Taking off Travel blog

It’s time for our annual roundup of the best of the blog. Before I get to the list, some interesting stats. This year blog traffic increased by over 30% over the previous year. While most of you (79%) visited from the US, we also saw lots of blog readers from Canada, the UK, India and Australia. The post that generated most traffic this year was our profile of JoAnna Haugen, part of our travel blogger interview series. And now, here are the rest of the stats.

Most Discussion

Our most discussed posts this year were a mixture of old and new. This only looks at discussion on the blog but the first post on this list also generated good discussion and sharing on Twitter, Facebook and Google+:

• Do You Speak Brit?
• Three Travel Trends That Tick Me Off
• Six Travel Bloggers You Should Follow On Twitter
• Layover In LAX – Things To Do
• Inside Chicago O’Hare (ORD) Airport
• Would You Work For Free To Save Your Company?
• Layover In JFK – Things To Do
• The Best iPhone Apps For Travelers
• Top Tools For Staying Connected
• Layover In Tampa Airport (TPA)

Made You Look – Most Viewed Posts

Again, there are perennial favorites in here as well as some new ones. In this economy, it’s no surprise that our posts on saving on travel got some attention, but people were also interested in travel trends for the year:

• International Body Language, Gestures & Manners: Don’t Be “That Guy!”
• Beat The System: Killer Priceline Tricks For Hotel Deals
• The Secret To Getting Best Travel Prices on Priceline & Hotwire: Part One
• Why Hotels Hate Priceline Guests & Other Dirty Little Secrets
• Layover In JFK – Things To Do
• Layover In LAX – Things To Do
• New Indy Park Ride & Fly Opens – Travel News
• Six Sensationally Strange Celebrations From Around the World
• The Best iPhone Apps For Travelers
• Japanese Customs, Quirks & Other Fascinating Oddities
• Luggage Trends – Interview With John Ebb Of Suitcase.com

Personal Favorites

Finally, here are a few that I enjoyed writing and you enjoyed reading too.

• Pack It Up! – Online Packing List Tools
• 20 British Expressions You Will Never Hear in the US
• Fun Facts about Valentine’s Day
• Five Fab Facebook Pages for Travelers
• The ABCs Of International Business Etiquette

The holiday season is in full swing, especially in those towns that look like they were built for Christmas (some of them were!).  Here are the top five picks for the best Christmas towns in America based on their look, feel, and, most of all, festive holiday spirit.

1. Solvang, CA
Located less than an hour away from Santa Barbara, the city of Solvang is not your typical California coastal town.  The architecture is modeled after traditional Danish buildings, giving tourists the feeling of Old World charm and quaintness.  During December, Solvang hosts a number of holiday traditions including the Olsen’s Gingerbread House, Danish Silver Gift-Giving, and caroling in Solvang Park.

All the winter festivities come after Julfest, the beginning of the holiday season.  Visitors from across the nation travel to Solvang to celebrate the holidays surrounded by Dutch-inspired architecture like half-timber buildings and windmills.

2. Leavenworth, WA
Modeled after a Bavarian village, Leavenworth’s city center is composed of Germanic half-timbers that house everything from quaint shops to modern Starbucks.  As snow starts to fall in central Washington State east of the Cascades, Leavenworth becomes a winter wonderland.  The city looks like something out of an Old World snow globe: horse-drawn carriages, sleigh rides, carolers, and lighting festivals are just some of the local highlights that visitors can enjoy.  Every part of Leavenworth is infused with holiday spirit: from the hotel accommodations to the restaurants in the town, guests can enjoy a thoroughly festive Christmas town.

3. North Pole, AK
Ever heard of Davis, Alaska?  Unless you lived in the Last Frontier State before 1953, your answer is probably no.  That’s because, nearly 60 years ago, Davis changed its name to North Pole, becoming a national sensation and holiday pilgrimage site.  The most iconic landmark in town is the 42-foot tall Santa statue that stands outside the town’s gift shop, Santa Claus House.  The store lies just minutes away from the Post Office; out of towners send their Christmas cards there to receive the local postmark so that their letters come from The North Pole.

4. Woodstock, VT
Modeled after the Oxfordshire, UK village of the same name, Woodstock has been lauded numerous times for its quaintness and picturesque design.  The village loves to kick off the holiday season in style with the Wassail Weekend, a festival steeped in the winter traditions of old England and the Norse countries.  Today’s festivities are somewhat more up to date, with a parade that features 19th Century period costume as well as Victorian holiday decor on display at local museums.  Plays, musicals, and poetry recitals round out the evening entertainment between late night shopping and enjoying the general splendor of the whole holiday affair.

5. Branson, MO
In a cozy corner of southern Missouri, the town of Branson stands ready to entertain and delight all comers.  From country music spectaculars to family-style jubilees, the city offers so much in the way of Midwest charm and spirit.  The highlight of Branson’s holiday season is their theme park, Silver Dollar City, all decked out for winter.  Lights and snow (sometimes real) edge every building; after picking up a roll filled with molasses, visitors can enjoy a staged shootout between the Hatfields and the McCoys.  Included with the cost of admission is a ticket to view the Marvel Cave, a cavernous subterranean expanse that digs 300 feet down into the limestone beneath the park.  (Image: Kathy McGraw)

Analise Marcus loves seeing how cities and towns across the country celebrate Christmas, whether the festivities last just the season or all year around. She enjoys using a promo code for Travelocity to save on all her holiday travels.

Don't forget your passport!

It often seems that travel isn’t as much fun as it used to be. I know I’ve ranted about that a couple of times before. But sometimes I wonder whether a change of attitude would make trips feel more pleasant. Here are some tips on making every trip terrific – enjoying the things that work well and fixing the things that don’t.

1. Make sure you have the correct travel documents. I’ve stood in an airline check-in queue before while someone argued that they should be allowed to travel even thought they didn’t have a passport or the correct paperwork. And it’s not just about having the passport, but about having one that’s valid for the right amount of time. Check it now and fix it before you go anywhere.

2. If you have booked a vacation in a sunny place, it’s going to be hot, so presumably you expect it. Why bother to complain about the heat? It won’t change and you will just feel worse. If it happens to rain, complaining won’t help – find something else to do instead. Who knows? You might even have fun!

3.  Keep your valuable items secured and avoid deals that look too good to be true. Use hotel safes to store important papers and other items and don’t flash your stuff around. That’s a good way to avoid being mugged or taken advantage of – two things that can take the shine off your vacation.

4. Get a phrase book or translation program. When you visit other countries, not everyone will speak English. And why should they? It’s their country. Lack of English is not a good reason to complain. Instead, look up what you want to say and use their language. Most people appreciate the effort and will go out of their way to help you.

5. Act immediately if something goes wrong so that it can be fixed. There’s no point in complaining to your friends and relatives in quiet corners (or noisy ones). Speak to the people who can solve your problem, get it fixed and enjoy the rest of your vacation.

(Image: pkingDesign)

Did you know that we publish articles via EzineArticles? Here, in reverse order, are our top articles this year.

7. Thanksgiving Travel and Airport Parking Tips

Are you one of the millions of people who will travel over the Thanksgiving holiday this year? Along with a big dose of patience, you’ll need these travel tips to make sure you get to your destination without any difficulty.

6.Travel Trends by Gender

Travel trends have changed a lot over the last century and part of those changes includes how men and women travel. Once upon a time, women were quite adventurous to travel alone and rarely did so. But what about today? How have travel trends changed among the genders?

5. Unusual and Creepy Reasons for Flight Delays

Chances are you’ve been stuck on an airplane before, waiting for takeoff. More than likely the cause was a mechanical failure – but not necessarily. Here are four unusual reasons commercial airline flights have been delayed.

4. Tips for Healthy Airline Travel

If you travel out of town on business for more than a week each month, chances are your health is suffering because of it. Be proactive and plan to eat right and exercise while you’re on the road. Even the frequent flier can stay healthy!

3. How Air Travel Has Changed in Recent Decades

Technology and global events have shaped airline travel in the last several decades. Take a stroll through memory lane and read about the major changes in the airline industry from 1980 forward.

2. College Bowl Game 2011 Travel Tips

Are you making plans to attend your favorite college bowl this year? This overview of the most popular matchups will help you make your travel plans.

1.  The 6 C’s of 2011 Travel Trends

More people are expected to make business and leisure trips in 2011. What’s changed this year over last? The top trends are described as the 6 Cs: Cruising, Corporate Travel, the Caribbean, Countries, Celebrations, and Cost.

This year ebooks have been outselling printed books at the rate of about 150 to 100. With the launch of new Kindle devices in mid-November and corresponding new releases from other providers you have to believe that an e-book reader is on almost everyone’s Christmas list. So what are the best books you can give your favorite traveler this holiday season? Here are some suggestions.

Four Hour Work Week by Tim Ferriss

This book is a great, inspirational read for those who are looking to escape the 9-to-5 and design their own lifestyle. While it would be silly to act expect that everyone can achieve it the tips in this book provide a blueprint for how Tim Ferriss did it and gives you some advice on streamlining your business processes and creating an ideal lifestyle.

Notes from a Small Island/Notes from a Big Country  by Bill Bryson

In my opinion Bill Bryson writes some of the funniest travel books out there. These two books are useful to appreciate the countries that form two halves of our “special relationship”. Small Island looks at Britain while Big Country looks at America. Both are warts and all and I defy you to read them without laughing out loud several times.

Billy Connolly’s Route 66

When you see him live, comedian Billy Connolly is absolutely hilarious if often foulmouthed. Although I haven’t read this book I have seen episodes of the series on which it was based and it is laugh out loud funny as this Scot turns his comic eye on America. You can see the country from the perspective of an outsider and you may never look at it the same way again.

Vagabonding: An Uncommon Guide to the Art of Long-Term World Travel

If you’ve got a case of wanderlust then you will enjoy this book which provides inspiration from famous vagabonds as well as practical advice on setting your destination, the nomadic lifestyle, working abroad, handling setbacks, financing your trip and settling back into your life after it’s over.

How to travel full time by Colin Wright

This book covers some of the same territory but also includes information on building an online professional and personal platform, how to live like a local, how to share your adventures with other people, the effect of travel on your relationships and safety tips.

(Image: Alice Harold)