Traveling with Friends

It is such a joy to travel with friends ~~~ of course with family too, but with friends there's a special adventure surrounding the entire trip.  Before my last trip, I checked out the book Off the Beaten Page - The Best Trips for Lit Lovers, Book Clubs, and Girls on Getaways by Terri Peterson Smith.  It was some fun reading and I must admit, I did not read the entire book.  It references many books and classics that can add travel excitement.  The book also lists great ideas for various cities.  But I just want to save a few blurbs here:

"Making everyone sit down and get organized can feel a bit like herding cats....but travel experts agree that no matter where you're going, planning is key.  And the farther in advance, the better....Brainstorming for the trip can be an enjoyable experience as the group comes to a consensus on what activities, sights, and experiences they want to choose.  The process generates energy, excitement, and enthusiasm for the trip....openness helps minimize surprises down the road."

Anyway, it's a book I'd recommend to anyone looking to add more to a trip, whether it's a long weekend, just a day, or even local exploring.

I crave travel, mostly in the US, although I'd love to hit Paris with Bob or Italy maybe.  I fear life is too short to get all the trips in that I'd love to go on, so I'm pushing for things and places and time off, need I say more?

New York, September 2013