Gadling http://www.gadling.com Gadling http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.gadling.com/media/feedlogo.gif Gadling http://www.gadling.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Farewell, Gadling!]]>http://www.gadling.com/2008/01/20/farewell-gadling/http://www.gadling.com/2008/01/20/farewell-gadling/http://www.gadling.com/2008/01/20/farewell-gadling/#comments
Today marks my two-year anniversary with Gadling.

And my 2000th post exactly.

Post #1 on January 20, 2006 was a short piece introducing myself to Gadling readers. Post # 2000 is a short piece announcing that I will be stepping down.

This will be my last Gadling post, and one that I pen with both excitement and sadness. Gadling has come a long way in the last two years. We had just three writers at the time I started and a small, but faithful readership. Today, we have 16 writers on staff and daily page views that can stretch into the millions. Gadling is continuing to grow and continuing to improve and it was therefore a very difficult decision to step off this astounding train at such an exciting time.

But as you might imagine, averaging almost three posts a day has had a bothersome way of interfering with other projects I've wanted to tackle. And that's why I've decided to take a break from blogging and concentrate on some of these ideas I've had circulating in my head the last few years.

Continue reading Farewell, Gadling!

Farewell, Gadling! originally appeared on Gadling on Sun, 20 Jan 2008 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Sun, 20 Jan 2008 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[How budget airlines make their money: The art of bumping a 2 cent ticket up to $120]]>http://www.gadling.com/2008/01/20/how-budget-airlines-make-their-money-the-art-of-bumping-a-2-cen/http://www.gadling.com/2008/01/20/how-budget-airlines-make-their-money-the-art-of-bumping-a-2-cen/http://www.gadling.com/2008/01/20/how-budget-airlines-make-their-money-the-art-of-bumping-a-2-cen/#commentsFiled under: ,

So, how do they do it? How do all those European budget airlines make a profit charging less than a Euro per seat?

Last summer, Times journalist Mark Frary decided to find out for himself by purchasing a 1 pence Ryanair ticket from London's Stansted Airport to Berlin. Sounds like a steal, right? Not exactly. Like so many other deal seekers on budget airlines, Frary ended up paying far more than that initial 1 pence. How his final cost netted out at £61.84 ($121.15) provides fascinating insight into an amazing business plan that is succeeding despite naysayers predicting otherwise.

Interestingly enough, the wild price of Frary's final bill did not come from the most common source of increased ticket prices on budget airline: baggage fees. This is where the airlines really clean up. Passengers on Ryanair, for example, can check up to three bags. The first, however, costs £5 ($9.80) while each additional bag is £10 ($19.60). In addition, there is a 15 kg (33 lbs.) checked bag allowance. If a passenger exceeds this weight, they pay £5.50 ($10.78) per kilo--which can add up very quickly. And don't even think of transferring your heavier items to your friend's baggage at the airport either. Ryanair's Terms and Conditions clearly state, "No pooling or sharing of baggage allowances is permitted, even within a party traveling on the same reservation."

Continue reading How budget airlines make their money: The art of bumping a 2 cent ticket up to $120

How budget airlines make their money: The art of bumping a 2 cent ticket up to $120 originally appeared on Gadling on Sun, 20 Jan 2008 12:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>budget airlinesbudget travelBudgetAirlinesBudgetTravelSun, 20 Jan 2008 12:01:00 EST<![CDATA[A cartoonist's view of North Korea]]>http://www.gadling.com/2008/01/20/a-cartoonist-s-view-of-north-korea/http://www.gadling.com/2008/01/20/a-cartoonist-s-view-of-north-korea/http://www.gadling.com/2008/01/20/a-cartoonist-s-view-of-north-korea/#commentsFiled under: ,


I never would have expected a graphic novel to truly capture the sense of a place, but recently, I was pleasantly proven wrong with a nice gift I received for Christmas.

Pyongyang: A Journey in North Korea by Guy Delisle is a superb snapshot, perhaps the best I've seen, of what it is truly like to visit North Korea.

Delisle is a French Canadian who went to Pyongyang to work with the local animation studio. He was fortunate enough (or, perhaps, unfortunate enough) to spend more time there than I was permitted to during my recent visit since he was there in a professional capacity. This provided him the opportunity to explore Pyongyang a little more in depth than the average tourist does and with a more unique perspective--that of a cartoonist.

Continue reading A cartoonist's view of North Korea

A cartoonist's view of North Korea originally appeared on Gadling on Sun, 20 Jan 2008 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>graphic novelsGraphicNovelsSun, 20 Jan 2008 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The LA River: A sad, lonely body of water that gets no respect]]>http://www.gadling.com/2008/01/19/the-la-river-a-sad-lonely-body-of-water-that-gets-no-respect/http://www.gadling.com/2008/01/19/the-la-river-a-sad-lonely-body-of-water-that-gets-no-respect/http://www.gadling.com/2008/01/19/the-la-river-a-sad-lonely-body-of-water-that-gets-no-respect/#commentsFiled under: ,

Paris has the Seine, Vienna the Danube, and Los Angeles has the LA, river that is.

Whoa, what!?!? Los Angeles has a river?

Perhaps river is far too generous of a term for the 52 miles of concrete-lined "waterways" which tumble from the foothills of Los Angeles down to the Port of Long Beach. And yet, locals in this water-starved city have clung to this definition of "river" because they've got nothing else that even comes close. No one even thinks it ironic that the number one activity enjoyed on the LA River is not boating or fishing, but rather filming car chases for blockbuster Hollywood films.

And yet, there are sections of the river that are actually river-like, with flowing water, small islands, and even little fish swimming about. But don't expect to find these more bucolic stretches on your own.

Visiting the LA River is pretty much at the bottom of most any tourist itinerary, but if exploring massive concrete public works projects is your thing, you should consider checking out Friends of the LA River, a "non-profit organization founded in 1986 to protect and restore the natural and historic heritage of the Los Angeles River and its riparian habitat through inclusive planning, education and wise stewardship."

Continue reading The LA River: A sad, lonely body of water that gets no respect

The LA River: A sad, lonely body of water that gets no respect originally appeared on Gadling on Sat, 19 Jan 2008 12:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>la riverLaRiverUrban explorationurban exploringUrbanExplorationUrbanExploringSat, 19 Jan 2008 12:01:00 EST<![CDATA[Nature-Deficit Disorder]]>http://www.gadling.com/2008/01/19/nature-deficit-disorder/http://www.gadling.com/2008/01/19/nature-deficit-disorder/http://www.gadling.com/2008/01/19/nature-deficit-disorder/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Yes, you read the headline correctly.

And yes, it means exactly what it looks like it means.

Nature-Deficit Disorder is not a clinically diagnosed disease. It is, however, a rather clever name for a disturbing trend towards "denatured childhood" and the alarming affects that can result from such a condition.

The phrase was coined by Richard Louv in his fascinating book, Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children From Nature-Deficit Disorder.

Louv points out that today's children no longer spend long summer afternoons running through the woods, playing in fields, or camping under the stars. Instead, they are at home playing video games, watching movies, surfing the web, or engaging in other indoor activities.

I've witnessed this myself when I go home to my parent's house for Christmas and am surprised every year by the absolute dearth of kids playing in the street with their new toys. Christmas morning is a ghost town--outdoors, at least. If I peer through the neighbor's windows, however, I can see all the kids huddled around TVs or computer screens, bug-eyed and brain dead. Frankly, I find it very depressing.

So what's the harm in spending less and less time outdoors in nature?

Louv argues that the exposure to nature is necessary for cognitive development and without a heavy dosage of it, children are more prone to suffer from depression, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, stress, and, of course, obesity.

Continue reading Nature-Deficit Disorder

Nature-Deficit Disorder originally appeared on Gadling on Sat, 19 Jan 2008 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>campingraising kidsRaisingKidssummer campSummerCampSat, 19 Jan 2008 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Alien creatures? Or Seoul fish market?]]>http://www.gadling.com/2008/01/18/alien-beast-or-seoul-fish-market/http://www.gadling.com/2008/01/18/alien-beast-or-seoul-fish-market/http://www.gadling.com/2008/01/18/alien-beast-or-seoul-fish-market/#commentsFiled under: ,


Last month when I was in Seoul, I made sure to visit the city's Noryangjin Fish Market. I wasn't quite sure where it was when I exited the Noryangjin subway station, but a quick sniff of the air told me exactly the direction I should go.

This massive warehouse is a completely surreal experience. Hundreds of water-filled bins contain some of the most bizarre aquatic creatures I've ever seen. And every single one is there to be eaten.

I spent more than an hour watching the fish mongers hawking their trade, slicing up their catch, and even wrestling with octopi. I never quite got used to the smell and, in fact, it lingered in my nasal passages for pretty much the rest of the day, long enough to completely eliminate the possibility of eating fish for dinner.

Nonetheless, the fish market remained one of my personal favorite highlights in Seoul. Sure, there are plenty of cultural sights and fascinating museums throughout the South Korean capital, but nothing, in my opinion, was quite as mesmerizing as an afternoon spent with the oddball denizens of the deep.

Gallery: South Korea: Fish Market

Alien creatures? Or Seoul fish market? originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 18 Jan 2008 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>featuredFri, 18 Jan 2008 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Pearl of Moorea Part 3: Food & Fun]]>http://www.gadling.com/2008/01/18/the-pearl-of-moorea-part-3-food-and-fun/http://www.gadling.com/2008/01/18/the-pearl-of-moorea-part-3-food-and-fun/http://www.gadling.com/2008/01/18/the-pearl-of-moorea-part-3-food-and-fun/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


For whatever reason, doing absolutely nothing on the other side of the word is always more enjoyable than doing absolutely nothing at home.

But of course, I exaggerate when I say that my girlfriend and I did absolutely nothing on the French Polynesian island of Moorea during our recent vacation. It was actually quite the opposite. We kept our days very busy eating, sleeping, and swimming. There was hardly any time to do anything else.

Dining in Moorea
Food in the South Pacific always seems to be a challenge--as we first discovered in the Cook Islands two years ago. The biggest complaint is that everything is always so horrifically expensive. We spent $100 for pizza and beer one afternoon, which was pretty much the average for every meal we ate on Moorea. Ouch!

What's wonderful about the restaurant scene on Moorea, however, is that most restaurants will pick guests up from their resort for free--a very welcome surprise that helped to keep the already expensive cost of meals slightly lower by not having to pay for a taxi.

Ironically, our favorite restaurant that we frequented the most often was also the closest. Le Sud was just a five-minute walk from our resort. This quaint little eatery wraps around the outside porch of a small house where geckos scampered about on the walls in search of insects while we dined.

Continue reading The Pearl of Moorea Part 3: Food & Fun

The Pearl of Moorea Part 3: Food & Fun originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 18 Jan 2008 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>paradisetropicsvacationFri, 18 Jan 2008 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Where on Earth, Week 41: Frank Zappa Monument, Vilnius, Lithuania]]>http://www.gadling.com/2008/01/18/where-on-earth-week-41-frank-zappa-monument-vilnius-lithuani/http://www.gadling.com/2008/01/18/where-on-earth-week-41-frank-zappa-monument-vilnius-lithuani/http://www.gadling.com/2008/01/18/where-on-earth-week-41-frank-zappa-monument-vilnius-lithuani/#commentsFiled under: ,


Congratulations to Nuva and Oddsocks for correctly identifying this week's Where on Earth.

It took a bit of wandering myself before I was able to find the monument featured in the above photograph, for the simple reason that government officials in post-communist Vilnius, Lithuania were hesitant to erect a bust of Frank Zappa in the center of town.

In fact, one must certainly wonder how a monument to singer Frank Zappa ever ended up in a city with which he had no connection and never even visited.

A few years ago, I had the good fortune to share some beers with one of the students responsible for this very odd monument. He explained to me in a dark Vilnius pub how he and his friends, caught up in the early 1990s euphoria of post-communist freedom, decided to honor one of their favorite American singers whom they clandestinely listened to during communism because authorities banned his decadent western music.

Continue reading Where on Earth, Week 41: Frank Zappa Monument, Vilnius, Lithuania

Where on Earth, Week 41: Frank Zappa Monument, Vilnius, Lithuania originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 18 Jan 2008 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>musicsingerundergroudn musicUndergroudnMusiczappaFri, 18 Jan 2008 08:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Photo of the Day (1/17/08)]]>http://www.gadling.com/2008/01/17/photo-of-the-day-1-17-08/http://www.gadling.com/2008/01/17/photo-of-the-day-1-17-08/http://www.gadling.com/2008/01/17/photo-of-the-day-1-17-08/#commentsFiled under: ,


Appropriately titled "Smiley," this wonderful shot by Fiznatty perfectly captures that spontaneous grin that occasionally greets travelers in remote lands where simply catching sight of a foreigner is enough to trigger a child's irrepressible smile.

What makes this shot even more amazing is that it was taken in northern Rwanda--a place more commonly associated with horror than with our smiley friend above. It's certainly a testament that no matter how bad a place might be, a child's resiliency will always shine through.

Photo of the Day (1/17/08) originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 17 Jan 2008 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Thu, 17 Jan 2008 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Pearl of Moorea Part 2: The Resort]]>http://www.gadling.com/2008/01/17/the-pearl-of-moorea-part-2-the-resort/http://www.gadling.com/2008/01/17/the-pearl-of-moorea-part-2-the-resort/http://www.gadling.com/2008/01/17/the-pearl-of-moorea-part-2-the-resort/#commentsFiled under:


The intent of my recent vacation to Moorea was to do absolutely nothing. And, I lived up to these lofty goals admirably.

As I mentioned in yesterday's post, the Christmas holidays are my time to relax and catch up on life. The first time I tried doing this a number of years ago I somehow ended up at a Club Med. I thought it would be the perfect escape, but instead there was non-stop pressure to drink, party, dance, play volleyball, shoot hoops, water ski, jet ski, kayak, dive, and participate in countless other activities. One couldn't even relax at poolside with out some sun-damaged Bozo coaxing everyone up on their feet to sing some cultish song about the sun.

Sure, there is a time and place for Club Med, but not for me and my winter vacation.

And so, my girlfriend and I opted for a far mellower option and headed to the Moorea Pearl Resort and Spa in French Polynesia where my only obligation was to indulge in the total lack of any obligation whatsoever. I could do absolutely nothing, and not feel guilty about it at all.

Continue reading The Pearl of Moorea Part 2: The Resort

The Pearl of Moorea Part 2: The Resort originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 17 Jan 2008 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>south pacificSouthPacifictahitiThu, 17 Jan 2008 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Christopher Columbus: Travels the New World, spreads syphilis]]>http://www.gadling.com/2008/01/17/christopher-columbus-travels-the-new-world-spreads-syphilis/http://www.gadling.com/2008/01/17/christopher-columbus-travels-the-new-world-spreads-syphilis/http://www.gadling.com/2008/01/17/christopher-columbus-travels-the-new-world-spreads-syphilis/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Since the dawn of commercial flight, there has been a growing concern among health officials that modern travel is responsible for the rapid spread of dangerous, contagious diseases.

In the past, a random disease could infect an isolated tribe and kill them all off before the virus spread beyond their borders. Today, a backpacker could pick up a contagious disease in Papua New Guinea and be back home in Chicago coughing on people three days later.

Take SARS, for example. Acute Respiratory Syndrome first appeared in Asia in February 2003. Just a few months later the disease--which can only be transmitted by close, personal contact--had spread across the globe infecting people in more than 25 countries.

Such a rapid epidemic was only possible because of the massive proliferation of international flights crisscrossing the globe. One infected person in a single airplane landing at Heathrow could spread a disease like SARS around the globe within a day. This is scary stuff, folks!

Continue reading Christopher Columbus: Travels the New World, spreads syphilis

Christopher Columbus: Travels the New World, spreads syphilis originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 17 Jan 2008 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>souvenirsstdsThu, 17 Jan 2008 08:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Pearl of Moorea Part One: Getting there]]>http://www.gadling.com/2008/01/16/the-pearl-of-moorea-part-one-getting-there/http://www.gadling.com/2008/01/16/the-pearl-of-moorea-part-one-getting-there/http://www.gadling.com/2008/01/16/the-pearl-of-moorea-part-one-getting-there/#commentsFiled under: , ,



Travel, when done right, is an active, engaging adventure during which every day reveals something new and exciting.

But every once in a while, travel is nothing more than a well deserved excuse to escape from the real world and do absolutely nothing. And this is exactly the way I usually feel at the end of the calendar year when I'm burnt out, overworked, and in desperate need of reinvigoration.

And so, my girlfriend and I headed to the South Pacific this last Christmas vacation for some well deserved R & R.

I wasn't sure we would actually get there because I had waited too long to book anything and when my girlfriend started calling around in mid-December, a few travel agents actually laughed at her.

And then we found a gem. Laurel from True Tahiti Vacations took on the challenge and in less than a day, had done a phenomenal job of putting together the perfect package for our one-week escape to the Tahitian island of Moorea. She pulled off a minor miracle in the middle of high season and did everything imaginable for us-even offering the professional services of her husband, a local tattoo artist on Moorea who practices his art in the traditional Tahitian manner: with a wooden tapping stick and needles made of shark's teeth. And don't worry mom, this was one souvenir we both passed on.

Continue reading The Pearl of Moorea Part One: Getting there

The Pearl of Moorea Part One: Getting there originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 16 Jan 2008 12:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>South PacificSouthPacificsuntropicaltropical paradiseTropicalParadiseWed, 16 Jan 2008 12:01:00 EST<![CDATA[The Southwest Airlines Stripper Plane]]>http://www.gadling.com/2008/01/16/southwest-stripper-plane/http://www.gadling.com/2008/01/16/southwest-stripper-plane/http://www.gadling.com/2008/01/16/southwest-stripper-plane/#commentsFiled under:

Every Friday evening, some time before most people have clocked out of work and begin heading home for the weekend, a plane takes off from LAX.

Like so many other flights at this time, this one is also heading to Las Vegas. It's not full of gamblers, however, but rather a disproportionate amount of silicone that bounces and jiggles through the warm, desert-air turbulence all the way to Vegas where, for the remainder of Friday and Saturday night, it will continue quivering away at $20 a pop.

This, folks, is the Southwest Stripper Plane.

The passengers are LA's greatest temporary export, heading off for a weekend of singles and 20s to help baby pay the rent. They are blessed with the sun-kissed glory of Southern California and enhanced by the world's greatest plastic surgeons, and of course every single one is a struggling teacher, college student, or some other admirable profession that will keep suckers reaching into their wallet time after time to help out their worthy cause, whatever it might be.

Continue reading The Southwest Airlines Stripper Plane

The Southwest Airlines Stripper Plane originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 16 Jan 2008 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>boobsescortsfeaturedhot womenHotWomensexstrippersvegas strippersVegasStrippersWed, 16 Jan 2008 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Where on Earth? Week 41]]>http://www.gadling.com/2008/01/16/where-on-earth-week-41/http://www.gadling.com/2008/01/16/where-on-earth-week-41/http://www.gadling.com/2008/01/16/where-on-earth-week-41/#commentsFiled under:


Here's one that should really stump you: a mural and a bust. But who is it and where can you find this strange, unexpected monument that otherwise has no connection to the city in which it's located?

Figure out who the person is, and you'll figure out where the monument can be found.

Plug away in the comments section below if you want to take a guess, but keep in mind that this week we are looking for the city and the name of the person honored with this monument.

Come back on Friday and all will be revealed.

Good luck!

(And do me proud; this will be my final WOE for awhile. More on that later.)

Where on Earth? Week 41 originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 16 Jan 2008 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Wed, 16 Jan 2008 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Walking the length of the Alps with the Via Alpina Trail]]>http://www.gadling.com/2008/01/15/walking-the-length-of-the-alps-with-the-via-alpina-trail/http://www.gadling.com/2008/01/15/walking-the-length-of-the-alps-with-the-via-alpina-trail/http://www.gadling.com/2008/01/15/walking-the-length-of-the-alps-with-the-via-alpina-trail/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

One of the world's greatest hiking trails has finally opened. And if you're a backpacking glutton, you can take it all the way across the European Alps.

And how far is that you ask?

Well, if you start in Monaco, work your way up to Chaminox, and then cross over into Italy, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Germany, Austria, and then finally, down to Slovenia, you would have covered 3,100 miles.

Via Alpina officially opened in 2005 after many years of effort to link together the numerous trails crisscrossing Europe's most fantastic mountain range. This would never have been possible prior to the formation of the EU since the trans-Alp trail crosses borders so often. The section known as the Red Trail, for example, crosses back and forth 44 times--backpackers would have filled up an entire passport with stamps just hiking the trail 20 years ago.

But now, all one needs is a warm sleeping bag, some gorp and donkey-like endurance to travel the same distance. The best thing about stitching all these trails together, however, is that the Alps are extraordinarily user-friendly thanks to a series of huts where backpackers can spend the night during their journey. In addition, large swaths of trail pass through villages and resort areas where trail blazers can stop for a beer and schnitzel instead of eating dehydrated food for 44 days straight.

If you're considering such an adventure yourself, check out the trail's official site, Via-Alpina.org, where you can download maps, read trail descriptions, and even hook up with hiking partners.

Walking the length of the Alps with the Via Alpina Trail originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 15 Jan 2008 12:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alpsbackpackingtrail hikingTrailHikingTue, 15 Jan 2008 12:01:00 EST<![CDATA[Free LAX shuttle to In-N-Out Burgers]]>http://www.gadling.com/2008/01/15/free-lax-shuttle-to-in-in-out-burgers/http://www.gadling.com/2008/01/15/free-lax-shuttle-to-in-in-out-burgers/http://www.gadling.com/2008/01/15/free-lax-shuttle-to-in-in-out-burgers/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Stuck at LAX for a few hours on a layover and hankering for one of the best burgers in all of California? Well, you're in luck.

There's an In-N-Out Burger just around the corner from the airport, and Gadling knows a little trick to get you there for free.

An In-N-Out is located on nearby Sepulveda Boulevard right next to the Parking Spot--a parking structure that conveniently provides free shuttle service. All you have to do is wait under the red "Hotel and Courtesy Shuttle" sign outside of any airport terminal, and when the yellow and black polka-dotted Parking Spot shuttle swings by, jump on board. It will take you literally next door to In-N-Out. Follow your nose through the back door, across the parking lot, and right inside where you need to order a double-double and fries to enjoy the best layover of your life.

There are a few things to be very careful about, however.

Continue reading Free LAX shuttle to In-N-Out Burgers

Free LAX shuttle to In-N-Out Burgers originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 15 Jan 2008 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>featuredTue, 15 Jan 2008 09:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The very best inns and B&Bs in North America]]>http://www.gadling.com/2008/01/14/the-very-best-inns-and-bandbs-in-north-america/http://www.gadling.com/2008/01/14/the-very-best-inns-and-bandbs-in-north-america/http://www.gadling.com/2008/01/14/the-very-best-inns-and-bandbs-in-north-america/#commentsFiled under: ,

What scares me most about bed & breakfasts is the fear that they might be nothing more than someone's home with a couple of converted rooms for paying guests. Sure, living in a local's house can be a cool thing, but sharing a bathroom with the family and enduring a half-baked attempt at breakfast can quickly ruin a holiday.

So how does one find and book a truly great B&B?

The problem is that B&Bs tend to be owner run and operated so there is never the confidence and assurance of quality one is guaranteed when booking with a brand name hotel chain. And there's no telling until you get there whether Martha Stewart or Leona Helmsley is running the place.

There is, however, an organization which can help out.

Select Registry: Distinguished Inns of North America is comprised of 400 member properties throughout America and Canada which have passed a rigorous and anonymous quality assurance inspection program. Only the very best inns make the cut, which means that Select Registry has indeed become a brand itself, a mark of quality which guarantees the very best and consistently delivers on that promise.

Continue reading The very best inns and B&Bs in North America

The very best inns and B&Bs in North America originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 14 Jan 2008 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Mon, 14 Jan 2008 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Summiting Mt. Whitney: A Photo Gallery]]>http://www.gadling.com/2008/01/14/summiting-mt-whitney-a-photo-gallery/http://www.gadling.com/2008/01/14/summiting-mt-whitney-a-photo-gallery/http://www.gadling.com/2008/01/14/summiting-mt-whitney-a-photo-gallery/#commentsFiled under: , ,


At 14,496 feet, Mt. Whitney is the tallest mountain in the continental United States.

It has always been a dream of mine to climb Whitney and last summer I finally had the opportunity thanks to my friend Patti who collected $15 from me and my friends and applied for a permit. Unfortunately, the date we finally received from the Forest Service was the same weekend I was going to be in Alaska fishing. Damn!

And so last August I jumped on a plane and headed north while my friends drove up Highway 395 and pulled off something far greater than hauling in an 8 pound salmon.

"It was grueling," Patti told me later, "but a tremendous accomplishment." And then she added with a laugh, "and one I will never, ever repeat."

Gallery: California: Mt. Whitney

Mt. Whitney - Patti FrickMt. Whitney - Patti FrickMt. Whitney - Patti FrickMt. Whitney - Patti FrickMt. Whitney - Patti Frick

Mt. Whitney is not a technical climb, but it is a truly exhausting one due to the high altitude and thin air which makes your lungs work overtime for less oxygen and your muscles burn with fatigue.

Although Whitney would have kicked my butt, I was nonetheless disappointed I wasn't able to go. I was even more disappointed after seeing Patti's photographs. The group had lucked out with perfect weather and the cloudless skies and crisp mountain air made for some stunningly beautiful shots.

So, do yourself a favor. Spare a few moments to check out the gallery and summit Mt. Whitney in the same manner as I did this summer: virtually.

Related:
Packing out Last Night's Dinner
Photo of the Day
Pack it out... All out on Mt. Whitney

Summiting Mt. Whitney: A Photo Gallery originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 14 Jan 2008 12:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>highest peaksHighestPeaksmountain climbingMountainClimbingMon, 14 Jan 2008 12:01:00 EST<![CDATA[Diggers of the Underground Planet: Exploring the mysteries beneath Moscow]]>http://www.gadling.com/2008/01/14/diggers-of-the-underground-planet-exploring-the-mysteries-benea/http://www.gadling.com/2008/01/14/diggers-of-the-underground-planet-exploring-the-mysteries-benea/http://www.gadling.com/2008/01/14/diggers-of-the-underground-planet-exploring-the-mysteries-benea/#commentsFiled under:

Far below the city streets, in the very bowels of Moscow, a ragtag group of modern-day troglodytes oversee the countless, eerie miles of subterranean tunnels and caves which crisscross their way through the Russian capital.

Most tourists are only aware of Moscow's phenomenal metro system and limit their time underground to short trips between various stations. The metro, however, is just the tip of the iceberg, as they say.

Vadim Mikhailov (above) knows this because he heads up a group called the Diggers of the Underground Planet. The members don't technically dig, but they do spend a great deal of their time with flashlight in hand, exploring the six to twelve layers of underground Moscow. Since organizing into a group in 1990, the Diggers have been mapping out the abandoned subway tunnels, sewer systems, drainage tunnels, bunkers, riverbeds, waterfalls, lakes, laboratories, torture chambers, mass graves and more. This 850-year old city has lots to hide.

Perhaps the most infamous underground secret is the private subway Stalin had built which reportedly runs to a number of locations including the Kremlin and even to the suburbs outside of Moscow where Stalin had his dacha. This metro is apparently still in operation and therefore a wise Mikhailov never comments on it.

Continue reading Diggers of the Underground Planet: Exploring the mysteries beneath Moscow

Diggers of the Underground Planet: Exploring the mysteries beneath Moscow originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 14 Jan 2008 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>spelunkingurban explorationUrbanExplorationMon, 14 Jan 2008 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[How to visit the locations of last year's most "travel inspiring" films]]>http://www.gadling.com/2008/01/13/how-to-visit-the-locations-of-last-year-s-most-travel-inspiring/http://www.gadling.com/2008/01/13/how-to-visit-the-locations-of-last-year-s-most-travel-inspiring/http://www.gadling.com/2008/01/13/how-to-visit-the-locations-of-last-year-s-most-travel-inspiring/#commentsFiled under: ,

We've posted a number of times here on Gadling about the impact of movies as a travel motivator. In other words, which movies portray a sense of place strong enough to make you want to visit?

Budget Travel recently came up with their own top ten "travel inspiring" movies released in the last year, with the Bourne Ultimatum coming in at number one thanks to six countries featured in the film and an exciting rooftop chase through the ancient medina of Tangiers (above). Although Martha blogged about this a few weeks ago, I'd like to update the post with a few other thoughts.

First off, CNN picked up on the story as well and recently interviewed Budget Travel Senior Editor Liz Ozaist. The interview not only expands on the article, but also includes clips from the movies. Click here to watch the video.

In addition, the Budget Travel article takes their list to the next, logical step and provides information on how to visit the actual locations where the movies were filmed. Casablanca Travel and Tours, for example, conducts a $120 tour of the Tangier medina that shadows the Bourne chase scenes.

Now, if only Budget Travel can teach us how to get our hands on multiple passports, then perhaps we can truly follow in the footsteps of uber-traveler Matthew Bourne.

How to visit the locations of last year's most "travel inspiring" films originally appeared on Gadling on Sun, 13 Jan 2008 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Hollywoodtravel filmsTravelFilmsSun, 13 Jan 2008 15:30:00 EST