Clifton's cafeteria and bars are a great destination in LA. Go for casual dining or hang out in the amazing lounge areas. The restored historic building is a delightful surprise in the downtown area.

To get in the holiday spirit,  visit historic Glendale, Arizona during the Glendale Glitters event.

The charming Food for Thought restaurant is located south of Salt Lake City in historic Draper, Utah. It's just like having lunch at Grandma's house.

Highly recommended in Las Vegas.http://www.presidentiallimolv.com/

As another year comes to a close today, I am making my recommendations for the best destinations of the year. Below are five of my favorite destinations that I visited in 2012. 

My Top 5 Destinations for 2012: 

1.   Savannah, Georgia
2.   New York City, New York
3.   Las Vegas, Nevada
4.   Carefree, Arizona
5.   Monument Valley

Please read about each of these destinations here at The Ideal Trip. 

I hope your year has been filled with wonderful travels and that 2013 will bring more happy adventures!!

Here is a great resource you need to know about! If you are planning a trip to New York City or you live in the NYC area, join the Theater Development Fund (TDF) for discounted tickets to hundreds of Broadway shows, Off-Broadway shows, music performances, and dance productions. Bargains of up to 70% off full-price tickets to hundreds of live productions are available each year. Tickets are available to Off-Off Broadway shows for as little as $9 each. Membership is $30 annually, but only one person of your group must be a member to purchase tickets (up to 9 tickets per performance). I joined TDF and used their simple website to book all my live theater prior to a trip to NYC.  This is one resource both theater-lovers and bargain-travelers will want to use. 

To qualify for TDF membership, you must belong to one of the following groups:
• Full-time Students (high school or above)
• Full-time Teachers (primary or junior high school faculty, high school faculty, university or college faculty, teacher of drama/dance/music)
• Recent Graduates (26 years of age and under)
• Full-time Union Members
• Retirees (no longer working and at least 62 years of age or older)
• Full-time Civil Service Employees
• Full-time Staff Members of Not-for-Profit Organizations
• Full-time Non-Exempt Employees
• Full-time Performing Arts Professionals
• Members of the Armed Forces
• Full-time Clergy

For more information on discounted live performances available throughout the New York area and TDF membership, visit http://www.tdf.org/.

For additional cost-savers, see the article on free tours in New York City at http://www.theidealtrip.com/new-york-city.html.

Don’t Miss This--
Terracotta Warriors: Defenders of China's First Emperor, an immersive exhibition of rare artifacts, can be seen now through August 26th at Discovery Times Square in New York City. 

I was fortunate enough to personally see the Terracotta Warriors in their original location in Xian during a visit to China many years ago. The Terracotta Warriors are considered one of the most significant archaeological finds of all time and it is an exceptional experience to see these creations.  I encourage you to take advantage of this opportunity to see the Terracotta Warriors while they are here in the United States. This rare exhibit was created especially for display this summer in its Northeast U.S. debut and features authentic Terracotta Warriors, many artifacts that were buried with the warriors, items from Ancient China dating back to 221 BCE that have never been seen in the United States, and the world premiere of a set of gates from an ancient Han burial chamber. 

Very few original Terracotta Warriors are allowed out of China at any given time, so this is your opportunity to see them up close and personal. In addition, this carefully curated exhibit includes items from sixteen major museums in China’s Shaanxi province, where the tomb is located. If you can’t get to China soon to see them there, be sure to get to this unique exhibition while it is available in New York. 

The Terracotta Warriors, discovered accidentally by well diggers in 1974, were unearthed from the tomb of China’s Emperor, Qin Shihuangdi, who built sections of the Great Wall of China, unified ancient China, and established a system of government that influenced China for more than 2,000 years. The warriors were buried in his tomb along with thousands of other artifacts needed to protect him in the afterlife. It is estimated that more than 1,000 artisans were needed to create the 8,000 individualized life-size warriors. Construction of the tomb began when the Emperor was only 13 years old and continued for nearly 40 years. According to historians, this feat involved more than 700,000 laborers. 

To date, nearly 2,000 warriors and horses have been unearthed. Some of the most unique ones are featured in the exhibit now showing at Discovery Times Square, a partnership museum and exhibition center from the Discovery Channel. Discovery Times Square is located at 226 West 44th Street between Broadway and 8th Avenues, directly across from Shubert Alley. Discovery Times Square is open 7 days a week. Get there soon, as the exhibition is now in its final few weeks. This is one you won’t want to miss!

For tickets to Terracotta Warriors: Defenders of China's First Emperor, more information on the exhibit, and help planning your visit to Discovery Times Square see: http://www.discoverytsx.com/. 

For more information on a recommended travel itinerary in China, including a visit to Xian to view the excavation site of the Terracotta Warriors, see the Destinations article on China at: http://www.theidealtrip.com/china.html.

In preparation for our upcoming trip to New York, I have finalized a solid itinerary of sights and activities. But, I have been doing more than just itinerary planning—I have been strengthening my relationship with my mother. How have I done this? First, I have encouraged my mother to start walking more each day in preparation for our NYC sightseeing (which will include a walk on the Brooklyn Bridge and a tour through Central Park). Second, I have also been filling her in on the itinerary developments as tickets are purchased and reservations are made. How do these strengthen our relationship? I feel that these actions are important relationship-builders and achieve several things: 1) She has a new goal to work toward; 2) she has something pleasant to think about for the future; 3) she can look forward to our time together; and, 4) It gives us an opportunity to communicate more and connect in new ways. She can anticipate a fun trip and I can enjoy conversations with her about our upcoming trip. Try this yourself if you are planning a trip or considering a trip to help strengthen a relationship. I think you will find that travel is not only about the time you spend together during the trip, it is also about bonding and communicating more long before the trip takes place. 

How has travel improved relationships with the most important people in your life? I would like to hear from you. Click on “Add Comment” below or email me at theidealtrip@gmail.com to tell me about it. I look forward to your comments!  

Are you looking for travel ideas, something fun to do this weekend, a  unique activity at your next destination, an easy way to meet locals in a particular city, or just want to find travel inspiration? Consider joining a Meetup group somewhere new at Meetup.com. There are more than 100,000 Meetup groups to choose from around the world. You could choose to meetup with theater lovers in New York City, surfers in California, hikers in Alaska, or photographers in Hawaii. And now through July 15th, you can enter to win a trip up to $5,000 to attend a Meetup event anywhere in the world by RSVPing your attendance at an upcoming Meetup.  I have attended several meetup activities in the past and found it a great way to meet new people and enjoy the activities I love. I just signed up for an art class for women and am looking forward to trying my hand at a new activity. I encourage you to check it out, get inspired, and have fun!