Gray Line Wanderings Travel Blog

Coney Island

I just got back from a trip to NYC. I hadn’t been to the city in a while and was really excited to catch up with old friends, eat some great food, and of course see a show. With those 3 things in mind, I’m happy to say it was a successful trip.

I got to see Once the musical and if you have an opportunity to see it, DO IT! It’s easily one of the best shows I have ever been to and the venue is a gem. If you happen to run into Paul who works security, be nice to him. He is THE MAN! Seriously though, he let my friend and I leave during intermission to make a bathroom run, despite the fact that we lost our tickets! Not only that, there is literally a bar on the stage(!) that you can order drinks from!! They may be expensive, but they come in Once sippy cups (adorable) and they don’t skimp on the pours…

My last day in the city, I was invited to go to Coney Island for a friend’s birthday. I’ve never been and I was eager to get my hands on a Nathan’s Famous hotdog and stroll down the boardwalk. Little did I know that the highlight of my time there would be a roller coaster – The Cyclone!

Image Provided by Flickr User: Loozrboy

Heard of it? Of course you have! If you haven’t, well now you know. The Cyclone is a national landmark and was the first wooden roller coaster in the US.  It’s THE standard to which all rides are held. Here are some facts:

• The Cyclone made its debut in 1927 and is one of the oldest roller coasters still in operation
• Height: 85 feet
• 1^st Drop: 85 feet at 53 degrees
• Top speed: 60 mph – feels faster
• Number of Drops: 12(!)
• Changes in Direction: 16
• Number of 180 Degree turns: 6
• Number of Elevation Changes: 27
• Duration: 1 minute 50 seconds

There was something so terrifyingly wonderful about this ride. Don’t let the fact that it doesn’t look too intimidating from the ground fool you as it did me. I was not expecting so many steep drops. You know how most roller coasters are, they start you off with the steepest drop and then it’s smooth sailing from there. Not the case with the Cyclone. Once you have recovered from the last drop, you are jerked to the right and you find yourself falling again – lifted out of your chair – stomach in your throat – holding on for dear life. They say if you’re sitting in the back car you can actually feel the coaster lift off the tracks!

Once the ride was actually over, the #1 comment everyone made was how long the ride felt! Regardless of length, I can honestly say my equilibrium was off and I couldn’t hardly stand, as you can see in the photo:

If you are in the city, you should really take some time to hop on the train and head out to Coney Island to ride the Cyclone – it would also be a good idea to wait to eat your Nathan’s hot dog until afterwards… jus’ sayin.

And seeing as how New York is known for its food, here’s a plug for a restaurant you have to try. If you are in the East Village, check out the chic new restaurant Ducks Eatery at 351 e 12th street, New York, New York, and tell them Sonja sent you. Great food (especially try the jerky, pig ears and wings), great drinks and great people. I may be a little biased on the last one, seeing as most of the staff is from my hometown of Taos. And finally, here’s a shout out to Alie Valerio for providing the uncaptioned photos !

Have you been to Coney Island? What was your favorite ride? What did you think of the Cyclone? Share your comments below! (Click here if you can’t see Facebook comments: We All Know About the Twister But What Do You Know About the Cyclone?)

Image Provided by Flickr Nesster

Despite the fact that it’s still summer and the impended changing of the weather makes me grumble, I can’t stop thinking about my favorite month! Can you guess which one?

October!!! Why? Halloween obviously!

1. I love a good scary movie, not gory though – I liked to spooked, not grossed out.
2. I love a good ghost story.
3. I love feeling like maybe I should sleep with the lights on because I am so scared – You feel me?

This year I think I am finally going to do something that I have wanted to do for a long time. . . A haunted tour – of sorts.

What it will consist of I am not really sure yet. Here are some ideas. . .

•  Stay in a haunted hotel
• Visit a haunted asylum/hospital (is this even an option?)
• Creepy forests
• Famous crime scenes (morbid I know but still intriguing)

Ok so the list is small. . . but I will not be discouraged!

So now I am going to ask you to help me out.

• What would you do?
• Have you done anything related to this?
• Do you have any suggestions for me?

I have about 3 months to plan an epic fright fest!!! So give your girl a hand and leave your suggestion and stories in the comments below. I promise there will be photos and blatant honesty. Mad props if your suggestion(s) scare me to the point of tears…

BRING IT ON

Photo courtesy of Cachemania

Are you still a Muggle? Or have you caught the Geocaching bug yet?

Geocaching seems to be everywhere. Literally everywhere. Currently there are over 1.8 million locations worldwide and that number is growing daily. I kept hearing about geocaching but wasn’t sure what it was so I decided it was time to do some investigating into this new pastime.

In a nutshell, geocaching is a real-world outdoor treasure hunting game for adventure seekers of all ages around the world. Players have hidden millions of “caches” for you to find literally in every corner of the world. A cache is a small container (not always small – they do vary in size) which contains a log sheet for you to record your team’s arrival and the date that you found the cache.  If the cache is big enough it may contain a small treasure. You may take the treasure as long as you trade it for something that you have brought with you of equal or greater value.

Players find the hidden caches by using GPS coordinates and often additional clues to narrow the search further at the location. With a GPS unit or GPS enabled smart phone players navigate their “team” to the hidden spots and try to locate the cache. A team can be one or more people – it’s totally up to you.

Once you locate the cache in its secret hiding spot, you put it back exactly where you found it for the next team to discover and leave a note online for the cache owner detailing your visit for them and future visitors to read about. You can also leave notes indicating if you could not find it, if the cache needs maintenance or anything else that might help future players.

And the best part? It’s free. You can sign up for a free account on geocaching.com,  create a user name and start locating treasure near your current coordinates (there is also a premium service available for a fee).

Keep in mind that you definitely need a GPS enabled device. I also decided to download the Geocaching App for my phone and that made things super easy on the go but it’s not mandatory. As a novice player, I would also recommend tennis or hiking shoes (no flip flops!), bug spray, a pencil and maybe even a hat as you are definitely outside and some of the terrain may require you to tromp off trail. We have also learned to read the description of the cache you are seeking carefully as some are out in the open and easy to find making them great for younger seekers and others may require that you hike off trail or though difficult terrain which make them a better fit for those without small children.

You can also plan a trip using geocaching to break it up along the way. So far my family has found caches along a roadtrip we have taken though the middle of America to great success and new experiences. Kids and adults have both enjoyed the “game” as we have played it. It’s a nice way to see your own destination in a new way or experience a destination in a way you may not have expected. You may also meet other players along the way which is a great additional benefit we have discovered.

Have you tried Geocaching yet? What’s the most unique cache you have found so far? Share your experiences in the comments below or on the Gray Line Facebook page. (Click here if you can’t see comments: Geocaching Fever)

Image Provided by Flickr Lali Masriera

I have received a record number of wedding invites this year, which can only mean three things – I’m getting old, I will soon be broke and it’s wedding season! Love is most definitely in the air. While I myself am not getting married, I have to admit I cannot help but think about what my own wedding would be like. My thoughts range from the food that will be served, the flavor of the cake, the dress (obv), and (drum roll please) the honeymoon! Ok, so based on those topics, maybe I just want to have a great meal in a beautiful dress while on a beach – the wedding can wait. For those of you who are preparing for your upcoming nuptials but are not quite sure where to go for your honeymoon, here are a few ideas to get you started:

According to the travelchannel.com, some of this year’s Top Honeymoon Hot Spots for 2012 include Botswana, Bali, the Virgin Islands, Italy, Mexico, and Greece. Although I have to say this unique list of Honeymoon Choices for 2012 caught my attention which includes Croatia, Mozambique, Boracay, and Buenos Aires to name a few. As much as I love laying around and being a bum while I’m at home, I prefer to be as active as possible while traveling. I’m sure my hypothetical honeymoon would be much the same!

Here are some exciting things to do in a few of the countries listed above:

1. Bali, Indonesia: Definitely spend some quality time on the beach, but then get out and about. Here’s a list of a wide variety of Bali tours available to satisfy your travel dreams, be they cultural, leisurely or adventurous! You can enjoy the beauty of Kintamani while experiencing two forms of traditional Balinese dance, go white water rafting on the Ayung River, or my personal favorite, ride an elephant ride through the countryside!
2. Mozambique: For an easy, comprehensive guide to Mozambique, Lonely Planet is the place to turn to. They have created an itinerary for a 14 day vacation to ensure that you don’t miss a thing. Go fishing on Lake Chicamba and you are likely to spend your day checking out the Zebras that tend to hang around. Go on a game drive at Kruger National Park for a chance to see the famous “big five” animals: lions, elephants (my favorite!), leopards, cape buffalos, and rhinoceros. And when you’re tired of adventure, kick your feet up in Vilankulo, a paradise that promises glistening sandy beaches and gorgeous coral reefs.
3. Boracay, Philippines: Did you know that Bulabog Beach in Boracay is known for being the best kitesurfing destination in Asia? You do now! This island in the Philippines has so much to offer and is said to rival the best beaches in the Caribbean. Which is OK, I mean, if you are into that sort of thing. Check out White Beach, Puka Beach, Baling Beach, and after you’ve had too much sun, escape into the Bat Cave. Not to be confused with Batman’s lair, but it is home to insectivorous bats.

OK that’s all for now. Now go, get married… or dream about getting married! What would your dream honeymoon look like? Let us know in the comments below! I know you think about it, if you didn’t, Pinterest wouldn’t exist… just sayin. And if you’re already married and want to brag about your amazing honeymoon, tell us what you did! (If you can’t see Facebook comments, click here: Honeymoon Ideas in Time for Wedding Season)

While messing around on Facebook last night I came across an app titled 100 Foods to Eat Before You Die – The Food List Challenge. I like to think of myself as an adventurous eater, I will try anything once, so I had to click on it. The list had dishes like alligator, paella and (my favorite being from New Mexico) frito pie!

The app got me reminiscing with friends about the “strangest” things we have eaten while traveling; things like pigeon fois gras, steamed silkworms and in my case, goat eyeballs. Why would we eat these things? Part of it is to say that you have, I mean come on, but really most of it is out of politeness. In many cultures it is considered extremely rude to not eat the food that has been given to you. What may seem strange to our American sensibilities are considered delicacies in other lands. So what do you do when your host hands you a plate of blood sausages? Smile, say thank you, and you never know, you might like it! Either way, you have a great story to share with your friends when you get home. You only live once right?

Head Cheese - Image Provided by Flickr Stu Spivack

If you are inspired but not quite ready to eat crickets, headcheese, or tongue tacos, you can certainly find some fun food themed tours in your own city to help expand your palate. Are a few in the US to help get you started!

• In Chicago, Illinois: http://www.grayline.com/Chicago/Your_Love_of_Food_Tour
• In Newport, Rhode Island: http://www.grayline.com/Rhode-Island-Providence/The-Providence-Riverwalk-Gourmet-Tour
• In Boston: http://www.bostonfoodtours.com/

And if you were wondering, I scored 81 out of 100 on the Food List Challenge. Did you see the app? If so what was your score? Better yet what are the “strangest” foods you’ve tried on your travels? Let us know in the comments below! (Don’t see Facebook comments? Click here to view the full 100 Foods to Eat Before You Die blog post)