• Aquariums might not at first strike you as particularly wild, but the underwater world certainly is, and this guide breaks down America's most family-friendly aquariums. [via Peter Greenberg]
• After watching Ken Burns's "America's Best Idea," we should all be grateful for the beautiful wilderness of America's national parks. [via The Traveler's Notebook]
• Whale watching is a worldwide pastime, and while whales may not be as endangered as they used to be, we still need to proceed with caution. [via Wall Street Journal]
• Once you escape the hustle and bustle of Honolulu, Hawaii can be an awfully wild place. Check out these endangered island sights before it's too late. [via Honolulu Magazine]
• It's important to consider animal welfare when we're out enjoying America's wilderness. Here are some good animal-friendly travel tips to get you in a more compassionate traveler. [via Intelligent Travel]

More Gadlinks HERE.

Gadlinks for Monday 11.9.09 originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 09 Nov 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

• I love companies that give back. Here are five travel outlets that make giving part of buying. [via Jaunted]
• Yikes! As a single female traveler, I've been wary of couchsurfing. This give me more reason to avoid couchsurfing altogether. [via True/Slant]
• I read this article on the plane recently and was really moved by what this graffiti artist is doing to share his vision of the world. [via Hemispheres]
• This is a nice, comprehensive guide to wine tasting in South America. [via BootsNAll]

More Gadlinks HERE.

Gadlinks for Friday 11.6.09 originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 06 Nov 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Too bad Pamela Root, the latest woman to be kicked off a plane with her child because of her child's behavior, didn't have Lisa Belkin's method of calming down a screaming toddler. Not the whole method though, just part of it. The whole version is gross. And yes, it is funny--very funny. But it is gross, very gross as well. It's also a cautionary tale of sorts regarding those handy barf bags tucked into an airplane's seat back pockets.

Belkin, who writes for the Motherlode blog in the New York Times, recounts her own trapped-on-a plane-with-an-unruly toddler story. In Belkin's case, it was her own toddler who would not be consoled. Well aware of the looks of horror and sympathy being directed her way by the other passengers, and the not so friendly skies look of the flight attendant who was closest to her, Belkin feared being jettisoned off the plane.

In a flash of brilliance, Belkin pulled the barf bag out of a seat pocket, drew a face on it, slipped her hand inside and turned her hand into a puppet show. Her child stopped crying immediately, pleased as punch.

Belkin, figuring that if one puppet was a hit, two might be Oscar winning material, thrust her other hand into another barf bag. Unfortunately, someone already had found a use for the barf bag-- the use for which it was meant.

Yep. There was Belkin, her hand in a barf bag covered with vomit, and her puppet show at a screeching halt. Fortunately, her husband, who had not been very useful up to that point, was there to help out while Belkin bounded for the restroom lickety split for a sanitation session in the lavatory before the plane took off.

After reading Belkin's story, I'm thankful that when I used a barf bag this summer to hold my son's Lego airplane pieces from the toy I bought at the Detroit airport, I didn't have a mess to clean up. Vomit on Legos? Gaad.

I bought the toy as a way to keep him occupied on our way to Venice via Amsterdam. Fortunately, he's at the age where the in-flight movies do the trick just fine.

Method for quieting child on plane: Works better without the vomit originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 05 Nov 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

This is the best day of the week, in my opinion: You're in a midweek groove, but the weekend is in sight. That's a perfect metaphor for how I'm feeling this week in life, too. I'm past the midpoint of many things in life, but the end is nigh! We have a whole lot of great travel reads to be thankful for as well, so let's get started.

• This astute article details the dark side of adventure holidays. [via Telegraph]
• I'm ready for a sushi revolution, but are you? [via Hemispheres]
• Trip Advisor advises us on how to protect the world's most important places. I'm all for it! [via Blisstree]
• We all know about those negligent pilots who claimed to be using their laptops and bypassed their arrival city, but what's the truth behind pilots, laptops, and air safety? [via The Week]

More Gadlinks HERE.

Gadlinks for Wednesday 11.4.09 originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 04 Nov 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

I find costumes scary and Halloween night even scarier. I may love to travel, but on this particular evening there's no better place than the comfort of my living room. For those of you who are a bit more brave and eager to set out into the spooky evening donning a custom costume, have a ghoulish time! But for the others, like myself, who prefer to stay home, I invite you to read these Halloween-themed travel reads.

• Haunted houses? That's nothing compared to notoriously haunted hotels or creepy castles. [via BootsNAll]
• My flick chick homegirl Eva over at World Hum put together this great list of travel horror movies that the faint of heart should avoid, but the brave should check out.
• Oh scary! There's nothing more frightening than graveyards by night. [via Matador Trips]
• Recycled Halloween costumes? If I did dress up, I'd go that route. Here are some frightfully good, green Halloween tips for travelers. [via Go Green Travel Green]

More Gadlinks HERE.

Gadlinks for Friday 10.30.09 originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 30 Oct 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

• We've all had our bad days on the road -- or at the airport in particular. When you're not getting your way, you might want to follow these suggestions to have a better time traveling. [via CNN Travel]
• JAPAN. It's such a unique place to travel, but there are some things to do and not to do in Japan. [via Matador Trips]
• I recently took a coastal drive across the Golden Gate Bridge to Bolinas in Marin and was quickly reminded how much l love the California coastline. Here are some really worthy coastal drives that you can still take before winter sets in. [via MSNBC Travel]
• More and more people travel with their laptops, and more and more destinations are becoming wired for tech travelers. Here are six of the world's most wired places. [via Open Travel]

'Til tomorrow, have a great evening!

More Gadlinks HERE.

Gadlinks for Wednesday 10.28.09 originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 28 Oct 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Did you know today is the International Day of Climate Action? According to 350.org, "People in 181 countries are coming together for the most widespread day of environmental action in the planet's history. At over 5200 events around the world, people are gathering to call for strong action and bold leadership on the climate crisis." In keeping with this special day, I've saved our usual Friday Gadlinks for today to present you with travel-oriented reads related to climate change. Hope you enjoy!

• CNN covered 350.org's climate change initiative today, and the world is responding. [via 350.org]
• Here are five of the coolest climate change stories from around the world. [via Inhabitat]
• If you're in Honolulu, there's a free screening of a climate change documentary playing at the University of Hawaii at Manoa's campus this afternoon. [via Honolulu on the Cheap]
• In a personal effort to raise awareness on climate change, one man is biking around South America. [via Tree Hugger]
• That bike trip may be a bit extreme. If you don't have that much time or energy to campaign for climate change, here are six small things you can do to save the environment. [via Go Green Travel Green]

'Til Monday, have a great weekend!

More Gadlinks HERE.

Gadlinks for Saturday 10.24.09 originally appeared on Gadling on Sat, 24 Oct 2009 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The FTC rule requires disclosure only by bloggers - traditional media outlets will not be affected, despite the fact that they receive plenty of swag ... and that we (the bloggers) learned it from them. If the goal is to help the consumer make an informed decision, this rule will only "help" blog readers and leave consumers of traditional media exposed.

Beyond the question of fairness, though, there's a greater issue: practicality. Especially in the travel space, the trips and gear provided by hotels, restaurants, manufacturers and their publicists is a vital part of how we can provide more than mere reblogs of "man pukes on a plane." Original travel content comes at a cost. Travel writers need to be out on the road to be effective, and even 12 months of discount travel can add up quickly. For readers interested in luxury and upscale experiences (and there are many here and at Luxist, where I also write), it would be impossible for impoverished bloggers to deliver first-hand accounts of these destinations.

It can be tough to understand the role that comp'ed travel can play in an operation such as Gadlings - or that of any other publication that covers travel. So, to help clarify the issues involved, here are 10 factors that help make sponsored press trips effective.

Continue reading Free press travel: necessary ... and certainly not an evil

Free press travel: necessary ... and certainly not an evil originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 23 Oct 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The folks over at Jaunted posted a story yesterday about a friendly-looking family who dropped their camera at some point while on a trip to Maui. A good Samaritan found the camera and posted one of the pics on Reddit last week, along with a plea for help in locating the family so that their camera could be returned.

According to HalogenLife, in a prime example of the power of social media, the family was located and the camera is on its way to be reunited with its rightful owners.

That news in itself is pretty cool. But what I found even more interesting is that there are apparently several websites dedicated to helping people recover their lost cameras. On Ifoundyourcamera.blogspot.com photos from orphan cameras are posted each Thursday. I haven't lost a camera recently, but I think I may become addicted to scrolling through the pics looking for familiar faces. There's got to be someone I know on the site, right?

Jaunted has a better, smarter solution for digital camera owners though. Write your name and contact information on a card and snap a picture of it. Lock it on your memory drive and internal memory and voila - electronic dog tags for your camera! If someone should find the camera and scroll through your photos, they can easily get in touch via the info you've provided. You know, if they aren't just going to keep your camera for themselves.

Help for lost cameras originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 20 Oct 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

• Bummer! Just when I thought I'd seen everything in Colombia, I find the Cano Cristales river, which based on these photos, does look like an awfully beautiful place. [via Been-Seen]
• Medellin, in Colombia, used to be the murder capital of the world -- but no longer! Check out five of the most dangerous cities in the world. [via Open Travel]
• I'm heading to the Middle East in January, and after reading this article I have every intention of visiting Jaffa, on the southern edge of Tel Aviv. [via NY Times Travel]
• Want to get an MBA and still travel? This article shows you how. [via Vagablogging]
• I traveled through Mediterranean Europe watching my favorite TV shows on my iPod several years ago. Here are some tips on how to travel and still watch your favorite TV programs. [via Peter Greenberg]

Gadlinks for Monday 10.19.09 originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 19 Oct 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

After watching the TSA video of the mother blogger who claimed in a post on her blog "My Bottle's Up" that a TSA agent temporarily took her baby son out of her sight during the security screening process at the Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson airport, I had thoughts about TSA security screening.

Katie wrote a post about this incident earlier today, but there are other points worth making, particularly when considering factors that helped create this partly true, partly fabricated TSA vs. passenger story--even if the fabrications may not have been intentional.

There are a couple of details about this incident that indicate that perhaps TSA still has a bit of work to do when it comes to perfecting customer service and truly understanding human psychology and behavior.

Although I've been generally impressed with most TSA agents, there are times when it has been clear to me that bad practices can have adverse effects.

Here are points that came to mind when I looked into this latest TSA vs. passenger story:

Continue reading The TSA took my baby story: The relationship between psychology, customer service and traveling with a young one

The TSA took my baby story: The relationship between psychology, customer service and traveling with a young one originally appeared on Gadling on Sat, 17 Oct 2009 17:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

On Friday, a blogger reported a harrowing tale that would make any parent furious with the TSA. She claims that, while going through security, she was detained because her son's pacifier clip set off the metal detector. When she was pulled aside for a search, her son was taken away from her by a male TSA agent and was out of her sight for several minutes.

On her blog, she recounts the story of how she was so upset that she screamed obscenities, almost blacked out, and frantically phoned her husband and mother over the course of the nearly ten minutes that her child was out of her sight. She says when the agent finally returned with her son, she ran to him. Once she was allowed to leave, she headed to the bathroom, again nearly blacked out, and took the "emergency Xanax" that she keeps with her at all times because she suffers from severe anxiety.

Well, she might want to take a few more Xanax, because it sounds like this whole episode may have been the result of anxiety-induced hallucinations. The TSA has released proof that the incident, as the blogger claims, never happened.

Continue reading TSA disproves blogger's claim that agent took her baby

TSA disproves blogger's claim that agent took her baby originally appeared on Gadling on Sat, 17 Oct 2009 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Last July, travel writers and bloggers from all over the world came together in Chicago for TBEX, the Travel Blog Exchange. It was a day to meet people in the industry, to learn from other writers and bloggers, and most of all, to start a conversation about the business of travel blogging.

Topics covered at the inaugural event included "Creating a a Lively and Successful Travel Blog", which was led by Bootsnall's Sean Keener, Nomadic Matt, Micheal Yessis from Worldhum, and Gadling's own Heather Poole (who did a stellar job explaining how she keeps her own blog stocked with informative and entertaining posts). There was a session on working with PR people, one on podcasting and video (featuring Chris Martin from the Indie Travel Podcast and Chris Elliott from National Geographic and MSNBC) and a panel on the difference between travel journalism and blogging, led by Conde Nast's Wendy Perrin and Jen Leo from the LA Times. Between sessions there was plenty of time for networking.

I had the chance to attend the 2009 event and was glad I did. I learned a lot, got to meet several people whose blogs I have been following, and made some valuable connections. As soon as the event was over, I signed up to be alerted with news about the 2010 Travel Blog Exchange.

Today, the dates and locations for next year's TBEX were announced. This year's event will be held June 26 and 27, 2010, and sounds like it's going to be even bigger and better than last year. It will be held in New York City, is an extra day long, and will offer more in-depth session for niche discussions. Plus, Gadling is going to be one of the sponsors.

Speakers have not been confirmed yet, but based on the experts assembled last year, I've no doubt that next year's attendees will be treated to an all-star panel. Early Bird registration (before January 1, 2010) is just $40. After that, it's only $80, making this one of the cheaper blogger conferences available and well worth the money. You can sign up now to attend in person, or stay tuned to the TBEX page for information on watching the event via live stream.

Dates for 2010 Travel Blog Exchange Announced originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 16 Oct 2009 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

• Our Sex and the Woods friends offer up some hilarious advice and commentary on travel romance in the age of social media. [via Wend]
  
• Easter Island is overloaded with tourists, and it's not good for the environment. [via The Economist]
• If you missed Burning Man this year -- or have yet to experience it, this is a really fascinating photo essay of one of the world's craziest desert parties. [via Tripbase]
• Even if you don't like dressing up, here are 31 places to enjoy Halloween. [via BootsNAll]
• There are plenty of bad travel illnesses out there. Here are the world's worst travel diseases. [via Vagabondish]

Gadlinks for Friday 10.16.09 originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 16 Oct 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

• It's sometimes a daunting task navigating the travel world on the Web. That's why you should read this handy guide to new travel sites for niche markets. [via MSNBC Travel]
• I'd like to think that every beach in the world's worth visiting, but it appears some beaches are rather dangerous and might best be avoided. [via Open Travel]
  
• Considering how friendly the Japanese are, it should come as no surprise that hitchhiking in Japan is pretty darn easy. [via BootsNAll]
  
• I admit it! I've been the victim of a major travel scam. (Never trust street vendors in Naples, Italy. Actually don't trust anyone in Naples). To avoid being the victim educate yourself on the anatomy of a travel scam. [via Vagablogging]
  

Gadlinks for Wednesday 10.14.09 originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 14 Oct 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

If you've been following my recent posts on the latest happenings around Monterey and Carmel (a.k.a. read my posts about the scenic Monterey coastline or taking a tour of Carmel's wine country), then it shouldn't come as a huge shock to you that I've fallen in love all over again with coastal California this summer. I guess I'm not alone -- and that I don't have to be, either!

In celebration of the release of its six new and fully updated California guidebooks (Coastal California , Tahoe, Monterey & Carmel, Northern California, Southern California and California Beaches), Moon Handbooks is giving away a copy of its Moon Monterey & Carmel, along with four tickets (admission for two adults and two children) to the world-class Monterey Bay Aquarium. That means you and three friends can enjoy a full day of fun in Monterey. Of course, if you're there, you might as well make a weekend of it, right?

All you have to do to enter the giveaway is submit your full name, mailing address, and phone number (for shipping purposes only) to giveaway@moon.com by midnight on October 18th. One winner will be selected at random and announced on the staff blog the week of October 19th.

In addition to the giveaway, California trip ideas, and guest blog posts by Liz Hamill Scott, the author of several of Moon's California guides, can be found this week on the site.

Moon Monterey & Carmel Giveaway originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 13 Oct 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

• Should Columbus Day be changed to a day to honor indigenous people? Probably. Will a day like that ever exist? Probably not. [via The Week]
• This is pretty much the peak season for leaf peeping, so if you haven't yet checked out the fall foliage, head to the hills pronto! [via MSNBC Travel]
• Not feeling particularly inspired or motivated to take your family on a back-to-school weekend vacation? These tips might get you jump-started. [via Peter Greenberg]
• You may feeling like your pocketbook's a bit light this year, but that doesn't mean you should stop traveling! In fact, there are loads of cheap fares this holiday season. [via CNN Travel]

Gadlinks for Monday 10.12.09 originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 12 Oct 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Greg Sullivan and Joseph Diaz, the founders of AFAR magazine, saw a need for a magazine that focused on "experiential travel that helps people experience every destination as local residents do." So they started their new travel magazine to fill that niche.

When major glossies are closing down at an alarming rate, starting up a new magazine - with an online community, tv partnerships, and books in the works - is a bold move. But, if the first issue of AFAR is any indication of what's to come, it's one that will enrich the travel community as the company grows.

The goal of AFAR is to encourage authentic travel that avoids superficial, mass-consumed, beaten path tourism and digs deeper into a local cuture in all aspects of the trip, from where you stay to what you eat to how you can make a difference in a local community. AFAR hits that middle ground between offering details that you can use (a calendar section lists events around the world and each feature has the typical "if you go" logistical info), facts that educate (a piece on the culture of maid cafes in Japan was fascinating) and stories that inspire (a feature on Berber culture in Morocco only fueled my desire to go there).

Continue reading New travel inspiration: AFAR magazine

New travel inspiration: AFAR magazine originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 12 Oct 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

What makes a great haunted house? Gothic architecture? Unexpected things that go bump in the night? Chain saws? Thunder and lightening? Screams, shrieks and wails that pierce through fog? Dripping red goo that looks a lot like blood? Cockroaches on walls and mice that scurry across the floor? A hand that comes out of a box to grab you when you pass? How about a severed head surrounded by garnish served up on a platter?

From California to Pennsylvania and states in between, there are 12 haunted hot spots that have been picked by the staff at Digital City as being the best of the haunted house bounty in the United States. From their descriptions, it seems as if these attractions have most of the above and more--much more.

Interestingly, only one of the picks--the Winchester Mystery House in San Jose is an actual house. The rest range from a movie set to prisons. One, the Haunted School House and Lab in Akron, Ohio, is in a former elementary school.

No matter the venue, each haunted attraction is guaranteed to make you shriek. There's a reason why.

Continue reading The best haunted houses and other haunted jaunts

The best haunted houses and other haunted jaunts originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 08 Oct 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

TGI Wednesday! I am really craving some down time and am ready for the weekend already. Only two more days to go, everyone. Hang in there. To keep your week plugging along, here are the latest and greatest travel reads from around the web.

• Need to buckle down and do some work in NYC? Check out these 10 NYC cafes with free WiFi. [via Nerdy Nomad]
• I really want to travel to eastern Europe, and this article on ecotourism in Romania is part of the reason why. [via Green Traveller]
• I love little islands -- particularly the remote ones that few travelers bother to get to. Have you been to these? [via BootsNAll]
• OH BOY! There's now a Biggest Loser resort in Utah where you can lose wait and -- wait -- lounge around by the pool? [via True/Slant]
• I love traveling with my pug Iris. This article speaks with the Dog Whisperer, Cesar Milan, and details tips on how to travel with dogs. [via Intelligent Travel]

'Til tomorrow, have a great evening!

More Gadlinks here.

Gadlinks for Wednesday 10.7.09 originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 07 Oct 2009 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.