Rundown for the week of July 4th, 1998
Scene Setter: 4th of July celebrations
Rudy talks about unique 4th of July celebrations including the World's
Greatest Lizard Race in Lovington, New Mexico; Oatman, Arizona's
sidewalk egg frying contest at high noon on old Route 66; and
cardboard boat regattas in Rock Island, Illinois and Sheboygan,
Wisconsin, which include the Titanic Award for the most spectacular
sinking.
Jarbidge
"Journeys, like artists, are born and not made. A thousand
differing circumstances contribute to them, few of them willed or
determined by the will."
---
playwright Lawrence Durrell
And so goes the journey of The Savvy
Traveler's Dan Collison, who recently -- surprisingly -- found himself
quite taken with the very small town of Jarbidge, Nevada. Once a
community of gold miners, Jarbidge is tucked inside a national forest
in the mountains of the northeastern part of the state. It's not
exactly known as being a hotspot for tourists... matter of fact, some
of the locals might think it just fine if you never stopped by at all.
But Dan Collison did, and tells his tale of this unlikely vacation.
Q & A I -- What place epitomizes America?
Rudy talks with listeners about the place they think of when they
think "America," from baseball games to Arlington National Cemetery,
and even some overseas American soil: army posts and embassies.
Gardenwalks Interview
You can't always take a vacation when you need one. You've got kids
screaming... bosses demanding... funds at a miserable low. But you
know as well as I do that sometimes in the hustle and bustle of life
you need a break or else you're not going to be of much use to anyone.
So when that time comes, why not try a little traveling in your own
back yard by checking out some of the local gardens. Writers
Marina Harrison and Lucy Rosenfeld say you'll probably be surprised by
the range of options right there in your hometown. The pair have put
together a book called Gardenwalks after exploring 101 of the
best gardens from Maine to Virginia. They're here to give us some hot
tips on the garden scene.
Gardenwalks: 101 of the Best Gardens from Maine to Virginia and Gardens Throughout the Country by Marina Harrison and Lucy Rosenfeld is available from amazon.com. Or call Michael Kesend
Publishing at 800.488.8040.
Deal of the Week
Three picks for discounted family travel:
Colorado's ski resort Keystone: Until October 6th, kids under 18 stay
free with parents. Rent a two-bedroom condo for as little as $104 a
night or check into a hotel room for about $85. Scottsdale Princess in
Arizona:$145 a night with free continental breakfast `til early
September. The kids have their own swimming, sports, and arts and
crafts club. Price for the supervised activity program: $50 per day
for kids between 5 and 12. Marriott's "Together Time" packages at
hotels in the U.S., Mexico, and the Caribbean: free breakfast and a
free meal from a children's menu with every adult entree purchased.
Prices range from $89 per night to $229 per night in Nassau. Deals
end Sept. 13th.
Q & A II -- General Questions
Rudy takes listeners' general questions about travel. He mentions:
Travel to eastern China, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan:
Geographic Expeditions 800-777-8183
Leads tours 22-32 days
long; can also arrange custom tours or set you up with a guide. TEI
Tours 510-825-6104
Tours on the trans-Siberian railroad. Other
companies that arrange tours in the area:
Sitara Travel
800-888-7216
Silk Road Tours 888-881-SILK
Places to stay in the La Paz area of Baja California (north of Cabo
San Lucas): Pensione California 52-112-228-96
Canta Mar in
Pichilingue 52-112-270-10 You can also call the tourist bureau
of La Paz at 52-112-40100. For a driving map of B.C. call Mexico
Instant Driving Insurance for the Baja Road Log, which highlights
things to do between Tijuana and Cabo San Lucas: 800-345-4701
Traveling with pets:
International Air Transport Association
202-626-4000
Publishes a pamphlet with info you'll need when taking
your pet abroad.
For general tips, call the ASPCA at 212-876-7700.
Each country has specific requirements for bringing in pets; check
with the individual consulate of each place you plan to visit.
Niagara Falls Postcard
We hear from all kinds of travelers on this show... adventure
travelers, eco-travelers, business travelers, solo travelers...but
here's one we don't see too often: The Savvy Traveler's Wendy Paris
is currently driving across the country with her boyfriend Giles
searching for the gaudiest spots in the U.S. She's trying to find
clarity and meaning in those bastions of tacky Americana most of us
try to avoid. Wendy sent us a postcard from her first stop in this
noble journey, Niagara Falls. When she's not traveling the country,
Paris lives and writes in New York City.
Next Week on The Savvy Traveler
We'll be lounging pool side, but we won't be in some fancy resort in
Beverly Hills or the South of France. No, next week we'll dip into the
swimming pool culture in -- get this -- Iceland:
"Icelanders seem to breathe in water as they breathe in air."
And on that voyage, you won't have to worry about what you pack for
the pool...matter of fact, you don't really have to bring a bathing
suit at all...
"Why be so upset about how you look in a bathing suit? Just get to
like your body."
We'll bare it all when we discuss the finer points of nude
recreation. And we'll have a few laughs when we check out the Montreal
Comedy Festival. All that plus your votes for the best beaches in the
world, in next week's edition of The Savvy Traveler.
For tapes of the show:
If you want your very own copy of The Savvy Traveler, order an audio
cassette. It's easy. Just call 303-823-8000. The price is $15. As Rudy
says, it's a steal.
