Ready to Travel!

Summer doesn't officially begin until June 21, but the real kick off is Memorial Day Weekend. This is the first long weekend of the year when the weather is actually nice, and the last one for three months. And after the winter we've had, people are itching to travel, embrace the summer and enjoy some warmer temperatures.

I am among those eager travelers. I am currently sitting in the O'Hare airport, waiting to board a plane to Austin for my good friend Laura's bachelorette party. Of course, I had to pick the busiest travel day of the weekend, and I'm flying from one of the destinations that is expected to get the most visitors this Memorial Day.

According to travel website, Orbitz, Chicago is one of the top five most popular destinations people will travel to this weekend, along with Las Vegas, New York, Punta Cana and Cancun. Priceline places Orlando and San Diego in its top five list, so clearly there is no guaranteed algorithm for figuring out where people are going. The bottom line is...they're going.

Nationally, about 36.1 million people will hit the road during the holiday weekend, according to AAA auto club, up 1.5% from 2013. The national travel estimate is 2.6% higher than its 10-year historical average and the second highest since 2000. The numbers indicate a new high as the economy continues to recover from the recession, the unemployment rate has dropped and overall consumer confidence is on the rise.

With all this activity, I was sure the airport would be a zoo, with long lines to check bags and get through security. So I took the cautious route and hopped on the Blue Line at 5:30am to get to O'Hare by 6am for my 8:30am flight – considerably earlier than I usually arrive for a domestic flight. To my chagrin, there were plenty of open kiosks, and I checked my bag in less than five minutes. And the security line? Non existent! I was through the line and sitting in the airline lounge by 6:15am...seriously. Are they sure about this travel rush?

I'm not saying I don't believe the predictions, I anticipate that it will get worse later in the day, since many people still work on the Friday before Memorial Day and then leave early or right when the clock hits 5pm. But maybe it won't be as crazy as we all think. Then again, I could be sorely mistaken. I return from my Austin adventure on Monday, probably the second-busiest travel day of the weekend. And I don't have the good fortune of an early flight. So we'll see what happens then.

Good luck to everyone traveling this weekend. I wish you all the best kick off to summer and a great Memorial Day.

And please, feel free to share your weekend destinations. I'd like to create my own list of top destinations based off responses I get from people. Maybe I'll ask a few folks here in the lounge...let the polling begin.

Where to Spend Labor Day Weekend

It's the last long weekend of the summer, the final hoorah before the cool breath of fall sets in and backyard barbecues and outdoor patios will become a thing of the past--at least until next summer. To celebrate the end of warmth, (and welcome the gorgeous changing leaves and scrumptious pumpkin smells) you need to pick a great place to go. Luckily, our country is full of fantastic long-weekend spots to get away to, the problem is picking one.

Orbitz released its Insider Index with a special section dedicated to the top places to travel for Labor Day weekend. Now, I'm not saying you have to pick one of these destinations, but it may give you a good starting off point. The Index tracked the most popular places people visit for Labor Day, as well as pricing for flights and hotels.

The top ten list includes:

• New York
• Las Vegas
• Chicago
• Denver
• Seattle
• San Francisco
• Orlando
• Boston
• Los Angeles
• Atlanta

Lucky for me, I live in one of the top destinations, and I'm actually going to one of the other ones for Labor Day--home to Denver! For those of you looking to plan a vacation, check any of these out. Orbitz said the best hotel rates are in Denver, Atlanta and Orlando. The best round-trip airfare is on flights to Atlanta, Orlando and Boston.

If none of these sound appealing (or they are out of your price range or you've been to all of them before) there are plenty of other places to go. Why not try a nice camping trip in the mountains? Any mountain range will work, but I think the Rocky Mountains are the best, though I'm slightly biased. Or what about a family vacation to the water park capital of the world, Wisconsin Dells? There are dozens of reasonably priced hotels, great activities for kids, and some pleasant amenities for parents. National parks are a big seller for long weekends. Grand Canyon, Glacier, Yellowstone--all of them are great picks. Labor Day is also a great time to shop and take advantage of amazing deals and discounts. Clearly, New York, Chicago and LA are popular shopping destinations, but since those are all on the list, why not try Miami? You get the beach and a wide array of shops to enjoy. If you are a foodie, as so many travelers are, I think a great place to visit is New Orleans for some authentic cajun-style dishes that are sure to satisfy any palate.

So, I've thrown a lot out there for you, and obviously there are a lot of places I didn't mention, but this should give you some nice options to consider.

And even if you decide to stay put for the holiday weekend--because, let's face it, we could all stand to save a little money right now--then make sure to celebrate Labor Day right. Gather your friends and family, fire up the grill, grab some traditional American grub and sit back with a nice beer (or glass of wine!) That's a great way to spend your final weekend of summer!