Oregon Coast Roadtrip

Posted on June 24, 2012 by Brad Christensen

When Club Carlson’s promotion came out a little over a month ago, I registered immediately so it didn’t pass me by.  (Something you can do, too, next time something like it comes around if you sign up for email updates when we post to the blog).

Then I set about the task of planning a trip that would help me stay two nights in a Radisson and two nights in a Country Inn and Suites before July 15th, so I could meet the terms of the promotion and fill up on 188,000 CC points.  I stayed at the Radisson in Salt Lake right away(+50,000 point bonus), meeting 1/4 of my self-imposed quota, but with three nights to stay, I had an excuse to plan a vacation.

It make perfect sense to take a road trip to the Oregon coast – something we’ve talked about for a long time, but never acted on.  I booked the rooms on ClubCarlson.com with the cash+points option, to reduce my out of pocket costs, and stayed in free and/or interesting places the other nights.

Boise- Stay in the Country Inn and Suites – Cost: $53 +5,000 points (gets me a 44,000 point bonus).

Portland- Stay in the Radisson – Cost $71 +5,000 points (gets me a 50,000 point bonus).

Cannon Beach – Stay at the Hearthstone Inn – Cost $145 (close to the beach across from Haystack Rock).

Salem- Stay at the Marriott Residence Inn – Cost $0+ 15,000 points (One of 5 free nights I got from the Marriott Rewards® Premier Credit Card).

Crater Lake- Stay at the Odell Lake Lodge – Cost $85 (right on the lake with a cabin feel).

Boise- Stay at the Country Inn and Suites – Cost $50 +5,000 points (gets Nicole a 44,000 point bonus).

All in all, I figure that the trip will cost me about $800 by the time I pay for fuel and food and other costs.  My 188,000 points will be worth about $2,000 to me, so I’m basically getting paid $1,200 to take the trip. Regretfully, this promotion was so well-subscribed, that they toned it down to just 15,000 points per night stay (though still enough for another free night in a CC hotel).

I’ll post pics from the roadtrip on our Facebook Page.  We’ve said it before, but we’ll say it again: Nothing pains us more than to hear “Oh, I’d love to travel, I just can’t afford it…” Banish those words from your vocabulary… wanderlust with us.

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WorldWanderlusting’s Greatest Hits

Posted on June 16, 2012 by Brad Christensen

Hello the TBEX Conference at Keystone Mountain Resort in Colorado.

We are meeting some absolutely amazing people and have been inspired by incredible stories of interesting stories to unique places.  Just a sample?  We met a couple who took their two 10-year-old children on a bike ride from Alaska to… get this… Argentina!   We met an expert on Mayan Culture, a mom of 4 planning a three-month road trip, and a couple that spent 3… freaking… years… in Asia.

Needless to say, we are in heaven. We spend the bulk of our lives thinking about places we’d rather be, but there’s no place in the world I’d prefer to be at the moment.

Rather than try to encapsulate everything we do, and articulate our niche (which we’re still developing), we figured we would post some links to our favorite and most successful posts.  Some of them may not be entirely timely, but hopefully you find something you enjoy.

 

 

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A Loop Through the Smokies

Posted on June 13, 2012 by wpengine

The Great Smoky Mountains on the border of Tennessee and North Carolina make an incredible destination. You’ll see mountains, theme parks, cities, castles, and much more. I’ve been there twice, and still wouldn’t mind going back again. Let me take you through a wonderful trip through the Smokies. This is a sample itinerary that will guide you through some of the best things to do.

Sheldon and Shae at Cade’s Cove

Day 1 Knoxville: You’ll need to fly into the TYS airport in Knoxville, Tennessee. They are serviced by Delta, American, United, Frontier, and US Airways. It is a relatively small airport, but is easy to navigate and not too far from town. Luckily, it is one of the Reduced Mileage Awards for those who have a Citi AAdvantage card, so if you find the SAAver award it will only cost you 17,500 miles instead of 25,000.

Knoxville and the surrounding area are beautiful. You’re at the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains, and you can see them from almost anywhere. The best time of the year to visit is late October or early November when the fall colors are incredible. Hopefully you schedule your trip so you can catch a Tennessee Volunteers game. Be prepared to dress in white and orange, as everyone else does. Hit up some tailgates, and don’t miss Petro’s Chili & Chips.  Cheer for the Vols and sing along for the song “Rocky Top,” and you’ll be part of the crowd.  Although I hate to admit it, the band was as impressive as the football team.

More than likely you’ll arrive in the afternoon. Head over to the Country Inns and Suites which is close to the airport. This hotel offers a free airport shuttle and the best part is that this hotel will only require 9000 of your Club Carlson points. If you hit the most recent Big Night Giveaway then this will be free. There’s not much better than that.

Day 2 & 3: Drive to Pigeon Forge

This day won’t require much driving, but you’ll still want to enjoy your free breakfast at the hotel and get on your way early.

View from the Ferris Wheel

Your kids will LOVE Pigeon Forge.  This place is loaded with activities for people of all ages.  The kids will enjoy Dollywood, your wife will enjoy the outlet malls, or your husband will enjoy one of the thousands of mini golf courses that dot the city.  You could easily spend a week in this city.

Dollywood is a theme park that is accompanied by Splash Park, which are both great places to visit.  Just like any other theme park they have rides for kids, teenagers, and adults.  They also have free shows that you can see throughout the day if you’re tired of riding on the Tennessee Tornado.  The food is overpriced and they charge for every extra possible.

Your children will also marvel at the WonderWorks Museum, Titanic Museum, or the Nascar speed track.  Plan on seeing one of the nightly shows with the family that include Christian music, singing, dancing, and food.  We went to the Black Bear Jamboree and it was a great night of entertainment.  The food was mediocre, but the performance was fun.

Staying in a hotel in Pigeon Forge, TN is easy.  There are tons of hotels everywhere, but it seems like using the points there isn’t the most efficient use of the points.  You can use Priceline.com or hotwire.com to book a hotel for the two nights that you spend there.

Day 4 Pigeon Forge, TN to Ashville, NC:

This is a very picturesque drive where you will pass through the Great Smoky Mountains Park.  Bring along your swimming suit if the weather is nice and plan on taking a dip in the water.  It definitely won’t feel tropical, but the swim can be refreshing.  Watch for stopping points all along the way to let the kids get out and swim.

Gatlinberg is a fun town with an Alpine feel.  The main drag is filled with fun shops and great food.  Make sure you stop at the Pepper Palace, which is a store featuring more hot sauces and salsas than you’ve ever seen in your life.  Samples are free, and they ship back to your home.  If you’re really feeling spicy eat some “Death by Salsa,” but don’t try it if you can’t handle some heat.

Other activities to try in Gaitlinberg would be Ober Gaitlinberg for a aerial tram ride to the top of the hill, eat at the Pancake Pantry, or Ripley’s overpriced museum.  Eat some Haagen-Daaz, and enjoy the scenery.  It truly feels like a piece of Germany.

Pack a lunch with you and plan on eating it in the park.  Cades Cove is an incredible stop, and could be paired with a number of hikes to waterfalls and beautiful scenery.  Hit up the 11 mile loop through the park that allows you to see the natural beauty of trees, and the scenery of “Last of the Mohicans.”

You’ll arrive in Asheville at dusk, and follow the directions to the Country Inns and Suites in Asheville.  Once again, if you’ve scored on the Big Night Giveaway from Radisson, this hotel will be 28,000 points and $0.  The hotel is going to have free breakfast again, so make sure you take advantage.

 

 

Day 5 Asheville, NC to Bristol, TN:

Sheldon, Shae and Max at the Biltmore

The Biltmore will be your destination for the day.  This palace will blow your mind.  George Washington Vanderbilt, who built it, had a ton of money handed down to him from his father and grandfather. It was built in the late 1800’s and was very advanced with a swimming pool, bowling alley, and an elevator.

The grounds are almost as impressive as the home itself.  At its peak,it once covered 125,000 acres. Today the Vanderbilt family owns about 8,000 acres. They must employ thousands of people to care for the gardens, lawns, sprinklers, and so much more.  You’ll also learn that the house was designed to be self-sustaining, so they had a winery on the grounds, a blacksmith, woodworker, farm, and pretty much everything else that you would need.  Today they still employ a blacksmith who does demonstrations of what a blacksmith did in those days.

The Biltmore isn’t a cheap event, but it is remarkable. Look for discounts and you might get your tickets for $50 per adult, otherwise they are $60 per person.  You normally wouldn’t catch me spending that much money on one event like this, but this is a MUST SEE.   You’ll be amazed at the technology, architecture, and beauty.   His library was one of my favorite rooms as it reminded me of the scene from Beauty and the Beast.

The food on the grounds wasn’t too overpriced, but there isn’t much variety.  They have a couple of small restaurants serving delicious food and pastries.  Today one of their largest restaurants is in the stable.

Once you’ve had your fill with the 175,000 square feet of luxury, head on the way to Bristol, TN.  This drive is absolutely incredible in the fall.  You’ll see trees on both sides of the highway with rolling hills and the colors are breathtaking.

In Bristol you’ll be staying at the Courtyard Bristol, TN.  Luckily because you scored the Marriott card then this place will only cost you 10,000 points per night and $0.  If you’re planning on seeing a NASCAR race in Bristol, you’ll want to book your hotel very early.

Day 6 Bristol, VA to Damascus, VA then back to Knoxville, TN:

I’ve never been to a NASCAR event, but the Bristol Motor Speedway is a famous racing location.  A lady in my office and her husband fly to Phoenix every year to watch a NASCAR race and each year they await the next race with great anticipation.  It is something that I’ll definitely do in life, just not sure when I’ll get to it.  Even if you don’t see the race, you might be interested in seeing the race track.

 

Virginia Creeper

Virginia Creeper: I know that riding a bicycle for 34 miles sounds dang near a marathon.  But if I told you that it was almost all downhill that wouldn’t require pedaling, would that interest you?  A 34 mile track of what was mostly train tracks up a steep Virginia hillside is a wonderful ride.  You ride over valleys, bridges, rivers, streams, and through the woods on your trek down the hill.  It costs about $25 to ride the shuttle and rent the bicycle per person, but in the fall this is a breathtaking event.  It can be colder than Knoxville, or Bristol, so bring a jacket and some gloves.  Once you start on the path you won’t have much cell reception, so be sure that you are ready for the ride.

Even if you have young children you can rent a cart for them to ride in behind the bicycle, or a tandem bicycle for younger children who might not be able to do it on their own.  The shuttle service brings you to the top of the hill and is a taste of the terrain that you’ll pass.

Since you’ve still got a bundle of Gold Points left over from the Radisson promotion you’ll stay at the Country Inns and Suites hotel by the airport for free, again.  It is only 9000 points per night here, so make this place home.  They also have a shuttle service to the TYS airport that is free if you’ve already turned in your rental car.

 

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A Thirteenth-Century-Castle in the Making

Posted on June 10, 2012 by Brad Christensen

I was once asked which, of all the super powers, I would choose… if given the opportunity.

I didn’t hesitate in my response: “Time travel. Nothing would be more transformative or educational than to skip back through time for history lessons, or into the future for a hint of what’s to come. I could correct past errors and foresee future mistakes. I would meet the interesting and influential people and witness the great events throughout the ages.”

I can’t tell you how often I’ve stood in marvelous places with wonder and awe of how they came to be.  In my mind’s eye, I’m taken back to a former time… a time before motors and modern tools… a time wherein methodology trumped technology, and clever contraptions quenched quandaries.

If only I could experience what it was like to live in that time, to witness with incredulity the erection of monumental buildings, and moments which have shaped history and humanity alike.

Ahhh… but there is.  At some point, WorldWanderlusting will debut a series of Living History museums which will provide exactly that kind of experience.  For now you’ll have a taste as we show you what’s happening at the Chantier Medieval de Guedelon, just two hours from Paris, France.

“In the heart of Puisaye, in Yonne, Burgundy, a team of fifty people have taken on an extraordinary feat: to build a castle using the same techniques and materials used in the Middle Ages.

The wood, stone, earth, sand and clay needed for the castle’s construction are all to be found here, in this abandoned quarry. Watched by thousands of visitors, all the trades associated with castle-building – quarrymen, stonemasons, woodcutters, carpenters, blacksmiths, tile makers, basket makers, rope makers, carters and their horses – are all working together to complete the castle.”

Photo Courtesy www.guedelon.fr

I am ashamed that I know this place only by photos.  My only visit to France in the past five years was a 7-hour stopover en route to Amsterdam, en route to Tanzania.  It barely allowed for the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame, Louvre trifecta.  I have, however, avidly tracked the progress via the multimedia profusion on the Guedelon website and facebook page.

Photo Courtesy www.guedelon.fr

Of particular intrigue was the documentation of the groin-arch-construction, something at which I’ve gaped more than once in more than a few spectacular buildings.

Masons cut no corners as every tool they use is “of the era” and fashioned on site.  These are not actors on stage, these are artisans at work.  Even their clothing is authentic.

 

The team, or various versions of it, has been at work since 1997, when all that existed of the project was a dream in the mind of Michel Guyot.  For 15 years, they have toiled in an effort which likely pales in comparison to many of those of its time, yet still inspires a sense of amazement that none of us will fully grasp until we get there in person… and please, please let it be soon.

If I go by their timeline, I have to be nervous because not really much remains relative to where they were when it began.  This project has to be nearing 80-90% completion, so time is really running out.

I could go on and on, but for me to try to do so simply would not do it justice.  Your only hope is to engage the project yourself, see what they’re doing, and plan your visit.  I can’t even believe that the charge to partake in this slice of history is a mere ten euros… and with the euro crashing, it’s time for me to get serious.  Here are just a few more quick links to get you inspired to see this masterpiece while it’s still under construction.

 

 

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Why you need to visit Lava Hot Springs, Idaho

Posted on June 7, 2012 by wpengine

Lava’s Pool (Courtesy of lavahotsprings.com)

I know that many of our readers are from the Idaho/Utah area, so this might sound a little boring to you, but you need to make sure that you’re taking advantage of this place.

Idaho and the mountain west are know for our natural hot springs. Hundreds of small springs dot the landscape all over our state. You can find them off the side of the highway, and some deep in the forest. Usually they are close to rivers, but not always. Sitting in a warm hot spring feels rather therapeutic and relaxing. It is nice knowing that you’re not swallowing chlorine by the bucketful. One time when my brother was swimming at a pool one of the attendants opened a bottle of Clorox and poured it into the pool. You can assure yourself that this won’t happen at Lava Hot Springs.

Lava at Night

There are five different pools that range from 102 on up to 112 degrees.  I dare you to spend more than 15 minutes in the hottest pool, it is HOT.  You can move from pool to pool and feel the differences in temperature.  All pools are outdoor, but feel great in the winter when it is cold outside.  One time when I was there the rain was coming down so hard but it felt nice being in the warm water.

Some might like a more natural feel for their hot springs, but this one has been commercialized.  Although the grounds have been developed, which is a bit of a bummer, it adds a lot in convenience and beauty.  The bottoms of the pools have small pebbles instead of the normal stucco bottoms of swimming pools.

Prices to getting in the pool are very reasonable.  You can get in for usually under $7 a person, but prices range depending on weekends, holidays, etc.  If this place were much closer to my house I’d buy a season pass as it is a piece of paradise.  Try hitting this place at night and staying at a local hotel.  You won’t find a Marriott, or SPG hotel, but they might even fill their tubs and showers with natural hot spring water too.

One thing I love about this place is the cleanliness. They always have the grounds looking beautiful and the water is always clean. The locker rooms are clean as well and don’t make you feel like you are getting a fungus.

Ben & Jerry’s (Courtesy of benjerry.com)

Before you splash in the pool purchase a pint of Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream and take it with you in the pool.  If you’re anything like me you’ll want to share it, but either way it can go with you in the water.  This is one of the only pools that will allow treats like this.  Don’t spill in the water, but don’t worry, the pools are constantly flowing with fresh natural water.

How to Find Lava Hot Springs:

If you’re coming from the Salt Lake area:

  • Drive north on I-15
  • Take Exit 47 and head East on US 30
  • Drive about 11 miles
  • Drive past the outdoor swimming pools and turn right on Main Street.  The pools are on the right hand side.

 

 

 

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Confessions of a Travel Points Hoarder

Posted on June 3, 2012 by Brad Christensen

You’ve seen them – episodes of the grossest kinds of atrocities, people buried in mounds of their belongings, garbage, or both. I’m a bit of a packrat, but thankfully I don’t have that kind of problem.  My problem is of a slightly different variety.  I hoard travel points and I have a problem.

I hoard frequent flyer miles and points.  I can’t get enough of them.  Like a garage-saler that picks things up just because they’re cheap, I spend my free-time, and (shamefully) some of my not-so-free time accumulating points I may never use.

I am not ashamed.  I wrote a few days ago about a high-school teacher of mine who picked up pennies while jogging.  The truth is that the fools are those who let the opportunities pass them by.

I had always been a point collector, but I crossed a line about a year and a half ago when I started “risking” my credit score to get American Airlines points.  I know, I sound like a junkie who shared needles to get a high, and that’s actually another good analogy because I pretty much am a junkie, and I do get high…

But it’s hardly been a dangerous habit.  My credit score was 799 about a year ago when I started tracking it with CreditSesame.com  In its “depths,” as I zealously applied, it sunk to 767, and now I’m comfortably floating around 788.  My wife’s has followed a similar pattern.

In the meantime, oh the things that I’ve done.

  • I took my family of six to Colombia for $574.
  • I flew my brother-in-law from Rhode Island to Idaho Falls for 35,000 Delta Skymiles and $10.
  • I went to Honduras and dove with sharks for the same “price.”
  • I’ve stayed 11 free nights in hotels.
  • Nicole and I went to New Orleans for 50k United miles and $20.
  • And together with Nicole, we still have about 769,800 pocket-burning points kickin’ around.

The problem has come in that I’m finding myself preferring to get more points over spending the ones that I have.  I feel like Pablo Escobar who had to bury cash from the drug trade because it was coming in faster than he could spend it (and it’s not like he wasn’t spending it at a good clip).

I am making some headway, though.  I’ve started to cut a path through the clutter.  I used the freaking amazing opportunity on some cheap flights to Panama combined with some Ultimate Rewards points to book a family trip that’s got me feeling like I’m trying to reinvent myself as a Latin-American (our 2011 trip was to Colombia).  I’m using some freely accumulated Club Carlson Gold Points to lock down a hotel in Tampa during the Republican Convention (where the cash price for the hotel runs a cool $311 a night).  Do you see why I can’t help but bring in the drug metaphors?

I’ve got to tell you that I’m excited to be doing what we’re doing.  Some of my closest friends still haven’t grasped the WorldWanderlusting concept, but it’s coming.  More conversations are tending to turn to travel, something I gladly accommodate.  I don’t mind being known as the guy that will help people plan vacations… in fact, I love it.

Brad and Nicole aboard the Norwegian Spirit

If you’re looking at doing several short-haul flights from major airports, you have until June 7th to get yourself in on the bonus points from the British Airways Visa Signature Card®.

 

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My Fight with Mount Kilimanjaro

Posted on June 2, 2012 by Brad Christensen

A few months ago I wrote a guest post for friends of ours at www.1000fights.com, an excellent travel blog for couples. I told the story of my fight with Mount Kilimanjaro.         -Brad 

Her name, so utterly foreign yet bitterly familiar, still invokes Dickens’ostensible opposites.  To reproduce it from my lips freshens my mind with rivaling sensations of joyful enthusiasm and painful failure. Kilimanjaro.  This is the story of my fight with her.

We met at Machame camp in Tanzania – our first date was a steep climb through lush rainforest was complete with monkeys, vines, and the two interacting in a natural manner. 

Though it was challenging, I was vigorous and her beauty and charm were intriguing.  As our day’s journey slowed to an end, a taste of what to was to come arrived in the form of an eerie aberration – the landscape transforming from thick and green to misty and moss-strewn. Nonetheless it still had a strange allure, and camping just below the cloud layer offered a romantic sense of vulnerability.  I admired her.

The second day brought an initial victory – plunging through a dense layer of fog, any temptation to attempt a retreat changed from the prospect of a leisurely downhill path, to a seemingly impenetrable floor of clouds.  It was easier to go on.

She was ruthless and uncaring as the slope sharpened.  Plant life was sparse and the air thin as we crossed through 12,000 feet.  I found myself out of breath – not only in awe of her splendor, but also aghast of her cruelty. By the time we arrived at Shira camp, I wasn’t interested dinner -African hot dogs and semi-fresh vegetables, preferring instead to rest. If she had embittered me with her heartless grind throughout the day, I forgot it altogether when she rewarded me with the most brilliant sunset these eyes have ever beheld (the sunset which now greets visitors to www.worldwanderlusting.com). I loved her.

Given the austerity of the scenery on the third day, I should have known she would eventually break my heart.  I may as well have been on the moon.  There was a cold, fierce wind.  Vegetation went from scarce to non-existent, along with oxygen, and my aching muscles were letting me know.  My heart in particular, having to beat at twice its normal rate to oxygenate my blood, literally felt like it would beat right out of my chest.  I trudged in the shadow of the peak – she, staring down on me with contempt, yet I, at her in admiration. By the time we arrived at camp it was dark – a blessing.  Had I been able to see what the next morning would bring, I would never have awakened.

Barranco wall engulfed the entire panorama – not saying “good morning,” but saying, “I’m insurmountable.” I believed her.  Lines of porters, like ants, weaved their way to its crest; identifiable only by the white bags they carried on their heads.  I set out, no longer greeting fellow climbers with a cheery “Jambo,” but with a disgusted sigh.  At the top of Barranco I felt no joy, only the obligation to continue.  If I allowed myself, I could feel satisfaction – even a thrill, but I couldn’t.  I felt anguish.  It was an endless cycle of descent before inevitable ascent.  Torment.  The climb to Barafu, the final camp, I made only with the motivation of cursing her through clenched teeth. I hated her.

With only a few hours to rest before we began the summit at midnight I had little sleep.  Donning arctic winter gear and headlamps for our final encounter, I set out in conquest with a shard of hope.  The altitude was taking its toll and nausea set in along with muscle cramps.  I wretched.

Still, I pushed along for 3 hours in the dark, each footstep barely ahead of the last, progress coming at great cost.  My body was revolting.  When I could push no longer, 1700 vertical feet below the summit, I stopped, stared up at the moon, and collapsed.  I despised her.

And though she conquered me, stole from me all that I could offer, and left me hungry and wanting… I love her still. She respects me still.  And neither of us will concede that we’ve seen the last of each other.

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