Looking for an exciting, music filled getaway, and don’t mind a hot climate? Head to Austin Texas this summer. It’s going to be hot: pack light clothes, some comfortable shoes, a cowboy hat, a toothbrush…but leave the Ipod behind, because Austin is not only the capital of Texas, but renowned as the Live Music Capital of the World, and you’re going to want to soak this up.

Home to the Texas Longhorns, this University Town in Central Texas receives an average of 300 days of sun, boasts of world famous summer festivals, over 200 live music venues and outdoor parks, and a progressive community that loves their quirky shopping centers as much as their hiking trails. Texas may conjure images of John Wayne and twang music, George W. and tumbleweed, but Austin’s mod and vigilant urban scene is an anomaly eager to defy any traditional expectations.

Start your weekend early and fly in on a Thursday afternoon; check-in, drop your luggage, step into your swim trunks, and purge yourself of salty fingers and airplane-clam with a dip in Barton Springs, a 1,000 foot long spring-fed pool that maintains a comfortable year-round temp of 68 degrees. Toss a Frisbee disc, check out the Botanical Gardens in the 360-acre Zilker Park, or simply soak up some U.V. rays until the sun sinks and a hankering stomach requires satiating. From there, settle into a romantic dinner for two before a five-course menu at the local connoisseur favorite Jeffrey’s Restaurant and Bar, or for something more casual, roll up your sleeves for some savory ribs, classic potato salad, and a margarita filled happy hour at Austin’s lakeside County Line BBQ.

If the night feels young, hit one of the ubiquitous music venues bumping on any night of the week or peruse South District’s eclectic shops for vintage jewelry and outdoor art shows. For something more upscale, head downtown to 2nd street district for the trendy shops or don a tie or a fancy dress and let a ballet performance enchant your evening. But whatever you do, rest easy; the morning, before the heat hits and limbs grow lazy, is the perfect window to adventure into Austin’s outdoor scene. Explore the Barton Creek Greenbelt by foot or bike, kayak around Lady Bird Lake, or practice your golf-swing on some of the nation’s most esteemed courses.

Real Travelers Dungroovin enjoyed their trip to Austin last summer, especially listening in on the music scene:

“At night we soak up the live music that is literally everywhere, in bars, on patios, in restaurants, in gardens, parks, city squares, rock, jazz, blues, folk C&W whatever you desire, it’s a great great place.”

On any given night, Austin’s going to be vibrant and loaded with entertainment, but when a city that’s known for its electric nightlife throws a party, you don’t want to miss it. Thousands flock to Zilker Park for the three-day world famous Austin City Limit Music Festival (Oct 2-4th). Featuring 130 bands across 8 stages, Austin’s music scene culminates into a cultural celebration of world music with local cuisine, arts and crafts, so awesome PBS made a television show to keep the tradition going all year round. The Austin Film Festival (Oct 22-29th) features film premiers, advanced screenings, and independent films; film and screenplay seminars and competitions draw actors and aspirers alike in this annual week long celebration of animation.

Start planning your trip!

Austin Holiday and Tourism Guide
Austin Hotels

Bookmark to:

With gas cheaper than it’s been in years and summer weather on its way, why not roll down the windows, pack up the car and head for an affordable and stunning vacation in mountain town Bozeman, Montana?

Nestled in the Gallatin valley of nature renowned, Montana is Bozeman, the fifth largest city in the state and home to Montana State University. Estimated at a population of about 27,500, this small town is a sportsman’s winter getaway with the local favorite Bridger Bowl ski resort a mere fifteen minutes from Main St., and the famed Big Sky resort just under an hour from downtown. Yet the fun doesn’t end when the goggle tan gives way to summer freckles; instead, the snow thaws to reveal a labyrinth of hiking trails crawling through the enveloping hills, snow clouds give way to blue skies catering to long afternoon bike rides, restaurants swap their indoor fires for outdoor patios, and locals trade their skis for mountain bikes.

In Bozeman, you’d be hard-pressed to find a Starbucks, and even Costco can only be found as loitering outlier. Yet that’s not to say it’s out-dated; each restaurant bears the quirks of its owner, and the walls, the art of its customers. The influx of college students seems to help infuse the historic town with a fresh sense of vigilance, where innovation and tradition, culture and the good ol’ outdoors seem to exist harmoniously. Spend your days fly-fishing on the Madison, floating down buoyant tubes on the Gallatin, horseback riding through forest trails, honing your putt before a backdrop of ubiquitous mountains, or working up a healthy sweat mountain biking up the nine-mile trail to Emerald Lake. And for your nights, relax with a cold beer on The Crystal’s rooftop bar, dance in the streets every Thursday for Music on Main or share vanilla steamers and conversation with your kids while enjoying local live music in the town’s cornerstone Leaf &Bean Café.

If you have flexibility in your schedule, you might consider visiting Bozeman during one of their festivals, such as the three day Sweet Pea festival of the arts, where you are invited to get tips on how to improve your groove with free outdoor dance lessons, watch actors perform King Lear in the park, or challenge the right side of your brain with an all ages t-shirt art contest. Another favorite, for those driven by the belly rather than the eye, is the annual food fest Bite of Bozeman, in which vendors bring their goodies street side beside local bands for a town feast.

And while this small town’s stuffed with activities to keep your vacation spirit satiated, don’t forget that Yellowstone National Park is a short ninety miles away; Bozeman makes a great pit-stop, but it might just become your destination.

To start planning your trip, visit:
Bozeman Hotels
Bozeman Holiday and Tourism Guide

Bookmark to:

Wanting to travel somewhere special for Valentine’s Day, now that plane tickets are less expensive and gas prices seem to have gone down? Here are a few ideas to inspire you around Cupid’s favorite holiday.

Take a surprise weekend getaway!

Cities like San Francisco, London, New York City and Las Vegas have great sales on air tickets right now, so even if you don’t have a lot of vacation time, you can schedule a weekend getaway now or in the near future without having to break your budget. While you are there, enjoy the mild climates of most of these cities and explore by foot, another great way to reconnect and spend time together without having to open your wallet. Many high end and moderate priced hotels are having great sales right now, so it’s a great time to enjoy a little luxury if you can.

Go on a road trip!

Make a playlist, grab your sweetie and get on the road. Find a nearby city or destination a few hours away and enjoy catching up during the journey to get there. Spring is on the way in many destinations, with flowers just starting to bloom - check and see if there are any early spring or mid winter festivals going on to add a little excitement into this otherwise grey time of year.

Plan a romantic vacation for the near future.

Can’t getaway right now? Spend a few hours with your loved one dreaming about a relaxing trip to a warm destination. Take advantage of cheap flights to Mexico, Hawaii and other destinations now, even if you have to hold off for the spring or early summer.

For travel deals and ideas, visit:
Discount Hotels
Compare Airline Ticket Prices

Bookmark to:

You can go to almost any city in the world and get a cup of Starbucks, but only Seattle, Washington owns the bragging rights of saying it is home to the world’s leading retailer of specialty coffee.

It all began in a little coffee shop next to Pike Place Market in 1971, and to this day, visitors come from all over to stand in the birthplace of their beloved coffee bean provider. But the coffee tour does not end there, Seattle is also known for the original chains, Seattle’s Best and Tully’s, as well as amazing local coffee shops all around town. Enjoy the artistic lattes, strong aromas, and unique settings of Zeitgeist Coffee (Pioneer Square), Uptown Espresso (Belltown), or Cafe Ladro (downtown).

Once the caffeine kicks in, head over to Lake Union to enjoy the bourbon corn chowder at Duke’s Chowderhouse and soak in the beautiful view from the harbor. The South Lake Union Trolley will then drop you off downtown next to the Pacific Place mall for some good shopping (Seattle is also the original home of the clothing retail store, Nordstroms). There is plenty to do downtown and all around the friendly city of Seattle including a trip up the Space Needle (built for the 1962 World’s Fair); a day at the Pacific Science Center (complete with IMAX theater and planetarium); and the uniquely constructed EMP (Experience Music Project). Regardless of the season, interesting exhibitions are constantly on display at each venue.

After a full day of exploring, satisfy your appetite with fresh salt and pepper crab at the Flying Fish restaurant or roasted garlic rigatoni at the Pink Door. For more options, walk around Pioneer Square, an area loaded with restaurants and bars. The young night life crowd can be found in the fun bars and clubs on University Avenue, located next to the University of Washington.

Real Traveler, Sarah, had fun visiting Seattle, she shared:

“We started by walking through the Pike Place Market, although our real goal was to find the Thai restaurant buried in all the twists and turns of the market. The market was really vibrant, with stalls selling all kinds of foods, fish and flowers.

After lunch, we walked up (and I mean up several very, very steep hills) to check out the new Seattle library, which is really crazy. Its a very modern building, made of steel and glass, designed by Rem Koolhaas. My favorite part was the Meeting Room level, which is all red and pretty trippy.From the library we went down to the Smith Tower, which was the tallest skyscraper west of the Mississippi for 50 years, from 1914 to 1964. We rode an old-fashioned, manually operated elevator to the Observation Deck to get views of Seattle.

Next we headed off to Pioneer Square, which is the original city. Now its a lot of galleries and stores, which makes it fun to walk around.”

For an espresso trip to the Pacific Northwest, visit Seattle, Washington and take full advantage of the wide array of tourist attractions.

To start planning your trip, visit:

Seattle Hotels
Seattle Restaurants
Seattle Attractions

Bookmark to:

The winter season brings with it cold weather and the desire for hot beverages and cozy settings. This week, we will let coffee take us around the world to find the best cup of joe and great cities where it can be found.

Amsterdam, Netherlands is the world capital of coffee shops. With over 300 coffee shops and cafes to choose from, you can decide which is best for you. Young travelers usually search for the shops that offer legal “herbs”, but most coffee shops offer much more than that. Locals enjoy the relaxed settings and warm environments conducive to enjoying a coffee and a good book in the afternoon. To complement these great coffee shops are delicious bakeries–Taart van m’n Tante is a well-reviewed colorfully decorated café with large, ornate cakes luring you in the windows and centered at each table to be enjoyed.

Once you’re ready to start the day, walk through beautiful Vondelpark (complete with lakes, mystical trees, and beautiful buildings and hotels), visit the Van Gogh museum (housing the largest collection of Van Gogh’s paintings and drawings in the world) and Rikjsmuseum (displaying Dutch art and history), take a historical tour of the Anne Frank house (walk on the same floors where Anne Frank and her family hid from the Nazis), and bicycle along Amsterdam’s numerous canals to get the full tour.

Realtraveler cessna152 gives a detailed description of the Van Gogh museum collection. He says:

“The next morning we took a tram to the Van Gogh Museum. The exhibit covered one floor and led us through a complete history of the great man’s work, starting with paintings that looked nothing like what I’d expected. His early work was clearly of the traditional type, showing quite realistic scenes of various descriptions. Before long though we were gawping at the work he became famous for, including The Potato Eaters and the world-famous Sunflowers.”

Walking the city will allow you to find great little neighborhoods and a relaxed and eclectic Amsterdamian culture. Walk into a street art fair, world music shop, unique clothing boutique, or dimly lit restaurant on your city tour.

Discover Amsterdam as other realtravelers had and find the beauty and warmth within it. Sus and Pete did and reflected this:

“Amsterdam is an amazing city, we had no idea how beautiful it would be. There is a Venice like canal system that flows though the city with a number of small bridges connecting the streets. Because the streets are so small almost everyone gets around on old bicycles. We spent hours walking the many canals and found time to visit the Heineken Brewery and the Van Gogh Museum. We really had a blast.”

Enjoy the aged, beautiful buildings, deep canals, rich wooden interiors and friendly crowd as you make your way to the coffee shop capital.

To plan your visit to Amsterdam, visit:

Amsterdam Hotels
Amsterdam Attractions
Coffee shop guide: http://www.guardian.co.uk/travel/2007/sep/26/amsterdam.travelfoodanddrink?page=3

Bookmark to:

While most winter vacationers escape to well-traveled island and sun destinations like Mexico and Costa Rica, head next door to the less-discovered Nicaragua where you’ll find a bargain vacation.

Nicaragua offers expansive beaches and not-so-crowded surf, music, cheap eats, and a less touristy polish to provide a true cultural immersionand insight onto some of the less developed countries in Central America. Remnants of Spanish colonialism are scattered throughout the country, leaving some amazing architecture and charming small towns to discover.

The most popular sites to see are the towns of Managua and Granada. Realtraveller, volunteersamerica, gave their description of Granada:

“Reaching Granada, a beautiful colonial town, well preserved, we went into a church and climbed to the top where we had a beautiful view of Granada. We then went to look for a place to stay. While walking around, we bought a little bowl of sweet rice from this man who makes it and sells it on the street. It was delicious!

Volcanoes, narrow streets, cathedrals, and undiscovered hot spots make Nicaragua a great place for a cultural expedition.

Look for more information here:

Nicaragua Hotels
Nicaragua Attractions

Bookmark to:

Stock up on items from music to jewelry (and everything in between) in the tax-free country of Andorra. In this quaint small principality located between France and Spain, visitors outnumber residents to take advantage of tax-free shopping, great ski resorts, and the beautiful mountains, lakes, and valleys planted in the middle of the Pyrenees.

Real Travel bloggers enjoyed Andorra’s hot springs, cheap drinks and night life, dramatic scenery, and outdoor activities. Andorra’s capital is Andorra la vella, the largest city with the highest concentration of the country’s 2000 shops. As the Journeyers, put it: “The place is clean, pretty, and unbelievably full of stores.”

Other Real Travel bloggers suggest drinks at El Cau in the Andorran village of Arinsal, Anyos Park where the locals are extremely friendly to kids, and skiing wherever you see fit.

Here’s what Mikey 08 had to say about his outing in Andorra:

“After a drive from Avignon, and a lunch pit stop in a village in the foot of the Pyrenees, we traveled up through the beautiful mountains, until we reached the tiny principality of Andorra. It has a Swiss feel about the place, and also reminds me of Aviemore in Scotland. Our campsite it wedged at the foot of a steep, high mountain, with only a river and road, before another steep mountain goes up the other side. It´s very cloudy here and also rains a couple of times. After pitching our tents, I venture into the local area for a look around. There are houses perched on top of the mountains, and I have no idea how they get into town for the shops. Maybe they abseil? There´s a local pool, so I spend the early evening going for a swim. Our group went out for dinner at a lovely little Andorran restaurant. How many people can say they´ve been to one of those?”

Do some shopping and embrace the small villages of Andorra on your next drive through the Pyrenees mountains.

For more trip information, visit:

Andorra Hotels
Andorra Attractions
www.cyberandorra.com

Bookmark to:

During this winter season when consumerism is high, there are some great affordable deals and destinations that will leave your pocket full for gift shopping and other activities. Here are some tricks to keep your expenses to a minimum:

1. Flying: If you’re living on a whim, try waiting for last minute hotel and flight deals because when seats are empty, they will want your business at any price. An easy way to track these deals is to get on airlines and travel organizers’ e-mail updates and newsletters. Though we live in a world unwelcoming to spam mail, sometimes an interesting deal for the weekend may pop up on your list that brings you to adventures you hadn’t planned.

2. Sleeping: Who said you have to pay for sleep accommodations? There are now many friendly and affordable ways to sleep based on networks who want to make traveling easier in these economic times. There are house exchanges available through credible companies, Craigslist and other classified options, as well as organizations such as Couch Surfers. With these resources provided worldwide, you will build relationships with locals, get to know the authentic side of town and sleep for free or much less costly than the average hotel.

3. General Advice: If you’re reading this, than you have already found the trick; but tell others to take advantage of travel blogs and reader submissions in travel magazines and websites, as these are real experiences and real advice from the average traveler. Most, probably including yourself, have picked up some useful tips and little tricks along the way that have made your traveling experience easier and cheaper.

4. Eating: Do some research before your next trip. There are many great foodie websites, blogs, and cheap eats suggestions if you look into the area before you have arrived. Secondly, take advantage of local workers (like policemen) as they know the area best and can also make great suggestions.

The best way to optimize your trip without using too much of your budget is really preparation. To begin planning your next trip, visit:

Real Travel Deals
Things To Do

Bookmark to:

Fresh sushi and native noodles are plentiful in the bustling city of Tokyo, Japan. Broaden your sashimi palette and experience some of the best Japanese food that won’t leave your stomach or wallet empty.

Though it is said to be one of the most expensive cities in the world, Tokyo offers cheap eats all around town to satisfy any level of culinary boldness. Whether you desire a simple bowl of ramen or a diverse meal of fish, vegetables, and meat, options are abound for under $12 dinners and much cheaper lunches.

Tokyo’s smaller restaurants offer all the Japanese classics—sushi, tempura, yakitori, and udon–quickly and cheaply. Set meals are also available which include soup and salad. These Japanese-style mom-and-pop joints are great to dine among the residents and enjoy the food that these local experts prefer.

Other less seeming options to eat well for less are the food courts under Tokyo’s large department stores. These courts are great options for good variety and pride themselves on serving gourmet meals for a quarter of a restaurant’s price. If you’re on a budget, these stands offer a great taste into Japanese gastronomy.

As a culinary culture primarily centered around fish, visiting Tokyo’s markets is a unique and expansive look into what makes Japanese food so fresh. Real Travel blogger GWIZ from California, was impressed at the sights of one of the largest markets in the area:

“The highlight of modern Tokyo was the Tsukiji Fish Market. Picture Costco. Now double it. Once more more. That is a fraction of this market’s size. It processes a huge percentage, I’ve heard as much as 60%, of the world’s fresh fish everyday. No matter how much it is, the early morning chaos is well worth getting out from under the warm covers. It opens at 3am for wholesale buyers and welcomes the general public between 5 and 6. There are no signs and no guides to help one through this maze of fresh fish and bloody cobblestone paths. Luckily, there are also few restrictions and even fewer people who notice or care that visitors are there. It is a prime-time, speed-of-light market with one focus: process as much fish as quickly as possible.”

Enjoy your next bento box in the capital city of Tokyo.

For more planning tips, visit:

Tokyo Restaurants
Tokyo Hotels
Tokyo Attractions

Bookmark to:

Cajun, creole, classic, and casual—have it all in the jazzy city of New Orleans. Best known for its charming French Quarter and wild Mardi Gras parties, this southern Louisiana town has much more to offer in terms of culinary innovation and spiciness.

With hundreds of restaurants cooking up favorites like muffuletta sandwiches, creole jambalaya, and jumbo shrimp gumbo, you are bound to find a New Orleans dish to get your taste buds kickin’. Bask in the lively and culturally infused environment mixed with French, Spanish, African, Caribbean, and Southern influence.

Real Travel blogger, Katzenjammer Kid, gives her description of the amazing New Orleans ambiance:

“Chicory cafe au lait and warm beignets– what could be a better treat in the morning? Or the afternoon? Or especially late-night after going out dancing? Cafe du Monde is a New Orleans icon, standing proud across from Jackson Square, offering its patrons their mainstay items (coffee and beignets, pretty much), with open-aired seating, a live jazz band often playing, slow fans swinging overhead, and the comfort of consistency. I adore this place.”

For a traditionally New Orleans dining experience, make sure to visit Brennan’s Restaurant located in the heart of the French Quarter. A local icon since 1946, Brennan’s spirit and cuisine has endured even through the worst of natural disasters, and continues to serve its delicious and inventive dishes to locals and visitors alike. For a special treat, make sure to order the popular bananas foster, as Brennan’s was the place to originally create this sweet concoction, (named for one of Brennan’s regular partons, Richard Foster).

New Orleans is a favorite among Real Travel bloggers for more reasons than food. Check out some of these journals to see what else New Orleans can offer for your next vacation:

“Goin back to New Orleans in 2008”
“Living it up in ‘The Big Easy’ ”
“Nawlins”
“Jazzfest: It’s not about looking cute”

Take a break in “The Big Easy” and get some good ol’ fashion grub.

For more travel tips, visit:

New Orleans Restaurants
New Orleans Hotels
New Orleans Attractions

Bookmark to: