Time to go travelling

Yes, we're well into July now, and it's time to go travelling - and not just on the #atozroadtrip.

One of the things I enjoy most on the #atozchallenge are the travel blogs.  I don't know why I don't take more notice of them through the year, but it seems to me that picking a travel theme gives you a great opportunity to show off your holiday snaps AND engage with people who have been to the same places, or would like to go to the same places, even from their armchair.

Last April I had a chance to do a little of that because my theme was the NATO phonetic alphabet, which offered me Hotel, India, Lima, Quebec, Sierra and Zulu.  I had a tale or two to tell about some of those, and I hope people enjoyed them.  I am tempted to do a travel theme next year, but I really haven't got enough photos of places beginning with.. well, the usual difficult letters.  But my next holiday (vacation) is to somewhere special, to do something special, so I decided to fit my theme around that and I'm already considering what to put against the other letters!

Are you holidaying (vacationing) somewhere nice this summer (or winter, in the Antipodes)?  I'm thinking hot summer days with a pleasant breeze to stop me melting; shady beaches with waves lapping, palm trees waving, good food and pleasant company.  Nice countryside to walk in would be essential, and a few interesting buildings to fulfil some cultural yearnings would be nice too.  Sounds like I ought to be back in Goa, or somewhere else in India - or maybe substitute the palms for pines and do the Mediterranean - Knossos would be nice, I've always wanted to go there.  Or is Disneyworld more your thing?  How about the Harry Potter world?

My next holiday?  I'm going to the arctic circle to see a total eclipse of the sun - next March.  So that's E for Eclipse sorted out!

Did you miss these travelling posts on the @AprilA2Z?
Natasha's eXpress - http://natasha-pointstoponder.blogspot.in/2014/04/x-for-saraighat-express.html
Reflections En Route did Lithuania http://www.reflectionsenroute.com/l-lithuania-az-challenge/
A Taste of Travel did a restaurant tour: http://atasteoftravelblog.com/2014/licata-home-of-sicilys-best-restaurant/
Bob Sanchez is one of many who did G for Grand Canyon! http://bobsanchez1.blogspot.co.uk/2014/04/g-is-for-grand-canyon.html
and Jennifer Garcia did Florence, among other places http://jenniferfgarcia.com/2014/04/07/a-z-challenge-4/

My 2p in the Blogger or Wordpress for following blogs is solved by pinning them to a Pinterest page for A to Zs  :)

See my blog at http://jemimapett.com and follow the news of my Princelings of the East series at http://princelings.co.uk.  The sixth book, Bravo Victor is FREE 9th and 10th July on Amazon worldwide (last chance!)

Here's An Idea!: My Vacation Scrapbook (#atozchallenge)

Northern terminus of California State Route 23 outside Moorpark (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

            So how's your summer going so far?   I'm on the road right now.  Actually I've settled in for a few weeks at my mother's house in East Tennessee.  I'm enjoying time with family and hopefully will have a chance to see some old friends.   But the main purpose of the trip is to spend time helping my mother and just hang out with her.   I don't get to see her very much since I moved to California 23 years ago.

           I'll also be visiting my daughters in New Jersey and Houston and have some special times with my grandkids.  Don't get to see any of them nearly enough either.  The family is scattered and that means a major vacation trip in order to see everyone.

           So what's all this have to do with the Blogging from A to Z April Challenge?  Well, since I'm doing a series about coming up with theme ideas for the 2015 Challenge (visit Part 1 here), I thought why not use this summer's activities as a basis for your blogging theme in April.  It's kind of like the "What I Did During Summer Vacation" essays you probably had to do back when you were in school.  Same thing for your month long A to Z theme except you can get super detailed and add pictures.

          Travelling affords so many inspirations and opportunities for good blog post ideas that you can not only use them now, but you can still organize them later for your April A to Z theme.

Here's a Few Ideas:

• I Spy Travel Game--This is always a good way to entertain the kids if you're in the car for a long ways.  Have them look for something that starts with the letter A and so on through the alphabet.  And while they're playing the game find some inspiration of your own for your April theme.
• Places A to Z--When you're traveling you come upon all sorts of place names that will range through the alphabet.  Towns, streets, rivers, mountains. and all sorts of other place names will give you ideas for every letter.  Make a list as you go for reference later on.
• Business names--This is one I've been tempted to do.  Use the restaurants you eat at, the places you stay, stores you shop in, or just businesses you pass by.  Take pictures of them if you can.  If you have time you can even interview the owners or customers to add some dimension to your blog post.  There are plenty of businesses from Aamco to Zaxby's and you can fill up your theme fast.  And you don't even have to leave your home town to do this one.

      This is just to get you started.  Get your creative mind to working and I'll bet you can come up with a lot more ideas that will keep you busy while on your vacation.  Have fun with it!

          Be sure to visit Wednesday's post with more on this idea and some links that might inspire you.

          What travel games did you play as a kid or do your kids play now?     If you're traveling during the summer, where will you be going?   What are some other A to Z themes you can think of that relate to travel?

Related articles

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• Shifting Gears to Locate the Hottest (Blog) Spots on A-Z North #atozchallenge #roadtrip
• #AtoZChallenge: "B" is for BALBOA PARK
• #AtoZChallenge: Letter A for Arkansas

Downhill Slide Begins

Steel Force and Thunderhawk roller coasters at Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom in Allentown, Pennsylvania (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

         Has this year seemed to be going extraordinarily fast for anyone else besides me?

          We've hit July and that means we're at the top of the roller coaster and on the downhill side.  Yikes!  There's a wild ride ahead with summer (for those of us in the Northern Hemisphere) wrapping up and a parade of holiday seasons to follow.   Many schools start back in August now.  So much for those long drawn out summers like I used to have when I was a kid.

          Before we know it Halloween will be history and cooler weather will be gusting in--a welcome respite for many who have been experiencing record high temperatures this year.  I'd say more than a few are looking forward to snow and colder weather.

          Of course that colder weather brings NaNo November for the writers, Thanksgiving for those who love to eat, and all of the December holidays for all of the rest of us.   And then it's another year--2013!   The next A to Z is just around the corner it seems.

           Maybe we need to slow down and get back to July.  Oh, sure, we can keep stimulating the A to Z brain for ideas for next year.  Perhaps a few of you will even start writing a few posts as flashes of inspiration hit you.  That's fine, but that flying time has got to be grounded.

           How about a walk on a mountain trail?   Head for a glacier I'd say.  Or bask at the beach if the sun and salt spray is your thing.   Drift on a lake or down a river in a canoe or kayak.  Visit the zoo or an air conditioned museum.   And speaking of AC, there's always the mall.  So much to do and a lot of it can be found right close to home.

         Of course, you could do like I'll be doing for the next few weeks.  My wife and I will be driving cross-country to spend a few days with a daughter in Houston, Texas and then heading on for a few days with relatives in Orlando, Florida.   With about eight 12-15 hour driving days and other days filled with family activities, I have a feeling that I won't be doing too much on the computer during that time.

          And here I thought I was going to be doing some serious writing this month of July.   Well, there is August.  I hope I can manage to keep that month under more control.

          Hope you're having a great summer--or winter if that's what it's like where you are.

           What are your summer plans?   Anybody just staying around the house and doing things there?   Are you going anyplace unusual?    Are you ready to do an A to Z Blog guest post?   Let us know if you are.  We've got some open dates to fill.

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