Oktoberfest in the USA

As mentioned in my post about Oktoberfest in Germany, it is possible to celebrate this festival within the U.S. Many cities, breweries or bars host events.

In La Crosse, Wisconsin the fest is recreated as it can be experience in Germany. Philadelphia, a city proud of its micro brews will not leave you dry with Free sampling of German beers at Bell Beverage on Sept. 24, McGillan's month-long celebration which started on Sept. 2.

Not only does Philly celebrate Oktberfest, but Sept. 16 also marks the start of Philly Beer Week, which is actually a 10-day celebration of the acclaimed "Best Beer-Drinking City in America".

For other festivals across the U.S. check out this top 10 list of events.

The right luggage

An important part of traveling is choosing the type of luggage that suits your trip, you and your budget. With the plethora of luggage types available it can be a daunting task (as is any shopping trip) to choose the right one if you don't know what you're looking for.

Personally, my favorite is the Samsonite Spinner. These pieces have four wheels instead of the regular two and allow for easier transport. However, traveling over cobblestone or through snow is not the easiest. Second in ine to the spinners would have to be duffel bags, which I feel allow for easy packing. If you risk making you bag heavy it is also possible to find duffel bags with wheels.

How to pick the right luggage offers some great advice as does this eHow article.

What is your favorite piece to travel with?

Safe travels.

Oktoberfest 2010

There are only three days left until Munich's official Oktoberfest (Sept. 17 - Oct. 04) begins with the tapping of the first beer barrel at noon on September 18. Oktoberfest lovers will be glad to hear that the celebration of beer is actually extended by two days this year. On September 17, visitors will be treated to reconstruction of Oktoberfest as it was celebrated in past centuries.

Originally, the fest celebrated the marriage Bavarian Crown Prince Ludwig's marriage to Princess Therese von Sachsen-Hildburghausen. It has now evolved into a celebration of the drink that Germany is well known for and brews in many varieties. For more info check out Oktoberfest.de.

As this is a well-known fest in Germany, especially among those who love beer, it might be a little late to make a last-minute trip to Munich. But don't worry, this is an annual event which will take place from Sept. 17 - Oct. 03. 2011 and Sept. 22 - Oct. 07. 2012. If you want to go, I recommend you start planning now.

But not to worry, Oktoberfest is celebrated world-wide. Stay tuned for more info.

Safe travels.

Latino Heritage Month in Philly

September and October are great months to be in Philadelphia (actually any month is) because they mark the celebration of Latino Heritage Month. This is a chance to get acquainted with, closer to and to celebrate the Latino culture; a celebration that can then be continued throughout the year.

There are parades, shows, art, dancing and much more as is detailed in Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month en Filadelfia.

Do you know what's happening in your area to celebrate Latinos this month?

Also, don't forget to check out the blog BeingLatino for coverage of everything Latino.

Safe travels.

Autumn travel

In many parts of the world summer is ending and the weather is getting cooler. This is one sign that fall is upon us or just around the corner. It is a time of change that expresses itself in an explosion of color, mostly red, orange and yellow.

What better time to take a road trip to experience the way your country or the world changes. You could take walk around your city park, a drive to your state park and pair that with a refreshing hike or cross state lines to compare how nature changes across the country.

If your bold and have the time and money make this comparison around the world. For trip ideas check out Fodor's or the Travel Channel.

What are your favorite places to visit in the fall?

Safe travels.

Exciting trips: surf and yoga

Have you ever come across a trip that sounds absolutely amazing and makes you want to leave immediately and start having a great time?

While this is generally true about all travel for me, I am especially excited about Holly Beck's Suave Dulce - Women's Surf & Yoga Retreat. The week-long retreat includes surfing, yoga, food and many other activities in Nicaragua. I've always wanted to surf and this seems like a great opportunity.

A similar trip is also offered in Tofino, British Colombia.

What trips or places are you excited to explore?

Safe Travels.

Philly Restaurant Week

It's that time of year when restaurants open up their doors for amazing deals during Center City District Restaurant Week.

From September 12-17 and 19-24 participating restaurants will offer three-course lunches for $20 and three-course dinners for $35. Many places also offer great happy hour deals, so take advantage and discover what the Philly restaurant scene has to offer.

I definitely plan on going to a couple restaurants and will share my experiences. If you go, please feel free to share yours.

Happy eating and safe travels.

Alternate Travel: home exchange

One step up from couch surfing is a concept called Home Exchange. In existence since 1992, it provides travelers the opportunity to stay in members' houses during their vacation.

Just as in the movie "The Holiday" (the website was featured in it) two travelers exchange their homes at the same time, saving them money on hotels. Advantages highlighted on the site are: living like a local, meeting neighbors, being able to cook for yourself, connections with exchange partners can evolve into life long friendships and many more.

While site membership is $9.95/ month for an annual unlimited membership or $15.95 for a three-month membership, the home exchange itself is free.

Safe and exciting travels.

Travel Don'ts: not speaking the language

                                      Photo Nicolle Morales Kern

How easy would it be if you could travel and not worry about expressing yourself in another language? If the prospect of creating new sounds and words doesn't appeal to you, then maybe travel is not for you.

That may sound harsh, but the whole point of traveling to a different country is to experience a new country and culture and this includes the language. A key aspect of understanding a culture is through language and if you expect tourists coming to the US to speak English, you should be willing to try at least some expressions in the local language.

Exactly for this purpose there are plenty of phrasebooks that can prepare you for your trip. It cannot be expected that you'll be fluent in the local language, but the important aspect is to make an effort. At least be able to greet people, know food phrases and directional phrases. Most locals might switch to English when they notice you're from out of town, but they will appreciate that you made an effort.

You might prefer online phrase books, for example through Rough Guides,that can easily be downloaded or a pocket guide, available through Lonely Planet, that you can easily take along wherever you go. Of course, these are not the only places to get phrase books that can also be found at your local book store or library.

If you prefer to learn a language more fluently, check out my article on where to learn languages.