LIFE Archives | TRAVELS WITH TAM

Think and Pray for the Victims of Orlando

June 12, 2016 By Tam Warner 2 Comments

I wanted to publish today, but I find myself unable to. The tragedy which unfolded in Orlando over the weekend dominates my thoughts.

Instead of writing about travel, or my life, today, I just want to say, hold the victims in your heart, along with their families. What has occurred is unspeakable, but it will happen again. Hatred and Violence are beyond my comprehension, and I don’t even know who, or what, to blame. I don’t think it matters. What matters are the lives lost, and the lives irretrievably damaged.

Truly, I am speechless with horror.

If you want to help, please click on this link. http://time.com/4365295/orlando-shooting-pulse-nightclub-victims-help/

I LOVE MY ONESOLE SHOES!

May 30, 2016 By Tam Warner 4 Comments

As a frequent traveler I always have problems deciding on which shoes to take. Shoes are bulky and heavy, and it is so frustrating trying to fit them all in. Those days are over for me, as I have discovered the solution: Onesole!

Onesole, Onesole shoes, travels with tam — My Onesoles arrive!

Dominique McClain Barteet, RPh. invented Onesole shoes when she bought three of the same shoes in different colors. Onesole–Quick Change Artist is her brainchild, and I only wish she had discovered it sooner! I wanted to try some for myself while traveling, and Onesole was kind enough to allow me to review them. They are fabulous!

The way it works is this: buy one or two soles, and as many tops as you want! I chose black, seastars, glitter, and leather strappies. Four looks and only one sole. As you can see above, they are packaged perfectly for traveling. I wore my seastar tops on the plane and tucked the other three tops in my luggage. Easy!

Dominique has been on Shark Tank with her Onesoles, and the product is sold in over 80 countries and features over 3000 different tops and over 20 sole bases! The online store is www.onesolestore.com. Your choices are amazing! And one of the very best reasons to buy Onesoles? They are made in the good old USA, and we all know how rare that is these days!

And here is the funny thing: my cousin met me in Cozumel for a week of diving, and I excitedly showed her my new shoes. She showed me her shoes…they were Onesole! We both wore our Onesole shoes all over Cozumel! She said she’d had them for several months and whenever she travels, they go with her! Great minds think alike.

Whether you are a traveler or not, you really do want to try these shoes! They are incredibly versatile. The soles are so comfy, and conform to your feet as you wear them. In 3 weeks I will be off on a month long journey, from chilly Sydney, Australia (it is winter there) to Nusa Penida and Seminyak, Bali, to Komodo, to Cairns, Australia and the Great Barrier Reef! You will see photos of my shoes all along the way! I’m serious, so FOLLOW ME on Twitter (@TravelwithTam), Instagram (@TravelswithTam) and Facebook (Travels with Tam). And don’t forget to FOLLOW @Onesoleshoes on Twitter, @Onesoleshoes on Instagram, and Onesole Quick Change Artist on Facebook!

The OC Bucket List Challenge: Visit Buena Park!

May 25, 2016 By Tam Warner 3 Comments

I think everyone knows how much I love the OC! (Orange County, California, of course). When I received word about the OC Bucket List Challenge for Buena Park, I had to copy it down and share it with you right away!!!! These Challenge activities have something for everyone, so pack along the kids and grandparents if you’d like, or just run off by yourself, or with someone for a romantic getaway. Any which way, this trip is a winner!

Buena Park, CA – Immerse yourself in the ultimate Orange County vacation by exploring hot spots that the locals don’t want you to know about. Our bucket list has something for everyone from cruising scenic harbors, hiking to breath-taking vistas and getting sworn in as a pirate to discovering hidden restaurants and splashing around one of the longest water park lazy rivers. Go to VisitBuenaPark.com/Challenge to take the challenge this summer and see how many you can check off your list!

Buena Park, Orange County, CA — Scenic Harbor Cruise

1.) Get Launched 83 Miles-Per-Hour in 2.3 Seconds on Xcelerator

Enjoy over 30 exhilarating rides including the famous Timber Mountain Log Ride, visit the loveable Snoopy and the Peanuts Gang at Camp Snoopy and pan for gold at the only authentic 1880’s Ghost Town at Knott’s Berry Farm in Buena Park. Save $33 on adult and $7 on kid’s admission at VisitBuenaPark.com/deals.

2.) Be a VIP at the West Coast’s Largest Shopping Center

South Coast Plaza is Southern California’s premier shopping destination and home to over 250 boutiques, personal shopping services and upscale amenities. Stop by the California Welcome Center in Buena Park to pick up a free carousel ride and VIP Passport, full of exclusive offers.

3.) Hike Past Ancient Oak Groves

Irvine Open Space Preserve invites visitors to hike past ancient oak and sycamore groves and rough rock outcrops in Bommer Canyon; conquer the three-mile Orchard Hills loop for a breath-taking vista from Loma Ridge that consumes the coastal ridge; and explore Irvine’s southern wilderness via the Quail Hill Trail, the only trail that allows dogs.

4.) Cheer on Your Favorite Knight

At Medieval Times Dinner and Tournament in Buena Park, visitors are transported back in time to an era of jousting, sword fighting, brave knights and a meal fit for a king. You might recognize the dinner show from several television shows and feature films including the 1996 movie, Cable Guy with Jim Carrey and Matthew Broderick. Get a free Royal Upgrade: VIP seating, cheering banner and more at VisitBuenaPark.com/deals.

5.) Check Out the World’s Largest Surfboard

Huntington Beach offers 10 miles of uninterrupted coastline and an International Surfing Museum. The free museum is home to a 42-foot surfboard that holds the Guinness World Record as the ‘World’s Largest Surfboard’ and an artifact exhibit honoring Hawaiian surfer, Eddie Aikau.

6.) Explore a Presidential Helicopter

At the Richard Nixon Library and Museum, history buffs can step aboard Marine One, the presidential helicopter that traveled the world with Nixon as well as Kennedy, Johnson and Ford. Visitors to the museum will also find an exact replica of the White House East Room, Nixon’s childhood home and the memorial sites of the President and First Lady.

7.) Graduate from Skipper School

Secret tip: After riding the Jungle Cruise at Disneyland®, ask the skipper for a map as you disembark. The maps are given to sailors who complete skipper school by making animal noises from some of the creatures that are seen along the ride.

8.) Salute the Martini Flag and Enjoy the Sunset

Every evening since the 1930’s the bugle is sounded and the “martini flag” is raised at 5pm to signal the end of a work day and time to relax at The Beachcomber Café. Located on Crystal Cove Beach, the restaurant offers outdoor patio seating for watching spectacular sunsets and dolphins playing in the waves.

9.) Brave 63-foot Waterslides on Old Man Falls

Knott’s Soak City, a 13-acre California beach themed waterpark in Buena Park, features one of the world’s longest lazy rivers, a rolling wave pool, dozens of waterslides and kid’s splash area. Save $12 at VisitBuenaPark.com/deals.

10.) Get Sworn in as a Pirate

At Pirate’s Dinner Adventure in Buena Park, Captain Sebastian the Black is seeking new recruits for his crew. Young landlubbers to the “World’s Most Interactive Dinner Show” may be called aboard to take the pirate’s oath and join the crew on their adventure. Save some treasure with a buy one-get one free offer at visitbuenapark.com/deals.

11.) Dine Aboard A Floating Restaurant

Well-known for their delicious brunch and dinner cruises, Hornblower also offers a two-hour Sunset Cocktail Cruise during the summer. The scenic boat ride in Newport Beach includes complimentary appetizers, music and cash bar. Save a boatload with a buy one get-one free deal at Visitbuenapark.com/deals.

12.) Uncover the Hidden Door to a 1920’s Speakeasy

The Anaheim Packing House is a foodie’s paradise, with a collection of unique restaurants, outdoor activities and live music. Hungry patrons will find fresh seafood, made-to-order popsicles, gourmet grilled cheeses and authentic southern food. Want a refreshing cocktail? Well, you’ll have to find it first. Behind a non-discreet wall of sake barrels with a small black rabbit on it lies a speakeasy appropriately named, the Blind Rabbit.

13.) Bonus Challenge – Pig Out on Award-Winning Ice Cream

Take a step back in time to a wildly fun, turn of the century ice cream parlour and restaurant awarded “The Best Thing I Ever Ate” by the Food Network. For over fifty years, Farrell’s has been serving up splendidly oversized ice cream treats like the Pig’s Trough, Hot Fudge Volcano and the mother of all desserts – The Zoo! See if you can devour the oversized sundae, which includes 30 scoops of ice cream topped with chocolate sauce, strawberries, marshmallow, whipped cream, cherries and bananas.

VISIT BUENA PARK
Located just 5 miles from Disneyland®, 10 miles from beaches and 20 miles from Los Angeles is the charming town of Buena Park. A vacation hot spot, the city is home to world-famous entertainment, interactive dinner shows and one-of-kind shopping. For more information contact Visit Buena Park at 800-541-3953 or www.visitbuenapark.com.

Don’t miss out on the Challenge, hurry and book today! They have special offers and deals on just about everything at http://www.visitbuenapark.com/visitors/special-offers/!!!

Being a Mother is the Trip of a Lifetime!

May 13, 2016 By Tam Warner 17 Comments

In many ways, I cannot believe I am a mother. These tiny creatures arrive, and all of the sudden you are responsible for a human life. It can be overwhelming, but there is no doubt that being their mother was the most important thing I have ever done.

mother, mother's day — My first born, Alexandra.

Amazing Women Wednesday: 4 EmptyNest Travel Bloggers

May 4, 2016 By Tam Warner 18 Comments

Since I have been blogging I have met some amazing women online! I attended the Women In Travel Summit in Irvine, Ca in March, put on by Wanderful, and had the good fortune to meet some of these fabulous women in the real world! Four of us have decided that since we are four midlife, emptynest women travel bloggers, it would be four times the fun to work together, support one another, and travel together. So, let’s meet the team!

First, there is Suzanne Stavert of Adventures of Empty Nesters. Her purpose? “What is life without adventure? Now that our kids are grown and happily living on their own, it is time to focus on what we want! I started AdventuresofEmptyNesters.com in January 2014 to help bring together a global community of people who don’t plan to spend this valuable time in life sitting on the couch! As it turns out… Empty Nesters are very creative and interesting people. We write about subjects that affect all types of age groups. Share the website with your kids as well, I bet they will love it! This blog has been a springboard to my freelance luxury travel and lifestyle writing career specializing in midlife experiences. My geographic locations of special expertise: Maui, Los Angeles, Pasadena, San Francisco, Napa Valley, New York, Seattle, San Diego, Orange County, Italy, France, Curacao and Costa Rica.” Check out her website to follow Suzanne on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat!

Sara Broers, of Travel with Sara, is a co-founder of the Midwest Travel Chat, and a lover of the midwest. “A Disney Enthusiast, Universal Orlando Enthusiast, Colorado Enthusiast (a Gulf Coast Beaches enthusiast) and Too Many To List Here! So- If You Appreciate This View~ You Have Came To The Right Place!” Sara travels often, and is a cruise lover as well. “I have grown to adore the beaches and people of the Alabama Coastline. Mountains, beaches and the Caribbean are also favorites. I do still hold a special place in my heart for the midwest. The midwest is home to me and I can guarantee that I can find you a unique place to discover, right in the heart of America. If you appreciate this view, you have come to the right place!” The grass isn’t growing under her feet, she is always traveling. Adventure is around every corner! Check out her website to follow Sara on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat!

Sunny Melody Pittman is the author of Wherever I May Roam blog and loves luxury travel, culture and eats. I say sunny because not only does she have a sunny personality, she likes warm weather and sunny days. She especially loves going on cruises! A part time ex-pat in Panama, she splits her time between traveling, the USA, and Panama. Melody brings her college daughter Taylor to the mix as well! “We love cruising, football, cruising, Broadway, cooking, family, and traveling. We would love to share our journey with you.” She has many restaurant reviews on her site, and practical travel tips as well. Check out her website to follow Melody on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat!

And…there is me! I love luxury as much as my partners in crime, but I am also an adventurous traveler (maybe more than adventurous) who is very conservation and volunteer tourism oriented. I am an avid diver and love trips where I can perform citizen science, whether I am doing fish surveys, photo IDs, or assisting in the field. You can also find me jumping off cliffs (I did have a paraglider), snowmobiling, swimming with whale sharks, cage diving with Great Whites, and enjoying African safaris…the list goes on. I do have the challenge of a husband who had a double lung transplant in 2013, an unexpected journey which has changed our lives, but we are adaptable, and constantly renewing, revamping and reinventing life!

What a team! I do believe almost every type of travel is included, and we are all empty nesters, enjoying this wonderful stage of our lives by traveling, seeking exciting experiences, and meeting new people! We all want to encourage women and midlifers to get out and see the world. By partnering, we are 4 Bloggers who can reach 4 times the audience while having 4 times as much fun! Be sure to follow these fabulous blogs…you’ll enjoy them immensely! If you would like to explore working together, we are at [email protected]!

Easy Ways to Go Meatless Monday!

May 1, 2016 By Tam Warner 18 Comments

It isn’t that difficult to go without meat, at least a day or two a week. I’ve gone from being vegetarian to eating meat/fish/chicken only 2 or 3 times a week. When I do eat meat, I try to eat grass fed, cageless, no antibiotics, no steroids, sustainable. We cannot always be perfect, but we can try!

There are plenty of places online to get vegetarian recipes, but I do want to share with you a few ways to painlessly not eat meat!

meatless, vegetarian — Yum yum yum! I love it!

One of my favorite meals is spaghetti with meat sauce. I make it with a meat substitute, and my favorite is Beyond Meat. This brand is somewhat new to me, but what I have tried, I have loved! Meat from plants is a great way to get your protein, and I agree with their Mission Statement: “We believe there is a better way to feed the planet. Our mission is to create mass-market solutions that perfectly replace animal protein with plant protein. We are dedicated to improving human health, positively impacting climate change, conserving natural resources and respecting animal welfare. At Beyond Meat, we want to make the world a better place and we’re starting one delicious meal at a time.” Find a store that stocks it near you!

I also am a fan of Morningstar Farms. They make all kind of meat substitutes, and the Good Guide, which rates products 1-10 on Health, Environment and Society (how the company treats employees), gives MorningStar a good score. They have all kinds of substitutes, including burgers. You can buy MorningStar in almost any grocery store.

Have you made the pledge to go vegetarian one day a week? How are you doing it? What are your favorite meat substitutes?

By going meatless one day a week you are contributing so much to the planet! Encourage everyone to go meatless one day a week! MAKE THE PLEDGE.

LIFE

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