Travel and Adventure Indoors
March 21, 2011
It’s been raining in normally sunny California. What better place to go to when it’s raining? Anywhere indoors. This weekend we were invited to the Los Angeles Travel show held indoors at the Los Angeles Convention Center. I thought it would be fun to pick up some ideas for our next adventures. My husband looked over at the Iceland booth – one of the places on my list to visit – which made me very happy. Iceland was named Iceland so people would think it’s too cold to visit and pass it by. I am told it’s absolutely beautiful there and it has been one of my dream places to visit since I was a teenager. (I had a few friends in highschool who were originally from Iceland, including my first roommate.)
Malaysian dancers at the Malaysian booth
Mishy got into the spirit by watching the Malaysian dancers and then later joining them. She was given a gift of flowers.
Mishy posing with some Malaysian dancers
We later headed over to the Los Angeles Times Global Beat stage to watch a Japanese belly dancer who won over many male fans.
Japanese bellydancer
Mishy dancing along her way.
My husband headed over to the Travel Stage where online budget traveling was discussed. Moderated by Jane Engle, with speakers, George Hobica, Johnny Jet, and Kelly Meritt, this forum was a reminder to continue the same budget practices we have at home. Some suggestions were to make use of googling coupons, use restaurant.com as well as groupon.com – and there is nothing better than grabbing sandwiches at the deli and sitting in the park to have a picnic if you’re a family to cut back on the expense of consistently eating at restaurants. Also, if you want to cut back on the cost of beverages at restaurants, bring along powdered drink mixes and put it in your water. You could even bring along powder lemon – which I found to taste like the real deal.
The panelist asking a question about breakfast - do not eat it at your hotel if you want to watch your budget
There were many fun giveaways, different booths were sponsoring. At the Apple Farm booth, which is a luxury hotel in San Luis Obispo, attendees could pick a room key in hopes of winning a free three night stay. We didn’t win, but we did speak to the owners who pointed out the charms of their hotel. It isn’t a working farm. There are about a dozen apple trees on the property and guests are welcome to pick an apple and eat it during apple season. If you’re interested in heading to Mount Vernon, WA soon, the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival is from April 1st-30th, 2011.
Mishy loved kicking the inflatable globe ball, which was a very popular giveaway.
Beaded Mardi Gras necklaces - another popular giveaway.
Riding an authentic stage coach by Coyote Springs Stage Lines. The driver cranked it up and down so you can really feel what it was like 300 hundred years ago.
Mishy with the world in her hands.
The Travel and Adventure Show will be moving back to Long Beach on January 14th-15th, 2012 with new media partners, Los Angeles Magazine and NBC LA. For more information, please visit:
For Los Angeles Magazine:
Twitter Handle: twitter.com/losangelesmag Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/losangelesmag
Details:
The Los Angeles Times Travel and Adventure Show.
Groupon for daily deals on restaurants, spas, adventures
http://www.groupon.com/r/uu1243521
Restaurant.com – restaurant coupons
Skagit Valley Tulip Festival in Mount Vernon, WA
Apple Farm, San Luis Obispo
Natural Traveling Momma Blog 