Trip 1:  Topsail Island, North Carolina.  I know I have told you all about this little gem of a beach town in the past.  I just cannot get enough of it.  In fact, I hope that I will one day be able to retire there.  The beaches are clean and gorgeous.  The water is clear and perfect.  Oh and who does not love a small beach town?  The locals are laid back and friendly, and they should be because they live in paradise.

Trip 2:  New York City.  So the husband still has not been to the Big Apple.  I know, I know, what kind of wife who loves traveling does not show her husband around such an incredible city?  Apparently, this one.  But I am making every effort to correct that this year.  Get ready New York, New York!

Trip 3:  San Jose, California.  The last time I was in San Jose was too long ago.  I am ready to go back for a few days and just have some fun.  I’m thinking during that trip we will also take a few days to spend in San Francisco and then more days in Napa Valley.  Okay, that is like three trips in one, but I feel better just calling it one trip.

Do you have any big traveling plans for 2012?  I hope you are planning at least one trip for your own sanity!  Remember it is so important to get away for a while so you do not go crazy.  Plus you will definitely feel better.

The storage room in it is impressive, and it is durable and can be carried in so many ways.  If there is someone or many people in your life who travels often for work, play, or both, then this is one of the greatest gift ideas ever.  Take a look at how amazing it is, and I think you might even end up getting one for yourself.  Honestly, I love it!

• Keep kids entertained.  When your kids are entertained and preoccupied, they are less likely to get into mischief and trouble in the car ride, airport, or on the airplane.  Make sure that you pack a bag full of things that will keep them busy.  You can even let your kids help you pack so that they will have what they want to keep their brains busy.  Just make sure that if any of the items are devices that make noise to bring along headphones.
• Keep kids from getting hungry and thirsty.  Along with all of the goodies that will keep your kids entertained during the travels, make sure that you have some snacks and drinks for them just in case.  If traveling on a plane, you will get drinks on board.  For other travels bring some small drinks.
• Dress kids appropriately.  Wherever you are going, make sure that your kids are already dressed and ready to go when you hop off the plane or out of the car.  Layer up to make sure that they are comfortable when making the trip but add or take away when you get to your destination with ease.
• Make sure kids know the rules.  If you are flying, make sure that you explain security measures and regulations before getting in line.  That way your kids will know what they can expect.

Search online for places to stay.  There are a few sites that are dedicated to providing you with pet-friendly places to stay.  From bed and breakfasts to spas and resorts, you can look at all the offers for pet owners.  PetTravel.com is one of those databases where you can enter the area you are traveling to and receive a list of places to stay with your dog.  Also, if you use a specific company for rentals and things like that, they should be able to provide you with a list of only pet-friendly houses and condos.

Make sure that your pet has proper identification at all times.  When you are traveling and after you have reached your destination you have to be absolutely certain that your pets have their ID tag with current information clearly listed.  The idea of your pet getting loose is bad enough, but it is even worse in an area he isn’t familiar with and while you are on vacation.

If you are traveling by car, stop for plenty of potty breaks.  Just like you don’t want to hold it when traveling, your pet doesn’t want to either.  Let your pet stretch his legs, get some water, and go potty at regular intervals.

Traveling with your pet is fun and exciting.  Just make sure that you are doing all that you can to ensure it is an all-around great time for you, your family, and your pet.

The Blue Ridge Parkway in the Blue Ridge mountains of NC has visitor stops all along it so that you can pull your car over and look out into the mountains and valleys that are abundant with brightly fall colored leaves.  This is a trip that I look so forward to every year, and if you ever have the opportunity to do some traveling to see beautiful fall foliage, I recommend doing it.

Other places that I have seen in the fall that I would recommend include:  Acadia National Park in Maine, Oak Mountain State Park in Alabama, and Columbia River Gorge in Oregon.

To show you a little piece of what it looks like in the Blue Ridge Mountains, I have included a video for you.  I hope you enjoy it, and I hope you have safe travels for the fall season.

So, while the hubby plans the elaborate details of the trip to the “city so nice they named it twice–its other name is Manhatten” (thank you, Michael Scott) I am just wandering around on the old interwebs looking at fun information.  I did find this funny and informative infographic about the TSA that I’ll post here for your viewing pleasures.  Mainly it is the cartoon images that crack me up, but it has some useful information for you travelers out there.

When you finally have the opportunity to take a week long holiday, then the last thing you really want to worry about is packing for a trip.  The thing is that you must pack, period.  And if you’re like me, then you are the one who takes on the role of packing not just for yourself, but for the whole family.  There are definitely a few ways that you can make your packing much easier.  This way, you will not find yourself procrastinating until the very last minute and throwing items into suitcases.  Typically when that is the case, you will forget a multitude of necessities.  It can be costly to have to simply pick up all kinds of little needs while you are vacationing.  So, follow these tips and you will certainly be a packing genius, having all you need and more without using up more space, and staying organized and on top of things.

Think About It.  There is nothing worse than the night before a trip starts that you find yourself scrambling around looking to get together all of the clothes, toiletries, and more that you require for your week away from home.  Plan in advance to get ready for your trip a few days prior to the date that you are planning on leaving for vacation.  That means write it down in your calendar.  If you set up a date to pack up with plenty of time in advance, then you most likely will not end up procrastinating.

Plan It Out.  Lists are a great way to make sure that you have all of the essentials that you and your family will need while away.  Put down numbers of clothing items that you or the family member will need so that you stay on track and do not pack too much or too little of one or more things.  Also, if you plan it out and stick to it a few days in advance, then you have a couple days to make sure that you got everything you needed.

Check Off.  Check off your list, twice.  It is so important to make sure that you are not without certain clothes or toiletries that you must have.  Be sure to include things that you may not need, but might.  Things like medicine and the sort.

If you plan out your packing, then you will surely make sure that everyone has what they will need and more during the whole week.  Simple!

We made our reservations to stay at the Inn on Biltmore Estate.  The Inn is listed every year as one of the top hotels in the entire world.  There is an accompanying spa, a library where you can enjoy tea, and much more.  The service we found from the initial phone call was indeed superior, and after booking our stay, we were so anxious to get there to relax and enjoy all that Biltomre has to offer.

Was we arrived, we were greeted by the front desk staff within seconds and we were made to feel very welcomed.  We decide to start the trip off right with a massage at the spa.  The spa is one of the most beautiful I have ever visited, and we both fell in love with it.  The massage was fantastic, and after all of the relaxation, we had dinner reservations later for the dining room at the Inn.  The menu was created and inspired by the vision of supporting small farming operations and sustaining agriculture that George Vanderbilt had carried with him.  We started the meal with their crab stuffed morel mushrooms, and local asparagus.  My husband ordered the naturally raised spring lamb loin, and chose the local red heritage chicken.  The flavors of everything were so rich and wonderful.  We loved it all.  We topped off the night with a nice glass of Sherry and a chocolate torte.

The next morning, we awoke feeling refreshed and renewed.  Breakfast was delivered to our room, and we opened the bottle of champagne that was in our room upon arrival for mimosas.  Like dinner the night before, the breakfast was perfect.  The fruit selections were fresh and tasty.  After our first meal, we were set up to tour the home.  As a child I spent my summers in Asheville, so I have frequently visited the Biltmore House, but each time I go, I find something new and intriguing about the incredible home.  My husband and I spent the rest of the day touring the home and the grounds, and we also visited the winery.  After the tours, we enjoyed dinner at the bistro.

The next day, leaving was difficult, but we both had a fantastic time staying on the grounds.  It was a trip that we will always remember, and we just may keep doing it every year from now on.

There are not a ton of things and activities to do on the island.  There are a few restaurants, all of them very tasty, and there is a museum that reveals the history behind Topsail Beach.  Topsail Beach also boasts the Sea Turtle Hospital, where sea turtles are rescued and rehabbed.  The endangered loggerhead sea turtle uses Topsail Island as a nesting ground.  You can visit the hospital and see the turtles being help during the summer.   There are quaint shops where you can find rare and unique treasures too, and don’t forget the miniature golf for the little ones.

A big reason that we go to Topsail each year is because of the fishing.  There are three fishing piers on the entire island.  The Sea View Pier is in North Topsail Beach, The Surf City Pier, Surf City, and the Jolly Roger pier is in Topsail Beach.  The great thing about it being an island is you can also fish on the sound.  That’s right, you get the relaxing sounds of breaking waves on one side of the island, and just a few blocks over, you get the calm and beautiful waters of the sound.  To fish in the area, you will need to have a saltwater fishing license.

If you are looking for some local fare, then you do have some selection.  Daddy Mac’s in Surf City offers seafood specials.  There is a back deck where you can enjoy your food and watch the sunset over the ocean.  On the opposite side, the Intracoastal Waterway side that is, you can partake in some Beauchaines 211.  The grilled local yellow fin tuna is outstanding.  If you’re looking for fresh caught, and you aren’t afraid to get a little down and dirty, then head to the local fish market and get some crab legs, shrimp, potatoes, and corn.  Boil it all together in a big boil pot with plenty of old bay seasoning, and serve it all with a lot of butter.  That is some of the best North Carolina seafood eating you can find.

The thing that really keeps my husband coming back to Topsail Island, aside from the fishing, is that it truly gives us a break from the fast-paced world we live in, and allows us to be us.  Only we’re the chilled and laid-back version of us when we’re on Topsail.