travel mason jar

Clumsy Crafter

Maker of Things - Life, Parenting, Travel, Crafts, and Messes

June 12, 2013 by Bobbie Byrd

Mason Jar Travel Cups

A few months ago I started seeing these cute Mason Jar Travel Cups all over the place. They’re inexpensive and the easiest craft you’ll do this year but I had to wait a few months before I could make my own DIY Mason Jar Travel Mug. 

So why is that? Why did I wait? Because Ball Mason Jar lids used to have BPA in the lid. It was in the clear plastic coating that protects the bottom of the metal lid from rusting when it’s in contact with liquids. It was sad that so many people were making and using these jars to be safer by using glass but really each time their drink splashed against the bottom of the lid they were getting a small dose of BPA. But the best news is that this week Ball Jars announced that their lids are now BPA free! I was going to wait a few more months before buying them to make sure that the lids I was buying were BPA free but today I saw them at the store, clearly marked as BPA free, and I couldn’t wait any longer. 

This project is easy and very fast. 

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Supplies needed to make diy mason jar travel cups:.

• Mason Jars – I used Wide Mouth Ball Jars 1.5 Pint si ze
• Rubber Grommets
• Wooden shims or small piece of scrap wood

A word about the rubber grommets:

Then you could make a lot of them to give as gifts for teachers, neighbors or as a very inexpensive shower attendance gift. 

How to Make DIY Mason Travel Jar Cups:

When it came time to drill the hole I placed the lid over the wooden shims so that I could drill all the way through the metal and into the wood. Do not hold the lid between your thumb and fingers to drill into it. When the drill spins, so does the lid which could badly injure your hand if it got away from you. I just placed my hand flat over the top of the lid and held it securely that way. 

Drill a hole all the way through the metal lid. Any jagged pieces of metal that are left around the edges can be removed by manipulating your drill bit against those edges to use it like a file. 

Once you have a clean hole through the metal push your grommet down into the hole and against the sides to make it have a nice secure fit. 

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October 5, 2013 at 11:52 pm

I love the idea and want to make one, my only question is how do you keep it from rusting? If you could please get back to me on that. Thank you

October 7, 2013 at 3:37 am

I just wash the metal part by hand and then dry it immediately. There’s a plastic lining underneath the lid so the liquid in the cup doesn’t really hit the metal, it’s just washing it that you need to watch out for.

October 26, 2013 at 7:13 pm

hello, what size mason jar did you use here? i’m looking for something that will fit in my daughters car seat and or our cupholder in the car. the regular size doesn’t fit, but this looks like it might. Thanks!

April 21, 2014 at 4:23 am

I have been looking everywhere for this still canning jar with no luck. Where do you find these?

April 22, 2014 at 5:35 pm

We bought these at lowe’s. It’s a wide mouthed canning jar.

May 1, 2014 at 2:40 am

I love this idea! I’ve been wanting to make some of these for awhile now – great tutorial! Thanks for linking up on Cook it! Craft it! Share it! again this week! ang

May 1, 2014 at 4:05 pm

Love this! I use mason jars for travel all the time but having a lid would be awesome.

May 5, 2014 at 3:48 pm

Hello, I have made these before and I have to say I am embarrassed to not know about the BPA, though that was not an issue for me. I took an old silicon mat for baking (it was the wrong size), used the lid as a pattern and cut out the circle, then cut a small x for the straw. Then I used the band to keep the new silicon lid in place. For my toddler, I put the metal lid over the silicon so she would not push it through (yeah learned that the hard way). I have a lot of plastic lids for Mason jars, I am thinking about using them. Thanks for the instructions, I was using a paper hole punch (lasted through 2 metal lids).

January 6, 2015 at 11:51 pm

Do the rubber grommets contain bpa? I can only find vinyl rubber grommets at a local hardware store. Would that be ok you think?

January 9, 2015 at 4:53 am

Yes i got them at the hardware store as well. I would think that they are so small that you’re going to have to fill the drink all the way up to have any contact with them.

February 3, 2015 at 1:37 pm

Does the black insert stop what’s in the jar from spilling if the jar happens to tip over?

February 5, 2015 at 4:21 am

It is not going to totally stop it because there is a little space. However the spill will be minimal, if at all. I’ve knocked them over before and it doesn’t always leak.

September 29, 2015 at 8:15 pm

Are the plastic grommets food safe? BPA free also?

May 12, 2018 at 2:27 pm

For latest information you have to visit the web and on the web I found this web site as a finest website for most up-to-date updates.

[…] 1. Mason Jar Cups w/ Lids […]

[…] feel like this tutorial for DIY Mason Jar Lids from Clumsy Crafter will come in handy some day.  Definitely cute for a […]

[…] There’s a mason jar. I love mason jars as you can tell from the DIY travel Mason Jar Cup.  […]

[…] how easy this recipe is. Pour it into your DIY Mason Jar Travel cup and hide from the heat.  It’s the perfect drink when you’re hot and just want to […]

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Pencil Mason Jar – Fun Teacher Gift Idea

If you know me, or have followed this blog long enough then chances are that you know one simple fact – I love pencils. I just do. I can’t tell you why but I always have. That’s one reason teacher gift ideas make me happy. They almost always involve a pencil like this cute DIY […]

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Alyssa and Carla

A blog full of recipes, food, DIY and favorites for lovers of all things fun and delicious.

DIY Mason Jar Travel Cups

July 24, 2013 by Alyssa

I’m not sure if you’ve noticed, but we really, really like mason jars here at A&C. So when we saw these DIY travel cups crop up on Pinterest, we knew that we had to try them. 

They’re an easy, quick project. And so charming! You do need a power drill, however. This tutorial has instructions for a hard-core hole punch that we didn’t have, but that you might be lucky enough to own.

My dad worked the power tools, so that’s his huge hand you see in the drilling image below (just in case that photo raises concerns about my testosterone levels). I have a mild fear of cutting off body parts or drilling holes where they don’t belong (like in thumbs), and he’s really good at these sorts of “dad” things. Oh, and he’s very patient. And he has always been ridiculously supportive of all of my creative ventures, which have included (among other things) helping to build a very detailed miniature replica of a Pompeiian Villa for my Latin class in high school. Yes, I was that cool. Thanks, Pops!

You’ll need:

Mason jars with lids (we used two-piece lids but the one-piece ones should work just fine) 1/4 inch rubber grommets (I found them in the plumbing section of the local hardware store) A power drill with a 5/16 inch drill bit Decorative string, washi tape, ribbon, etc. And cute straws

Here’s what we did: Drill a hole off-center in the mason jar lid. I tried centering them, but they really look better off-centered. My dad used a slightly smaller drill bit to make the initial hole, then enlarged it to the 5/16 inch size. We found that we got a cleaner edge that way, but it would still work if you cut only one hole since you’re going to cover it up with a grommet anyway.

Work the rubber grommet into the hole. Don’t be afraid to squeeze it in there!

Add a straw and decorate the jars however you please. Enjoy!

We think that they would make fantastic (and affordable) wedding favors. Fill them with flavored ice water to hand to your guests as they leave, so they can hydrate on their way home! You could order custom straw flags on etsy (or make your own, if you’re savvy like that!), or you could design a sticker to put on the lid or glass.

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Reader Interactions

November 11, 2013 at 5:53 pm

Hi Carla and fellow Merry Mail partner! I love mason jars and jelly jars! My husband and I used them in our wedding centerpieces. This is a must DIY project, although I’m not so great with a drill but I’ll learn (: Excited to exchange ornaments!

November 12, 2013 at 7:49 am

Hi Jamie! We’re very excited to exchange ornaments, too! And we love your blog, it’s so positive 😉 Can’t wait to get to know you better…

September 4, 2014 at 2:52 pm

We made these for my daughter’s wedding in August. They were a hit once guests figured out what they were for!

September 5, 2014 at 12:23 am

Great idea! Would love to see a pic if you are interested in sending us one 🙂 alyssaandcarla(at)gmail.com

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Why Mason Jars Make Good Travel Companions

Mason jars might not be the first thing you think of packing when getting ready for a trip,  BUT (besides the countless health and environmental benefits to using glass!) there are six major reasons we think mason jars make good traveling companions!  

One jar, multiple uses.

A single mason jar can transition from a drinking glass, to a coffee cup, to a bowl, to a sealed container for storing left-overs. Bring along a few beeswax wraps to cover your jar or spread out as a plate for your snacks!

Bring a slice of home with you.

Save money and eat healthier by packing your own snacks and meals with you in jars. Think salads, fresh baked cookies, home-made granola or even shrubs ! Make sure you're prepared and compliant if you're planning to cross any international borders.

If you are planning to cook your own meals while you are away, the list of things you can pre-make is endless. Dry pancake or biscuit mix, marinades and salad dressings, spice mixes, even fresh chopped ingredients can be easily packed and brought along in mason jars.

Use for hot or cold food and beverages.

Mason jars can be used to store or serve any temperature of food or beverage, working seamlessly in both boiling water and the freezer. This means that you can use the same jar for your cold water and your hot coffee or tea! Refill your mason jar for beverages while you're on the go and avoid the plastic waste.

Less plastic trash.

Avoid the sea of plastic wrappers at your feet during a road trip by storing snacks and drinks in mason jars. You'll have less waste and a cleaner vehicle, making both you and the earth happier!

If your kids love to draw pop some markers or crayons in a mason jar and twist on a lid. They won't get lost in your bags, and kids can easily find just the right colors for their next masterpiece!

We could keep this list going with even more ways to use mason jars while traveling, but we'll save those thoughts for another time! Until then, happy trails to you!

Taking your jars on the road? Tag us @masonjarmerchant on Facebook or Instagram for a chance to be featured!

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Perfect Mason Jar Salad Recipes for Road Trips

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When I think of my life-changing moments, it’s a short list. The chance to move abroad for the first time as an elementary school student. Holding my newborn twins as a first-time mother. And discovering mason jar salads. You may laugh (or roll your eyes if you live with a teenager as I do), but mason jar salads truly transformed my eating habits.

By prepping a week’s worth of salads at one time, I am more likely to grab a salad for lunch or dinner instead of a high-sodium, saturated fat-filled, generally unhealthy frozen meal . And in case you haven’t heard, folks living past 100 in “Blue Zones” around the world are choosing a Mediterranean diet of vegetables, fruits, lean protein, and healthy fats, not frozen burritos, frozen pizzas, and modern-day TV dinners.   

What Is A Mason Jar Salad?

Mason jar salads layer ingredients into a wide-mouth glass jar in a specific order, ensuring that all of the ingredients will stay fresh for up to five days. And while anyone could spoon potato salad into a mason jar and maintain it at its peak for a week, mason jar salads keep romaine lettuce, fresh spinach leaves, baby kale, and other leafy greens crisp. 

Pro Tip: These 32-ounce, wide-mouth mason jars work best for mason jar salads.

How Do You Make And Store The Perfect Mason Jar Salad?

Hate getting out a pile of fruits, veggies, and leafy greens every time you want to make a salad? (I do.) That’s why mason jar salads were so life-changing for me! You only have to wash, slice, shred, and chop ingredients once to prepare a week’s worth of healthy meals!

Although I share some of my favorite mason jar salad recipes below, you can easily convert any salad recipe into a mason jar salad by filling the mason jar in a designated order. 

Start by pouring your desired dressing at the bottom of a large wide-mouth mason jar. Then add the hearty ingredients, like proteins and crunchy vegetables, followed by any eggs or cheese. Next come more delicate ingredients like tomatoes, peas, fruit, and berries. Then fill the rest of the jar with greens. (I shoot for at least 40 to 50 percent greens in my mason jar salads.) Tightly secure the lid and store the salad jars in a fridge or cooler where they’ll stay fresh for up to a week! 

While you should always dry leafy greens as much as possible when making a salad, it’s especially important to do so when assembling the perfect mason jar salad. In addition to adding the greens as the final layer in the mason jar, removing any lingering water will help keep the lettuce crisp. 

Pro Tip: What if you (or someone you love) isn’t into lettuce or other leafy greens? You can still take advantage of convenient mason jars — with a substitution. A protein-packed, high-fiber alternative to lettuce is quinoa. Each of these four salads focuses on it (instead of greens) as the primary ingredient. 

Other Tips for Making Mason Jar Salads

Here are several other tips that will help you master mason jar salads in no time:

• While it’s easy to see the benefit of spinning lettuce just once for a week’s worth of salads, save even more time by using pre-washed bagged lettuce, spinach, spring mix, or other greens. 
• If you’re converting a regular salad recipe into a mason jar salad, don’t fret the order too much. Just don’t put anything that can get soggy, mushy, or slimy on top of the dressing (like croutons and nuts) and be sure to add the leafy greens as the final layer. 
• Mason jar salads are a great way to breathe new life into leftovers. Have some extra rotisserie chicken, shredded pork, taco meat, salmon, black beans, or chickpeas? Use those ingredients for your protein layer! 
• Short cut the creation of your protein layer by tossing a piece of fish, lightly seasoned chicken breast, or frozen breaded chicken patty into the oven or pressure cooker while you wash and cut the other ingredients. Or speed things up even more by purchasing a rotisserie chicken or defrosting pre-cooked chicken strips to dice or shred. Canned tuna and chicken are quick options for meat lovers, and a can of rinsed black, cannellini, or garbanzo beans will do the trick for vegetarians and vegans.

How Do You Eat A Mason Jar Salad?

When it’s time for lunch or dinner, simply give the mason jar a few good shakes and invert the ingredients onto a plate or into a large bowl. The greens will be at the bottom, followed by all of your favorite mix-ins, and the dressing tops it all off. And, whether you select romaine lettuce, spinach leaves, kale, or another option, the salad greens will stay crisp and fresh for up to five days (provided you add them to the mason jar last)!

Road Tripping With Mason Jar Salads

My family loves checking out the local food scene when we travel. In fact, we spend as much time researching where we’re going to eat as what we’re going to do in the towns we visit! But we also try to eat at least one meal a day with food we’ve packed from home or purchased at a local grocery store, usually breakfast or lunch. Not only does that help us stretch our travel budget, but it also allows us to make healthy choices in a country where restaurant portion sizes are consistently super-sized.

A selection of mason jar salads fits nicely in our large cooler along with healthy breakfast and snack options like boiled eggs, yogurt, cheese sticks, and fresh fruit. It’s easy to scrub out the empty mason jars each night, and, to save space as we continue our adventures, we often refill them with additional healthy snacks we buy along the way.

My Favorite Mason Jar Salads for Road Trips

Mason jar taco salad.

Whoever invented the taco salad is a genius! Like all mason jar salads, it’s easy for each family member to customize a mason jar taco salad . Browning one pound of ground beef provides protein for two to four mason jar taco salads. My meat lover enjoys occasionally substituting canned chunk chicken or a shredded chicken breast to make her taco meat, and I usually open a can of black beans for mine. And each of us can customize the rest of the mason jar meal to our heart’s content. 

Burrito Bowl In A Mason Jar

Beginning with a tasty chipotle cream sauce, I love layering the ingredients of this easy burrito bowl recipe into mason jars using the handy dandy graphic above so that I have a week of grab-and-go options available. 

Mason Jar Greek Salad

The same mix-and-match flexibility is available with this mason jar Greek salad . It’s easy for us to customize proteins like slices of packaged gyro meat, chicken breast, and chickpeas before layering in our desired mix of tomatoes, cucumber chunks, slices of red onion, and crumbled feta cheese.

Mason Jar Cobb Salad

With a creamy blue cheese dressing base, crunchy vegetables, and plenty of deli meats, boiled egg, and bacon bits, a classic cobb salad is a very filling meal packed into a mason jar. 

Strawberry Spinach Mason Jar Salad

Nothing signals that summer (and summer road trips) are on the way like seasonal strawberries and garden-fresh spinach. That’s why this strawberry spinach salad is another favorite. Start by pouring the poppyseed vinaigrette into a mason jar,  then layer the crumbled goat cheese, pecan pieces, quartered strawberries, and spinach. 

Pro Tip: Make this salad faster by using pre-packaged sweet and spicy pecans (I love the ones at Trader Joe’s) and prepared poppyseed dressing.

Rainbow Salad In A Mason Jar

You’re sure to get a rainbow full of fresh veggies making this salad in a mason jar. Start with the dressing of your choice and then layer in orange carrots, red tomatoes, green cucumbers, and other veggies before topping the jar with spring mix lettuce.

Mason Jar Chef Salad

Along with easily suiting each diner’s taste, a mason jar chef salad helps you clean out the fridge as you prep for your road trip. Got a few leftover slices of turkey, half of a chicken breast, or some shredded pork? These are perfect proteins for a mason jar chef salad. 

Have a kid that hates tomatoes or a hubby who can’t get enough olives? Put out a selection of veggies, cheeses, fruits, and other salad ingredients and let each person build their salad as desired. Remember, the number one rule of success is layering the ingredients in the order mentioned above, finishing with the lettuce on top.

Grilled Vegetable Mason Jar Salad 

As the weather turns colder and veggies such as cauliflower, sweet potatoes, and pumpkins are in season, this grilled vegetable salad hits the spot. Roast or grill the veggies, then layer them between balsamic dressing on the bottom and baby spinach or another leafy green on the top.

Mason jar salads are a fast and easy way to make a week’s worth of salads at a time and pack your road-trip meals with leafy greens, veggies, and fruits.

Here are some other ideas to make your road trip more pleasant:

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Bitten by the travel bug as a preschooler when her family moved abroad for the first time, Sage Scott is addicted to travel. From her nomadic upbringing in a military family to her personal and professional travels as an adult, Sage has visited all 50 states, lived abroad twice, and explored nearly 30 other countries.

Now settled in America’s Heartland, Sage writes with a midlife traveler’s perspective from Kansas City — the Midwestern cowtown affectionately called the Paris of the Plains and the undisputed Barbecue Capital of the World — and is always in search of new experiences whether in her hometown or halfway around the world.

More From Forbes

Boston’s best spots to watch the 2024 kentucky derby.

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Boater or fascinator? A hat is said to bring good luck for those who are celebrating the 150th run of the Kentucky Derby, (rather than Star Wars Day ) on May 4. Derby style advises that the topper dictates the rest of your wardrobe. A flamboyant hat may call for a more streamlined outfit, where a simple chapeau invites a flashy ensemble. Whatever you choose, there’s a spot in Boston to show it off. The festivities this year range from drop-in drinks to elegant soirees. Here’s a round up of top spots for watching the most exciting two minutes in sports.

Boston is hosting some terrific Derby Day parties

Dress to Impress at The Newbury Boston : The see-and-be-seen crowd will be flocking to this hotel, which opened nearly 100 years ago as one of the first Ritz Carlton hotels in the United States for live music, Derby-inspired hors d'oeuvres, expertly crafted cocktails, Whispering Angel Rose and an exquisite Bourbon Tasting featuring Woodford Reserve— the official sponsor of the run for the roses. Naturally, The Newbury will be serving its own delicious riff on a Mint Julep, and Boston man-about-town Jonathan Soroff and self-proclaimed “one-man Mardi Gras” will serve as emcee.

The Newbury promises to be an elegant setting for watching the run for the roses.

Tickets are $95, plus tax and gratuity, per person, or pay $170 per person and receive a limited edition 150th Anniversary Kentucky Derby Woodford Reserve Bourbon Bottle. Highgate Charitable Foundation , which benefits children’s health and welfare, will get $5 from every ticket. Saturday May 4, 2024 from 4 p.m. - 7 p.m. Tickets available via Explore Tock here . 1 Newbury St., Boston

Party Down at High Street Place: Have your own paparazzi moment as you walk the custom green carpet and Rhode Island based comedian Brian Vincent asks you about your Derby look and winning pick. You can bet that Miss Massachusetts 2024 Melissa Sapini, and Miss Maine 2024 Summer Baldridge, who will each be in attendance, will be sporting some show-stopping attire. You can’t miss High Street Place's massive LED video entertainment wall, the largest in the city, where they will broadcast the game, but in case you’re distracted by a game of Cornhole, Jumbo Jenga, Jumbo Connect Four, and High Street Place’s custom Pop-A-Shot, set up all around the food hall, Derby trumpeter, Sara Manning of the Harvard University Band will perform “Call to Post” just before the race begins.

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The Mint Julep crafted by the award-winning team from Daiquiris & Daisies at High Street Place

The event, in partnership with Down & Derby , will benefit Love Life Now Foundation (LLN) , a New England based organization dedicated to promoting awareness and prevention around domestic violence, through their initiatives. Party goers can purchase 50/50 raffle tickets and place them in the mason jar representing the horse they think will win. The winner will be drawn from the jar representing the triumphant Kentucky Derby horse and Love Life Now Foundation will receive the other half of the total bets.

Tickets are $65, and include admission, door prize chance, complimentary hors d’oeuvres, an Aperol Spritz tasting, and dessert. Elite tickets ($80) include all of the above plus a complimentary cocktail from the event’s menu. All attendees must be 21+ and have a valid ID. Saturday May 4, 2024 from 4 p.m. - 8 p.m. Tickets available here . 100 High Street, Boston

Draped with greenery and iconic harbor views, if the weather is gorgeous, the Nauti Garden is the ... [+] place to be.

Stop and smell the roses at Nautilus Pier 4 : No tickets are required to enjoy lush greenery and florals by the celebrated local designers at Winston Flowers in the Nauti Garden, which overlooks Boston Harbor. But reservations are highly recommended if you want to enjoy a meal in the main dining room or patio. The bar is first come, first served and walk-ins are welcome. Saturday, May 4, 2024, 12 p.m. to close, Pier 4 | Boston Seaport, 300 Pier 4 Blvd., Boston

Try your luck at Encore Boston Harbor : While you can’t bet on the horses, you can play casino games over 210,000 square feet of gaming space, then check ouot the race on their 10-foot-high, 123-foot-long video wall, while enjoying specialty cocktails featuring Woodford Reserve, prize giveaways, and a “Best Dressed” competition. No reservation or ticket needed. Saturday, May 4th, at 4:00pm, WynnBET Sportsbook, Encore Boston Harbor, 1 Broadway, Everett

Make your reservations now to party in the drunk tank at Alibi.

Watch from the drunk tank at Alibi: Set in the old “drunk tank” of what was the Charles Street Jail— now the luxe Liberty Hotel—Alibi Bar & Lounge promises to be packed with Southern charm and thrilling horse racing action— especially on their private patio. There will be a best-dressed prize and a giant projector to show the race, alongside signature flavors of the South with specialty cocktails, including the iconic Mint Julep. Free for all who RSVP. For more information, click HERE or call (857) 241-1144. 215 Charles Street, Boston

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A trip to Moscow

I'm going to organize a trip this summer. I want to plan everything. I’ll fly from London to Moscow, and I also want to visit St. Petersburg. Could you, please, advise me what places I should visit? I’ll stay in Moscow for about 10 days before going to St. Petersburg. Thank you!

Not a country I’d be spending my money in at the moment.

Ditto. Ditto!

I don't really see the point of shunning a country because you don't agree with its leader and/or its government. Would you go to Italy? China? Tourist dollars are more likely to get into the hands of the people rather than any corrupt bureaucracy and meeting friendly tourists might just change the locals opinions of foreigners and even give them some information they don't get from local news media.

Hopefully , I won't be starting a war here , but I must say I agree with Chani's comments . Having taken three year visas in 2015 , we have been to Moscow and St; Petersburg ( once to Moscow , and twice to St Petersburg ) . The History , Art , Music ( I am a classically trained musician ) and Culture , fascinate us . Much to experience there and advance preparation is essential , To get a good grounding for your visit , read this lavish and detailed book by Suzanne Massie , it's one of the best ways to immerse yourself in what you will experience - https://www.amazon.com/Land-Firebird-Beauty-Old-Russia/dp/096441841X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1521652009&sr=8-1&keywords=land+of+the+firebird+massie&dpID=51CPK13XKGL&preST=_SX218_BO1,204,203,200_QL40_&dpSrc=srch

And while leaders of such countries can point to foreign visitor numbers as a sign of support ? I also believe that personal safety for certain travellers, especially obvious minorities, cannot be guaranteed, as fervent nationalism increases, and tolerance levels evaporate. Just as I may decide against a purchase at the supermarket because of a company’s behaviour, ethics will always be a consideration.

Well, I'd argue supermarket ethics does not readily translate to travel ethics - the latter is far more complex. Personally, I see the whole "vote with my hard-earned travel dollar" approach as overly simplistic, but if it's your position - I totally respect it.

What I don't understand is members volunteering ethical guidance in response to what seems an innocuous request for travel-related information.

Note a discussion on ethics hosted a year ago by the Webmaster of this very forum.

https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/general-europe/travel-ethics-612334a0-0ca1-4128-b088-c13d1d8a91c3

I appreciate Rick Steves' point of view in his "Travel As A Political Act". That said, Putin's Russia is not a place I would support. But, to each his or her own....

From a practical point of view, travel between the two countries can be difficult. I understand the Russians who traveled in the US this past winter had to go to the US Embassy in the country of Georgia to get visas because the Russians expelled American embassy personnel. If you do travel to Russia, you may be on your own. See the American travel advisory: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories/russia-travel-advisory.html

Travel Advisory January 10, 2018 Russia – Level 3: Reconsider travel Reconsider travel to Russia due to terrorism and harassment. Some areas have increased risk. Read the entire Travel Advisory U.S. citizens are often victims of harassment, mistreatment, and extortion by law-enforcement and other officials. U.S. consular assistance to detained individuals is often unreasonably delayed by Russian officials. Russia also enforces special restrictions on dual U.S.-Russian nationals. Due to the Russian government-imposed reduction on U.S. diplomatic personnel in Russia, the U.S. government has reduced ability to provide services to U.S. citizens.

We have traveled to Moscow and St. Petersburg over the past few years. As in the US, most of the people we encountered helpful and not particularly political. In Moscow, we stayed at The Garden Ring Hotel which was a close walk to the metro. The hotel was very comfortable and quiet for being in the city. We loved the art museums and the Georgian restaurants. In St. Petersburg, we stayed at both The 3Mosta hotel near the Hermitage and the Art Hotel Demetra.. In St. Petersburg, we especially liked the Hermitage and Russian museum. Learning the Cyrillic alphabet and having a good map is a must.

As I think the point about ethical considerations has been made, please keep future replies more specific to the question at hand. Thanks.

Either read a good travel book or book a guide who can personally take you to the best places that interest you and tell about the sights you're seeing. We used Dan Petrov on 2 different trips to Moscow and found him to be wonderfully friendly and witty not to mention super knowledgeable.

Latest advice, Australian Governmemt, 1 April 2018. “Due to heightened political tensions, you should be aware of the possibility of anti-Western sentiment or harassment. While the Australian Government is not aware of any increased difficulties for Australians travelling in Russia at this time, you should follow the security and political situation closely and keep up to date with this travel advice. Remain vigilant, avoid any protests or demonstrations and avoid commenting publicly on political developments.”

We very much enjoyed our group trip to Moscow and St Petersburg last year. excellent guides and accommodations. While Steven who has replied here has excellent advice, ( and we took advantage of it), we felt an organized tour really facilitated our enjoyment of the country. You may want to consider a combination of an organized tour and than adding independent days . Some of the Australians on the tour had arrived a couple of days earlier than the tour stated and then some stayed later. If we were to go again (which I would), that"s how I would do it. And I must say , it was enlightening to have conversations with the Russian tour guides and the non Americans about the current world situation. Not that we went into any great depth, but I think we all went away with a little more understanding. Top places: allow lots of time in St Petersburg at the Hermitage- take a separate day for the Impressionist building. In Moscow, the Russian Art Museum was amazing.

Solid advice from Australian government quoted above, especially the keeping up to date part.

I checked the current version (Sep 18) of that advisory - and it hasn't been updated much. In fact, some sections don't seem to have changed since 2005 - their recommendations for importing/exporting currency and financial instruments, for example, are at least five years behind.

I do like reading governmental travel advisories for entertainment purposes - for instance, up until very recently the US one sternly advised potential travelers that Moscow was largely a cash-based economy (couldn't be further from the truth) and warned about intrinsic dangers of gypsy cabs (which had all but disappeared by 2015).

This topic has been automatically closed due to a period of inactivity.

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Travel Adventures – Part 4: Moscow

July 7, 2016 Travel

This beautiful woman lingered for a moment on the steps at one of the several churches in the Sergeiv Posad Monastery. I thought she was absolutely beautiful.

So far in this journey we have visited some wonderful cities … Helsinki, Finland, Tallinn, Estonia and St. Petersburg, Russia. We have traveled together along the waterways of Russia to such exotic sounding places as Mandrogy, Kitzy Island, Goritzy, Uglich, and Yaroslavl and seen the beauty of the countryside in between these towns. But our ship finally came to dock in Moscow, the capital of Russia and I really had no idea what to expect!

One advantage of travel tour is that you get a good general overview of an area. That’s the good news, of course. The bad news on most tours — and this tour certainly was no exception –was that you never did have a lot of time to explore on your own. The guides and the schedule kept you pretty busy all of the time. It was great for getting information and seeing a lot, but difficult for photographers who like to explore in more depth.

When we got to Moscow, we hopped on buses and were off to tour the city. Moscow is a huge city with so much traffic that I vowed never to complain about the traffic on Los Angeles freeways ever again. I couldn’t believe how tough you had to be to drive in this city. It played havoc with all schedules and timetables because what should have taken just 20 minutes to drive ended up taking an hour. One of the reasons is how they handle their traffic accidents. From what we understood and saw, cars involved in accidents were not allowed to move until both the police and the insurance adjuster came. So, a simple traffic accident could snarl things for hours. There is definitely a different viewpoint here than back home.

The traffic on every street no matter the hour seemed to be hectic.

The city of Moscow is upbeat with many shops, theaters, and restaurants and such. We saw shops with all of the latest and most expensive designers. All of the big brand names in clothing had shops. During this introductory tour, we were dropped off on a rather large street and told to walk through an arch into a huge open area. A large red brick/stone wall ran down one side and the most magnificent Russian Church we had seen so far was at the far end. The area was enormous and, of course, it was the famous Red Square. Behind the brick/stone wall was the Kremlin. I had to pause to take it all in, because never in my life would I have ever imagined myself standing there! The look on my sister and friend’s faces, told the same story that I was feeling … ABSOLUTE AWE!

We had some time to wander and walk by Lenin’s tomb before we had to return to the bus to continue the general tour of the city. 

From an overlook within the St. Basil Cathedral, you can get a fabulous overview of Red Square. The Kremlin wall is on the left side of the image; at the end of that wall is the Spasskaya Tower. The red building with two towers is the National Historical Museum, barely seen and tucked into the corner to the right of the Museum is Kazan Cathedral and along the right side is the turn of the century arcades of Gum’s department store.

Copyright © Stan Westfall

Along the wall that separates the Kremlin from Red Square is Lenin’s tomb. His body has been on public display there since the year he died in 1924.

A night tour took us past some of the brightly lit gambling casinos in Moscow. The bouncing bus, combined with the bright neon lighting, brought a few interesting photo opportunities. We attended a wonderful concert that featured many of the traditional musical instruments of Russia — another photo opportunity not normally available in a theater, but because the audience was from the various tours and ships that were in Moscow that particular evening, we could take photos — but of course, not with flash, which is always a disturbance to the performers. As we left the concert, the moon was just rising over one of the beautiful cathedral spires. My friend Anne caught the shot (3rd below/right). She is quick and steady and got a round of applause when she “nailed it!”

Driving through Moscow’s downtown area at night was fascinating. It was bright with colored lights. Many casinos and restaurants were lit up and looked very busy. It was a supercharged city that came alive at night.

Copyright © Anne Westfall

St. Basil’s in Red Square was beautiful during the day but at night it was a fairy tale. This is one of Russia’s most beautiful cathedrals.

Fabulously lit fountains switched colors to make an exciting night shot.

Square at night is spectacular with the Gums building in sparkling lights.

Leaving the theater one night we were just in time to see the moonrise near one of Moscow’s cathedrals. 

The next day we toured the park adjacent to the grounds of the beautiful Novodevichy Conventwhere many exiled or self-exiled royal wives, daughters and lovers “took the veil” (which means they chose to become a nun), to get out of their marriage, family or mistress arrangement, since divorce was not allowed. It is in this park where you will find the lovely bronze ducks, given as a gift by President George Walker Bush and Mrs. Barbara Bush. We visited the Kremlin and I was surprised to find out that there were 5 or 6 churches within its walls. In the Armory, the stunningly beautiful royal clothes, jewels and carriages were housed. It was amazing to see that even the carriages were embedded with jewels.

The Novodevichy Convent where many exiled or self-exiled royal family members “took the Veil”. The park like setting was one of the most beautiful we had seen.

We had the opportunity to go into their frightfully expensive, but stunningly wonderful GUM (pronounced we discovered like “goom” not “gum” as in chewing gum). Just wandering up and down this multilevel shopping extravaganza was a treat.

Gums is a large collection of shops on one side of Red Square. The three level, indoor mall features eating establishments, large walkways and bridges from one side to another. It is frequently used as a setting for newly wed brides.

The next morning, my friend Stan Westfall and I decided to take the tour to the Sergiev Posad Monastery. My sister, Sunny, and our friend Anne Westfall opted to visit the Pushkin Museum in the morning and the Tretyakov Gallery in the afternoon. Since we were going to have separate adventures to share that evening, I reminded them to take lots and lots of photographs so we could enjoy their day as well.

In the center of the Sergeiv Posad Monastery there is a beautiful Holy Water fountain where people come to drink, to bless and to carry home a small jar of Holy Water. 

CONTINUE WITH THE STORY AND SEE MORE PHOTOS…………

Be sure to join us next month as we visit Moscow.

Read Travel Adventures – Part 1: Finland and Estonia

Read Travel Adventures – Part 2: St. Petersburg, Russia

Read Travel Adventures – Part 3: Cruising the Russian Waterways

by Noella Ballenger

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