Travel

Here's how the Wisconsin Dells waterparks stack up when it comes to their spas and activities that don't involve getting soaked. I've also included an insider's tip on each of the resorts...

Kalahari:

Dry time
A well staffed kids’ activity center puts on a steady line up of non-wet things to do: cookie decorating, mini manicures, art projects, and a scavenger hunt that helps you get your bearings in this sprawling resort.

Adult pampering
Kick back with a post-massage glass of wine in the newly renovated spa, a dimly lit, tranquil oasis. In other words: the opposite of a waterpark. Fifty-minute massage: $105.

Insider’s tip
Ask for a room away from the atrium lobby and the highway side of the resort for the most peace and quiet.

Great Wolf:

Dry time
Little ones run themselves ragged in Wiley’s Woods, a four-story complex of slides, nets and mazes. Bring the iPod; this place gets loud.

Adult pampering
The subterranean Aveda spa lacks personality but has an extensive, head-to-toe treatment menu. One-hour massage: $85.

Insider’s tip
Fridays are when big discounts can be found on the Web site under “great deals.”

Wilderness:

Dry time
Dodge ‘Em City is a huge, four-story foam structure with a ball fountain that shoots hundreds of soft orbs spewing through the air like pop corn. Good luck getting your youngster out of here in under an hour.

Adult pampering
No spa on site, but a driver will take you to the nearby, adults-only Sundara Spa. You’ll want to spend a lot of time here lounging in the luxurious steam room, sauna, relaxation chamber and outdoor hot tub. One-hour massage: $140.

Insider’s tip
Nine private cabanas in the Wild Waterdome waterpark cost between $150 and $200 a day. They get you roped off seating, plush towels, food and drink service, a mini-fridge and a flat screen TV. They’re popular, so if you want one, pre-book it.

Posted by Lori Rackl at 04:56 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Flowers and brunch are nice, but a vacation would surely be raising the bar on Mother's Day gifts.

We're looking for some ideas on places to take mom for a much deserved getaway. I'm really interested in hearing your suggestions - or your experience on traveling with mom in tow....

Posted by Lori Rackl at 05:27 AM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)

What a great way to start your honeymoon in Sicily: Lost luggage. For nearly a week.

I guess three connecting flights are too much to ask of the airline industry, because our bags were lost on the way to Sicily and on the way home to Chicago. The bigger hassle by far was the bags being lost on the way to Sicily, of course. I realize lost luggage is always a pain, but lost luggage on your honeymoon seems to be an especially cruel move on the part of the airlines, which give you the impression they could really care less about tracking down your bags.

At least that was our experience.

For six days, we made repeated calls and engaged the help of countless concierges to help track down our two pieces of luggage from Alitalia. I can't begin to tell you how many stories we were told. The bags are in Palermo. No, they're in Rome. Wait: we don't know where they are. If the pilot doesn't want to fly them to you, he doesn't have to. Maybe you'll get reimbursed for necessities you need to buy, but maybe you won't.

We eventually had to enlist the help of BlueStone Tourism Services in Sicily. The tour design director, Riccardo Mobilia, took it on himself to hound the lost and found folks at the Palermo airport. He personally delivered our wayward cargo to our hotel in Catania, a week into our two-week honeymoon. If our new marriage results in a son, Riccardo is now a front runner in the name department.

BlueStone actually helped us a lot on this trip, which was proving difficult to book from our computer in the U.S. If you're planning a trip to Sicily, I'd recommend enlisting their help. Write Riccardo directly at riccardo@bluestonesicily.com.

Anyway, my husband and I have now taken three international trips together, and each time, our bags were lost. Is this just rotten luck, or has lost luggage become a routine part of airline travel?

If you have a lost luggage sob story, let me know....

Posted by Lori Rackl at 03:12 PM | Permalink | Comments (3) | TrackBacks (0)

Here's an unusual recipe for a mint julep with a twist, courtesy of Proof on Main restaurant in Louisville...

The traditional mint julep combines the simple ingredients of sugar, mint, crushed ice and of course, bourbon. Proof on Main adds fresh strawberries as a twist on this Kentucky classic. The signature silver mint julep tumbler is the preferred glass in which to serve the mint julep in order to ensure this refreshing cocktail is as cold as possible.

Ingredients:

2 ounces Kentucky Woodford Reserve Bourbon
fresh mint sprigs
2 large ripe strawberries
2 ounces simple mint syrup
Crushed ice

Mint Simple Syrup Preparation: To achieve the desired results this syrup is best prepared in advance. Heat two cups of water and two cups of sugar together, stirring over medium heat for approximately five minutes. Cool and place dissolved mixture in a covered container. Add six to eight bruised mint sprigs and refrigerate overnight, strain syrup to remove mint sprigs.

Strawberry Mint Julep Preparation:

1. Chill silver mint julep tumbler
2. Add mint syrup, 1 strawberry and 2 mint leaves
3. Gently muddle strawberry, syrup and mint leaves
4. Fill tumbler half full with crushed ice
5. Add one ounce bourbon
6. Stir
7. Fill glass with crushed ice
8. Add remaining bourbon
9. Garnish with mint sprig and sliced strawberries
Serve with short straw that just protrudes over top of julep tumbler to ensure the aroma of fresh mint.

Have you ever had a great mint julep? Tell us where, and what made it so good?

Posted by Lori Rackl at 12:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Lisa Hunt of Chicago took a 23-day odyssey around the world for a global scavenger hunt. Here are a few of her photos...

Lisa Hunt didn't know where she'd be headed until right before it was time to leave for a new country.

Teams had to proove they completed their challenges by getting a photo showing both of them in it.

Lisa Hunt makes a new friend, and completes another challenge, in Eastern Europe.

After a close finish, Lisa Hunt and her travel partner, Helen, beat the rest to become The World's Greatest Travelers. That entitles them to bragging rights and these trophies.

Look like something you'd ever want to do?

Posted by Lori Rackl at 12:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)