Tragic End For a Traveling Couple

Round-the-world UK cyclists killed in Thailand

This story really hit home for me as a fellow wanderlust. I love traveling and hope that if nothing else my blog inspires you to go out and explore the world around you- and beyond. Maybe you want to visit all the states like I do. Maybe you want to go to every continent. Maybe you want to see the top 20 tallest buildings in the world. Whatever it is I hope you not only go out and do it, that you go out and do it safely. While getting to see the world (or America) is fun and all, the reality is that life is very precious and very fragile and something to be respected and protected!

Safe adventures friends!

I'm in the process of editing my Ohio pictures (they are up, but jumbled and in a random order) on my Facebook page. The blog post will be coming soon- this is a hectic week for me. I just wanted to give my thoughts on this tragedy.

One Membership, Many Benefits

Howdy readers! A bit of an update- I got a one way flight to Chicago (flying into Midway) from Pittsburgh on sale with Southwest for just under $85! I plan on purchasing the trip home once my sorority sisters figure out which airport they are flying from- it might be slightly more expensive to fly from O'Hare, but the removal of unneeded stress of frantically rushing to an airport from a museum will be a worthy exchange! They've agreed to do some tourism with me, but the major things I will have to do on my own that Sunday morning and early afternoon before I leave. Awesome possum folks!

I also have Monday the 18th off of work (yay for President's Day!) and I'm in serious debate on where to go between Hershey, PA and Canton, OH. Hershey is pretty obvious why I'd want to go there, but is a more involved (read: expensive and time consuming) trip than Canton would be. What's in Canton? The Pro Football Hall of Fame of course! I've already done my research as the Queen of Public Transportation, and it is TOTALLY doable as a day trip. Besides, I haven't done Ohio yet for the blog, and it would be nice to add another state to the list. Hmm... decisions, decisions.

But back to the point of this entry. I'm loving my new job, and in the process of clearing out a lot of old paperwork in my cubicle from prior individuals, I came across information about the Time Travelers program. In short, a bunch of smaller, regional history museums across the country have banded together to recognize each other's members and offer free or discounted admission (and other perks) to all of their sites. There are more than 200 participating organizations spread across more than 40 states. Not a bad deal if you ask me.

I would call ahead to make sure your organization (or the one you are visiting) actually participates in this program actively. My actual employer is listed as a participant, but I was told that we haven't been a port of the program for some years now. It never hurts to be doubly sure.

**EDIT 2/7/2013** Southwest announced a sale on the same flight I had just purchased...meaning I saved an additional $36 for a one way flight for less than $50! Quite pleased about that!!

Time To Get Serious

Ok folks. I know I started off strong and then fell off. Said I was going to venture to certain states and didn't. With the New Year came a much needed career change- and a salary to boot! And actually enough travel plans to get me warmed up for an even bigger 2014.

Barring major incident or joblessness, here is what I have lined up for 2013:

First will be Chicago in April. A good sorority sister friend of mine is getting married. That weekend also happens to be my birthday. I've looked up the price of flights (damn non-hub Pittsburgh airport!) and it was about $230 round trip with United. Doable! I also have other sorority sisters interested in doing sight seeing the days before and after the ceremony, so while I may not be able to do my normal total immersion into a city (my sorors tend to be adventure phobic) I will at least get to hit some highlights and add Illinois to my list!
(Speaking of Chicago, I found this neat travel blog about the city. Sorry if the formatting is a little rough... I am typing this on my phone: http://www.85tours.com/2011/01/tower-that-tips-its-hat-to-neighbors.html?m=1 )


Next is a trip to the greater Louisville, Kentucky area to visit two distilleries and (hopefully) the Louisville Slugger factory/museum. That will be a quick trip, just under 48 hours, but again very doable.

That Monday I come back- assuming I go the weekend I plan on going- I am taking a bus day trip from Pittsburgh to Falling Water and Kentuck Knob- two Frank Lloyd homes that will enable me to continue my Pennsylvania adventures. (I plan on doing a lot in my home state. Y'all don't mind :) )

After that I have two conventions I could chose to go to, but I'm only picking one and that is in Springfield, Massachusetts. Ill try and go and be seen at the convention but then break away to the real part of the state I am dying to visit: Boston! They of course aren't that close. But hopefully that won't be a problem if I get my driver's license by then. (More on that another day- but it would help my travels immensely).

And then, my final trip of the year (as I see it): Alaska. Yep. My godmother has been pressing me to go with her on an Alaskan cruise for years, and even before this blog I was interested in going. While she is helping me financially with part of the trip (My awesome new job is still QUITE new as is my financial recovery from being under employed for a whole year) we set sail at the end of August!

Since we won't leave until a Tuesday, we both planned on getting to Seattle, Washigton a few days early to do sight seeing there. She's a lot more adventurous than most people I know my age, so I doubt I'll have many problems with getting her to do corny touristy stuff.

Never mind how having a driver's license will make it much easier to get into Ohio, West Virginia, and other not too far states from my home!

I'm very excited. Always a little nervous about the financial aspect of reaching this goal (seriously- doesn't an airline or hotel chain want to sponsor me??) but I'm determined. And I hope you don't take my sporadic tweets as abandonment. It's actually quite the opposite...

I'm even more fired up to go!