Great Travel Links for 09 February 2009

Thanks for your patience as we recovered from mass intestinal disease in my house all of last week.  I’m not up for much original thought today, but do have helpful/interesting travel links from around the Web:

• The more that air travel, well, blows chunks, the more I’m thinking TRAINS. So are others: Gadling says to ride the rails, and social media thought leader Chris Brogan has 11 reasons to take the train. Too bad I’m in Central Texas and don’t have many train options. Blarg.

• The bad economy means a boom in budget hotels everywhere – here’s the UK’s Guardian on the battle of the budget hotels in Great Britain.

• Budget travel experts Arthur and (daughter) Pauline Frommer say they’re seeing more bargains than ever before, including blockbuster deals for Las Vegas and Hawaii (more on World Hum about finding ukulele bliss in Hawaii and how to do a Presidential shaka greeting.)  The Miami Herald details bargains at Walt Disney World, HersheyPark and the Georgia Aquarium.

• Explore your continent if you live in the U.S. – here’s Canada: An insider’s guide.

• Are you a Laura Ingalls Wilder/Little House on the Prairie fan? The UpTake Attractions blog features all the ways to visit the spots where the Ingalls family lived during their pioneer wanderings.

• The season for swimming with manatees in Florida will be over soon, so read here about how to do it. Timing off? I’ve written here on Family Travel about where to go for guaranteed manatee sightings.

• From one of my favorite travel editors/writers and a Midwest native: St. Louis, Missouri for kids.

• Does one of your children play in an orchestra? Make those lessons worth it when you visit the Big Apple – how to find live classical music for less in New York City.

• Experience the chills of Antarctica in Christchurch, New Zealand – the next blizzard is in five minutes (from the Sydney Morning Herald.)

• Let me wrap up with a loud cheer for the unique and wonderful Perceptive Travel webzine (I’m one of three authors for the associated Perceptive Travel blog.) Editor Tim Leffel always has unique travel narratives by terrific writers; the webzine just celebrated its 3rd birthday plus it will now publish monthly. Cost to you? Not a dime. Support independent travel writing that isn’t dull and formulaic.