September 4, 2016 - September: The Best Month to Travel to 6 Great Destinations AND the reality of being back in LA

Elisa's Daily Scoop

Yay - September!

Well, hello from Long Island!

We are supposed to be feeling the weather affects of Hurricane Hermine, this Sunday, which is making its way up the Atlantic coast. However, it's sunny as heck out. We'll see if it hits or take a turn.

As Tanya is probably enjoying her first full day with the family out in SoCal, I'll be doing much of the same with our usual Italian Sunday dinner.

I have the sauce on (yes, in our family it's sauce, not gravy) and we'll be enjoying some delicious pasta later.

While I sit here, with my cuddly puppy Punkin, next to me. it finally hit me that Summer is officially over this weekend. While a part of me is sad to say goodbye, I have to tell you, I truly LOVE the Fall!

September is one of my favorite months. And while I hate parting with my girlies as they head back to school, there's something exciting about starting the new season.

It also happens to be one of the best months for travel.
 
Why?
  
* Less Crowds 
Back to school time and people headed back to work, means less crowds to enjoy your destination.
* Great Weather 
No snow yet in the north; the south is cooling down and a great time to experience some of the year's most beautiful weather.
* Good Deals
Most hotels reduce their rates by 20%

And based on these facts, here are a five of my picks for September travel.  

With plenty of time to plan out and book your vacay for next Fall for certain destinations, others listed below are great for spur of the moment getaways this month. 

Mouth Rushmore (credit:tripadvisor.com)

1. Mount Rushmore, South Dakota
This is a place that I've been talking about going with my Auntie Ro recently.  She actually sent me some information last week, and I'm pretty sure, I'm going to get it on the calendar for me, her and the girls for next September.

Sure, I'll have to take them out for a few days, but when you consider that more than half of the 2.8 million people who visit Mount Rushmore every year go in June, July and August, September looks better and better!

(credit: wdwprepschool.com)

2. Disney World, Orlando, Florida
I think this is pretty much a no-brainer.  Kids back to school - less traffic in the parks - good time to visit!  

Now, I've always been an advocate of taking my kids out of school for a few days in an effort to travel without the crowds.  If you are so inclined as well OR if you are looking to spend a fun, adult trip in the land of the mouse - this is a great time of year to visit.

In fact, Free Disney Dining Plan is a promotion Walt Disney World offers every year for select dates in the fall and winter.  Generally, you need to book by July.
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The Great Wall of China, Beijing, China (c)travelincousins.com

3. Beijing, China
I am very happy to know that there is a good-weather time to visit Beijing!

When I toured 25 years ago in May, it was a combination of hot and humid in the day and cool in the evening. Their winters are bitterly cold and snowy, which is not very inviting for travel.

But according to all accounts, September offers the best weather. Crowd-wise, you are never really going to get away from those when traveling to Beijing, since the city boasts a population of about 20 million.  

However, September does have less tourists than summer and the good news is the hotel rooms are cheaper then, as well.
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4. Paris
Most would agree, there is never a bad time to visit Paris!  I've been there during the hottest days of summer and the crisp, cold ones of early Spring.

However, September brings with it, not only the pleasant weather, but, the returning Parisians to the city from their annual holiday in August.

With many of the shops closed in August, the city is awakened in September and there are still a number of outdoor events to enjoy.

While Paris is never a bargain, airfares and hotel rates dip a bit starting in September.
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The Catskills, New York (c)yeahthatskosher.com

5.  The Catskills, New York
If you are looking to stay closer to home, rather than globe trot in September, may I suggest the Catskills in upstate New York

Located just a few hours drive from New York City, the area is an ideal escape for a weekend getaway.

From skiing to fishing, shopping to hiking, the Catskills has something for everyone.  The drive there is also full of color in the fall with the foliage as well as great farm stands to stop at along the way with fresh local fruits and vegetables.

 
Back to today...when I went outside this morning to let Punkin do her business, I couldn't believe how lovely it was!  The air was very cool and crisp, the sun was (and still is) shining and I found it hard to believe that we are awaiting a storm.

I think I'm going to take advantage of the weather (while it lasts) and go for a nice long walk.

Don't forget to catch up with Tanya!
​TTFN

-E
xoxo

Tanya's Daily Scoop
NEXT TRIP DEPARTS IN: 20 DAYS

Tanya aka Clark Griswold?

I'm back home. I'm finally back and the kids couldn't be happier!

By the time we got home, Dave and I were a bit exhausted (whether we realized it or not).

We had woke up at 4:35am - 8:35pm the night before in local time. We checked out of our hotel and then traveled traveled traveled from Inverness to Manchester (which I had originally planned on escaping and taking a looksie - but opted it was still too early in the morning to do so).

We said our Good Byes to Europe - see you again in February! 
Then an 11 hour non-stop flight from Manchester, UK to Los Angeles, CA. ​

The flight ws rather comfortable, but neither of us really slept all that much. And our requested vegan meals had been all screwed up and never made it on board!! 

​The flight crew went out of their way to be sure that we were fed and put together as best they can enough food from their own crew meal sources.
​We certainly didn't go hungry and couldn't believe the generosity.

What caring individuals that serve for Thomas Cook airlines!

There is a full on layer of SMOG!

As we were coming in for our landing, I couldn't help but notice just how UGLY, truly UGLY the Los Angeles area really is...
it is nothing but an industrial wasteland of concrete, cars, structures, and smog - lots of gross smog.

We had just come from the glorious wilderness and cities that are actually surrounded by land - grassy and green land and now back to this. YUCK.

Once we actually landed and were off the jet, it was time to go through customs.
I can't tell you how FAST this was, as we were literally swept through after using the fairly new fully automated Border Clearance.
Fastest ever! This, I was definitely happy about.

Next it was time to gather our luggage and go catch our shuttle.

Well upon arriving at home Mr. Ponypants (for those of you who don't know - Dave's nickname is Birdwald Ponypants) became Mr. Negative Nelly. 

I was so happy that we didn't have any arguments while we were away traveling, but this immediate attitude at home was rather disturbing.
He offered to assist me with my carry-on roller board and then did nothing but complain about how many bags we had - for the record I used each and everything that I packed and so did he!

He complained about how he hates traveling and so on and so on...I assume you know the type?!

Well, once in the shuttle and on our way to the OC, I got to thinking about the next trip on my calendar...this should be of no surprise to you - you know I am addicted! 

We'll be heading back to NY in under 3 weeks, visiting some family, spending time in the Big Apple, and then off to Florida for some Disney and Universal time with friends and family that will be joining in on fun filled few weeks, which will also include a cruise to the Bahamas.

I sure do hope that Dave and Cosette don't get sea-sick this time around!
Hurricane Cruisin' & Key West Kraziness 

But one thing that I still needed to take care of was booking our stay for the trip after that one - the one to beautiful Mendocino. So while making our way back to the house, I was busy reserving our lovely accommodations at the Stanford Inn.

Related reading:
M is for May and May is for The Millennium and Mendocino!

Then we arrived. And just as soon as the front door had opened the welcoming committee had all gathered round and I was bombarded with HUGS, lots and lots of hugs and love going around!

Making our way into the family room I could tell that my little 5yo Chaplin was patiently vying for something. Her souvenirs of course!

And no sooner had she mentioned to me that her dad, mom and herself were wondering if I brought back any gifts...(sure "they" were) lol she is soooooo funny!

It was time to break into the packed bags and start handing out the few presents that I did actually manage to pick up.
I really didn't spend all that much time shopping on this trip - it just wasn't in the schedule and then for the last bit of our trip we were out on the Outer Hebrides islands - and that is just not the land of commercialism - to say the least. Which is a very good thing.

​The hours had past pretty swiftly and it was just about dinner time. There was no way that I was cooking, and the plans were to go eat at Freesoul Caffe - and I was really looking forward to it!
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Freesoul Caffe

Jet, Andrew, and Chaplin came along to dinner, I told stories mainly from the cycling portion of our trip and got the gang really laughing in hysterics at all of my cycling misfortunes.
Jet now sees me as the Chevy Chase character Clark Griswold from the series of National Lampoon's Vacation Movies. LMAO but I kinda can see it too!

We ordered tons and racked up quite a bill. But dinner was just delish and I had been looking forward to eating at Freesoul for a while (I just couldn't find a good place in my calendar for it). 

Then back home and the gang wanted to show me a new TV series that they're now hooked on, but it was clear that I was gonna be dozing off and needed to go to bed.

By this point I had already been up for 25+hrs and it was time to say Good-Night!

You'll never believe what's on todays schedule...
NOTHING - aside from our weekly BIG Sunday night dinner with the Family (as Elisa is also doing back in NY).
So it's back into the kitchen I go.

Then aside from that we are gonna wing it.

I don't have days like this - I must've gone mad!

Tune in tomorrow for more updates from our Magical Anniversary Trip and then find out what I come up with for today..

Why have a good one, when you can have a GREAT one!!

Tootles,
​-T