Don't Let the Bed Bugs Bite: Bed Bug Report Part II

It's amazing what it's possible to find out about Web traffic. A few clicks reveals that the most popular post ever here at Health*Conscious*Travel was my bedbug report: what to know before you go a few months back.

The timing was good, because since I posted the national news has continued to feature one report after another about the growing bedbug menace, including the news that the AMC Empire 25 movie theater in New York City's Times Square had to shut its doors in August for a deep-cleaning after patrons reported being munched while trying to enjoy Toy Story 3.

The offices of elegant Elle magazine and several New York Victoria's Secret Stores have had infestations, as has -- by some reports at least -- practically the entire state of Ohio. (In August, Ohio petitioned the EPA to allow re-introduction of a potentially toxic chemical, propoxur, which is supposedly effective against bedbugs but harmful to children. The request was unsuccessful, and reveals a fair amount of desperation.)

New York City

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Re-Fresh for Fall at a San Francisco Wellness Spa

Shirodhara =  stress relief

September brings excitement, yes, but along with that brave-new-start feeling comes a wallop of stress. It's easy to feel like there's just way, way too much to do and not enough time, money, energy, and attention to get it all done.

When you feel you're about to lose it -- or ram someone who's going 50 in the fast lane -- that's when it's time to retreat for a few hours to one of San Francisco's internationally inflected wellness spas. From its earliest days as a Gold Rush boomtown, San Francisco absorbed Asian cultures with ease, with the result that the City today is a place where you can visit Japan, India and Thailand without any more hassle than hunting for a parking place. While the City is chock-a-block with luxe day spas, these three stand out for their atmosphere of retreat and reflection - and the chance to infuse your life with the influence of another culture and perspective. Whether you're in San Francisco for work or play, a few hours of self-imposed isolation will bring the fall back into focus.

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Swimming Holes! The Perfect End to Summer

Ever since I was a kid I've had a thing for swimming holes. My criteria are pretty standard: cold, clear, water, big sun-warmed rocks to spread yourself out on, the rushing sound of nearby rapids to soothe your mind.

But there's one more requirement that makes finding the perfect swimming hole more of a challenge. You see, I don't want to share my swimming hole with a zillion people. I especially don't want my peace and quiet interrupted by loud obnoxious folks who pollute the air with blaring boom boxes and put their six-packs in the water for me to trip over.

This summer, with little time and money to make it further afield, my daughters and I spent a fair amount of time and energy in search of the perfect swimming hole, visiting numerous California rivers, including the Yuba, the Merced, the Stanislaus, and my favorite local hangout, the Russian River.

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Forget Meat and Potatoes: Veggies Rule Chicago

Although folks hailing from Chicago and other parts of the midwest often complain about the traditional meat-and-potatoes diet they grew up with, it seems clear by now that the Chicago of today, almost Parisian in its sophistication, has outgrown those limitations. I noticed the foodie-ism immediately; even chains like Corner Market were touting farm-fresh berries and local tomatoes in their daily specials, while out in the hipster neighborhoods like Bucktown and Lincoln Park every little hole-in-the-wall bistro practically shouted with farm-to-table cred.

Then I got home and what should arrive in my mailbox but National Geographic Traveler with a splashy feature on Chicago, the Green City, with lots of ink given to the hot new locavore scene. So there you have it: veggies rule in the windy city of today, with a host of new restaurants offering dishes based on the rich offerings carted in from the "breadbasket of America" in surrounding Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, and other neighboring states.

Chicago Vacations

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10 Fun Things to Do with Teens in Chicago

Chicago's a famously family-friendly town, but many of the top attractions, like Navy Pier and the Shedd Aquarium, are best for school-age kids and lack the "cool" factor that commits something to a teen's memory banks. Here are ten things to do with teens in Chicago that they a) can't do anywhere else b) won't be able to call bo-o-o-r-r-r-ing and c) can use to impress their friends and post conversation-starting Facebook pix.


1. Climb some wacky statues.
Chicago has a lot of them, popping up at strange intervals all over the city. Some are grand or just grandiose, others simply odd, but what we noticed is that they are by and large available for climbing -- or, at least, there are rarely signs posted saying it's not okay to climb them.

Chicago Vacations

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Chicago the Cycling City

The first thing we realized when planning our trip to Chicago was how much there was to see. Four days wasn't going to be nearly enough time to make it to our long list of "must-dos": The Art Institute, Millennium Park, the Navy Pier, Shedd Aquarium, Lincoln Park Zoo, The Museum of Science and Industry, Willis Tower, the Magnificent Mile.

Upon arrival, though, we discovered the secret to getting around Chicago efficiently: go by bike. Chicago, with it's insane layers of overpasses, underpasses, bridges and tunnels (not to mention one-way streets) is not an easy city to get around. It's enormous, of course, and the rivers divide it into multiple slices so that it's not always easy to figure out how to get from point A to point B.

Things To Do
Chicago

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5 Top Resource Blogs for Active Adventures

"I need my own personal expedition planner," a friend said to me the other day at a party. "I want to plan biking and hiking trips but don't know where to start." I know the feeling.

I could try to answer all the questions that turn up in post comments asking about bike rides, river trips, and trekking routes, but a much better strategy would be to let the folks who really know these things share their wisdom and experience. Here, my favorite authorities on active adventure.

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An Alternative Approach to Ashland Shakespeare Festival

For several years, my daughters and I have made an annual summer pilgrimage to Ashland, Oregon to catch as many plays at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival as we can possibly cram into a few days and nights. But thanks to our love of the outdoors and our extremely lean budget, we don't "do Ashland" like your typical culture vulture. Here are a few tips for planning a Shakespeare immersion vacation that's balanced with plenty of outdoor time, glorious scenery, and healthy inexpensive food.

Family Vacation
Ashland

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