But what about those lifetime experiences that you have always dreamed about?  Maybe a photo safari in Africa.  Or traveling to the country where your ancestors are from.  What about ziplining through the rain forest?  Taking your kids or grandkids to Disneyworld or on a Disney Cruise.  Or maybe you have been wanting to do a big family reunion to see everyone you haven’t seen in years.  Exploring the Oreint.  Ever been whalewatching?  Whitewater rafting?  Stayed in an over the water bungalow in Bora Bora?  Pampered in a luxurious SPA?  How about a ‘girls getaway’?  Take cooking classes in Italy.  The list is endless.

Have you made your Bucket List?  Why not start your list now?  And then start planning your next trip and start checking places or things to do off your list.  Experience Life.  Don’t just dream about it! Do it!

After we left Rome we boarded the Carnival Freedom for a 12 day cruise. It was wonderful to be able to see so many different areas and not have to pack and unpack every day-our bedroom just moved with us.

Our first stop was Naples where we had a tour guide who took us through one of the most scenic drives in the Mediterranean, with its cliff-clinging roads and spectacular views, the Amalfi coast. The seaside towns of Sorrento and Positano lie along this enchanting stretch of coast and we were able to stop and visit each of these. Sometimes we would gasp as we went around another curve just on the edge overlooking the bay and little towns below. After some shopping in these quaint little towns we arrived at Pompeii. Everyone reads and sees pictures of Pompeii, but being there is indescribable. We spent 2 very short hours there with a guide who had an unbelievable knowledge of every detail.
More to come on our trip…

With the Olympics fast approaching, a mini hotel boom has also taken place in Vancouver. Luxury options such as the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver and the Sutton Place Hotel have now been joined by some prestigious new properties. The Loden Vancouver opened in 2008, followed by the Shangri-La Hotel Vancouver in January. In the fall, the Coast Coal Harbour Hotel will open its doors and, in 2010, just before the Games, a new Fairmont, the Fairmont Pacific Rim, will debut.
An Olympic Visit
The one thing that tourism officials are emphasizing is that Vancouver is not only going to be one of the most accessible cities during the Olympics, but all sectors of tourism throughout the province are encouraging people to visit before and after the Games, as well.
At Cypress Mountain, only 30 minutes from downtown Vancouver, clients can ski and snowboard like an Olympian. Runs like Fork (on which a new Olympic event, the snowboard cross, will take place) and Trumpeter (which runs down what will become the snowboard parallel and giant slalom) will be available to visitors.
During the Games, celebrations will take place throughout the city. Nightly celebrations will occur at BC Place. The Robson Square – GE Ice Plaza outdoor ice rink will be open during the Olympic Games. In Yaletown, the David Lam Park Live Site will feature giant screens for event viewing, as well as a nightly laser light show and a water show. The park will also link to the new Yaletown-Roundhouse Canada Line for easy access. Larwill Park will be another live site and will feature giant screens, live performances and sponsor activities. The Francophone community is expected to make Granville Island a central gathering place. Bombardier, a Canadian aeronautical company, will offer a streetcar to shuttle visitors from the Olympic Village station on the Canada Line to the island.
One can expand their Olympic experience at the Cultural Olympiad’s many festivals and events. From Jan. 22 to March 21, you can see some of the best artists in the world in Vancouver. Canadian and international artists will take over the city showcasing a variety of artistic talent that will stretch the imagination. More than 600 free and ticketed performances will take place during 60 days of programming that will include world premieres and one-of-a-kind events.
Vancouver2010.com, the official Web site for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, is a hub of information. The Web site serves as one of the best resources for information on ticketing, torch relays, the Cultural Olympiad, education programs and more. Tickets for all Olympic events can be purchased through the site.

If you will be in Italy, you should definitely visit
Limone. Limone is one of Italy’s oldest ski areas,
and it is a very old village with a twelfth century
church and many other old buildings. The town is
located near the French border, and is only about
thirty miles from Nice.

At Limone, you will experience a real taste of old
Italy. The nightlife has a lot to offer, and the gourmet food is out of this world! Food and skiing are everything here – with more than fifty restaurants, and 46 ski runs. The top elevation is 6689 with a vertical drop of 3033 feet. Most of the runs are best suited to intermediate skiers, with a few that are suitable for beginners and experts. There are twenty seven lifts, including seven chair lifts and twenty surface lifts.

Remember that the village is very old – and the
locales like it that way. If you prefer high technology and modern buildings, Limone probably isn’t for you.
But if you want to truly experience Italy, Limone
must be on your list of places to visit in Italy.

During the Sea of Cortez tours, you will spend three to four hours paddling per day, seeking out whales and other marine life including dolphins and exploring desert islands in Loreto Bay National Park.  Now previous kayaking experience is required.  The tours also include snorkeling with angelfish and looking for rare blue-footed boobies.  At night, your family will camp out together on the beach in sheltered coves.  A short night paddle excursion will introduce teens to the ocean’s bio-luminescent properties as well. 

If you are interested in this sea kayaking adventure for your family vacation contact me  to assist you with this adventure travel.  See a video

A: Most all of the tourist attractions in Vancouver will be open during the time of the Olympics.  Vancouver is one of the warmest cities in Canada so it has very few days that actually get to freezing during the day.  So you will be able to enjoy Vancouver with you family.  Some attractions may change their hours of operations, so make sure you check as it get closer to time for the correct hours of operations.  Of course, Whistler is different; it will be very cold there.

One of the things you may like to do while on your family vacation in Vancouver would be to visit the Vancouver Aquarium in Stanley Park.  You will be able to see over 70,000 animals.  There you will find Clownfish Cove, a children’s area with live animals; corn snakes, clown fish and many different fish and reptiles.  There will be touchpools and the children will learn through fun and interaction.  If you are lucky, you may even be able to help nurse a seal.

 The Capilano River Suspension Bridge is 450 feet across and 230 feet above the Capilano River and is Vancouver’s oldest tourist attraction originally built in 1889.  There are Treetop Adventures, guided nature tours and the Kids’ Rainforest Explorer program with unique rainforest encounters.

 You must experience Grouse Mountain where you can enjoy zip-lining over the tree tops, a high speed sky ride, ice skating, snowshoeing, or a magical sleigh ride.  Then enjoy a lovely dinner on top of the mountain and take in the spectacular views.

 Gastown, established the same year that Canada became a nation.The Gastown district retains its historic charm.  There’s no mistaking Gastown for any other area of Vancouver, or of Canada for that matter.  The Gastown area mixes old and new in a revitalizing style.  You will enjoy interesting shops during the day and cozy restaurants and nightlife at night.

 Driving.. During you family vacation you will want to be aware that driving near the Olympic Games will be limited and the Vancouver officials will be encouraging use of public transportation, walking or cycling.

 Travel Insurance  is always something to look into before you begin your trip; as you never know when you will need it.  That is why it is called ‘insurance’. 

I will keep you posted on other things going on in Vancouver soon.

A:  Every airline has its own rules and regulations for unaccompanied minors and the airlines charge different fees.  Fees are for each way so if they are flying round trip, double the fee.  Please check with the airline your child is traveling with for their specific requirements.  With that said; here are some general guidelines, for most airlines, when you need for your child to travel alone. 

1   Children must be at least 5 years old to fly alone

2  Children ages 5-7 can only fly on non-stop  or direct flights

3  Children ages 8-14 can fly on connecting flights if needed, but try to have direct flights.

4  Older kids up to age 17 do not need the unaccompanied service, but most airlines will provide this for a fee, if requested.

5  Your child will need a passport for international travel; possibly a visa or shots, also, depending on country traveling to.  Check with government official

6  Some airlines require that you provide name, address, and phone number of person bringing the child to airport and picking them up at the destination before the travel date.  So contact your airline.

7  A notarized letter stating that your child has permission to travel alone is required by some airlines.

8  One parent (or guardian) is required to accompany the child to the departure gate and must obtain proper documentation at the ticket counter to pass through airport security.  They must stay with child until take-off.

9  Have the child wear a wallet around their neck to keep a copy of their itinerary, identification, and name, phone number and address of parent dropping them off and the person picking them up.

10  Person picking the child up will need to have a photo ID and get documentation to get through security to meet the child at the gate. They will probably have to sign something when they pick the child up.

11  Talk with your child in detail about what to expect and who to talk to during the flight. Tell your child to never leave the plane or gate without an attendant. If they have to change planes, have them show the attendant their itinerary during the change.  This helps keep them from getting on the wrong flight.

12  Keep carry-on light, but make sure child has snacks and activities to enjoy during the flight.

13  Send a notarized medical release form for the grandparents and health insurance information.

14  You may think about sending your child’s belongings to the grandparents by mail or UPS ahead of time to have one less thing to worry about the day of the trip.

I know your child will have a great grandchild – grandparent vacation.

A life size crocodile was in the shallow end of one of the pools and a little girl, about 3 years old, was approaching the crocodile saying ‘the crocodile is not real, the crocodile is not real’.  She finally worked up enough nerve to touch it, she was so cute. 

While in Quepos we went out on a 60-foot catamaran.  We spotted a humpback whale in the distance and quickly sped over to where it was spotted.  We waited and kept watch and then we would see the whale again and try to get close before it went under again.  It was fun to try, but we never were able to get closer than a couple of football fields away.

Back at the resort we were sitting out by the pool having a bite to eat and an iguana came up to our table like a puppy begging for food.  There are signs around that say ‘do not feed the iguanas’ but my husband paid no attention and fed him some grapes.  The waiter came over and ran him off (the iquana, not my husband); but in just a few minutes, here he comes again.  This time the waiter ran him far off.  We sat there eating and did not see the iguana anywhere.  Then all of a sudden we heard all of this hullabaloo and turned around in time to see the iguana jump from a tree onto a table and everyone at the table started running backward.  It was halarious to watch.  He just wanted some more grapes!

One of the main reasons I wanted to go to this area was to visit the Manuel Antonio National Park.  Unfortunatley the park is closed on Mondays, which is when we were there.  This National Park epitomizes everything people flock to Costa Rica to see: stunning beaches, a magnificent setting with islands offshore, lush rainforest laced with easy to walk trails, and wildlife galore. The people we spoke with say there is good chance that you will see monkeys (howler, white faced, and possibly squirrel monkeys), sloths, and coatimundis.  So this is on my Must Do list for my next visit to Costa Rica.

Quepos has some of the best game fishing in the world with marlin, sailfish, snapper, Amberjack, Wahoo, Dorado, Yellow fin and big eye tuna, and roosterfish found in abundance here.  So if you are a fisherman…..

Are you ready to go to Costa Rica yet?  I am..more later.