Home Articles Posted by Izy Berry (Page 95)
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How I Can Afford to Travel Full Time
Whenever I met anyone new and the “what do you do” question comes up… I hesitate. It can be a little hard to explain exactly what I do and then most travellers are very interested in learning more about it so they can do it too.
When I first set out traveling, I fell in love. I fell in love with the movement, the amount of life I could cram into days on the road, the types of people I met – both fellow travellers and locals – and what I learned from them. I knew within days of starting my first solo trip that I wanted to figure out a way to do this longterm, without limitation, without expirations.
For quite some time I was traveling on a budget. A real budget. There’s nothing wrong with that, but as I grew older I felt happy that I was able to travel, but a little sad that financially I was not moving forward. I wanted to be able to travel now, without compromising my options and financial security for the future.
So how did I go from perpetually broke, shoestring traveller to someone who can afford to travel indefinitely while saving some decent coin?
Unfortunately there were no lotto wins or massive surprise inheritances.
I worked.
The Job That Never Happened
My money started to run low in 2011. I was in South East Asia and had applied and was accepted to be an English teacher in South Korea. From all the research I’d done, I would be able to save a considerable amount of money and make some dents on my student loan. I hadn’t thought much further than that.
But for some reason, there was a big part of me that really, really didn’t want to go. I can’t explain why, I just knew it wasn’t the right move for me.
So I moved to the Czech Republic and became an au pair. It was a chance to have some breathing space. To not have to worry about money or bills for a while. I was supposed to stay for 3 months, but loved the family so much that I wound up staying for six.
During that time I started this blog.
Originally I started this blog to tell my family what I was doing and also because I had so much free time. I was mostly interested in having a platform for showcasing my photography, but as time went on I fell in love with writing. Some friends told me I was good at it and I really enjoyed it, so I started thinking about how I could make it work for me.
I also read a book: The Four Hour Work Week and my mind was opened up to concepts I’d never heard before. Like taking short retirements right now rather than waiting for when you’re older. I read about how people were earning considerable sums of money online with great freedom and independence and I wanted that for myself too.
I continued to work on the blog. For months and months I wrote and wrote with no returns. I had friends commenting, new followers appear and it keep ticking away.
Then I went to Coachella, home to New Zealand for a visit and was an au pair in Spain. During that time money was tight and I started casually looking into freelance writing on Elance. I slowly built up some clients and within a few months I was earning a pretty good salary, more than I’d ever earned in New Zealand.
The ‘problem’ was that I was working full time. How do you enjoy traveling when you’re busy glued to your computer smashing away at your keyboard for the majority of the week.
During this time I had a few advertisers approach me to advertise on my blog and I took them up on the offer. After some time I traded contacts with friends and everything grew from there. Now I earn enough from advertising on my blogs to sustain my travels full time. It wasn’t a logical path and when I first started this blog, it wasn’t to earn an income although I was open to the idea.
I would not suggest that anyone starts a blog just to make money, it’s so much work! If you’re passionate about writing, have a voice you want to be heard and genuinely love starring at your computer for hours on end, then maybe start. I spent hundreds of hours working on my blog for free and while now I’m reaping the rewards, there are probably more efficient ways to make money.
So there we go, that’s the story of how I went from budget shoestring traveller to earning a decent salary and galavanting around the world.
Let me know if you have any questions, I’m most happy to answer them.
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Tips for Traveling as a Solo Female
I love traveling as a solo chick. It’s actually my favourite kind of travel style. I’ve written before about the pros of traveling solo and I really feel there are a lot. Obviously I’ve never tried traveling as a solo guy, but I think that there’s a bit of a difference between traveling as the two sexes. One of my friends suggested I write about the truth of traveling solo and I figured after some 3+ years of mostly travel solo, I have enough experience to write about it.
At the moment I’m making my way through a book called The Gift of Fear. It’s a very well written book by an excellent author. It talks about the at the root of fear, men and women really fear different things. Men fear being made fun of or not being ‘the man’, while on the flipside, woman fear being attacked/raped.
As a woman, I can agree it’s true. My mind constantly races to the worst case scenario when I find myself in a mildly compromising situation. Perhaps it is because I was stabbed a few years ago and have seen that side of mankind, but perhaps it is an innate safety mechanism designed to keep me safe.
The truth is with a little common sense, almost everywhere you visit will be safe.
Here are some tips I’ve collected over the years that might help you feel more secure and excited about traveling as a solo female.
1) Talk to the Hostel/Hotel Staff
Coming from New Zealand, most places are more dangerous than home. There are certain cities I’ve been to that I would feel safe walking home drunk, by myself, at 3am. Where I am right now, Jaco, is one of them. There are numerous places where I wouldn’t do this. I find the best piece of advice is to talk to the hostel/hotel staff about where is safe to avoid and whether they would feel comfortable doing so themselves (if they’re a female) or whether they’d let their sisters do the same. A lot of crap online/in the media will scare you off doing anything, including leaving your home, so I prefer to take ‘on the ground advice’ from people really living there. Of course, make sure you know the area well enough in the day time before you try to navigate it by night.
2) Be Realistic in Your Expectations of People
When traveling it’s pretty easy to feel like that person you JUST met is your new best friend for life. You’ve done all this cool stuff together; looked out over New York from the Rock, swum around Ha Long Bay by night and admired the glowing fish, and you’re contemplating getting matching tattoos. Just be careful.
I remember one night, early in my travels, I thought I’d made some really good friends, so I got crazy drunk. They ended up leaving because one of the girls was feeling unwell and I found myself on Koh Phangan, drunk and alone, trying to figure out how to get home. My “real” friends from home would never do this, but these were just travel friends. We’d only met a few days before. From that point onwards, I lowered my expectations and made sure I was always responsible for myself. After a few hours of failed attempts to get home via the beach and the forest, I made it home, but it could have panned out a lot worse if I’d had any more to drink.
3) Have Your Own Back
Keep a spare credit card or bank card in another bag so if your stuff is stolen, you’re fine. Keep a copy of your hotel’s address in your phone so that if you forget where it is or lose the card, you’re fine. Walk on the opposite side of the road to the direction traffic is driving. Make sure someone from home knows your travel plans and where you’re headed next. Keep a copy of your travel insurance details in your phone or better yet, a card in your wallet. It’s the little details that will make all the difference.
4) Make Friends
There are certain things I want to do on my travels that I wont do by myself. For example, when I get to Nicaragua I wont be wandering the streets after dark by myself. I would do this in a group of people, for sure, but alone? No Thank You. Now my life will be just fine without any nights spent wandering the streets alone, but if I find a great group of people then we can do some bar hopping. I also have a personal rule that I don’t get drunk without knowing anyone well enough to trust they would have my back (and my hair back) in case of emergency.
5) Set Clear Boundaries
Let’s be honest right now, most women do not have the strength of men. We’re lacking in the testosterone department. As such, as it’s very important to use our ‘strength’ in other ways and to make the situation very clear from the beginning. When you’re traveling new places it’s imperative that you set clear boundaries. Things that might be really appropriate in your home country, might send the wrong signals in another. When I was Couchsurfing in San Sebastian I found myself in an uncomfortable situation where my host decided that I would be his “girlfriend” for a night. I hadn’t sent any mixed messages, I hadn’t been affectionate, he was just a bit of a creep. Thankfully after a few “NOs” he backed down.
Here’s a golden piece of advice: If you feel uncomfortable, make it clear and remove yourself from the situation. I found myself in a very, very unusual situation in Burma and I should have said something. My “tour guide” decided to give my friend and I a massage. It felt a little inappropriate, but because I didn’t want to offend his customs I said nothing. I regretted it. I endured something that made me feel uncomfortable because I didn’t want to make my tour guide feel uncomfortable. That’s retarded logic and with a whole lot of hindsight, I know I’d never make this mistake twice. In future I wont be accepting massages from people outside of spas, but it was a good lesson for me to learn in a relatively safe way. Making yourself uncomfortable to ensure someone else’s comfort is NOT the right way to go about things. Set CLEAR boundaries and ensure you feel comfortable at all times.
6) Have a Fake Boyfriend
When you’re having marriage proposals flung at you from all directions wandering the streets of Morocco, it’s a good idea to have a fake boyfriend or husband in mind to deter the unwanted attention. Some travellers wear a wedding ring, others have photos of them and their “love” to show anyone who is coming on strong. While personally I haven’t reached this level, it’s something I would strongly consider for any travels in South America and the Middle East.
7) Dress Appropriately
While it would be wonderful if we didn’t live in a world where we are judged for what we wear or how we look, we have to be realistic. You should try your best to dress according to local customs. Don’t wear short shorts in India and then wonder why you are constantly being harassed and followed. Western style clothing is embraced in many countries around the world, but there are tons of places where it is not. Bikinis might seem like a staple for any beach environment, but there are numerous conservative countries with beautiful beaches where bikinis are considered inappropriate. Do the research, dress appropriately and you’ll be able to blend in a lot more comfortably. As sad as it is, in many conservative countries the only real exposure men have to sparingly dressed woman might be in porn or movies, and you need to be mindful of the kind of message you want to send.
8) Don’t Tell Too Much
Say you find yourself attracting the attention of someone you’re not particularly interested in being around, for whatever reason. The person asks how long you have left in town and the truth is you’re spending another 3 weeks here, but don’t want them to offer their services or try to inject themselves into your plan. Lie. Say you’re leaving tomorrow. You’re catching a bus to blah blah in a few hours. You really don’t have to offer any more than you’re interested in offering.
Traveling as a female solo is one of the most rewarding things I’ve done in my life. While this list might seem a little grim, it’s important to cover the basics of keeping yourself safe and happy so that you can relax and enjoy the magic that is traveling the world.
Have you travelled as a solo female? Do you have any tips you think I need to add in here?
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Did Travel Help me Find Myself?
I remember how it felt, bright-eyed and oh-so-fresh off the boat when I first landed in Phuket, all by myself some four years ago.
I had no idea what I was doing with my life. All I knew was that I wanted to see more of the world. I wanted to meet some new people. I wanted new experiences. And, if I’m completely honest, there was a little part of me in the back of my head that wanted to ‘find myself’.
I’d heard it before: you need to get really, truly lost in order to find yourself.
There are events that happen in life that shake you to your core. You start to question your priorities. Who you can trust. Who are the Good People for you and who are the Bad People. If there’s a God. Why bad things happen to good people. There’s a good chance that at some point you’ll question who you are.
When I meet people back home, one of the first questions I’m asked is what I do. It’s probably one of the first questions you’re asked too. Whatever your reply, people quickly put your into a box. Oh, a lawyer, you must be good at studying, English and probably are focused on making a decent salary. Graphic designer? You’re good at art. Barman? You probably like drinking.
We like to put people in boxes and there’s nothing wrong with that. Stereotypes exist for a reason and as long as they don’t stop you from taking someone as they are, then they’re fine.
One of my favourite things about travel is the fact these things tend to matter a lot less. It doesn’t matter what area code someone lives in when you’re on the road, or what they do, what gossip has been spread about them, who they dated last and so on. None of this matters. You take someone solely on their face value.
Travel forces you to live in the moment as that’s all you have. Most often when you meet someone travelling your paths will only cross for a brief flicker in time, so there’s no point in getting too invested.
This detachment proves useful for getting to know yourself, as you get to be ‘stripped’ away of all that usual nonsense that clouds who you are at the core.
There’s also something else I love about travel that allowed me to ‘find myself’ and it’s the simple fact that when you meet someone traveling chances are they know absolutely nothing about you. You can be whoever you want to be. You can be the version of yourself you were too shy to be when you were home. You can be vulnerable (or more vulnerable than usual) because in the end you know it’s all temporary. If someone doesn’t like you, or isn’t receptive to who you are at the core, then it doesn’t matter because you can go home anyway.
The fleetingness of travel allows you to be the realest version of yourself, if you want to be.
So did travel help me find myself? Kind of. It created an environment where I could be vulnerable, where who I was (in the past) and what I do doesn’t matter as much as who I am right now. Every day I go somewhere new is a blank slate to move an inch closer to be the best version of myself, with nothing to compare it to so I can move there at my own pace.
Have you “found yourself” traveling? How has travel changed you? I’d love to know!
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Top places to visit in Malaysia
Malaysia holidays are some of the best in the world. Malaysia itself is a beautiful country to visit with amazing beaches, beautiful jungles, bustling cities, great food and friendly people. It is a complete melting pot of different cultures, which means you get some of the most diverse cuisine around. So if Malaysia is next on your holiday list I’ve rounded up the top places to visit. For more exciting Malaysia itineraries you can check out Eshores here.
Malaysian Islands
You can’t have Malaysia holidays without visiting one or more of it’s many beautiful islands. In fact there are over 40 to choose from. Some are extremely built up and you can get all you creature comforts, or if you feel like something totally exotic and remote you can do that too. Some of my favourite are Tiga island (survivor island) where the first series of Survivor was filmed, then there is also Rawa Island, Tinggi Island, Tenggol Island and then of course the famous Perhentian Islands. The Perhentian Islands is made up of two islands and both are true paradise, as they are fringed with white sands, turquoise waters, and great snorkeling.
Trekking in the jungles
Suggested itineraries in Malaysia will always take you exploring some of it’s luscious jungles and you will not be disappointed. The most popular for Malaysia holidays is of course heading on over to Borneo to see the Orangutans. Here you can do a jungle and river safari that will take you down the Lokan River, where you will spot everything from Orangutans, Crocodiles and some beautiful birds.
Taste and shop up a storm in Kuala Lumpur
Being the largest city in Kuala Lumpur it’s no wonder it’s the perfect hub for shopping and eating and you can’t have a Malaysia holiday without trying all it’s tasty delights. My absolute two favourite dishes in Malaysia are the Laksa and then the Roti Canai. Roti Canai is a beautiful flakey bread served with a few different curry dipping sauces that seem to incorporate Indian, Thai and Chinese flavours into one. You can pick up tasty treats all over the city and also go check out the night markets for food and shopping too.
Cameron Highlands
The Cameron highlands is home to the biggest and brightest tea plantations in Malaysia. Here you can sip on high quality word class tea over looking lush green tea plantations. There is also a wide variety of great wild life you can check out too whilst visiting there.
Visit the world heritage site of Malacca
Malacca has been under occupations since 1509 by the Portuguese, Dutch, French and British, which adds a lot of charm to this little village. It’s bright colour colonial buildings light up the town and the Christ Church attracts many visitor worldwide.
Have you ever been to Malaysia? Where is your favorite place? Let me know in the comments below.
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My Travel Wish List for 2015
This is the first time in my life I’ve been free, like really free. In the past there’s always been a restriction; my bank account, someone who was depending on me, or a responsibility at home or elsewhere. After my first trip to Thailand I told myself I needed to figure out a way to travel without restriction and some four years later I find myself in that position. It’s both wonderful and extremely overwhelming.
It’s actually pretty hard to decide where to go when everywhere is an option. In saying that, it’s the best ‘problem’ I could have and I’m extremely grateful for that. At some point next year I have to return home for a month, but aside from that my calendar is completely free. A blank canvas in which I can paint my travel dreams onto.
Places I want to go this year… dun dun dun!
Nicaragua:
I’m currently in Costa Rica at the moment and while there are aspects of it that I love, I’m itching to go somewhere else and get deeper into Central America. Sometime within the next few weeks I’ll make my way to Nicaragua to do some yoga, hang on some beaches and experience somewhere that’s hopefully a little less American. Most people I’ve met who have travelled Nicaragua have cited it as their favourite place so I’m excited to see what it holds.
El Salvador:
As I’m planning to base myself in Antigua, Guatemala, El Salvador seems like an obvious stop on my way by land. I’ve heard mixed things about the safety of El Salvador, but am also acutely aware it’s home to some stunning natural landscapes, including lakes, volcanoes and rainforests. I’m a big believer in not letting fear stop you from doing what you really want to do, so I’ll spend at least a little time here.
Guatemala:
I’m planning to set up a base in Guatemala if I like it, otherwise I’ll be heading back to Panama. There are a few reasons why I chose Guatemala and I’m really excited to see how I like Antigua. One of my favourite things to do is volunteering and I haven’t volunteered in over a year. There are a few projects I’m thinking of becoming involved in, but I want to find something where I wont have to speak so much English. I’m also planning on hiring a Spanish tutor and getting right into the language.
Belize:
While living in Guatemala I really want to do a trip to Belize, I’ll be next door, so why not?! Belize was another contestor of places I might live, so I need to see how I feel about it and what it is like.
Argentina:
Ah, Buenos Aires… to think I was supposed to be there now. A few years ago a friend of mine went there on a trip and took heaps of photos of cool art, graffiti, beautiful buildings and ever since I’ve mentally put it high on my “want to visit and/or live list”. I don’t know when exactly I’ll visit, as it could be a good place to stop over on the way home or back to SA.
Cuba:
It sounds like things are going to change pretty fast here, so I really need to hurry up and get my butt here. I found some cheap flights a few weeks ago, but it turns out the dates didn’t coincide with when I want to visit; bummer. I would really like to visit Cuba by the end of 2015 as I feel it’s going to lose some of it’s “old charm” pretty quickly.
Croatia:
My roommate at my school told me about a festival, called Awesomefest, which is so up my alley. I really would love to go – there’s only a limited number of spaces – and meet some more like minded people while enjoying beautiful Croatia. So fingers crossed I can get in and get some European sun in this year.
Italy:
Can you believe I’ve never been to Italy? I’ve lived in Europe, made a lot of Italian friends, but I’ve never been so bold to go to Italy. I was supposed to be visiting this year, but plans changed. To be honest, I’ve been scared of visiting Italy because I’m worried I’ll never leave. But that’s no excuse to miss out on some of the world’s greatest cities, including Rome, Florence, and Venice.
Greece:
This is another place I can’t believe I haven’t visited before. I really love Greek mythology and history, so I think I’ll be completely spoiled here. Santanorini is also one of the places I’ve most wanted to visit, so I need to ‘tick it off’ whether it’s at the beginning of the year or towards the end. It’s gotta happen.
The Nordic Countries:
I’ve avoided all of the Nordic countries, because, well I don’t love having my wallet violated, but I feel it’s time to visit. I’m torn as to whether I want to visit in summer or winter, as I’d love to see the Northern Lights, but hate the cold.
Japan:
Ah, Japan. As a small child I was obsessed with everything Japanese; the language, the food (well, more like, plain rice hahah), chopsticks, oragami, Hello Kitty and so on. I want to see the quirky side of Japan, the weird restaurants and cafes, the cherry blossoms, the beautiful art, design and clothing. Of course, I want to try all the delicious food too.
The Philippines
I love me a good beach. From what I’ve seen, the Philippines have some of the best beaches, for the best value. Also my assistant lives in the Philipphines so I’d love to meet her. Every single Filippino I’ve met has been the nicest, sweetest thing, so I’d love to be surrounded by them! I’m also missing good ‘value’ travel and I think I’ll find an abundance of it here.
San Fran/Chicago/Colorado:
I’d like to see a bit more of the states. Unfortunately these places aren’t really near each other, but I’ll see how many of them I can visit. I want to go to San Fran to see if it’s somewhere I’d like to base myself for a bit longer. Chicago is somewhere one of my best friends LOVES and it sounds like a really cool city, so I want to visit, especially if she’s back there. Colorado I want to visit for the beautiful scenery and to get some serious skiing in.
So that’s my travel wish list for 2015! It will be interesting to see how things pan out, as I have no idea what I’m doing at this stage. I don’t even know where I’ll be in the next two weeks, but I’m sure it will be exactly where I need to be.
Have you been to any of these places? Do you have any tips? What about your plans? Where are you going in 2015!?
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Mi Viva en Costa Rica
After a pretty confusing year, filled with a lot of movement and many adventures, I decided to try something different. I was actually looking for a yoga retreat when my friend suggested I look into a school in Costa Rica that combines Spanish, yoga, photography and surf. As I can’t swim, I’m taking everything but surf.
There are lots of things that suck about travel, but one thing I find really hard is constantly saying goodbye to people and constantly packing and unpacking my bags. I’ve had travel stints where I’ve crossed a few countries within a day and had barely a moment to unpack or to just relax. So the idea of a learning vacation really appealed to me, as I could use my brain a little, make some friends from a different crowd to the standard backpacker crowd and of course learn Spanish, practice photography and deepen my yoga practice.
I’m just over a week in and I’ve been having an awesome time. I’ve made some friends I know I’ll cherish for a very long time. I’ve been struggling through my Spanish lessons and feel like I’m making some progress. I’ve learned a few things that will help me with yoga from here on out. But most of all, I’ve had a chance to take a deep breath and process the year that’s been. All the good and the bad that’s happened.
Slowly, but surely, I’m etching out what I want from next year. While nothing is set in stone, I know without a doubt that 2015 is going to be the best year of my life, and I can’t wait.
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Do you have any travel plans for next year? I’d love to hear them!
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Top things to do in Bali
Bali is one of Indonesia’s top travel spots and with its awesome surf, stunning beaches, great shopping, cheap prices and beautiful culture it’s easy to see why. There so much to see and do in Bali that it can be difficult to try and fit everything in. That’s why I’ve rounded up my top things to do on your holiday there. If you need some good deals on accommodation then click here.
Relax in Nusa Lembongan
Nusa Lembongan is a small island off the mainland of Bali and is the perfect spot to visit if you are after quiet relaxation on some the most amazing beaches. Here you are offered white sand, turquoise water and some of the best snorkelling Bali has to offer. In fact one reason that makes Lembongan so popular is that you can go snorkelling with Manta Rays just of Lembongan’s coast.
Shopping in Seminyak
Shopping in Bali is great, you can get anything from cheap knock off to up market designer wear. In fact it’s a fashion designers hub. Seminyak offers some of the best shopping on the island. Seminyak is filled with lots of bourtique fashion designer shops where you’ll be able to pick up high end fashion with a not so hefty price tag.
Surfing in Uluwatu
Uluwatu is located on the South East tip of Bali’s Bukit peninsular and offers some magnificent surf breaks, making it a hot spot for those wanting to hit the waves without the craziness of Kuta. Not only does Uluwatu offer good waves but the limestone cliffs, beautiful beaches and cliff top temples make it a pretty awesome place to visit and stay. You can enjoy freshly caught seafood dinners down on the beach every night as you watch the sunset and enjoy a cold beer.
Zen out in Ubud
If you feel like some good rest and relaxation with a dose of Balinese culture then you need to head inland to Ubud. Originally made famous from the book “eat pray love” and known as the cultural hub of Bali you will find lots of temples, beautiful terraced rice paddies and total serenity. Ubud is also a very popular place for yogis and alternative therapies where you will find yoga studios, reiki masters, energetic healers, naturopaths, detox specialists, etc etc. It’s definitely the place to go if you want a healthy holiday. There are so many different healh food restaurants and cafes on offer too.
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Springfield, Missouri — Surrounded by History
Driving is Nice, Flying is Better
Historic Route 66, running from Chicago, Illinois, to the Pacific Ocean, passes through Springfield, Missouri. There are nonstop flights from 11 airports to Springfield-Branson National Airport (SGF), with convenient connecting flights from many other cities. Hipmunk.com helps travelers spend less time getting to Springfield, enabling them to have more time exploring the area.
Perfect Family- and Pet-Friendly Hotel
The 100-percent nonsmoking DoubleTree by Hilton Springfield, 20 minutes from Springfield-Branson National Airport, provides amenities and services families appreciate. Among these are a children’s menu in the restaurant, high chairs, playpens, cribs, and coin-operated laundry.
The DoubleTree welcomes pets weighing no more than 35 pounds. The nonrefundable fee is $35 per pet per stay.
Convention & Visitors Bureau — Free Publication
The Springfield Convention & Visitors Bureau offers a free 164-page Visitors Guide to anyone requesting it. Complete the form on the organization’s website to get the publication by U.S. mail.
Things to Do in Springfield
Choose from among amusement venues, landmarks, performing arts, aquariums and zoos, museums, sports, parks, and much more when in Springfield. This list of Springfield hotels will help you book a hotel room near these local attractions.
Trail of Tears
The U.S. government moved tens of thousands of Cherokee from their homelands in Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, and Tennessee to Indian Territory in 1838. Thousands of Cherokee perished, either while traveling to their new home or in Indian Territory due to being relocated. The route taken by the Cherokee, known as the Trail of Tears, passed through Springfield along what is now called Old Wire Road. Take the Trail of Tears National Historic Trail auto tour, which follows Interstate 44, US Route 160, and US Route 60.
Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield
August 10, 1861, saw the Battle of Wilson’s Creek, the first major Civil War battle fought west of the Mississippi River. Union forces sought to keep Missouri for the Union in this battle, which occurred just southwest of Springfield. A five-mile auto tour loop takes visitors past the most historically pristine battlefield in the country and the restored Ray House, used as a temporary hospital after the battle.
Springfield National Cemetery
Springfield National Cemetery, created two years after the Civil War ended, contains graves of soldiers both Northern and Southern soldiers. A low stone wall separates the Northern and Southern graves.
Fantastic Caverns — Only Ride-Through Cave in the United States
In addition to being known as the Show Me State, Missouri is also called the Cave State. There are more than 6,300 caves in Missouri, primarily in the southern half of the state. In 1862, a farmer’s dog discovered Fantastic Caverns in Springfield by crawling through a small entrance. A newspaper ad placed in 1867 sought people willing to go into the cave and investigate what was there. Twelve women responded. The cave’s beautiful interior is so delicate, the only way to explore it today is by taking a jeep-drawn tram tour.
Share Your Springfield Stories
What sites in Springfield did you enjoy visiting the most? Why did you like them? Please share your thoughts below.
Daisy Mariposa is a freelance travel writer who has worked with clients such as Hipmunk. She has Occupational Certificates in both Travel Management and International Business and has worked as a travel agent. Daisy has traveled to half the states in the United States and more than 33 countries, island nations, and island dependencies. She has certifications as both a Specialty Travel Writer and Travel Copy Writer from one organization and Industry Elite status in Travel from another.
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Stay Sustainably in Salt Lake City
Salt Lake City is surrounded by natural beauty, from the rugged hills of Big Cottonwood Canyon to the vibrant colors of Red Butte Garden. These wonders make it the ideal vacation destination for anyone who wants to escape inner-city stresses and reconnect with nature. These eco-conscious local initiatives can ensure your getaway doesn’t cost the planet.
Book with Eco-Friendly Hotels
There are many Salt Lake City hotels that put sustainability first. These establishments go beyond the standard practices of discouraging guests from requesting fresh daily towels and employ creative ideas to preserve the planet.
A $14 million transformation has made the Sheraton Salt Lake City Hotel one of the area’s most eco-friendly establishments. Special water-conserving toilets and high-efficiency lighting minimizes the hotel’s carbon footprint. Green cleaning products are kind to the planet and visitor airways. Guests are also encouraged to decline housekeeping with daily $5 vouchers for the onsite restaurant.
Little America Hotel has been a part of the Rocky Mountain Power’s Energy Efficiency Program for a decade. Its thermostats switch to energy-saving mode when rooms are vacant, and it uses reusable linens and crockery, rather than disposable napkins, cutlery, and plates, to minimize waste. Sensor faucets and low-flow shower heads help to reduce water use.
Offset Your Flight
Air travel is never a very green option, but it’s a necessary evil for many travelers. However, there are many ways to make Salt Lake City flights much greener. Visit Hipmunk.com, which organizes flights using an agony scale. The ones higher up the list are the quickest, and consequently the greenest. The new Hipmunk Anywhere feature, profiled by Techcrunch, lets you complete your booking on any device. Once you’ve selected your flight, you’re directed to the airline, which may let you offset your flight.
If the airline doesn’t offer this feature, don’t sweat it. TreeUtah has a carbon calculator which tells you how many trees need to be planted to offset your flight. You can then donate the required amount to Salt Lake County’s One Million Trees program to travel guilt-free.
Bike Your Way Around Salt Lake City
Make use of Salt Lake City’s GREENbike initiative while you’re in town. This bike share program allows you take a bike from any of the city’s 20 bike stations during your stay. Passes can be bought from the stations for as little as $5 for 24-hour access, but it’s cheaper to buy online if you’re in town for a while. A four-day pass from the website costs $15, which makes it a really cheap, green way to get around the city.
Eat Green
Eating vegetarian cuts an individual’s carbon emissions in half, and travelers committed to a meat-free diet are spoiled for choice in Salt Lake City. Rawtopia, Café Shambala, and Sage’s Café are amongst the city’s best.
In 2013, Salt Lake City also welcomed Bistro 222, the city’s first restaurant with LEED certification, to its dining scene. While it serves seafood and meat, its sustainable design and operation should please eco-conscious patrons.
Do you consider the environment when making your travel plans? Leave your views on sustainable vacations in the comments below.
Bio:
Lauren Katulka is a happily married Australian freelance writer contributing to a range of websites including Hipmunk.com, SoundsofOz.com, and many more. When she’s not playing around with words she loves roller skating, spending time in the kitchen, watching indie films and cuddling her Devon Rex cat, Gizmo.
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The Best Attractions in Jamaica, New York
There are many interesting attractions in the New York City suburb of Queens; specifically in the neighborhood of Jamaica. If you aren’t from New York City you may be asking yourself “why have I never heard of Jamaica, New York?” The answer is because most people generalize and say Queens. Ironically many of “Queens” famous landmarks and attractions are in Jamaica. So, find cheap hotels in Jamaica such as the Super 8 JFK Airport NYC on Hipmunk.com and come explore the best attractions in Jamaica, New York.
Flushing Meadows Corona Park
Previously the site of the World’s Fair, Flushing Meadows Corona Park is located in Jamaica, New York. This park is a beautiful as its pictures depict it and a great place to spend the day. With fountains, a carousel, bike paths, and an ice skating rink, there is so much to see and do at Flushing Meadows Corona Park. Additionally, this park is a fantastic venue for tennis, and many high-level tennis matches are held here. Not far from the park is the Garden Inn and Suites, a great place to stay at an affordable rate.
Jamaica Coliseum Mall
If you are a shopper, you will want to make a stop at the Jamaica Coliseum Mall. More specifically, if you like jewelry then this is the place for you. This mall was once a flea market, and it became such a popular place for vendors to compete for sales that they wanted a permanent home. Today there are over 120 stores including 35 stores that specialize in custom jewelry, and many specialty shoe stores.
Schmidt’s Candy
Have you ever wished you could go back in time and visit an old fashioned candy store? Now you can when you visit Schmidt’s Candy. From the outside of the building, you can smell the chocolate being made. Then when you enter the door your senses come alive with the rich smells and the vivid displays of chocolate goodies. Schmidt’s Candy is a chocolate lovers dream. If you are looking for a great nearby hotel try the Courtyard by Marriott JFK Airport.
Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge
It is always fun to visit the city, but there are times when you want to escape the noise and congestion. When you visit the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge, you will feel as if you are far away from the city, although you’ll only be minutes away from JFK Airport. As you walk around the sanctuary and take in the fresh air, you will see a large variety of birds. The Wildlife Refuge is the nature lovers must-see attraction in Jamaica.
There are many attractions to see on your visit to Jamaica. For those visitors unfamiliar with the area checkout TripAdvisor as it is a great source for finding must see attractions in Jamaica, NY.
Have you been to Jamaica, New York? If so, please share any tips about great Jamaica attractions below.
Author bio: Carrie Dahle is a multi-talented writer living no place in particular. Why, because she is too busy traveling. Her travels have included bike riding down volcanoes, maneuvering the waves of Hawaii, sailing the seas of the Caribbean, and so much more. While Carrie has spent countless hours in copywriting, and producing website content, she has transformed herself into a fantastic travel writer and is currently working on Hipmunk projects.
