Maine Posts

Modern Day Blackbeard? Searching for Treasures on your Summer Vacation!

Summer is here – FINALLY!  Time to let loose and have a little fun.  When you were younger, did you ever pretend that you were a pirate, or a train robber, or any other adventurous figment of your imagination?  As a kid, I had a wild and vivid imagination and went on many adventures in my backyard.  I often dug holes in the yard, as I was positive there was some kind of treasure that would make me rich, and I could get that pony that I always wanted.  But, as fate is fickle, I never found Blackbeard‘s treasure in the middle of Indiana and I remained a dirt poor kid.

Fast forward a few decades and that thrill of seeking treasures is still alive and well.  Whether you are going on a roadtrip, or visiting an area for a limited time, there’s always some new and exciting things to discover or treasures to find.  In fact, recently 100 JetBlue crew members and volunteers not only cleaned up the beaches of South Boston, but they also hid 100 blue Save the Harbor/Save the Bay 25th Anniversary marbles.  Happy hunting if your vacation or weekend plans include visiting these beaches this summer.  Five winners will receive 40,000 TrueBlue points. How’s that for buried treasure?

But, if you aren’t planning to visit South Boston this year, there are other ways to find treasures.  Often when I am traveling, I go searching for geocaches.  Called the “outdoor treasure hunting game,” it is a very good way to spend an afternoon, go places you would not have ventured to before, hone your Blackbeard skills, and have fun all at the same time.  I’ve found geocaches in state parks, along roadsides, in hotel parking lots, city parks, just about anywhere imaginable.  There is a lot of information available at the official website.  It’s a relatively inexpensive hobby, as the only equipment you need is a GPS unit, or a smartphone with GPS capabilities.

Download the app on your cellphone, and you can located geocaches near your location.  You will be amazed how many there are hidden.  Ranging from virtual caches to buried containers, each cache is rated on it’s level of difficulty and it’s terrain.  All ages and fitness levels can participate, so it’s good from baby to Grandma.  The caches vary in sizes from microcaches to buried containers.

It’s quite a feeling when you follow the coordinates correctly and locate your quest.  Whether is it is a magnetic container attached to the bottom of a park bench or an ammo container in the middle of a dead tree, you truly feel as if you found the buried treasure.

But, I’m sure that digging around and poking for things may not be everyone’s idea of fun.  Plus, you may get a few looks from the “muggles” (The general public not keyed into geocaching fundamentals).  Have no fear, I have another treasure hunting game I play.  As I have stated before, our parents took us across the United States and back a few times in our young lives.  I always wanted to stop a thte oddest places featured along Route 66 and other roadside vendors.  Now, all these peculiarities have a dedicated website where you can plan your trip around these oddities.  Roadside America features many of these “tourist traps” and helps you locate these you may be traveling near.

I’ve been known to travel a few miles out of the way to catch a glimpse of some treasure that I’m sure will enhance my life forever. For example, when I found out I was only five miles from the largest bottle of ketchup, I had to go see it.  As we came around the bend and saw that the bottle was up in the sky, it was just as if I had found a treasure.  The town hosting the attraction is Collinsville, IL,  a quaint Midwestern town and we spent an hour or two exploring.

So, whether you are more of a hands-on treasure hunter, or like to view from afar, you can still get a thrill whether you are on a vacation or just roaming around your own town (You won’t believe the things I’ve discovered in my own little town).

You won’t need a treasure map when searching for a great airport hotel deal on ParkSleepFly.com.  We’ve already charted those for you. With the deals on ParkSleepFly.com, you receive a night’s stay at an airport hotel, parking for your trip, and transportation to and from the airport.  All for one low price.  You don’t need a shovel or GP to locate that deal.

So, start your trip off right and leave the hunting for deals to us.  You spend time looking for the World’s Largest Bottle Cap Collection or the microcache that is located in a tree.  You will be glad you did.

So, let me know if you are a geocacher.  We can compare stories.  Or, if you are a roadside oddity aficionado.  I’m always looking for the next gotta-go-see. 

All aboard the Convenience Train?

Wow, Black Friday was crazy.  Pepper spraying over an Xbox?  Shoppers getting robbed outside of  various Walmarts.  Even one of my friends witnessed a couple fistfights while waiting in line at the midnight start times for merchandise.

That’s why I love Cyber Monday.  I may have aggravated my carpal tunnel syndrome with all the clicking and typing, but I remained mostly unscathed in my holiday shopping. Nothing took a beating except my credit card!

Needless to say, I love online shopping.  For the past few years, I did almost all my Christmas shopping online.  I can purchase my presents, have them wrapped and shipped wherever they need to be, either with or without Santa’s assistance.  Not a bad deal.  It saves me from traveling  to the store, getting a paper cut from wrapping presents, then going to the post office to ship my packages.   I like convenience.

I’m not the only passenger on the convenience train either.  On our Facebook page,  many of our customers post that they love the convenience of booking their park, sleep, and fly hotel online.  They confirm to everyone how easy it is stay the night before (and/or after too) their flight and arrive at the destination rested and ready to start their holiday or family visit. Come visit us on on Facebook page and join in the conversation.  We love to hear from our friends.  If you enjoy your stay, “like” us.  We have some great surprises planned for Facebook fans and friends.

The great things about the airport hotels listed on ParkSleepFly.com are the rates.  You receive a night’s stay at the hotel, parking for the duration of your trip, and rides to and from the airport in the hotel shuttle.  Often, the price for the stay is less than parking at or near the airport.  And, this includes the parking!  So, even if you are hopping a ride with Santa to save money this year, book a room with us.  We can help you save money along with the convenience of the hotel and parking packages.  Stay the night before your flight and start your trip refreshed and ready for those long security line waits (which are never convenient).

Be Close to Everything and Stay at Four Points by Sheraton in Boston Massachusetts

When visiting Boston, Massachusetts you’ll want to choose the Four Points by Sheraton as the ideal airport hotel to stay in. They are conveniently close to Logan International Airport and are also quite close to everything you’ll want to see in the Boston area. This includes universities, tourist sites, hospitals and sports centers. You’ll also be close enough to Maine or Cape Cod for an easy day trip.

Rooms are large and comfortable with many amenities. Enjoy free in-room coffee.  Each room has a two-line phone for your convenience. Use the business center at the hotel to connect with your office for any needs. On-site exercise facilities are available for a quick and easy workout.

Best of all, get rest before your flight. Park your car for the duration of your trip.  Leave the driving to the shuttle operator.  Take it easy.  You have to go through security and that screaming kid in the plane.  You need all the help you can get!

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