In more ways than one…Watch this video, and you’ll see what I mean. The former Arizonan who filmed it rented a Mustang convertible, drove around the state, and captured what so many of us who live here sometimes fail to appreciate: its beauty, its diversity, its breathtaking ability to make you fall in love on the spot.

Indeed, I am graced to live here.

Watch this video. You’ll see what I mean.

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So this prediction is not all that surprising. With departures disappearing (One of those flights would have taken me directly to my sister’s new home in Birmingham; that’s now gone.), flights being canceled and airlines filing for bankruptcy, my guess is that other airports are seeing a similar decrease, that other states which rely on travel business are hurting as well.

If you’re one of those people who are not flying to Arizona or whom will not be traveling elsewhere on your leisure time, what you are doing, instead.

Are you saving for a future trip, or are you just trying to save?

If travel anywhere is in your future, enlighten me and my readers on how you’re working to make this economic downturn work for you. Post your comments below.

Thanks!

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Or, you can read the stories online:

In the “Material World” section, I wrote about Jen Groover’s Butler Bag. Ladies, you might love this bag! It’ll help keep you organized, especially when you’re in a hurry while traveling. I’m asking for one for Christmas, or I’ll buy one for myself. Read the story to find out why.

In “All Over the Map,” I wrote about the new and innovative visitor center at the Phoenix Convention Center in downtown Phoenix. Since it’s only open on weekdays and not on weekends, I can see it would be especially useful to convention attendees.

Got any news to share about your Phoenix travels? Heard of any great restaurants opening up along the new rail line? Been anywhere that others shouldn’t miss? Let me know. Post a comment and let the rest of us know as well.

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If you’re thinking of taking a New England vacation along the coast, here are a few overall recommendations stemming from my recent trip:

_Sign up for the signature facial at the Cliff House in Ogunquit–a resort and spa located on Maine’s south coast, atop Bald Head Cliff. This unique restorative facial incorporates products from both land and sea. It includes a seashell massage, a seaweed cleansing, and a blueberry mask. Blueberries grow wild in Maine and are a staple in various products, including skin care, pancakes and ice cream. I definitely tried the blueberry-spiked facial and thought it was sea-sational. Plus, at the Cliff House, you get to take home a free gift–the Blueberry Signature Mask, made exclusively for the spa by Spa Technologies. If you have time, take a walk on the labyrinth. It’s outside and overlooks the sea.

_Pay the $30 for the ocean view from the seat of an historic schooner as it makes it way along the Penobscot Bay. We got on Surprise out of the Camden Public Landing. (Note: Above photo was taken while ON Surprise.) It was recommended to us by our hosts at the Windward House B&B, also in Camden; it was a perfect suggestion. Our morning two-hour ride aboard this 57-foot Windjammer, launched originally in 1918, was smooth sailing all the way. We, of course, were lucky to have missed the rain that blew in later that day. A special treat aboard the Surprise: fresh fruit and gingersnap cookies. 

_Plan a few nights’ stay at the Windward House or the Orland House in Orland, two miles east of Bucksport. Both of the owners will help you navigate the coast to make your stay as interesting and enjoyable as possible. Just ask for recommendations. And the breakfasts alone will make you feel like royalty because the service is so all about you. Don’t mind the creaks, cracks and crevices you’ll see inside these historic Victorian mansions–these century-old houses have earned them. For us Southwesterners, we can only marvel that a building can last that long!

_If you happen to be coming from Camden, planning to visit the observatory at the Penobscot Narrows Bridge, I suggest driving across the bridge, turning left, and visiting the little town of Bucksport. Head straight to Andy Lacher’s BookStacks bookstore for some small town charm, and a hot cup of coffee. He’s adding a used book section, has comfy seating areas, and it’s just a nice place to hang out and chat with the locals who seem to congregate there all day.

_A tour through the small town of Castine also is worth the off-the-beaten path drive to get there. Pick up a “walking tour” guide and hit the roads. Historic markers fill you in on the details of this town that is one of the oldest communities in North America–occupied continuously, according to the brochure, since the early 1600s. Um, we’re talking Pilgrim days. The French, the British, the Dutch–they all arrived here at some point and tried to take over the region, as well as try to oust the Native Americans. You’ll see some spectacular homes in Castine, as well as a lighthouse and Maritime Academy. Even if you get caught in the rain, as we did, it’s a beautiful walk through a quiet and historic seacoast village.

_If you can manage a week or two, plan on picking a spot and hanging out there. Because there’s so much to see and do, no matter where you wind up, it might be wise to ease up on the driving and plan your travel plans around that one area. You know, take it easy.

_Or, do as we did and pack as much fun in as you can. It’ll be, as they say in Maine, a “wicked good” time.

(Photos by Jackie Dishner and used with her permission. Hold your curser over the photo itself to see what they represent.)

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It rained while we were there. It was definitely cooler. I even had to don gloves and a scarf one night. And nothing could be better than the smell of chimney smoke. For me, that’s the first sign of fall. It means it’s time for soup. In New England, that means clam chowder. That creamy sauce with bits of potatoes, clam meat and onions. I ate it almost every day.

When in the Boston area, I recommend a stay in Cambridge. You can find a hotel, an inn or a B&B that’s much cheaper than in the city. And it costs just a few bucks to take the train into Boston a few minutes away. Plus, you’re right there where Harvard is, and it’s worth a walk-through just to see what this prestigious school is all about. Let me tell you, it’s pretty amazing architecturally. We must have walked in and out of at least five red brick or stone and iron gates. Huge, at least 10 feet tall! Very imposing. Made me want to immediately sign up for a class, though.

We walked a lot on this  trip. We walked around Harvard Square. We walked in the neighborhood near our hotel. We walked along the Freedom Trail–all the way across the Charles River to climb up and down the nearly 300 steps at the monument at Bunker Hill. We experienced history on many levels, and it was all so refreshing to get a taste of life as it was before the American Revolution. Such a difference from my home state, Arizona, which won’t even be celebrating its centennial until 2012. That’s still four years away!

Oh, and then there’s Maine–Coastal Maine. I don’t t hink there’s anything more lovely to see in this country than a highway that sweeps past so many seaports. The tall white steeples, the Victorian-era homes, the village streetscapes with their bookstores, lobster shacks and pastry shops ready to serve you with open hospitality, the ships in the harbor.

They may speak funny (Lobstas and Beeyas, says my souvenir t-shirt) but Mainers have to be just about the nicest folks you’ll ever meet. Every time my boyfriend and I looked lost–It happened several times–we were approached by a local who told us how to get to our destination. We never felt out of place, not even when all we had to wear was “urban safari” for the “business casual” dinner we attended. Okay, well, maybe we felt a bit odd about that, but we did follow orders and leave the blue jeans behind. No one said anything about all those pockets on our pants, nor made mention of our muddy Merrells.

Check in tomorrow, and I’ll give you specific travel recommendations.

(Photos taken by and used with permission from Jackie Dishner.)

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She writes about green festivals, green hotels (This is an interesting list), ways that you can travel green yourself, green news, and so much more at Traveling the Green Way.

I think you’ll be fascinated and learn a few things.

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Sorry about that…

Click here and enjoy your “flight” to Chicago!

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If you like photography, I think you’ll like this blog. Jon Rochetti, also The DC Traveler, posts a picture a day here, and includes a description and some other factual detail.

He posted one of mine not too long ago.

A few of my favorites that he took himself:

• Las Vegas at night
• Italian ruins
• A Costa Rican sunset

Visit this site for some great armchair travel.

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Fly Away Cafe is the blog of our fearless leader Mary Jo Manzanares, who got her start in travel as a flight attendant. She keeps us in line, makes sure we’re blogging regularly and writing quality content. Fly Away Cafe is a great place to start for this exploration. Mary Jo, the blog editor (She also edits several other b5media blogs as well.), writes about what’s going on in the travel industry and provides travel tips.

So she can keep up with the blogging world as well, she recently attended and wrote about the industry conferences, BlogHer and Blog World Expo.

Here’s a Phoenix tie-in! Mary Jo collects matchbooks. So do I. I have tons (but they’re quickly disappearing due to non-smoking laws). She posts a regular blog column at Fly Away Cafe called “Matchbook Mondays,” where she features a “found” matchbook cover, photograph and all. What a good idea! I love it! Here’s one from The Phoenician.

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The view from across the pond

Arizona attracts many visitors from all over the world, England, Germany and Japan especially. Here’s a guy from England who’s been traveling the states. His venture brought him to Arizona, of course. His photos from the Four Corners region—where the Navajo Nation reigns—include some clear and up close shots of ruins in the area. But they’re at Mesa Verde National Park, which is really in Colorado. The Four Corners region steps inside four states: Arizona, Utah, Colorado and New Mexico. Still, you might like to view some of his photographs here.

The view from next door

Because we’re next door neighbors, people from California also frequent Arizona, and ditto the reverse. Here’s a recent story about an area in Arizona I hope to include in my upcoming travel guide book. The reporter from the Santa Barbara Independent who wrote this piece did a nice job of capturing his journey and discoveries while in Arizona’s cattle country. You might enjoy it.

Do you have a story to share about your journey to Arizona or Greater Phoenix? If so, I’d love to read it here at The Phoenix Traveler.

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