There are many different types of travel insurance out there. You can pretty much get a policy for anything. Here are some of the most popular types:

Travel medical insurance: Your domestic health insurance probably doesn’t cover you outside of the country of residence. So if you are planning on traveling abroad and are concerned about the possibility of needing medical attention, you should check your policy.

Medical Evacuation insurance: Most often provides medical coverage, air evacuation services, including medical transportation to the nearest adequate medical facility and then home if warranted. This is a good one to consider since the transportation can often be thousands of dollars alone.

Trip cancellation or interruption insurance: the best kind to have if you are planning on going on a cruise or taking a trip abroad. This will cover you in the case of hurricanes or inclement weather, if you miss a flight or miss your cruise.

Baggage insurance: how often do people go on a trip and lose their luggage? It’s a pretty common occurrence and has probably happened to you a few times. Some insurance policies will cover lost or delayed baggage up to $1,000. It’s always important to not check expensive items if possible. Also, check your home insurance policy first before purchasing this insurance as it may be covered.

Car Rental Travel insurance: This is your basic full coverage insurance when renting a car. You usually get this when you pick your car up from the rental company. I have mixed feelings about this as it can add up pretty quickly to your total of the rental. Check your auto policy to see if they cover rentals and sometimes credit cards offer car rental insurance.

Flight Accident travel insurance: Flight Accident Insurance will protect your life in case of an Accidental Death and Dismemberment (AD&D) on an airplane, this is a form of life insurance usually.

If you don’t travel often then you may consider just getting single trip insurance, but if you travel often with less than 30 days per trip you probably want to consider multi trip travel insurance. There are also group travel insurance policies available for those traveling in groups. You can usually purchase travel insurance from your travel agent, insurance agencies or from travel insurance companies.

Utah is a great place for those who are interested in outdoor activities. During the winter you have snowmobiling, snowshoeing, snow camping, and of course over 13 great ski resorts to choose from (have I mentioned the world’s best snow?), and in the summer there is boating, fishing, camping, hiking, biking, rock-climbing and so much more. There are fantastic National and State parks and so much to do in between.

If you are looking for a great place to get away for the morning or afternoon and maybe want to do some fishing, or take a quick hike with your family, Silver Lake is a great option. It is located just 14 miles up Big Cottonwood Canyon, which is just a short jaunt from downtown Salt Lake City. Near the base of Brighton Ski Resort (or personal favorite) you can take one of the easiest hikes in Northern Utah and catch some beautiful scenery along the way.

Did I mention it is easy? So easy in fact I feel a little bad calling it even a hike. BabyTravels who has a few months yet until she turns two was able to walk the entire distance around the lake, stopping only to ooh and awe at rocks, fish, and stomp in muddy puddles.

The hike is a circle around the lake and begins at a visitor’s center that during the summer has indoor plumbing (and if you come in the off-season they have outhouses located just adjacent to the visitors center). For two-thirds of the path you are actually on a boardwalk over the marshland and the other short part is a dirt path. For at least the two-thirds with a boardwalk it would be wheelchair accessible, the other part may be too rough.

There are also more hikes and trails you can take that fork off of silver lake that are longer and more challenging. It was our first time and we really want to hike to twin lakes so we are planning another trip for next time and will throw BabyTravels in a hiking backpack.

If you are looking for a quick trip to the mountains to enjoy 20 degree cooler weather this summer, Silver Lake is worth looking into.

This comes a little late, being as I visited Peru almost a year ago, but enough inquiries of my travel plans in Peru have come my way that I think this post is still appropriate. When I was researching how to get there myself I ran into a lot of dead ends on the internet. So here goes, this is how I got to Machu Picchu.

1. Fly into Lima – Hop on your favorite airline’s website and see what options they have for getting to Peru.

2. Fly to Cusco – If you can get a direct flight there great. I’m honestly not sure how many there are. The Cusco Airport doesn’t have runway lights and occasionally has strong winds, so flights only land during specific daytime hours. We took an early flight from Lima and arrived around 9 am. You can catch a bus from Lima to Cusco, but unless you have a few days and nerves of steel (Peruvian driving is nothing like it is in the States), I wouldn’t recommend it.

4. Take the Train or Take a Tour – When I visited Peru the trains weren’t running from Cusco (heavy rain had damaged some of the track, so repairs were being made). Because of that fact, we had to find another way to a town called Ollantaytambo (try pronouncing that one fast), the furthest the train was running at the time. At the airport we were able to find a tour company that offered a day trip sight seeing through the Sacred Valley of Peru stopping along the way to see various ruins and take in a traditional Peruvian lunch. The stops made along the way as well as the ruins in Ollantaytambo were spectacular. Something that we would have totally missed had the train been running the whole way. If you have the time, I would recommend a tour to take in as much as possible. If you don’t have the time  you can book a direct ticket from Cusco to Aguas Calientes at www.perurail.com. Looking at their site, it has definitely been updated in the last year. We went their site wasn’t nearly as helpful.

5. Spend the Night in Aguas Calientes – The majority of places to stay in Aguas Calientes are hostels. We booked a decent place that was clean on hostels.com. Luckily we met some nice folks on the train that were familiar with the town and pointed us the right direction. If it wasn’t for them we might have spent all night searching for our hostel. Information about Aguas Calientes and a decent map of the place seemed hard to come by on the web. Its a small town, but there are so many hostels that it becomes tough to find the right place. There are a few nicer hotels in town but you’ll have to research those on your own.

7. Get Your Tickets – Get your bus and entrance tickets to Machu Picchu the day before you go. The ticket office doesn’t open very early and if you plan on being one of the first ones up to the ruins you won’t make it. Also they don’t sell entrance tickets at the gates. You have to do that back in town. We met many people that didn’t know that and had to ride the bus all the way up the mountain just to get back on the bus because they weren’t able to get in.

8. Enjoy Machu Picchu – Wake up early and catch the bus up the mountain to Machu Picchu. If you want to save on the bus fare, there is a hiking trail, but the mountain is steep and the trail looked treacherous. I say wake up early because the views of Machu Picchu are amazing in the morning light as the fog lifts off of the mountain. Also, if you arrive early there aren’t as many people around in your photos and along the paths. Arriving early is also the only way to get the chance to hike up Waina Picchu, they only grant a certain number that privilege so you have to be there early.

And that my friends is how I got to Machu Picchu. It is one of my all time favorite destinations. The mystery and beauty that surround the ancient ruins is more than I could ever explain on this blog. You’ll have to visit it for yourself…and now at least you know how to get there.

Make sure to check out the visiting Machu Picchu wiki for anything I may have missed.

www.fiveintraining.com

I met Reid six years ago at college. Summer love really is what it was- although it quickly blossomed into more. Then he left. He left me dazed and confused stuck in a world of college textbooks, crazy roommates, and sad feelings. But, we soon discovered why he was meant to leave me alone for a few semesters. He left me to be with her. And although he worked crazy long hours and saw very little of her, I know in some way it helped.  He couldn’t take away the pain and sickness associated with the treatments, or unsurety of it all, but he could just be there. I was glad to sacrifice because it was scary and even though I had just met all of them- I quickly loved them as my own.

Reid’s little sister Chelsie was diagnosed with cancer her freshman year of College. It turned everybody’s little world upside down. Even mine and I had barely met her. But now it’s been five years since she has kicked the nasty tumors behind and now we can rejoice and officially say she is cancer-free (it’s the way to be).  To celebrate Reid and his four sisters are running a marathon and raising $25,000 for cancer research. But of course in true DTM (Dotting The Map) fashion they are running it in Dublin, Ireland as part of Team in Training with the Lymphoma and Leukemia Society.

However, it’s not all daisies and lollipops- they need our help. They need help raising the money. So visit their blog (daily) and if you feel so inclined to donate, awesome. But if you can’t- could you pass the word along? Everybody knows someone with cancer, or someone who has lost someone to cancer, so join the fight, because they know it’s going to be tough running a marathon but they know it’s even tougher battling cancer.

thebabytravels touching the cavern wall

If you find yourself in Virginia trying to decide on an activity to take your family to on a Saturday, especially one that is educational yet exciting enough that your kids won’t realize it, something that your oldest to your littlest and even in between will enjoy, then you really should look into a trip to the Luray Caverns. The caverns are just a few minutes off the scenic Skyline Drive- a breathtaking drive through Shenandoah National Park with amazing views.

I had never been to any other caverns prior so I really didn’t know what to expect. I figured there would be a plethora of stalactites and stalagmites to gaze about at and maybe a few surprises along the way. My expectations were definitely met and exceeded far beyond my imagination. The beauty was indescribable and the formations were unique and so visually appealing so much and every turn and corner offered up a new site and feature to admire.

My favorite part of the caverns was Dream Lake. While it was the largest body of water located in the caverns (even though it’s deepest point was only 18-20 inches), the part that made it so fantastic was that it created a mirror image of the stalactites that hung above it. It was so easy to be fooled by the illusion that you actually believed there were stalagmites and you had to look for the ripples in the water to assure yourself that it truly was a reflection. I think we spent about twenty minutes at Dream Lake and had to pull ourselves away from the magic and illusion it created.

Dream Lake, Luray Caverns

Another one of my favorite parts was the stalacpipe organ. Featured on Ripley’s Believe It Or Not , the organ works by tapping a rubber mallet on stalactites. Beautiful tones and music rang as the organ using stalactites as their pipes resounded through the air. The songs resonated with deep and rich tones with hauntingly beauty- the perfect background music as you take in the surroundings.

We had so much fun exploring the caverns, taking the well done and entertaining self guided audio tour, gazing at the ever-changing formations and breathing in the freshest and cleanest air.  It’s a place we look forward to visiting again someday and bringing all our children to see and experience.

Pluto's Ghost, Luray Caverns

Justin over at Southern Explorations sent me their list of the 10 best reasons to visit South America in 2010. I thought it was extremely pertinent because I am sending my photographer to Argentina this week.  I am a little sad to not be going myself- but figure our brother-in-law would be a better companion because he speaks the language.

So here you go- as if you needed an excuse, the top 10 best reasons to visit South America in 2010:

1. It’s Still Affordable: It used to cost much more to fly to South America than to Europe but not anymore. Airfares from many US cities are comparable, and after you arrive, you’ll find hotel and meal prices mostly lower. Favorable exchange rates make 2010 the perfect time to go.

2. Safety: The last decade has seen a rising popularity of travel within the Western Hemisphere. Travelers to South America get to visit exotic lands but stay closer to home. Some of the continent’s top sights require a guide, adding an extra measure of safety as well as eliminating some of the hassles of international travel.

3. No Crazy Time Change: Traveling north and south instead of east and west means you’ll spend less of the vacation adjusting to new time zones and more time feeling like yourself. International travel without the jet lag makes South America a rejuvenating trip.

4. Shorter Flight Times: Travelers who think they’ll only visit South America once will be pleasantly surprised to learn how close some of the continent’s top sights are to one another. Because of short distances and flight times, you can combine Machu Picchu with the Amazon or the Galapagos Islands all in one vacation.

5. Cultural Immersion: Here visitors may travel back in time to observe indigenous populations practicing the same cultural traditions as centuries ago. Ancient ruins and the well-preserved architecture of colonial cities make South America a paradise for history buffs. For those who wish to experience the continent’s emblematic dance rhythms from Bahia to Buenos Aires, it’s a festival.

6. Culinary Travel: South American cuisine is all the rage. Foodies rave about Peru’s fusion style prepared by indigenous cooking methods, the European, African and Caribbean influences in Brazilian dishes, and the French and Italian slant to Argentine cooking, not to mention the world’s most perfectly grilled steak. Divine meals paired with some of the world’s top wines from Argentina and Chile make South America a unique gastronomic adventure.

7. Something for Everyone: So vast a continent offers destinations to suit almost every traveler. From tropical beaches and rainforests to glaciers and the magnificent Andes, you’ll find a bountiful array of ways to vacation in South America.

8. “Bucket List” Sights: South America is filled with bucket list opportunities—a journey down the Amazon, observing Galapagos wildlife at close range, traveling the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, walking among the penguins of Patagonia. South America offers many once-in-a-lifetime experiences.

9. Experiential Travel: The adventure travel options are plentiful. Ride the pampas like the gauchos, sea kayak with marine wildlife, hike scenic trails, drift-snorkel, whitewater raft and surf in warm waters. With seasons opposite those of North America, you can ski in July or sunbathe in December.

10. It’s Still Off The Beaten Path: Unlike the much-traveled destinations of Western Europe, most of South America remains relatively undiscovered by tourists, making it easy to go “off the beaten path.”

Southern Explorations offers dozens of different ways to explore the mountains, islands, jungles and beaches of South America.

*image and content courtesy of Southern Explorations. I was not compensated for this post. I just thought the content was useful and interesting as well as timely since we will be featuring South America next week.

This is part two of the three part series: 3 Things worth paying for in Maui. DTM’s recommendations on three things you can’t miss out on during your stay on the beautiful Island of Maui.

#2 Take a helicoptor tour: There are a handful of helicopter tours available in Maui that allow you to see the island and catch views that aren’t possible any other way. Based on some recommendations and a spotless safety record I boarded one of Alexair’s A-Star helicopters for a West Maui-Molokai tour. For those of you that may have reservations about stepping into a helicopter, let me just say that the A-Star seemed more like a private jet than a helicopter. It was super comfortable and every seat had a great view.

The flight started out following Maui’s coastline then crossed over the Pailolo Channel to the cliffs of Molokai. These cliffs are some of the highest and steepest ocean cliffs in the world and they are amazing. You’ve probably seen some shots of them, they’ve been featured in a bunch of movies, and they’re spectacular. We followed the cliffs and made some passes to see some beautiful waterfalls up close. After seeing our fill of waterfalls that plummeted towards the ocean, we flew over more of Molokai and headed back over the channel to Maui. This time over the channel we took our time and watched from above as a few whales played in the water below. Back over Maui we circled some more of the coast line and headed back over lush mountains towards where we started our journey.

It was such a great experience. Our pilot was very personable and told us interesting facts and history along our way. I saw things that most people that visit the islands will never see. The flight lasted about 50 minutes but it seemed to fly by, no pun intended. Alexair offers a handful of tours that cover all of Maui and offer options for all budgets and lifestyles. Next time I’ll be signing up for the more adventurous doors off tour!

Previous: Three in Maui Part One- Attend a Luau

Coming Up: Three in Maui Part Three- Whale Watching Cruise

If you ever find yourself in or around Tucson, Arizona (hopefully not during summer) you MUST visit the Titan Missile Museum. It’s eerie, fascinating, and historic. You will learn more about the Cold War then you ever thought possible all first hand and if you are lucky from those who lived, breathed, and experienced it. It was definitely an once in a lifetime opportunity and a trip that will be remembered forever by the DTM crew!

During the Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union (you know it as the time of bomb shelters and nuclear threats) there were 54 top secret Titan II missile complexes across the United States which stood on alert 24 hours a day, 7 days a week waiting for the call to launch. These missiles were equipped with a thermonuclear warhead that was capable of reaching its target more than halfway across the world in less than thirty minutes.

During the museum trip you will learn the logistics of the Titan II Intercontinental Ballistic Missile, experience a simulated launch, and tour the underground complex. This is the only underground missile site that was preserved of the 54 that were in existence and can be viewed and toured today after coming off alert in 1987. You can even view the missile and warhead, which of course has been deactivated.

If you are lucky you can get a tour from an actual crewmember that was stationed at the site. Their stories and experiences are chilling and bring the historic site to life. You will leave with a new understanding and appreciation for the cold war and those who experienced it. For even the most daring individuals with a little extra pocket book money you can do over-night tours, which includes crew training, sleeping in the crew quarters, and war-games.

For more information on the museum, admission rates, museum hours, and other information on the cold war visit their website found here.

*photo credit goes to the lovely Melodye Gibson who accompanied the DTM crew on our journey.

I will have to say it’s a beautiful place. Rivers and lakes are everywhere and beautiful greenery completes the scene. Make sure to keep your eye out for wildlife because we saw a bear, a bald eagle, countless dear, and even a fox! The area he grew up in is near Warroad, MN. It is well known for its excellent fishing and hunting. All along the Lake of the Woods, which is known as the Walleye Capitol of the World, there are many fishing resorts that are full all summer long with fishers hoping to catch some tasty Walleye (as seen in the above picture- this statue of Willie the Walleye is located in Baudette, MN). But fishing is not only limited here in the summer-ice fishing is also an essential part of the culture. Fish houses are seen everywhere and many enjoy spending time with friends and family crowded over a hole in the ice hoping to land a big one.

If you are an avid hunter you will not want to miss hunting season in northern Minnesota. If you have always dreamed of that perfect bear rug you may want to start here.  Black bears are very prominent throughout the northern woodlands and the season begins September 1 and runs to October 18. There are many guide services you can choose from if you want the expertise of a local. I have to suggest you check out KnS Guide Service first. I may be a little biased because they are my brother-in-law and sister-in-law but you really will get a once in a lifetime experience and get to spend time with some of my favorite people in the world.

Although we didn’t go hunting or fishing as this was primarily a family trip, I did get to experience the beauty and peacefulness that is northern MN and urge those interested in the above activities to make the trip and see for yourself, I promise you won’t be disappointed.

Every summer we’d load up our Ford van complete with two, yes two, luggage carriers and head across the country. It was certainly unconventional way to travel, and we probably looked a little like a traveling circus than a family at times, but it was great. I wouldn’t trade these trips for anything. I can truly say that the greatest trips of my life were spent stuffed in a van with my siblings roaming the country.

Take a road trip!