Several news items caught our attention this week:
First, ten states and over 100 municipalities have now banned smoking in all public places. Kudos to: California, Delaware, New York, Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Montana, Vermont and most recently Washington. Virginia?s try for a ban was defeated last year; the law is pending in New Jersey and recently put on hold in Ohio.
Our first month is in the books and we're happy to report fantastic traffic, signups, and feedback! We were happy to see that Outside magazine already discovered and recommended the site in its latest issue.
One of the most common questions we've received is, "Are you going to be adding more cities?" The answer is a resounding, Yes!
Cities such as Toronto, Vancouver BC, Bellevue WA, Orange County CA, Columbus OH, and Raleigh/Durham have already been researched and will be added over the next month or two.
It?s not just catching a cold that travelers worry about when they leave home. As this past Friday?s Weekend Journal reports ("Defending Your Airspace"), frequent fliers also fret over foot fungus, flu viruses and other nasty germs.
The bottom line? Don?t go barefoot through security, wash your hands often, don?t lick the blankets and pillows, and if the guy/gal next to you is a sickly mess, you?re hosed?unless you?re bold enough to sport a surgical mask and/or are flying SWA and can discreetly switch seats.
The people at Men's Fitness are good journalists and they often write interesting and thought provoking articles, but their annual "Fittest City" list is becoming a joke. This year's list sacrifices accuracy for controversy in my mind, likely with the hope of creating more buzz and publicity for the magazine.
According to their "study", the Top 10 Fittest U.S. cities are:
10. Boston
9. Lousiville
8. Seattle
7. San Francisco
6. Colorado Springs
5. Milwaukee
4. Tucson
3. Virginia Beach
2. Honolulu
and America's Fittest City...
1.
It was when we moved to San Diego in 2001 that I first visited a Trader Joe?s grocery store, and while I immediately appreciated the friendly pricing, it took a good year before I was totally converted. That?s about how long it took me to hone in on my favorite, and now essential, TJ items.
I have also discovered that those who find fault with the TJ concept have not really ?experienced? Trader Joe?s. They?ve tried it out once or twice and then complain that:
It?s too small.
Exactly, why I like it.
Put my vote in for a college football playoff. Enough of these boring bowls with games that really don't mean anything other than a 5th ranked team losing to a 10th ranked team. At least tonight's game between Florida State and Penn State is a close contest. Until now, the other games would make Bear Bryant roll over in his grave and put hyper four year toddlers asleep.
Bikram Yoga. Ever heard of it? It?s hatha yoga practiced in a very hot (and fairly humid) room. The 90-minute class consists of 26 beginner poses. Did you catch that? Beginner poses, meaning anyone can do Bikram yoga. As founder Bikram Choudhury says, ?never too late, never too old, never too bad, never too sick, to start from scratch once again.?
In fact, a typical Bikram class is likely to be populated equally by young and old, big and small, in shape and out of shape, flexible and tight, strong and weak.
It's that time of year again, when we read/hear about the latest and greatest hangover cures.
But Athletic-Minded Travelers don't get hangovers, do we? Well maybe some of us do, but only because all that athleticism has made us permanent light-weights. So in the event you find yourself in need of an energy boost or efficient means of detoxing, consider sweating and then re-hydrating with distilled water.
Surprisingly, there is quite a bit of fuss regarding what water type is best for daily consumption.
Don't call me a biker. I am a cyclist. Here are some helpful hints to distinguish the two on the road:
Cyclists wear spandex, nylon and polyester -- Bikers ride in denim and leather
Cyclists prefer a quiet ride -- Bikers love to hear the Hog set off car alarms
Most cyclists wear helmets during a ride -- Most bikers believe hard hats are for pansies
Cyclists ride from coffee shop to coffee shop -- Bikers ride from tavern to tavern
This past Wednesday?s Journal of the American Medical Association reported that approximately one third of US teens could not pass a treadmill fitness test. The study suggests that this population may be at a higher risk for heart disease later in life.
There are loads of studies demonstrating the benefits of physical activity?from stronger cardiovascular health to improved mental well-being.
