Staying Fit While Traveling

There is no excuse for not finding places to exercise when every city has a great staircase, stadium, or tall building where you can master the stairs without a machine. If stairs aren't your thing, cities have lots of places good for walking, running or even hiking. Ask the hotel front desk if there are parks or trails nearby; or if you have ventured to the mountains, ask for a map of local hiking trails.

It is also a good idea to ask the front desk for a map of the city to find out how many of your destinations are reachable by foot. (Walking will increase your fitness and decrease your taxi fares.)

Prior to departure on your trip, find out if your hotel has a workout facility and a pool, and remember to pack your bathing suit and workout clothes. If they don't have a facility, they may be affiliated with a local gym where you can get a one-day pass for a small fee.


There are no limits to the exercise you can do while exploring new territory. Make the most of your trip, and get to know the city by foot.

Prepare for power, no excuses

If your hotel doesn't offer fitness accommodations, bring along a jump rope and an exercise tube. They are both lightweight and easy to transport. Jumping rope is one of the best forms of cardiovascular exercise, and you can do it anywhere.

With the exercise tube and a pre-arranged plan to keep you motivated, you can keep your entire body toned and energized without entering a gym or stepping on a piece of exercise equipment. Numerous magazines and websites offer workout instructions for each body part.

And, of course, body-weight exercises such as push-ups and crunches require no equipment at all. The point is to find a workout routine that suits your needs and follow it. Plan a specific time each day or every other day to do your strengthening and cardiovascular routines (a good plan is to alternate days between the two).



Remember that the 20 to 60 minutes you spend working out each day is for you, and try to stay on schedule.

Have fun!

Be sure to enjoy yourself and make the most of the area to which you have traveled. Remember to bring comfortable shoes so that you can easily get a workout while using your feet as your main mode of transportation.

Whether your trip is for business or vacation, remember that you should have some time for yourself every day. Why not dedicate that time to improving your health and making yourself feel better?


Nutrition road tips

Always drink plenty of water, particularly if you're flying.

Conjure up a healthy meal in your mind prior to entering a restaurant, and stick to your plan as closely as possible.

Try to eat at least three times per day to keep you from feeling famished and overindulging at any one time.

Pick up portable, healthy snacks at a local market so you won’t be caught hungry in front of the mini-bar.

Go ahead and splurge on regional dishes or local cuisine, but balance your diet by choosing lower-calorie foods at other meals.

Jetlag Formula

I've never been a person to take medicine (except medication for my asthma) and I don't even take Ambien when I fly on long haul flights, though perhaps I should because I would sleep so much better. But I'm afraid that if there's an emergency and I need to act quickly, I won't be able to, or I would be unable to assist if the flight crew needs my help restraining a passenger. I know it's silly, but it's just me. Chances are, you're probably the opposite of me so you might be interested in this capsule version of Jet Lag Formula. This concoction was developed by an acupuncturist and herbalist and it's supposed to reduce the effects of jetlag. I've heard that it works so try it out and give us your feedback. BTW: How much do you need? One box ($20) or bottle ($16) of Jet Lag Formula is sufficient for a round-trip domestic flight; for international travel, you need one box or bottle during each leg of your journey.

Christmas Stocking Party

Here is an awesome Christmas Idea I found. I think it will be perfect to do this year with some friends!

Instead of the traditional Christmas gathering with your family or friends,
why not have a Christmas stocking themed party?

For each of your guests, have plain stockings ready for when they arrive.
They can be made from felt, fabric, old placemats - get creative! Or you can even ask your guests to come to the party with a plain, unadorned stocking already made and tell them to get creative. Then, have all the supplies on hand for everyone to decorate their stockings, from glitter to fluffy colored poms, trims, buttons, beads, small ornaments to fabric and felt they can cut into various shapes, patterns, and letters. And don't forget to have lots of glue and scissors on hand!

After everyone is done decorating their stockings, they will be hungry, so now comes the food! I'd make a huge pot of soup or chili and fresh french bread. you can make cookies and crisped cereal treats for everyone to enjoy!
Then, to stay with the decorating theme and keep everyone having fun, have the guests decorate their cookies or treats with
Sprinkle Assortments, Mini Stencils with Cake Sparkles, Christmas themed Icing decorations, and Icing tube gels.
Your guests can either eat their decorated goodies or take them home.
You can also use the cookie cutters to cut sandwiches into party shapes.
The ideas are endless!

One last idea to make the Stocking party complete.
Have each guest bring a small, wrapped gift, that cost under $10. Before the guests leave, place all of the gifts in a large bag and have each guest pick a gift to place in their stocking. Then, your guests can go home and hang their stockings,
complete with a gift to open on Christmas morning. Or, if they can't wait until Christmas, everyone can open their gifts together, but they have to put the gift in their stocking before they leave!

My Favorite Places to Experience the Holidays!

Top Places to experience the Holidays in California:

San Francisco - Union Square, Chanticleer Christmas
http://www.chanticleer.org/sing/

Paso Robles - Victorian Vine Street
http://www.pasoroblesdowntown.org/paso-robles-events-vine-street-christmas-holiday.html

Anaheim - Disneyland at Christmas
http://disneyland.disney.go.com/disneyland/en_US/special/holidays/detail?name=HolidaysMiniSite

Newport Beach - Harbor Parade
http://www.christmasboatparade.com/

San Diego - Neighborhood Christmas light displays in San Diego
http://www.sandiegotraveltips.com/public/284.cfm

Salinas - Living Nativity
http://www.beachcalifornia.com/california/salinas-bethlehem-christmas-nativity.html

Lake Tahoe - SNOW!
http://www.visitinglaketahoe.com/

What are your favorites?

Why I LOVE to Blog!

Why I l_o_v_e to blog. Now this post could go long. But right now I just want to share one of the reasons I love blogging so much. And that is.... inspiring my readers to enjoy travel and share my ideas and tips to help simplify and prepare them for the travel experience.