Top 5 Travel Trends of 2018

Travel destinations and the travelling trends of 2014 have gone beyond tourist hotspots and beaches and into enthralling novel territories. Listed below are the top 5 travel trends of 2014: 1. Getting back in touch with nature In today’s world of social networking websites, tablets, and smartphones, spending time in the outdoors with nature has taken a backseat. The technological advancements may have become very popular with the general populous and also facilitated increased productivity, but people are fast getting tired of it. They want to get away from it all! This is the reason why most travel lovers are looking to get back in touch with nature in 2014. Most enthusiasts want to go camping, but do not want to carry heavy tents and other camping gear with them. This has led to the sudden popularity of forest lodges. In 2014, natural pristine settings with luxury services and amenities such as special excursions for children and spa and massage packages are going to be biggest attractions. 2. Local by personal experiences A ‘staycation’ is one of the biggest travel trends of 2014. It means that you go for a vacation in your own city or town and revel in its attractions. A staycation is also rapidly changing to suit the personal needs of vacationers. Travelers now do not just want to go to a local spa or stay in the best hotels in the city, but instead want to check out unusual and interesting hometown getaways. Local activities such as couple classes, culinary or dance classes, etc. have also become quite the rage. 3. Cruises along a river Cruises across oceans is still very popular. However, tourists and travelers of 2014 are searching for the exclusive experience. This has led to the rising popularity of river cruises. River cruises offer most of the services provided aboard ocean cruise liners, but come with fewer travelers per boat, resulting in a more intimate and exotic vacation. Kayaking, tubing, and other river activities are also likely to catch up in 2014 as more and more people are looking for holidays that include fun activities. 4. Holidays to many destinations The tourists of 2014 are not happy with staying put at just one vacation hotspot. They now want to do more, see more, party more, and visit many different places during a single trip. Travelers may want to spend some time at the beach, then head to the cool environs of snow-capped mountains, and later end the vacation camping or hiking through jungles. A multi-destination vacation is the way to go in 2014! 5. Urban fun and activities The global population is getting younger thereby making cities the new hotspot for travelling young couples and singles. Metropolises and big cities attract more young tourists as they offer varied and plentiful cultural experiences and upscale amenities which the usual relaxed travel destinations lack. Tourists on an urban holiday want to interact with the locals and go on impromptu exciting day trips instead of spending time at a spa. Urban tourism is here to stay in 2014!

Top 10 places to visit in California

The plethora of artificial and natural attractions in California make it one of the prime tourist destinations in the world. The top 10 places to visit in California are listed below: Tourist Destinations of California Yosemite National Park:  It is a huge expanse of natural beauty spread across more than 760,000 acres. Come and revel in views of Giant Sequoia groves, incredible granite cliffs, gorgeous waterfalls, diverse flora and fauna, and lots more! Golden Gate Bridge:  It is one of the most famous tourist attractions in not only California but all over the world. This global landmark is one of the most photographed bridges. The red-orange color of the bridge is what makes it so unique. It is thus-colored so as to make it easily visible during foggy conditions that often envelop this bridge. Walk, drive, cycle, or take a guided walking tour of the bridge and immerse in its rich history and splendor. Lake Tahoe:  Formed during the Ice Age, around 2 million years ago, Lake Tahoe is one of the biggest on the planet. Enclosed in the embrace of beautiful mountains, this tourist hotspot offers lots of activities and adventures all year round. Varied water sports and escapades like kayaking, sailing, jet skiing, swimming, and paddle boating can be enjoyed from spring to fall, while snowmobile riding, snow skiing, snowshoeing, and snow-tubing can be enjoyed in the winters. Big Sur Coastline:  It is a 90-mile picturesque driving route and amongst the best in the world. Some of the attractions along the way include Bixby Bridge, one of the tallest single-span bridges in the world; the forty-foot-tall historic Point Sur Lighthouse; and the incredible McWay Falls that plunge 80 feet right into the ocean. Disneyland:  Not much needs to be said about this globally known amusement park. Come and enjoy roller coasters, enthralling rides, colorful areas filled with shops and restaurants, themed neighborhoods, and captivating shows. You also get to interact with Disney characters in this fantasy kingdom. Death Valley:  It is a place with eclectic attractions, historic sites, and numerous fun activities. Get mystified by distinctive desert landscapes, snow-capped mountains, and lovely surroundings. A must for every nature lover! Venice Beach:  It is one of the most visited beaches in LA. The sunny weather and varied activities like biking, swimming, roller-skating, sunbathing, etc. make this 3-mile beach a really popular tourist hotspot. You may also check out Muscle Beach. General Sherman:  It is a 275-feet tall and about 2,300 to 2,700 years old Giant Sequoia found in the Giant Forest of Sequoia National Park. The trees found in this forest are amongst the biggest in the world. Visit and get awestruck! SeaWorld San Diego:  It is a wondrous theme park wherein you can enjoy live shows, thrilling rides, and close-up encounters with varied creatures like Polar bears, dolphins, penguins, killer whales, and walruses. Redwood National Park:  Tourists can walk through these scenic woodlands and admire diverse wildlife, wondrous tall Redwood trees, rivers, and waterfalls. You may also drive along the pristine coastline and get bewitched by the azure waters and sights of seabirds and even grey whales. Kayaking, mountain biking, guided walks, and salmon fishing are some of the fun activities on offer.    

Deciding on Being a Mother

Starting a family is a huge decision that should be discussed between the possible mother and father, but for the mom, there could be even more to think about. For a mother to carry a child inside their stomach for nine months, it’s a special thing that needs plenty of time to think about. There are tons of factors that go into becoming a mother. For instance, there is the change in the body -- of course -- that every pregnant woman gets. The belly (or baby’s home for nine months) will grow, the body will change and there will be aches and pains that you didn’t know you could get. It will become increasingly more difficult to perform such tasks that you could do before with no strain, but now become too exhausted to do. Then you have the financial strains that come along with being a mother such as hospital bills, getting prepared for the baby with a crib, stroller, diapers and everything else. Having a setup such as a nursery at home is also a strain that you need to invest money into to make the perfect room for your new little one. As the child grows older, there will be plenty of challenges that you and your child will face: illnesses, potential bullies, school, friends, and everything that goes with it. Before you take the next step, you need to be 100% sure that you are ready to be a mother -- and a family with the significant other you choose to help you with the family. Image by sdminor81 on Flickr

Give Yourself a Break and Be Able to Give More to Your Family

Moms, how often have you heard “make sure you nap when baby naps” or “make time for yourself?”  These and other well-meaning snippets of advice really are little nuggets of wisdom…but decidedly difficult to accomplish with young children that require round the clock care.  The challenge to carve out me time can be an even taller order if you aren’t lucky enough to have very much family support to give you a break.  However, there are certainly very good reasons to make the effort and the attempt for mommy breaks, and here are just a few: “If Mama Ain’t Happy, Ain’t No One Happy…” Have you ever heard this saying? It does tend to ring true, and a tired, worn out mother that does not have the opportunity to recharge her own batteries not only has less energy to give her family but can also react with more annoyance, frustration or even anger.  If the kids and spouse feel they have to walk on eggshells to avoid upsetting Mom, it just doesn’t make for a happy household.  So as challenging as it can be to make time for self care, it really is important for the overall family dynamic.  Often, even a short break away from the responsibilities of caring for children and running a household can make a big improvement in a woman’s energy level and ability to cope with daily responsibilities and challenges.  One of my favorite “recharge” activities is a monthly mommy happy hour with about 10 other moms I know.  We get about two hours away to commiserate with other moms who “get it,” we laugh, we eat, and we go home a lot happier.  Several moms have told me after that their husbands said to say thank you for organizing these little getaways, because the positive effect on the moms’ moods was noticeably improved  for at least several days when their wives returned home after a little girl time. Long Term Stress Simply Isn’t Good This little tidbit probably goes without saying. However, if you are like most moms, you probably put yourself last, and just keep shouldering stress and responsibilities.  Over time, the effects of the stress can take their toll.  Fatigue, mentally “fogginess,” inability to focus, aches and pains, susceptibility to getting sick, acne, upset stomach and increased chances for high blood pressure are just a few of the possible impacts of long term stress.   Taking regular time outs for you can really help a busy mom unload some of her stressful burden and have very positive effects on long term health. So Just How Do I Carve Out “Me Time?” Ah, the magic question!  While I don’t have the perfect answer, the single most important thing a mom in need of a break is to ask for help to watch your child.  This is purely speculative on my part, but I have noticed among my mom friends a reluctance to ask for help because of guilt (“I should always be there for my kids” or “I feel bad for the person watching my crying/fussy child”).  However, the worst that anyone can tell you is no.  Is no really so bad?  If they say no, then simply move on and ask someone else you trust to watch your child.    I realize Dad’s aren’t in the picture for every family, but if he is, he is the logical first person to ask.  Ask him to take little Johnny or Julie to the park for an hour so you can soak in the bathtub or go for a pedicure or watch your favorite episode of TV uninterrupted.  Daddy gets some quality time with his child, you get a precious break and will probably be a much happier lady after some peace and quiet.  It’s a win/win.  Grandparents may also be great babysitters if they live locally.  Even if they don’t want to be relied on regularly for babysitting, most will probably be willing to give an occasional break, especially if you do a good job communicating how important it is for you to recharge your batteries to be a better care mother/wife/care giver.  For those that don’t have much family support, other moms are your next go to place for support.  Do you go to playgroups or mommy and me classes?  Do you get along well with another parent from the park and are your kids friendly with each other?  Are you part of any mom/parent support groups (either in person or online)?  Then ask another parent you trust about swapping child care so you can each have alone time or date night.  Other parents understand better than anyone else what it is like, and swapping child care with a trusted parent may be your answer to much needed R&R. Lastly, many churches and community groups like the YMCA also after parent night out or MOPS (Moms of Preschoolers) programs where parents can leave children with daycare providers and have a date night or solo time.  Look for local programs in your area.  Mini breaks like these can sustain the mommy soul if done with regularity.  The effort to arrange child care will be well worth the trouble, giving you the where-with-all to return to Super Mom status. Tracey Louis is a stay at home/work from home mom that promotes www.thehighlandlakes.org when she’s not chasing her spunky toddler.  The Highland Lakes is a gorgeous region of rolling hills and lakes in the Texas Hill Country, about an hour northwest of Austin.   Image credit Miguel Virkkenun on Flickr

Corn Syrup: Myths & Facts

Over the years, there have been so many negative things that have come out about why high fructose corn syrup is so bad for people and how replacements are the better options. Have you ever wondered, though, if what you are hearing is the truth to the matter or are people just throwing out opinions hoping they stick as fact? Well, this is an attempt to give you mothers out there some clarity on what you should know about corn syrup going into your family’s diet. 1. Sugar is healthier for you than high fructose corn syrup This is in fact a myth because they are essentially the same in terms of their health value. They are identical in the composition and how many calories they contain. The human body absorbs both sugar and high fructose corn syrup in the same manner, so sugar is not healthier than high fructose corn syrup.   2. There is nothing natural about high fructose corn syrup Again, this statement is a myth because high fructose corn syrup is made from corn, which is a natural grain product and is a natural sweetener. There are no artificial or synthetic ingredients in corn syrup, nor are there color additives. It meets all the requirements listed to use the term “natural” according to the U.S. FDA. 3. High fructose corn syrup blocks the body’s ability to know when it is full This is a false statement as many studies have gone on to show that high fructose corn syrup gives the game feelings of fullness to individuals as sugar does; or 1% milk. There is no difference in the metabolic effects from high fructose corn syrup as there is compared to sugar. 4. Obesity and diabetes can be blamed on high fructose corn syrup This is a popular belief, but there is no evidence to back this claim that high fructose corn syrup is to blame for obesity and diabetes. The consumption of high fructose corn syrup has actually been declining. On the flip side, the obesity and diabetes rates continue to climb, showing that high fructose corn syrup is not the contributing factor to those two issues. 5. High fructose corn syrup is high in fructose and sweeter than sugar Wrong, once again. Keep in mind, high fructose corn syrup is similar to sugar in many ways including composition so the fructose levels in high fructose corn syrup is either 42% or 55%, comparable to the 50% in sugar. As far as sweetness goes, the type of high fructose corn syrup that is commonly used in foods provides less sweetness than sugar does. It’s easy to see that high fructose corn syrup is the most misunderstood products in the food supply, but hopefully this clears up some of the myths that you may hear about it. It’s still all natural and is close in composition with sugar. Enjoy the facts and hopefully you were able to learn a little bit about high fructose corn syrup.