We’ll always have Wilmington

So there I was, at my desk at work, drowning in burnout, when I get an email from my good friend whom I met in grad school. She wanted to know if I wanted to take a trip to Wilmington, Delaware to see a one-man play both written and performed by the TheBlackTraveler’s very own Travel Contributor, Cornelius “Life” Jones. I swear, somewhere in the background I heard hymnal music. It took me a record 3 seconds to plan my route of escape before I clicked “reply” and told her that I definitely would be able to make it. I know a lifeline when I see it.
Now, I don’t see my friend often enough, especially since she moved to the New York City area this past spring, and it would be wonderful to hook up again to catch up. I took 95 up, she took Amtrak south, and we met at Sheraton Suites, our hotel for the night, in downtown Wilmington.

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A grown up Palms

I was definitely biased. Television had poisoned me to believe that this hotel would have nothing but college boys on Spring Break and celebrities acting crazy. But I wanted something different this trip to Vegas and off the strip. I figured I would spend my days at the spa and hide out in my room if needed. But luckily my worries were unnecessary. The Palms Resorts have a new property, Palms Place, which not only leaves all the images of the original two Palms properties behind but it is the perfect example of a boutique hotel.
If you arrive in the main Palms lobby as we did you have to cross the casino and take the skybridge over to Palms Place. These few minutes not only transplant you to your hotel but to another world entirely of muted colors, no noise from casino gamblers, chic restaurants and a quiet ambience. I think I am going to like it here.

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All Aboard - Tips for Cruising

My girlfriends and I love to travel but as much as we love to delve into the deep, we often find ourselves stuck in the shallow end of the pool, and our purses.  Never the types to be discouraged, we have found a wonderful way around our monetary hindrances…cruising!  What better way to see a variety of cultures and landscapes, make sure you get plenty of sun, sand, breathtaking views of the ocean, and all the food and beverages (non-alcoholic/non-carbonated) you can handle at one reasonable price?  If you’re ok with sharing a room with friends (up to 4 in a cabin), are willing to be understanding of the culinary attempts to feed thousands of people practically 24 hours a day on limited refrigeration and freezing systems, don’t mind being around lots of couples and families, and want to get a little taste of a few places, then cruising is for you and yours my friend.

To learn about a recent trip I made with my friends and to hear my tips for cruising, view my article at Escape Together in their Featured Section.

A Book Addicts Fix

It is said that the first step of seeking help for an addiction is admitting that you have a problem. Here’s mine. I admit I have an addiction with books. Reading, collecting, spending precious free time anywhere books are found, I am guilty. And I love it. If you are like me, though, you can’t see paying your hard earned gas money on a book you could get for free, am I right? And by free, I mean yours to keep–not having to return it to the library a few weeks later (and incur $3.25 in overdue fees in the process). Here’s my go-to spot for such gems: The Book Thing of Baltimore. This place is a haven for people like me. Shelves and shelves filled with all types of books, on any topic: fiction, non-fiction, magazines, children’s books, and even encyclopedias. Romance your thing? Got it. Traveling to Istanbul? Look no further. Want the newest best-seller? It’s there. All they ask is to sign a roster with what you’ve taken and to be greedy. Seriously. They also accept donations, so you can get rid of the books that have been cluttering your life for years. I always find something to add to my overflowing bookcases. I guess there are worse things to be addicted to.
The Book Thing of Baltimore, Inc.
3001 Vineyard Lane
Baltimore, MD 21218
(410) 622-5631
Open Sat-Sun, 12pm - 6pm