Summer isn’t officially here, but it finally feels like it! New growth has grown, nature is filled with active young, the weather is warm, and storms have been rolling through. School is out for some and almost out for most, which means summer vacations and plenty of travel! How do you keep your family safe on the road?

If you are traveling by car, the most important step to start out with is the inspection of your travel vechicle. Check your gas, oil and transmission fluid levels. Test your brakes. Inspect your tires for bulges or tears, and air pressure levels. Make sure you have a spare along and tools with which to change it if needed. Bring along contact information for anyone who would be able to help you in case of a car emergency. And, as expected, make sure you buckle up and aren’t using a cell phone while you are behind the wheel.

When traveling overseas, make sure you have an extra record somewhere of all of your documents, in case they get lost or stolen. Keep things like your passport, cash and credit cards in a hotel safe. Bring more than one way to pay for things and an extra passport sized photo of your self if you can. Make sure you have enough (and extra) medication that you use before you leave. And don’t forget to get your name and contact information on everything that belongs to you, like luggage or a purse.

Last but not least, if you are traveling abroad, make sure you check for any travel warnings issued for the areas you will be visiting. Happy trails!

When you think of summer travel, what do you think about? Do you imagine camping? Hiking? Sailing? A trip to the beach?

Here is an often not-thought-of locale for travelers who are interested in something new…ruins!  I personally LOVE ruins, and have visited…none. But my heart longs to see them, and when I see them showcased on television shows or displayed beautifully in national magazines, I bump up my goal of visiting them higher on my bucket list.

While I dream about visiting such amazing pieces of history, I enjoy looking up locations in books at the library or on websites on the internet. One of my favorites is the Colosseum of Italy. Ah, what an icon! Just to imagine the events that took place in this arena are overwhelming and fascinating…I can only imagine the feeling if you are standing amidst the structure itself.

Another favorite of mine is an ancient Mayan city in Tikal, Guatemala. The towering, climbable structures that were once home to 90, 000 people are an impressive array of temples and pyramids. Which brings me to another icon set of ruins, the Pyramids of Giza. Have you been there?

However, I would have to say that the type of ruins that fascinate me the most are the kind of structures that are carved in to mountains and/or walls of stone.  Right here in the United States, Colorado boasts a fascinating state park that delivers mesa-top pueblos and dwellings built beneath overwhelming, overhanging cliffs. These can be found in Mesa Verde National Park.  And overseas, the ancient city of Petra, Jordan was half built and carved into cliffs of red sandstone. Adorned with elaborate altars, accompanied by tombs and temples, these fascinating ruins are well worth the 1/2 mile hike through a narrow gorge to reach it.

If you decide that a trip to visit historical ruins is what you want to try this summer, be sure to plan accordingly.  Time your trip for the less crowded times of day. Hire a knowledgeable, seasoned guide. And most importantly, give yourself plenty of time to explore. Some ruins require days of exploration, and even if one doesn’t, some extra time to soak in the majestic beauty is essential to a full experience.

I am still fairly fascinated with the technology of today that can help a traveler, compared to even 10 years ago. If you have a smartphone, travel apps can help you out tremendously. Listed below you’ll find some of the most popular travel apps listed in the cybersphere.

GateGuru: described as “a new tool to transform the chaotic and unfamiliar airport environment into a more satisfying experience before and after flights, and during layovers. GateGuru serves as the leading light to locate the best food, shopping and service options within any airport…” Sweet!

Flightboard: A very basic application, users can check in on any airport’s “Arrivals and Departures” screen. Also, receive alerts with real-time flight updates.

Sitorsquat: This sounds laughable, until you need it! This app helps you locate a public toilet. Just enter an address, zipcode, city, or interesection and the app gets to work!

Foodspotting: We all need to eat! Bonus — Foodspotting is also a social network that allows reviews.

Google translate: Ahh, yes. Essential. Enough said.

WordLens: Are you kidding me? This is an instant translation service using an iPhone or iPad’s camera.  Hover over the foreign text (say on a public sign) and the translation appears almost right away. WOW.

Share-a-bill: Pure genius for people traveling with friends. Share-a-bill says, “Simply input participating individuals…and see how the numbers fall.” This applies to food, gas, accomodations, entertainment…what a blessing.

Weatherbug: A good place to check the weather at the location you will be going.

Many of these apps are free, but not all are. However…travel apps in general? PRICELESS.

You would have to be living in a cave buried deep in Pakistan to not have heard the most incredible news of the past decade — worldwide master terrorist, Osama bin Laden, is dead. He was killed in a covert operation carried out by the US military on Sunday night. The country is still rejoicing and will continue to.

Along with massive US celebration over the news, an alert has been issued. The alert, posted on AOL Travel reads: “Given the uncertainty and volatility of the current situation, U.S. citizens in areas where recent events could cause anti-American violence are strongly urged to limit their travel outside of their homes and hotels and avoid mass gatherings and demonstrations. U.S. citizens should stay current with media coverage of local events and be aware of their surroundings at all times.”

Americans overseas were further encouraged by the Department of State to stay in frequent contact with family/friends back home. It was also recommended they register their travel with the Department of State’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program.  Americans aren’t the only travelers urged to use caution. Alerts have also been issued for citizens, particularly Britains and Australians in Indonesia, the world’s most heavily populated Muslim country.

Retaliation is anticipated, and could be on both large and small scales. Typical targets would include areas of mass transportation, diplomatic or otherwise “symbolic” centers.

So in a time where most of the world is celebrating that they might sleep a little bit safer tonight, continue with caution on the road and with your fellow man. Travel with vigilance.