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The hot summer nights are here and the flights across
the pond are full of people willing to shell out for expensive Euros in order
to undergo a cultural experience.
I
just came back from a very short, six day getaway. I attended a wedding that took
place on the bride's father's 30,000 acre cattle ranch in Montana. I'm
feeling more of a culture shock than I would coming back from Europe! So
this month's focus is on traveling to some very beautiful, and very culturally
different parts of the US. Enjoy!
I
look forward to hearing about your thoughts and responses. 
Sophie
Barbier
Director of Seasonal Hostels |  |
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NEW MEXICO
-
SEATTLE
- LEARNING VACATIONS
-
FIELDTRIP
TO YOSEMITE |
Local News:
Summer officially began for
me when our sixth hostel, Truro,
opened up for the season. Staffing Truro this year are all veteran hostel
employees - Caitlin from the Martha's
Vineyard hostel, Mary from the Boston
hostel, and returning HI-Truro manager, Mike Hansen.
HI-Truro was voted
the #1 Hostel in North America in 2004, as voted by hostellers. To see who
won Best in the World, visit Hostelworld.
We have some New
Discounts this year to add to our ever growing list of membership
benefits! The Portuguese Princess Whale Watch Tours in Provincetown are
giving hostel members a discount if you buy your tickets at either the Truro or
Midcape Hostels. We also have a discount with Zip
Cars . HI members pay only a $25 annual fee instead of zipcars normal
$175 in fees. Our favorite travel bookstore, Globe
Corner Bookstore has agreed to give both you and Hostelling International
discounts on various books, maps, atlas and globes. If you go to their website,
via ours, they will give you up to 20% off your order and they will donate a small
portion to us, making it a win-win situation for all! Keep an eye out for these
new deals on our Cape Cod website www.capecodhostels.org
So, after you've browsed
guide books from Globe Corner Bookstore, and taken advantage of your hostel membership
benefits...it's time to decide where in the US will you go this summer?
- New
Mexico Inter-Tribal Indian Ceremonial in Gallup, New Mexico. This is the
real thing, and unless you read up on Pueblo
etiquette, you may find yourself an unwanted intruder. The Ceremonial
is August 3-7 with more than 30 tribes coming together. You can stay at local
hotels for about $65 for two people. The only HI hostel around is in Taos,
but there are stunning campsites are in Gila National Forest. Check out your AAA
office for the best map of Indian Country.
America
West recently had a listing for Boston-Albuquerque for $238 round trip.
If you go to Santa Fe, you can't miss eating at The Shed. Amazing food at hostel
prices...get there early!
- If you
have never been to Seattle, now is the time. During the summer, beds at
the Seattle Hostel
can be had for about $25. The hostel is perfectly located within a block
of the Pike Place Market and the Waterfront and now has free WiFi, free breakfasts
of bagels, OJ and other items, and they have great outings such as the Underground
Tour of the city. Discounts like the 40% off tickets to Experience Music
Project are numerous, and you can even join in on their HI softball games.
When
you get tired of all the music,
art, gardens, parks and culture, head out of town to Mount Rainier, Olympic
National Park, or take the ferry across to Vashon Island and stay in a
teepee
hostel.
- Do something new this summer.
Want
to learn how to Row
on the Charles River?
Take a hands-on class on Alternative
Photography on Cape Cod?
Learn to paint with watercolors
on Martha's Vineyard (for free!)?
These are only a few
classes offered this summer that are close enough to the hostels, so you can afford
to take the classes. Boston,
Truro,
and Martha's
Vineyard, respectively. |
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Every month, FOOTNOTES takes a virtual field trip to
a hostel. In keeping with the US travel theme, this month we'll stop in at the
Yosemite Bug
hostel. The Hostelling International-Yosemite Bug is located
only 25 miles from Yosemite National Park. At around $15 a night, it's
practically a steal. Then add in a swimming hole, hiking and mountain biking trails,
a cafe with Guinness on tap and trout in lime butter or broiled chicken
with sweet chili rub for under $10, and you'll have to agree with a bunch
of Scots who summed it up as "Pure Dead Brilliant!" Contact
them toll free at 1.866.826.7108
Hostelling International USA, Eastern New England
Council is a non-profit organization dedicated to advancing cultural interchange
by facilitating worldwide travel.
Who
We Are | HI-USA, Eastern New England Council
1105 Commonwealth
Avenue
Boston MA 02215 USA
www.usahostels.org | |
