Traveling Coach - MLive.comKim Schneider dishes on top travel news, deals and trip ideas. Find out where she's going next and where your next vacation will be.Favorite made-up travel word: Glamping- September 17, 2008 Kim SchneiderThis luxury ecolodge along Costa Rica's Pacuare River has no electricity, but river guides-turned-butlers create five-star cuisine on lantern-lit tables at the river's edge. Is it the next "stay-cation" My favorite new travel oxymoron (or maybe it's not) has...http://blog.mlive.com/traveling_coach/2008/09/favorite_madeup_travel_word.html A Capital farmer's market- September 15, 2008 Kim Schneider The Fulton Street Farmer's Market in Grand Rapids: food stop for all the senses. You can snag your fill of fresh flowers, craggy carrots, heirloom tomatoes, Michigan lamb, Lake Superior Whitefish, and even some wool, cheese or...http://blog.mlive.com/traveling_coach/2008/09/a_capitol_farmers_market.html A 5-minute spa treatment for all that ails you- September 9, 2008 Kim SchneiderJean Lawrence, right (back) and Sue Peterson (foreground) try out the Oxygen Bar at the Soaring Eagle Casino spa. You've seen them, maybe, on MTV's My Super Sweet 16, where they're often featured as the hottest new party amenity....http://blog.mlive.com/traveling_coach/2008/09/this_spa_amenity_doubles_as_a.html State of the state's travel season- September 9, 2008 The National Cherry Festival drew large crowds this year, attributed to more visits by locals. Seems as though the economy isn't the only determining factor in our summer vacation plans. Or maybe we're just not spending our precious dollars until...http://blog.mlive.com/traveling_coach/2008/09/state_of_travel.html Hotel amenities we love- September 9, 2008 The phrase airline amenities has become an oxymoron. But hotels seem on a path that's making overnight travel ever more comfortable. Lunch conversation among a handful of travel writers earlier this week was dominated by the gushing over the amenities...http://blog.mlive.com/traveling_coach/2008/09/hotel_amenities_we_love.html Apple, ciders, art and great weather characterize Michigan's September festivals- September 5, 2008 Call this the month of apples and art. When the air starts to cool, some think football. I think apples. I'm somewhat inexplicably drawn to orchards, cider mills, farm markets and a host of September festivals and fairs. Thankfully, there...http://blog.mlive.com/traveling_coach/2008/09/its_the_month_of_apples.html Grab those free gas promos while you can get them- September 3, 2008 When gas tipped above the $4 a gallon mark, hotels panicked. So did convention and visitor bureaus and other travel providers, who offered gas cards en mass to get travelers to vacation beyond their back yards this summer. Gas promotions...http://blog.mlive.com/traveling_coach/2008/09/grab_those_free_gas_promos_whi.html Airline cuts going too far- September 2, 2008 This article, entitled "What will they cut from planes next" is a bit frightening, since the latest cutback on Air Canada's regional arm is the elimination of personal floatation devices. Seats float if you need them, the airline announced as...http://blog.mlive.com/traveling_coach/2008/09/airline_cuts_going_too_far.html |