Local Travel Tip

On a trip to Italy no one can resist the allure of their famous gelato. However, Italians know that tourists are suckers for this delicious treat and they line the streets with gelaterias. With so many choices, how do you find the best? Your best bet is to ask the locals, but if your Italian isn’t up to par, here are some tips to finding the best.

1. Steer clear of big tourist spots. There are always plenty of enticing gelaterias around big tourist areas, but they are usually overpriced and not the best quality.
2. Look for a place with a limited number of flavors. While the stores with dozens of flavors look exciting, they are often not the best quality or most authentic.
3. Explore. Often the best gelaterias are found while just exploring through the winding roads of Italy.

While doing my own exploring in Italy I tried dozens of kinds of gelato. Here is what I found: In Rome, the Old Bridge Gelateria just outside of Vatican City is the best in the city. Inexpensive and delicious! If you find yourself in Siena, avoid the Piazza del Campo and take a stroll down Via dei Rossi. You will stumble upon CopaCabana, not only the best gelato in Siena, but the least expensive as well! If you are a chocolate lover, try their Fondente(dark chocolate).

Enjoy your search to find the best gelato and be daring in your selection of different flavors!

The best honeymoon spot is going to be different for every couple. There are three things each couple should consider when planning where to travel for a honeymoon:

• When the wedding date is and when you can steal away
• How much time you have
• How much money you can spend on your honeymoon

There are three main categories for honeymoon getaways:

1-      Classic- This is traditional image of a honeymoon getaway. The sun, the sand, the beach… and the two of you. This would include trips to places like Hawaii, California, Mexico, Bali, Florida, and the Caribbean.

2-      Tucked Away- This is for couples who want seclusion from the rest of the world. Often these escapes are tucked in the wilderness in a cabin or a bed and breakfast. For this type of honeymoon you can stay pretty close to home or venture away. Just find a charming little town and a nice place to stay.

3-      Sight Seeing- This is for couples who don’t want to miss out on the action. They want to have an adventure honeymoon. Ideas for this include a European tour, China, or any other place that attracts lots of tourists.

The most celebrated time of a long drive is when the parents finally say, “Time to get out of the car!” After a long drive, why drive some more when there are beautiful hikes and horse riding opportunities at some of the most beautiful places in the world? Arches and Zion’s National Parks located in Utah, offer just this opportunity.

With over 2,000 arches, Arches National Park is the largest collection natural stone arches in the world. The same awe that is felt as people marvel at the man-made Colosseum, is felt with these natural wonders. The wind swept red stone is majestic in any landscape photograph.

The 73,000 acre national park in Moab, Utah, has four main sections that attract tourism: The Windows Section, Fiery Furnace, Devils Garden, and Delicate Arch. Delicate Arch is the park’s most famous feature and is used as a symbol for the state of Utah quite often. There are several different hiking trails to accommodate visitors, but be sure to bring enough water! This site is an arid, red desert and very hot.

Delicate Arch

Another must see is Utah’s first and most popular national park, Zion’s. Located by Springdale, Utah, there are endless hiking possibilities through Zion’s breath taking red canyons. The park is open year round for visitors, and it is a completely different experience during different seasons of the year, although this epic scenery is just as beautiful in the summer, with the sun emphasizing the red, as in the winter with snow.

Zion's National Park