Great US Destinations - The Memorable Journey ~ The Affordable Mouse

Planning Travel in an Uncertain World

Nancy Aulani a Disney Resort and Spa, COVID Travel Tips, Disney Vacation Planning, Great US Destinations, Sandals and Beaches Resorts November 13, 2020November 13, 2020benefits of booking travel in advance, cancelling a trip due to covid, covid cancellation policies, how far in advance should i book my vacation, should I plan my trip for next year now, vacation planning, what do I do if my travel plans change, what if I need to cancel my trip, when to book 2021 vacation 0 Comment

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed a lot about many things in our lives, from how we work, to how our kids learn, to how we shop, to what we do and where we go for fun. And it’s changed a lot about how we travel. In fact, it’s stopped a lot of us from traveling – or at least has changed our travel plans, in many cases, significantly.

Still, we love to travel – to have the excitement of having an adventure to look forward to, to see new places, and experience new things. So, while we are still in the middle of this pandemic, many folks are starting to – cautiously – look ahead to post-pandemic days and plan a vacation. Having something to look forward to not only feels great, but it also is proven to improve our mood significantly. And I don’t know about you but having something to improve my mood sounds like a great idea!

If this sounds like a great idea to you as well but you’re hesitant because things are just SO uncertain right now, then let’s chat about one of the biggest questions you might have about booking your vacation now:

What are my options if I need to change or cancel my trip? Read more

Should You Book Now for a 2021 Vacation?

Nancy Aulani a Disney Resort and Spa, Great US Destinations, Sandals and Beaches Resorts, Vacations Around the World October 16, 2020November 16, 2020benefits of booking travel in advance, how far in advance should i book my vacation, vacation planning, when is the best time to book a vacation, when to book 2021 vacation, whould I plan my trip for next year now 0 Comment

It’s been quite the year. And as we enter the final months of 2020 (doesn’t it feel like this year has lasted 10 years already though?), one thing is becoming very clear. People are tired of being home and can’t wait to travel again – even if the time isn’t quite right yet. In fact, according to a new study from Hilton, 94 percent of Americans who travel are missing it right now and plan to do so once restrictions and limitations are lifted, and 66 percent plan to make travel a priority and take bucket list trips. Read more

See the USA: It’s Apple-Picking Time!

Nancy Great US Destinations October 2, 2020October 7, 2021apple orchards, apple picking, fall US vacations, fall vacations, pick apples in the usa, see the usa, where to go in the fall in the USA, where to pick apples 0 Comment

When fall rolls around, visions of things like pumpkins (or pumpkin spice!), scarecrows, hayrides, and Halloween come to mind. If you’re like me, chances are that apples – and the associated apple pie, apple cider, apple crisp, apple strudel etc. – are also part of what makes autumn so special. In fact, a trip to your nearby apple orchard may be a time-honored tradition for your family. After all, there’s something distinctly “fall” about the fun of picking a bushel of apples on a crisp and sunny Saturday afternoon, followed by sampling cider and maybe even some local homemade baked goods.

You can certainly plan an enjoyable weekend outing to your local apple orchard, but why not plan a long(er) trip to an area where you can combine apple picking with other local sites and create an enjoyable mini-vacation in the process? While there are thousands of apple orchards scattered throughout the United States, here are ten orchards that would all make a great excuse for a long weekend or vacation. Read more

See the USA: Fall Foliage and More in the Black Hills, South Dakota

Nancy Great US Destinations September 18, 2020September 17, 2020black hills south dakota, fall foliage south dakota, fall foliage usa, mt rushmore, see the usa, what to see in black hills, what to see in south dakota 0 Comment

If you’ve ever seen pictures of Mount Rushmore, you’re already familiar with Black Hills. And while you may feel that summer is the best time to visit, ask anyone who lives in the area and they’ll say that you need to come in the fall. With fewer people visiting, the area is less crowded, and those that do visit are often rewarded with some unexpected bonuses – elk, deer, and bison are more visible at this time of the year. And of course, there are the fall colors. Read more

See the USA: Fall Foliage Fun in the Pennsylvania Mountains

Nancy Great US Destinations September 11, 2020September 14, 2020fall foliage, fall foliage PA, fall foliage road trips, fall leaves road trip, laurel highlands PA, mountain resorts PA, PA fall foliage, PA mountain resorts, PA where to see leaves, pocono mountains, poconos, see the usa 0 Comment

Last week we took a quick tour of New England in all of it’s autumn splendor. This week we are heading a bit south, to Pennsylvania, where it’s two mountainous regions – the Laurel Highlands in the southwest, and the Poconos in the northeast – each put on quite a seasonal show of their own. And with lots of fun things to explore, both regions are great places to consider visiting for “leaf peepers”. Let’s see what each area has to offer! Read more