We’re excited to announce that TravelMuse has been selected to present at the Travel Innovation Summit taking place at the 2008 PhoCusWright Conference on Nov. 17 in Hollywood, Calif.

Approximately 20 of the leading travel start-ups will have 10 minutes each to showcase their solutions on stage in front of members of the press, investors and leaders from around the travel industry. If you’re in Los Angeles and would like to meet with us, grab a pass and head on over to the conference! It should be a great show.

We’re excited to work with the local Junior League Chapter, the Junior League of Oakland-East Bay, Inc. (JLOEB), on their annual fundraiser. The Junior League was founded in 1935 and is an organization of women, who to this day are committed to building better communities and making a difference in the lives of children and families served by the League.

TravelMuse is delighted to have this opportunity, and as we continue to effect change in building our travel planning community, we hope we can help other groups like Junior League. Starting now and running through November 30th, the team here at TravelMuse will donate $1 per each League-generated visitor who signs up and starts planning a trip using the TravelMuse Planner—a centralized place to collect, organize and share travel research. There is no cost to participate and no obligation to book a trip. (The total donation is capped at $1,000.)

Whether League members are looking for destination ideas on where to take their next family vacation, organizing a girls’ getaway, embarking on a romantic trip for two or meeting other League members at the 2009 Association of Junior Leagues International (AJLI) Convention, TravelMuse.com now makes the entire process easy for anyone to plan a trip. TravelMuse.com is also the JLOEB 2008-2009 exclusive travel partner and a silver-level sponsor of the Fifth Annual Artful Living Home Tour, Nov. 7- to 8, 2008, in Alamo and Diablo, Calif.

“Oftentimes, all it takes is a simple action to result in something truly impactful,” saya Tricia Stenger, president, JLOEB. “The League produces tangible benefits for children and their families throughout the Bay Area, and I am ecstatic that our philanthropic efforts through TravelMuse will further expand our combined impact in the community.”

At TravelMuse, effecting change is one of our core values, and we believe companies should not only invest in their employees and partners, but in the community at large. The Junior League is well known for building better communities, and we’re thrilled to work with their members on this program to further inspire others to make a difference.

For full details, read our press release.

I just returned from two weeks on Guanaja, one of Honduras’ Bay Islands. Aside from enjoying plenty of hammock time, great views of wildlife (spotted eagle rays, dolphins, ospreys, magnificent frigatebirds), island food, tropical sunny weather (and some spectacular evening thunderstorms), and visiting friends, I had some interesting “beyond tourist” moments that I want to share.

Anyone can have a “beyond tourist” moment on vacation, and it doesn’t even require getting out of the resort (although it’s nice to do so, in order to see how the locals live). Just spend time talking to the people who live in your destination and get to know them a little. Since I’ve been visiting Guanaja for more than 10 years and own property there, I’m regularly doing things like grocery shopping for myself, buying plants from the local nurseryman and chatting up locals in the bank line.

Here’s a glimpse into the island of Guanaja that the guidebooks don’t cover:

•    While I was shopping in Casa Sikaffy, one of the island’s largest grocery stores (that’s smaller than your average 7-Eleven), the lights suddenly went out. First thought: power outage. Nope. The owner’s sister walked up to me and explained, “There’s a funeral, and the body just passed in the street outside, so we turned the lights out for respect.” The street that she was referring to? A pedestrian walkway that’s only 7-feet wide.

•    Guanaja’s a relatively small island with limited infrastructure. Plastic recycling is something it hasn’t been able to tackle in a realistic way, until now. An ex-pat friend, Mike, showed me the island’s new “bottle crusher,” which takes piles of plastic bottles and presses them into large squares—ready to transport to the mainland for recycling. It’s a great way to get trash off the streets and beaches, and money into the pockets of islanders.

•    I had the chance to talk with a gentleman from one of Guanaja’s families that date from English settlement times, in the early 1800s. Mr. Borden is 80, and he told me about all the property throughout the island that he’s owned over the years. While it’s certainly an overstatement to say that he’s owned the entire island, his property holdings have covered a large amount of territory. It was a pleasure to hear about what Guanaja was like in the “old days” when there were few people, no electricity and the fishing “industry” consisted only of families fishing for their dinner.

Traveling with kids is challenging enough, so why make it harder by hitting the road with a crappy or too-heavy stroller?

Strollers are essential—especially when you are traveling by air. Getting from one gate to another with today’s super-tight connections means you need to be able to set that puppy up and run, people.

So what does a parent on the go look for in a stroller? The key attributes are: lightweight construction, durability and ease of use.

• When you travel, you often need to be able to fold and/or open your stroller with one hand, so test the floor model while holding your child. I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve had to grab my stroller on the jetway and open it while holding my kid and a backpack loaded down with a DVD player, goodies and toys, all while trying to avoid getting run over by the entire section of business fliers.

• You also want a stroller that isn’t heavy—look for aluminum construction. That also helps you avoid rust. That gate attendant could care less if your stroller sits out in the rain. Also, choose a quick-drying fabric that resist stains.

• Got a toddler and an infant? A double stroller is a must if you have two young children. That doesn’t mean you have to get one of those huge side-by-side deals. Lots of brands today make models that allow you to have an infant in a traditional stroller seat, while your older child sits or stands on a jump seat or running board on the back.

• Last but not least, remember that quality lasts. If you travel frequently by air or rail, or even take long road trips, resist the urge to buy a cheap umbrella model. You’ll just end up replacing it 10 times, so spend the cash upfront and avoid the inconvenience.

So what do I recommend? I use a Joovy Caboose model, but here are some others worth considering:

Phil & Ted’s Sport Buggy and Doubles Kit

UppaBaby’s G-Lite Stroller

Maclaren Volvo

Combi Savvy Soho

Peg Perego Aria MT

Got a sweet tooth?

Then New York City is the place for you. As one of the culinary capitals of the world, New York has more than its share of places to indulge the kid in you—or, you know, like, your actual kid.

When I was a lass, we once had the grand pleasure of getting room-service sundaes from Rumplemeyer’s in the now-defunct St. Moritz Hotel. Considering that I’m 37 years old and can still taste the hot fudge sauce, you could say it made an impression.

Make a similar lasting impression on your wee ones and hit some of the city’s sweetest spots.

Dylan’s Candy Bar: From gummy bears to popcorn, if you can’t find it here, you can’t find it anywhere. This Third Avenue shop is a must-see for any chocoholic, no matter how old.

Chocolate Bar

Alison Nelson’s Chocolate Bar: Putting a modern spin on retro favorites is this café’s speciality. Billing itself as a “candy store for grown-ups,” you can indulge in savory chocolate sandwiches, nostalgia-inspired candy bars, gelato or the classic brownie. Or a salad. I say skip the salad, dude. The original West Village store recently closed and relocated to the East Village.

Rice To Riches: Candy not your thing? How about pudding? Mmmmm, puuuuddding. Rice to Riches specializes in nothing but rice pudding. But this ain’t your mama’s pudding, mamas. No, this shop has flavors ranging from traditional to “Category 5 Caramel.” I know from what I speak—I once ordered a vat of the stuff for my honey for Valentine’s Day, and we both ate our way to nirvana.

Serendipity 3: What could be better than frozen hot chocolate? Hey, Oprah loves it, and America loves it some Oprah. Run, don’t walk to this legendary New York City sweet spot. Grab a burger, then top the meal off with an Outrageous Banana Split or a Strawberry Fields Sundae. Expect long lines.

Dessert Truck. Photograph by Rich Velasco.

Dessert Truck: Need your sweet fix while on the run? Scout out this sugar-on-wheels purveyor pushing $5 treats, such as molten chocolate cake served topped with sea salt and roasted pistachios. Two locations Park Avenue and 52nd Street days; Third Avenue and St. Marks Place (8th Street) nights.

Now I’m craving chocolate. Excuse me while I go scheme ways to get myself to New York City. Perhaps parcel post?

(For recommendations for more substantial family friendly fare, read TravelMuse’s 7 Favorite Family Friendly Restaurants article, or for adults, its 10 Top NYC Restaurant Experiences piece.)