Moon Staff Blog
About this blog
The Moon Water Cooler is a place for Moon staffers to share what's new in their world. Check back often to hear about author events, book releases, travel trends, and maybe even some staff recommendations for what part of the world to explore next.
Recent Posts
- Two Reasons This Week is Awesome: Earth Day and National Park Week
- The Glory, the Groundwork, and the Grind of Travel Writing
- Finding Pizza Nirvana in Nashville
- Guest Interview: Exploring Offbeat Mexico with Churpa Rogers
- Guest Interview: The People's Guide to Mexico Authors Carl Franz and Lorena Havens
- Guest Post: Top 10 Gifts for Road Trippers
- Hawaii Giveaway Winner Announced
- Win a Round-Trip Ticket to Hawaii from Moon and Hawaiian Airlines!
- Why Moving to Belize Isn’t as Hard as You’d Think
- From Dosas to Dumplings: My Eight Favorite Toronto Restaurants
- Guest Post: At Least We Have Pizza – The Cost of Living in Mexico vs. New York City
- Hawai'i: A Foodie Paradise — Part Two
- Hawai'i: A Foodie Paradise — Part One
- Exploring California via Road Trip with Moon California Road Trip
- Enjoying the Outdoors in the Black Hills of South Dakota
Best Alternative Spring Break Destinations
Feeling a bit of wanderlust? Want to do something different this spring break? Well, pack your bags!
There’s nothing like getting away from school for a week and having a wild (or not so wild) time with good friends. Spring break is a moment to recharge and have fun—but it can also be a chance to open your heart and mind, reach out and do good, and create amazing relationships.
The phrase “alternative spring break” (ASB) usually means volunteering for spring break, a very rewarding way to spend your time off. If your last spring break was a blur of bad hangovers, overpriced meals, and crowded beaches, an ASB will be a whole new adventure.
Spring Break Volunteer Opprtunities more >>
Spring Fever Starts Now—Batter Up!
So, you think it’s a little early for Spring Fever? Then clearly, you’re not a baseball fan.
The almost ritual pilgrimage to Arizona and Florida in late-winter when Major League Baseball starts its Spring Training season is an annual rite as quintessential as peanuts and Cracker Jacks. Spring Training leagues (the Cactus League in Arizona and the Grapefruit League in Florida) typically run early-March through early-April—sometimes right up to the start of the regular season.
Home fields for many Major League teams are in some seriously cold winter locations, so it’s understandable that the teams move to areas with milder conditions for the pre-season warm-up. For hardcore fans, Spring Training is the first chance to see traded players on the field in uniform with their new teams and to scope out new talent coming up from the Minors. more >>
Google's Art Project Brings the Museum to You
Stuck at home in deep thundersnow? Google can help you break the monotony. Yesterday Google launched its new Art Project, which combines its Street View technology controls with inside views—literally—of 17 major art museums from around the world. In a short amount of time, I managed to wander Amsterdam’s Van Gogh Museum and Rijksmuseum, hop the pond to London’s Tate Britain, make a pit stop at the MoMA in NYC and wind up at Museum Kampa in Prague—all without putting on my jacket or buying a plane ticket. more >>
Trading Snowmen for Sandcastles – Warm Winter Travel Destinations
Sometimes winter weather can be too much to handle. While we’re busy shoveling snow and trying to keep warm, Central and South America are reveling in sunshine. So, if you’ve had your winter fill of mittens and mufflers, why not plan a winter getaway where sandcastles replace snowmen and the chill of the season melts away in the sunshine.
Resort Relaxation in Mexico
Arriving in Puerto Vallarta before the Spring Break hordes lets you enjoy what the sparkling port city has to offer before the city gets mobbed by young partiers. There are different beaches for everyone, whether you want to sun, watch wildlife, or snorkel. Trying to get some peace and quiet? Explore the rest of the Bay of Banderas to get the same ocean without the touristy atmosphere.
See our Puerto Vallarta travel guide>> more >>
Buy Moon Travel Guides
Search
Moon Travel Guides make independent travel and outdoor exploration fun and accessible. With expert and adventurous travel writers delivering a mix of honest insight, first-rate strategic travel advice, insider travel tips and an essential dose of humor, Moon Travel Guides ensure that travelers have an uncommon and entirely satisfying experience. Each travel book is filled with unique trip ideas, easy-to-use maps, and detailed information on sights, restaurants, and accommodations. Moon Travel Guides not only point you in the right direction, they inspire new ideas and adventure. Whether you are seeking a relaxing beach trip to Hawaii, or an adventure travel trip to the rainforests of Costa Rica, Moon guidebooks—and Moon.com—are with you every step of the way. Founded in 1973, the Moon Travel Guides series includes Moon Handbooks, Moon Outdoors, Moon Metro, Moon Living Abroad and Moon Spotlight travel books. Moon is based in Berkeley, California and is a proud member of the Perseus Books Group.