I recently read an article on the CNN website that suggested 5 ways to avoid germs while traveling. In particular, there were some interesting suggestions on avoiding germs on an airplane. To read the full article click here. I'm not exactly sure how long CNN archives articles, so I'll give you the take-aways here:
1. Sit toward the front of the airplane
(ventilation systems on most commercial aircraft provide better air flow in the front of the aircraft)
2. Don't drink coffee or tea on an airplane
(water in airplanes' water tanks isn't always clean)
3. Sanitize your hands after leaving an airplane bathroom
4. Wash or sanitize your hands after getting off an escalator
5. Wash or sanitize your hands after using an ATM
I guess suggestions 3-5 can be interpreted more generally as "Sanitize Your Hands" often!
Friday, November 28, 2008
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Use Google News Alerts For Travel and Vacation Research, Education And Experiences
Google News Alerts can actually improve your travel experience and research. If you know your travel plans at least a few weeks in advance, it's a great idea to set up a Google News Alert to help you get more "information aware" of where you'll be going and what you'll be seeing.
I've created Google News Alerts for all kinds of things, like:
Setting up a Google News Alert is really simple. Here's a tutorial on how to create a Google News Alert:
Step 1:
At the Google search page, click on the news menu option running along the top of the screen
(or just type news.google.com in your browser)
Step 2:
Type in a the name of the place or thing you want an alert for in the search box and click the Search News button or (press the enter key).
Step 3:
On the left side of the page, you'll see a small icon in the shape of an envelope with the text "News Alert". Click on the "News Alert" text.
Step 4:
You'll then see the Google Alerts screen with your topic already entered in the "Search Term" Input box.
Step 5:
Now you'll choose from several configuration options. I recommend:
Type: Comprehensive
How Often: Once a day
Deliver To: Put your email address in this box
Step 6:
Click the "Create Alert" button!
Google allows you to create more News Alerts than you'll ever want, and it's easy to delete them when you're finished. For more detailed information about Google News Alerts, point your browser to: http://www.google.com/alerts
I've gotten some awesome information and entertainment as a result of using Google News Alerts prior to my travel or vacation. For example:
Bonus: Mono Lake Video
I've created Google News Alerts for all kinds of things, like:
- National Parks ...like Death Valley National Park
- Points of interest ...Mono Lake
- Earthquakes ...California Earthquake
- Places to eat ...Whoa Nellie Deli
- ...and lots more.
Setting up a Google News Alert is really simple. Here's a tutorial on how to create a Google News Alert:
Step 1:
At the Google search page, click on the news menu option running along the top of the screen
(or just type news.google.com in your browser)
Step 2:
Type in a the name of the place or thing you want an alert for in the search box and click the Search News button or (press the enter key).
Step 3:
On the left side of the page, you'll see a small icon in the shape of an envelope with the text "News Alert". Click on the "News Alert" text.
Step 4:
You'll then see the Google Alerts screen with your topic already entered in the "Search Term" Input box.
Step 5:
Now you'll choose from several configuration options. I recommend:
Type: Comprehensive
How Often: Once a day
Deliver To: Put your email address in this box
Step 6:
Click the "Create Alert" button!
Google allows you to create more News Alerts than you'll ever want, and it's easy to delete them when you're finished. For more detailed information about Google News Alerts, point your browser to: http://www.google.com/alerts
I've gotten some awesome information and entertainment as a result of using Google News Alerts prior to my travel or vacation. For example:
- Did you know that every summer, during the hottest part to be exact, there is an ultra-marathon that starts in Death Valley and ends on Mt. Whitney?
- Mono Lake is home to arsenic eating slime!
- Everyday there can be hundreds of earthquakes taking place in California, many focused around, so called, dormant volcanoes?!
- Of all the options, the best place to eat in Lee Vining, California is at the Whoa Nellie Deli Mobile Gas station? (Trust me, this ain't no joke...the food is awesome!)
Bonus: Mono Lake Video
Monday, November 10, 2008
Using a GPS unit to track your flight
If you have a GPS unit, it is really cool to track your flight and then view it in Google Earth. Why would anyone want to use a GPS unit on a plane? Personally, I often find it very frustrating to be flying over such scenic locations and not have a clue about what mountains, lakes, deserts, towns, and the like, I'm seeing out my window.
I was a little concerned about what an airline might think of me using a GPS on a plane. Would they consider it a security risk? Would they kick me off the flight if they found out? On a 2008 business trip from San Jose, California I decided to give it a go and see what happened. Immediately after being boarded on the flight, I checked all the literature in the seat pocket in front of me to see if there were any rules for using such a device during a flight. On this particular airline there was no mention of a GPS unit being an approved or prohibited device. I justified it by telling myself the device is only receiving a signal that is always being broadcast everywhere 24/7 anyway, regardless if mine is turned on or not. (Note: On later flights with other airlines, I found GPS units were mentioned as an approved device, but only after reaching an altitude of 10,000 feet.)
The ForeRunner 305 is basically an oversized wrist watch with GPS capabilities. Having the appearence of a watch helped make it inconspcious, which was a good thing since I really didn't know if what I was doing was frowned upon. Make no mistake, in order to track the satellites, the unit must be kept by the window. So, if you don't have a window seat, don't waste your time because it won't work. The "wrist watch" design made it easy and comfortable to keep the device facing the window.
Sitting on the runway, I turned the unit on and in about 35 seconds it locked in on the satellite. I was ready for take-off. With the cabin doors closed, the planed taxied away from the gate and proceeded to the main runway. In no time at all the plane was airborne and the GPS was reporting some amazing speeds!
Normally I use this device for tracking my walks, hikes and one in a blue moon....a jog. Being the first time I'd used it on a plane, I had to rethink my whole concept of pace when I saw it report a mile passing by every 7 seconds!
As it turns out the Forerunner 305 actually has a setting just for using it in a plane.
As it turns out using a GPS unit to track your flight and then viewing that in Google Earth is awesome! Here are some photos and samples:
This first image shows the take-off from San Jose, CA. The red line is what imported into Google Earth, then I added the green arrows to show the loop path we took before actually heading away, Eastward from the city.
Here in the second image we the red line which represents my flight path and its proximity to Mono Lake, California.
With using my GPS unit, there is no way I would have known I was looking out my window at Canyonlands National Park. Upheaval Dome was really cool looking from the air!
In this image, as with all the images, the red line represents my flight path. This image show the entire flight path from San Jose, California to Atlanta, Georgia.
To remove all doubt about the accuracy of GPS tracking, check out this last image which shows landing in Atlanta, then the taxi to the gate!
I was a little concerned about what an airline might think of me using a GPS on a plane. Would they consider it a security risk? Would they kick me off the flight if they found out? On a 2008 business trip from San Jose, California I decided to give it a go and see what happened. Immediately after being boarded on the flight, I checked all the literature in the seat pocket in front of me to see if there were any rules for using such a device during a flight. On this particular airline there was no mention of a GPS unit being an approved or prohibited device. I justified it by telling myself the device is only receiving a signal that is always being broadcast everywhere 24/7 anyway, regardless if mine is turned on or not. (Note: On later flights with other airlines, I found GPS units were mentioned as an approved device, but only after reaching an altitude of 10,000 feet.)
The ForeRunner 305 is basically an oversized wrist watch with GPS capabilities. Having the appearence of a watch helped make it inconspcious, which was a good thing since I really didn't know if what I was doing was frowned upon. Make no mistake, in order to track the satellites, the unit must be kept by the window. So, if you don't have a window seat, don't waste your time because it won't work. The "wrist watch" design made it easy and comfortable to keep the device facing the window.
Sitting on the runway, I turned the unit on and in about 35 seconds it locked in on the satellite. I was ready for take-off. With the cabin doors closed, the planed taxied away from the gate and proceeded to the main runway. In no time at all the plane was airborne and the GPS was reporting some amazing speeds!
Normally I use this device for tracking my walks, hikes and one in a blue moon....a jog. Being the first time I'd used it on a plane, I had to rethink my whole concept of pace when I saw it report a mile passing by every 7 seconds!
As it turns out the Forerunner 305 actually has a setting just for using it in a plane.
As it turns out using a GPS unit to track your flight and then viewing that in Google Earth is awesome! Here are some photos and samples:
This first image shows the take-off from San Jose, CA. The red line is what imported into Google Earth, then I added the green arrows to show the loop path we took before actually heading away, Eastward from the city.
Here in the second image we the red line which represents my flight path and its proximity to Mono Lake, California.
With using my GPS unit, there is no way I would have known I was looking out my window at Canyonlands National Park. Upheaval Dome was really cool looking from the air!
In this image, as with all the images, the red line represents my flight path. This image show the entire flight path from San Jose, California to Atlanta, Georgia.
To remove all doubt about the accuracy of GPS tracking, check out this last image which shows landing in Atlanta, then the taxi to the gate!
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Bernheim Forest - Secret Gem of Kentucky
Located in Bullitt County Kentucky, Bernheim forest is a real gem. Not only is it largely unheard of, but it is also a scenic splendor. First a foremost, as the name implies, Bernheim Forest is an arboretum and research forest. Most everything done there is focused on trees. Preserving trees, studying trees, and thankfully, helping the public enjoy and appreciate trees is what they’re all about.
Bernheim Forest is in what is frequently called the knobs region of the county. The knobs help give the region a “backwoods” characteristic, but there is nothing “backwoods” about the history of Bernheim Forest.
Through the vision of Isaac W. Bernheim, fourteen thousand (14,000) acres were donated to the people of Kentucky as a gift in 1929.
There is a lot to do and see at Bernheim, so much in fact that you really need to visit their website at www.bernheim.org to educate yourself on all the possibilities.
At the moment, the fall colors are in full glory and the park is breathtaking to say the least. My personal “must do” recommendations are:
Bernheim Forest is in what is frequently called the knobs region of the county. The knobs help give the region a “backwoods” characteristic, but there is nothing “backwoods” about the history of Bernheim Forest.
Through the vision of Isaac W. Bernheim, fourteen thousand (14,000) acres were donated to the people of Kentucky as a gift in 1929.
There is a lot to do and see at Bernheim, so much in fact that you really need to visit their website at www.bernheim.org to educate yourself on all the possibilities.
At the moment, the fall colors are in full glory and the park is breathtaking to say the least. My personal “must do” recommendations are:
- Walk the mile loop trail around Lake Nevin
- Sit in the Quiet Garden and enjoy the view of Lake Nevin
- Stroll out on the Canopy Treewalk
Be sure to pack some food and take advantage of some of the best family picnic spots in the state. Scattering throughout the Bernheim Forest are many picnicking areas.
Keep in mind, these recommendations are just to get your started. If you have the time and energy, there are some 35 miles of very nice day hiking trails. Most of the trails are short, ranging between approximately ¼ miles to 2 ½ miles. However, there is one really long trail, called the Millennium Trail that is to 13.3 miles in length. I have hiked this trail several times with my Garmin ForeRunner 305 GPS unit and every time it reports an elevation gain and loss of over 8,000 feet! I couldn’t believe it myself and therefore checked it again on several occasions, all with the same report.
Bernheim Forest is only open from sunrise to sunset, so in the short days of winter, the park will close early.
So there you have it, if your looking for things to see and places to visit in Kentucky, make sure you check out Bernheim Forest. Also, as kind of a bonus, Jim Beam distillery is literally right across the street. Jim Beam is the world’s largest Bourbon distiller and certainly deserves it's own post here on my blog. In fact, the trailhead to one of the Bernheim trails is practically in Jim Beam's parking lot. Check out a blog called The Digressive Press, to read about one man's attempt to get physically fit by hiking that particular trail.
I plan on posting more detailed information about both Bernheim and Jim Beam in the future.
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
IVRs - Intense Vacation Research Subjects
In the online travel world, information overload is a real problem. There are no doubt millions of travel web sites "out there" and a few actually offer helpful information. However, if I may be so bold, I think there is still room for one more.
First and foremost, this Vacation-Education blog is a personal outlet for me to share my travel experiences and the research I put into my vacations. Although the phrase "my vacations" may sound a little self-serving, I promise to try and be interesting. On the other hand, because much of the content comes from my vacation experiences, it also gives the information some credence of credibility. I guess it should be stated at least once that I'm not associated with the travel industry in anyway and therefore can post opinions, tips, and observations that are honest and transparent to intent.
It is my hope this blog will fill a "niche" that, instead of addressing the foundational components of a vacation (planning, booking, reserving, etc..), will instead focus more on connecting the difficult components of a vacation, the ones that can transform a typical vacation into an edu-vacation.
For example, let's say you're going to plan a vacation to Mammoth Cave National Park in Kentucky. It's true you'll need to find a hotel room, purchase some cave tour tickets, get directions and all the usual "foundational components" of a vacation. However, by digging just a little deeper (no cave pun intended), you can actually have a much better Mammoth Cave vacation experience, plus get much more for your time and money. So what do I mean by "digging deeper"? Let's start with some of the basics:
And Finally, a clear message I want to convey in my initial blog post is to encourage all visitors to contribute by posting responses. Even if your response is just a single line of text, it could really help other vacationers avoid the hazards of having a "bank account draining", "needed more time", "wish I would've known", "guess I'll have to wait until next time" - vacation.
PS. Having lived in Kentucky all my life, Mammoth Cave National Park will certainly be one of my IVRs ("Intense Vacation Research Subjects), so stay tuned for upcoming posts on the subject of Mammoth Cave National Park.
First and foremost, this Vacation-Education blog is a personal outlet for me to share my travel experiences and the research I put into my vacations. Although the phrase "my vacations" may sound a little self-serving, I promise to try and be interesting. On the other hand, because much of the content comes from my vacation experiences, it also gives the information some credence of credibility. I guess it should be stated at least once that I'm not associated with the travel industry in anyway and therefore can post opinions, tips, and observations that are honest and transparent to intent.
It is my hope this blog will fill a "niche" that, instead of addressing the foundational components of a vacation (planning, booking, reserving, etc..), will instead focus more on connecting the difficult components of a vacation, the ones that can transform a typical vacation into an edu-vacation.
For example, let's say you're going to plan a vacation to Mammoth Cave National Park in Kentucky. It's true you'll need to find a hotel room, purchase some cave tour tickets, get directions and all the usual "foundational components" of a vacation. However, by digging just a little deeper (no cave pun intended), you can actually have a much better Mammoth Cave vacation experience, plus get much more for your time and money. So what do I mean by "digging deeper"? Let's start with some of the basics:
- What books should you read before you visit Mammoth Cave?
- Are there any movies or videos you should view before your trip?
- What are the key historical facts, events or people should you know about before you're there?
- Would some light science information (geology, biology, etc...) help you better appreciate your vacation?
- Is there any music that would add to the overall experience?
- And there are many other IVRs (Intense Vacation Research Subjects) to explore, so you can "know before you go"
And Finally, a clear message I want to convey in my initial blog post is to encourage all visitors to contribute by posting responses. Even if your response is just a single line of text, it could really help other vacationers avoid the hazards of having a "bank account draining", "needed more time", "wish I would've known", "guess I'll have to wait until next time" - vacation.
PS. Having lived in Kentucky all my life, Mammoth Cave National Park will certainly be one of my IVRs ("Intense Vacation Research Subjects), so stay tuned for upcoming posts on the subject of Mammoth Cave National Park.
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