Plan your Fall Foliage Trip

Thinking about a road trip with the kids or a friend? You better start planning now so you don’t miss the peak foliage in New England.  There are a ton of festivals to check out the second weekend of October.  Read TripConnect user bopapa from DC's suggested spots in Woodstock, Vermont.  Need a place to stay over? Mmshannon reviews a 360 acre resort that the kids should enjoy.   

In our Recommended Reading section, get some ideas about apple festivals and celebrating this fall fruit, certainly a treat for the kids.    

Prefer a more active trip?  People just can’t get enough of the Berkshires with its biking and great outdoor adventures.  Read more from a TripConnect user.

Now you have the excuse you have been looking for to plan a trip!

Calling all Readers

We want to let all TripConnect members know about this great concept called BookCrossing.  Finally, a cool solution for the dilemma of what to do when you finish a big heavy book while on vacation and don’t want to lug it home. The idea is simple: you “release” it. First, ID it at BookCrossing.com, then 1, 2, 3 release it.  Yes, you are wondering, release a book?  Well, remember when you were a child at the beach and you put a note in a bottle and threw it in the ocean dreaming someone might one day discover it and write you. Well with BookCrossing, this may actually happen.

Skyring, a new and prolific user on TripConnect from Australia–thank you Skyring – has  introduced us to the BookCrossing concept.  Check out how he released his book Oh Great Men in Normandy in his review.

Don’t forget, you can track the history and journals of your book on-line.  So go ahead, the next time you are about to put that book back on the shelf.  STOP.  BookCross it and begin to live the journey of the life of your book.

Bon voyage to me

After reading so many fabulous reviews that our members have sent in over the summer, the inevitable has happened: I've caught the travel bug and I'm off to China. But don't worry, you won't be left stranded-- a new editor has just arrived at our office after 2 years of international travel. She'll be taking over for me, replying to your questions, posting your advice, etc. etc. so keep writing to editor@tripconnect.com. Ciao for now-- happy travels everyone!

We know what you did last summer

Now that some of you travelers are back in school and writing those "What I did on my Summer Vacation" essays, just remember that you can get more than points for that essay-- sent it in to TripConnect and you could win a gift certificate, an i pod, a travel book, really hot t-shirts, etc. We hope you had a fabulous summer holiday and we would love to hear all about it.

And the winner is...

September 1 is here, and a lucky 3 will be receiving prizes from the generous people here at TripConnect. The winners are....James Bower for his hotel review of Yak and Yeti (Nepal), Brotherleelove wins it for his novel/review of Santorini, and Jeans gets a prize for overall contribution. Thanks guys-- we'll be contacting you about where to send your prizes soon. Everyone else: keep on writing-- we have even more cool stuff to give out later this month (ipods, gift certificates, travel books...).

Speaking of writing reviews, it seems that everyone is talking Turkey. I've been posting reviews from clubbers, shoppers, families, and business travelers who are all raving about the place. I have to agree-- it is indeed the best of East meets West.

Next item of news: we have linked to Desiree, a new and adventurous blogger that I met years ago in Korea. Her blog will be featured in our Wandering Women group.  At the moment, Desiree is trekking solo through Mongolia-- check her out.

Last-but-not-least: Our Seniors group is up and running! We would love feature someone's grandmother or grandfather as a guest author. Send those words of wisdom to editor@tripconnect.com.