Taking off Travel blog

On my recent trip to Florida, one restaurant chain stood out for both taste and value - Sweet Tomatoes (also known as Souplantation in some areas). We happened into it one afternoon after rejecting the nearby Italian restaurant we’d been considering.

Sweet Tomatoes, Dania Beach

When we walked in we were greeted by a salad bar several feet long, and this on its own would have been enough to keep us happy. Not only did it have a huge selection of fresh individual salad items (including a couple of things I’d never heard of), but it included three lettuce based salads, two pasta salads and potato salad. You could put as much on your plate as you wanted, though we discovered that if you were too full of salad you would miss out on the other items on offer. To accompany your salad you could choose from water, iced tea, lemonade, strawberry lemonade and soda. Read more »

The countdown to Halloween has begun so it’s also time to check out Halloween vacation options. There are some great shows, attractions and deals at this time of year. Here are a few ideas to get you started.
Photo credit: serpico from morguefile.com

Disneyworld got Halloween off to an early start with Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party. Running on selected dates until November 1, the event is suitable for those who want to participate in Halloween without the scare factor. Kids will love seeing their favorite Disney characters in special costumes for the season. There is Mickey’s “Boo-to-You” Halloween Parade, which starts with the Headless Horseman and the Magic Kingdom will be transformed, with haunted hollows at intervals around the park. Read more »

In this economy, people are looking for more ways to save on the cost of travel. One good way is by using offsite airport parking. Offsite airport parking, also known as off airport parking, is parking that is removed from the main airport complex. Airport real estate is expensive, even if you’re only renting a parking space so parking on site can cost a bomb. Off airport parking lots are much cheaper and can be sited just outside the airport or a couple of miles away. With lots close to the airport, you may be able to walk to the terminal with your bags. For those further away, there is a shuttle to the airport.

Research Off Airport Parking

Once you know where you’re going, it’s a good idea to ressearch off airport parking facilities to see which one meets your needs. The services vary at each facility. Some offer self parking, where you put your car in an assigned space, while others offer valet parking. Some facilities will make sure that your car is heated or cooled for your arrival. I’ve even used facilities where the car got a wash before I picked it up. So shopping around really pays off. Read more »

The area where I’m staying in New Jersey is really beautiful, with views of the Hudson, the New York skyline and the Statue of Liberty. Here are some of the photos from my first ten days.