Accommodations
- TripAdvisor.com (World's most trusted travel advice TM) If we could only use one travel resource, this would be it. TripAdvisor is our go-to source for accommodations. www.tripadvisor.com To access our personal reviews posted on TripAdvisor, click here.
- CheapTickets.com We have tried many air fare comparison sites and consistently find that CheapTickets comes up with the best options and prices, as well as providing good search flexibility. www.cheaptickets.com
- jetBlue (Happy Jetting) There isn't much good to say about air travel these days but jetBlue is an exception. We have been very pleased with both domestic and international flights with this airline. www.jetblue.com
- BudgetTravel.com We find their free email newsletter very helpful in keeping up with travel tips, trends, information and ideas. The website also offers excellent travel resources. Subscribe to the free e-newsletter at www.budgettravel.com
- SmarterTravel.com (Information and inspiration) Their free email newsletter is a quick read and easy to browse. The website also has lots of handy and up-to-date information. www.smartertravel.com
- U.S. National Park Service (America's Best Idea) This is the go-to source of information on nearly 400 U.S. national parks. These national treasures range from remnants of ancient civilizations to the boyhood homes of U.S. Presidents, awe-inspiring natural beauty to the living history of hard-fought wars. Our national parks are America's past, present and future. www.nps.gov
- TripAdvisor.com (World's most trusted travel advice TM) While the attractions/things to do feedback is generally not as comprehensive as the accommodations and restaurant sections of TripAdvisor, it is still a very worthwhile source of information on the popularity and caveats of various venues. www.tripadvisor.com To access our personal reviews posted on TripAdvisor.com, click here.
- XE (The World's Favorite Currency Site) This is the site we always use for our international travel. It performs currency and foreign exchange calculations using live, mid-market rates. The Universal Currency Converter® contains the top 85 currencies listing the top 10 first. Accurate and easy to use. www.xe.com
- Restaurant.com (Eat. Drink. Save Money.) Reputable source for discounted gift certificates at over 15,000 restaurants in the USA. Generally the deal is that you get $25 gift certificates for $10. They have sales at the end of the month when you can get $25 gift certificates for $3. NOTE: Many gift restaurants have restrictions such as a minimum purchase, days of validity, or number of gift certificates that can be used per visit or month; those are detailed right below the "Add to Cart" button. www.restaurant.com
- SmartBizSAVINGS.com Ted recently found this little gem while we were planning accommodations for "Old Dogs, New Tricks". The corporate ID codes for hotels and lodging netted us better rates than our AAA discount at several properties. The site also offers savings on car rentals, computers, office supplies and various other merchandise. Online membership is free but not required to obtain the corporate ID codes. Gotta love that! www.smartbizsavings.com
- RoadFood.com (The most memorable local eateries along the highways and back roads of America) Authors Jane and Michael Stern have been our culinary travel companions for over twenty years. Their brilliant foodie books, Roadfood and Goodfood, changed the way we travel and led us down a path of delicious discovery. www.roadfood.com
- TripAdvisor.com (World's most trusted travel advice TM) If we could only use one travel resource, this would be it. Trip Advisor is our go-to source for restaurants ranging from high-end to in-the-rough. www.tripadvisor.com To access our personal reviews posted on TripAdvisor.com, click here.
- GoogleMaps.com A good online source for street-level and 3-D views of destinations. maps.google.com
- MapQuest.com This mapping and route planning site is easy to use and is usually quite accurate. This is Laura's favorite of the online mapping websites. www.mapquest.com
- RoadsideAmerica.com (Your online guide to offbeat tourist attractions) That kind of says it all. Lots of fun! www.roadsideamerica.com
- BudgetTravel.com Great articles, travel tips and trends, information and ideas. They also offer an excellent free e-newsletter at www.budgettravel.com
- Gozaic.com (Connect Through Places That Matter) We can't say it any better than their own summary: "The travel planning resource for cultural and heritage travelers! Plan life-enriching experiences and join a community that shares your passion for culture and heritage. Book guided tours to domestic and international destinations. Share your photos and reviews with others. Explore. Go. Connect." This service is provided by Heritage Travel, Inc., a subsidiary of the National Trust For Historic Preservation. www.gozaic.com
- Historical Marker Database (Bite-Size Bits of Local, National, and Global History) This is a darned cool website for self-professed history geeks. If you've ever wondered what that historical marker along the highway said...you know, the one that you spotted while flying along at 55mph but didn't stop and now you've been wondering all day what historic thing happened there...problem solved! The site description accurately states that it is "an illustrated searchable online catalog of historical information viewed through the filter of roadside and other permanent outdoor markers, monuments, and plaques. It contains photographs, inscription transcriptions, marker locations, maps, additional information and commentary, and links to more information." Also, there are umpteen ways to do a search from zip code to highway number. Awesome! www.hmdb.org
- National Trust for Historic Preservation--Travel and Sites (Helping people protect, enhance, and enjoy the places that matter to them.) We are proud members of this private, non-profit organization that is dedicated to saving historic places and revitalizing America's communities. The National Trust provides excellent resources, travel information, and links on their website. We encourage you to visit, utilize the resources, and join the Preservation Nation. www.preservationnation.org
- Sierra Club (Exlore, Enjoy and Protect the Planet) We are proud members of the Sierra Club. Since 1892, the Sierra Club has been working to protect communities, wild places, and the planet itself. Along with our founder, John Muir, we are the oldest, largest, and most influential grassroots environmental organization in the United States. We encourage you to visit the website, utilize the resources, and join our mission to protect our planet. www.sierraclub.org
- SmarterTravel.com (Information and inspiration) Lots of handy and up-to-date information. They also offer a free, quick and easy-to-browse e-newsletter. www.smartertravel.com
- AccuWeather.com Very helpful site for weather forecasts and weather-related radar, maps, news, and videos around the USA. Also links to Canadian and World weather forecasts. www.accuweather.com
LINKS WE LOVE--A FEW OF OUR FAVORITE THINGS
Art, Architecture and Interior Design
Associations, Memberships, Preservation and Philanthropy
- Sierra Club (Explore, Enjoy and Protect the Planet) We are proud members of the Sierra Club, founded by John Muir, America's famous and tremendously influential naturalist and conservationist. Since 1892, the Sierra Club has been working to protect communities, wild places, and the planet itself. This is the oldest, largest, and arguably the most influential grassroots environmental organization in the United States. We encourage you to visit the website, learn more, and support our planet by joining the Sierra Club. www.sierraclub.org
- Society for Commercial Archeology We are proud members of the Society for Commercial Archeology (SCA). SCA offers publications, conferences, and tours to help preserve, document, and celebrate the structures and architecture of the 20th century: diners, highways, gas stations, drive-in theaters, bus stations, tourist courts, neon signs, and a lot more. We encourage you visit their website and join SCA. www.sca-roadside.org
- National Trust For Historic Preservation (Helping people protect, enhance, and enjoy the places that matter to them.) We are proud members of this private, non-profit organization that is dedicated to saving historic places and revitalizing America's communities. The National Trust provides leadership, education, advocacy, and resources to save America's diverse historic places and revitalize our communities. There are excellent resources, travel information, and links on their website. We encourage you to visit the website, utilize the resources, and join the Preservation Nation. www.preservationnation.org
Culture, Traditions, Spirituality and Religion
Entertainment
Food, Recipes and Cuisine
Health, Nature and the Environment
- Young Living Essential Oils Young Living specializes in the production and distribution of therapeutic-grade essential oils and natural health products. "Offering natural remedies to life’s imbalances, essential oils create true wellness when in their raw form, as an ingredient in nutritional supplements, or as part of essential living." Become a member to purchase Young Living products. There is no cost for membership. Use Sponsoring Distributor Member Number 879355. www.youngliving.com
Music
