Olympic National Park

Now that summer is officially upon us, I thought it would be an ideal time to write about a favorite summer travel destination: Olympic National Park. Located in the northwest corner of Washington state, this National Park is a true gem!

It is a large and diverse area that covers a rain forest, beaches on the Pacific ocean, large mountains and beautiful lakes and rivers.  Our Olympic National Park adventure began in the Hoh Rain Forest. I’m sure you’re thinking, “A rain forest in the Pacific Northwest?” I thought the same thing. But it’s true. This area of the National Park is very warm, and they get an average of about twelve feet (feet!!) of rain every year. There are several streams and rivers like the one pictured above that run clear with rain water runoff from nearby mountain.

There are some areas of the rain forest that look pretty normal, much denser vegetation that you would see in elsewhere, but nothing that makes you think that you’re in a rain forest. And then we went for a hike along the “Hall of Mosses” trail and saw scenes like the one above. There are ferns growing out of the side of trees. Almost every square inch of every tree in sight is covered in a moss or fern. Everything is very green. Intensely green.

Then we drove on Highway 101 headed back to the Pacific to enjoy the sunshine at Rialto Beach. The beach was rocky with tons of driftwood and sea stacks off the shore. It was wonderful feeling the sun on my face. We stayed for a while and had a picnic as well. When I was finally ready to give up the beach, we headed inland to Lake Crescent. I learned at a roadside placard that Lake Crescent is a glacial lake. It is 600+ feet deep and crystal clear. It was an absolutely gorgeous area and we kept pulling over to enjoy the views.

The large glacial lake that is crystal clear at the edges and then various shades of blue and blue grey in the center depending on the light. Very cold water, and pretty incredible shades of blue. This whole lake was carved out by a glacier millions of years ago and now it gets its water from nearby glaciers in the park.

Each one of these aspects would make for their own interesting National Park, and I haven’t even talked about the wildlife – there is a huge herd of Roosevelt elk that lives within the park – but when you combine all of these things into one National Park you get quite a visit. I was really impressed with the variety of the scenery and vegetation throughout our trip through the park. I plan to come back to Olympic National Park and do some hiking of the large mountains, that’s the only thing that we missed out on during our stay.

If you’d like to know more about Olympic National Park – or book a trip to experience it for yourself – please give us a call at 317-885-9788 or fill out one of our handy online web forms.

Tips For Families On The Go This Summer

The family vacation is a ritual of summer. While traveling with kids brings parents enormous amounts of joy, it also comes with a certain level of stress. Family travel expert, Emily Kaufman, The Travel Mom, offers the following advice to make every trip stress-free.

TIP ONE
Pick a vacation destination that really, truly offers something for every family member – Look for hotels, resorts and getaways that have a wide variety of activities; golf for dad, spa for mom, structured kid’s clubs for children.

TIP TWO
Don’t overschedule your vacation – Our families are so busy. We balance school, jobs, homework, sports, dance and other activities all the time. Vacation is a time to relax and enjoy the down time.

TIP THREE
Kids are creatures of habit that don’t tell time – They know what is coming next because of the sequence, order and routine. Even on vacation go through the same steps surrounding bed time, meal time and potty time so the children know what to expect.

TIP FOUR
If traveling with another family, be very clear about everyone’s vacation expectations before you leave – Discuss how much time you plan to spend all together. Talk about all costs from meals to rental cars. Know if one team of parents is going to stay with the kids one night and let the other parents have an adult night.

TIP FIVE
Be prepared! Arm yourself with information about the place you are planning to visit. Most every city has a local visitor’s bureau, and their websites are loaded with information about the destination. Check out their sites to learn about family friendly activities, dining offers, special events and more.

TIP SIX
Make a boredom bag for a car trip – Take a hanging travel cosmetic case and fill each pocket with age appropriate activities; things like books on tape, hand held electronic games and self contained craft kits. Hang it from the seat back in front of where your child is sitting. This will keep everything organized and the young one from asking “are we there yet?”

TIP SEVEN
Sneak in an educational experience – We are never too old to stop learning! Visit hands on, kid friendly museums, walk in the footsteps of history or take a trip to aquarium. Learning can be lots of fun.

TIP EIGHT
Be loyal – Credit card companies, airlines, hotels, cruise lines and rental cars all reward their most devoted customers with special perks, from free upgrades to amenities in their hotel room. Some airlines don’t charge their premium members to check baggage and offer access to the most desired seats.

TIP NINE
Disconnect to reconnect – Our families are so wired in with technology that we miss the chance to talk to each other. Kids can stop texting, mom can stop with the cell phone and dad can stop with the blackberry so the family can enjoy each other.

TIP TEN
Contact your travel agent to save time and money – Purchase tickets to theme parks and other attractions ahead of time, and have them before you leave. That way you don’t waste valuable vacation time waiting in line to pay for admission.

Source: RISMEDIA, July 2010

Beach Burns

Before you head to the beach, the pool, or spend large amounts of time outside, you may want to know what the difference is between all of the new sunscreen options.

Something strange is happening in the sunscreen aisle. Shelves that had been stocked with bottles claiming an SPF, or a sun protection factor, of 30 now trumpet SPFs of 55, 70, even “110+.” This not-so-subtle escalation often comes with corollary pricing. Higher SPFs frequently cost more, but are they worth it?

Many dermatologists don’t think so.

“Once you get to SPF 50, it’s really getting silly,” said Boston dermatologist, James Spencer. “SPF refers to multiples of how much longer it takes the skin to burn,” but it isn’t a linear progression.

An SPF of 30 doesn’t offer twice as much protection as an SPF of 15, for example. An SPF 15 blocks 94 percent of UVB rays, SPF 30 blocks 97 percent, and SPF 45 blocks 98 percent.

Spencer recommends sunscreens with an SPF of 30, as does the American Academy of Dermatology, “because we know you’re not going to put enough on.”

In fact, the academy found that most sunscreen users put on only half as much sunscreen as they should to get the product’s claimed SPF protection. Making matters worse is the fact that sunscreen doesn’t last all day and needs to be reapplied every few hours.

When packing for your beach vacation, don’t forget the sunscreen. When planning for your beach vacation, don’t forget to call Caldwell Travel. We are here and ready to help!

Source: RISMedia

Survey Results Are In

The results of its 2010 Summer Travel Intentions Survey have been announced. This year, the travel bug seems to be back as 75% of respondents are planning to travel the same amount or more as compared to 2009. And this summer, vacationers are most interested in hitting the sandy beaches, having plenty of sightseeing/cultural experiences and swinging a date with lady luck.

When asked what type of dream summer getaway is the most desired this year, it’s no surprise that a resounding majority chose beach getaways (37%) and cultural/sightseeing excursions (33%). To help the team at Travel Ticker continue to handpick just the right deals, they also found out specific destinations that summer travelers are aiming to visit most. Coming in at number one is sunny Las Vegas, followed closely by locales sure to please beachgoers or culture lovers.

Top 10 summer destinations chosen by survey respondents:
1. Las Vegas
2. New York
3. Caribbean
4. Europe
5. Hawaii
6. San Francisco
7. San Diego
8. Chicago
9. Boston
10. Washington D.C.

It’s great to hear directly from customers that they’re ready to travel again this year. Travelers can feel confident that our team of experts is always searching for deeply discounted, high-quality travel deals to all their desired destinations and more. Contact Caldwell Travel today!

European River Cruise

Kim Hoffman recently had the opportunity to experience the Rhine and Mosel rivers on a seven-night cruise aboard the MS Switzerland. She wanted to share a bit of her experience.
After unpacking only once, we were on our way to cruising legendary rivers and retracing the routes of history as we passed by magnificent castles, quaint villages and sloping vineyards that I have only dreamed about seeing. The experience blended classic land touring with elegant river cruising – I have to say that it was one of the most relaxing ways to experience the heart of Europe.

Before boarding the MS Switzerland, we saw the quaint gabled roofed houses in Amsterdam, as well as the city’s picturesque canals on a panoramic city tour. In Amsterdam, The Netherlands, we said ‘Bon Voyage’ as we boarded the MS Switzerland to begin our memorable river cruise. We visited beautiful Keukenhof Gardens at the peak of the tulip season which was absolutely incredible. The beauty of the millions of blooming flowers was breathtaking – I couldn’t stop taking photos!

Ports of call in Germany included Cologne, Cochem, Boppard, Rudesheim, Mannheim, an optional excursion to the gateway university city of Heidelberg, and Speyer, gateway to Baden Baden. During the cruise, the majestic European cities of Strasbourg, France and Basel, Switzerland were also visited.

As the MS Switzerland meandered its course, we marveled at some of the world’s most dramatic river scenery and explored charming historic towns and villages and admired centuries-old architecture. We cruised the beautiful Mosel River with its steep valleys rich in vineyards producing some of the finest wines in the world.

When we weren’t exploring the ports of call, it was nice to sit back and relax on our ship. The MS Switzerland, our floating home for ten days, was a joy to behold. “From a single seating for meals, to everyone having an ‘outside’ cabin, our travelers luxuriated in the ease of getting around,” explains John. The staterooms on the ship are quiet and comfortable and everyone had an amazing view from their room.

I just can’t say enough about the lovely amenities of the ship – the main lounge, bar and the dining room and the food was outstanding. One of my favorite spots on the ship was the sundeck – I saw some of the best views from here.

All in all, the trip was an outstanding experience and I truly enjoyed every minute. Everyone that we traveled with was so fun and we all shared our love for this holiday. I can’t wait to go back someday soon!

Contact Caldwell Travel to book a wonderful European River Cruise!

Road Trip this Summer? Check Out These Festivals

The United States is no longer an agricultural nation, but you wouldn’t know it from the way we like to celebrate produce. From sea to shining sea during the summer, we’re awash in festivals celebrating the harvest of the land.

Garlic, watermelon, lentils, cherries, even the world’s biggest mushroom — if you can grow it, someone has decided to build a party around it. So pack your eatin’ pants, and plan a trip to one of your favorite foodie festivals this summer. Here is a small sampling of Midwestern festivals to check out:

National Cherry Festival
Traverse City, Mich.
July 3-10

History: This corner of Michigan is one of the nation’s top cherry-growing regions, and locals began celebrating with an informal “blossom blessing” festival almost 100 years ago. The idea took off — early promoters even baked a 3-foot-wide cherry pie for President Calvin Coolidge — and the state of Michigan decreed it a national festival in 1931. Except for a few years around World War II, it has been celebrated annually ever since, attracting up to half-million visitors each year.

Eat this: The signature dish is cherry crumb pie, available by the slice or the pie at the event’s pie shop. The Cherries D’Vine culinary event features local restaurateurs dishing up dishes featuring cherries, paired with locally produced wines. There’s also a Cherries Grand Buffet, featuring cherry-barbecue pulled pork, cherry chicken croissants, coleslaw with cherry vinaigrette and cherry-infused deli sandwiches.

What else to do: Kids can don an apron and chef’s cap and make their own miniature cherry crumb pies at the pie shop. Fresh cherries are for sale every day; you can also buy cherry salsa, cherry jam, cherry butter, cherry vinaigrette … well, you get the idea. There are also pie-eating contests and pit-spitting contests — last year’s champ hocked one almost 50 feet.

Info: www.cherryfestival.org; 800-968-3380.

Marion Popcorn Festival
Marion, Ohio
Sept. 9-11

History: Local business-owners started the festival in 1981 to draw attention to the fact that the farmland around Marion is one of the biggest popcorn-growing areas in the nation. Aiming for a low-cost, family-friendly atmosphere, they decided that entertainment would be free, a tradition that continues to this day. (Blues Traveler and the Kentucky Headhunters are among this year’s headliners.)

What to eat: Sweet, salty kettle corn is the biggest seller, probably because it’s made fresh on the grounds, and the aroma is irresistible. There’s also flavored popcorn in various permutations — vanilla, blueberry, even licorice — and the occasional special treat, like last year’s popcorn sundae, made of chocolate-covered popcorn, whipped cream and a cherry on top. “It tended to melt VERY quickly, but it was good!” says event publicist Karen Herr.

What else to do: There are five Miss and Ms. Popcorn pageants, featuring contestants from six months to, well, a lot older than that. The recipe contest brings out amateur chefs; entries have included popcorn meatloaf and last year’s winner, a caramel-corn apple parfait. You can also tour the town’s Wyandot Popcorn Museum, which boasts the largest collection of antique popcorn poppers in the world.

Info: www.popcornfestival.com; 740-387-3378

Watermelon Festival
Hope, Ark.
Aug. 12-14

History: Local folks say they’re famous for three things:— native sons Bill Clinton and Mike Huckabee, and the world’s largest watermelons. So it only made sense to name a festival after one of them. Melons won. Though the town held watermelon fests as far back as the ’20s, the modern festival dates to 1977. The town really does hold the record for big melons: A 268.8-pounder was certified as the world’s largest in 2005.

Eat this: Ice-cold watermelon, of course. They’ll serve more than 22 tons of melons at $1.25 a slice during the three-day run, says Mark Keith, director of the Hope Chamber of Commerce.

What else to do: The various watermelon-eating contests, divided by age, also have a division known as the politically correct watermelon-eating contest, in which local and regional politicians vie for bragging rights. There’s a seed-spitting contest, a watermelon auction and a display of large specimens, with 200-pounders fairly common. You can buy a copy of what’s thought to be the world’s only watermelon cookbook, written by an area woman, Keith says. (Sadly, the Watermelon Olympics, in which all events had to be completed while carrying a watermelon, appear to be on hiatus.)

Info: www.hopemelonfest.com; 800-777-3640.

Humungus Fungus Fest
Crystal Falls, Mich.
Aug. 12-15

History: In 1988, military researchers came across a giant fungus, covering about 38 acres outside Crystal Falls, a town of about 1,800 in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. A journal article a few years later made it famous — well, for a fungus. (It even got its own David Letterman Top 10, with facts like “Elvis once had staff try to bulldoze it onto a 40-acre pizza.”) In 1992, townspeople decided that it made a good excuse for a party, and they’ve been throwing one annually ever since.

Eat this: Organizers bake and serve a Humungus Fungus pizza — at 10 feet by 10 feet, unofficially the world’s biggest mushroom pizza.

What else to do: Beyond a mushroom cook-off, most of the events are typical small-town festival stuff: a parade, a softball tournament, a pie social and a street dance. That’s partly because you can’t actually eat, or even see, the humungous fungus, says Kim Olson, an event organizer. Hidden underground deep in the woods, it does spawn small honey mushrooms, an edible variety, but those don’t come out until later in the fall.

Info: www.humungusfungusfest.com

Lenexa Spinach Festival
Lenexa, Kan.
Sept. 11

History: It celebrates Lenexa’s 1930s heyday as the Spinach Capital of the World, when a group of Belgian farmers started raising world-class spinach after their other crops had failed. Even though spinach is no longer grown there commercially in large quantities, it became the namesake when the local historical society started an annual fundraiser in the early ’80s.

What to eat: The on-site Spinach Cafe sells spinach balls, spinach quiche, Wimpy burgers and spinach salad, but the real showstopper is the World’s Largest Spinach Salad, made with 150 pounds of fresh spinach, 12 jars of bacon bits, 100 cloves of garlic and 600 mushrooms, all tossed in a kiddie wading pool.

What else to do: The kids’ area is spinach-themed, with a Sweet Pea crawling contest for babies, spinach-can stacking and games like Brutus’ Bean Bag Toss; Popeye and Olive Oyl generally make an appearance. On the last day, winners of the recipe contest are announced, illustrating some real culinary creativity. A past winner was spinach coconut chiffon cake, served with spinach ice cream and spinach jus.

Info: www.lenexa.ks.us/parks/spinachfestival.html; 913-477-7100

The list is only a small sampling of festivals and celebrations in US. There are so many festivals in each state, let us know where you want to go or which food you would like to celebrate, and we will help you coordinate a trip. For information and help planning your vacation, contact Caldwell Travel at 317-885-9855 or via our web form.

Source: Patricia Rodriguez Terrell – RISMEDIA, June 22, 2010 (MCT)

A Thank You from St. Croix

Been here less than two hours, unpacked and sitting by the water. This is the view from MY room. I’ll send more tomorrow. THANK YOU!!!!
Words cannot describe how beautiful it is!
-WesleyAnn

WesleyAnn contacted Caldwell Travel just six days ago looking for a last minute travel deal to St. Croix with a waterfront view and free wifi. Today, she is there – enjoying the view, the weather and her vacation!

Let us know how we can help you! Contact us at the office 317-885-9855 or via our web form.

Hawaiian Vacation Memories

We recently booked a vacation for a family of 4 to Hawaii. They enjoyed the black sand beaches of the Big Island as well a side trip to the Pearl Harbor Memorial. They thoroughly enjoyed their trip and sent us some photos of the hotel as well as a few from the beach with a note. We have included them below.

What an amazing trip! Caldwell Travel exceeded our expectations with planning a family trip to Hawaii. Our hope was to have a family vacation emphasizing both education and relaxation. While in Oahu, we visited the many tourist sites and spent a day touring Pearl Harbor. The kids were enthralled with the history of the island. Kona, on the big island, is truly a hidden paradise. The volcano, lava flow tubes, rainforest, and both black and green sand beaches allowed for many short getaways. As for the Four Seasons Resort Hualalai at Historic Ka’upulehu, the experience was parallel to no other. The views were breathtaking…the service was second to none…and the memories will be forever cherished. -Traci

Our clients stayed at the Four Seasons Resort Hualalai at Historic Ka’upulehu and really enjoyed themselves. Everyone in the family had great things to say about Hawaii, and they hope to return someday to continue their exploration of the islands.

For more information on the Four Seasons Resort Hualalai at Historic Ka’upulehu, you can view this informational video or contact Caldwell Travel at 317-885-9855.

If you’d like to book a Hawaiian Vacation – contact Caldwell Travel to get started.
We have vacation packages to fit all budgets and life styles.
Call us at 317-885-9855 or fill out a contact form.

Edinburgh Castle

There are many iconic sites in Edinburgh, Scotland; however, the Edinburgh Castle really stands out as a favorite for many visitors. Dominating the Edinburgh skyline, this massive castle has been home to settlements since the 9th century BC.

In addition to being a castle complete with high stone walls and lots of cannons, Edinburgh Castle is also the home to two very interesting sites. The first is the Scottish National War Museum which has weapons and kilts on display. If you’re lucky you might see a Scottish bag piper playing in the courtyard. The second site is the home to the Scottish Honours. The collection include the royal crown, sword and scepter from the 17th century.These attractions make a visit to Edinburgh Castle extra special.

Walk the grounds, learn about the history of Edinburgh Castle and the famous William Wallace, independently or on a guided tour. Step inside St Margaret’s Chapel, which is the oldest building in all of Edinburgh, dating back to the 12th century.

Flying from Indianapolis to Edinburgh for your Scottish vacation? Let Caldwell Travel take care of the details. We’ll arrange for a tour of Edinburgh Castle and other Scottish sites, including a trip to the Scottish Highlands where you can see Loch Ness. To book your trip today call (317) 885 – 9855 or fill out the form on the the contact us page.

A Bull Fight in Madrid

Mondays on the Move with Kate is a travel series following the adventures of Caldwell Travel’s Kate Godfrey as she explores the world and shares her experiences. She is currently on a 5 month European Adventure.

The Spanish style of bullfighting has evolved over the years to become a very stylized ritual. Supporters of bullfighting (and their numbers are dwindling) view bullfighting as an art form. Bullfighting can be traced back to the Roman Empire, and was introduced to Spain as one of the many forms of gladiatorial contests pitting humans against animals.

When you go to a bullfight in Spain you will see three matadors perform their ritual – each matador receiving two bulls. Originally fighters were on horseback. The use of the cape and fighting the bull on foot were introduced in the 18th century.

Each bull fight begins with the flagmen using their bright pink and yellow capes to entice the bull to charge, allowing the matador to view the bull in action. If the matador decides that this bull is good enough to fight he will make a signal to the official and the bull fight proceeds. If the bull is a dud – a new bull will be sent in.

Next up are the picadores. Picadores/Lancers are men who sit atop horses with long lances. Once the bull has been stabbed twice with the lance, this round is over. It sounds simple enough; however more often the not, the bull attempts to overthrow the horse. It takes quite a bit of convincing for the bull to let the horse go and the round to finish.

Banderilleros come out next The banderilleros/flagmen have the job of attempting to plant “banderillas”, little flags (sticks with barbed hooks decorated in bright colors), into the shoulders of the bull. Banderilleros will not stick the bull if it is not charging, sometimes it can take a while to get the bull engaged in the fight. Typically, this round goes pretty quickly.

The final phase of the bull fight is known as the “Tercio de Muerte” which means The Death Third. It is now time for the matador to take on the bull/toro. The matador is alone and carrying a small red cape and his sword. Using the sword to manipulate the cape he entices the bull into charging, passing within inches of his body. He does this for several minutes, which makes for the most intense part of the entire spectacle, as a 1,200 pound bull with large horns charging at a tiny matador is quite intense.

Finally the matador takes the sword and charges at the bull, attempting to stab it between the horns and kill it. This can come as a surprise for first-timers who are not aware that the bulls die in the end. This stage is very dangerous and requires a lot of skill. Once the bull has died the round is over. The bull is carted out of the bullring by a group of horses. If a matador has done a good job then the official will award him with a trophy: one ear, two ears, or if the performance is exceptional: two ears and the tail.

Watching a bull fight is not recommended for those who get queasy at the site of blood, animal lovers, or vegetarians. Six bulls meet their demise during the two hour bull fight. It is a unique experience and very rewarding in terms of observing cultural customs and societal differences – which can be a large part of travel – but disturbing at the same time.

The bull fight described and photographed was at the Las Ventas bull fight stadium in Madrid, one of the largest and most important bull fight rings in the world. Las Ventas seats 25,000 people on cement bleachers. Bullfights in Madrid happen every day during the month of May for the San Isidro festival, and generally every Sunday evening during the summer months.

Madrid has so much to offer – if you’d like to book a Spanish Vacation, contact Caldwell Travel today!