The WWII Victory Garden is making a comeback! Everywhere, in big cities and small towns, people are talking about planting their own gardens. The reason, of course, is natural: escalating food prices, produce recalls, and the primeval need to dig in the dirt when faced with overwhelming threats all around.  So, where does this subject fit into travel?

This summer and fall, as you travel about the US, include a visit to a city market, community garden, greenmarket, farmers’ markets, tailgate market, and seek out restaurants whose menus feature fresh, regionally grown vegetables and sustainable cuisine.  You’ll love this new tourism twist! Continue Reading »

Can you name the three kinds of seals cruising around San Diego Bay?   Most people can name two, but the third might stump you.

First in the mind of anyone connected to the military are the Navy SEALs, the elite operational forces of the Naval Special Warfare Command, whose Pacific Fleet teams are based in San Diego.  These SEALs are highly regarded, highly skilled teams of warriors who undergo the toughest training in the world.  Their name, Sea, Air and Land Forces, comes from the elements in and from which they operate; their mystique comes from the fact that they operate in a clandestine manner, conducting dangerous operations. They are often seen on training excercises on San Diego Bay. Continue Reading »

In San Diego, hugely popular for a destination wedding, she’s a favorite wedding guest, a real head turner.  Cameras click when she arrives.  Although always perfectly attired in all white, trimmed in gold with tasteful touches of appliquéd roses, she exhibits proper wedding etiquette, never outshining the bride. Continue Reading »

San Diego, California averages only 10 inches of rain each year. The average daytime temperature is around 70 degrees. For you, that means great weather for sightseeing and tours.  Here are 12 sites you need to experience there.

Continue Reading »

Planning your next vacation? Looking for something on the stranger side? The United States has some really strange museums. Here are some of the strangest.

1. Museum of Bad Art (MoBA) – Not sure how else to describe this museum… the title sums it up pretty well. The Museum of Bad Art describes its mission perfectly – “dedicated to the collection, preservation, exhibition and celebration of bad art in all its forms.” Artists that are featured at the MoBA are talented, esteemed artists that have created works that cause fans to say “what was he thinking?”. Founded by Scott Wilson who began the museum with its first masterpiece in 1993, “Lucy in the Field of Flowers”, apparently discovered in a trash pile in Boston. Museum Of Bad Art, Basement of Dedham Communitiy Theatre, 580 High Street, Dedham MA, Telephone: 1-781-444-6757 www.museumofbadart.org
    
    

  Continue Reading »

The Disney Blog reports that animals at the San Diego Zoo’s Wild Animal Park are safe but some of the grounds were damaged. Employees are on hand to help with fire control and care for the animals. Hang in there.

Here it is: Disney’s 2008 Dream Catalog. The new, extended Year of a Million Dreams includes “dreams money can’t buy.” These special events will be given away to lucky recipients visiting Disney Parks.

How about attending the premier of High School Musical 3 or being the guest of honor at the largest character breakfast…ever? Sounds fantastic.

I’ll be in Orlando, Florida soon for the International Food and Wine Festival but now I need to read my catalog and Dream…

Our SEAL Tour crew at Old Town Trolley in San Diego, California is all a twitter about the Red Bull Air Races this past weekend. Here is a great Youtube video from Between Random Planets showing an earlier practice takeoff from the USS Midway which is now a tourist attraction in San Diego.

The interesting thing for me is how events are becoming more like attractions in some places. The draw is often excellent and folks follow these types of events like concerts by their favorite band. It’s an interesting, reborn model for tourism.

My first question would be, does it help the local economy?

Experience from the Superbowl would suggest that not every type of business benefits from big draw events in their community.

Can local repetitive events compete with standing tourist attractions? Are they an enhancement or a distraction?

With so many activities competing for our limited time and attention, perhaps these types of events are the wave of the future for some tourism businesses. Museums have great success with traveling exhibits like Tutankhamun. Then again, Cirque du Soleil reinvented the traveling circus and eventually developed permanent locations. Now they are sending out traveling shows again!

We sure need to be flexible these days don’t we? I guess everything old is new again. See you in San Diego.