After a slow start to the 2011 season, it seems that Best Western sponsored Michael Waltrip Racing has turned it on and created a bit of luck for themselves. With high hopes going into the season, the newly semi-retired Michael Waltrip and newly refocused David Reutimann, had a bit of hard luck to kick off their year. A crash to start the season at Daytona for Waltrip and a series of mediocre finishes for Reutimann weren't what the Charlotte based team was hoping for. In a quick change of luck, however, May couldn't have been sweeter for them.
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It's been 7 races into the 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup season and already we've seen a little bit of everything. From a rookie winning the Daytona 500 (Trevor Bayne), to a near win for the sport's most popular driver (Dale Earnhardt Jr, Martinsville), to a return to winning ways for the sport's biggest love-to-hate-him driver (Kyle Busch), the 2011 season has been a mixed bag of headlines.
Here's what we can (hope) to expect in the remaining 30 races of the 2011 season:
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Best Western sponsored NASCAR driver, David Reutimann had high hopes for himself and the #00 team in 2010. In 2009, Reutimann saw many career firsts. He picked up a career high ten Top-10 finishes and was even able to squeak out his first ever trip to victory lane in a rain-soaked Charlotte Motor Speedway. Confidence was riding high at the close of the 2009 season, but it's been a mixed bag for the #00 early in 2010.
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"..but you've gotta see a race in person!"
Like many NASCAR fans, I was a casual observer until I took the advice of a friend and decided to ditch the tube one Sunday and made my way to a NASCAR Sprint Cup race in person. From then on I went from casual observer to total race junkie.
The thrill and excitement of travelling to a race and experiencing "the scene" is what keeps me coming back to races time after time. It wasn't until recently, however, that I realized that I could still get my racing fix without waiting months for NASCAR to come within a few hundred miles of me, or dropping the big bucks to fly to Bristol and Martinsville for a weekend.
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The start of the NASCAR season is upon us and as fans, we have plenty to be thankful for. Changes to the cars, new rules to help facilitate better racing, and an early flash of brilliance by Best Western Racing driver, David Reutimann, have us excited about 2010.
Things to watch for in 2010:
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Visitors don't necessarily flock to Alaska during the winter, but, I say, "Why not?!" It's cold, sure, but there are some truly unique experiences during the winter months in the Northern state. How about hundreds of thousands of pounds of ice sculpted into creative works of art?
Check out these amazing ice sculptures:
Multi-block structures
Single-block structures
Presented by Ice Alaska - a corporation that promotes the artistic and educational endeavors of ice - the Ice Art Championships will begin February 20 and continue through March 28, 2010 in Fairbanks Alaska this year. During this month long event, artist from around the world travel to The Last Frontier to compete in the World Ice Art Championships. Over 100 sculptures are expected to be made ranging from six to 30 feet tall, each weighing from 7,800 to 40,000 pounds.
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I take great pride in checking items off of my "bucket list" as such lists have come to be called lately. The bucket list, as it is eloquently titled, are a list of things to do before you kick the bucket. It was on a trip to Maui Hawaii that I had an opportunity for my first chance at checking the item "Pacific Ocean Snorkeling" off of my list. What I didn't realize, though, was how hooked I would become on snorkeling.
I'm what you call a "sandal vacationer" when it comes to warm weather vacations. I embrace action and adventure when I'm traveling in locales below 80 degrees, but when I'm in the warm waters of Hawaii or San Diego, I much prefer to trade in my walking shoes for a chance at being a beach bum. That is why I love snorkeling. It provides a chance as a traveler to engage in a slightly scaled sporting adventure like scuba diving without the cost, time commitment, and training. Guided snorkel tours run anywhere from $50-150 dollars and equipment is affordable to own.
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America is a great place. It is the land of hope, opportunity and many of the world's largest things (like Best Western - The World's Largest Hotel Chain).
I remember the first time I came across something that bared the name "World's Largest". I was 4 years old, riding down Interstate 94 just outside of Detroit, Michigan. I looked to my right and my eyes locked in on the world's largest tire. The tire, built by the Uniroyal Tire Company, stands proud at about 80 feet tall and weighs 12 tons. I can remember, even at a young age, marveling how completely unnecessary such an object was. Unnecessary, sure--but, so cool.
Since that day, I've always made an effort to seek out many of the other "World's Largest" when traveling. They range from kitschy to cool, tall to wide, and homemade to complete and total engineering masterpieces. They are a great cross section of America. They are built on every budget and can appeal to the oldest and youngest of travelers.
Here are a few of my favorite "world's largest" objects:
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Fall is a great time of year for serious beer lovers. The crisper, lighter beers depart store shelves and fridges in favor of darker, heavier, and more complex seasonal brews. Fall is also one of my favorite times of year to travel. Green leaves and warm weather depart, bringing an abundance of fall foliage and crisp weathers. Lately one of my favorite travel activities has been to stay away from main thoroughfares and heavily trafficked tourist spots of my favorite cities, so that I can focus on my newest travel passion: The brewery tour.
Touring breweries is not only a memorable way to take in the essence of a locale, but a very affordable and cost effective activity. Since most tours are free to the public and offer a tasting at the end, it can be a great, cheap way to spend a fall afternoon.
Here are some "must hit" breweries for your next trip:
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September 17 2009 by Mark Deyer
This 2009 NASCAR season has been anything but predictable. With the start of the Chase beginning this Saturday, many of us are still trying to figure out what has been the biggest surprise of the season.
Tony Stewart, backed by his own team and dollars at Stewart-Haas Racing, put up a storybook season to date and leads all drivers in points going into The Chase. Tony's three wins and 18 Top-10 finishes have made his departure from Joe Gibbs racing a distant and forgettable memory.
Everyone's favorite villain Kyle Busch couldn't muster enough points to crack the Top-12 to make a run at the Sprint Cup championship. Kyle's 4 wins this season is the most of any driver who missed The Chase, but a string of poor runs late in races leaves him out yet again.
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Have you ever noticed in life that certain smells, tastes, and sounds have a way of transporting you back to specific place in time? For me, I can't walk into a ballpark without feeling the rush of senses that I felt during my very first trip into the famed Tiger Stadium in Detroit Michigan, home of the Detroit Tigers.
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For many NASCAR fans a traditional vacation just won't cut it. With vacation time at a premium, many folks are resorting to weekend road trips to satisfy the travel bug. For NASCAR fans this means weekend pilgrimages to race tracks all around the country. If you're new to the sport or just haven't made it around to a track yet, here are my top 5 favorite NASCAR tracks to spend the weekend at:
1) Bristol Motor Speedway - Bristol, TN. Bristol is a Mecca for NASCAR fans. With room for nearly 160,000 spectators around its 1/2 mile racetrack, it rivals any college football experience. Bristol features high banking on a short track oval that always makes for very exciting racing. Turn #2 at Bristol in 1990 was the scene of Best Western Racing driver Michael Waltrip's most spectacular crash. Waltrip's car was reduced to a pile of rubble and he amazingly walked away from the wreck virtually uninjured. With races being held every year in March and August, it is the perfect way to kick off your travel season in the spring or close it out at the end of summer.
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Like many, when I travel, I take pictures. Lots of pictures. That's why I was ecstatic when I came across my newest and most favorite tech gadget: the Gorilla Pod. The Gorilla Pod is a flexible tripod that fits into the tripod port of nearly any camera on the market. Three flexible legs allow it to wrap around anything and everything when you're on vacation. No more trusting strangers with your camera to snap a photo.
My desire to find a product like the Gorilla Pod came on a recent trip to San Clemente California. While my fiance and I strolled the sparse beaches, we were left with no one to take our picture. We fumbled several times at setting our digital camera on a rock and setting the auto timer, but inevitably the camera would fall over or we couldn't get the picture at the right angle. Many of our most beautiful and favorite moments of our trip went undocumented because we just couldn't find a way to get the camera setup properly. I figured there had to be a better way.
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Technology has influenced the way that many of us travel. Cell phones make sure we're always accessible, GPS has turned paper maps into museum exhibits, and mp3 players give us refuge from noisy airplanes. One travel innovation I could not live without is the portable DVD player. The PDP is the perfect travel accessory for the traveler looking to zone out in a busy airport, relax in the back of a bus, or quiet a carload of loud children. I purchased my first PDP in 2002. Since my first, I've owned 3 others- and not because they've become lost or broken, but because like other gadget geeks, I'm always wanting the latest and greatest. If I had the knowledge and understanding that I have now when I bought my first player, I would have saved a lot of time and money.
Helpful tips when selecting a PDP that is right for you:
Does size matter? Size is a key element when deciding on a PDP. If you're like me and you do most of your travel in the air, it will be important to buy a smaller, lightweight player. Players can range anywhere from 2lbs to 4lbs. Lightweight players are great, but the added convenience will cost more. For the occasional traveler who will be using their player around the house or in the hotel room, size may be not as much of a factor. Larger, bulkier players are usually lower in cost.
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As much as I love road trips, at some point during the trip I end up in a gas station in the middle of Anywhere, USA asking for directions. I've tried hand plotting my routes on a map, but that inevitably creates more confusion and extra hours of travel time. I've used MapQuest® and Google Maps, but let's be honest, once you miss an exit you're already past the point of no return. My newest travel gadget has changed the way I travel--the portable GPS.
I recently acquired a Garmin nuvi® 260 Portable GPS Navigator this holiday season from my wonderful fiance. We figured there was no better way to test it out than on a road trip to the heart of the American Southwest: Las Vegas. The setup process couldn't have been easier. Stick the GPS against the windshield with a nifty suction cup, plug it into the 12-volt cigarette lighter (or use its 5 hour lithium battery), power up, and go.
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I'm guilty of it. Aren't we all? Its 11 pm, you've just checked into the hotel after a long day of travel, and the only thing you want to do is crash. But you have to check your email. So, instead of paying an outrageous fee for 3 minutes of Internet service you squat in the hotel lobby and mooch the free Internet.
I've done it more than I can count; and every time I end up wondering, "If it's free in the lobby, why isn't it free 12 floors above when I'm in my own room?"
Hotel WiFi can be one of the most frustrating aspects of traveling. The rate gouging, weak signals, port changing, and the time restrictions have always left me scratching my head. I put together a short list for Hotel WiFi Survival:
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On a recent business trip to Chicago, I found myself with a free afternoon. Faced with the many offerings that Chicago has for visitors, I decided that with it being such a perfect autumn afternoon, a stroll down Michigan Avenue would be an ideal way to get my mind off of work.
Michigan Avenue, for those who haven't spent time in Chicago, is the city's epicenter for fashion and shopping. Dubbed the "Magnificent Mile", Michigan Avenue boasts everything from department stores to high-fashion boutiques and fine dining to a popcorn shop. It is truly one of the gems of Chicago for window shopping and people watching alike.
Back with another installment of Travel by Numbers, we take a walk down Michigan Avenue...
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September 16 2008 by Mark Deyer
"A Stitch in Times Saves Nine". What, you ask, has this phrase got to do with Packing for Business Travel Emergencies? This old popular saying has many interpretations depending on who you ask and what your mother told you. My mother told me to plan ahead, be prepared for life's little emergencies and that led to my best tips for planning for the small emergencies that happen when you're on a business trip. A little pre-planning can go a long way to save a business meeting or a wasted business trip.
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September 16 2008 by Mark Deyer
Tips for Business Travel Emergencies
- Start with a List - and I'm talking about a packing list that you have already compiled and keep on your computer. Simply print it out each time you're packing and follow it even though you've done it a million times before.
- Medications - If you're taking prescribed medications, it's a good idea to keep at least a week's supply of medication on hand in their original prescribed bottles so you don't find you're out of a prescription when packing.
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Often we set out to explore our most renowned national parks only to discover that in the peak season they can be fully booked and extremely crowded. If you are willing to venture off the beaten path there are a host of lesser known national parks that offer visitors up close encounters with breathtaking natural wonders and unique cultures. The Southwest hosts a handful of notable examples in Colorado and Utah including Mesa Verde, Canyonlands, and Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Parks.
Mesa Verde
Don't miss the well-preserved cliff dwellings of the Ancestral Pueblo people at Mesa Verde National Park. Most sites are only accessible by ranger-guided tours which must be purchased in person at the Far View Visitors Center for $3 per person. The tours are strenuous but well worth the effort!
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The best part of this time of year is soaking up the last few weeks of summer. But as much as you may want to soak up the rays, one thing certain to put a damper on your vacation is a sunburn.
When everything that touches your skin makes you cringe and you suddenly resemble a gigantic tomato, that's when you know you've overdone it. Not only is it an unpleasant situation for you on your vacation, but the long-term effects of over exposure to the sun is an even bigger problem. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, sunburn is not the only consequence faced by lack of sun protection. Pre-mature aging, wrinkles, skin cancer, and eye disease, such as cataracts, the leading cause of blindness, are all directly related to over exposure.
Before you reach tomato status, make sure you are following these three main lines of defense.
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- Seek off-peak destinations and shoulder seasons. Ski resort towns make great summer retreats and often at lower rates.
- Save time searching for low, low air fare rates by using InsideTrip.com. Not only does this helpful site find great airfare prices, it also uses a quality score to help you determine the right flight options that meet your travel needs. Plan ahead, book at least 14-21 days in advance.
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- Seek off-peak destinations and shoulder seasons. Ski resort towns make great summer retreats and often at lower rates.
- Save time searching for low, low air fare rates by using InsideTrip.com. Not only does this helpful site find great airfare prices, it also uses a quality score to help you determine the right flight options that meet your travel needs. Plan ahead, book at least 14-21 days in advance.
Read More »
Save some green this summer on travel! With a little planning and creativity you can have a great time without breaking the bank. Here are some common ways to save; next week we will feature some travel saving options you haven't considered before:
- When visiting new locations, look for free summer concerts, movies, art shows, festivals and more. Plus this gives you more of the local flavor of your destination while saving money.
- Be flexible with your travel plans - offbeat vacation spots and weekday travel generally offer better travel deals.
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Sam Lowe
Cesar Millan
Chris McGinnis
Jason Fogelson
Bryson Forbes
Amy Graff
Karla Henriquez
After a slow start to the 2011 season, it seems that Best Western sponsored Michael Waltrip Racing has turned it on and created a bit of luck for themselves. With high hopes going into the season, the newly semi-retired Michael Waltrip and newly refocused David Reutimann, had a bit of hard luck to kick off their year. A crash to start the season at Daytona for Waltrip and a series of mediocre finishes for Reutimann weren't what the Charlotte based team was hoping for. In a quick change of luck, however, May couldn't have been sweeter for them.
As The World's Biggest Hotel Family℠, we know it is a big world out there
with lots of places to see and experience. Best Western's You Must Be
Trippin' travel blog offers travel tips, ideas and feature destinations
to make your next trip a success. We are also interested in where
you've been trippin' and invite you to share your travel ideas, tips
and destinations with us.
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