January is the time to start planning trips. I take vacations in May and in the fall. I don’t have to follow the school schedule anymore.  There is so much to do around Western Washington in the summer I hate to leave. If we’re having rain, we can go over the passes for some heat!  I know the Tulips are in April, Flower World awaits me….snow melts and the trails open up…….UW street faire is in May, the Blue Angels fly in August, the Mariner schedule is on the frig.  The Kirkland Farmers Market is on Wednesday. My grandson is free to play! Chris and her husband spend 3 weeks in Canada. Family and friends rotating in and out, lots of good food, love and laughter fill the rooms. The lake is just outside the front door! Just the way a vacation home should be.

National Parks fill up fast. RESERVE EARLY! They have an easy to navigate site.  www.nps.gov.  There’s information on the parks and national monuments.  We were planning a trip to the Grand Canyon. The NPS site told me about a place called Walnut Canyon.  We took a side trip and it’s one of my favorites.  Get a PARK PASS! It’s good for a year and it will save you time and money. If you are a senior, they have a special deal for you. Your travel companions will LOVE you for it.

Next weekend Seattle is having a travel show.  We plan to be there. The people are so friendly and helpful.  They are very informative about destinations, and there are some great travel deals. Search for travel shows in your area, it will get you in the correct mindset! www.seattletravelshow.com

Feeling international this year? You should find some great bargains! Something to consider is trip insurance.  We’ve been looking into this, and our next topic is going to be travel insurance! Ever wonder what an emergency really is to your company? If your travel companion gets sick, can you get a refund??

The best recipe for a great trip is some planning and our Travel Rx Bag!

Here’s to safe and healthy travel,

Bev and Chris