How to Pull Off a Last-Minute Vacation
If you think it’s too late to start planning a summer vacation, think again. If you’re both flexible and efficient, you can still steal off to a far-off (or nearby) destination before Labor Day. Just follow these expert tips to pull off the summer vacay of your dreams.
First things first: figure out airfare. If you’re planning on going somewhere that requires a flight, start by searching for deals on airfare. You might actually pick your destination depending on the cost of a flight. Check out travel websites or go directly to airlines’ websites to see if they’re running any specials and if any of the highlighted spots appeal to your interests.
Think about where you want to go, but don’t get locked into a single destination. If you’re not into the idea of choosing a destination randomly, start by coming up with a few potential ideas. Then scour the internet for deals on travel to those specific destinations. If you allow for some flexibility when it comes to the dates you fly, you should be able to score a deal even with a more limited scope, destination-wise.
Try a road trip. Don’t want to deal with booking flights at all? Opt for a vacation spot that’s within driving distance. Not only will taking a road trip save you some money, but it will also probably save you some time. Even if you’re on the road for a while, you won’t have to deal with getting to and from the airport, getting through security, and doing everything else that eats up time during air travel. That leaves you more time to relax!
Ask an expert for assistance. Maybe the idea of taking on one more thing stresses you out. If this is the case, don’t skip your vacation entirely, just ask for some help! A good travel agent will be able to take care of all the planning for you and find the best deals along the way.
8 Tips for Planning a Last-Minute Vacation [Islands]
5 Tips for Booking a Last-Minute Vacation [Reader’s Digest]
5 Tips for Booking Last Minute Travel [Forbes]
Sligo Pit Barbecue and Catering Is Now Open Near Central
For the lucky golfers at Sligo Creek Golf Course, Sligo Pit Barbecue and Catering is now open for your hungry post-game stomach. But even if you aren’t a golfer, you’re going to want to make a trip just for their delicious barbecue fare. Follow your nose up the Parkway, and turn off at Omaha Beach Drive. You can choose to eat in – there is indoor seating and a few picnic tables outside – or get takeout for yourself or your whole family.
Catering is in their name, and there is no more welcome food on a summertime buffet table than expertly slow-cooked barbecue meat and sides. Choose from smoked turkey, pork shoulder, brisket, or chicken, along with all-American burgers and dogs. Baked beans, mac and cheese, and coleslaw are their signature sides, and are good enough to have on their own (as if you can resist that aromatic meat). For the early morning golfers, Sligo Pit Barbecue and Catering opens early on the weekends to serve egg and cheese breakfast sandwiches stuffed with a healthy serving of your choice of meat. Sligo Pit Barbecue and Catering is open daily “til the meat runs out!”.
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Pair Natural Wines With Healthy Fare at The Girl and The Vine
Uncomplicated, crisp, and fresh — all words that come to mind when describing the newly opened The Girl and The Vine. This wine, snack, and sandwich shop is a model of simplicity, from the straightforward menu, to the modern interiors.
The food offering includes only salad and sandwiches, and although there aren’t pages and pages of options, you’ll still be stumped on what to try. The Gambino Italian-style sandwich is a popular choice, as is the Chip-wich mounded with turkey, smashed avocado, and kettle chips. Wash it all down with either coffee or a glass of wine; The Girl and The Vine has over 100 to choose from, and many are organic or sustainably farmed. There is casual indoor and outdoor seating where you can enjoy your meal, as well as an opportunity to do a bit of shopping for cheese, wine, or fancy pantry staples.
Find The Girl and The Vine in Takoma Park, right on Carroll Avenue. They are open Wednesday through Monday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.