"Dude, Where's My Car?", Maybe You Don't Need One

     When should you rent a car, and when should you skip one?  It really depends on where you are traveling to and what you plan on doing there.  For instance, if you plan to visit San Fransisco, Boston, New Orleans or New York, "forget about it!"  Because parking spaces in these cities are in such high demand, that you will have a very difficult time finding a lot.  And even If you can find an allusive spot, you will end up paying an outrageous amount of money for it.  Even your own hotel will charge you at least $50 a day to park.  So how can you avoid these fee's?  First, book a hotel in a centralized location. This way you can either walk to all of the major attractions or use public transportation for a small amount of money to get around.  Each of these cities has an excellent and even iconic mode of transportation. How incredible is it to say that you have traveled on New York City's subway system or on a cable car in San Fransisco.  Now if you want to travel outside of one of these cities for a day trip, then rent a car for just a day, this can minimize your costs or better yet, hook up with a guided tour. 

     Taking a guided tour, is a great way to see sites outside of a city, without providing your own means of transportation.  For example, a group tour is an excellent way to take in the wine country of Sonoma, which is just outside of San Fransisco.  Most group tours to Sonoma, will pick you up at your hotel, take you to several wineries and usually provide you with a meal or two.  This may cost a bit, around $130 per person, but it is still less than renting a car, paying for parking, gas, etc... It also allows you an opportunity to enjoy those amazing wineries without the need of a designated driver. 

     Now, if you are traveling to cities like Phoenix, Denver, Memphis, Atlanta, and Charleston, than definitely rent a car.  These cities are spread out with sites that are significantly far apart. Oh, and as an added bonus, the parking is relatively cheap in these cities, around $10 a day or less.  Thus, a rental car is by far the best way to tackle them.

     Thus, when considering to get a rental car, you need to consider your itinerary.  Are you going to travel a considerable distances or walk to the sites and restaurants you are planning on seeing? Also, how accessible is parking going to be? Can you find a lot and if so, how much will it set you back? This should help you to determine if a rental car is cost affective or not.

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Buffalo Bill: A True Legend Of The West

     Scout, showman, visionary.  William F. Cody was a man of many talents, who through his exploits became the embodiment of "The Wild West".  To get the whole story of this incredible man, we will checkout The Buffalo Bill Museum.

     About twenty minutes west of downtown Denver is Golden, Colorado and home of The Buffalo Bill Museum.  Here the wild west is still alive and well.  They have everything a fan of the old west could want, from Buffalo Bill's Calvary pistol and his flamboyant attire to posters and videos of his legendary wild west show to Annie Oakley's rifle.  Shoot, they even have Sitting Bulls head dress and peace pipe.  This exceptional museum was designed to take you through the life and adventures of Buffalo Bill.  They start with an in depth video that gets you acclimated to his life.  from here you pass through a series of displays that take you from his childhood in Kansas to his time as a Pony Express rider and his career as a big game hunter.  Wait till you see the full sized, stuffed buffalo, it is amazing!  Then you move on to displays and videos that center around his famous "Wild West Show".  This predecessor to the modern day rodeo, show cased acrobatic horseback riders, vaqueros or Mexican cowboys with their amazing lasso tricks, Native Americans dressed in traditional garb, and sharp shooters like Annie Oakley.  This show toured the East Coast and Europe in the 1880's and 1890's, captivating audiences and romanticising The Wild West.  Oh, and if you have kids, this is a great place to go.  They have western clothing to dress up in, blocks to design Indian bracelets, teepee's to play in, and many other activities that can keep the kids busy for hours.  Lastly, the museum tour ends with the grave of this iconic man.  The white quartz grave of William and Louisa Cody lies on a scenic overlook of Denver and the surrounding Rocky Mountains.  Buffalo Bill was so enamored by this majestic view of the mountains and plains, that he requested the city of Denver who owns the land, to be buried here, and in 1917 when he passed away they granted his wish.

     So if you are a fan of "The Wild West" or are eager to learn more about a true legend of the west, than come to The Buffalo Bill Museum.

The official museums website
http://www.buffalobill.org/

A great video about Buffalo Bill
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UMgA1-zCq-U

Trends In The Travel Industry For 2013

     Each year, the travel industry has specific trends that directly effect the consumer and our ability to travel.  From what I am hearing, the biggest changes this year will be a continued increase in flight and car rental prices.  As usual, the airline industry will continue to offset increases in fuel, food, and payroll by charging more per ticket.  Regretfully these expenditures progressively rise year after year and force the flight industry to raise their rates.  You will also see increases in checked baggage fees as well as rates for flying first class, second class, business, and for those roomy seats by the emergency exits.  I have even heard that some airlines might even start to charge more for window and isle seats.  Another area that you will be hit hard in this year is when you rent a car.  The extra insurance that you pay for your rental car will increase substantially.  Insurance companies are pressed to make up for the colossal losses they suffered at the hands of "Super Storm Sandy" and thus will charge its clients more for that additional insurance.  Also, keep your eyes open for a merger between American Airlines and US Airways.  There is a strong possibility that this may happen around the middle of the year.  That snazzy new paint job and improved logo for American Airlines is not just a coincidence.  Of course, if you want to fly somewhere this year, book early.  Now through April will be the cheapest time to go, minus the two weeks around spring break (middle of March), next week to New Orleans when the Super Bowl comes to town and avoid all of those cute newlyweds in Las Vegas around Valentines Day.  If you want to sip an incredible cafe con leche in one of those adorable European cafes than go before May when prices will be relatively low to Europe.  If you are yearning to feel that powdery white sand of The Caribbean, than go in September, but don't forget that cancellation insurance.  Hurricanes have a real knack for ruining a perfectly good trip.  Lastly, if you want to hear those iconic bells of "Big Ben" than grab your umbrella and head over the pond in September.  With all the excitement of The Royal Wedding, The Diamond Jubilee, and The Olympics wrapping up, the prices for London should be back to normal and relatively cheap in September and October.  Oh, and if you want to get away before the New Year, leave between November 27th and December 12th.  This way, you can take advantage of the drop in prices during the gap between the holidays.  I hope that this will give you an idea of the big trends for travel in 2013.

A Forbes by Andrew Bender discussing the makeover of American Airlines
http://www.forbes.com/sites/andrewbender/2013/01/21/american-airlines-makeover-design-pros-weigh-in/

A Taste Of The Rockies: The New Belgium Brewing Company

     This week I am at The New Belgium Brewing Company in Fort Collins, Colorado.  This is the third largest craft brewery in America, supplying twenty nine states with their absolutely amazing products, and a true Mecca for beer fans everywhere.  New Belgium is the birth place of Abbey Ale, Ranger I.P.A., the iconic Fat Tire, and a plethora of other incredible offerings.  These Belgium inspired beverages are the brain child of Jeff Lebesch.  Back in 1989, Jeff was on a self-guided bike tour through Belgium, when he found his life's calling.  He was completely blown away by the incredible beers that he encountered.  They were so different from what was on the market at the time.  These  amber beauties had suddle fruit flavors and impeccable depth. Things that mainstream beers completely lacked.  When he returned to America, he pursued his new found destiny and fulfilled every American man's dream, by creating a micro brewery in his basement!  From these humble beginnings, began this Coloradan institution.

     Over the last two decades, the brewery has grown like a tomato on Miracle Grow.  It currently produces over 750 bottles and 300 cans per minute and employs over 400 fun loving beer enthusiasts.  If you ever wanted to see the beer making process close up, than take their free and highly enjoyable tour, which is rated by Trip Advisor as the best brewery tour in America.  How could it not be?  With charismatic and knowledgeable tour guilds, six free beers to savor and a two story corkscrew slide to ride down to conclude the tour; what more could you ask for!  If you are planning on taking the tour, call ahead and make reservations.  It is so popular, that they have a waiting list of six weeks to get in.

     So if you ever wanted to see how a bike ride through Belgium turned a beer enthusiast's dream into a life changing reality, or if  you simply want to enjoy some incredible beer for free, than come to The New Belgium Brewing Company in Fort Collins, Colorado.  You will be glad you did!

The official site for all things New Belgium:

http://www.newbelgium.com/glass-that-gives.aspx

New Belgium promotional clips created by those truly fun loving beer crafts men and women:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SE6FbZyO39M&list=UUmExxFgFUa8S8K4-RlJvO8g&index=6

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aKImb25b3M8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jd3DdXSfwK8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PxPxsbZw-8M

How To Avoid Regret By Missing A Site

      Have you ever dreamed of seeing an amazing museum or an incredible cathedral, only to miss out because they were not open on the day you were going to visit it.  This tragedy can happen to anyone if they have not done the proper research.  For instance, on my first trip to Florence, I was so busy hoping from museum to museum, that I miss judged the day that The Museum of San Marco was open and missed the chance to see this magnificent monastery.  I have to say that I was extremely disappointed that I did not get the opportunity to see the sensational work of Fra Angelico. Do not let this happen to you.  The best way to avoid this debacle is to do your research.  Find a good, up to date guild book, this way you are equipped with the most up to date information possible.  This will give you a very good idea, what hours and days that they are open.  Checking out a museums website, is another way to obtain this valuable information.  Finally, if this site is an intricate part of your trip, then call ahead to verify  the dates and times the place will be open and if you need a reservation to get in.  This may seem like a trivial thing, but many museums and churches have a tendency to change their hours or to close temporarily for renovations.  So plan ahead, this way you can be prepared for these untimely schedule changes.  Also, if at all possible make a reservation as soon as possible.  This way you won't miss out because the site was booked up.  My devoted readers may have noticed a slight change in this months articles.  I was originally going to visit a Van Gohe exhibit but was surprised to find out that it was booked up more than a month in advanced.  What a disappointment!  So as any travel writer would do, I  found the next best thing.  I decided to showcase another amazing innovator.  Granted that Van Gogh definitely has the name and prestige, but Clyfford Still also dramatically changed the art world in his own right.  So if you do happen to miss seeing one of those truly monumental sites, than try to find a suitable replacement for it.  This way you do not have to go home and be over whelmed with regret.  For me, I went to Santa Maria Novella.  The work here was not as magnificent as Fra Angelico's but I was still able to see a wonderful example of Pre-Renaissance art.  So by planning ahead, you may be able to avoid these types of set backs and get to experience these wonderful sites.

Fra Angelico:
http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=fra+angelico&qpvt=fra+angelico&FORM=IGRE

Santa Maria Novella:
http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=santa+maria+novella&qpvt=santa+maria+novella&FORM=IGRE

The Clyfford Still Museum: An Example Of A True American Innovator

     I am standing in front of a ginormous canvas covered by thick vertical lines of crimson and bright orange with dark black splotches of black intermixed.  Some may call this a failed attempt at a home improvement project, while others might call this a brilliant example of the eternal struggle of life and death.  It truly depends on your perspective and how you interpret the artists intentions.  This is the world of Abstract Impressionism and one of its founding fathers, Clyfford Still.  The Clyfford Still Museum was built in 2011 and show cases the works of this amazing innovator.  In fact, the museum possess over 2,000 pieces, which constitutes around 94 percent of the work that Clyfford Still produced over his life time.  This is the single largest collection of any major artist's work in the world.  The museum is a study in all things Clyfford Still, with an informative video about the artists life, an interactive displays that discuss the influencing factors that shaped his style and an extensive gallery, featuring his most profound work.  The upper gallery begins with his early period, which is heavily influenced by his agrarian upbringing in North Dakota.  Here you can see the metamorphosis of his style as it evolved.  It gradually changed from photo realism like Grant Wood and his iconic "American Gothic" to Cubism reminiscent of Picasso and his "Guernica" to the the final incarnation of Abstract Impressionism.  Similar to his contemporaries, the atrocities of World War II left him searching for a style to express the new era.  Still began to use form and design to represent his ideas and concepts.  He once described the dabs of paint and the nonsensical brush strokes as "my paintings have rising forms of vertical necessity of life dominating the horizon.  For such a land man must stand up right, if he would live.  And so born and become intrinsic this elemental characteristic of my life's work."  His style was so revolutionary and cutting edge, that Jackson Pollock once remarked that "compared to Clyfford Still, all other artists are pure academic."  To prove this point, Still began to utilize less and less canvas and consequentially making blank canvas an essential part of the composition.  By the end of his life, Clyfford Still was considered by most art critics as a true genius and thus in 1979 had the largest one man exhibition in art history at The Metropolitan Art Museum.  So if you are interested in experiencing the work of a true artistic master, than you should  come to The Clyfford Still Museum and be prepared to be amazed.

The Clyfford Still Museum:
https://www.clyffordstillmuseum.org/

Images of Clyfford Still's work:
http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=clyfford+still&qpvt=clyfford+still&FORM=IGRE

Images of Grant Wood, and the types of art that Still was rebelling against:
http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=Grant+Wood&qs=n&form=QBIR

Great Itineraries Denver

     Denver Colorado has always held a special place in my heart.  I was born and raised here as well as still to this day call it home.  It is a large city with over million residents, yet has a very small time feel.  Denver is well blessed with world class museums, great amusement parks, a top notch zoo, a highly regarded theater scene, and amazing restaurants.  The place also has a plethora of exceptional sports teams with a tradition of winning.  The Broncos and Avalanche have won two world titles each and The Rockies have been to a pair of World Series in the last decade.  If you enjoy outdoor activities, then this is the place for you!  We are minutes away from some of the best hiking, fishing, golf, and mountain biking in the world.  During the winter, Denver makes a great base camp for those world class ski resorts, which are less than an hours drive away.  Let's not forget about Red Rocks Ampitheater.  There is nothing like seeing a concert or a movie during there "Film On The Rocks" Series in this magnificent venue.  If you have the chance to check out this spectacular city, definitely do so.  It will absolutely captivate your mind with adventure and steal your heart with it's suddle charm.

Day 1

• 9:00 A.M.     Visit The Denver Art Museum
• 11:00 A.M.   Stroll around Civic Center Park
• 12:00 P.M.    Lunch
• 1:00 P.M.      For more art buffs visit The Clyfford Still Museum
•                       For history aficionados, head over to the Museum of Nature and Science                        or The Colorado History Museum
•                       For those wildlife fans, check out The Denver Zoo or The Aquarium
• 5:00 P.M.      Window shop The 16th Street Mall
• 7:00 P.M.      Grab a cocktail and enjoy some food at one of the chic restaurants in LoDo

Day 2

• 9:00 A.M.      Head to Red Rocks Amphitheater and admire the incredible rock formations
• 11:00 A.M.    For prehistoric fun, check out Dinosaur Ridge and it's informative museum
• 1:00 P.M.      Eat lunch in the adorable little mountain town of Morrison
• 2:00 P.M.      Drive to the top of Lookout Mountain for some spectacular views.
• 2:30 P.M.      Pay homage to a Western legend, Buffalo Bill, by seeing his grave and museum
• 4:00 P.M.      Head to Genessee to see it's buffalo herds close up
• 7:00 P.M.      Finish your day off with a nice diner in the quaint town of Golden

Day 3
This day will depend on the type of activities you want to partake in, but if you are here for more than three days do more than one to truly have a well rounded trip to "The Mile High City"

•  For a great drive, head to the top of Mt. Evans, a 16,000 ft. peak and stop by Idaho Springs for window shopping and a truly memorable meal
• For an amazing hike go to either St. Mary's Glacier or Roxbourgh State Park
• Take in a game at Mile High Stadium, The Pepsi Center or Coors Field
• For a more cultured experience, check out Denver's incredible symphony, or a play at our great cultural arts complex

Official site for Denver
http://www.denver.org/

Denver sports organizations and ticket information:
The Denver Broncos
http://www.denverbroncos.com/

The Colorado Avalanche
http://avalanche.nhl.com/

The Denver Nuggets
http://www.nba.com/nuggets/

The Colorado Rockies
http://colorado.rockies.mlb.com/index.jsp?c_id=col

For theater, opera, and symphony:
Denver Performing Arts Center
http://www.denvercenter.org/Home.aspx

Museums:
Denver Museum of Nature and Science
http://www.dmns.org/

Children's Museum of Denver
http://www.mychildsmuseum.org/

Denver Art Museum
http://denverartmuseum.org/

Clyfford Still Museum
https://www.clyffordstillmuseum.org/

Buffalo Bills Museum and Grave
http://www.buffalobill.org/

Wildlife:
Denver Zoo
http://denverzoo.org/

Downtown Aquarium
http://www.aquariumrestaurants.com/downtownaquariumdenver/default.asp

Butterfly Pavilion
http://butterflies.org/

Shopping:
http://www.denver.com/16th-street-mall/

How To Save A Buck On Those Adorable Boutique Hotels

     Did you know that in many boutique hotels you can bargain on your hotel rates?  It is true, especially when staying abroad.  In fact, I have done this several times throughout my travels and have saved a bunch on my stays.  If you plan on staying in a boutique or family owned establishment, try bargaining on the rates when booking.  I usually offer to pay about 10 to 20 percent less than their asking price.  If they are not filled up, than they may drop their rates to avoid a vacancy.  This strategy is very effective in the off season, when hotels really have a difficult time filling up all of their rooms.  Another way of taking advantage of this, is to show up in the late afternoon and simply ask.  If they know that they will have left over rooms, than they will be more inclined to give you a discount.  If you plan on doing this, have a couple of alternative hotels in mind, just in case your first choice is already booked.  Finally offer to pay cash for your room.  Many hotels will give you a 15 to 20 percent reduced rate by paying in cash, instead of by credit card.  This way hotels do not have to pay the tax's on your money.  These are just a few easy ways to save some money on that next trip.

Red Rocks

     As I sit here on steps of Red Rocks Amphitheater, I cannot help but feel in awe at how magnificent the place truly is.  To think that this where almost every major music act of the last 65 years has preformed.  Everyone from The Beatles to U2 have dawn this red flagstone covered stage, and can you blame them?  The place is simply amazing, with it's incredible rock formations and majestic views of the Denver cityscape and of The Rocky Mountains; the place is simply sublime! 

     For many locals and visitors to Denver, Red Rocks is a must see.  It lays at the base of Mt. Morrison in the foot hills only minutes from downtown and offers a plethora of reasons to check it out.  As you enter the park, these natural rock formations will immediately grab your attention. They are absolutely, legendary.  These red and orange sandstone monoliths were created during the Jurassic period, about a 150 million years ago and are still breath taking. From the main entrance you begin to transverse the mountain and zig zag through jaggedy cliffs and eroded clumps of orange stone that are reminiscent of Arizona.  As you reach the summit, you see the amphitheater emerge from the stones.  This theater was created by The Civilian Conservation Corps during the 1930's and took five years to complete.  The place is strategically surrounded by rock formations, which provides incredible acoustics for its performers.  You can try them out for yourself, since the theater is open year round and completely accessible to the public.  What could be better than to stand in the exact same place as Jimi Hendrix or Tom Petty did as they wowed tens of thousands of eager on lookers. 

     When you get to Red Rocks, make sure to swing by it's Visitor Center.  The place has several fascinating exhibits on the formation of the site, the fossils discovered while it was under construction and an interactive Rock-N-Roll museum.  They have several TV monitors running footage of past performances from the last 65 years as well as an extensive collection of memorabilia ranging from James Taylor's guitar to original play bill by The Police to a t-shirt from Ozzy Osbourne.  It has sometime for everyone who enjoys music.

     The best part of Red Rocks and it's amphitheater is that it is completely free!  That is if they don't have a show playing.  So you can head to this Denver landmark anytime and see it for yourself.  Many people come for it's roughed hiking trails or to simply run up and down it's many flights of stairs, at 6,400 feet above Sea Level, it is a great place to get in a good work out.  Or you could simply bring a sack lunch and enjoy some fresh mountain air.  Either way, a great time is easily had.  Of course, there is nothing like seeing a concert here in this epic setting, which I highly recommend.  It will be one of those truly unforgettable memories that you can pass on to your grand kids.  Oh, and for those film buffs out there, they offer there "Film On The Rocks" series.  Once a week, during the summer, they show a classic movie on the big screen.  In past years, they have had such flicks as "Dirty Dancing", "When Harry Met Sally", "Ghost Busters" and "Monty Python and The Holy Grail", just to name a few.  What a great way to spend some quality family fun time with the kids!  So the next time you come to Denver, take a small side trip to Red Rocks and experience a true American icon!

The official website and for tickets:

http://www.redrocksonline.com/

Live concert footage from Red Rocks Amphitheater:

U2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jv51LO7NOTo

Mumford and Sons
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1UeMt4Pyuz4

Backstage of Red Rocks:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RvX4hZHxvgU

Images of Red Rocks:
http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=Red+Rocks+Colorado&FORM=RESTAB

When Can George Still Hold His Own?

     It may surprise some people, but you can actually use U.S. currency in many parts of the world.  This is because the U.S. Dollar has an exceptional exchange rate with other local currencies, in spite of our recent economic recession.  For instance,  if you travel to India you will receive 45 Rupees for every Dollar you exchange.  The same can be said for Jamaica, so the next time you are lounging around on a beach in Negril, you will get 72 Jamaican Dollars for ever buck that you want to exchange.  Thus, people in these countries will gladly accept your currency in place of their own.  This is also true for numerous nations in the Caribbean, and South America as well as throughout Africa and Asia.  In fact, one time in Montego Bay, I tried to tip a porter in Jamaican Dollars and to my surprise, tossed it back to me.  The Porter said that this was worthless and that American money was what he wanted!  At the time I thought that this was the strangest thing, but as I have traveled more, I have found that this attitude towards U.S. Currency to be very prevalent.  One extreme example of this is Zimbabwe, where they require you to use your own currency instead of their own.  This is because, the Zimbabwean Dollar has been devalued to nothing.  If you ever get to check out Victoria Falls, you can buy a Trillion Dollar note as a souvenir.  Other nations like The Bahamas and Bermuda have linked their currency to the U.S. Dollar.  Thus, a Bahama Dollar and a U.S. Dollar are equal in value when you are in a restaurant in Nassau but make sure you exchange those Bahama Dollars before you return to the states.  Because they are not interchangeable when you get to the main land. 

     So is there any other advantage to use Dollars instead of another local currency when traveling in some of the more less economically gifted nations of the world?  Convince of course.  This way you can avoid exchanging money at an Exchange booth or picking up some at an ATM.  Also, it might allow you an opportunity to avoid switching money in the airport when returning home.  One thing that you need to remember when using U.S. Currency abroad is that you will spend more on items than if you use the local money.  This occurs, because most shop clerks will round your bill up to make the conversion easier.  Also, by not using the local currency, you will miss out on the fun and cultural experience that comes from using a unique type of money.  Finally some of the locals may not take your strange currency because they are unfamiliar with it.  You will find this more prevalent in more rural areas and in remote locations.  This is why I always try to have at least some local money with me in case an emergency does arise.  In fact, I prefer to use local currency over mine own but for many travelers, it is more convenient to stick with their money from home.

     This usage of United States Currency abroad is limited to countries with weakened economies but for nations with robust economies like The European Union, Great Britain, Australia, and Canada, you will have to use their currencies.

January's Letter To The Readers

To our devote Reader,

     New Year's is a time to look back and reminisce on the events that have shaped the previous year.  For most Americans it has been a year of good times and bad.  We have had a magnificent Olympics, a great presidential election (I was on the fence till the end) and an amazing year in film (The Hobbit, Les miserables, 007, The Avengers, Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter, and the list goes on and on).  We also have endured great tragedys like Hurricane Sandy and several horrific shootings.  This year has sure had its ups and downs.  For me it has been a great year.  I have been tapas hoping in the Gothic Quarter in Barcelona, I got to ride an elephant to an abandon palace in the desert of west India, and I was able to soak up the sun on a beach in Ipanema.  it has definitely been a very memorable year.

      So as we look ahead to the up coming year I hope to keep bringing you interesting stories of my travels and provide you with tips to make that next trip incredible.  This month, I plan on featuring articles about my home town of Denver, Colorado and the plethora of activities that the place has in abundance.  I will take you the the majestic rock formations of Red Rock, share with you the innovative art of Vincent Van Gogh and have a pint of ale at one of the many micro brews that "The Mile High City" has to offer.

     From all of us at The Thrifty Adventurer, we hope that 2013 will be a year full of memorable moments, good times, and magnificent trips.  Above all else, we hope that you will have a Happy New Years!

Christopher Morrison
Writer and Editor of
The Thrifty Adventurer