This week, when I opened a bottle that had been stored away for a while, the scent hit my nose and I instantly thought of southern California. Sure enough, I looked at the label and it was from a Hilton in Orange County where I stayed at while doing work in Brea, CA ten year ago. Ten years, and I still remember the scent!

On the subject of senses, I like to have a signature taste, like a “Beer of the summer”. Last year, my wife bought Landshark beer for our week at the cottage in Interlochen. I’m sure I’ve forgotten certain details of that trip, but I remember that.

This year, for our trip to another cottage, the beer will be Leinenkugel Weiss. And I’m sure I’ll remember that a year from now, too. And who knows what other little taste will find a place in my memory. A sundae? I hot dog? Fresh fish?

Sounds. For me, it’s songs. I distinctly remember here “She will be loved” by Maroon 5 on the way to camping at East Tawas with my then-girlfriend, now-wife. Or hearing “Key West Intermezzo” by John Mellencamp on a rainy I75 just north of the Mackinac Bridge, heading to Sault Ste. Marie.

The small things like that really bring those trips alive. I’ve forgotten a lot about the rest of my day in The Sault, but I’ll always remember that song.

This morning, I found a great general travel site called Boarding Area. It contains travel-related articles and links to dozens of sites. It looks very interesting, and I have just started to crack the surface.

If you would like to win a $250 Best Western card, You Must Be Trippin has a way. Just describe your best travel adventure, or travel disaster, and you could win the coveted cash. I plan on trying for the moola myself.