April 26, 2011 | Author: Jennifer Miner
A volunteer vacation can be part of solo and family travel, a romantic getaway, and a small group trip with friends. It's not just taking a half hour break from the pool and spa to check out a resort's recycling efforts, though; a volunteer vacation should [Read more]
Posted in: Budget Travel, Travel Tips | 12 comments
April 18, 2011 | Author: Jennifer Miner
Earth Day is April 22 this year. This date conveniently falls within National Park Week: admission to all parks is free. There may not be a better way to celebrate Earth Day in a travel budget-friendly, environmentally appropriate manner than to visit a US [Read more]
Posted in: Budget Travel, Family Travel, Travel News | 5 comments
April 3, 2011 | Author: Jennifer Miner
Los Angeles Pillow Fight Day is held annually to coincide with International Pillow Fight Day -- what a fun excuse to head downtown and bop strangers on their heads with feather pillows. My family's lived in Los Angeles since 2003, but we shamefully haven't [Read more]
Posted in: Budget Travel, Destinations, Family Travel | 11 comments
March 24, 2011 | Author: Jennifer Miner
Here's a video I'm particularly excited about: Rick Steves represents the best of travel, and I was fortunate enough to meet him at the Los Angeles Travel & Adventure Show. Now, the LA Travel & Adventure Show regularly has Rick Steves as a featured [Read more]
Posted in: Budget Travel, Interviews | 13 comments
March 8, 2011 | Author: Jennifer Miner
The most popular summer travel destinations in the US offer plenty of activities and attractions for a wide range of vacations. The American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA) reports that its top requested US travel destinations of the year were all major [Read more]
Posted in: Budget Travel, Destinations, Family Travel, Romantic Getaways, Travel News | 8 comments
March 2, 2011 | Author: Jennifer Miner
I've lived in Los Angeles since 2003, but only now am I (somewhat shamefully) coming to fully appreciate all the many terrific attractions in downtown LA. This is largely because of the continuing emergence of a newly vibrant downtown; even 5 years ago, [Read more]
Posted in: Budget Travel, Destinations, Family Travel | 9 comments
March 1, 2011 | Author: Contributor
It was named one of the most miserable cities by Forbes magazine. It's been the subject of a nationwide YouTube video mocking the entire city. Nobody really visits, tourism is down, jobs can't be found and don't forget that Lebron James just bolted town for [Read more]
Posted in: Budget Travel, Destinations, Family Travel | 4 comments
February 24, 2011 | Author: Jennifer Miner
Finca Luna Nueva Lodge is an ecolodge and working sustainable rainforest organic farm in Costa Rica. Part of our recent volunteer vacation was spent here, and it borders the rainforest in which we participated in a reforestation activity. There are some [Read more]
Posted in: Budget Travel, Family Travel, Hotels | 5 comments
January 22, 2011 | Author: Jennifer Miner
Costa Rica volunteer vacation activities vary wildly, depending on what sort of service trip you've selected. The Sierra Club, for example, hosts many ecologically-minded service trips across the world. True Nature Education, the program with which my family [Read more]
Posted in: Budget Travel, Family Travel | 15 comments
January 11, 2011 | Author: Jennifer Miner
Costa Rica volunteer vacation programs typically involve either cultural immersion or environmental activities, but rarely both. We wanted to expose our children to the pleasure of Costa Rica rainforest reforestation and the excitement of spending a few days [Read more]
Posted in: Budget Travel, Family Travel | 5 comments
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