Oh, the joys of flying commercial. Dashing down concourses A through D. Lugging luggage to and fro. White-knuckling it cross-country. Starving, because you arrived at the airport two-hours early (as requested), only to receive an airline snack the size of a postage stamp. There’s nothing ever glamorous about flying the friendly skies.

Unless, of course, you take a private jet.

Enter: Virgin Charter. They are the first online travel aggregator for private jets (yes, you've got another reason to love Richard Branson). Once a luxury service for the uber rich, the new site and service makes booking a cinch. And, after last year's adventure trip (I'm in pink) from Teterboro to Bar Harbor, Maine ... well, my children have no interest in flying commercial again. Ever! While accommodating them may be difficult, this service actually makes it more possible than ever before.

And yes, private jets are still expensive. But now it’s at least accessible (and less expensive if you're willing to take an 'empty-leg'). Just enter your information (passengers, departure, destination, and dates) and, since you’re flying private, feel free to get nitty-gritty with details like crew requirements, number of tolerable fuel stops, whether or not you’re bringing your kids, your grandma or like us you simply need your favorite bottle of wine on board. Virgin Charter then sends your requirements to their roster of participants who in turn send you bids. You compare plane types, amenities, safety, quality ratings, and price. Voila!

The best part: On a private jet, snacks are free and unlimited, so go ahead and ask for seconds.

The sprint for Beijing gold is on, but those just now considering an Olympic run still have a shot at great seats: Roadtrips offers a 12-day China trip (from $21,970) that includes tickets to track and field, gymnastics, and the men's gold-medal volleyball match, along with three days in Shanghai and privately guided outings to the Great Wall and the Terra Cotta Warriors in Xi'an. Premiere Sports Travel's five-day stay in Beijing (from $9,625) welcomes fans with seats at four competitions of their choosing, as well as guided tours of host-city highlights and a night at the opera.

The Simpsons Ride, not officially open, held a 'soft open' while we were at the park and, without a wait, we were able to get on the ride, not once, but twice!

Basically, the jist of the ride is that The Simpsons are visiting Krustyland (a low-budget theme park created by Krusty the Clown) and you are right there alongside Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie as you enter through the carnival-like midway of Krustyland where you'll get a taste of what Springfield's Krustiest theme park has to offer: inept fortune tellers, uninspired musical revues, rides such as "The Tooth Chipper" roller coaster, and more.

Once you board your vehicle you're in for one surprise after another as you embark on a wild, over-the-top ride through the park ... flying, floating, and more or less crashing your way through Krustyland's kiddie attractions, stunt shows, and thrill rides.

The ride features all new animation starring the voices of the show's original cast, projected onto a towering IMAX screen. You are in your own car and while it's a simulated ride, it's nothing like you've been on before. The ride vehicles tilt, pitch, dip and twist in synch with the action on the film, giving you the illusion of motion, speed and flight.

The bad part, once officially open, I imagine long, long lines. They even incorporate that into the ride ... once inside you're eventually greeted by Krusty (on TV), who teases that your wait is almost over -- just 45 minutes to go, he kids. Luckily, by then, you're actually in the home stretch and yes, even if the lines are long, it's worth the wait. The entire family will enjoy this ride.

Tip: To say it's fast-paced is an understatement. There's a lot to absorb in one sitting (that's why I did it twice). Was that bartender Moe back there? Did I just smell baby powder? Did we just get sprayed with water? Expect to make multiple rides and to wait in a long -- but entertaining (depending on your sense of humor) -- line. Get to the park early and head to the Simpson's Ride first, most people will head in the opposite direction by following the map.
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Looking for a fabulous feast? You can find it right inside Universal. I did. No kidding.

Two theme parks, three hotels and the restaurant-packed Universal CityWalk complex offer dining choices aplenty to Universal fans. In the parks, I was surprised to find that every ingredient is made from scratch. Executive Chef Steve Jayson would rather his team cut and steam fresh green beans than buy them frozen, for example, and he never brings frozen fish onto the premises. The result? Satisfying meals at all price levels.

Mythos (which I discovered too late) located within the Islands of Adventure theme park, is the most magical of Universal's theme park eateries. The dining room resembles an underwater Greek grotto, but I'm told that you won't notice once you begin sampling Chef Mark Wachowiak's fabulous fare. At Universal Studios Florida, plan your day around lunch at Lombasrd's Seafood Grille.

For easier access to excellent food, book a table at Emeril's Orlando, a CityWalk white-tablecloth oasis with Creole-inspired creations by celebrity chef Emeril Lagasse. Lagasse also serves sensational Polynesian-inspired meals at Emeril's Tchoup Chop (pronounced Chop-Chop), where we ate (with kids) in the Royal Pacific Resort. We had the Seared Sea Scallops on Double Fried Plantains with Garlic-Lime Butter Sauce and Jicama Salad. Need I say more! If you have a longing for risotto and pasta, peruse the menu at Portofino Bay Hotel's Bice Risorante. And when nothing but prime steak or lobster will do, head to the Hard Rock Hotel, where an Orlando offshoot of our favorite restaurant, The Palm, serves classics in a masculine dining room. This time (adults only) we had a five pound lobster, caesar salad, filet mignon and creamed spinach! It was so good that before we left, our friends became members!

After The Palm, we rode home in a rickshaw, where our driver told us that Tommy Hilfiger was the rider right before us ... we went back to the hotel and Tommy, well, he stopped by Margaritaville!
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Hello from Universal, where you can visit the Incredible Hulk in the morning, spend the afternoon with Dr. Seuss and in the evening have dinner with Emeril Lagasse. Universal may be known around the world for it's theme parks, but for those who crave adventure and scenic vistas, you can find all that here too.

And staying at the Royal Pacific Resort has put us right in the middle of everything. Loews has three of the finest hotels, here in Orlando ... we chose Royal Pacific this time around. The best part is that everything is right outside our door. In the morning we stroll over to Universal Orlando's two exciting theme parks and then spend time at City Walk, the city's number one spot for dining, dancing and kicking back after a long day. Did I mention the pool? It's great ... a little on the crowded side (not an exclusive hotel) but the cabanas saved us? We took two.

Where you start really depends on what you are looking for. Of course, there are the attractions -- more than two dozen -- where you can get up close to animals in the wild, feed alligators, rush down a water slide at breakneck speed, ride roller coasters and state-of-the-art thrill rides that will leave you breathless or simply float in a tube while the world goes by.

Did I leave anything out? You bet I did. But I'll keep posting after I try and find everything worth doing while here.

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For the man who is fit for everything except, apparently, the ability to mastermind his own proposal, the hospitality industry is unveiling a few new ways to make her say 'I do.'

Dubbed 'proposal concierges,' these romance deputies take care of every possible prenuptial arrangement short of popping the question (though scripting is entirely negotiable).

With 49 properties at its disposal, the Orient-Express Perfect Proposal program ($12,000 - $15,000) caters to your every sweep-her-off-her-feet whim. You want to propose mid-safari or on a private island? A squad consisting of a De Beers diamond emissary, a Red Carpet Enterprises 'special occasion specialist,' and the aforementioned concierge will see to the requisite flourishes; the flowers, the champagne, the helicopter ride.

Meanwhile, at Germany's InterContinental Koln, the iceman who cometh with the Will You Marry Me package ($1,570 - $10,000) hails from the neighborhood Wempe boutique. Once he sets you up with a stone and setting of your choice, seal the deal at the hotel's Harry's New York Bar. The manager doubles as proposal concierge, organizing the flowers, treats, candies, and, if you have a special song (you better!), a band to play it.

And The Romance Package at Bermuda's Cambridge Beaches ($875 - $1100) is bring-your-own-bauble, but the proposal concierge and 'romance expert', sees to everything else. First you and the missus-to-be share a massage for two in the Ocean Spa's new couples suite; next comes a consult with the 'bath butler' and a soak of your choosing; and finally, the candlelit beach dinner.

The only thing these services can't arrange, well, is a guaranteed yes.

New Year’s came and went. Lent is over. Memorial Day is right around the corner. You’ve talked a good game. But you’ve run out of time (and excuses).

With spring break right around the corner, well, 'er, it’s officially swimsuit season. And you have yet to break a sweat (or get rid of your winter bulge). It's time to get yourself into high gear with some basic training at an outdoor (or even indoor) boot camp class before it's too late.

You say working out is boring? Yeah, well, bulging out of your bathing-suit is well, down right miserable!

Lucky for you: Military-style workouts are on the rise. Turns out many of us like being yelled at while we sweat. The basic boot-camp workout includes a warm-up, cardio work (jogging, sprinting, relays, etc), and strength training (push-ups, sit-ups, lunges, etc). Many are outside and most are led by stringent, stern instructors who likes to motivate through yelling. Don’t see the appeal?

Here’s why people like boot camps: They’re efficient, they’re a good deal (it’s like a having a personal trainer for a group discount), and if nothing else... they get us out of the gym!

Several boot camp classes are popping up all over the country. Sweat it out with one of my top picks in your area: Back Yard Bootcamp in CA (Encino Area), LIFT - Basic Training in NJ, Boot Camp Fitness in NYC, Bulldog Bootcamp in Chicago, BCSF in San Fransisco, Jay's Boot Camp in Texas, Bootcamp Fitness in Kansas City, and Platoon Fitness in PA.

Feeling adventurous? Try the Bikini Boot Camp in Tulum, Mexico (more to come on this fabulous getaway).

You will build camaraderie (having a common enemy always spawns friendships)and often classes are made to order; brides, men, women, marathoners, and several other subsets can find their own workouts.

What are you waiting for? Try it out and see if a class suits you. If at the end you can still feel your legs, you'll be in great shape!

I didn't say it was going to be easy.

Here's what wears me down: the check-in line, the let me check-your-baggage-for-weapons line, the check-your-boarding-pass line, the security line, the customs line, and the taxi line.

And, while a business- or first-class ticket enables some hopscotching, not all airports allow it. Instead, if you're traveling this spring (and hopefully you will be), enroll in the Clear Registered Traveler program, a virtual security express lane. The $100 annual membership includes a Transportation Security Administration (TSA) vetting fee, fingerprinting, and an iris scan.

The downside: The program (which already counts more than 36,000 members) is up and running in a select few airports. Currently it's in Ohio's Cincinnati International, Indiana's Inianapolis International, New York's JFK International Terminal 7, Florida's Orlando International, and California's San Jose International.

Another system that might speed things up is Eye-ticket, which has implemented iris-recognition programs in London's Heathrow, Frankfurt's Flughafen, and North Charlotte International.

Other than that, you're only option is a private jet ... which really isn't a bad option either!

Men: It's Vegas... do you know where your women are? You might want to check out a class called "Stripper 101" or who knows maybe you want to sign them up.

The class is held in a theater at the Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino (formerly the Aladdin), and has become so popular that it's now offered daily.

Approximately a dozen or so women, every day, from their 20s to 50s enthusiastically learn how to do a striptease. It's a sweat-inducing low impact aerobic workout designed to instill a positive body image and increase self-confidence, while developing a strong sense of sensuality. The mantra: Grab Life by the Pole!

The fact is that you won't burn a ton of calories but it is still an exotic dancing workout that involves lunges, squats, kicks, and stretches that will reach all of the major muscle groups.

It's not for everyone; some women even find the whole concept demeaning, but for the most part I'm all for trying new things. Who knows you may just end up feeling more sexy and liberated (no matter what shape or size you are), and honestly isn't that what the class is all about? The cost is $40-$60 and includes a drink (which you will probably need).

Men: Did I mention that she also walks away with a "stripper's license?"

Legend of the Motorcycle is a celebration of the art of motorcycling -- encompassing more than a century of design. As the only world-class Concours d'Elegance specifically for motorcycles, the even showcase and judges over 200 of the finest vintage motorcycles, in adition to displays of modern racing, custom and concept bikes; a Bonhams auction; the exclusive Steve McQueen and Elvis awards; and Jesse James will debut his newest creation, a glistening aluminum-clad motorcycle and sidecar combo for Airstream.

Saturday, May 3, 2008
Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay California
Tickets: $50 before May 1; $65 day of the event