Awesome Arizona - Have a Perfect Tightwad Day at the Grandest Canyon of All

A Perfect Tightwad Day at the Grand Canyon

The Grand Canyon is one of the seven natural wonders of the world, and there are at least seven ways to explore it.  You can fly above it in a helicopter, catch the I-Max flick for an eagle's perspective, take the shuttle around the perimeter, hike the canyon paths, ride a mule to Phantom Ranch in the valley below, attend the ranger lectures, or simply sit on the edge and watch the light manipulate the ever-changing shadows on the canyon walls.  With enough time and money, you can use all these approaches, but, if your resources are limited, here's a day I think will please you.  While it is, in typical Tightwad fashion, short on expense, I think you'll find it long on enjoyment.

Awesome Arizona - World's First High-Rises

Seems like everyone wants a room with a view.

In Peru, Machu Picchu clings to a mountain ridge almost 8,000 feet above sea level.  Carved high in the dusky pink cliffs of Jordan, the remarkable city of Petra provides sweeping vistas of the desert.  And in Europe, old cities perch on hilltops.  All of these ancient inhabitants truly had penthouse views.  Of course, they also built "high" to avoid mosquitoes, disease, which was assumed to originate in the swampy flatlands, and encounters with marauders, but I'll bet it was the view that really sold them.

Even the first settlers of North America wanted a penthouse view.  Just an hour and a half north of Phoenix and a couple miles off I-10 lies Montezuma's Castle, a misnomer because there is no castle and the Aztec ruler had nothing to do with the construction, but impressive nevertheless. 

Built by the Sinagua, distantly related to the Hohokam, around 700 AD, the five-story structure was occupied from 1100-1400 by various native American tribes until they suddenly disappeared for reasons which are still not understood. 

The Visitor Center does a fine job explaining the backstory, and a path leads to excellent views of the cliff dwellings themselves.

Now I understand why my dad, a first-generation American who spoke only Swedish until he went to first grade, always told us children to build on a hill.  It wasn't because it was a Swedish tradition or because we lived near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where so many rivers crisscrossed the valleys that flooding was inevitable.  It was because he was following an ancient tradition and wanted his children always to have a room with a view.

Practicalities - For more information about Montezuma's Castle, click here.

Awesome Arizona - On the Way

Every day in June in Tucson has been in the hundred degree range. While it is true it is a dry heat, it's been a particularly dry heat since we have gone over 60 days with no rain.  We are waiting for the monsoon and the meteorologists, as well as everyone else, scan the skies daily for signs of  rain.

So maybe you can understand why David and I decided to meander through the mountains on two-lane roads on our way to the Grand Canyon.  We craved pine trees and grass.  Anything green, really.  But along the way, we found something even better.  Something blue.

Awesome Arizona

It was our dog that determined our vacation destination this June.  Our beloved Belgian malinois is suffering from degenerative myelopathy, which some describe as the equivalent of canine multiple sclerosis or ALS, and she's rapidly losing control of her hind legs.

I ordered a dog cart/wheelchair for her today (from the wonderful people at k 9 carts) which should help her get back to the walks she loves, but David and I know she's not going to be with us  much longer.  Because we don't want to be too far away in case she needs us, we've decided to take a trip to explore our own backyard.

Even though we aren't crossing any oceans, this promises to be an exciting trip.  Some of the most impressive country in the world is in northern Arizona, and we plan to explore as much of it as possible in ten days.

We'll spend a couple days at the Grand Canyon, in Monument Valley, and at Canyon de Chelly exploring all of those places plus the Painted Desert, the Hopi and Navajo Nations, the Petrified Forest, and the Homolovi Ruins.  The laptop will be in the backseat, but Internet reception may not be available everywhere in these remote areas, so blog posts may have to wait for our return.

Still,  I promise to tell you all about it in the next few days or when we get back.  Here's a photo of one of the places we'll explore.  See why we're excited?!

Monument Valley

Practicalities - Don't worry.  Our dog will be in the excellent care of our pet sitters who have become friends.  If you'd like to know how we found these wonderful people who are happy to get a mini-vacation in exchange for caring for our pets, see this article "Free Pet Sitting."

Nab an Exit Row Seat

George Hobica tells you how to snatch one of those wonderful comfortable-with-extra-legroom-exit-row seats right here.

Hurry - Get the Last Great American Bargain!

On the way to Saguaro National Park West

Want to be admitted free at any of the United States' national parks for the rest of your life?  Are there three other people in your car who'd like to get in for free, too?  Would you like a 50% discount on some amenities like camping?

Then don't hesitate if you're a US citizen and at least 62 years old to run to your nearest national park and pay $10 for the Senior Pass.  It truly is the last great bargain in America. It entitles you to free admission and use of all national parks (At most of the parks in the west--the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, Yosemite-- you will save $20-$25 per car.) as well as Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Fish and Wildlife Land (FWS), Reclamation and Forest Service properties (USDA-FS). And the $10 pass is good for the rest of your life!

But you've got to hurry.  The ranger at Tucson's National Saguara Park West (There are two on either side of Tucson.) told me that the legislation making the Senior Pass possible expires in 2014, and no one knows what will happen.  Everyone hopes the program will remain in place, but it may be discontinued or the fee increased considerably.  Luckily, though, the ranger assured me, all passes bought before 2014 will be honored no matter what.  And, if a new program is in place, current Senior Pass holders will be grandfathered in.  So, get your pass now, and you'll be assured of free admission forever.  What a deal!

Practicalities -

According to a pamphlet explaining the program, passes may be purchased at many locations throughout the country.  You can apply in person or by mail.  Note that you must provide proof of age and residency.  For further uinformation, click here.

Note that there are other passes available:  The $80 annual pass is available to anyone, while the Access Pass for US residents with a permanent disability, regardless of age, is free.  All active members of the military qualify for a free pass.

For further information about Federal Lands or to make reservations, click here.

Walk the Camino de Santiago

If you've ever dreamed of walking the Camino de Santiago, the 500 mile trek that hugs the northern boundary of Spain, the movie The Way, starring Martin Sheen and directed by his son Emilio Estevez, will have you rooting through the closet searching for your walking stick.

This touching movie, sweet but never syrupy, tells the story of a busy California doctor who, upon learning of his estranged son's death in France, decides to finish the journey his son did not live to complete.  Along this pilgrimage route, one of the most important to Christians since medieval times, Sheen meets three other hikers who have undertaken the journey for various reasons.

Not only do we see all four pilgrims grow and change during the course of the journey, but we experience the gorgeous scenery along this famous route in the Basque region of Spain.

If you have ever questioned the wisdom of travel, this movie will show you it is as necessary as food and water.

Get Away From It All--While Sitting at Your Desk

Mont St. Michel, France

Are you having a terrible Tuesday after a miserable Monday?  Are you craving a vacation that's still too many weeks away?

Then take a look at MapCrunch, Google's answer to a spur-of-the-moment vacation.  Choose a destination from the list on your right (Estonia, anyone?), and click "Go."   Or click on the Gallery button at the top of the screen to see some of Google's best street views. 

Whichever route you choose, you're sure to enjoy a brief escape from wherever you are right now, and that can make a terrible Tuesday a lot more tolerable. 
 

Tour the world from your desk

5/8/2013

Do you ever want to take off for an impromptu vacation? Unfortunately, life doesn't usually let you.
When you need a break, check out MapCrunch instead. It showcases the best spots recorded with Google Street Views. They'll magically whisk you away to anywhere you wish.
Just select your browsing criteria in the box on the right hand side of the site. You can choose your destination by continent or country. If you choose the option to take a tour, the site will present you with a new location every few seconds.
You can also click on the Gallery to browse through amazing Views of the Day from castles and dinosaur statues to cute animals and stunning landscapes.
Here's one of my favorite spots I've found so far (click it to go there):

Don't forget that this site uses Google Street View, so when you find a place you like, you can click and drag your mouse, or use the arrow keys on your keyboard, to look around and go exploring. I also recommend setting your browser to full screen.
mapcrunch.com
- See more at: http://www.komando.com/toolbox.aspx?mode=print&id=14441#sthash.D9AClqPT.dpuf

Tour the world from your desk

5/8/2013

Do you ever want to take off for an impromptu vacation? Unfortunately, life doesn't usually let you.
When you need a break, check out MapCrunch instead. It showcases the best spots recorded with Google Street Views. They'll magically whisk you away to anywhere you wish.
Just select your browsing criteria in the box on the right hand side of the site. You can choose your destination by continent or country. If you choose the option to take a tour, the site will present you with a new location every few seconds.
You can also click on the Gallery to browse through amazing Views of the Day from castles and dinosaur statues to cute animals and stunning landscapes.
Here's one of my favorite spots I've found so far (click it to go there):

Don't forget that this site uses Google Street View, so when you find a place you like, you can click and drag your mouse, or use the arrow keys on your keyboard, to look around and go exploring. I also recommend setting your browser to full screen.
mapcrunch.com
- See more at: http://www.komando.com/toolbox.aspx?mode=print&id=14441#sthash.D9AClqPT.dpuf

Planning to Drive in Europe?

If you're planning to drive in Europe, here's a US government site that will give you the cost per gallon of gasoline in six countries. 

After you've picked yourself up off the floor, you may want to chart your driving route on the ViaMichelin site.  In addition to learning what roads to take, you will also learn the approximate cost of gasoline and tolls, as well as the amount of time required for your proposed route.

Parlez Vous Français?

No Italian translation needed.  It's all delicious!

Boomers, You Can Do It! Part 4

 "Not only can you travel independently to Europe, but you can do it much more cheaply and easily than you thought possible."

I always hope that sentence will galvanize my listener into action so that he'll race to buy my book, Europe on a Dime: Five-Star Travel on a One-Star Budget, and start planning a trip. After all, the book holds your hand, step-by-step, so you can plan a European experience that is easy on the budget.  Truly, Europe on a Dime practically makes the reservations for you!

But no matter how sincerely I promise to walk people through the process, it's never quite that easy to convince them.  No matter how tantalizing the thought of traipsing down the Champs d'Elysee or cruising the canals of Venice, there's usually a "yes, but...." counter to my promise of cheap and meaningful travel.

So, it's time to face those "yes, buts...." in the next few blog posts.  We're going to take a look at the fears which keep people rooted to their La-Z-Boy recliners when they could be sauntering down exotic cobblestone alleys instead.  We'll confront the objections head-on in hopes that everyone will soon feel confident enough to plan a European trip.

We've dealt with most of the fears in previous posts, but there is one more fear, more of a niggling doubt really, that holds people back even though they are reluctant to admit it.  People worry that traveling independently, without a guide/interpreter, means that they'll be wandering the streets mumbling incoherently in a futile attempt to communicate.  Nothing could be further from the truth.