It’s that time of year again where almost everyone is boasting about their Irish heritage (real or not), donning plastic shamrock sunglasses, or downing green beer. All of this talk about St. Patrick’s Day made us ask ourselves, where is the best place to be on March 17th? Here’s our list of the top 7 St. Patrick’s Day parties to put on your bucket list...
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ecbc and Boys & Girls Club of Southwest County are currently developing a partnership plan to expand ecbc's support of the Boys & Girls Club organization. The two organizations will team their resources to bolster community awareness and contribution. Here is a video marking the first joint effort to tell their story and expand awareness about the Boys & Girls Club of Southwest County...
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For those of us who shivered through winter in the northern hemisphere, a vacation south of the equator is tempting indeed. The islands of New Zealand are guaranteed to warm your heart as well as your toes...
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Are you planning a vacation, and would love to take your four-legged friend with you? Most states and Canadian provinces now have accommodations with pet policies for small animals, including Comfort Inn, Best Western, Four Seasons, Lowes, and Westin Hotels. Here are our "Fantastic Five" pet friendly vacation destinations...
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Imagine vacationing in a hotel made of ice and snow! This magical, memorable experience is possible during winter months in several northern global locations.
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From family destinations suitable for the little ones to attractions fit to give you the fright of a lifetime, here are some suggestions for heart-stopping Halloween fun.
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Fall is a wonderful time of year for travel. Whether it be for business or pleasure, traveling this time of year can still be tricky. By following these tips below, you can make travel simple.
For the Business Traveler:
The blaze of Summer will soon die down and Fall is peeking around the corner, no matter how much local temperatures try to defy this fact. What better way to celebrate our changing seasons than planning some fantastic Summer and Fall adventures? Visiting picturesque lighthouses is a perfect activity for the occasion. This week, ecbc explores some of the world's best lighthouse destinations.
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What better way to relax than lying on a sandy beach, waves lapping lazily at the shore? Pack your beach vacation essentials in any one of ecbc’s water resistant back packs, featuring self-repairing, water-sealing zippers to keep your electronic devices safe from the elements, our portable power pack to keep those devices fully charged and head for the beach of your dreams. Take a look at these 5 unique destinations that are among the best beaches in the world.
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Chances are if you’ve been to New York State you went to the Big Apple, yet the state is home to many other unique places. Here are some of our favorites...
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“Go Wild” is the theme for 2015’s National Park Week, from April 19 – 27. Take advantage of free admission the first weekend to visit any one of America’s 59 national parks, including these magnificent locations...
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A trip to Paris necessarily requires visits to the Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe, and the Louvre Museum, but what else is there to see? The answer is lots, including these fascinating sites for tastes ranging from the academic to the macabre.
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Aside from its famous beaches and palm trees, the sunshine state offers visitors many fascinating destinations, including two unique and mysterious sites.
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If your idea of a great escape is a day spent gliding down snow-covered slopes with fresh mountain air in your face, chances are you will love a weekend at one of these Forbes and Snow Magazine top-10 rated ski resorts:
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With the holidays upon us and the winter blues prompting people to begin dreaming about vacations in warmer climates, it is important to take a moment to prepare for the unique travel that is winter travel.
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The 61st annual Quebec Winter Carnival – also known as the Carnaval de Québec – will be held from January 30 to February 15, 2015. The Quebec carnival is the largest winter carnival in the world, and third on the list of all top carnivals behind Rio and New Orleans.
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If a holiday combining the warm California sun, wide open spaces and one of man’s most beloved companions sounds good to you, you might want to consider an equestrian holiday. A quick Google search will turn up dozens of options offering everything from weekends on a dude ranch, to a week or more exploring the coastline, the Sierra Nevada Mountains or the Inyo National Forest. Just imagine yourself spending your days on horseback on one of these exciting excursions, only four of the many equestrian holidays available in the continental U.S.
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Recently, we took a stroll down memory lane to look at the past 50 years of air travel. Much has changed in that time, and looking ahead, we can only assume a similar scale of drastic changes will happen over the next fifty years. Here is a peek at what some say the future of airline travel will look like.
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In the introduction of this series a reference is made to the concept of Holistic Travel which embraces the practical aspects as well as attitudes and philosophies affecting us during travel. As this series develops, please remember that central to this view are these overlapping aspects. Although each aspect of the journey is important, the total experience is determined by everything simultaneously – practical and conceptual. It can turn a blind outing into an amazing expedition. Having traveled the world most of my life, military and civilian, I’ve garnered a wealth of experience. Meeting people and experiencing diverse cultures has the potential to enhance your life. It certainly has mine.
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Traveling via an airplane is getting more and more common with the increase in flight routes, and society’s desire to step beyond their backyard. Statistics from the International Air Transport Association, or IATA, show that around 3.1 billion people flew in 2013, surpassing the 3 billion mark for the first time ever. Originally however, airplane travel was strictly an extravagant luxurious privilege. Airfares were set by the Civil Aeronautics Board and were quite pricey, though with that price came perks that are long gone in today’s air travel. At the same time, we’ve seen improvements to the industry so extreme that travelers today couldn’t fathom it any other way. It’s amazing to realize all of the changes that have occurred in the last 50 years of airline travel. Below are some of the major changes.
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It's About The Journey - Part One
Life is a journey. During this journey, we travel. It can be a hard journey or it can be made a lot easier through a little forethought, planning and preparation. The word travel originated with the term travail. The journey was once extremely difficult. With advances in travel, technology and comfort afforded by ergonomics, it can now be an experience of pleasure and wonder. Often in our modern age, humanity forgets the beauty and enjoyment that travel can be due to the fast-paced mentality we’ve acquired. Whether we’re traveling for business or pleasure, we’re in a hurry. The journey needs to be pleasant. We need to pay attention. We need to stop and smell the flowers. If we’re wise or skilled and understand how to be in tune with the world around us, the journey can be absolutely memorable.
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Ever have one of those self-evaluation moments where you wonder if all of the time and effort you’re putting into your daily activities is really worth it? Will the rewards pay off? How long down the road do you need to go before you begin seeing the benefits? One way to combat this feeling is to step back, take a vacation and recharge your body and spirit. Feel even better after your vacation by embarking on a travel volunteer program (popularly called voluntourism.)
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On July 2, 2014, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security directed TSA to enhance security measures. As a result, on July 6, TSA sent out a press release stating “During the security examination, officers may also ask that owners power up some devices, including cell phones. Powerless devices will not be permitted onboard the aircraft.”
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The person who travels for business is often envied by outsiders. It's imagined they're seeing lots of exotic destinations, experiencing new cultures, trying new foods and having far more vacations than the average person. Sounds glamorous, right?
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We are all quite familiar with the fact airline companies are increasingly finding ways to charge customers beyond the initial ticket price. Gone are the days of free checked luggage on most domestic flights. Here, and likely to stay, are the days of packing all belongings into an appropriate carry-on sized bags, all while meeting the ever-increasing stringent limits by Transportation Security Administration on what can and cannot be permitted in a carry-on bag.
In an attempt to reduce costs and frustrations, here are tips on purchasing the most travel-smart carry-on bag to make your travels fee and hassle-free.
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