Rome, Italy

One of the most magnificent city's in the world, Rome, Italy. We were able to go there on a cruise ship for a day. While we were there we booked a tour guide and got to see all of the famous buildings, and places in Rome. Today I am going to be talking about what we did and saw in Rome. Sit back and enjoy the ride!

 One of the first things we saw in Rome was the Roman  Coliseum. It is still one of the coolest things I have ever seen today. While it is hard to get in, and very crowded,  I highly recommend putting it on your list of things to see. When we were inside there were people trying to restore the Colosseum to its former glory. On the side of the Colosseum there is a gift shop that you can go to and get a trinket or two. I got a miniature Colosseum when I was there, and my mom got a mug. On the inside of the Colosseum it has the many levels that were once used. It is truly amazing what you will see in the Colosseum.

Roman Colosseum at Dusk (Courtesy of Wikipedia)

Another place that we went to is actually a little bit outside of the city, Vatican, City.  The Sistine Chapel is the main thing that you have to see while you are there. A few things to take notice about is that they don't allow shorts and hats in the Sistine Chapel if you end up going inside. If you do go inside I would get a tour guide. The Sistine Chapel is so large and hard to get in, it is just way easier if you have a tour guide with you. Inside there are so many rooms that you can explore, one of my brother's favorites was the map room. The map room is composed of maps from long ago displayed for the public.  Finally, there is the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. It was painted by Michelangelo in 1508 and was finished in 1512. The ceiling was painted in the Renaissance period. One of the main panels on the ceiling is the creation of Adam.  It depicts God touching Adams hand. 

Creation of Adam (Courtesy of History.com)

Finally, I am going to be talking about the Pantheon.  It is a church build in 118-128 AD.  It starts out as a rectangle in the front the circles in the back. The church is still running today and is also a tourist attraction.

Thanks so much for reading my blog today! I hope I could help you decide if you want to go to Rome someday. See you in my next blog!

  

Red Mountain Resort

Last weekend, I visited  Red Mountain Resort in Ivins, Utah. Just my Mom and I went on this trip. We did yoga classes, boot camps, biking, and canyoneering. Today, I am going to share with you my experience at Red Mountain Resort and why you should book a room today.

I stayed at Red Mountain for three nights. I would not recommend staying less than that because you won't get the full experience. The food, most of the fitness classes, and the daily guided hikes are included in your room fee.

The first class I attended was called, "Melt Hand and Foot".  In this class, everyone received 3 small balls that were not bigger than a fist.  We learned how to use each ball to roll stress out of our hands and feet. If you are feeling stiff in any part of your body, I recommend the Melt classes. In the photo below, you can see the balls we used in "Melt Hand and Foot." The price of this package is $50.00, so I recommend taking the class.

Melt Hand and Foot balls. (photo curtesy of MeltMethod.com)

While at Red Mountain, I also tried the TRX Boot Camp. If you are wondering what TRX is, let me tell you! TRX stands for Total Body Resistance. Two elastic bands secured to a bar help you build
muscles and shape your body.   I did not like TRX that much in part because my teacher was dull, however, TRX is a good work out.

TRX Movements (photo curtesy of RealRiderRevolution )

At Red Mountain, they offer for a fee activity called Canyoneering. The cost is $225 a person, but it is an all day activity from 9:50-4:00. We hiked up a mountain and wedged ourselves into small cracks. We went under and over rocks and got rewarded by repelling down the mountain. You can get a little scrapped up but it's all part of the adventure. Red Mountain sends you off with a healthy sack lunch. The guide gave frequent breaks so we could catch our breath. The guide company we used is called Southern Utah Guiding. If you are going to another part in Southern Utah click here to go to their website for a different canyoneering trip. I highly recommend this activity if you are physically up for it. My mom and I will never forget this activity. Really, it was the most fun I had during my trip.

We had to go through this! (Photo courtesy of me)

After hiking up the steep mountain photo. (Photo courtesy of me)

Repelling. (Photo courtesy of me)

Me Canyoneering! (Photo courtesy of me)

Finally, I would like to talk about the food. Every portion is controlled. They have a new menu every day so you don't get bored of the same meal. Lunch and dinner come with bread, a salad bar, an entree, and a dessert.  Every night at dinner, there is a choice of fish, steak, chicken, a vegetarian option and an unusual dish like elk or duck. One of my favorite meals was when I had baked chicken and a chocolate lava cake for dessert. The dinner and dessert menus have the number of calories and macronutrients posted next to each item for those people who are watching their diet.

Thanks so much for reading! I hope you enjoyed this week's blog. Stay tuned to find out my next week's theme! Thanks for reading and have a great day!

Copenhagen Denmark

Last summer I had the pleasure to travel on a cruise to the Baltics. One of my favorite places that I went to is Copenhagen, Denmark. Here are some reasons why you should put Copenhagen at the top of your travel spot list.

Copenhagen is the capital city of Denmark. It is also home to the world's most popular bicycle path with 36,000 people using it every day. There is also one of the longest shopping streets in the world, Strøget.  The Danish are known to be the happiest people on Earth. Copenhagen is also home to the world famous amusement park, Tivoli Gardens.

Tivoli Gardens opened in the 18th century. In 2012 it was the 2nd most popular park in the world and is the 2nd oldest amusement park in the world! There is actually a ride there that has been there for 100 years!  The park opened in 1843. People in Copenhagen are very proud to have Tivoli in their home town. While we were there, we went on some rides including, the Rollercoaster,  The Spinning Tops, The Mine, The Bumper Cars, and The Galley Ships. In my opinion, The Galley Ships is not a fun ride to go on if you are a tween but, if you have a younger brother or sister, he or she would enjoy it. If you are older, I recommend The Spinning Tops and The Mine.

Map of Tivoli Gardens (Curtesy of Themeparkbrochures.net)

My brother and I on The Rollercoaster at Tivoli (Picture by me)

Tivoli Gardens in the Rain (Picture by me)

Copenhagen is home to the world's most popular bicycle path. When Danish people start riding their bikes, they become speed demons. They normally will not stop for pedestrians crossing the street. People in Copenhagen are known to ride fast, so beware when you pass a bike lane.

If you are wondering what to eat in Copenhagen, I recommend "sausage wagon" aka a hot dog. Danish hotdogs are one of the best hotdogs from around the world. They have hotdog carts all around Copenhagen. The market food in Copenhagen is also something you should try. Torvehallerne was Copenhagen's first covered food market. Some great foods you can try there are cheeses, smoked fish, and craft beer.

My brother and I eating Hotdogs in Copenhagen (Picture by me)

With amazing food, great biking, and an amazing amusement park, you think Copenhagen can't get any better? Well, Copenhagen also has one of the longest shopping streets in the world, Strøget. Strøget contains many American shops and many locals too. There is also a Starbucks at the end of the street. At a normal walking speed, Strøget takes about 12-15 minutes to walk through the whole street without stopping.

If you don't have much time, I highly recommend the Copenhagen Free Walking Tour. My family did the Grand Tour of Copenhagen. The tour was three hours. The tour starts at Town Hall Square, one of the centers of activity for Copenhageners. Next, you stroll down the small cobble-stoned streets of medieval Copenhagen. From there, you walk to Nyhavn, the wonderful colorful harbor front, where Copenhageners and visitors gather in the seaside cafes. From Nyhavn, you walk to Amalien Palace, the home of the oldest Royal Family in the world. We arrived just in time to see the changing of the guard. From the Palace, we walked to The Marble Churvh, and then back to Strøget.

Changing of the Guards (Picture by me)

My Mom and I at Nyhavn (Picture by me)

My brother and dad walking on Strøget (Picture by me)

Starbucks in Copenhagen (Picture by me)

I hope I gave you an idea on why you should travel to Copenhagen, Denmark. Most people who live in Copenhagen also speak English. I hoped you liked this week's theme! Hope to talk to you in my next blog!

Please Stay Seated and Enjoy my Blog!

Welcome to Teen Travel Tips.   Here I will be talking about the perfect places for any adventurer to travel! Want to keep in touch with my blog?  On the right side of this page, there is a button called "Follow my blog by Email".  Type in your email and press submit.  It's easy!

My Mom and I on the London Eye Ferris Wheel

Starbucks Cups From Around the World

A little Bit about Me:
My name is Whitney and traveling is my hobby.  I attend Treasure Mountain Junior High and love photography. I am also in marching band! I marched in lots of parades this past summer. Some of my favorite elective classes are percussion, Spanish, and FAN (Food and Nutrition).  I have been to 20 states and 16 countries, so I know a thing or two about traveling.  I've traveled first class with my family and I've had to rough it, too.

Recent Travels
Last year, I was selected to go on an ambassador trip to Australia. On that 3-week trip, I learned a lot about Australian culture and what it is like to live in Australia.  In that same month I went to Alaska with my family.  Last summer, my family went on a cruise to Northern Europe and I visited Costa Rica on a student exchange program.   Basically, I traveled a lot last summer.

Future Travel Plans
For the 4-day weekend this October, my mom and I are going to Red Mountain Spa in St. George, Utah.  My Mom and I have another girl's trip planned for Winter Break, 2016.  We are going to the Florida Keys.  This spring, my family and I are going on a Disney Cruise to the Caribbean. My year is pretty packed and I promise I will blog where I go!
What I will talk about:
On this site, I will talk about anything related to travel. My experiences, wonders of the world, tips on packing and clothing, and more! If you are going anywhere soon I have got you covered. Stay in touch with my blog to find out how to be an expert traveler!
Who I specialize in:
I specialize in Teens mostly, but these tips can be used for anyone! I can go from 8-108.

My Family:
My family and I are pretty close. We live a pretty normal life. My brother, who is one year older than me, and I go to school.  My parents work long hours to pay for my travel.  My Dad works in sales and my Mom is a Real Estate Agent in Park City. Here's her blog. My Dad travels to Los Angeles for work every week.

My plan is to post once a week about a different destination or travel strategy.  Comment below if you have suggestions for future blogs. I will get back to you as soon as possible.  I hope you enjoyed this post and I look forward to sharing my adventures with you.
                        - Whitney