Website Has Moved!

I am excited to share that I am moving 72 Hours To Go off of blogger and over to a new website I designed through Squarespace.  The new site has a clean layout, makes it easy to configure new content, and has lots of built in features for users and site owners.

Check it out and let me know what you think - http://72hourstogo.com

Be sure to update your bookmarks as I will no longer be posting content on this site.  

If you signed up to get email alerts for new posts on here, you can do the same thing on the new site if you scroll to the bottom of the page, or you can subscribe via RSS.

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Contest - Detailed Itinerary Giveaway!

How would you like to have your next long weekend completely planned for you?  All you have to do is book some easy to follow reservations and pack?  Check out the giveaway happening on my Instagram for @72hourstogo for all the details.  Contest goes through midnight on Friday.  Look for the red giveaway image - all you need to do is like that photo, follow the account, and leave a comment with what destination you would want planned out for you.  For a bonus entry, tag a friend who you would want to travel with sometime.  That's it!

And for anyone who doesn't have Instagram but wants to enter, leave a comment on this blog post with your dream destination and I will enter you into the drawing.  For bonus entry, forward the link to this blog [http://72hourstogo.com] to a friend and encourage them to check it out - leave another comment if you do that for a second entry into the drawing.

Winner will be announced after midnight on Friday and will be contacted with more details so I can start working on a custom itinerary for your next vacation.  Can't wait to see what destinations you come up with!

72 Hours to Go - Breckenridge Ski Weekend

Trusting someone to provide travel recommendations for somewhere they have never been is rarely a good idea.  That is why I am only writing itineraries for places I have personally visited.  To help give you a little more insight and trust into my research and planning, I am sharing my personal itinerary for an upcoming trip before I go.  After the trip, I will report back on what worked and what needs to be changed and will update the itinerary for future use now that it has been vetted.  Super thanks to my friend Kel Nino who is local to the area and advised on what kind of things we should do for the weekend!

The Itinerary

Day 1

• catch evening flight from home to Denver, Colorado
• pick up rental car at airport
• stay at hotel near airport and turn in for the night

Day 2

• Attire for the day - comfortable clothes for the drive and a short hike; have warm layers and snow gear handy for the dog sledding in the afternoon
• 8:30 am - depart hotel for the mountains [note: I am planning to stay on East Coast time, so anticipate being an early riser, but you could easily shift this to meet your time zone preferences]
• 9:30 am - arrive in Red Rocks Park (60 min drive from airport)
• park opens ~7:30 am
• 9:40 am - 10:45 am - Hiking in the park
• Red Rocks Trail Map
• The Trading Post Trail is 1.4 miles in length, and goes through spectacular rock formations, valleys and a meadow; wear hiking boots
• 10:45 - 11:30 am - Eat at the Ship Rock Grille with fantastic overlook views of the park; opens at 10:30 am
• 11:30 am - depart Red Rocks for Wildernest (60 min drive)
• 12:30 pm check into rental
• If not ready to hand off keys, at least fill out paperwork and come back to get keys later
• 1 pm - depart check in center for dog sled location (30 min drive)
• Head towards Frisco
• From Frisco, head South on Hwy 9 (Summit Blvd) towards Breckenridge.
• Drive about 6 miles until you get to the stop-light at the Tiger Road intersection
• At Tiger Road, turn left and continue on for 6.5 miles until the road dead-ends in our parking lot. Don’t second-guess yourself just keep going until you get to us!
• NLT 1:45 pm - check in for dog sledding with Good Times Adventure Tours
• dress in warm layers for a snow/ski type outing; bring camera
• 2:15 - 3:30 pm - dog sled excursion
• 4 pm or 4:30 pm - Breckenridge Distillery Tour
• 1925 Airport Rd, Breckenridge, CO 80424
• (970) 547-9759
• daily every half hour from 11 am to 5:30 pm; call ahead to place on tour list or just stop in
• After 5:30 - Dinner in Silverthorne at Dam Brewery or (if there is a wait) Baker’s Brewery
• pick up groceries for breakfast and pick up keys to condo if not already procured
• get settled in condo and turn in

Day 3

• Attire for the day:
• ski clothes, goggles, hat, gloves, boots
• water bottle and a snack bar
• money and ID
• change of clothes for evening in Breckenridge
• 7:00 am - depart condo for Breckenridge (40 min drive)
• 7:45 am - park in North or South Lots and pay at lot
• 8 am -  BreckConnect Gondola opens; 10 min ride from parking lot to Peak 8
• 8-8:30 am check in at Peak 8 Base Camp for Breckenridge Ski School; pick up gear that you pre-reserved
• 8:45 am - 3:30 pm - first timer group for ski lessons; lunch break TBD within the group
• 3:30 pm return gear and take Gondola back into Breckenridge Village
• ~4 pm - apres ski drinks at Angel’s Hollow.
• ~5:30 pm - dinner at Angel’s Hollow or The Dredge
• back at the condo - soak sore muscles in the hot tub

Day 4

• Attire for the day - snow gear in the morning, keep change of clothes for car ride and airplane handy
• 8:30 am depart condo and drop off keys
• 9 - 11 am - self guided snowshoeing at the Frisco Nordic Center
• (970) 668-0866
• 616 Recreation Way, Frisco, Colorado  80442
• walk ins welcome; $20 rental and $20 trail permit pp; 2 great trails start from the center
• 12 pm depart for the airport (2 hours minimum drive, plus allow for weekend traffic)
• mid -late afternoon return rental car and flight home

Getting There

• Most people fly into Denver International Airport, which is about 2 hours from Breckenridge and Copper Mountain, the first two big ski areas along Hwy 70, with Vail being an additional 30 min away
• If you plan to move around, as suggested in the itinerary above, you will need a rental car.  Easiest pickup is at the airport.
• If you are a slopes fiend and are planning to stay on a resort with ski in/out, then skip the rental and use a transportation service to get you to the ski town and back.  Breckenridge is very walk-able and has good local transit for free once you are there.

Where To Stay

• Near the airport
• Best for arriving late or departing early; no frills just a clean, safe place to sleep; <$120 per night
• Staybridge Suites Denver International Airport
• Holiday Inn Hotel and Suites
• Ski in/out in Breckenridge
• If you want to spend as much time as possible on the slopes or in the fun little town of Breckenridge, its worth paying the premium for the resort with ski in/out and privilege of early access on Friday morning; also will save money because you don't need a rental car.  Prices vary greatly by date of travel.
• 3 stars - The Village at Breckenridge Resort is a ski-in/ski-out property at the base of Peak 9, close to boutique shops and award-winning restaurants along Main Street in the historic downtown area.
• 4 stars - The DoubleTree by Hilton Breckenridge, located directly across the street from Peak 9 at world-renowned Breckenridge Ski Resort, offers a true mountain experience with spectacular Rocky Mountain views. This full-service resort hotel is within walking distance of the Beaver Run SuperChair as well as historic Main Street. 
• 4 stars - Mountain Thunder Lodge, an elegant all-condominium-suite retreat, is situated in a beautiful wooded area in the heart of historic Breckenridge – a perfect location for your relaxing mountain escape.
• Condo rental in the mountains
• VRBO is the best site to rent a condo for a few days.  Properties in Breckenridge are at a premium so if you are willing to stay about 30 minutes away there are great options with 2-3 bedrooms for ~$200/night in Frisco, Silverthorne, and Wildernest.

What To Pack

• ski jacket and waterproof pants
• base layer (long underwear or moisture wicking pants and shirt)
• polar fleece or warmth layer
• hat and headband
• scarf or muffler
• sunglasses
• sunscreen
• ski goggles
• gloves and hand warmers
• hiking boots and/or snow boots
• hiking socks and ski socks
• dressy casual evening wear
• swimsuit

Southern Caribbean - Day 6 - Basseterre, St. Kitts

Well I am just over a week late in posting this but between trying to enjoy the vacation and the severely weak internet on the cruise ship I was unable to keep up with the live posts.  Will try to plan better for the next adventure (spoiler alert - Denver and Breckenridge Ski Weekend coming soon).

On Thursday we docked in the capital of St. Kitts, Basseterre.  We opted for a ship excursion in the morning, with a local company called Kantours, to try SNUBA and left the afternoon free to either chill on the beach or explore the town, depending on weather and how we felt.  For anyone who has not yet tried SNUBA, I highly recommend it.  It is essentially snorkeling, but instead of wearing a snorkel and being limited to only going down about 6 inches in the water, you have a mouthpiece connected to a 15 ft hose, connected to air tanks on a raft floating on the water.  Therefore, you are sort of SCUBA diving, but you don't have to wear the tanks or worry about your oxygen.  Its a great way for someone who loves to snorkel but is afraid to try SCUBA or has issues equalizing your ears in the depths, because you can choose to stay near the surface or ask for more weight in your belt which will help sink you towards the bottom.

We were a total of 6 for SNUBA that morning, so Tom and I went first with the other couple.  We have done SNUBA a few times before so we immediately asked for weight and stayed on the bottom for the whole 45 minutes of the underwater adventure.  The instructor was great and although the site we were at was murky and therefore not ideal for viewing fish and coral, our highlight was seeing 2 huge sea turtles from about 5 feet away!  Not sure exactly how deep we were, but I would say about 10-15'.  Our companions were new to SNUBA and they both took some time to getting OK with the concept of breathing underwater.  He opted to stay near the surface the whole time and she eventually made her way to the sea bed by the end.  Breathing underwater has never been off putting for me, but I can understand how it would throw people off, especially because you only breathe through your mouth.

While Pete and Ellen took their turn, the four of us lounged in the chaise chairs along Carambola Beach and the guys gallantly went on an adventure to the nearby clubhouse to procure glasses of rum punch.  I mean it was 10 am so we were already behind on the vacation day drinking...

We returned to the ship via transfer from the Kantours tour company, and then spoke to some of the taxi drivers along the pier to get quotes on an afternoon trip to the nearby Brimstone Hill Fortress, a UNESCO World Heritage site.  After a quick change on the ship, we met with Joseph, known locally as 'the historian', on the pier who led us to his thankfully air conditioned van, and we drove about 30 minutes along the coast to reach the fort.  Built between 1690-1790, it sits on a shelf created by the volcano under the island and is constructed out of brimstone blocks, hence the name.  It has an incredible vantage of the waterways connecting St. Kitts, Nevis, and Montserrat.  Although it was not a formidable offensive capability, it was considering a stronghold and a lookout to help secure the first large, deep water port that was established after Columbus arrived in the region.  Much of the fort has been restored with displays on military life in the tropics, accommodations, rations, and health care.  There are some places that were not yet restored so you also could see what things looked like without regular upkeep, i.e. dungeon so full of mold that I could only stick my head in before the nauseous smell sent me running.   Our guide Joseph gave us great narration along the drive to prepare for the visit, helped us spot the local and prolific monkey population, and then left us free for about an hour to explore at our own pace, read the ample signs, and watch a mediocre video that explained the history and prominence of the fort.  I highly recommend a visit if you are free for a couple of hours.  I think we paid $20pp for the taxi, plus $10pp entry to the fort.  Note that the sun is strong and it is breezy, so dress in light colors but not short skirts, and bring water with you.

Burn some calories on the uphill climb from the parking lot to the fort entrance

Entrance to the inner keep and parade grounds, complete with bridge and moat

Note the incredible view in the background of the volcano on the island of Montserrat

By the time we returned to the pier it was past 2 pm and we were past ready for lunch.  Taking recommendations from our driver in the morning, we tried Lemongrass, a Caribbean/Asian fusion restaurant across from the pier.  We sat on the second floor balcony and enjoyed people watching in the town square while relaxing in the shade with a nice sea breeze.  We split curried shrimp and the steamed whole snapper which we had been told was the local catch and quite delicious.  Tom was in charge of deboning the fish, having closely watched the waiter on the ship perform this with surgical precision at the dinner table the previous night.  Food was excellent and the service was good if you are looking for someplace to eat that is just steps from the ship.

We made it back on board in time for late afternoon trivia then relaxed poolside or on the balcony until dinner time.  After dinner we caught the magic show which was interesting and yet we are all so disenchanted with these shows nowadays because we know its not really magic but they never explain how the tricks are done.  The performer was really great with slight of hand and cards in particular.  We then turned in to get ready for Friday which is the last port of call in St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands.

Southern Caribbean - Day 5 - Roseau, Dominica

Wednesday we docked on the small island of Dominica (pronounced dom-muh-NEE-kah) like the name Dominque but with an extra syllable on the end).  It is a small island about 29 miles long and 15 miles wide.  All four of us took a third party excursion to go snorkeling, cave swimming, and hiking to a waterfall.  In short it was a great, but rainy day and we loved getting to know the interior of this small but resilient country.

We met our group at 8:45 am just off the pier and they had clear directions on where to find the representatives.  We were in a van of 8 cruisers with a guide, Kasha and a driver, Asha.  The day started with a snorkeling tour of champagne reef, an area where the volcanic activity under the island causes warm gases to flow through the reef so there are tiny channels of bubbles that you can actually swim through!  Tons of great fish, eels, and other aquatic life.  After an hour on the reef we swam back to shore, dried off, and piled back in the van for a 15 min drive to stop #2.

Titou Gorge might have been the highlight of the whole trip.  Unfortunately we have no photos because the waterproof camera has died!  We stripped down to just swimsuits, water shoes, and float belts and after a short walk we then walked down some stairs into a very cold river that flowed down a waterfall and into a cave/gorge.  We swam up river through the cavern to the base of the falls and then using a life ring and some rope, our guides pulled us through the base of the falls to a pocket next to the falls.  It was freezing but exhilarating and very cool!  Since we don't have pics, here is a screenshot from the movie Pirates of the Caribbean - Dean Mans Chest which was filmed here.  Therefore I have unofficially swam with Johnny Depp now!

I should mention that all day it was overcast and raining but in strokes of good luck, every time we drive between spots, it poured, and when we got out for an activity it lessened or stopped.  Raincoats came in handy today!

After the gorge we dried off and drove about 20 min to an area called Trafalgar Falls.  A 10 min hike and some stairs took us to the two falls.  The island survived a bad tropical storm this fall which left 30 dead, whole villages buried in mud, washed out roads, and the thermal springs at the base of these falls were also destroyed.  The people of the island are very resilient and are working hard to rebuild and continue to encourage tourism to help restore what was lost.

One of the coolest things we saw was the hydroelectric system which supplies 40% of the islands power.  In a feat of timeless engineering the pipeline is built from wood, like a 20 mile long barrel.

Overall it was a great day and we liked getting to see the interior and learn more about the islanders from our guides.  Bumping Tours was excellent and I would highly recommend them for any excursion.

We finished the night with dinner in the modern restaurant which tries to make food fun.  iPads are the menus and everything is fusion or served in a playful manner.  The dessert menu was a puzzle cube you had to open in various ways to see all the options.  My favorite dish was the disco shrimp and the sushi lollipops with crab meat that were covered in Doritos dust.  Group consensus was that it was fun to try but not a repeat.  To cap off the night, literally, we won at majority rules trivia and each got baseball caps!  In this game they ask a question and you write down what you think the majority of the purple in the room will respond.  Example - what kind of pet would be cool to have, but a pain to keep?  Answer: Monkey.  Ellen and Pete were the heavy hitters here and supplied nearly every answer we gave.  Hats off to them!

Thursday we are in St. Kitts 

Southern Caribbean - Day 4 - Fort de France, Martinique

Tuesday morning we docked on the French island of Martinique, one of the largest islands in the Southern Caribbean.  A member of the EU, the island is on the euro and all the inhabitants speak French and we had been forewarned that English although English may be spoken by some it is not to be assumed everyone will speak it and much like in France, the locals expect you to at least try to speak their language first.  That meant that Pete and I were translators for the day!

Tom and I had breakfast on the balcony and then met our group at 8:30 am for a morning of kayaking in the mangroves.  We booked the tour though the ship and overall we would give it 3/5 stars.  A nice excursion but we did not see much wildlife in the mangroves, didn't have the opportunity to explore on our own in the kayaks, and the flotilla of 15+ kayaks would have been better split into small groups.  That being said, our guide was great and spoke English and taught us about the mangrove.  We paddled through a channel in the middle of the mangrove island so it was a nice slow pace so you could look around.  

[Sorry no kayaking or beach photos since the waterproof camera seems to have died!]

We then boarded the boat that took us out to the mangroves and stopped at St Marin nearby for 30 min.  I had read great things about the beaches here, but was unimpressed with the small beachhead and overcrowdedness.  There is a ferry that runs from where our cruise ship docked to three beach areas at least 1x per hour and it seemed easy to use, yet from what I saw I could not recommend the beaches.

We returned to the ship around 1 pm, enjoying some cake and the local cocktail called ti ponge (tee-ponj) which is a pinch of sugar in the raw with a squeeze of lime muddled in 2-3 fingers of local rum.  We preferred the mellowed dark rum which is barrel aged over the clear which had a strong bite to it.  We liked the mix best with some juice in it as well so it was more of a punch and less of a shot that you sipped.

Tom and I quickly changed back on board the ship and although we had missed our original meetup time with his parents, we called their room and luckily they were still here! Pete and Ellen had relaxed on the ship in the morning and after we missed our appointed meetup time they made a valiant attempt to hire a taxi to the botanical gardens but after negotiations in both French and English resulted is too steep a price and realizing they had forgotten to bring a credit card, they returned to their rooms for money and that is when we called so it was perfect timing!

All four of us met on the pier and walked into town for a late lunch and some exploring.  We walked about 7 minutes to the covered market which sells fruits, vegetables, spices, spirits, souvenirs and has restaurants lining the balcony and back end.  We scoped out the options and settled on Chez Carole which I had read in several reviews online.  

This is the point where Tom said if he did not have a French speaker he would have gone elsewhere for lunch.  Note that some friends of ours are clearly more adventurous than Tom in this regard and although the didn't speak any French they are nearby and just pointed at the menu and ate what was served.  The menu is all in French and although the proprietor, Carole, spoke English, the rest of the wait staff spoke French so we did our best to translate menu options to our companions, practice our French when ordering and asking for refills and just enjoyed the experience.  It was a prix fixe menu so you got a drink, an appetizer, an entree, and a dessert, or could order anything a la carte.  We started with more ti ponge (with extra fruit juice), a fish beinget and salad, then shared 3 entrées- chicken colombo (curry chicken), conch fricassee, and prawns.  All served with lentils and rice.  It was all delicious, but none of us particularly like conch so that was not a favorite.  We finished by splitting an order of coconut flan which was denser than flan as we know it, almost like a rice pudding thickness, but quite flavorful.

After lunch we drifted through the market, decided we didn't want to have our bags searched by TSA when we tried to bring home spices, and hit the streets in search of sunscreen and pastries.  Found the sunscreen at a nearby convenience store and stopped for pastry at a shop we passed coming from the pier.  When Tom and I visited France on our trip in 2014, he went to Normandy for the day and didn't get the chance to eat fresh pastry.  I told him how you could taste the butter and it was different from a croissant anywhere in the US.  We decided on a pain au chocolat (think chocolate filled croissant) and a pomme/framboise chaussette (apple raspberry turnover).  Both were delicious and we all split them as we walked back to the pier.  

My sun hat had been looking pathetic lately so when some sun bonnets caught my eye in the shops along the pier I stopped to peruse and settled on a new one with a strong brim.  It looked perfect with my white eyelet dress and I think I can swap out the ribbons for different looks in the future.

                            Old Hat

                           New Hat

We finished the day with some rounds of trivia, reading and sunning on the balcony, and dinner in the main dining room.  Dinner was unimpressive last night, as was our wait staff service, but that was the first time all week we were not happy with the food or dining experience.

Wednesday we dock in Dominca (dom- eh-NEE-ka).

Southern Caribbean - Day 2&3 - Tortola, BVI

Monday we docked on the island of Tortola in the British Virgin Islands.  The four of us had booked a semi private boat charter with Aristocat Charters and were in for a day of sailing and snorkeling.

After a little confusion on following the directions from the pier to the boat in the marina [note to self to write them better walking directions to give their cruise guests] we boarded the Lionheart and set off by 9 am with a total of 14 pax and 2 crew.  Captains Luke and Scott were outstanding - friendly, capable, customer service oriented.  We sailed for about 45 minutes across the channel to Norman Island.  Tom and Ellen sat our front on the netting suspended between the pontoons where you got great views and the salty spray breeze.  Pete and I opted for the back where it was less bumpy and we could talk to the Captain and some other guests about the region. Highlight of the sail out was passing the yacht currently taping the Bravo TV show "Below Deck".  It's the ridiculous kind of trashy reality tv where we all know it's not real, but we love it anyways, especially Tom.

We stopped for 45 min at Norman Island for snorkeling.  Aristocat Charters provided the fins and masks and noodles to float on if desired.  We brought our own snorkels and masks but borrowed some fins and headed out to the reef. There were tons of fish, some coral, huge sea urchins, and best of all almost no one else there!

After getting back on board we sailed for about 20 min to a nearby cove with a beach where we grabbed a bouy to tie off and we were given an hour of free time while they prepared lunch.  Tom hopped in the water and made a brave first ever attempt at paddle boarding.  He took to it right away and impressed all the others on board with his balance.  They asked me if he was really athletic and all I could do was laugh.  I followed him into the water and swam to the beach doing an Australian crawl so that I could carry beers for us and my hat in my free hand.  Again, all the guests on board commented that their wives would never do that for them, LOL.  Ellen joined me and we drank on the beach while she tried paddle boarding with some coaching from Tom.  I also tried, but stayed kneeling, knowing that my balance was not good on solid ground.

After an hour of paddling and swimming lunch was served as a large buffet spread in the cabin.  All of it was delicious and it was accompanied by all you can drink soda, beer, rum punch, and dark and stormy mixed drinks (ginger beer and rum).  After lunch we sailed for another 20 min to The Indians where we snorkels for a half hour.  All four of us agreed that this was the top snorkeling we have ever done, including Hawaii and the Western Caribbean because of the plethora of fish and the colors.

We sailed back, arriving about 30 min before all aboard.  After a long day in the sun and all that rum, everyone headed straight back to the ship for showers and naps.  We dressed up for dinner as it was Velntine's Day and the onboard dress code called for 'evening chic'.  We had reservations in the French restaurant onboard where everything was delicious, albeit service was slower than desired.  My favorites were the crab and salmon parfait starter, venison with red cabbage and the cheese course before dessert.

All in all it was a great day and I was the only one who got too much sun (although I blame the husband/cabana boy since everywhere I applied it I didn't burn).

Monday we spent at sea and there is nothing significant to report - breakfast on the balcony, slept in, watched a top chef cooking challeneg in the theater, lunch, trivia, cocktails, dinner.  Pete and Ellen have been sampling all the musical venues/artists on board so I will have them dictate a review later.

Tuesday we are in Fort de France, Martinique which is a French speaking country so Pete and I are on duty for all conversation!  

Southern Caribbean - Day 1 - Travel and Embarkation

Saturday morning we set off with our in laws for a week long adventure to the Southern Caribbean.  We chose to sail out of San Juan, Puerto Rico on the Celebrity Summit as it had great ports of call, and minimized sea days since you are already "there" when you embark.

The flight from DC was about 4 hours and we watched some movies in Amazon instant video and slept most of the flight.  DC was 18 degrees F and snowy when we left, so first act upon landing was to change into our tropical attire we had packed in the carry on.

Tip: Anytime you travel, but especially for a cruise pack 24 hrs worth of clothes, meds, and a swimsuit in your carry on so that if your bag is delayed and the ship sails, or if your bag doesn't immediately get delivered to your cabin, you can enjoy all the activities on board.

Note for SJU that you cannot enter any baggage claim areas from outside - only way in is from the gates, so plan to meet your party out side by the taxi stand at a specific terminal, and set contingency plans for if not here by X then proceed without us because cell phone service on Verizon was sub par while AT&T was good.

We met up with my in laws at their terminal and got a Taxi Touristico to the cruise terminal.  The taxis are either metered or flat rate, and the taxi stand agent will ask your destination, get a headcount and luggage count, and write the destination and total amount due on the slip of paper for you so it's really easy.  It was $25 for all 4 of us and luggage (plus tip) for the <15 min ride to the pier.  Super easy and a much better rate than paying the cruise line for a transfer which is usually $15-25 pp.

Embarkation was relatively easy at the terminal - Tom and I had our bags tagged and taken by the porter, were checked in and in our room changing into swim gear within a 10 min window!  We opted for a room with balcony on deck 6 and love it!

We spent the afternoon sunning by the upper deck and enjoying the warm salty water of the Thalassotherapy Pool.  Afterward we changed and did an early dinner in the main dining room, Cosmopolitan, before the mandatory muster drill at 7:45 pm.  Dinner was very good - we tried almost half the menu between the four of us.  Highlights included the mushroom soup, roasted beets with feta and tomato, and the beef spring roll. Entrees were fine, the home style porkchop being the standout.  The drill lasted about 45 min and it is very apparent that after some recent maritime disasters around the world the cruise lines and staff are taking safety very seriously and want the guests to know what to do.

Tom and I turned in early since we had been up at 5 am to make our flight.  First port of call on Sunday is Tortola in the British Virgin Islands.  We will spend Valentine's Day snorkeling and sailing ⛵️

Why I kept my head down at Create & Cultivate Dallas

[Author's note: Normally this blog will be devoted to travel posts only, but I wanted to take a moment to talk about a recent conference I attended to help inspire me and grow by business.  The usual travel fodder will be back next week.]

The last weekend of January I took a weekend trip to Dallas, Texas to attend Create & Cultivate, a conference for women entrepreneurs in the digital space.  The experience was a whirlwind of networking, beautiful decor, inspirational speakers, and motivating conversations.  Over 400 women attended, not including the speakers, mentors, and organizers.  After the event, the Create & Cultivate team posted pictures on Facebook and while flipping through I came across this photo which made me pause -

Stop and look at it for a moment

What do you see?

Bright eyes, delighted expressions, cameras snapping away....

and one girl with her head down in a sea of smiling, wide eyed faces.

That's me.

There were 200 women in my track for the conference, and I am the only one in the crowd not looking at the panelists.  I've got my head down and I am taking notes.  So why did I keep my head down at Create & Cultivate?  Because I mean business.

I signed up for this conference in the fall before I had even started this site.  I had a passion for travel and planning and had been dreaming about doing something with it for the longest time and when I saw the conference signup it was a catalyst for me to finally do something.  I made a plan that if I signed up I had to start a website, post at least 2 itineraries, purchase business cards, and create an Instagram account before the conference took place.  Create & Cultivate Dallas was a forcing mechanism for me, and when I got to the conference itself I kept that drive going.  I kept my head down during almost every panel.  Sure I looked up enough to take in my surroundings, catch a glimpse of some of my favorite writers in the digital space, and appreciate the fabulous decor and pop ups shops, but I focused on listening and capturing information I would need when I got home.  Admiring how others look and think and act will only get you so far, and for me the power of the conference was in the takeaways.  I took pages of notes!  Quotes that inspired, ideas for posts, successes and failures of the speakers, and 6 months or a year from now I have the power to look back at those notes for guidance on where to go next, or pride on how far I have come in seeing the items I was concerned with at the start of this venture.  This photo captures the side of me that is structured and detail oriented and why I think I have a unique voice to contribute to this crowded world of travel writing.  Because with less than 72 hours to go somewhere, you have to pay attention to the details in planning and learn to appreciate beauty in quick moments of pleasure.

Here are some of the best snippets from the conference that stuck with me:

On creating an anonymous brand:  "A brand lasts a lot longer than a face." -- Sophie Max of Beyond the Mag

On success: "Negative comments are better than none at all because it means they took the time to care and we are forcing people to think and engage in something." -- Betches

On gaining followers: "Use the analytics within tools like Pinterest.  Find out where people already are discovering you and make the connection bonds stronger there."  --Julia Engel of Gal Meets Glam

On knowing your audience: "Use google analytics to know their age, their gender, their salary then make a picture of your average user in your mind.  We shop for our style and their price point." -- Lunchpails and Lipstick 

On using Pinterest to drive readers to your site: "Only 15% of pinterest users actually pin new content - most just repin things they find by searching.  If you are someone who regularly pins new content you are considered a power pinner and the Pinterest algorithms will automatically boost your content in searches."  -- Amy Locurto of Living Locurto 

And that is why I kept my head down at Create & Cultivate, and will continue to keep my head down when it comes to 72 Hours To Go.  But I am going to put this photo up on my desk, so I can look up and remember why I started and why I know I can succeed.

Best Gear for Alaska Trip

After spending a total of 21 days in the Pacific Northwest and Alaska, there were some definite all stars in the gear we brought.  These picks are based on input from both males and females, ages 20-55.

Best Hiking Boots

For Him:
Tom loved his new hiking boots, the Vasque Breeze, and appreciated them on the glacier trek as well as the day hikes.

For Her:
For every day walking, short hikes, comfy car rides, and glacier walks these North Face Janey boots in brown were the MVP of the trip.  They have grips on the bottom, are super comfy and stylish, and totally waterproof with a little spray.  Unfortunately, they are no longer made but you can find them on Ebay.

I didn't do any hiking over 3 hours, so I didn't need boots with lots of support, but if you are going to be more active or do technical hiking, I would recommend these Vasque Breeze boots which I purchased later in 2015.

Best Sandals

These Chaco Z/2 Yampa sandals were another MVP of the trip.  I wore them anytime we did water activities, whenever I needed to let my feet breathe, and even for light hiking.  You could get away with only 3 pairs of shoes for the entire trip if you did the Chacos, the North Face boots, and a pair of nice flats for anything dressy.

Best Rain Gear

I loved my REI Rainwall jacket (no longer made in this model but newer version here) and my Marmot rain pants.  They kept me warm and dry. On the coldest days (glacier cruising) I layered a North Face fleece under the rain jacket and topped with a scarf, hat, and gloves.

Tom preferred this all-in-one from North Face that has a wind/water resistant outer layer and a fleecy interior.  He has had the jacket for nearly 2 years and it is his absolute favorite down to about 45 degrees F.

Best Daytime Look

Note that everything in Alaska is casual.  You wear the same activities for daytime and evening.  Dressing for dinner just entails putting on something not wet or muddy.

For Him: The guys preferred jeans (casual), or shorts/zip off pants (for hiking) and a moisture wicking shirt.  They mostly wore boat shoes or light sneakers.

For Her:  I most comfortable in stretchy workout capris, a t-shirt, my sandals, and my rain jacket.  As you can see from the photos, I wore some combination of this almost every day.

Best Daypack

I loved this Osprey 22 pack that I used for my carry-on and my daybag.  It was recommended by The College Prepster after her own Alaska trip and it lived up.  It has a waterproof top compartment, lots of pockets and expandable storage, and compartment to hold a 3L water bag with a sip line holder on the shoulder straps.  Comes in male and female versions with slight sizing differences and different color choices, but I liked the basic black/gray best.

Best Water Bottle

Water bottles are a source of great debate within our household.  There are strong opinions on straw versus not, and one handed opening versus twist.  My all time favorite is this Contigo version that has a one handed opening, and a caribiner clip built into the handle so you can attach it to your pack, pocket, or the seat in front of you on the airplane.  Tom prefers this similar version made by Nalgene which has a flip top covering on the mouthpiece to keep it clean.

Best Guidebook

To prepare for the trip, I took advantage of my Kindle Unlimited membership which gave me access to Lonely Planet Alaska, Seattle, and Vancouver guidebooks for free.  They had good general overviews but I then went to blogs and trip reports online to fill in the logistical details - one of the reasons I established 72 Hours To Go was so that readers don't have to jump all over to find this information anymore!

Best Audiobook

Before any trip, and especially road trips, we like to download an audio book.  We use Audible which has a free trial, and 2 book downloads for free!  Lately we have enjoyed the Fargo Adventures by Clive Cussler.  They are exciting and engaging, yet predictable enough that if you fall asleep for a bit you won't miss too much of the plot.  I recommend them in chronological order, starting with Spartan Gold, but you could pick them up anywhere in the series.

Best Headphones

You should always bring a good pair of basic in-ear headphones on any trip.  They are so useful for music, a movie, a podcast, etc.  Bonus points if you bring a splitter so you can listen to something with a travel buddy.  Keep both in your daybag since you might need them at museums for audio tours.

If you want to splurge, Tom loves his Bose around-ear wireless headphones.  They block out the engine noise from the airplane so you can really enjoy whatever you are listening to.  They do take up space, and require charging, so not good for every day, out and about, use.

Best Camera

Overall consensus from our group was that for amateur photography the cell phones worked perfectly, even when compared to some of the nicer cameras we brought.  I used the Google Photos app to edit and curate my album

Tip:  You can edit and save photos while in airplane mode so I used downtime on long bus rides to curate as I went making it quick and easy to organize and share after the trip

Most Useful Thing To Pack

Plastic baggies!  We used sandwich and gallon sized bags to hold electronics, snacks, maps and contain muddy/wet clothes and shoes as we had to move hotels every couple of days on the land portion of the trip.  A close second would be the aforementioned rain jacket since it was the perfect windbreaker/dry layer.

What else are you thinking of packing?  For those that have been to Alaska or the Pacific Northwest, what else would you recommend?

72 Hours in Dallas, Texas for Create+Cultivate

At the end of January, Create + Cultivate is going to Dallas and there are approximately 400 women who can hardly wait to attend, myself included.  Create + Cultivate is a creative conference & online platform for female entrepreneurs in the digital space. They create inspiring environments that seek to enlighten, entertain & inspire both online & offline.  The one day conference promises learning, networking, inspiration, and growth.  For everyone that is going to be a part of #createcultivatedallas here is a custom detailed itinerary for making the most of this career opportunity in a wonderful city.

Planner's Note: There are of course tons of places to eat, things to do, hotels to stay at, etc., however this itinerary is optimized for those staying in the downtown/uptown area or at the conference sponsored hotel who arrive Friday and depart on Sunday.  See the end of the post for hotel recommendations and how to get around town.

Your Itinerary

Friday, January 29, 2016

• 5 min - Connect
• Before you leave home, download the C+C app so you have all the latest info at your fingertips
• Download/copy the list of speakers and mentors to your electronic device before your flight so you can read bios and brainstorm questions
• morning: Travel
• If you are arriving by air, or will be without a car, see the recommended transportation section below for some tips
• late morning: Pit Stop
• drop off bags at hotel and check in if possible
• Tip: If your room is not yet ready, ask if you can at least check in now so that all you have to do later is pick up your keys since they will already have your card and guest information on file
• 12-1 pm: BBQ Pit Stop
• Grab some barbecue for lunch and savor the flavors of the South - brisket is the specialty in Texas if you want to eat like a local at this non-chain, low key lunch place
• Sammy's Bar-B-Q, 2126 Leonard Street, Dallas, TX 7520
• 1:30-3 pm: Shopping
• Visit Highland Park Village, an outdoor shopping center, to peruse some high end merchandise and #treattyoself or dream of what you will do when your entrepreneurial dreams become a reality
• Address; 47 Highland Park Village, Dallas, TX 75205
• If you landed later, or BBQ isn't your thing, stop in Mi Cocina for some delicious Tex-Mex, or re-caffeinate at Starbucks
• 4-5:30 pm: Refresh
• Return to your hotel to check in, refresh, and get ready for the networking happy hour.  Be sure to hang up, or iron out, whatever you plan to wear to the conference tomorrow so it is wrinkle free and instagram perfect for Saturday
• Private message 3 people you connected with on social media before the conference and make plans to meet up during the happy hour, or grab dinner afterwards
• 5:45 pm: Transit
• Depart for the networking happy hour via Uber
• Don't forget to bring your business cards and practice your quick self-introduction in the car ride over
• Tip: keep a pen handy and jot a quick note about why you connected with someone or what you want to follow up with them about on the back of their business card right after you meet.
• 6-7 pm: Happy Hour
• The Common Desk - Deep Ellum, 2919 Commerce Street, Dallas, TX 75226
• Beer, Wine, Light Food to be served
• Push yourself not to be a wallflower!  Some people will know other women at the conference and some people are venturing solo into a brave new digital world, so put yourself out there and remember that almost everyone likes to talk about themselves so ask them about their business and what they hope to get out of the conference
• 7:30-9 pm: Dinner
• Invite some of your new acquaintances to continue the conversation over dinner - there are plenty of restaurants within a few blocks of the happy hour venue
• Pepe's and Mito's Mexican Cafe, 2911 Elm St, Dallas, TX 75226, features great Tex-Mex cuisine in a laid back atmosphere
• Braindead Brewing, 2625 Main St., Dallas, TX 75226, features great brews, burgers, and salads
• 9 pm: Retire
• Transit back to the hotel and get everything physically and mentally prepped for tomorrow because it will be a marathon, not a sprint!
• Charge your phone and your extra battery pack

Saturday - January 20, 2016 - The Conference

For full conference details and schedules, read the C+C post or use the C+C app

• 7:45 am: Transit
• Head on over to The Lofty Spaces, 816 Montgomery St, Dallas, TX 75226
• Don't forget to bring a government issued ID for check in, along with your business cards, phone, charger, and something to take notes with
• 8-9 am: Check In
• Get your badge, track number, and schedule for the day
• Enjoy breakfast and get to know the other conference-goers
• 9 am - 4:30 pm: Conference Tracks
• Follow your schedule for the majority of the day
• Tip:  If you are Track #1, lunch is not until 2 pm, so be sure to grab a refreshment and snack during the break at 12:40 pm to keep you energized and focused
• 4:30-5:30 pm: Break
• Refresh and check out all the vendors
• 5:30-7 pm: Keynote
• 7-8 pm: Happy Hour
• Unwind and celebrate the end of a great day
• Exchange cards with anyone who you connected with
• 8:30 pm: Dinner
• Grab some new friends and get some dinner to talk about everything you learned 
• Near the W-Victory: Naga Thai Kitchen, 665 High Market St., Dallas, TX 75226
• Near Downtown: Americano, 1530 Main St, Dallas, TX 75226

Sunday, January 31, 2016

• 7:30 am Coffee Talk
• If you have an early flight, make plans to meet up with someone staying near you to talk business over morning lattes and pastries.
• Near the W-Victory: Cook Hall or The Living Room, inside of the hotel, are the closest places to grab coffee early on Sunday morning
• Near Downtown: Weekend Coffee, 1511 Commerce St, Dallas, TX 75201, Espresso drinks, pour-over coffee & pastries served in a hip, bright space inside the Joule Hotel.
• 9 or 10 am: Power Brunch
• Take advantage of some connections made this weekend, or collaborative ideas brewing and make plans in advance to meet for a working brunch over coffee and mimosas
• Lark on the Park, 2015 Woodall Rodgers Freeway, Dallas, TX 75201, reservations recommended, the pastry basket is worth the carbs
• Mercat Bistro, 2501 N. Harwood St., Dallas, TX 75201, opens at 10 am, reservations recommended, enjoy crepes, pastries, and quiche
• Spare Time
• If you don't have to leave right away, here are some ideas for how to spend a nice Sunday in Dallas
• If the weather is nice, head to the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Gardens, 8525 Garland Road, Dallas, TX 75218, $5 admission gives you access to walking trail and the lovely winter blooms.  This is a perfect setting to do a photo shoot in the natural light.
• If the weather doesn't cooperate, head to the Dallas Arts District where you can duck between museums.  Start at the Dallas Museum of Art, 1717 North Harwood, Dallas, Texas 75201, opens at 11 am with free admission to main museum, where you can see a temporary exhibition on Pop Art, and gather inspiration for your home in the Decorative Arts and Design Collection, or visit the international art wings to satisfy your wanderlust.  Download the tour app to your phone before you go.
• Departing out of Love Field?  Check your bags early then stop at the Frontiers of Flight Museum to learn about aviation and take photos of your OOTD with all the planes as a metaphor for how your career is going to take flight after this conference; 6911 Lemmon Avenue Dallas, Texas 75209; open 1-5 pm today; $10 admission
• Departure
• If departing by air, plan to arrive at the airport 1.5 hours before your flight to check in and get to the gate, especially if you are flying out of  Dallas-Ft. Worth because it is a major hub airport.

Getting There, Around Town, and Back Again

If arriving by plane, you will fly into Dallas Love Field or Dallas-Ft.Worth airports.

No Need To Rent a Car - To get around town, I would not recommend renting a car unless you plan to venture outside of downtown.  All of the conference activities are in the same part of the city and you can easily get to venues via car service, and all of the recommended eateries in this itinerary are within walking distance of the venue or the hotel.

Use Uber to Get Around - If you have never used it before, download the Uber app on your phone and use my referral link to get a free ride up to $15 (and I get one too!)  Its easy to split fares within the app if you make friends and share cars to and from events during the weekend.
Some fare estimates for UberX:

• DWF Airport to W-Victory Hotel = $23-30
• Love Field Airport to W-Dallas Victory Hotel = $10-13
• W-Dallas Victory to Highland Park Village = $8-11
• W-Dallas Victory to The Common Desk = $5-7
• W-Dallas Victory to The Lofty Spaces = $5-7

Note: You could also use Lyft, but the presence is not as well established in Dallas, therefore statistically you will be able to get an Uber pickup faster.  Here is a referral code for new customers to get $50 in credits.

Where to Stay

The official hotel of Create+Cultivate Dallas is The W-Victory with a special room rate available until January 20, 2016.  It is located between uptown and downtown, near the Victory Metro Station, within a few miles of all the weekend activities and my recommended eateries or outings.

If you prefer to stay elsewhere, there are great deals for ~$100 per night on Hotwire right now.  Some people I know ended up with a room at The Adolphus, a four star boutique hotel in the downtown area.