If you love travel then you likely get excited about upcoming trips, whether they’re two weeks abroad or a long weekend at the beach. But not everyone feels the same way when they’re forced to take shorter breaks or settle for a local locale (otherwise known as the dreaded “staycation”), which many people are doing these days as much for economic reasons as because of time constraints.

Whether traveling near or far, enjoy where you are. Photo: laudu

But fear not! Spending time somewhere within driving distance can be just as enjoyable as vacationing thousands of miles away—and you don’t have to worry about airport hassles to boot.

1. Pick a nearby place you’ve never been to but always wanted to visit. Often we overlook what’s practically in our backyard because we figure it will always be there or it’s too close to home to count as a vacation. Make it special by staying at a top hotel or resort, add spa time, and definitely book at least one romantic dinner during your stay.

2. If you’re returning to a destination, create a theme for your travels. On a recent trip to Philadelphia—a place my better half and I have visited many times—we decided to make it our mission to find the best Philly cheese steak in the city. (I’m writing this up for another publication so you’ll have to wait for the results.) We interviewed locals for their picks, and it was fun to compare notes and explore new neighborhoods we never would have otherwise. You can do this for food, museums, sporting events, the arts, architecture, just about anything.

3. Add a volunteer activity. Voluntourism is a hot travel trend that adds a memorable element to your trip, whether you’re helping with sea-turtle conservation, planting trees or working the line at a soup kitchen. Check with local resources, such as churches, environmental organizations and animal shelters for needs. Other resources: Habitat for Humanity and VolunTourism.org.

4. Use technology. For online research, start with tourism bureau Web sites, which often have the latest news on attractions, events and hotel deals. Other sites and blogs that can help make planning easier include the new Bing.com, making search more targeted; HopStop.com, navigating major U.S. transportation systems; and I’d be remiss if I didn’t include this blog’s parent, TravelMuse, which has POIs, articles, hotels and Web search to aid in research, and offers social networks for planning and itinerary building. Of course smart phones are all the rage for info at your fingertips, and GPS devices come in handy on road trips.

5. Stop calling it a staycation! If beauty is in the eye of the beholder, then I say the same applies to travel. Embrace your break and make it a vacation to remember.

On a trip to Chicago, it is practically a requirement to stop off at the city’s largest and best-known museum: the Field Museum. The Field regularly hosts several exhibits, which in the past have ranged on subject from Pompeii to dinosaurs. While planning my recent trip to Chicago, I made sure to check out the Field Museum’s Web site to see what kind of goodies were in store for me. Imagine my excitement when I saw that the museum’s newest exhibit was all about pirates!

Real Pirates, which opened at the Field Museum on Feb. 28, traces the story of the Whydah, a slave ship that became a pirate ship after being captured by the formidable Captain Sam Bellamy, an 18th century pirate known as “Black Sam.” The exhibit features real pirate treasure along with a host of other pirate artifacts found in the wreckage of the Whydah. After a massive treasure hunt and excavation effort by underwater explorer Barry Clifford, these artifacts offer an interesting view on what pirate life was really like.  

The exhibit begins where the story of the Whydah begins: during the slave trade. The ship was one of the most advanced of its time and made several trips along the Atlantic slave trade route exchanging goods and human cargo. The exhibit goes into more depth than I expected for it to on the slave trade, displaying many artifacts and documents, such as human bills of lading.

After Black Sam captured the Whydah in 1717, the ship turned from slave ship to pirate ship and was said to be the prized boat in the infamous pirate’s extensive fleet. From sailor knot tying techniques to a life-size replica of the stern (that’s the back) of the Whydah, this section is definitely the highlight of the exhibit. Meet Black Sam’s crew, which includes a Native American man named John Julian to a boy no older than 11 named John King.

In this section, artifacts that were painstakingly extracted from the briny sea are on display. Everything from pirate forks, to pirate treasure, to pirate belt buckles, to pirate—well, you catch my drift. The end of the exhibit documents the amazing process of how all of the artifacts, which were thought to be lost to the sea forever, were discovered, recovered and restored.

I would HIGHLY recommend this exhibit for people of all ages. The children at the exhibit seemed to love the interactive parts, where they could touch real pirate treasure, as well as learning cool pirate facts. Even the young-at-heart seemed to love learning about the days of swashbuckling and scallywags.

On Thursday, March 19, Scottsdale, Ariz., will kick off the Glass Act Festival ArtWalk, a combination of two of the city’s most beloved events, the Scottsdale ArtWalk and the annual Scottsdale Arts Festival. Starting at 7 p.m., residents and visitors alike can stroll down Main Street and Marshall Way and peruse work by some of the area’s most celebrated artists. Learn how to become a glass master yourself by watching one of several flameworking demonstrations given by professionals. A Glass Act is great for residents or visitors on a budget: Enjoy free admission, free trolley service to the event or free parking. 

If you’re willing to spend a few bucks, for $65 you can take a behind-the-scenes tour of the exciting glass medium. One of the tour’s highlights is a backstage look at celebrated glass artist Dale Chihuly’s installation at the Desert Botanical Garden. Afterwards, enjoy a private glass-art reception from three art galleries in the Scottsdale Arts District. The tour starts at 1 p.m. on Thursday and will end in time for the ArtWalk’s opening.

The ArtWalk is just an appetizer for the weekend-long celebration of everything art in the Arizona desert. The 39th Annual Scottsdale Art Festival starts on Friday, March 20, at the nearby Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts. Nearly 200 jury-selected artists using a variety of media showcase their unique work, with everything from textiles to glass to photography. The festival also features of variety of musical performances from performers of many genres, a kids’ area, as well as food and beverages. Starting on Saturday, art connoisseurs can participate in an online art auction. Admission to the Art Festival is $7 for adults and $5 for kids. Two-day passes can be purchased for $10.

Although Hurricane Katrina may be a distant memory for some, it’s anything but that in New Orleans. In the tourist areas of the French Quarter or Garden District, you might not see much evidence of the deluge suffered by the city in 2005, but other parts of the city are still reeling.

While merely visiting the Crescent City and spending your tourist dollars certainly helps local folks, another great way to help is volunteering some of your time. Here is information on a few of the many options available in for volunteering in New Orleans.

The St. Bernard Project began rebuilding homes in nearby St. Bernard Parish in August 2006. As of January 2009, more than 10,000 volunteers have helped them. In one day, you can paint a small house, install a floor or spackle walls. Tel. 504-277-6831, ask for the volunteer department. www.stbernardproject.org

The 2009 goal for Habitat for Humanity is to build 100 homes in New Orleans. That may seem small, but imagine the 100 families who are displaced in trailers or living in temporary housing across the country, just waiting for those homes. Tel. 504-861-4121. www.habitat-nola.org

HandsOn New Orleans has projects from building in the Lower 9th Ward to serving meals to gardening. The organization can even provide housing for up to 50 volunteers per night in its volunteer home. Tel. 504-483-7041. www.handsonneworleans.org

For additional ways to help, visit the Voluntourism section of the New Orleans Convention & Visitor’s Bureau Web site.

While I’m a major fan of some of the swanky New Orleans restaurants, like Lüke, Bayona and Commander’s Palace, most often I eat at the small neighborhood joints. Some of my favorites include:

Port of Call. This is the place to go if you have a hankering for hamburgers. Award-winning, half-pound burgers are served along with fat, baked potatoes. Steak and pizza are also available. Wash it all down with a tropical cocktail, like the Neptune’s monsoon or the windjammer. 838 Esplanade Ave., tel. 504-523-0120. www.portofcallneworleans.com

Coop’s Place. One quick glance into this spot on Decatur Street, and you might just pass it by, thinking it’s merely a small watering hole. Venture in, however, and take a gander at the menu on the wall. Coop’s serves up delicious jambalaya, gumbo, pasta dishes and more. To top it off, the chef uses house-smoked tasso (a seasoned, smoked pork) in a few dishes (like the crawfish and tasso pasta), so start with those for sure. 1109 Decatur St., tel. 504-525-9053. www.coopsplace.net

Domilise’s Po’boys. Hit this Uptown bar before the lunch rush to get a seat at the counter. And if you find yourself in line—wait. It’s worth it. Some folks prefer the shrimp po’boy, others dream of the fried oyster, hot smoked sausage or roast beef po’boy—they’re all great. Add a bag of Zapp’s chips to your order, and wash it down with an Abita beer. 5240 Annunciation St., tel. 504-899-9126.

Verti Marte. You’re seated in the perfect bar in the French Quarter or Faubourg Marigny. The only problem: It doesn’t serve food, and you’re hungry. Do you get up to find a meal, or wait a while and savor your great New Orleans moment? Here’s where Verti Marte comes in. With a full menu ranging from breakfast to sandwiches to entrées, they’ll deliver to your perfect bar. You can also walk in and order directly from the counter. My favorite dish? The grilled shrimp po’boy with “wow” sauce (a spicy, creamy sauce). No, it’s not on the menu. Order it anyway. 1201 Royal St., tel. 504-525-4767. www.vertimarte.com

Those folks who took French classes in school (or are native speakers) might breathe a sigh of relief when planning a New Orleans vacation. Settled by the French, right? A lot of French place names, right? All of them pronounced like the French do, right? Right, right and wrong. For example: Chartres Street is CHAW-tuhs, Burgundy Street is bur-GUN-dee and the Vieux Carré (French Quarter) is the VOO ka-RAY. Throw in the local dialect, and you may have a little trouble understanding the exact question when someone greets you with, “Where y’at!”

Luckily, New Orleanians are an understanding bunch, so if you get it wrong, they won’t laugh at you too much. Take a look at Chuck Taggart’s Lexicon of New Orleans Speech, called “How ta tawk rite.” You’ll be translating for your friends in no time, dawlin’.

Oh, what’s lagniappe? It’s a little something extra, like a baker’s dozen, where you’re charged for 12 but get 13. It also happens to be the name of the Friday entertainment section of the New Orleans Times-Picayune.

Take a look at our New Orleans: City of Dreams article for more New Orleans vacation planning.

Plan on making it to the Super Bowl, someway, somehow? Here are some hotels in the Tampa/[St. Petersburg|http://www.travelmuse.com/destinations/US/FL/103/saint-petersburg], Fla., area that are still available (some are even affordable), if you just can’t miss the biggest day in football.

• Ramada Inn, St. Petersburg. Just three miles from downtown St. Petersburg and 20 minutes from Raymond James Stadium, the Ramada Inn St. Petersburg offers pigskin-patrons amenities such as a heated pool, fitness center, two onsite restaurants and complimentary breakfast. Rates start at $149 per night for one king bed room.

• Alden Beach Resorts. Get the best of what the Tampa Bay area has to offer with sun and sports. Stay right on the beach at the Alden Beach Resorts. Starting at $239 per night, travelers get an in-room kitchenette, access to the fitness center and free Internet. Even if you can’t land those sought-after tickets, you can tailgate at the resort’s beachside bar and enjoy its barbeque grill, right by the two Alden Beach Resort pools.

• Renaissance Vinoy Resort. If you want to make a trip out of your Super Bowl pilgrimage, try the Renaissance Vinoy Resort, a hotel featured in our Tampa/St. Pete Hotels article. The hotel features free high-speed Internet, fitness and business centers, two pools, 18 holes of golf and a 12-court tennis complex. This historical hotel runs for a manageable $379 per night, a steal considering its beachfront location and that it’s less than 30 minutes from Super Bowl XLIII.

For more information about things to do in Tampa and St. Petersburg, read our coverage of Ybor City, Tampa Bay Tours,Tampa and St. Pete for Families and, for family travel information, check out  and our Busch Gardens Tampa article.

Maybe it’s because I’m going to New Orleans for Mardi Gras in less than a month, but I have food and drink on the brain. Last week, I blogged about the Napa Valley Mustard Festival. This week, it’s the 2009 South Beach Food & Wine Festival you should add to your list.

A four-day fiesta of food and wine (Feb. 19 to 22) awaits you in Florida’s South Beach. Festival highlights include the Perrier-Jouët BubbleQ hosted by Tom Colicchio ($350), Wine Spectator “Best of the Best” ($350) and the Whole Foods Market Grand Tasting Village ($212.50). Get your event tickets soon, however, because popular events such as the Amstel Light Burger Bash hosted by Rachael Ray and the Barilla Interactive Cooking Lunch hosted by Guy Fieri are already sold out.

Those of you with money to burn can get tickets to Viva España: The Wines and Foods of Spain celebration, held in the presence of the King and Queen of Spain. It’s only $1,000 per person, so what are you waiting for?

With food personalities such as Emeril Lagasse, Rick Bayless, Paula Deen and Mario Batali, how can you not go? My excuse is that I’ll be in New Orleans. What’s yours?