Budget summer travel from New York: Burlington, Vermont

by Jeremy Kressmann on

Check out that gorgeous sunset vista. With that kind of view and a beautiful body of water nearby, you’d probably guess this was somewhere tropical. The Bahamas? Wrong, try again. San Diego, perhaps? Not that either. This sweet view can only be found in Burlington, Vermont: a little gem of a town nestled in the northern half of the state along the shores of mighty Lake Champlain.

Let’s be honest – unless you’re into winter sports, Vermont is an awfully cold place to visit during the winter. Which is exactly why Summer is when the state of Vermont comes out to shine (pun intended). The state’s beautiful virgin outdoor spaces are green and in bloom, ready to be explored, hiked and camped. Its many picturesque lakes lie cool and still, waiting to be plied by swimmers, kayaks and sailboats. And unique Vermont cities like Burlington offer a surprising wealth of activities, ranging from top-notch food and shopping to cultural attractions galore.

Not only is Burlington the perfect base for some summertime Vermont exploring, it’s also relative easy (and cheap) to get to from the major urban centers of the East Coast, including New York and Boston. Click below and let’s explore Burlington, shall we?
The City Sights
Although Burlington has a population well under 100,000, it packs a big city punch, including plenty of great activities you wouldn’t expect for a town of its size.

Most visitors start their day downtown, home to a picturesque collection of shops, cafes and restaurants. The biggest concentration of stores is along the Church Street Marketplace, a pedestrian-friendly outdoor shopping district fronted by stores representing locally made Vermont products as well as larger national chains. Meal options are also readily available and refreshingly eclectic, ranging from Brazilian to Thai to pizza and burgers.

If you’re in the mood for dessert, stop by the Ben & Jerry’s Scoop Shop on Church. The now-famous ice cream franchise got its start in Burlington back in the 1970’s. Ice cream junkies can arrange tours of the company factory in nearby Waterbury. Church Street is also a great spot for people watching – Burlington is home to the University of Vermont, ensuring a cosmopolitan mix of students, tie-dyed hippies, urban professionals, outdoor lovers and out-of-town visitors passing by. Snowboard aficionados should also make a pilgrimage to Burton Snowboard Flagship Store. The now famous snowboard and apparel manufacturer is another homegrown Burlington favorite.

During the Summer, Burlington weekends are also packed with all manner of local festivals. The first two weeks of June bring Burlington’s annual Discover Jazz Festival, featuring big-name Jazz artists like Branford Marsalis. Come July, beer lovers congregate at the Vermont Brewers Festival, featuring sud samples from 30 craft brewers located across New England. In August it’s time for the annual Lake Champlain Dragon Boat Festival, pitting local teams in a friendly race for charity.



The Great Outdoors
Chances are if you’re coming to Vermont, you’ve heard about the state’s legendary natural beauty and want to experience it firsthand. Thankfully, Burlington makes a great base for exploring all manner of natural Vermont landscapes, all within easy driving distance.

Before jumping in your car however, spend some time along the shores of nearby Lake Champlain. Burlington is situated along the edge of one of the Northeastern United States’ biggest lakes, covering more than 430 square miles filled with unspoiled islands, hiking and wildlife. Any sunny Summer day will find the lake dotted with a mass of tiny sails – want to try yourself? Visitors can rent a sailboat to ply the lake’s scenic shores. If you’re feeling less ambitious, consider hiring a charter sailboat captain or renting a kayak for some mellow paddling around the calm waters. The Burlington Department of Parks and Recreation also has plenty of information about nearby campgrounds, hiking, swimming and other great summertime activities.

Just an hour south of Burlington is the unspoiled enclave of Green Mountain National Forest, situated on more than 400,000 acres of pristine wilderness, waterfalls and mountain trails. The park has activities to match just about any interest, ranging from horseback riding to hiking to camping and fishing. Make sure to stop in at nearby Middlebury, Vermont on your way back for some small-town Vermont charm.

Where to Stay
Burlington has all kinds of accommodation options, ranging from the small and quaint to the traditional brand-name hotel chains. Thrifty travelers should check out the Burlington Sheraton, well-situated between both the airport and city’s downtown. Though you’ll need to drive to most attractions, the hotel typically offers some good deals, starting at around $120 per night. Guests also speak highly of the Doubletree Burlington, located a few miles away in South Burlington with rates starting as low as $118 per night.

Those looking for the quintessential Vermont Bed & Breakfast experience should check out smaller properties like Lang House, located in an 1880’s era Victorian mansion, or the Willard Street Inn. Though the rooms at both B&B’s are a bit pricier (starting at $145 per night), the unique old world atmosphere will more than makes up for the difference for some travelers.

Francis Bacon comes to New York’s Met

by Tom Johansmeyer on

If you missed the Francis Bacon exhibit at the Museo Del Prado in Madrid back in the early part of the year, you have a second chance this summer. The reclusive artist, who produced only around 1,000 paintings in his 83-year life, is well represented at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in Manhattan, with a large show that traces the artist’s career from a false start in 1933 through his twilight in the 1980s.

The collection is, to say the least, extensive. Each room highlights a period in Bacon’s life, from his haunting work in the 1940s to the “man in a cage” theme that followed. The exhibit also tracks Bacon’s love life, with paintings of George Dyer and John Edwards, for example, in abundance. Surprisingly, the breadth of the New York show is even greater than that of Madrid.

The true success of this show, however, is in the targeted success the Metropolitan Museum of Art realized in securing related paintings. Several of Bacon’s interpretations of Velazquez’s Pope Innocent X work can be viewed side-by-side – a rare treat for Bacon fiends and art lovers in general.

If you can’t make it to Manhattan this summer, don’t worry. The Bacon centennial celebration will continue later this year at the Tate in London.

Golf discounts abound in Salt Lake City

by Tom Johansmeyer on

Golfers just got a new reason to go to Salt Lake City. The new Golf Salt Lake Super Pass provides some fantastic deals at several golf courses in the city, along with a full 18-hole round for up to four players, carts, complimentary time at the range and a discount of up to 20 percent on rental clubs. And, guests can make reservations for tee times up to 60 days in advance … as opposed to the usual seven.

Golf courses on the list include: Bonneville, Mt. Dell (Canyon), Mt. Dell (Lake); Old Mill, Riverbend; River Oaks; South Mountain; Stone Bridge; West Ridge and Wingpointe. From one to four golfers can play for as little as $45 each (online purchase – $40 when purchased in conjunction with hotel packages).

“This pass provides a great opportunity to play several of the beautifully diverse golf courses Salt Lake has to offer,” said Scott Beck, president and CEO of the Salt Lake Convention and Visitors Bureau. “Whether you’re in town on business or pleasure, or live here year round, the Golf Salt Lake Super Pass offers a great opportunity to experience our excellent and incredibly affordable golf.”

Budget travel with a twist: Try out for TV commercial singing competition for water park passes, cash and more

by Jamie Rhein on

Here’s a budget travel twist. Sing your way to free water park passes and some cash. With American Idol over until next year’s search for the next star, CoCo Key Water Resort is putting on a singing competition to tide any warblers over and find a star for one of its commericals.

This nationwide search wants talent and creativity mixed in with fun. The way I see it, this is a seriously doable win if you can carry a tune and have some personality. All you have to do is submit a 30 second video recording of yourself singing the CoCo Key jingle. If you have a group of talented folks like friends, family members, or even the high school choir, you can do a group entry.

The contest deadline is June 10 which means your video has to be in the judges’ hands by then.

Don’t know the CoCo Key jingle? No worries. You can find the jingle, entry form and contest details at www.CoCoKeyJingle.com What will you win besides a commercial spot if you’re chosen?

First off, you’ll get some of that 15 minutes of fame that Andy Warhol talked about–but longer. A commercial plays over and over. What with the CoCo Key website and YouTube, some sort of fame is guaranteed. You’ll also win a $500 U.S. savings bond and year passes for four to CoCo Key. There may be other prizes depending upon the water park. For example, Cherry Valley Lodge in Newark, Ohio and the CoCo Key at the Shereton Cincinnati North are kicking in other goodies to bring the total win to a $1,250 value.

Here’s what’s great about the competition even if you don’t win. You get practice auditioning. Maybe you won’t win this time, but it’s a stepping stone to the next opportunity. Practice makes perfect. Right? Luke Adams, the deaf contestant on the Amazing Race tried out four times before he finally nailed it. Although he and his mom didn’t come in first, they did win a Travelocity trip due to their first place Pit Stop landing on this season’s first leg, AND they were one of the three teams to finish the entire race. Not too shabby.

The morale of the story is: “If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.”

If you’re within driving distance to a CoCoKey there are live auditions. The Newark and Cincinnati locations have auditions on May 31 from 10 AM to 3 PM. The first 100 people to try out get a day pass to that particular park. Showing up early is recommeded because space is limited.

I can vouch for the food at Cherry Valley Lodge’s Sunflower Restaurant. It’s superb. We were there at Easter. If you’re in Cincinnati and looking for cheaper eats near the Sheraton, there are several fast food options. We at at a Panera when we went to that CoCo Key last year.

If you are near the CoCo Key in Boston, MA; Fitchburgh, MA; Mount Laurel, NJ; Omaha, NE; Rockford, IL; Chicago, IL; Kansas City, MO; or Waterbury, CT, check with that CoCo Key to find out about live auditions. There are auditions happening at each. Here’s a link to other contest tips. People under 18 can do the video, but parents need to do the submission. The well over 18 years old crowd are welcome too. There’s not an age limit.

Here’s a video of CoCo Key that has the jingle, to put you in the mood.

Continental pilot pension scam, nine disappointed pilots

by Tom Johansmeyer on

Continental Airlines is looking to cash in on pilots who cashed in on a divorce scam. The pilots used sham divorces to divert more than $10 million to their ex-spouses. Post-divorce, the exes cashed in on retirement benefits, and the fliers could stay in the sky – and keep earning.

It’s really pretty simple. A couple divorces. The pilot assigns all pension benefits to the ex-spouse. Then, the recipient goes to a state court and gets an order for a lump sum. After the divorce was final long enough for the money to start rolling in, these couples “reconciled.” Yep, they remarried once the scam was complete.

So far, eight of the nine pilots are gone (either by quitting or being fired). One was rehired, because he promised to repay the cash. Apparently, he didn’t do so fast enough and has been named as a defendant. The spouses are being pursued, as well. Seven of the alleged scammers are men, and two are women.

If you don’t want to believe that greed is responsible for the situation, you can call what these pilots did a Darwinian play to protect their cash. The average pilot on Continental is eligible for a lump sum of up to $900,000 upon retirement. But, some airlines are terminating their pension programs and turning them over to the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corp., which backstops pension plans up to an amount that’s not even close to $900,000. Faced with the prospect of losing their pensions, therefore some are turning to (alleged) fraud.

In addition to the nine who got nailed, other pilots have tried and failed.

Think that’s bad? Click the pictures to read about other women causing problems in the sky: