Welcome to the December issue of The Traveler!

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from The Traveler!

We're closing our office a little early today so The Traveler staff can go out and finish their Christmas shopping. Perhaps next year we'll be more organized - but we doubt it. What we do have for you, our faithful readers, is our holiday issue of The Traveler.

Keeping with our tradition, we start off our feature articles this month with The Traveler's popular Christmas in San Francisco; exploring once again how the City by the Bay celebrates the holidays. Then we take a long hard hike through western Crete's unforgettable Samaria Gorge. Finally, we take a trip to Myrtle Beach in winter; put on a coat and have the place (almost) to yourself.

Next, we offer a classic John Steinbeck travel tale. One of our favorites here at The Traveler, we're always proud to have Steinbeck included as our Travel Writing Pick-of-the-Month.

And then we've got our monthly pick of travel ideas, resources and bargains. You'll find getaways to beat those post-holiday blues, ideas to start planning your adventures for 2005, and lots more!

Enjoy and Happy Holidays from The Traveler!

Feature Articles

Christmas in San Francisco
The Traveler's yearly look at magical city at Christmastime.

Ah... Samaria
Hiking the breathtaking Samaria Gorge.

Winter in the Redneck Riviera
Enjoy a popular summer tourist spot without all the tourists.

Travel Writing Pick-Of-The-Month

This month we feature John Steinbeck's classic and Nobel Prize winning story of his travels in 1960 across America with his dog Charley. Steinbeck's evocation of a time in America when the Russian's were the enemy-of-the-day and civil rights was causing unrest in the south awakens a sense of the country on the eve of a tumultuous decade. Steinbeck's observations still speak to us decades later, in our current dangerous and uncertain world. Steinbeck is truly a great writer and always a pleasure to read.
Travels With Charley: In Search of America

Travel Ideas, Resources, and Bargains
 

Elegant Hotels in Barbados and Jazz for the New Year 2005
Beat the winter chill and enjoy world-class jazz at the Barbados Jazz Festival this January 10-16. Elegant Hotels is the official sponsor for accommodations at the festival. They offer five luxury resorts on the island with special packages for festival attendees. Find out more at the Elegant Hotels website.
To find out more about the Barbados Jazz Festival, read our current website feature article.

Magpie Adventures Cycling Tours
Located in Moab,Utah, Magpie operates multiple day guided backcountry mountain bike tours in the Western United States, specializing in Canyonlands National Park, Kokopelli Trail and the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. Magpie has something to offer everyone, from beginning to advanced. To find out more visit the Magpie Adventures Cycling Tours website.

Krishna Jungle Resort-India
Just a short distance from the main entrance gate of Kanha National Park (Village Khatia), the Krishna Jungle resort provides visitors with a truly exciting and rewarding jungle experience. The lodge nests in 8 acres of thick forest and provides an ideal setting for bird watching for a natural history oriented traveler. Find out more at the Krishna Jungle Resort website.

Design Your Own Vacation - InfoHub Specialty Travel Guide
The internet's largest portal on specialty travel. Search over 11,000 guided or self-guided specialty tours offered by over 1,300 tour operators. Get in touch with the tour operators to ask questions, order free travel brochures, and book a tour. Visit the InfoHub Specialty Travel Guide

Exclusive Last Minute Travel Deals Around the World
Last Minute.com offers some of the best travel packages for last minute travel (and not-so-last-minute as well). Beat the post holiday winter blahs and find some fun in the sun! Visit their website to find out more about lastminute.com exclusive travel deals

Take the Chill Off Winter at Wentworth by-the-Sea and Samoset Resort
Sophisticated couples know that some of the best romantic escapes -- and best values -- are available where winter is the off-season. Lovers of dramatic coastal seascapes, rolling countryside, intimate fine dining and romantic firesides, will find their wishes fulfilled at two classic New England resorts, Wentworth By the Sea Hotel & Spa in New Castle (Portsmouth) NH. and Samoset Resort in Rockland (Rockport) ME. Find out more at the Wentworth Resorts website

Papoose Creek Lodge offers winter wilderness photography safaris with Tom Murphy
A unique photographic experience this winter is being offered in Southwest Montana. February 27 to March 5, Murphy will share his photographic expertise and knowledge of the Greater Yellowstone ecosystem as guests enjoy the luxurious accommodations, gourmet meals and hospitality of the Papoose Creek Lodge. The trip will include visits to Old Faithful, Hayden Valley and the Lower Falls. This six-day excursion includes the exclusive opportunity to explore the privately owned, 25,000-acre Sun Ranch, the wintering habitat for 2500-3500 elk as well as many other species of Rocky Mountain wildlife. Get all the details at the Papoose Creek Lodge website.

Romantico Cottage - North Island, New Zealand
A private & peaceful eco-friendly cottage offering organic food and culinary workshops, a short walk from Long Bay Regional Park and beach. Accommodation consists of a single alpine style self-contained cottage in a 7.8 acre property. The cottages sleeps 4 to 6 people. On the ground level, there is a spacious living area with fireplace, kitchen and bathroom with large shower. The cottage affords panoramic views, overlooking Tiritiri Matangi Island and its lighthouse. Find out more about the Romantico Cottage of New Zealand.

All Your Travel Needs In One Place -
Find a flight, rental car, winter vacation, weekend getaway, or the adventure of a lifetime! You'll find everything you need from airline tickets to vacation packages to travel insurance, foreign currency exchange, and passport processing. It's all at TouristTravel.com!

TouristTravel has a new look! With the help of webby award winning web designer Kate Kilbourne, we're rolling out our updated look just in time for the new year. We've done away with some of our clutter and spruced up our site navigation to make TouristTravel.com even more fun, enjoyable, and informative. Make sure to check it out today - and often!

We're always adding new resources and features for your travel and adventure. Make sure to check out the latest by visiting our Home Page.

Return to Tourist Travel

Have a comment or suggestion about a great travel destination, or a particular good (or bad) travel experience? Let us know! Email us your tip or comment and we may include it in a future issue of The Traveler!

Merry Christmas from everyone at The Traveler!