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The Best Times Of Year To Visit New York

Randy — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 10:47:21 +0000

Editors note: This is a guest post from one of our readers.

By Zoonabar |Flickr Creative Commons

New York is a city that has something to offer no matter what time of year you visit. Depending on what you want out of your holiday however, there are more suitable times to travel, so pick the season that best suits you before booking your New York holidays. Here are the best times of year to visit, based on how you want enjoy your trip.

Theatre junkies – October to December

Internationally renowned for it’s theatre, New York is a must-see for fans of the stage. Most Broadway shows open in the Autumn so it’s a popular time of year for travellers with cultural inclinations. The sheer variety of shows on offer ensures something for everyone, ranging from opera to musicals, from classic theatre to contemporary dance. Keep in mind that the pre-Christmas season is the busiest and therefore most expensive time to visit New York, so account for this and make sure you have plenty of extra spending money. Expect to pay top dollar for accommodation too.

Holidaymakers on a budget – January to March

Post-Christmas, the price of accommodation in New York drops significantly, making it a more viable option for people on a tight budget. Travelling in January also allows you to take advantage of the holiday sales, so you can pick up gifts and souvenirs at a fraction of their normal price. Many of the shows on Broadway will still be running but with less demand it should be much easier to get tickets. The biggest disadvantage to travelling this time of year is that New York is very, very cold in winter, so bring plenty of warm clothing and don’t be too disappointed if the weather prevents you from visiting certain attractions. If the last two New York winters are anything to go by, you may have a few feet of snow to contend with.

Sun worshippers – July and August

July and August are New York’s hottest months, with temperatures regularly over 30 C. The city is stunning in the bright sunshine and there’s the opportunity to take in open air concerts and fine outdoor dining well into the evening. Many locals take their holidays outside of the city during summer so the centre is less packed, making for a more relaxed atmosphere. If you’re not used to the heat it’s best to wander around the city in the evening or early morning, as midday temperatures, coupled with the high humidity, can make being outdoors quite unpleasant.

Every season has something great to offer and regardless of when you visit, New York is sure to excite and entertain you.

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*Please remember all photos on this website, unless otherwise noted, are copyrighted and property of Beers and Beans Travel Website, Nariko’ s Nest Weddings & Bethany Salvon. Please do not use them without my permission. If you do want to use one of them please contact me first because I do love to share and I would be flattered. Thanks!

La Tomatina – An Awesome European Event & it’s American Equivalent!

Bethany — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 07:33:38 +0000

It looks like we’ll be headed back to Europe soon and I’ve been doing some research on events we could check out. I immediately remembered one that’s been on my hit list for some time – La Tomatina.

Photo courtesy of Flydime via Flickr.

I’ve been wanting to go to this for several years now and I’m sad to say we won’t make it because it takes place this month on Wed, August 31, 2011 and we won’t be in Europe until late Sept/early October. Bummer! In any case it looks like a pretty awesome festival and if you’re in the area there is still enough time for you to check it out.

La Tomatina is a huge event held in Buñol, Spain on the last Wednesday of each August. For exactly one hour people can throw tomatoes at each other in the streets! What started as a brawl between young men in the 1940′s is now a sanctioned event and the city even provides the tomatoes! Besides the absurdity and hilarity of tomatoes being thrown all across town at everyone within eyesight another really funny aspect of this festival is how it begins.

As with all good things, it all starts with a greasy pole & a ham.

A greasy pole is set up with a ham on top. One after the other brave participants try to reach the top of the greasy pole so they can knock the ham off. Once the ham is knocked off, the horn blows and the tomato throwing commences!

Photo courtesy of Flydime via Flickr.

This festival is happening in just a few days! So if you can get to Buñol this week you’ll have one heck of a time waiting for you!

However if you’re a US resident or headed to the US this month there’s a chance you can still make it to La Tomatina – Reno Style! Yup, that’s right, the folks in the Biggest Little City (aka Reno, Nevada) were so into the idea of painting the town and residents red they decided a couple years ago to host their own La Tomatina! This event costs $10 to enter but a portion of the funds goes to benefit the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. Not to mention they haul in 75,000 pounds of tomatoes you can chuck around town.

In pure American fashion you’ll need to sign a waiver to enter this festival even if you’re over 18. Don’t let the red tape get you down though, if I was on the west coast I would definitely head over and partake in this festival. It sounds like a really entertaining way to spend your day!

Photo courtesy of Flydime via Flickr.

This event takes place in just a couple days on August 27, 2011 at 5pm. If you’re flying to Spain or Reno from London for either festival, remember that you can always take advantage of airport parking and Gatwick parking at the Gatwick airport for quick, last minute departures!

I have not be able to confirm that the greasy pole and ham will make an appearance at the Reno event.

Travel Tip: Prior to firing tomatoes upon your fellow festival goers remember to squash the tomatoes in your own hands first to prevent injury. Also, goggles are recommended for both festivals. Because both festivals are a photographer’s playground make sure you cover up your camera in a zip lock bag or waterproof casing to prevent tomato juice from ruining your good time!

Photo courtesy of Flydime via Flickr.

*All photos in this post are courtesy of Flydime via Flickr. All photos are of the La Tomatina event in Spain.

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Yellowstone Syndrome – Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming – Somewhere In Time Travel Photo

Bethany — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 10:33:28 +0000

Somewhere In Time is a weekly travel photo from around the world. Enjoy!

Yellowstone syndrome comes on fast. The minute you drive into Yellowstone National Park you feel life slow down. Somewhere between the enormous pine trees, the roaming buffalo & the fog that rises out of the bubbling thermal pools you start to feel the worries of life leave your system.

It relaxes and unwinds you in the blink of an eye. It’s the perfect place to go if you want to get away from it all and see the grand spectacle of nature. Life really is different in the National Parks and Yellowstone is one of the grandest.

I just realized it was just one year ago that we rolled through Yellowstone on the drive from California to Massachusetts. We camped in Yellowstone for one night but we needed a week.

If you need to unwind Yellowstone is the perfect place to do it. Just be sure to leave yourself at least a few days to wander around, search for buffalo and take it all in.

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San Diego’s One Tank Trips: The Villages of Baja California Norte

Randy — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 10:28:44 +0000

Beyond the notorious avenues of Tijuana and the eternal spring-break atmosphere of Rosarito, lies a stretch of coastline devoid of Ralph’s, sprawling suburbs and rush hour traffic jams–imagine San Diego in the early 1900s. Baja California Norte’s long, sparse sections of undeveloped coastline are complimented by small, seaside villages, some no bigger than a cantina and a hotel. Part of Baja’s allure has always been that the dollar goes a bit further south of the border, and these three coastal villages are no exception.

La Fonda

For a village the size of a shopping center, La Fonda has a lot to offer for San Diegans who want a relaxing getaway. Just 40 miles from the San Yisdro border crossing, La Fonda’s seaside restaurants and bars provide an ideal backdrop for mid-day margaritas. The small costal village is a perfect spot for budget-conscious travelers and families who enjoy fine dining and oceanfront rooms, but don’t want to have to take out a second mortgage to do it. Ocean view rooms can be had for under $100 a night, and if you want to go even cheaper, La Fonda also has a campground (no hook ups), which costs between $15 and $23.

Puerto Nuevo

If Rosarito is Tijuana’s younger, dumber sister, then Puerto Nuevo is their chill aunt. Founded in the late 1950s by a few fishing families, Puerto Nuevo is the place to go for fresh, cheap lobster. Just 50 minutes from downtown San Diego, Puerto Nuevo’s main draw is its abundance of fresh lobster served up in traditional Puerto Nuevo style—pan-fried with a side of rice, beans and tortillas. There are more than 30 restaurants in Puerto Nuevo, including the village’s first eatery, Puerto Nuevo 1.

La Salina Beach

The best way to find La Salina is to follow the white highway markers to kilometer 71; keep your eyes sharp, though, because it is easy to pass right by this little slice of paradise. While developers have built up the nearby marina, the hallmark of La Salina Beach is still its lone cantina and hotel. Overlooking a huge sandy beach, the cantina offers good, but cheap, food and drinks as well as a deep jukebox and pool table. Above the cantina are a handful off rooms, ranging from $45-$65 (WiFi included). The rooms are spacious and each one has a balcony overlooking the beach.

Know Before You Go

1. Do not drive at night if you don’t have to. The likelihood of encountering bandits or hitting a roaming cow increases after sundown.

2. Each of the aforementioned villages gladly excepts U.S. Currency, so there is no need to exchange your money.

3. When driving in Mexico it is always a good idea to get Mexican Insurance. You are required by law to have Mexican insurance, and not complying can be costly and include jail time. It’s just not worth the risk. Coverage costs vary, but it tends to average around $20 a day for basic coverage. Insurance policies can be bought in San Ysidro or online.

Editors Note: After this article was published, Becky (one of our readers who lives in Baja and runs the website Costa Brava Baja) wrote to us to correct our information about Mexican Insurance. We are thankful that she corrected us as it is an important point. Please consider the information she shared below when planning your trip:

“As a Baja full-timer, I wanted to make one correction: Mexican auto insurance is required, not just advised. While on the toll road, your toll fee provides you with insurance but when you are on surface streets, you are required to have it. If you’re in an accident, even if you are not at fault, you can end up in jail if you violate Mexican law by not have Mexican insurance.”

Thank you Becky for clarifying an important point!

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Dreams That You Dared To Dream – Interstate 90, Massachusetts – Somewhere In Time Weekly Travel Photo

Bethany — Sat, 13 Aug 2011 10:33:50 +0000

Somewhere In Time is a weekly travel from around the world. Enjoy!

Somewhere over the rainbow
Way up high,
There’s a land that I heard of
Once in a lullaby.

Somewhere over the rainbow
Skies are blue,
And the dreams that you dare to dream
Really do come true.

Someday I’ll wish upon a star
And wake up where the clouds are far
Behind me.
Where troubles melt like lemon drops
Away above the chimney tops
That’s where you’ll find me.

Somewhere over the rainbow
Bluebirds fly.
Birds fly over the rainbow.
Why then, oh why can’t I?

If happy little bluebirds fly
Beyond the rainbow
Why, oh why can’t I?

Lyrics by E. Y. Harburg

Best sung by Israel Kamakawiwo’ole

This photo was taken through a car windshield during the pouring rain on the Mass Pike in Massachusetts. The colors you see are lights from the cars ahead reflected in the rain drops. This picture is simple yet abstract and quickly becoming one of my favorites. The colors kind of remind me of some of my favorite Mark Rothko paintings. I can sit and stare at it for a long time and always see something different depending on my mood. It lets me get lost in it and for that I love it.

What do you think about it? Do you see anything in it?

Be sure to check out the Getting Out Of Auto Photography ebook if you like this shot and want to know more about how you can use reflections and alternative lighting methods in your own photos.

Click on the ad for more info.

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Simpler Times at 32° 117° – Somewhere In Time Weekly Travel Photo

Bethany — Sat, 06 Aug 2011 10:33:37 +0000

Somewhere In Time is a weekly photo from around the world. Enjoy!

Maybe it’s the summer weather or maybe it’s just all the craziness that has been surrounding my life the past couple of months. Maybe it’s just the simple fact that I want to go back a couple years (ok, 10 yrs would be great) to simpler times. Don’t get me wrong. I am happy with the changes I’ve made in my life, I’m happy with where I am. It’s just the other stresses of life have been getting to me lately. The things that go along with getting older – parents aging and such. Things you can’t control.

The past couple of months have found me drifting back to the days on our sailboat in San Diego. I’ve been feeling wistful for those days and wishing I could go back and live on the boat in what was a very simple life. Simple because when you live on a 27′ sailboat with another person and a dog you pare down to the basics pretty quick and that’s great for de-stressing.

I bought the sailboat when I was going through a really difficult time in my life. After being diagnosed with cancer at 31 I just wanted to float away. I was really craving a new life and didn’t know what to do about it. So I bought a sailboat. I hadn’t sailed a day in my life, yet I thought I would someday sail to South America. After the first sail I realized that was an insane idea but it was the dream of doing something new that led me to the boat. Which led to simpler times – which was exactly what I needed.

The sailboat provided a more bare-bones life, a community, new friends who took us sailing, fixed our engine and shared laughs. Trading was a popular form of currency on the docks – I give you this, you give me that. Easy right?

I loved going to bed as the waves lulled me to sleep. I loved the fact that the only TV we had was the laptop, which meant we listened to a lot more music. I loved that there was no real place to cook, which strangely inspired me to cook more often. I loved having coffee on the deck as the fog lifted over the San Diego Bay in the chilly mornings. I loved the little ducks that swam around the boat. I loved hanging towels out to dry on the dock lines. After a peaceful wake up each morning I hung out with my dog, worked on my wedding photos, the blog & with my parents remotely. Waking up on the big blue ocean every morning was something that never got old.

Sure there were some stressful times, we weren’t expert sailors and we learned by trial and error but the good days were really, really good. We would load up the boat with fruit, sandwiches, sunblock, friends & beer. Lots of beer. Off we would go parading our little home around the San Diego Bay, catching the wind, bouncing off waves, cannonballing off the deck into the Pacific.

This photo was taken on one such day. Four of us had gone out for a fantastic sail and the heavy clouds started rolling in as the sun was setting brightly against the horizon. We were getting ready to dock and we were scurrying around the deck trying to drop the sails and get the lines ready. The light streaming through the clouds onto the sail caught my eye and I took a few photos of people running around making last minute adjustments. I love this photo because I love the light and because it really reminds me of exciting yet simple times.

Living with only what you need is something I highly recommend everyone does at least once in their lives. Whether it’s a backpack, an RV, a boat – whatever it is just go small for a while. Get rid of everything and you’ll be surprised how much happier you are when you have very little left to worry about. It’s pretty easy at that point to discover what is really the most important to you in life. It’s equally easy to notice all the things that were previously holding you down. Things you don’t even realize – like a large collection of shoes & electric bills. Life on the boat proved to me that less really is more.

Want to learn how to take silhouettes like this? Be sure to check out my photo ebook “Getting Out Of Auto” for tips & tricks on shooting in all types of light, including bright sunlight. It even has a section that talks gives step by step instructions for capturing great silhouettes!

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Halcyon Dreams – Badlands National Park, South Dakota USA – Somewhere In Time Weekly Travel Photo

Bethany — Sat, 23 Jul 2011 10:33:30 +0000

Somewhere In Time is a weekly travel photo from around the world. Enjoy!

The minute we entered Badlands National Park I was in love. From the roaming buffalos, the perfect blue sky & the puffy white clouds to the sandy colored plateaus, swaying prairie grasses and the strong, warm breeze it was like walking into another world. And it was a world that I really felt at home in.

Sometimes when you travel you bump into places that feel so natural and easy – almost as if you have lived there before in another time, in another life. Badlands was like that for me. It just felt right. I was happy. I felt the kind of at ease feeling you have when you recognize there is something larger than yourself. All the little crap you deal with on a daily basis falls away and for a few sweet moments you have a hold on what really matters in life. You can imagine yourself as a better person.

I would like to spend a couple months exploring South Dakota, meeting people, taking photos & running through the breeze with Randy and Chachy. We only spent a few hours in Badlands but sometimes I daydream about jumping in the car and driving back, reminding me I am in desperate need of simpler times.

Want to see more photos from around the world? Check out the Somewhere In Time Photo Gallery.

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*Please remember all photos on this website, unless otherwise noted, are copyrighted and property of Beers and Beans Travel Website, Nariko’ s Nest Weddings & Bethany Salvon. Please do not use them without my permission. If you want to use one of them please contact me first because I do love to share and I would be flattered. Thanks!

The Cover Shot!

Bethany — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 10:33:13 +0000

Yah!

Ever see a photo on an album cover and wish that one of your photos could be on an album cover one day?

Music & Photography seem to go hand & hand. It’s a perfect fit. I have photographed bands & musicians before but I’ve never had the chance to be on an album cover. Until now….

I’m proud to say that I now have a photo on an album cover!

Tip Top Recordings has used some of my photos from the Salton Sea for their Looking Glass & Vio/Miré 7″ vinyl split. Exciting!

The album has four excellent songs on it and if you’re looking for some new indie music, be sure to check it out. You won’t be disappointed.

Take a hop over to Tip Top Recordings and check out the write up of these two fantastic groups. You can listen to the album as well and see some of the other albums that Tip Top has released.

Be sure to stop by the respective band websites – Looking Glass & Vio/Miré to learn more about them and see what new stuff they have going on.

I’m really excited to be a part of such a great project, and I’m flattered that my photos have been used as the artwork for not only one, but two, awesome bands!

Here are some photos of the cover and the on the album.

*Please remember all photos on this website, unless otherwise noted, are copyrighted and property of Beers and Beans Travel Website, Nariko’ s Nest Weddings & Bethany Salvon. Please do not use them without my permission. If you want to use one of them please contact me first because I do love to share and I would be flattered. Thanks!

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American Spirit – Somewhere In Time Weekly Travel Photo

Bethany — Sat, 09 Jul 2011 10:33:57 +0000

Somewhere In Time is a weekly travel photo from around the world. Enjoy!

It just so happens that my sister Bridgette lives in America’s Hometown – Plymouth, MA.

Home of the Plymouth Rock, the first Thanksgiving & America’s oldest grocery store. Home to Squanto and the Pilgrims.

The prelude to the shores of Cape Cod, the older sister to Salem & the witches trials, the girl next door compared to Boston. The town that started it all for good and bad.

Plymouth is an easy going town that happens to maintain a mind boggling seat in the history of America. Could there be a better place to watch the fireworks on the Fourth of July?

As it turns out the answer to that question is NO.

I was spoiled in San Diego where fireworks are aplenty – every night at 9 p.m. in the summer – as a matter of fact. To top it off, San Diego has a kickin’ fireworks display over the San Diego Bay every year. I didn’t think the 4th could get better than San Diego. But then again, I had never spent the 4th in Plymouth.

Sure I grew up in Massachusetts and had spent the vacations of my youth bouncing around Cape Cod, but I had never experienced a Plymouth fireworks display. My sister lives in this little beach community called Manomet, and every year the residents have a big to-do for the Fourth of July.

Like American renegades, they break the Massachusetts ‘no firework’ law in Plymouth and they bring it hard. Here’s the tip – they bring it on the THIRD of July. Yup, all night long the colors fly. And I mean ALL night. For hours on end. This isn’t your neighborhood 20 minute display. This is the full on rebel yell of firework displays.

On July 3rd in Manomet beach, hundreds gather with their own firework arsenal. Bonfire’s are lit, drinking goes on through the day and night and everyone has a great time.

We went to the beach for about an hour, and it was by far the best fireworks display I have ever seen in the U.S., and it’s completely independent. If you want to light your own – feel free. Although you’ll have to make the run to New Hampshire to buy them, all you’ll need to do in Plymouth is just pick a spot on the beach and light ‘em up…

So if you want to see the best Fourth of July fireworks in the U.S., your best bet is to come to Plymouth a day early and have your mind blown on the shores of America’s Hometown.

*Please remember all photos on this website, unless otherwise noted, are copyrighted and property of Beers and Beans Travel Website, Nariko’ s Nest Weddings & Bethany Salvon. Please do not use them without my permission. If you want to use one of them please contact me first because I do love to share and I would be flattered. Thanks!

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My Las Vegas Sports Book Tip

Randy — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 12:32:15 +0000

About the time Cher takes to the stage in Burlesque (first 15 minutes), my mind begins to slip. ‘Is she still playing in Vegas?’ I think to myself. Then I drift deeper and find myself daydreaming about lounging in a Strip sports book drinking on the casino’s dime.

It’s no secret that Las Vegas casinos ply players with free booze. If you are gambling you are eligible. The problem is that gambling requires you to spend money. And despite the free drinks, its just not really budget-friendly, unless you win of course. There is, however, a way to drink for hours for only $2, even in the swankiest of casinos.

Never a big gambler, I was always more interested in scheming the casino for free drinks than playing craps. Like 737s on a flight path, cocktail waitresses work a similar pattern around the casino floor; the key is to find their path and then post up at the nearest slot machine ( I prefer the penny slots). It’s a solid solution for free drinks; unfortunately, its a bit tedious.

For years this tactic was my go to move in Vegas. I would sit at a machine, slowly putting in coins while scoping the floor for the waitress. Then, I discovered the sports book. Like an ultimate man cave, the sports book hosts all things sports, including horse racing, on a wall of TVs. For as little as $2, I can bet on a two hour sporting event, making me eligible for free, unlimited drinks while I’m watching the game in the sports book (just remember to keep your wagering ticket out and to tip your server).

If you are looking for more Las Vegas budget tips, check out our latest story in the San Diego Uptown News, and then head over to Brooke vs. the World to read her tales of visiting Las Vegas and dining at Sin City Buffets.

Remember it’s always a safe bet to have travel insurance from HBF if you’re on the road.

*Please remember all photos on this website, unless otherwise noted, are copyrighted and property of Beers & Beans Travel Website, Nariko’ s Nest Weddings & Bethany Salvon. Please do not use them without my permission. If you want to use one of them please contact me first because I do love to share and I would be flattered. Thanks!

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