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Talking Travel at the Flyaway Cafe: An Interview with Deb Ligget from Tangled Thread

by Mary Jo Manzanares on May 16th, 2006

It’s Tuesday and time for another interview about travel, this week with blogger Deb Ligget.

Current Location:  Billings, Montana

Where did you go on your last vacation:  The Official Destination was to the northern Oregon coastal region.  We actually began in Montana, passed through Idaho and Washington on our way to Portland, hit the coastal region, and then back through Washington to see the Grand Coulee Dam on the Columbia River, passed through Idaho again, and returned home.  It was a very long road-trip, and fun mostly, but for spending more time at a destination I vote for flying there and back instead of driving.

Where do you plan to go on your next vacation:  Plans?  What are those?  Mostly nearby local haunts for some camping this summer (the luxury of living in Montana is having nature recreation easily accessible).  2007 will most likely see us “down South” to visit relatives we haven’t seen in years.  Arkansas and however much else we’re able to fit into our time & budget.  Getting to anywhere else is one of the downsides to living in Montana.

If you were stuck in a middle seat for a five hour flight, who would you want sitting next to you:  I’d pick Edward Abbey, except he’s dead, although that could make for a very surreal flight.  Honestly though, anyone who isn’t afraid of Big Words and doesn’t smell, would make excellent seat companions.

Window or Aisle:  Window.  I enjoy watching the view, and if it’s just clouds I can nap.

Five destinations that are on your “must see before I die” list:  My list varies depending on the season (in summer, cool places sound promising; in winter, tropical places sound heavenly) The British Isles; Coastal Maine, USA; The Yucatan; Egypt; Nepal

All time favorite vacation experience:  There have been wonderful things about all the vacations I have ever been on, so this is hard one to answer.  I don’t think this really counts as “all time favorite”, but having bagels with cream cheese and fresh strawberries for breakfast in the Lodge by Lake Yellowstone in Yellowstone National Park is one memory that has stayed with me for over 15 years. 

Favorite hotel:  The Grand Hotel, located in Big Timber, Montana.

If I am in Billings, and have a spare four hours, what would you recommend that I do:  This one is tough, because there are a lot of little festivals scattered throughout the year that are fun, but not something that a visitor could do any time they happened to be in town.  If it is summer season and the State Parks are open, I would suggest putting up a picnic lunch and driving out to the Pictograph Cave State Park (seen in Deb’s photo left).  The trails might be too strenuous for some people, but the views are worth the trip even if you just have a picnic in the picnic area.  Be sure to bring a camera. 

Is traveling about the journey or the destination:  If I’m flying, it is all about the destination.  Everything in between might be interesting, but it isn’t my focus.  Other modes of transportation however, are much more about the journey.

Travel Tip:  Always have a snack in your carry on, and $20 in cash.  If your flight has an unexpected delay, you can get a bite to eat, even if your airline doesn’t offer vouchers.  The snack is in case you are at a small airport and there isn’t food available.

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Deb Ligget has spent most of her 35 years in Montana, and while she doesn’t enjoy being cold in winter, she does love living there.  Two cats and three kids, who also co-own her husband, own her.  She loves books, and enjoys many arts & crafts, as well as writing.  Some day she hopes to stop procrastinating and write a novel.  Meanwhile, she blogs about needlework at Tangled Thread.

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