Travel and Fashion

Lets mix a little fashion and travel. Robin Barcus Slonina's newest project, titled "States of Dress" does just that. She has been traveling the country designing and contructing state dresses, a dress that represents the state in style. She hopes to make a total of 50 dresses. Check out her first eight dresses. If you want to read more check out Slonina's blog.

Guidebook Downfalls

While this blog is like a cliff's notes of the cliff's notes on a travel guidebook, I found this story (link no longer available) on what Guidebooks Won't Tell You interesting. So first, you go read the article, and then I'll tell you my take on those ten items.

1. We're Already Out of Date: Well, so am I. But that's why I tell you to check my facts, prices, or tour information out for yourself. I can only speak about how things were when I went. But in this ever changing world, just because prices were low in 2009, doesn't mean they still are.

2. No News is Bad News: While I'm not going to sit here and trash any place I've been, I will tell you about any bad experiences I've had. The good news, I'm not paid or endorsed by any particular place or business, so I have no reason to fluff up how wonderful anything is.

3. We Haven't Actually Been There: That is sometimes true of the Feature City blogs. But I'm going to tell you if I've been there or not. And if it's somewhere I haven't been, I've done research on what I'm writing. I'm not writing facts all willy-nilly. I also like to provide you with lots of links so you can research and see for yourself.

4. We're Relying On You to Catch Our Mistakes: This one's simple, I don't make mistakes. No, just kidding. I try very hard not to. It's true there's no edit beyond me or Melissa, but we make sure our information is accurate before we post it and that the links work. I even use the spellcheck button, because I'm the world's worst speller. But if you do catch a mistake, or something that is no longer accurate, please leave a comment and we'll fix it up!

5. That "Easy" Hike is Only Easy for Experts: This one truly is simple, I don't hike. But if I did, and I said it was easy, trust me, it's easy. But I'm pretty sure I mentioned that walking up the Spanish Steps was difficult, if that's any indication.

6. We Ruined that Secluded Spot we Mentioned: While I'd like to boast so many readers that a secluded spot I mention could possibly become the next travel mecca, I seriously doubt that will happen. I cannot be blamed.

7. We're Terrified of your Smartphone: Nope, not me. That just means you can access this blog wherever you are!

8. Going to Estonia? We Don't Really Care: No one is sending me anywhere, so maybe you could see a blog on Estonia one day. But this is actually a pretty valid problem with my blog. If I have no interest in going there, you aren't going to see a blog on it. Sorry.

9. We're Tourists Too: Duh, that's why this blog is here. This would come into play when you're reading my travel tips for any given place. I can tell you what traditions/customs I observe and pick up on, but I can't make you seamlessly blend in to any foreign or regional culture.

10. Don't Take All of Our Advice: I would never expect you to do that, although I think I give fairly sound advice. But you know what, I don't mind crowds. So maybe I say going to Cancun during college spring break is a fine idea, maybe you disagree. It's advice, not a rule.

Feature City: Knoxville, TN

Today's feature city is Knoxville, and Melissa and I have been there. This past year actually, and we both agreed it was a great city.

Now the first thing we noticed while walking around was the tall golden globe that hovered over the city.

It's a part of the World's Fair Park. The park is located at the site of the 1982 World's Fair and is a beautiful spot to sit and relax. The Sunsphere was constructed in 1982 for the fair and remains as an observation deck that visitors can ride elevators up to free of charge. The park also contains some amazing water features, including interactive fountains and a geyser.

These particular water features are actually along side the Tennessee River.

Down by the Tennessee River you can walk along the banks, have dinner at Calhouns, or take a boat out. If you want to get fancy you can book a trip on the Star of Knoxville, an authentic paddlewheeler, or the Volunteer Princess, a 100 foot luxary yacht.

If you want to spend a day inside you can visit the East Tennessee Discovery Center, full of exhibits for life sciences, physical sciences, and earth sciences, plus a Planetarium. Prices are low with adults at just $4. If you're in more of an artistic mood head over to the Knoxville Museum of Art, which is free of admission costs. And if you're more sports minded there's something for you too, the University of Tennessee Football Hall of Fame and The Women's Basketball Hall of Fame.

In town for a concert like Melissa and I were? You're in luck if it's at the Valarium, a great bar and music venue. You could also see what's going on at the Knoxville Civic Auditorium & Coliseum or the Bijou Theatre.

If it's a beautiful day outside go ahead and just walk around downtown Knoxville. Keep an eye out for the water fountains and interactive water featurs throughout the city, as well as the thriving parks. Just a short drive away from downtown, I recommend the Knoxville Zoo.

I think Melissa and I would both tell you that Knoxville is a great city for a weekend getaway. Book a hotel close to the center of downtown and enjoy some time strolling, or hop in your car for one of the many activities you can find close to downtown. Visit http://www.knoxville.org/ for more information.


For some extra fun...here's the blog I wrote after we got back from Knoxville earlier this year.

Upon arriving in the city we very easily find our hotel. We go inside to check in, are greated by the doorman (yes the doorman) and walk into this beautiful lobby. So beautiful it causes me to say "Damn girl, are you sure this is our hotel?" It was, our reservations were there. But our room wasn't ready. So to pass the time we decided to walk on downtown and check out the city. We walked through the Market, to the old Worlds Fair Park (which was inhabited by a disgusting amount of children wearing strange animal hats, singing songs). From there we walked down to the Tennessee River. By the time we got down to the river we were very hot and tired of walking. We played in some of the water features that are all over the city (It's like a mini Vegas when it comes to water), and sat by the river watching the geese. Then we tried getting back to the hotel. And we succeeded, after walking up a painful hill, crossing a bridge to try avoiding crossing 39 lanes of interstate traffic, and spending some quality time on Gay Street.

Thankfully the room was ready and we crashed. Several hours later we were forced from our room by hunger. We headed back to Gay Street cause that seemed to be the most popular area and found a good brew house to eat at. Before that though we went and saw Shrek 3. In 3-D. And let me tell you briefly about this theater. It was super nice. And during the commericals, before the previews started they wheeled in a cart of popcorn and candy. So you barely had to get out of your seat to get any. I'm now actually wondering if you had just shouted across the room what you wanted if they would have brought it right to you. For a heafty price, of course.

So the next morning we woke up and headed to the zoo. The Knoxville Zoo is great. And it's the first zoo I've ever been to that had a cheetah. Bonus points for that, even if it was being lazy and trying to hide behind a tree. We spent a couple of hours there, then went back to the hotel to relax.

There's actually much more to this blog, but it's not travel related, so you don't get to read it. :o)

Venice Billboards

A topic on today's yahoo news raised some interest for me. It seems there is great debate over the large billboards currently covering many of Venice, Italy's famous landmarks as they undergo renovations. Places such as the Ponte Sospiri (the Bridge of Sighs) and Doge's Palace in St. Mark's Square are currently plastered with billboards advertising Rolex, Coca-cola, and Bulgari. Major players in the art world have written an appeal to Venice's mayor, Giorgio Orsoni, that the advertisements be taken down, citing the disappointment they feel Venice's 17.5 million visitors this year will feel when they are gazing upon ads instead of famous landmarks.

Orsoni has replied saying that the ads are necessary to help fund the renovations. The Palace alone is an estimated cost of over 3.5 million dollars. A balance is trying to be reached between finding the funds to restore these badly-in-need-of-repair buildings, and keeping the ads that bring in those funds at a tolerated level.

I can say from experience that yes, I was disappointed when I arrive in Venice and saw the Ponte Sospiri was currently just a big sign trying to get me to buy a watch. And sure, it ruined my perfect little idea of what the Grand Canal ought to look like. In fact, I tried to find a picture of the ads from my trip to post, and it seems I didn't take any of the Ponte Sospiri. And I can say without a doubt that it must have been because of the giant ads. However, if it comes down to giant signs for a couple of years, or these magnificent buildings falling down...well, in my opinion, bring on the ads.

World's Most Remote Hotels

Whether you wanna sleep under ground, or sleep under water, these remote hotels have you covered.

Bloomfield Lodge in Cairns Australia requires a chartered plane, a drive through the Outback, and a trip down river to reach. At Kokopelli's Cave in New Mexico you'll take a ladder to get to your room, which is 70 feet underground in a cave. And if you want to stay at Jules Undersea Lodge in Florida, you'd better know how to scuba dive. Otherwise, you won't be getting to your room.

So if you want to get away from it all, be sure to check out the full list on Forbes. - Link no longer available.