OtterBox iPhone Commuter TL Case ReviewYou know you have a winner in your hand when your teenage daughter claims it for her own. What did she borrow from dear old mom? My daughter snatched the Otterbox iPhone Defender Case before I had opened the package.

However, I wasn't going to part with my iPhone case. The good folks at Otterbox shipped us the iPhone 3G/3GS Commuter TL Case for review.

City Slicker or Stylish Traveler

The Otterbox iPhone Commuter TL Case is not as bulky as my iPhone Defender Case. In fact, it was designed to slide easily out of your purse, pocket or laptop bag. Forget the sleek design, the Commuter TL Case provides three slender, yet sturdy layers of protection. It comes in vibrant colors and offers more "style" according to my fashion conscious daughter. She selected the iPhone Commuter TL case in green.

Three Layers of Protection

The first layer is a self-adhering film that will protect your precious iPhone touch screen from dings and scratches. The second layer, designed to dissipate shock away from your iPhone, is a textured silicone skin. The final layer is a plastic shell that fits snuggly over the silicone, offering yet another layer of protection for the back of the iPhone.

How much does all this protection cost? The Otterbox iPhone Commuter TL Case is priced at $29.95. Keep in mind that the case does not provide water protection. While our experiences may vary from yours, I'm happy to report that my teenage daughter's iPhone keeps chugging along after more than one drop to the ground. 

The Fort Collins, Colorado-based company is social media savvy. You can find them on Twitter and Facebook.

Working with travel bloggers as easy as online dating?

While the title may sound arrogant, some might describe the world of travel blogging as yet uncharted territory. If only the relationship between travel bloggers and public relations professionals were as easy as online dating. 

Instead of filling out a form listing our physical characteristics and our favorite activities such as walking on the beach at sunset, we could describe our blog and tell our potential suitor what we're looking for in crafting the perfect post.

As a public relations professional with over 26 years in the industry, I come to the travel writer/travel blogger relationship with a unique perspective. On one hand, I understand how PR Pros feel over-whelmed in wading through the endless amount of travel blogs. However, that's not to say that there are not tools available to account executives to help vet a qualified travel blogger.

Tips for Creating Successful Relationships with Travel Bloggers:

• Read my blog before you send the e-mail asking me to write about or interview your client.
• Take the time to address your pitch to me, Nancy Brown.
• Don't follow up to ask when the article will appear. If you have your Google Alerts set, you will see my posts as they go live.
• Don't ask me to link to your blog or offer to write a guest post for me if I don't accept guest posts.
• Please don't ask me to write a post for your client because it will provide me with "exposure."

Tips for Creating Successful Relationships with Public Relations Professionals:

• Keep in mind that like you, I have deadlines and demands of my time.
• Take the time to visit my website and learn of my client before you ask of something from me.
• Be accountable, courteous and professional. Successful relationships are not one-way streets.
• My client may not yet understand the value of online media coverage. Don't be offended when I ask for your Alexa, Compete or Technorati statistics or your Google Analytics. Part of my job is to "vet" bloggers, deliver circulation figures and determine editorial reach.

What tips do you have to offer for creating successful media relationships?

Related posts on this topic:

What This Blogger Wants PR to Know

The PR/blogger relationship

Women Bloggers Happy to Work with PR/Marketing

How to reach out to bloggers, and what makes us crazy

6 ways to improve your destination marketing (and why you're toast if you don't)

Pajaro Dunes sunset and street sign photo by Nancy D. Brown

Castello di Amorosa photo by Nancy D. BrownMy favorite tips and locations for visitors to Calistoga, California.

The first place I take a visitor from out of town is a downtown walking tour of Carlo Marchiori murals: Starting at Miquel's restaurant,1437 Lincoln Ave. See facing murals which show old Calistoga painted by this Italian-born muralist.

Insider Tip: When looking at these murals, Marchiori is the figure in the barber chair; the man reading the paper in an upper window is based on his brother; the dogs peering out the door are Marchiori's. His partner, Tony, is the inspiration for the Chinese laundryman whose work can be found all over town, including Brannan's Grill and Enoteca Wine Shop. Carlo's art gallery, Galleria Ca'Toga d'Arte, is next to Vermeil Wines, 1206 Cedar Street.

When I crave Calistoga cuisine, I turn to Sol Bar at Solage Calistoga.

To escape work I get a mud bath or massage at one of the many local spas within Calistoga. I enjoyed a girlfriend getaway at the Roman Spa Resort.

For complete quiet, I can hide away at Bothe Napa Valley State Park.

If you come to Calistoga, get your picture taken in front of the Napa Valley welcome sign.

If you have to order one thing off the menu at Brannan's Grill get the braised short ribs.

Calistoga is my one stop shop for food, wine tasting and mud baths.

Best Place to watch local crafts people at work: Calistoga Potter Jeff Manfredi can usually be found working on his wheel creating artisan pottery in his studio.

When I'm feeling cash-strapped, I go to The Candy Cellar. They have great salt water taffy. Try the award-winning Calistoga Mud Fudge or the Lattee Fudge.

Photo ops in Calistoga include the Castillo di Amorosa.

The best vantage points are taken by climbing to the top of the tower and looking out over the valley.

Bird in a Cage by Carlo MarchioriThe most unique art tour: Every Saturday from May-October, artist Carlo Marchiori leads tours of his home, Villa Ca'Toga. Visitors will see the grounds, "ruins," grottos and garden. His sly humor and creativity spill out of every corner. One guest room is painted to make you the bird in a birdcage. There's even a cat peering in at you and the room comes with yellow pajamas. A bargain at $25 per person.

In Calistoga, an active day outdoors involves hiking, biking or walking.

My favorite hikes: Kortum Canyon Road at the intersection of Hwy. 229/128 and Lincoln Avenue is a great walk. Bothe Napa State Park has lovely redwood groves for strolling year-round. Oak Hill Mine Trail, at the other end of Lincoln Avenue by Silverado Trail, is a thigh-burner, but the views are worth it.

Calistoga's best museum is the Sharpsteen Museum of Calistoga. A place to see glimpses of Calistoga's past with dioramas of what the town looked like in the 1860's. You'll see a completely furnished old-fashioned kitchen, blacksmith shop and turn of the century house and parlor all housed in an original Brannan Cottage with its arched gingerbread facade. There were more than a dozen of these guest cottages at the site of Calistoga's first spa resort.

You don't need kids with you to visit this historical museum, but if you do, they'll love the stagecoach and the miniature model trains. You can also see Ben Sharpsteen's Oscar from his work as a Disney animator on "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs." There is also a double-sided dollhouse made by Calistoga resident Ruth Durbin.

To find out what's going on at night or on weekends, read The Weekly Calistogan.

You can tell a lot about Calistoga from visiting the local festivals.

In the spring you should attend the Mustard, Mud and Music Festival, March 6-7, 2010. Visitors can leave the car behind and walk to live music all over town while tasting about two dozen of the areas wines.

In the summer Calistoga offers free concerts in the park every Thursday from the last week in May through the end of August. Taking place from 6-8 p.m., each week features a different band and a chef is on site for an al fresco dinner.

In the fall visit the wineries during harvest or go up in a hot air balloon.

In the winter you'll want to watch Calistoga's Annual Lighted Tractor Parade. Vintage and modern tractors, antique trucks and construction equipment bedecked with lights roll down Calistoga's main street to celebrate the holiday season and Napa Valley's agricultural heritage. December 4, 2010 is the date for the 6 p.m. start of the parade at Lincoln Avenue to Cedar Streets.

Calistoga Roastery Table of KnowledgeFor a great breakfast treat have the coffee cake and coffee at Calistoga Roastery. Anyone who wants to know what's really going on in town heads to "The Table of Ka-nowledge," an opinionated group of residents gathering spot.

Just outside of downtown Calistoga you can visit Robert Louis Stevenson State Park.

The best way to see downtown Calistoga is to walk.

If you have kids, you won't want to miss the Old Faithful Geyser. (Truth be told, I have not visited the Geyser yet.) Or they can find the Queen Bee at Vermeil Wines. The tasting room used to house a beeswax candle shop. Tasting room manager Mary Sue Frediani kept the two small doors that you can open to see the bees hard at work behind the glass making beeswax and honey.

 
What are your favorite things to do in Calistoga?

Thank you to Eden Umble of the Calistoga Chamber of Commerce for assistance with this post.

Castle and Calistoga Roastery photos by Nancy D. Brown. Photo of Bird in a Cage courtesy of Villa Ca'toga website.

My favorite tips and locations for visitors to Napa, California.

The first place I take a visitor from out of town is wine tasting or for a lunch ride on the Napa Valley Wine Train.

When I crave wine country cusine, I turn to Celadon in downtown Napa. The butternut soup is delicious.

To escape work I walk down to the Napa River or head to Dillon Beach.

For complete quiet, I can hide away at the roof top at Avia Napa.

If you come to Napa, get your picture taken on the upstairs terrace at Opus One.

If you have to order one thing off the menu at UVA get the Arincini Balls or the beer can chicken at Bounty Hunter.

Napa is my one stop shop for wine and great food.

When I'm feeling cash-strapped, I go to Villa Corona for excellent Mexican food. 

For a huge splurge, I'd recommend Cole's Chop House.

Photo ops in Napa include Silverado Vineyards and O'Shaughnessy Vineyards on Howell Mountain.

The best vantage points are taken by walking to the top of Westwood Hills Park in Napa.

The most random thing about Napa is the di Rosa Art Preserve.

Napa Valley Mustard Festival Photography Contestant - SmartIn Napa, an active day outdoors involves walking, biking or hiking.

My favorite biking route is the Silverado Trail on a weekday without traffic.

For a night of dancing, go to San Francisco.

The Bounty Hunter is the spot for late night dining.

To find out what's going on at night or on weekends, read the Napa Register or Wine Country This Week magazine.

You can tell a lot about Napa from visiting the local festivals.

In the spring you should attend the Napa Valley Mustard Festival.

In the summer you should attend Symphony on the River Festival, downtown Napa at the Third Street Bridge.

In the fall you should visit the wineries for harvest or go on a hot air balloon ride and take in the colors.

In the winter you might want to hang out at Milliken Creek Inn and have a chocolate massage.

Donuts at the Boon Fly CafeFor a great breakfast treat have the donuts at the Boon Fly Cafe at the Carneros Inn.

Just outside of Napa you can visit Rutherford. Have lunch outside at Rutherford Grill- great french dip.

The best way to see downtown Napa is to walk. Splurge on a driver when wine tasting. 

If you have kids, you won't want to miss Safari West in nearby Santa Rosa.

What are your favorite things to do in Napa?

Thank you to Maria Newman, Concierge at AVIA Napa for assistance with this post.

Grape and Donut Photos by Nancy D. Brown

Napa Valley Mustard Festival Photo Courtesy of Contestant Smart.

Nancy's Candy Co. - A Gourmet DelightYou've heard of the diamond's four c's? Color, cut,  clarity and carat are all characteristics that are important to a diamond. Well, I've discovered the three c's and a g at the San Francisco Fancy Food Show. Chocolate, cheese, caramel and granola are important to the quality of my life.

In its 35th year, the Winter Fancy Food Show offers specialty food retailers a peek and a taste into what's new and what's next in the ever competitive gourmet food world. I decided to approach this year's show, January 17-19, 2010, with a look at the regional connection we have with our foods.

While the show isn't open to the general public, I've put together a short video of my three c's; chocolate, cheese and caramel, with a granola product from Jackson Hole thrown into the mix because I'm headed to Wyoming this year.

Social media fans can find the National Association for the Specialty Food Trade (NASFT) on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube.

What gourmet foods have you discovered on your travels?

Amano Artisan Chocolate www.amanochocolate.com

The Bunnery www.bunnerynaturalfoods.com

Chocolate Santander www.ourniche.com

Happy Goat Caramel www.happygoatcaramel.com

Nancy's Candy Co. www.nancyscandycompany.com

Republica del Cacao www.republicadelcacao.com  

Horseback Riding Vacation at Kay El Bar RanchHappy Birthday to me.

I'm back from Wickenburg, Arizona where I enjoyed a pre-birthday celebration in January with Trisha Miller of Travel Writers Exchange and the cowboys of Kay El Bar Ranch.

Travel plans to look forward to in 2010:

January press trip to Ojai with a stay at Su Nido all suites boutique hotel, a spa treatment at The Day Spa of Ojai and hopefully some horseback riding.

February, I'm off to Cody, Wyoming as a guest of the Park County Travel Council. I'll stay at the Chamberlin Inn, visit the Buffalo Bill Museum and would love to stop in on the Dude Ranchers' Association to meet Executive Director Colleen Hudson.

Wells Fargo World Ice Art Championship photo Kris WilsonMarch you'll find me in Anchorage, Alaska for the start of the Iditarod Race with the folks at Alaska Travel Industry Association. Then I'm off to Fairbanks, Alaska to check out the World Ice Art Championships. 

I think I'll be sleeping at The Wedgewood Resort and I'm truly hoping that the owners of Apocalypse Design take pity on this woefully under-prepared California girl and let me test drive one of their Alpine Parkas.

April  What's in store for me?

MayI hope to be flying from San Francisco to Germany with Air Berlin's new non-stop flights to Dusseldorf and go horseback riding from one bed and breakfast to the next.

June Our daughter graduates from high school and our son graduates from 8th grade. Then I'm off to network with fellow travel bloggers at TBEX '10 in New York, June 26-27.

July

Fjord horse photo courtesy of Moods of NorwayAugust Crossing my fingers that Harald Hansen of Innovation Norway will arrange for my visit on board The Hurtigruten. My birthday wish will come true if I get to ride a Fjord horse in Norway.

September

October

November

December

Horseback Riding Vacations

Have you noticed a horse theme throughout this post? I've launched a new blog, Writing Horseback and look forward to riding as much as possible in 2010. If you like horseback riding vacations, please join my Writing Horseback Facebook Fan Page.

Looks like I have plenty of travel slots to fill. Where will your travels take you in 2010? Leave me a comment. I'd love to hear from you.

Ames Walker Travel Sock ReviewTravel overseas often? Think deep vein thrombosis (DVT) only strikes senior citizens? Think again.

“The myth about DVT is that it is more likely to strike the elderly or those with poor health,” said Paul Amatangelo, support hosiery specialist for AmesWalker.com. However, recent  science is indicating that those in better than average health, for instance marathon runners, are at great risk.”

On a red eye flight from San Francisco International airport to Miami, Florida, I wore a pair of AmesWalker.com Travel Socks, style 167. I put them on in the morning and didn’t take them off until I had boarded the Crown Princess cruise ship 24 hours later.

The medically-correct socks, like graduated compression legwear, apply decreasing pressure from the ankle to the knee, forcing blood to the leg’s deep veins. The idea behind the socks is to promote blood flow in the legs, prevent leg swelling and reduce the chance of blood clot formation in a DVT.

I wore the travel socks on the flight from SFO and didn’t have any problems with the comfort of the sock, although they were tight fitting. A  Dress/Trouser Microfiber Knee Sock, style 136 in beige were tried on the return flight from Miami to SFO. In this instance, I’d only had the socks on for six hours and yet I was painfully aware of these socks. The socks felt as though they were squeezing my skin like sausage being squeezed into its casing. I had actual welt marks on my skin around the knee area.

Ames Walker Microfiber Travel Sock ReviewBoth pair of the Microfiber Firm Support Travel Socks were the same size, so I’m not sure why the beige pair were so uncomfortable. I e-mailed the company and they explained that compression levels for each pair of socks are different - the Travel Socks have a moderate level of 15-20, while the Micro Fiber Socks had a firm level of 20-30. I tried the same Microfiber Support Sock in level 15-20 and while it was more comfortable, I ended up removing my socks mid-flight because the band at the top was again leaving a deep indentation on one of my legs.

While these travel socks have merit, it is crucial that you have a travel sock that fits your compression level. Like Goldilocks looking for her perfect fitting bed, I had difficulties finding the perfect sock for my long-haul flight.

ECONOMY CLASS SYNDROME

The company has developed a podcast of upper body and leg exercises to help prevent blood clots from forming during extended air travel. The MP3 podcast can be downloaded for free here.

What tips do you have for long haul airplane travel?

AmesWalker.com 

2009 What a Trip!What a Trip 2009 has been! I am blessed with a supportive husband and two awesome teenagers who understand my travel addiction. Thanks to all of the folks who have invited me to share their piece of paradise, to the travel gear producers who have sent me products to review and to my friends new and old in the travel blogging community.

2009 Year in Review

January: The folks at Napa Valley Wine Train, Carneros Inn and Meritage Resort helped me celebrate my birthday in Napa, CA

February: Katherine Hoppe made a Twitter connection and invited me to Coos Bay and North Bend, OR, while Unique Inns invited me on a Southern CA Roadtrip with my Vacation Gal buddy Jennifer Miner where we visited Laguna Beach and Avalon.

March: began with a quick trip to Napa, CA for a visit to a green hotel and a Southern California college tour with my high school senior and another mother-daughter duo.

April: Sean Carroll of New Media Strategies invited me to Cozumel, Mexico as a guest of Royal Holiday; Oregon Governor's Conference on Tourism asked me to speak about Travel Blogging in Salem. Of course, I flew into Eugene, OR for a quick visit to my alma mater.

FYI, The tourism conference will take place April 11-13,2010 in Bend, OR.

Nancy Brown in Entlebuch, SwitzerlandMay: The folks at Switzerland Tourism introduced me to Entlebuch, Fribourg, Gruyere, Lucerne, Lugano, Murten and Schwyz; while the Kaanapali Beach Resort Association showed me all that Maui, Hawaii has to offer. I managed to squeeze in a trip to Carmel, CA for Memorial Day and met my sorority social media soul sister Sarah Browne.

June: A family vacation brought us to Sisters and Bend, Southern Oregon's Crater Lake and Grants Pass for a jet boat rideon Oregon's Rogue River.

July: I spoke on a travel panel at BlogHer & met fellow travel bloggers at TBEX, Chicago, IL; Whatcom County wined and dined me during a Washington Culinary Tour, while I checked out a new hotel in Half Moon Bay, CA

FYI, TBEX takes place in NYC, June 26-27, 2010 as does BlogHer August 5-7, 2010  See you there?

August: Royal Caribbean invited me to sail on Radiance of the Seas,where I did a land and sea tour in Anchorage, Denali, Fairbanks, Ketchikan and Juneau, Alaska. I was supposed to visit Macau, China, but a nasty cold stopped me from flying.

September: I sailed thru Alaska's Glacier Bay to Ketchikan, Juneau and the Inside Passage with Holland America Line on the MS Westerdam.

October: The friendly folks at McNeil Wilson showed me around Kauai, Hawaii's Garden Isle where I went horseback riding and swam in a waterfall.

Girls at Mercado 28 in Cancun, MexicoNovember: Did you #FollowMeAtSea on the Western Caribbean Princess Cruises Twitter Trip? I also gave thanks with my family in Carmel, CA.

December: I was one of nine #Bloggers in Paradise at the Cancun JW Marriott Resort and then sipped hot chocolate in Napa AVIA, wine at the Pink Mansion and blissed out at the Roman Spa Resort in Calistoga, CA

clock photo by findstuff22

JW Marriott Cancun Resort and SpaIf you've come to Cancun, Mexico to visit Chichen Itza, or simply to relax on the Riviera Maya, you might be interested in a little Mayan culture with your spa treatment.

Of course, there are plenty of things to see and do in Cancun, in addition to a relaxing day at the spa.

I was staying at the JW Marriott as one of nine bloggers in paradise and was invited to try out the spa.

Marriott International has nine different resorts in Mexico and the Caribbean and I was fortunate to have landed in Cancun for the first time.

My Balche 80 minute spa treatment was meant to replicate some of the Mayan rituals. Balche, the sacred drink of the Mayas, was an essential element that helped to connect with nature and the cosmos, as well as curing infirmities.

The JW Marriott Cancun spa treatment involved a body cleansing with an exfoliation base of brown sugar and cinnamon.

While my spa treatment began in the relaxation room, my Mayan experience began when I stepped into my private room, the smell of burning incense filled the space. As I lay face down on the massage table, I was pleased to see a flower floating in a bowl of water on the floor in front of me. A nice touch that many spa resorts and lodges  would do well to replicate.

As the attendant blew into the sea shell, a pleasing, yet errie sound drifted in the air and Mayan music began to play in the background. She then offered a Mayan prayers over me and thus began my relaxing massage with a mixture of Mayan sacred herbs and with Balche, to relax, cleanse and help my body achieve tranquility.

• Tene u sisilen (I am the light)
• Tene u ya cuma (I am the peace)
• Tene u Dzimodo (I am the love)
• Teme u kmac holalen (I am the harmony)

My favorite part of the treatment; the scalp massage and the cinnamon aroma therapy. What a trip!

Pumpkin Facial

A Pumpkin Facial at the JW Marriott Cancun Resort and SpaIn the interest of research, I tried the Pumpkin Package the morning of my departure from Cancun. Spa Director Wdson Brum offers different treatments each month for guests to experience.

December's Pumpkin Package began with a 25 minute back, neck and shoulder massage, followed with a 50 minute Pumpkin facial.

New to facials, I was asking the technician about each step, from the application of the botanical enzymes to digest dead surface skin cells, to the painted mask to hydrate my skin. I even had her take a picture of me with my lovely mask.

For a complete list of spa treatments and prices, visit www.jwmarriottcancunspa.com

Grupo Norteno in El Mercado 28, Cancun, MexicoMy favorite tips and locations for visitors to Cancun, Mexico.

The first place I take a visitor from out of town is to the beach.

When I crave Yucatan cusine, I turn to La Habichuela. This restaurant has been serving local specialities in downtown Cancun since 1977.

To escape work I walk on the beach at "Las Perlas beach" or go to "el Mirado." These are public access beaches. You can park in a public lot and walk along the beach. The beach is kid and pet-friendly and is like a trip to the park.

For complete quiet, I can hide away at any Puerto Morelos beach for a day. For a weekend escape go to Tulum. A few minutes from downtown Cancun is Playa Blanca, the continental area of Isla Mujeres. This beach remains untouched and is where the locals go. There are a few "ceviche bars" to have cold beer (cervesa) and great "Tikinchik fish."

If you come to Cancun, get your picture taken at "el Mirador" at Ballena's Beach, right on the km 17 of the Kukulcan Blvd.

If you have to order one thing off the menu at Simply Seafood, get the Smoked Blue Marlin on a grilled crostini.

Cancun is my one stop shop for handcrafts, talavera pottery and silver. I had a chance to visit Mercado 28. Check out the YouTube video here.

When I'm feeling cash-strapped, I go to VIP's restaurants. They have good hygiene standards, an international menu and a playground for kids. 

For a huge splurge, I'd recommend Gustino at the JW Marriott Cancun. The restaurant specializes in Italian and seafood, but I had the rack of lamb and it was excellent.

Photo ops in Cancun include a trip to Chichen Itza or any back drop with a Riviera Maya beach.

The best vantage points are taken by walking to the top of the Chicken-itza pyramid or at the top of the Coba pyramid.

Nancy Brown riding Califa at Holkan Kingdom, Cancun, MexicoThe most random thing about Cancun is Holkan Kingdom. A 175 acre outdoor activity center offering ziplining, jet boating, atv riding and horseback riding all in one location. I went horseback riding in the Mayan jungle at Holkan Kingdom.

In Cancun, an active day outdoors involves walking or jogging through the hotel zone.

My favorite walking route is the circuit beginning at the km 20 until km 18 at the Ecological Reserve.

For a night of dancing, go to Cocobongo!

To find out what's going on at night or on weekends, read Novedades de Quintana Roo or Cancunissimo Magazine.

You can tell a lot about Cancun from visiting the rural villages outside of Cancun.

In the spring you should attend the echinoid at Chichen Itza.

In the summer, from May to mid-October, you can volunteer to help protect the sea turtles and their eggs.

In the fall you should visit Viva Mexico for month long September activities.

In the winter you might want to swim with whale sharks.

A hidden gem in Cancun is Kabah Ecological Park, located on the heart of Cancun's downtown. It has a museum featuring the very first images of this destination. It also has a garden and health circuit for exercising.

For a great breakfast treat or espresso, go to Italian Coffee.

Just outside of Cancun you can visit Puerto Morelos. Have lunch at Los Pelicanos restaurant; a traditional beach front restaurant serving some of the best ceviche in the area.

Crocodile in Cancun, MexicoThe best way to see Cancun is to take public transportation as distances are quite long and the weather can be quite hot during some seasons.

If you have kids, you won't want to miss the interactive aquarium at "Plaza La Isla" or Crococun Zoo; a crocodile reserve just a few minutes away from Cancun.

What are your favorite things to do in Cancun?

Thank you to Marina Calunga, Director of Marketing at JW Marriott Cancun for assistance with this post.

Photos by Nancy D. Brown and Holkan Kingdom