY 2011
WHEN YOU FIND YOUR DRIVER DOSING AT THE WHEEL OR YOUR BEST FRIEND BECOMING AN ANNOYING BACKSEAT DRIVER, START ONE OF THESE CLASSIC GAMES.
1.
Alphabet Game
Start from the beginning of the alphabet. The first person will pick a letter and find a word or object starting with that letter. The next person must first say the previous letters and their corresponding word and then add the next letter and word. Move as far as you can through the alphabet.
3.
Liscense Plate
Each person in the car looks for a license plate on a vehicle where the digits on that plate add up to, or exceed 21. For example, a license plate XFABC89L5 would total 22. You can either play that the person who exceeds 21 and has the highest total wins the round, or you could stick to the game of exceeding 21 anng word and then add the next letter and word. Move as far as you can through the alphabet.d being the closest to 21.
2.
Funny Names
The following game uses a mix of real life city names that are funny, odd, or outright strange. The object of the game is to make up two or three funny city names and then include them with one real city name. Have the people in the car try to guess which name is actually the name of a real city. We have a printable sheet of funny names that we found mostly in the United States.
4.
Yellow Truck
You must play with more than one person. The goal of this game is to spot every yellow vehicle on the road and call out “Yellow Truck� before the other players. Each yellow vehicle is one point, but yellow mustangs are five points and yellow mini coopers are ten points. The brand Yellow semi trucks are also ten points. The game ends when the players exit the vehcle. and yellow mini coopers are ten points. The brand Yellow semi trucks are also ten points. The game ends when the players exit the vehicle.
VIA MAGAZINE
Round Trip Concierge >>
TIPS ON THE BEST LOCAL ATTRACTIONS
Opening in 1929, the original design was considered one of the most well planned and beautifully laid out of commercial areas in the nation.
WESTWOOD, CA
IN THE CITY
STRAY AWAY FROM THE CROWDS AND EXPLORE WESTWOOD, ONE OF L.A.’S NEIGHBORHOODS
BE CLASSY
FIND SOME FUN!
GET HUNGRY
Hammer Museum
The Stand
The Hammer Museum explores the capacity of
The Stand offers the comfort of early century
The Village Theater in Westwood opened on
art to impact and illuminate our lives. Through
diners, featuring comfortable space, sincere
August 14, 1931. After more than sixty years
its collections, exhibitions and programs, the
hospitality, and honest foods. Classic
as a first run movie palace, the Village The-
Hammer examines the depth and diversity
American food...done right!. Hotdogs and
ater is still one of the sites of Hollywood’s
of artistic expression through the centuries
sausages, burgers and chicken enriched
biggest movie premieres. Regency Theatres
with a special emphasis on art of our time.
by proprietary toppings, breads, sides and
replaced Mann Theatres as the movie
At the core of the Hammer’s mission is the
drinks, may be consumed on-premise or
operator on April 1, 2010.
recognition that artists play a crucial role in
carried out.
american
Regency Village Theater
L.A. Film Festival
all aspects of human experience. The Hammer advances UCLA’s mission by contributing to
Delphi Greek
the intellectual life of the University and the
Our quaint restaurant serves traditional
by the Los Angeles Times is an event held
world beyond. http://hammer.ucla.edu/about/
Greek food cooked to perfection and of
annually in June (lasting for 10 days) in
index.html
course, made with that extra bit of love that
downtown Los Angeles, California. The
goes into each Greek dish. We look forward
Los Angeles Film Festival began as the Los
to your patronage.
Angeles Independent Film Festival (LAIFF)
Franklin D Murphy Sculpture Garden
greek
The Los Angeles Film Festival, presented
in 1995. The first LAIFF took place over the
One of the most distinguished outdoor
BLVD 16
sculpture collections in the country, the
Redefining contemporary LA dining, BLVD
toric Raleigh Studios in Hollywood. In 1996,
Franklin D. Murphy Sculpture Garden spans
16 has quickly become one of the hottest
the LAIFF expanded to include the Directors
more than five acres in UCLA’s campus with
reservations in town. Urban sophistication
Guild of America.
over 70 sculptures by artists such as Jean
and earthy passion wind their way through
Arp, Deborah Butterfield, Alexander Calder,
the ambiance and our menus. From shared
Music Box
Barbara Hepworth, Jacques Lipchitz, Henry
plates at Happy Hour to small bites at the
Music Box was the first store in Los Angeles
Moore, Isamu Noguchi, Auguste Rodin, and
bar to full-course celebrations, every dish
to exclusively sell Persian and World music.
David Smith.
shines with bright flavors and über-fresh
We have been at the same location for over
local, ingredients. The extensive wine list
20 years and Mr. Chamanara brings over 50
and signature cocktails keep pace, featuring
years of Music experience to his business.
organic, and bio-dynamic selections.
We are a leading authority on Persian and
Bailey Creek Cottages Golf Course
american
course of five days in a single location: his-
Bailey Creek Cottages are Lake Almanor’s
World Music. You will find our prices very
most unique lodging facility. Located on the
competitive to other stores and websites.
Bailey Creek Golf Course, recently nominated “Best New Public Course in America” by Golf Digest. Bailey Creek Cottages are luxurious 1 and 2 room units with fireplaces, jetted tubs, garages, private decks, kitchens or kitchenettes, and much more!
price
time consuming
How do you choose to see the world?
Every Canon product is designed to be eco-friendly throughout its lifecycle while enhancing your lifestyle.
The new boxed lunch.
Find Nature Within An
NYC: MANHATTAN
When traveling to larger cities, look for that unusual place to experience Mother Earth. Parks in large cities are usually thought of as refuges, as islands of green amid seas of concrete and steel. WHEN YOU APPROACH THE HIGH LINE IN THE CHEL-
AROUND THE UNITED STATES, TRAVELERS CAN FIND HIDDEN GEMS OF NATURE WITHIN JUNGLES OF METAL AND STEEL. EXPLORE ONE OF THE MORE FAMOUS ONES FOUND IN NEW YORK CITY IN CHELSEA NEIGHBORHOOD.
sea neighborhood on the lower west side of Manhattan, what you see first is the kind of thing urban parks were created to get away from—a harsh, heavy, black steel structure supporting an elevated rail line that once brought freight cars right into factories and warehouses and that looks, at least from a distance, more like an abandoned relic than an urban oasis. UNTIL RECENTLY THE HIGH LINE WAS, IN FACT, AN
urban relic, and a crumbling one at that. Many of its neighbors, as well as New York’s mayor for much of the 1990s, Rudolph Giuliani, couldn’t wait to tear it down. His
Paul Goldberger
administration, aware that Chelsea was gentrifying into a
NEW YORK CITY, NY W 33TH ST
WEST SIDE RAIL YARDS
W 31TH ST
STARETT-LENGTH BUILDING
W 29TH ST
High Line Map
W 25TH ST
CHELSEA PARK
Phone calls and visitors and, yes, dreams
W 23TH ST
from around the world are pouring into the CHELSEA WATERSIDE PARK
small offices of the Friends of the High Line on West 20th Street in Manhattan these days.
W 21TH ST GALLERY DISTRICT
Detroit is thinking big about an abandoned train station. Jersey City and Philadelphia
Chelsea Grasslands
have defunct railroad beds, and Chicago has old train tracks that don’t look like much now, but maybe they too... The High Line’s success as an elevated park, its improbable evolution from old trestle into glittering urban amenity, has motivated a whole host of public officials and city planners to consider or revisit efforts to convert relics from their own industrial pasts into potential economic engines.
CH
E
A LSE
PIE
W 19TH ST
R
10th Avenue Square Chelsea Market Public Art
W 17TH ST
Chelsea Market Place CHELSEA MARKET
Diller - Von Furstenrberg Sundeck and Water Feature
W 15TH ST
14th Street Entry Washington Grasslands
MEATPACKING DISTRICT
Gansevoort Stairs Gansevoort Plaza
W 13TH ST
Looking at green cities across the U.S. Find other places that are working torwards green lifestyles
HONOLULU, HI Honolulu’s Community Recreational Gardening Program was started in 1975 to provide people living in Honolulu’s densely populated communities access to garden plots. Each garden is comprised of individual plots, making a grand total of 1,254 plots for public use.
neighborhood of galleries, restaurants, and loft living, felt the surviving portion of the High Line, which winds its way roughly a mile and a half from Gansevoort Street to 34th Street (a section farther south was torn down years ago), was an ugly deadweight. They were certain this remnant of a different kind of ci ty was removed so the neighborhood realized its full potential.
SEATTLE, WA Seattle’s P-Patch Program provides 68 gardens for residents throughout the city, with plans for four additional gardens by the end of 2009. Their volunteer-run community gardens offer 1,900 plots and serves more than 3,800 urban gardeners on 23 acres of land.
MECHANICSVILLE, GA HABESHA Gardens is one of many urban gardens sprouting up around the country. Fruits and vegetables are thriving in this community garden located in an economically depressed area of the city known as Mechanicsville. But the garden serves an even greater purpose. The harvest helps feed some of the neediest members of the neighborhood.
We wanted to keep the feeling of High Line consistent but at the same time have some variations.
NEVER HAVE PUBLIC OFFICIALS BEEN SO WRONG.
almost a decade after the Giuliani administration tried to tear the High Line down, it has been turned into one of the most innovative and inviting public spaces in New York City and perhaps the entire country. The black steel columns that once supported abandoned train tracks now hold up an elevated park—part promenade, part town square, part botanical garden. The southern third, which begins
Green spaces give a sense of social place, enhance feelings of family kinship and solidarity, allow one to teach and lead others, promote spiritual growth, and in general allow users to feel free, independent, and more in control than is possible in a structured home and work environment.
TOP: Aerial view of the High Line.
at Gansevoort Street and extends to West 20th Street, crossing 10th Avenue along the way, opened in the summer
refreshing es provide a d Green spac ape, color, an sh h the hars e th e at contrast to ul stim ildings, and d, un so texture of bu r, lo co their simple senses with otions. m smell, and
of 2009. This spring a second section will open, extending the park ten more blocks, roughly a half mile, to 30th Street. Eventually, supporters hope, the park will cover the rest of the High Line. WALKING ON THE HIGH LINE IS UNLIKE ANY OTHER
striking new ones. I have walked the High Line dozens
experience in New York. You float about 25 feet above the
of times, and its vantage point, different from that of
ground, at once connected to street life and far away from
any street, sidewalk, or park, never ceases to surprise and
it. You can sit surrounded by carefully tended plantings
delight. Not the least of the remarkable things about the
and take in the sun and the Hudson River views, or you
High Line is the way, without streets to cross or traffic
can walk the line as it slices between old buildings and past
lights to wait for, ten blocks pass as quickly as two.
GANSEVOORT PLAZA
LEFT: Workers have tried to keep High Line’s railroads intact to keep the feel of what these lines used to be like. Looking across the railroads, one can see how close integrated High Line is with Manhattan. TOP: At one endpoint of Highline, people look across the New York skyline as the sun sets. High Line is open for many hours after dark. RIGHT: Another view of High Line’s endpoint. Towering trees above the ground loom over passersby.
For more information about High Line, please visit: http://www.thehighline.org/
New York is a city in which good things rarely happen
landscape architect James Corner of Field Operations and
easily and where good designs are often compromised, if
the architecture firm of Diller Scofidio + Renfro, who joined
they are built at all. The High Line is a happy exception,
forces to produce the winning scheme in a competition that
that rare New York situation in which a wonderful idea was
pitted them against such notables as Zaha Hadid, Steven
not only realized but turned out better than anyone had
Holl, and landscape architect Michael Van Valkenburgh.
imagined. It isn’t often in any city, let alone New York, that
THEIR PLAN STRUCK A BALANCE BETWEEN
an unusually sophisticated concept for a public place makes
REFINEMENT
its way through the design process, the political process, and
the High Line. “We envisioned it as one long, meandering
the construction process largely intact. The designers were
ribbon but with special episodes,” Corner told me.
26 MAY 2011
and the rough-hewn, industrial quality of
Friends of the High Line is working with the City of New York, to preserve the High Line at the West Side Rail Yards and transform it into an extraordinary and inspiring public space.
TOP: A look into what High Line’s railroads were used for. The preservation of what once was High Line is crucial to many of the men and women that are restoring this line to Manhattan’s popular attractions. LEFT: Beautiful flowers are spread as far as the eye can see. Along with flowers, many plants like trees were also transported to High Line which resides above many main roads in Chelsea neighborhood.
VIA MAGAZINE
RIGHT: Another viewing of overgrown railroad tracks that now become High Line’s asthetics for many visitors of High Line. FAR RIGHT: A close-up photo of how High Line intregrated their walkways with the railroad line and included grasses into the scenery alon with trees.
“We wanted to keep the feeling of the High Line consistent but at the same time have some variations.” The design included sleek wooden benches that appear to peel up from the park surface, but also kept many of the original train tracks, setting them into portions of the pavement and landscape. Working with Dutch landscape architect Piet Oudolf, Corner recommended a wide range of plantings, with heavy leanings toward tall grasses and reeds that recalled the wildflowers and weeds that had sprung up during the High Line’s long abandonment. (The line, which opened in 1934, was little used after the 1960s, although its final train, carrying frozen turkeys, didn’t travel down the track until 1980.) A
28
MAY 2011
The design included sleek wooden benches that appear to peel up from the park surface, but also kept many of the original train tracks, setting them into portions of the pavement and landscape.
presents a ro e High Line ks or tw Friends of th ar ry pora dule of tem High tating sche around the d an in s m iu ed d m l al rs in of visito an enjoyment Line for the s. od resident neighborho
TheSTEEL
ROAD
The USA has an excellent rail network, it’ll take you to almost all the towns & cities a visitor wants to see. so come down to Earth and see the world class scenery from an Amtrak train. IT’LL TAKE YOU FROM COAST TO COAST IN COMFORT, BY A
BUT HOW MANY TRAVELERS CONSIDER THE RAILS IN THE U.S. AND CANADA?
variety of routes, at very affordable prices indeed. In many parts of the world, train travel is a given. If you’re planning a trip to Europe, chances are you’ve at least looked into Eurail passes and most likely you’ll be riding the rails at some point in your travels there. BUT HOW MANY TRAVELERS CONSIDER THE RAILS IN THE U.S.
and Canada? I’m guilty myself, never having ridden on a train in North America. So I put forth the question: What are the best train rides in the States and Canada? The answers I got have given me some ideas for my next North American travels.
Carlo Alcos Amtrak train travleing along the coast near Gaviota State Park, California.
What are the best train rides for YOU?
1. Empire builder
2. California Zephyr
3. Lake Shore Limited
PREPARE TO EXPERIENCE AMERICA
ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR WESTERN
WHILE THE NAME OR OUR NEXT TRAIN
as many of its earliest trailblazers did. The
trains, the California Zephyr traverses much
is the Lake Shore Limited, you will see far
name “Empire Builder” refers to James J. Hill,
of the West’s spectacular scenery. Departing
more than just lakes when you come on board.
a tycoon who acquired enough land to link
from Denver, you’ll snake upward on the
This adventure will take you from America’s
St. Paul and Seattle with his Great Northern
Front Range of the Rockies and cross the
heartland all the way to the East Coast. Along
Railway, completed in 1893. Taking the
Great Divide. To go through this exception-
the way you’ll see farms that stretch to the
Empire Builder west from Chicago, you’ll also
ally rugged terrain, the train takes numerous
horizon, spectacular mountain ranges, famous
retrace portions of Lewis and Clark’s expedi-
switch-backs as it gains altitude. Traveling
rivers and some of the most beautiful skylines
tion from Illinois to Oregon on this adventure
through the first of 29 tunnels, it’s easy to
in the country. The Lake Shore Limited’s
across America’s majestic wilderness.
view the huge obstacles that early railroad
journey can end in New York City or in Boston,
companies had to surmount.
within blocks of the Atlantic Ocean.
4. Adirondack
5. Sunset Limited
6. Alaska Railroad
ONCE YOU LEAVE BEHIND the skyscrap-
AMTRAK’S SUNSET LIMITED TAKES YOU
THE DENALI STAR, the Alaska Railroad’s
ers of New York City, the Adirondack quickly
between Louisiana and California, along our
Flagship train, links Anchorage to Fairbanks
transports you back in time. Soon the large
southern-most route. Settle back and watch
with stops in Wasilla, Talkeetna and Denali
train windows are dominated by the dra-
the Bayou Country, Mexican border, south-
Park. On this route, sparkling salmon streams
matic cliffs of the Palisades and, the lush
western deserts and California mountains
and stands of birch and spruce come into
Hudson River Valley.
pass by your window.
view, while carpets of fireweed add dramatic
This one-of-a-kind trip ends as the
Three trains depart weekly in each direc-
skyline of Montreal — a city famous for its
tion. Services on the Sunset Limited include
old world European charm and up-to-the-
Superliner Sleeping and Dining Car accom-
minute restaurants and nightlife — comes
modations and spectacular views from the
into view.
renowned Sightseer Lounge Car.
purple to the landscape.
Whistler Vancouver Seattle
Chicago San Francisco
Denver
Los Angeles
Prudhoe Bay
Fairbanks
Anchorage
New Orleans Houston
Halifex Montreal
10.
train routes
Albany Toronto
Boston Hartford New York
1. Empire builder you’ll retrace portions of Lewis and Clark’s expedition
2. California Zephyr snake upward on the Front Range of the Rockies and cross the Great Divide
3. Lake Shore Limited from America’s heartland all the way to the East Coast
4. Adirondack This one-of-a-kind trip ends as the skyline of Montreal
5. Sunset Limited watch the Bayou Country, Mexican border, southwestern deserts
6. Alaska Railroad sparkling salmon streams and stands of birch and spruce come into view
7. White Pass Summit Relax in vintage passenger coaches as you retrace the original route to the White Pass summit
8. The Canadian travel between one of Canada’s largest cities and the Pacific Coast
9. The Ocean overnight journey along the St. Lawrence River
10. Whistler Sea-to Sky from the coastal city of Vancouver, through scenic Howe Sound and the Cheakamus Canyon...
7. white pass summit
8. The Canadian
TAKE AN UNFORGETTABLE JOURNEY
ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR WESTERN
aboard the“Scenic Railway of the World” to
The Toronto-Vancouver train, which takes
the White Pass summit. Begin your excursion
four days to travel between one of Canada’s
as you board the train in Skagway and travel
largest cities and the Pacific Coast. Take in
20 miles from tidewater, to the Summit of the
boreal forests reflecting on the surface of the
White Pass – a 2,865 foot elevation!
Great Lakes. Prairie sunsets painting vast
Relax in vintage passenger coaches as you
skies in shades of fire. Mountain peaks tow-
retrace the original route to the White Pass
ering above as the train winds through the
summit, passing Bridal Veil Falls, Inspiration
Rockies. Choose the relaxing ambience and
Point and Dead Horse Gulch. Enjoy a breath-
attentive service of budget travel in Economy
taking panorama of mountains, glaciers,
class, or upgrade to the pleasures of a cosy
gorges, waterfalls, tunnels, trestles and
bed, a gourmet table and exclusive access to
historic sites.
stylish lounges in Sleeper Touring class.
9. The Ocean
10. Whistler Sea-to Sky
THE MONTRÉAL-HALIFAX TRAIN MAKES
ENJOY THE BREATHTAKING SCENERY
an overnight journey along the St. Lawrence
on this Canadian train travel route between
River before crossing the provinces of New
Vancouver and Whistler, hosts of the 2010
Brunswick and Nova Scotia.
Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. Dur-
Year round, choose the relaxing ambience
ing your three and a half hour train trip you’ll
and attentive service of budget travel in Econ-
journey from the coastal city of Vancouver,
omy class, or opt for Sleeper class for more
through scenic Howe Sound and the Cheaka-
cosy overnight accommodations.
mus Canyon, across a trestle bridge, past the
If you upgrade to Sleeper Touring class,
jagged snow-capped peaks of the Tantalus
you’ll also enjoy delicious meals included in
Mountains and by an extinct volcano, before
the price of your ticket, exclusive access to
finally arriving in the mountain landscape of
the Park car and informal presentations and
world-renowned Whistler Village. A
activities on the Maritimes.
Passengers make their way by train across the Ben Franklin Bridge in between Philadelphia and New Jersey.
36
MAY 2011
Packing for a rail trip, you may have a little more room if booking a sleeper car but most luggage should be stored in baggage.
COAST TO COAST HOW TO TRAVEL ON A NURSING STUDENTS BUDGET
BEGINNING IN BOSTON, AND STOPPING IN 12 CITIES ALONG
the way, I used an Amtrak USA Rail Pass to complete a loop of the country. I’ll be staying with anyone who will have me during my expedition - hopefully this will be friends and family. This trip had been in the back of my mind for a while, but after completing my Junior year of college, I decided that now was the time.
WHAT SHOULD YOU TAKE? Q. Train travel is not popular among most students today. Why did you decide to make this 30 day journey? A. train is a great way to break up my routine and get to know an enormous country that I really haven’t seen much of. The rush and intensity of airports make traveling a process and not an experience. Q. How did you decide which train route you were going to take? A. I wanted to see parts of the country that I have never seen befrore. So started on the California Zephyr because I was able to stay with family in Chicago and California. Also, I was able to see a large portion of the country. Q. Did anyone else go on the voyage with you?
Why Take Amtrak?
A. One of my really close girlfriends went on part of the trip with me. I would suggest bringing a friend along, not just for safety but to have some company. We were able to meet a lot of people on the train but it was nice having someone sitting next to me that I have known for 10 years. Q. When you were choosing where to go did you research where you were going to stay? Like, if you were going to be staying in a city did you pre-book your hotel? A. I thought about it a little bit. If I would have booked hotels before it may have made it less stressful. I also stayed with friends and family members who were nearby. This was nice because I got to see familiar faces and also did not have to worry about finding a cheap but decent hotel. It’s also risky to stay in areas that you do not know much about so I tried to avoid that at all costs. Q. What would you suggest to those who want to take this adventure? A. Bring lots of snacks, research the cities you are going to, and make sure to bring some good books. Oh, and a camera is a must.
After completing my Junior year of college, I decided that now was the time.
1
Money Saving
2
Stable Fares
3
Flexibility
4
More Baggage
Trains are an increasingly cost-effective alternative to planes, particularly if you’re going a relatively short distance or if you’re traveling in the busy Northeast Corridor, where train service is fast and frequent.
Train fares tend to be the same day after day on any particular route, whether it’s Monday or Saturday, April or August, two months in advance, or two days before departure.
Except on long-haul or infrequently traveled routes, trains tend to offer travelers a great deal of flexibility. Missed the 10 a.m. train? Just catch the 10:30 or 11 a.m. train instead.
“Each ticketed passenger may check up to three pieces of luggage at no charge. ... Each checked bag may weigh no more than 50 lbs.” In total, Amtrak allows you to bring 250 pounds of luggage -- plus personal items -- for free.
5
Less Hassel
6
Door-to-Door Convience
7
Eco Friendliness
8
Old Fashioned Charm
9
Comfort and Relaxation
10
In most cases you can arrive 30 minutes ahead of time and walk straight to your platform.
Unlike airports, most major train stations are located right downtown in the heart of the cities they serve. Instead of taking an expensive airport cab ride from miles outside of town, you can step off your train and be just moments from your hotel.
Trains are more energy-efficient per passenger mile than planes or cars, making them one of the most eco-friendly transportation options around.
There’s something refreshingly traditional about taking a train, esp. if you’re traveling over a long, multi-night route.
Someone else does the driving, you’ll have more legroom than you would on an airplane and you’ll be able to move around at will.
Beyond Just Transportation Unlike airplanes, which whisk you from point A to point B with barely a glimpse of what’s in between, a train ride can be a destination in and of itself.
There is nothing more stressful, and important, than packing for a long trip. I’ve read my fair share of travel articles, more of which have provided predictably sensible and boring advice when it comes to packing for long trips. BIG TRIP, BIG BAG, BIG DECISIONS, BIG STRESS. HOW TO KEEP
BEFORE GOING ON YOUR NEXT TRIP READ THIS TO MAKE YOUR LIFE JUST A LITTLE BIT EASIER.
YOUR STYLE DURING YOUR TRAVELS AND ADVENTURES.
I’ve read my fair share of travel articles, more of which have provided predictably sensible and boring advice when it comes to packing for long trips. Like, “bring enough medication for the duration of your stay, since pharmacies are hard to find”, or “bring detergent so that you can rinse out personal garments in the sink.” OCCASIONALLY
I find these eminently practical lists are
well, too practical, particularly when the advice provided is: “Don’t both to bring any heel or cocktail dresses.” Here’s the thing: You never know where your adventures are
Derek Blasberg
going to take you, so it’s best to make like a Boy Scout (a heel–and– cocktail dress–packing Boy Scout, anyway) and always be prepared.
So it’s best to make like a boy scout (a heel and cocktail dress packing boy scout, anyway)
ONCE A FRIEND AND I WENT BACKPACKING
through india–
which is not the most glamourous terrain, although less than ideal i still had one “smart garment” packed and on hand. So amid cargo shorts, comfortable t–shirts, and off the paris runway
gallons of bug spray, I threw in a spiffy Calvin Klein tuxedo
JUST BECAUSE YOU CAN’T AFFORD
jacket. It’s a good thing I did. While stopped in the city of
doesn’t mean that you automaticaly have to look like a
Udaipur, we were randomely invited to have cocktails at
homeless woman from queens.
the palace of the town’s maharaja. My friend put on some
A girl on a budget needs to remember several key things:
jewerly and a floaty cocktail dress that she had also packed – just in case – and I put on a collared shirt, the cleanest jeans I could find, and that tuxedo jacket. We were wined and dined in decadent indian form before hitting the backpacking trail again. ADVENTURES TAKE YOU
to bazzarre and unexpected places:
A) Classic silhouettes never go out of style if bought correctely; B) It’s important to invest in certain staple pieces; C) As with glass and newspapers, you should always reuse and recycle.
that’s the whole point of an adventure. So, yes, while it’s when it comes to style and
important to make sure that you have “the basics”, a few
THE BEST LESSON TO REMEMBER
pairs of jeans, and trousers, sensible skirt, blouses that go
shopping: If something fits correctely and you look good
with everything, and a few jackets. You want to make sure
in it, it will look expensive. This list of summer basics with
that through some clever styling of your own that you have
different sitituations is sure to fit any budgetnista style
something for every event.
while still keeping her fresh and up to date.
T ip : W h e n p u tt in g to g e th e r o u tf it s m ix a n d m a tc h it e m s th a t a re u n e x p e c te d fo r a u n iq u e lo ok!
What to Wear – The Beach THE BEACH
^
Statement shorts at beach are laid back as well as classy, both important while enjoying the surf. Banana Republic $64.00
^
This t-shirt is perfect for over your swimsuit & pairing with crisp shorts. Victoria’s Sercret $24.00
^
Canvas bags are great for carrying around all your clothing plus extras like sunscreen. Target $32.00
^
Retro and vintage styles are coming back, with this bikini you will look timeless. J Crew $58.00
44 MAY 2011
^
A floral patten offers more textture while still having coffort of a tank top. Rag & Bone $15.00
^
Toms have a california beach style that will add a laid back look to any style Toms $49.00
^ ^
A pretty cream dress won’t get dirty in the sand and spray of the surf. Antropologie $78.00
Wooden wedges are more comfertable than heels and won’t sink into the sand. Chloe $138.00
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What to Wear – City
THE BEACH
^ ^
Stripes offer a crisp new take on the racerback tanktop. Macys $27.00
^
Leather bags can be expensive, so buy faux they are just as cute and you won’t spend all your money. Claire’s $17.00
^
This cool texture will make any outfit have a fresh and energized appeal. DVF $138.00
46 MAY 2011
Longer short can transition any outfit from informal to formal by just changing the top. Old Navy $24.00
^
This pretty pink dress can be worn in the day time, or can be dressed up for night Forever 21 $24.00
^
A classic style with a modern bow accent. This clutch will go with anything, anytime. Free People $52.00
With a cool leopard print and leather accents these shoes can take you anywhere. KJ $88.00
^ ^
A vintage style with an updated turquoise stone will have compliments raining over you. Khloe $35.00
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What to Wear – Camping
THE BEACH
^
Shorter shorts will ensure that your bottoms aren’t getting stuck on brush while walking through the forrest. Banana Republic $64.00
^
A basic gray t-shirt can be dressed up or down with a scarf. Victoria’s Sercret $24.00
^
This bag can transition from the camp sit to a bonfire, and into town. Charlotte Russe $18.00
^
A pretty scarf will make any camping outfit glamourus and can also be used as a wrap. Gap $24.00
48 MAY 2011
^
Having a fun one piece while camping is great because it can also double a a tan top. Target $28.00
^
Teva’s are made well and will last through the climbling and hiking on your adventures. Teva’s $72.00
^
Adding a pop of bright color to your backpack is an easy way to make any trip lively. Patagonia $105.00
^
Cheap sunglasses in a classic style is perfect for camping, in case anything gets lost. Forever 21 $7.00
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We a r the h e av i e rou te st pa and p ir en a ck th re sea e oth lable ers in bags .
WHAT TO PACK & HOW TO PACK IT. How do you maximize suitcase space without wrinkling everything in the process? With these seven savvy tips you will become an expert in packing while getting the most room for yourself while traveling.
1// GATHER YOUR CLOTHES
4// DRAPE LONGER PIECES LIKE PANTS
7// CHOOSE SHOES WISELY
Gather all the garments you may
AND SKIRTS
Pick three pairs of shoes, like a casual
need on your trip, then edit down
Fold longer items in half, filling the
sandal or loafer, sneakers, and an
your choices so you don’t overpack—
length of the bag with them, alternat-
evening shoe –go for styles that can be
a common mistake. Put back at least
ing waists with hems at the ends.
dressed up or down depending on the occasion.
half of the items you think you need.
2// ROLL YOUR CLOTHES
5// ADD SMALLER ITEMS
PLANNING FOR A TRIP CAN BE HARD
Tightly roll softer, wrinkle-resistant
Look for nooks and crannies to fill
YOU ARE NOW A SAVVY PACKER AND
garments, like T-shirts and cotton
with smaller items, like bras and
pants, and place them along the base
socks. Stuff the cups of your bras
of the bag. Jeans should be rolled,
with rolled-up socks to maintain bra
too.
shape.
3// PLACE FOLDED ITEMS ON TOP
6//PACK YOUR JEWELRY
Next, fold stiffer and/or wrinkle-
Stow inexpensive jewelry in a seven-
prone garments like starched cotton
day plastic pillbox or a film canister.
shirts and blazers. Layer these folded
Wear any fine jewelry en route to
items over the rolled clothes.
ensure it won’t get lost or stolen.
WORK, BUT I HOPE AFTER THIS ARTICLE CAN BE STYLISH ON THE ROAD AS WELL, WITHOUT THE STRESS.
A
VIA MAGAZINE
MOSCOW, IDAHO
Sunday, July 20
Everything I need is in two small bags: my Tilley hat (the best outdoor hat in the world), work boots, walking shoes, shorts and belt, three t-shirts (with no corporate logos or slogans), one long-sleeved shirt, a raincoat for working in bad weather, and a notebook and pen. MARYJANE AND HER HUSBAND, NICK, MEET ME AT THE
IT’S MY FIRST VACATION IN OVER FIVE YEARS, EVEN THOUGH I’M HERE TO LEARN HOW TO PLANT MY FIRST GARDEN
GATE IN LEWISTON.
They recognize me right away. The
e-mail must have tipped her. And MaryJane is wearing her trademark hat and braided ponytail. Just like the pictures I saw on the MaryJanesFarm website. I’m delighted that these two strangers are so glad to see me. I already feel welcome, a good indication of the week to come. Leaving the humidity of Ohio behind, I’m beginning to get acquainted with northern Idaho’s “dry heat.” MaryJane offers me fruit juice and a cup of ice for the ride to the farm while we review my daily agenda for the week, including meals and menus and
Phil Jackson
learning activities — even scheduled rest. I’m relieved,
Marysville, Ohio
since it’s my first vacation in over five years, even though I’m here to learn how to plant my first garden.
➾
Sunday, July 20
My first stop is the “hut” which I am to call home for a week. It appears to be a 12’x12’ one-room slant-roof frame structure with a small wood deck built across the back. There are double windows in front and back. Inside is a cute antique bed with quilted cover and decorative pillows. It’s MaryJane’s grandmother’s bedroom set, refinished to its original buttermilk color. I have a chest, dresser, side table and chair. All the comforts of home, except electricity! Instead, there are candles and a propane lamp and heater. THE MOST INTERESTING PLACE ON THE FARM FARM,
and my
real headquarters for the week, is not a building, but a hollowed-out area within a stand of plum trees on a hillside behind the barn — MaryJane’s Plum Pit. The centerpiece of
PLUM TREES SURROUND YOU IN THE ROOM. THERE IS A LONG HARVEST TABLE WITH BENCHES, A SINK WITH COUNTER AND AN ANCIENT, BUT BEAUTIFULLY RESTORED, GAS STOVE, ALL ORGANIZED INTO AN APPEALING OUTDOOR ROOM. TWO BEDS ARE NESTLED UPSLOPE, WITH MOSQUITO NETS AS CANOPIES.
the Plum Pit is MaryJane’s campfire. Plum trees surround you in the room. There is a long harvest table with benches, a sink with counter and an ancient, but beautifully restored, gas stove, all organized into an appealing outdoor room. Two beds are nestled upslope, with mosquito nets as canopies. A hammock, some folding camp chairs, a few tables with flowers and hanging baskets make the Plum Pit an unexpected visual wonder, an outdoor haven. Oh, and the floor is soft soil layered with plum pits fallen from the trees above; hence the name. MARYJANE AND I COOK OUR DINNER,
a BakeOver, in the
Plum Pit. We use fresh organic vegetables, sautéed in a little olive oil. A MaryJane BakeOver is a pie, sort-of, made in a wok-style pan. You sauté the veggies (savory) or fruit (dessert) and other filling ingredients, then take a crust made with one of MaryJane’s own mixes and plop it on top.
54
MAY 2011
MaryJane told me that before I learn to garden, I need to learn to cook.
MaryJane likes raspberries. She leads me past dozens of raspberry bushes, around the Plum Pit, behind the basement and in the garden. She takes care to show me just how to tell which one are ripe. They're the darker red, not the bright red raspberries. The ripe ones are sweeter and will go better in our breakfast BakeOver.
Monday, July 21
MaryJane’s instructions were clear. Meet her at 6:30 am for breakfast in the Plum Pit. Get up as early as I want and shower in the basement. MaryJane told me before I came that if I want to learn to garden, I need to learn to cook. But before we cook, we need ingredients, so it’s berry-picking time on the farm this morning. ONE THING IS OBVIOUS:
MaryJane likes raspberries. She
leads me past dozens of raspberry bushes, around the Plum Pit, behind the basement and in the garden. She takes care to show me just how to tell which ones are ripe. They’re the darker red, not the bright red raspberries. The ripe ones are sweeter and will go better in our breakfast BakeOver. WE WANDER OUT OF THE GARDEN
and to the side of the road
where wild blackcap bushes are growing. They are a favorite. They’re meaty and sweet, not quite as tangy as a raspberry. But thorny, ouch! I pick about a quarter cup of black caps off two bushes and then start on the raspberries. I suspect
that experienced berry pickers are faster, because it takes me an entire hour to pick the requisite two cups. AND I MAKE THE MOST DELICIOUS RASPBERRY AND BLACK CAP BREAKFAST PUFF.
It’s wonderful. And it goes
great with the campfire coffee that MaryJane makes in honor of my caffeine habit. WHEN IT’S TIME TO WEED THE GARDEN,
MaryJane leads
me to the Pump House where the garden tools are stored, all hung neatly on the wall and in their place. MaryJane selects two hoes; not just ordinary hoes, but Amish hoes. She explains that this Amish hoe is lighter weight and the head is shorter than a traditional hoe. Also the sides are sharp. We take our hoes to the workshop for a brief sharpening lesson. IN THE AFTERNOON,
I’m pretty much on my own. I
read a copy of “Illusions” by Richard Bach that MaryJane brought to me in the Plum Pit. It’s a light and playful afternoon read. There is one very important interruption to my hammock time in the Plum Pit —
There is one very important
ice cream call! The crew is making homemade chocolate ice cream and hot brownies in the basement. The
interruption to my hammock time
crew is transfixed and totally focused on the ice cream
in the Plum Pit — ice cream call!
MaryJane’s brownie mix from a new batch for quality
and brownies. Me too. They had prepared a sample of control. It’s not hard to get taste testers when brownies are the subject, let alone when ice cream is involved.
56 MAY 2011
MARYJANE’S RULES ON TOOLS
1) never skimp on tools — buy the best 2) always put your name on tools 3) keep them sharp, and always keep a file in your pocket while working in the garden
MaryJane’s chickens are moving slowly, and don’t venture far from the relative cool of the Plum Pit, although they’re trained to always go back to the hen house to lay their eggs in the nest boxes. This is really important with free-range chickens, or you have an Easter egg hunt every day of the year.
Tuesday, July 22 I’M NOT ALONE
in the Plum Pit. Besides the stack of books
Wednesday, July 22 I’M DOING MOST OF THE COOKING NOW,
and that’s the plan.
MaryJane brought from the basement, the chickens are
MaryJane insists that I need to learn to cook what
my constant companions. MaryJane calls them the “girls.”
I can grow. And she’s right! This morning MaryJane brings
So the girls and I have a great time of it. MaryJane points
seed catalogs and her garden record for me to review.
out how the chickens like to take “dust baths.” They make
It’s amazing the information they include. You can see
wallow holes and flop around, making all kinds of ecstatic
the wide variety of vegetables that are actually available,
sounds. It’s a real comedy. Apparently this is how the
but rarely on the grocery store shelves. I didn’t realize that
chickens control mites. I need to thank the girls because
people have been growing gourds for over five thousand
their pretty pink and mint-green eggs made the salad
years. Nor had I ever heard of black corn. Oh yes, there are
even more delicious today. And I couldn’t have made the
two categories of herbs: culinary and medicinal. All this
BakeOver Breakfast Puff “puff” without their eggs either!
from one seed catalog! MaryJane said she tears out pages
MaryJane’s free-range chickens are free to find things to eat
with descriptions of the varieties she orders and keeps them
all over the farm.
in her gardening book.
58 MAY 2011
COST $2,950
includes 7 nights in a rustic wall tent, breakfasts; 5 days of instruction; 5 lunches; 6 dinners; and excursions to surrounding farms and markets.
COURSE DESCRIPTIONS ORGANIC COOKING
Learn how to cook easy, healthy meals for friends and family. Start by learning to identify what is in season and utilizing fresh produce. This workshop will teach basic kitchen skills, and you will learn how to make a one-skillet meal. The workshop will also introduce you to our newest product, ChillOver Powder, and show you how to make a delicious new dessert.
COURSE OBJECTIVES
➘ Tour of the gardens ➘ Identifying produce that is
in season
➘ Learning basic kitchen skills ➘ Preparing a one-skillet meal ➘ Preparing a super salad ➘ Preparing a ChillOver dessert
ORGANIC GARDENING
In North America, the average distance that food travels to get from where it is grown to where it is eaten is 1,300 miles. That means the produce in our stores is several days old by the time that you purchase it. Imagine being able to walk out your back door and pick fresh produce to feed your family. In this workshop, we will be address-
ing how to grow fresh, healthy food for you and your family without the use of harmful pesticides. COURSE OBJECTIVES
➘ B uilding your soil ➘ Tools of the trade
SEED SAVING
Seeds may be inexpensive to buy, but they are even cheaper when you save them. The heart of your food is your seeds. You will learn how to harvest and save seeds that are healthy and disease-free.
COURSE OBJECTIVES
➘ H ow to save
a variety of seeds
COURSE DESCRIPTIONS FOOD PRESERVATION
Enjoy the fruits of your labor year-round. You will learn various methods of putting up your produce, such as canning, freezing, and dehydrating. We will also talk about root cellars.
COURSE OBJECTIVES
➘ Building your soil ➘ Tools of the trade ➘ Tools of the trade
BUDGETING
Have you ever felt like there was too much of the month left at the end of your paycheck? This course will discuss lowcost living, living on your income, and the difficulty of sticking with simple living when the world around us is promoting consumerism.
COURSE OBJECTIVES
➘ Why is simply living
so complicated?
➘ Living within your means ➘ Setting up a working budget ➘ What are your goals?
CHOPPING FIREWOOD
Tackling a brawny job with some female ingenuity. We will introduce you to techniques that will make this chore easier.
COURSE OBJECTIVES
➘ Tool Maintenance ➘ Tools of the Trade ➘ Picking up an axe
BUILDING A WALL TENT
Value-added products are encouraged by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Agri-tourism is very popular overseas, and is building up momentum in the United States. Offering a bed and breakfast is a simple way of introducing others to the farming life. We will show you how we started a B&B in wall tents and how you could do the same on any piece of land.
COURSE OBJECTIVES
➘ The basics of B&B ➘ Building a wall tent ➘ Agri-tourism ideas
Thursday, July 23
LAST NIGHT
the wind blew exceedingly, and
I thought the hut would rock. It howled through the hut, but brought much-needed cool air. BRIAN SHOWS ME
how the soil is very
compacted in the garlic patch this year and demonstrates the use of a fork in harvesting the garlic. He is wearing a hat and shorts, and a good bit of caked, dried mud from his morning’s toil. Six inches away from the garlic, you press the fork tines straight down. MARYJANE’S CHICKENS ARE MOVING SLOWLY ,
and don’t
The tines are curved so they move down and in toward the
venture far from the relative cool of the Plum Pit, although
garlic as you press. The soil is so compacted here that Brian
they’re trained to always go back to the hen house to lay
hops onto the fork with both feet to drive the fork downward.
their eggs in the nest boxes. This is really important with
Then he rocks forward and backward to break loose the soil.
free-range chickens, or you have an Easter egg hunt every
If it is too compacted, you need to loosen both sides, which
day of the year. MaryJane insists on checking the nests every
I discover when I try my own row. Brian is working twice as
two hours so the eggs can be refrigerated promptly after lay-
fast as I can, and later three times as fast as I slow in the heat.
ing. The hens are gentle and don’t mind her reaching in the
Must be at least 95 degrees. Brian keeps the garlic covered to
nest for the eggs. She keeps a wooden egg in each nest box to
prevent scorching in the sun and we drive back to the barn
discourage hens from breaking eggs. It’s a capital offense for
and hang the garlic upside-down, in bunches, from nails to
repeat offenders in any well-managed chicken house.
dry. That’s how you harvest the garlic.
MARYJANE SAYS THAT I AM A “MAN WITH A PAN!”
She is
TONIGHT’S DINNER
was scheduled to be a potato bake, but
pleased with my BakeOver making. I like her simple ap-
MaryJane decided to move the Hobo Dinner forward and I
proach because it provides a gourmet backdrop for any
prepare that instead. Now a Hobo Dinner can only be cooked
vegetables. It really solves the age-old problem of how to
in the coals of a campfire. That’s a rule.
prep tasty and healthful veggies.
VIA MAGAZINE
ABOVE: View of MaryJane’s barn and home (right). Outside Moscow, Idaho.
MARYJANE BELIEVES
that carnivores should eat organic meat.
Since I’m a meat eater, we are going to use pork sausage patties made from pigs grown organically by MaryJane’s children and smoked in the smokehouse. According to MaryJane’s instructions, I cut up the vegetables, and then assemble the Hobo Dinners. Ingredients include pork sausage, butter for greasing the aluminum foil, onions, garlic, carrots, two small potatoes and, in this case, a turnip. The veggies are chopped and seasoned with salt and pepper, then all the ingredients are wrapped and sealed in foil and placed in the coals to cook.
I WALK ALONE TONIGHT AND REALIZE HOW MUCH I FEEL AT HOME AT MARYJANE'S FARM, EVEN AFTER SUCH A SHORT TIME. 62
MAY 2011
I ASK MARYJANE
how long we should cook them. The answer
is there is no time, just wait longer than you think it should take and check it. Hobo Dinners are delicious, and Nick joins us for dinner. I WALK ALONE TONIGHT
and realize how much I feel at home
at MaryJane’s farm, even after such a short time. It’s a natural relaxation just being here.
Friday, July 25
I’VE PRETTY WELL STANDARDIZED MY MORNING ROUTINE BEFORE BREAKFAST.
Get
dressed, have a glass of water, make the bed, lay out my towel, roll it up with my clothes for the day, grab that and my shaving kit, and walk to the basement for running water and a hot shower. NEXT STOP IS THE PLUM PIT
to wash some dishes and start the coffee. Mary Jane
doesn’t provide coffee for workers; if they feel like they need a boost of energy, she directs them to a cot off the workroom. Cots, not caffeine. There’s a new slogan for corporate America. And I think it makes good sense. MaryJane arrives with a bowl of baked potatoes for making hashbrowns (she claims that hashbrowns work much better when you pre-bake the potatoes) and an invitation to help her develop a new recipe for her book. The hashbrowns will have to wait. BRAD JOINS US IN THE PLUM PIT
for our brainstorming session over a smoothie
and some cowboy coffee. MaryJane wants three to five seasoning mixes for deer meat, since her book agent has suggested she come up with some venison recipes. She wants some gourmet influences, maybe French. Brad wants Ethiopian or North African, like a restaurant in Denver that he likes. Like any Texan worth his chili, I lobby for Southwestern. MARYJANE AND I ,
creators of culinary history, move to the basement, where
food production happens. I’m responsible for finding a classic southwestern ingredient. I know sage grows everywhere in Big Bend. MaryJane calls for sage, and a seven-gallon container of sage appears on the bench. She calls for minced onions, and seven gallons are brought, immediately. She’s like a surgeon calling for instruments. I measure out teaspoons from a stash of more minced onions than a grocery store stocks in 10 years. MARYJANE DROPS IN THE SEASONING
and mixes it in, then off to the Plum Pit
to cook it and taste it. I must admit that these healthy foods have made me feel better than I have in ages.A
Round Trip >>
4
OUR MONTHLY
FO
XR IV
ER
STAFF ROAD TRIP
2
1
3
TASTE YOUR WAY THROUGH WISCONSIN’S VERY OWN VINEYARDS
64 MAY 2011
1
KERRIGAN BROTHERS WINERY
2
Freedom, Wisconsin
WISCONSIN
LEDGESTONE VINEYARDS
Greenleaf, Wisconsin
On our first stop, we learned about the wine-making process and enjoyed a tour of the winery. At the tasting bar, we sampled a variety of wines and got our palette prepared to experience the rest of our road trip. Our favorites were their fruit wines, which were both dry and sweet. We enjoyed our wines at their picnic area, with a selection of Wisconsin cheddar that we had purchased on our way into town.
Ledgestone Vineyards was a delightful encounter for any wine enthusiasts. The owners were incredibly friendly, they even joined us for the evening. Plus, their artisan cheese made us want to stay for an additional evening. This hidden secret in Greenleaf offers a pleasant, yet surprising, experience. LedgeStone’s full bodied red, grown, produced and bottled on-site at the vineyard, will make you feel like you are visiting a premier wine region of the world. Plus, the vineyard was at such a convenient location. It is situated at the foot of the Niagara Escarpment, called “The Ledge.”
3
4
TROUT SPRINGS WINERY
Greenleaf, Wisconsin Brown County’s first winery, we feature sestate-made, award-winning wines along with vintages made from California grapes and Wisconsin grown fruit. During our tour we witnessed their Old World methods of production which yields full flavored wines from sweet to dry, sure to satisfy a wide range of palates. As part of the “Tuscan Experience,” we offer specialty items such as fresh homemade pesto, Italian cheeses, rustic breads with herb infused dipping oils, smoked salmon pate, and of course Nonna’s fudge.
CAPTAIN’S WALK WINERY
Green Bay, Wisconsin A venue for vinifera, the Captain’s Walk Winery offered premium grape wine tasting in a light-hearted manner. We enjoyed their laidback experience that usurps the snobbery out of wine while enjoying a unique tasting education. This pre-Civil War house has been updated carefully to recapture 150 years of character. Plaster crown molding, the original fireplaces and hardwood floors complement openings that offer viewing of the production rooms and cellars. We could not help but feel as though we were experiencing a different world.
VIA MAGAZINE
Round Trip Hitchhiking >>
OUR MONTHLY STAFF ROAD TRIP
T ip : Fo r g ro u p s, re n ti n g c a n b e a lo t c h e a p e r th a n p ay in g fo r th e sa me numb er of bed in a h o te s l.
WANT TO TRAVEL THIS SUMMER, BUT YOUR WALLET DOESN’T ALLOW YOU TO? FOLLOW THIS EASY GUIDE TO GET THE MOST BANG FOR YOUR BUCK!
66 MAY 2011
>>>If you’re lucky, you’re reading this story in a tropical locale, while smoothing on sunscreen and mulling over another mai tai. More likely, you’re reading it in your living room. But everyone deserves a getaway now and then and it doesn’t have to break the bank.
1
IF FLYING SEEMS PRICEY...
A. CHECK FARES REGULARLY. Why? They are finally going down. “In 2008 airlines cut capacity so they were able to survive without discounting fares too much,” says Brett Snyder, an airline-industry veteran and the founder of the blog crankyflier.
2
HOTEL ROOMS DRAINING?
3
GET WHERE YOU WANT
C. RENT A HOUSE OR A CONDO.
Farecome farecompare.com
For groups, renting can be a lot cheaper
FareCast farecast.com
than paying for the same number of beds in a hotel. A recent search turned up sev-
Yapta yapta.com
eral two-bedroom apartments (that sleep at
Travelocity travelocity.com.
least four) for around $150–$250 a night for
WhichBudget whichbudget.com
a single room. Renting is a particularly good
Vayama vayama.com
com. “But because of the current economy,
option in smaller destinations where hotels
we’ll see some price cutting.” Bookmark
are scarce, or in major cities where hotels
these sites that compare prices: farecom-
are ultra-expensive. Visit homeaway.com,
Jet4you jet4you.com
pare.com, farecast.com, yapta.com, trav-
resortquest.com, and interhomeusa.com for
Myair myair.com
elocity.com.
listings in the United States.
> WHEN YOU GET THERE
If you’re renting and willing to pay 20 to 30
B. DRIVE! Gas prices are down, so take advantage. Here are some road-trip planning ideas. Visit nps.gov to find a national park within
EasyJet easyjet.com
percent more, try using a villa company, like
National Park Association nps.gov
LaCURE Villas (lacurevillas.com) or Villas of
Discover America discoveramerica.com
Distinction (villasofdistinction.com). They
Lonely Planet Publications, amazon.com
will have inspected each listed home and can even act as a concierge recommending specific properties and planning activities.
driving distance. Deborah Trevino, a travel
Tank of Gas tripadvisor.com > HOME LIVING Home Away From Home homeaway.com
adviser at Hobson Travel, a trip-planning
D. OPT FOR A SMALL HOTEL.
agency in Naperville, Illinois, recommends
“Americans focus way too much on chain
Utah’s Capitol Reef, Arizona’s Lake Powell,
hotels that cater to business travelers and
and Michigan’s Isle Royale. For more des-
corporate budgets,” says Tim Leffel, author
LaCURE Villas lacurevillas.com
tinations, visit discoveramerica.com, the
of Make Your Travel Dollars Worth a Fortune
Villas of Distinction villasofdistinction.com
website of the U.S. travel and tourism indus-
(Travelers’ Tales, $13, amazon.com).
Travelers’ Tales amazon.com
try. Start with a theme. Lonely Planet’s new TRIPS guide books (Lonely Planet Publications, $20 each, amazon.com) list itineraries
Resort Quest resortquest.com InterHome interhomeusa.com
The Home Exchange homeexchange.com Home Link homelink.org
in six different regions organized by interest, such as history or food. Check your tank. With tripadvisor.com’s “Tank of Gas” tool, you type in your hometown and indicate how much gas you want to use (full, half, or quarter tank). The tool lists destinations within reach.
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True Stories
JAMES STEPHENSON
CIARA NORTHRUP
SARAH METZGER
Berkeley, California
New Orleans, Louisiana
Palisade, Colorado
It was the last day of our Minessota adventure. My girlfriend and I were in her family’s ancestral hometown, hoping to find living relatives. We were not facing a three hour drive, where we had a deadline to return our rental car. We made one last stop at the Catholic cemetery in search of tombstones bearing the Ducey name. Splitting up, we ran from epitaph to epitaph, when something suddenly moved in the still churchyard. Before one headstone, a young girl sat, paying her respects. I approached quickly. “Excuse me, Miss,” I started, then stopped: The name on the grave she attended was John Ducey. My girlfriend was reuinited with her past — and her future. The two cousins still keep in touch to this day.
During college, my friends and I always said we would go on a Euro-trip after graduation. When that day finally came, we realized that we didn’t quite have enough cash to afford this adventure. Instead, we went on a cross-country road trip and I never have regretted this decision. Along the way, my best friend would force us to stop every fifteen minutes to see this or that roadside attraction. At first, this was a frustration to all of us; but soon, we realized that these moments were our favorite adventures of the whole trip. Getting lost to find the worlds largest ball of twine and the strangers we met along the way proved to be invaluable memories that I will carry with me for a lifetime.
I’ve always wanted to travel outside of the country to go on a mission trip with my friends. However, during college, I began to hear about opportunities to give back to communities within my own country. Last summer, my friends and I travelled to New Mexico, where we lived within a community that had recently lost its grade school in a fire. We spent the hottest days in the New Mexico sun spackling and painting the outside and inside of their newly constructed school. It took us a whole month to finish the project. Although this may not be what most people consider a normal “vacation,” I enjoyed the oppotunitiy to really give back to my community and do something unusual. Plus, I got a really nice tan.
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MAY 2011
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s n a l st o ri e o u r p e rs o s y M a il u s y e rn jo u s o f you r a n d p h o to e w il l w h ic 66 wh o n ro u te is su e ! our next in c lu d e in
JOIN US AGAIN FOR EVEN MORE EXCITING JOURNEYS Next month, our feature will take you along Route 66 with tips for experiencing this infamous road in a month and to be sure you catch all the unusual spots along the way. We are sure you’ll enjoy this new perspective on our nation’s infamous highway.
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