Multigenerational Travel: Brilliant Or Ill-Advised?

What are the benefits to traveling with your parents? Your aunts and uncles? Your grandkids? Your grown kids and their spouses?

Are you just setting yourself up for a travel disaster?

Is it really worth it?

These are common questions that travelers ask when considering this type of journey. So we turned to some expert travel bloggers to get their advice and tips for taking a multigenerational trip. At the end of this article, you’ll have everything you need to decide whether or not it’s a good idea for you.

What is multigenerational travel?

Multigenerational (multigen) travel is a term that refers to a trip comprised of multiple generations of travelers in the same family. It is not limited to grandparents, parents, and children, although a study done by Preferred Hotel Group revealed that 44% of multigen trips are just that. Among those travelers who took a multigenerational trip last year, the study noted, 77% say it’s something they try to do every year.

So, what are the benefits?

We turned to the travel experts to find out. We asked several prominent travel writers from around the world about their experiences with multigen travel, specifically the benefits. Here’s what they said.

Margarita Ibbott, from www.DownshiftingPRO.com: “For us, multigenerational travel lets us spend some quality time with my mom and mother-in-law. My mother-in-law lives across the country in Vancouver, so we basically kill two birds with one stone: 1) taking a vacation — away from school and work, and 2) spending quality time with our family in an interesting location.”

Margarita Ibbott with her mother and daughter — Margarita Ibbott and family.

Kristen Maxwell, from kidsareatrip.com: “The benefits of traveling as a multigenerational family are countless. My kids have learned about family traditions, respect, patience, manners, kindness, you name it… I think traveling with grandchildren has certainly kept my parents on their toes and taken them out of their comfort zone. They have a lot of routine built into their daily lives, and traveling with our family gives them a chance to get out and see the world again.”

Kristen Maxwell and son with crocodiles in background — Kristen Maxwell and son.

Juliann Wetz, from browsingtheatlas.com: “What I love about this facet of travel is that we can all stand together… We tell stories to each other and share our lives. Travel becomes the conversation starter and quality bonding that I think we all hope for within a family.”

Juliann Wetz on the river wearing rice hat — Juliann Wetz.

What’s the hardest part about multigenerational travel?

Our travel writers agreed: there are challenges to multigen travel.

1. Timing. Getting everyone’s busy schedules to align for a week’s vacation is one of the toughest obstacles to overcome.

2. Managing everyone’s expectations of the trip is another.

Paige McEachren, from Piece of Pie, elaborates on this. “Many grandparents are retired and have a slower lifestyle, which can conflict with energetic children who don’t stop. Trying to plan activities and adventures that everyone will enjoy… takes planning. Younger kids in strollers are no problem. Toddlers and little kids are independent and want to do everything themselves, whereas teens want to do nothing their parents do. Many grandparents are not able to do all the walking, hiking, stairs, etc. that a lot of travel requires. If you are planning the trip you need to take everyone’s physical abilities into consideration and ensure what you do is something everyone can handle and will enjoy.”

3. Not being realistic was another challenge mentioned by Stehli Krause of Mommy and Kid Travel.

“You have to take a good honest look at your group and really ask, what do people like to do?” Stehli says. “What is the group’s budget? Do you prefer outdoorsy stuff versus museums? Do you have young kids who want to run and play during the day? Do you have grandparents who really want to spend a week on a beach?”

Stehli Krause and family on skis — Stehli Krause and family.

4. Accommodations have to be well thought-out. Ninety-five percent of our travel experts said it’s better to opt for a vacation-rental (condo, house or apartment), rather than a hotel. Doing this, they all agreed, provides ample space for everyone to cook, nap, or watch TV without disturbing each other or feeling cramped. However, if a hotel room is the only option, our travelers recommended an adjoining room or suite, as opposed to separate hotel rooms. Nicky Omohundro, owner of the site Little Family Adventure, offered this helpful hotel tip: “If we have to stay in a hotel, I will get two connecting rooms, one for adults and another for kids.”

Some valuable tips for your next multigenerational trip.

1. “Don’t limit yourself,” Ibbott says. “Try different cities, countries and options. Don’t think you can only go to Disney!”

2. Appoint one person as the organizer. “If too many people are involved in choosing accommodation, activities, transportation, etc., things get messy,” advises Maxwell. “Have a go-to person who organizes everything. If no one steps out, divide and conquer. One person accommodation, one person transportation, and so on.”

3. Schedule free time, says Stephanie Montague, of Poppin Smoke, a site that helps retired and soon-to-be retired members of the military community learn how they can take advantage of their retirement benefits to travel. These pockets of time allow everyone to “do what they want, whether that’s seeing another museum, souvenir shopping, or taking a nap. That way everyone gets some down time and the opportunity to refresh. These breaks are best scheduled before everyone starts to get irritable from too much togetherness.”

4. “Don’t be too ambitious and over-plan,” suggests Francesca Mazurkiewicz. The Working Mom’s Travels writer offers this practical tip: “Also factor in more in-transit time. With kids, there are more bags and more STUFF to carry. It can weigh you down. The older folks may not be able to walk or move as quickly and as comfortably as the younger family members. Just keep a loose itinerary and expect to move more slowly than you would if you were traveling alone.”

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Nicky Omohundro and family on mountain bikes — Nicky Omohundro and family.

Where are the hot spots for your next multigenerational trip?

Hyatt Ziva Rose Hall, Jamaica

“The landscape on the resort is amazing and the entertainment is great for all ages,” says Paige McEachren. “The grandparents really enjoyed the piano bar. One of the best parts we enjoyed was the kids having a night with the grandparents while we went to dinner at the adults only Zilara section. The food was also excellent, especially the Brazilian steakhouse.”

North Carolina’s Outer Banks

“The sheer number and variety of vacation rentals guarantee there is an accommodation for every size family and every budget,” says Francesca Mazurkiewicz. “In addition, there are plenty of opportunities to be active and adventurous and just as many to relax and recharge. There is a good mix of activities and attractions to cover everyone’s interests.”

Stratton, Vermont (Winter ski trip)

“There is something cozy and nostalgic about sipping hot chocolate on a cold, snowy night by a warm fireplace with those you love,” says Stehli Krause. “It’s a time forgotten kind of experience. Since most activities occur during the day; skiing, tubing, snow-mobile rides, ice skating, everyone is so tired at night they just want to share a delicious meal and spend time indoors recanting the events of the day.”

Paris, France

“There is such a variety of sights to see, culture to soak up and activities to participate in,” says Juliann Wetz. “There are also plenty of parks for children who need to burn off some energy, and places to sit or cafes to relax at for those family members that want to spend a little more time relaxing.”

Quebec City, Canada

“It is very eclectic,” gushes Margarita Ibbott. “A UNESCO World Heritage site (history, culture, festivals)… and with this being a primarily French-speaking population, their accent is enchanting. For the kids, there are parks (The Plains of Abraham), an aquarium and just 30 minutes away, one of the best canyon/waterfalls/nature parks around – Canyon St. Ann. You can take a day cruise on the St. Lawrence, go whale watching or walk around 17th century cobblestone streets. It has it all!”

Yellowstone National Park

“Families can go hiking together,” says Nicky Omohundro, “relax at the lodge, take a chartered tour, enjoy great food, and experience the wonder of Yellowstone’s majestic beauty.”

We hope this article helped you plan your next (or maybe your first) multigenerational vacation. Here’s to making memories!

What Is Mystery Travel And How Does It Work

When it comes to travel, I’m a planner. Half the fun of a trip is figuring out all of the details ahead of time. And yet, there’s undoubtedly something to be said about a surprise vacation where the adventure that awaits isn’t entirely in my control. Mystery travel is among the growing trends for travelers seeking new experiences and willing to put their trip in the hands of someone else, in most cases, without even knowing where they’re headed until they’re at the airport. And I have to admit, the more I look into this novelty, the more intrigued I am by the idea of heading off to parts literally unknown.

What is Mystery Travel?

Just as the name implies, mystery travel means taking a trip you didn’t plan out yourself, and possibly not knowing the destination until it’s time to go. Of course, there’s nothing to stop you from asking a loved one to take your travel budget and plan out a fun getaway without telling you where you’re going or what you’ll be doing when you get there, however those looking for professional assistance with their mystery travel arrangements have the option of booking a mystery travel package where the ins and outs are handled by the experts. There are actually entire travel sites dedicated to creating a mystery travel experience.

How does a Mystery Travel Package work?

The process of booking and experiencing a mystery travel package seems to vary from one site to the other. Some offer U.S. domestic trips only, while most of the others we looked at offer both domestic and international packages. Some will tell you where you’re going after it’s booked if you really want to know, but most prefer to keep that secret from you until much closer to your trip. As for pricing, at least one of the sites we researched has fixed options for regular and luxury packages, while others let you set the budget and they’ll build a trip around that. And from what we’ve seen, all of them emphasize taking your personal travel preferences into account, which is nice for those with specific preferences as it relates to climate, activities and other factors. Your date preferences are obviously also taken into account, so you shouldn’t need to worry about being sent off on vacation at an inconvenient time.

We’ll get into more details about some of the services offered and how they work below.

Where can I book a mystery travel package?

One quick google search for “mystery travel” yields a number of options, so we suggest you do your research and go with the company that seems like the best fit for what you’re looking for. They tend to vary based on the options available, pricing and the level of mystery involved. Here are some of the services we found in our search…

Pack Up + Go

Pack Up + Go‘s packages are very specifically set as 3-day weekend trips in the United States. You set the budget, the dates and some travel preferences and they use all of that to book your trip. Then, a week before it’s time to go, they send you information on where you need to go and when in order to get to your destination, as well as the weather forecast for your mystery destination, so you know what to pack and whether or not to bring sunblock and all that. They will also mail you an envelope before your trip, which you’re not supposed to open until it’s time (unless you want to spoil the surprise), which includes how to get to your accommodations, a city guide and a list of recommendations for what to do in your destination.

Cluventure

Cluventure takes the mystery to the next level by incorporating clues into your trip. They book short and longer trips both domestically and internationally, all depending on what package you get. They book the transportation, lodging and activities, and then provide clues for you to unlock both before and during your trip. Their prices are fixed, depending on which package you want and whether you’re up for spending a bit more for the luxury option. For example, a 3-Day trip to somewhere in the U.S. is $900 per person or $1,200 per person for the luxury option. As for the clues, you have the option to set the level of difficulty on them. This sounds like it would be a good fit for people looking to have the whole trip mapped out for them. It also sounds like a sense of fun would be a plus when it comes to the clues, but if you’re booking a mystery trip, it’s probably safe to assume you have that.

Jubel

Jubel offers trips for both international and domestic destinations based on your budget and preferences. You take their survey, they send you a proposal and then in the days leading up to your trip, they’ll send you a bunch of envelopes, each labeled with the date you should open it, so that each destination within your trip can be a surprise. According to Thrillist, at some point between the survey and actual booking process, you’ll speak with someone at Jubel to work out the specifics on budget, travel dates and specific preferences, after which they’ll send you two proposals to choose from.

Magical Mystery Tour

Magical Mystery Tour has you set the budget, give them some preferences and then they work out all of the details from there. According to their site, the cost of a Mystery trip starts at around $1,500 for two people for a weekend trip (the cost for a solo weekend trip is a minimum of $1,100). And of course, that minimum price goes up the more days you add. A few days before your trip, they’ll send you a packet that contains your itinerary and other details about where you’re headed. They suggest you wait until you get to the airport (or wherever you’re departing from) before opening the envelope. And if you’re concerned about not knowing what to pack, don’t worry. They’ll send you a weather report ahead of your trip, along with any other information about what you might need to bring. So if you really want to be surprised up until you’re headed to the airport, you have that option.

The Vacation Hunt

The Vacation Hunt offers a selection of fixed prices for both domestic and international destinations. They also have pricing for all-inclusive vacation packages, which include the cost of food and drinks, airport transfers and on-site resort activities and entertainment. It starts when you take their survey, after which you can choose a surprise vacation package. They’ll give you three options to choose from ranging from 3-10 days. Those who want their activities planned out for them can pay an extra fee for a custom surprise itinerary. About 10 days before your trip, they’ll send you packing tips and weather report, along with the tracking number for the surprise vacation envelope they’ll be sending you a week before your flight. That envelope will include the details of your destination, flight and hotel information and whatever activity bookings and dining reservations might be included.

These are just some of the options we found online for mystery vacations. If this is something you’re considering, we advise you to do your research and read the reviews to ensure you find the best option for you.

In addition to mystery travel, Glamping is another rising travel trend. It’s an option for those who want to experience the outdoors while also enjoying some of the luxuries of the modern world. Here’s a list of great glamping locations across the U.S. for a variety of budgets.

8 Great U.S. Glamping Spots On Any Budget

“I’ve had no peace of mind since we lost America. Forests, old as the world itself… meadows… plains… strange delicate flowers… immense solitudes… and all nature new to art.” – George III, The Madness of King George

One of the greatest things about the U.S. is its vast wealth and diversity of natural beauty. Is it any wonder, then, that camping has become such a quintessentially American activity? Love of untouched wilderness goes back much further than the writings of Thoreau, back to the first inhabitants of this broad continent, who made themselves stewards of all things that breathe and grow.

But you don’t have to rough it to get in touch with the rustic.

Glamping — glamorous camping — is a trend on the rise. These days, you can pitch your tent in style, bringing a touch of luxury into wild places.

Here are 8 great spots to go glamping in the U.S., no matter your budget.

Firelight Camps, Ithaca NY

Price: as low as $189/night

TripAdvisor rating: 4.5 (Certificate of Excellence)

If you’re looking for a camping experience that makes you feel like you’re on safari even while you’re in the lap of luxury, look no farther than Ithaca, in New York state’s Finger Lakes region. The tent furnishings are “safari-inspired”, but with hardwood floors, balconies, sizeable beds, and continental breakfasts. The campsite is on the grounds of the La Tourelle Resort and Spa, so this would make a perfect girls’ weekend getaway!

There’s also a steakhouse on the grounds, you’re surrounded by the secluded woodland trails of Buttermilk Falls State Park, and there are plenty of nearby Finger Lakes vineyards that need exploring. Chop chop! That wine isn’t going to drink itself.

Kids sitting on the balcony, seen from inside luxury glamping tent — Firelight Camps. Photo: RV Share.

Conestoga Ranch, Garden City UT

Price: as low as $160/night

TripAdvisor rating: 4.5 (Certificate of Excellence)

Nestled in the Rockies, near the picturesque Bear Lake, Conestoga Ranch allows visitors to live like pioneers by sleeping in their very own luxury wagons. Except, unlike pioneers, you will have electricity. And fresh linens. And clean water. And you won’t have cholera.

If sleeping in a wagon, even a fancy one, isn’t your cup of tea, Conestoga also has tents that come with en suite washrooms.

This is the perfect place to stay if you want to explore the great outdoors without exactly sleeping there. Bear Lake is close at hand, with the attendant chance to swim or partake of water sports. There are also caves in the nearby mountains if you’re interested in spelunking.

Then you can end your day with a campfire in the hills of Conestoga Ranch.

Want to read more about Bear Lake? Check out Bear Lake: The Caribbean Of The Rockies.

Glamping tent bedroom — A Connestoga Ranch luxury tent.

Huttopia White Mountains, Conway NH

Price: as low as $104/night

TripAdvisor rating: 4.5

Right for your budget, less well-known than some of the other glamping destinations on this list, and blissfully isloated, Huttopia White Mountains is the perfect place to get away from the hustle and/or bustle of your everyday life. In fact, cars aren’t even allowed past a certain point on the site, so you don’t have to worry about hooligans and/or whippersnappers revving their engines all night.

Huttopia has many locations in France plus one in Quebec, but the New Hampshire camp is their first foray into the American market. They offer both tents and chalet cabins, depending on your preference.

There is a pool, a lake, and home-made pizza on offer. There’s also activity programming for both kids and adults, making this an ideal family retreat!

Man and woman have campfire outside wooden cabin in the woods — A chalet at Huttopia White Mountains.

Sorensen’s Resort, Hope Valley, CA

Price: as low as $125/night

TripAdvisor rating: 4.5 (Certificate of Excellence)

On the cusp of Hope Valley in eastern California, south of Lake Tahoe, about halfway between Sacramento and Carson City, Sorensen’s is a glamping resort for all seasons. Lake Tahoe and Grover Hot Springs State Park beckon visitors in the summer, while cross-country skiing and Sorensen’s wood-powered sauna draw them in come winter. There’s also fishing, hiking, snowshoeing, and plain old-fashioned R&R.

Sorensen’s doesn’t offer tents, but a selection of historic cottages and cabins. There is a campground, however, if you want to bring your own tent or RV. There’s also a restaurant onsite if you don’t feel like making (or catching!) your own meal.

If you’re going to book at Sorensen’s, check out their deals and specials here.

Hammock in front of log cabin cottage — Sorensen’s Resort. Photo: Bed & Breakfast.

Blue Bear Mountain Camp, Todd NC

Price: as low as $80/night

TripAdvisor rating: 4.5

If you’re looking for space to play, North Carolina’s Blue Bear Mountain Camp may be just what the doctor ordered. Traditionally a conventional campground, they have recently added glamping to their repertoire with tipis and cabins co-exisiting alongside old-school tents and RV’s.

But I’m using the term “alongside” pretty loosely here: Blue Bear Mountain is low density glamping. The number of camp sites is strictly limited to protect the 150 acres, meaning you can fish, cook, play guitar, and generally be yourself in piece. You don’t really have to worry about the neighbors here, making it an ideal escape for couples seeking a chance to be alone together in nature.

At an elevation of 4,000 feet, temperatures are seldom too steamy; you can count on the refreshing mountain breeze to blow all your cares away.

Cabin in winter at Blue Bear Mountain, North Carolina — A cabin at Blue Bear Mountain. Photo: Stephen A./Yelp.

Shash Dine’ EcoRetreat, Page AZ

Price: as low as $150/night

TripAdvisor rating: 4.5

There’s no better way to experience the world of the Navajo than by visiting Shash Dine’ EcoRetreat. You can stay in tents, wagons, and Navajo hogans (traditional mud houses) in this land whose history dates back beyond what written or oral tales can tell.

There’s no electricity here, and no running water, but it’s only a 10 minute drive to get supplies. What Shash Dine’ offers in return is tranquility, history, a hearty welcome, a fire pit, and more stars at night than you’ve ever seen in your life.

There are herds of goats and sheep here, and also dogs to shepherd them. So if you’re not keen on canines, this may not be your dream glamping destination.

Shash Dine’ is close to Lake Powell and the Vermilion Cliffs National Monument.

The nearby Vermilion Cliffs National Monument. Wikimedia Commons

Wee Casa, Lyons CO

Price: as low as $189/night

Yelp rating: 4.5

This is a fascinating option for those interested in unique accommodations. Wee Casa is the world’s largest tiny house resort. You’ll find an amazing selection of super fancy RV houses — on wheels, yes, but some of them are two stories. Every one has its own one-of-a-kind theme, including one with a circular door designed to resemble a hobbit home.

This is also an ideal place to stay if you’re looking to explore Colorado’s wild side. It’s close to Lyons, the gateway to the Rocky Mountain National Park. Here, you’ll be close to kayaking, fly-fishing, hiking, biking, and rock-climbing. Plus you’ll get to sleep in the loveliest, cosiest little glamping homes imaginable.

RV mini home in campground with picnic tables — Wee Casa, Lyons CO.

Under Canvas Yellowstone, MT

Price: $209/night and up

TripAdvisor rating: 4 (Certificate of Excellence)

It’s not as cheap as some of the other options, but you’re going to love the tent selection here. There are eight different models to choose from, many of which come with private (flush) toilets, showers, separate sleeping rooms, and decks that offer spectacular views of the surrounding mountains and plains. Whether you’re looking for a romantic tent for two, or a generous multi-room tipi that can sleep up to eight, Under Canvas will be able to accommodate your party.

The fact that the site is only ten minutes from Yellowstone makes it the perfect place for city folk to spend a few nights while exploring America’s most famous national park. Under Canvas also has a restaurant onsite, so you won’t even have to bring your pic-a-nic baskets!

Canvas glamping tent near Yellowstone park — Under Canvas Yellowstone.

Those are the 8 American glamping sites we think are most interesting. What do you think? Have you visited any of these places? Would you go back? Let us know!

Travels With Siegfried: The Weaver Of Lake Inle

For days now I’d felt disconcertingly displaced.

There was jet lag, of course: New York — Frankfurt — Singapore –Yangon. Then there was the weather: autumnal crisp in New England, pre-monsoon jungle sauna in Myanmar. Stepping out of the Strand Hotel onto the chaotic street of the same name felt like sinking into hot soup. It even smelled like Burmese soups: pungent fish sauce, ripe vegetables with a dash of unfiltered exhaust fumes.

And now this: Lake Inle.

Lake Inle, the second largest lake in Myanmar, north of Mandalay in the semi-autonomous Shan State. It is shallow, less than two meters deep. Two meters of water, that is; nobody knows how deep the muck is. One story goes that a barge carrying a Buddha statue covered in 85 kilograms of gold sank a couple of years ago. Nobody ever found it again. And here they are, the fishermen with their unique rowing style: one leg wrapped around an oar, casting their nets.

We are visiting the floating settlements of the Intha people, who, as legend has it, were not allowed to live on land after a tsunami displaced them from their original homes in the Andaman sea. Mei-Mei, our lovely guide, for strange linguistic reasons keeps mispronouncing one of the most important Burmese words: Buddha. “Buddhr,” she says. Buddhr told the people to live on the water. He taught them how to gather masses of vegetation and consolidate them into islands.

We had moored at one of these islands. It was a place where women wove silk and lotus fibers into intricate patterns.

The very ground under my feet was unstable. Slightly shifty and squishy soft.

I was wandering through this rickety village on stilts to try to get myself settled. I needed to walk. Walking always had a settling effect on me. But we’d been on unsettling buses for days. Japanese buses designed for left side traffic — driven on the right. Hair-raising close calls because the driver couldn’t see what was happening on the left. Bus stops reeking of rotten-fish-sauce, and locals — long cut off from western visitors — with a travel zoo mentality toward the occasional tourist.

We were the traveling zoo: Without asking, a man stopped me in my tracks — a military man on holiday no doubt, preemptive and uncharacteristically impolite. He placed his wife to my right and his daughter to my left and crouched for a curiosity photo. It was offensive. I retaliated by draping my arms around his women’s shoulders. Then an old woman who barely came up to my chin, got hold of one of my hairy arms and started pulling on that blond wooly stuff. Not gently either, mind you. The words she muttered, I was sure, were not complimentary: something like: you hairy monkey-person you!

As I tried to get my bearings on the weavers’ island, I was, touristically speaking, and now quite literally on shaky ground.

Traditional Myanmar fisherman on boat, Lake Inle, Myanmar — One of the fisher-folk of Lake Inle. Pixabay / mydaydream

The bamboo catwalk bridging two clusters of houses at second floor level swayed lightly in the wake of a wooden flatboat. Long-shafted outboard motor manhandled by a teenage boy.

When, I wondered, would I slip into my accustomed travelers groove, enjoying myself. Taking pictures of willowy sarong-girls washing plastic tableware, clothes and babies in a murky lake?

I stepped into a narrow doorway to get out of the sun and found myself in a large, airy attic that smelled faintly like linen closet. Or a garment district storefront in New York City. At the far end by the light-slats sat a woman weaving. Her loom a rickety bamboo construction held together with twine and wire, loose jointed like the rest of this floating island world. Yarn, bobbins and piles of fabric were piled on the floor. Their intricate indigo-aubergine-ivory geometric patterns almost impossible to duplicate.

The loom chattered in a staccato voice, dry like bamboo wind chimes. The woman’s hands moved with a life of their own, like a concert pianist’s, steady, unerring with a mesmerizing economy of effort. She sat, almost regally, and, incrementally, made cloth out of loose strands. She worked as if in a trance.

I let go of a long-held breath and felt my body relax. This was so much more peaceful than any of the gilded pagoda chambers. The only mantra here, a soft, dry clickety-clack as the shuttle flew left to right.

The woman acknowledged me with a slight bow of her head — I whispered mingalaba, the Burmese version of namaste.

After quite a while the weaver started talking. In English, no less. Her husband had been a college professor — a transfer “suggested” by the military junta.

He had passed on, the husband. The children — she looked up briefly — all moved away. Her daughters had children of their own. She saw them rarely. Again, her eyes sought mine. She was a handsome woman, mid fifties maybe, a sad woman. She wove time-honored patterns all day long. But it was lonely work.

Minutes passed, the time-capsule held.

She had been a good wife and a good mother. And a dutiful daughter. She was a good cook. She was healthy.

Her body was still strong and straight. She was a good weaver.

Island villages Lake Inle, Myanmar — The island villages of Lake Inle. Wikimedia Commons

Another pause in the monologue:

She still would make a good wife to somebody.

I held my breath again.

She looked over to me and smiled. I remember her teeth as very white and her eyes large and dark. Her hands, though, never stopped dancing with the loom.

Slowly, too slowly, it dawned on me that the lady I had intruded upon was more than a weaver of fine cloth; she also wove threads of lives.

You see, there is nothing accidental or random in Burmese Buddhist life, an old golden Sri Lankan brocade of karmic threads and Tibetan demon spells. Our lives were meant to intercept.

Fortunately my weaver-shaman was benevolent. She smiled.

We both smiled — a minute bow from the waist — and she let me go.

Tourist Dies While Visiting National Monument

A Belgian tourist died of exposure to the heat yesterday while hiking in Arizona’s Vermilion Cliffs National Monument, just south of the Utah border.

Christophe Pochic, 49, was hiking the popular 6-mile route with his son, 16. Pochic apparently became disoriented and got separated near the Wave, a unique rock formation with swirling erosion patterns.

Cellphone reception is notoriously patchy out in the National Monument, but the son was able to phone his mother and alert her to the fact that his father had vanished and required assistance. The mother then notified the authorities.

The son searched for three hours, assisted by fellow hikers, but to no avail. Pochic’s body was found by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) two hours later, on Monday evening.

Kane County sheriff’s Sgt. Alan Alldredge pointed out that this is the first death in Vermilion Cliffs National Monument since 2013, when a trio of hikers succumbed to the heat.

In a press release, BLM noted that temperatures have been extremely high of late, and that the region’s iconic rock formations only drive them up. They advise hikers to leave early in the day and return early to avoid danger.

But the tragic death of Christophe Pochic raises important questions about safety and preparation in Vermilion Cliffs National Monument.

The Wave rock formation, Vermilion Cliffs National Monument.

Only twenty people are allowed to make the hike each day, and the tickets are dispensed by lottery. Normally if you win a ticket, it’s for the following day. However, the Crawfords, two fellow hikers, say Pochic and his son were given same-day tickets that weren’t being used.

After winning their tickets, the Crawfords say Pochic and other hikers were treated to a BLM seminar about the potential dangers of hiking the Monument. But by that point, it was nearing midday and the head of the trail was still an hour-and-a-half drive away.

“[Pochic] actually got up before the session ended and said, ‘I really have to go. I have a really hot hike ahead of me,'” Rich Crawford told Fox 13 in Salt Lake City.

The Crawfords commended BLM for providing safety precautions before sending people out into the park, but don’t think they should have let the Pochics go hiking in the midday sun.

“I don’t really think it’s responsible to let anyone leave,” Crawford said, “knowing they’re going to go on that hike, at that time of day.”

The Crawfords noted that the trail is not marked, and a person could easily become lost in certain areas — especially if they’re already combatting fatigue, heat stroke, and dehydration.

BLM declined to comment, citing an ongoing investigation.

Traveling somewhere hot? Check out 9 Essential Desert Survival Tips.

Supersonic Jets Set To Revolutionize Travel?

If you’ve been flying for a long time, that headline might feel like déjà vu.

Concorde supersonic jets were in commercial use between 1978 and 2003. British Airways and Air France operated 14 of these unique craft — mainly on their transatlantic routes. Concorde jets were capable of cruising at 1,354 miles per hour, more than twice the speed of sound.

Unfortunately the cost of the program, initially estimated at £70 million, soon ran into the billions. This ensured that ticket prices for the Concorde would never be affordable for ordinary people. In 1997, a supersonic round-trip from London to New York and back cost passengers $8,000 a seat. Compared to conventional airliners, it took about half the time to make the trip — but at too high a price.

The Concorde was finally retired in 2003, a casualty of moribund tourism markets in the wake of 9/11.

But now there are plans to bring back supersonic air travel, not just for the super-rich, but for everyone. And not just for transatlantic flights, but all over the world.

Blake Scholl, CEO of the Denver-based Boom Supersonic, has a plan to connect hundreds of top destinations with a fleet of 2,000 planes even faster than the Concorde. Best of all, he claims he can make buying tickets at least conceivable for ordinary travelers.

Concorde airplane in flight, seen from below — A Concorde in flight, seen from below. Pixabay / froehlich-gera

Scholl claims his jets will carry passengers from London to New York in less than four hours at a cost of £2,000 — about the price of a business class ticket on a regular flight.

“We are focused on accelerating long transoceanic trips. We we want to get the economy of the plane down so that anybody who flies can fly fast,” he told the Independent. “This is not a private jet for the ultra-wealthy.”

Scholl’s XB-1 prototype is slated to seat just 55. It will be powered by three turbo engines, enabling it to reach a cruising speed of 1,451 miles per hour. The XB-1 has undergone more than 1,000 wind tunnel tests, but it has yet to prove itself at California’s Mojave Air & Space Port. It’s slated for live testing next year, and Scholl predicts it will carry its first paying passengers in 2025.

Virgin and Japan Airlines have already agreed to partner, and Scholl claims he has several other leads. But he obviously has a long way to go if he wants to reach his goal of connecting more than 500 cities around the world with his supersonic jets.

He also has to contend with skeptics who point out the environmental concerns of supersonic travel. Concorde was massively fuel inefficient, and the sonic ‘boom’ it emitted when it broke the sound barrier was so powerful that it could only do so over the ocean for fear of damaging buildings on the ground.

Scholl hand-waves these concerns away. (“There has been huge progress in engine design and materials.” “Supersonic jets don’t need to be louder than other jets; Concorde was 1960s technology.”)

But he can’t hand-wave the competition.

Boom Supersonic isn’t the only aerospace company looking to resurrect the dream of Concorde. NASA, Lockheed Martin, Airbus, and others are all jumping into the fray. And Boeing recently unveiled plans for a ‘hypersonic’ jet capable of attaining speeds of 3,900 miles per hour — five times the speed of sound.

Given the wealth of innovative ideas on the table, it seems super- (or hyper-) sonic flight is in our future. The questions of what form it will take, what it will cost, and whether it will be good for the environment remain, for the time being, unanswered.