10 Places you can work and avoid the cold

Winter can really take its toll on some people. The cold weather, slippery ice, treacherous snow, many aspects don’t appeal to some folks. And there are some real effects on overall mood and behavior. Shorter and colder days usually means people spend more time indoors and have a tendency to become less active. Our bodies also produce more melatonin when the sun sets, and that makes us sleepy. Lower energy levels can also be attributed to our primitive instinct to eat heavier, heartier meals—like in survival times.

Now all of these “winter blah” symptoms vary for each individual, and some people aren’t affected by the cold at all. But if you’re not ready to hit the slopes or pull on those snow boots any time too soon, then you may want to consider your next assignment in one of these areas. Luckily the United States affords us several options that boast year-round idyllic conditions. Criteria include comfortable temperatures, dry weather, and mainly clear skies.

Here are 10 places that won’t make you hibernate:

1.) Asheville, North Carolina

Asheville gets about 38 inches of rain per year, 14 inches of snow. The number of days with any measurable precipitation is 125. On average, there are 212 sunny days per year. So, while you may not completely avoid the cold weather in Asheville it is much sunnier than other colder locations.

The July high is around 85 degrees. The January low is 28.

2.) Prescott, Arizona

Gets about 19 inches of rain per year, 25 inches of snow. The number of days with any measurable precipitation is 63. On average, there are 277 sunny days per year. Again, you may have a little bit of cold weather, but you will still have sunshine to go with it.

The July high is around 89 degrees. The January low is 21.

3.) Honolulu, Hawaii

Gets about 41 inches of rain per year, 0 inches of snowfall. The number of days with any measurable precipitation is 170. On average, there are 271 sunny days per year.

The July high is around 84 degrees. The January low is 66.

4.) Los Angeles, California

Gets about 18 inches of rain per year, 0 inches of snowfall. The number of days with any measurable precipitation is 26. On average, there are 284 sunny days per year.

The July high is around 77 degrees. The January low is 50.

5.) Key West, Florida

Gets about 39 inches of rain per year, 0 inches of snowfall. The number of days with any measurable precipitation is 101. On average, there are 260 sunny days per year. The July high is around 91 degrees. The January low is 65.

6.) Athens, Georgia

Gets about 49 inches of rain per year, 1 inch of snowfall. The number of days with any measurable precipitation is 98. On average, there are 216 sunny days per year. While you may experience a little bit of cold, you won’t have the snow to contend with.

The July high is around 91 degrees. The January low is 33.

7.) Vero Beach, Florida

Gets about 51 inches of rain per year, 0 inches of snowfall. The number of days with any measurable precipitation is 123. On average, there are 232 sunny days per year. The July high is around 90 degrees. The January low is 53. Vero Beach stays warmer year found, no cold weather there.

8.) Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Gets about 68 inches of rain per year, 0 inches of snowfall. The number of days with any measurable precipitation is 116. On average, there are 214 sunny days per year.

The July high is around 91 degrees. The January low is 41.

9.) Charleston, South Carolina

Gets about 46 inches of rain per year, 0 inches of snowfall. The number of days with any measurable precipitation is 106. On average, there are 209 sunny days per year. Charleston is a great option for those looking to avoid the cold.

The July high is around 88 degrees. The January low is 42.

10.) Orlando, Florida

Gets about 51 inches of rain per year, 0 inches of snowfall. The number of days with any measurable precipitation is 113. On average, there are 233 sunny days per year. Orlando is a great option if you want to avoid the cold weather at all costs!

The July high is around 92 degrees. The January low is 50.

We hope you found these 10 locations helpful to help you avoid the cold during the winter months. Did we miss any locations that you like to travel to during the cold winter months? Comment them below.

If you are a new travel nurse or looking into becoming a travel nurse:

START HERE

Travel Nurse Guide: Step-by-Step (now offered in a PDF Downloadable version!)

Top 10 Cities Hiring Travel Nurses

Guest Post via Katy Katz

One of the best parts of being a travel nurse is the opportunity to help people from a wide variety of cultures and different parts of the country to which you may not otherwise have been exposed.

Jet-setting from place to place is an exciting part of working in a job that sends you directly where you are needed most but doesn’t be fooled. Travel nursing is not without its challenges. Sometimes it helps to do some simple research into the location you’ll be sent to find the best restaurants, activities, and diversions.

We analyzed more than 30,000 job postings* for travel nurses over the last 12 months to figure out the top 10 cities with the most vacancies. We also stumbled upon a bevy of fun facts about these locations.

1. Los Angeles, CA (5,037 postings)

Los Angeles isn’t just home to celebrities and Hollywood studios, it is a bustling metropolis with art, culture and entertainment. Its thriving Latin American community adds layers of intrigue to the cultural and culinary scenes. The California weather also lends itself to a host of ocean activities in the sun (if you ever make it out of the hospital).

2. San Francisco, CA (1,971 postings)

Although it shares a home state with LA, San Francisco is worlds away from the “City of Angels” when it comes to atmosphere. The people of San Fran are often found taking to the streets for the city’s numerous fairs and festivals. Its proximity to the tech hub of Silicon Valley also makes the city an exciting place for medical innovations.

3. New York, N.Y. (1,734 postings)

It’s hard to say this city’s name without hearing Frank Sinatra’s iconic ballad ringing in your ears. Theater and entertainment is absolutely the name of the game in New York. There is so much to do in this city sometimes it can be hard to know where to start, especially if you are a busy travel nurse. To help, Time Magazine broke out the 10 must-sees if you’re on a time budget.

4. Dallas, TX (1,689 postings)

Everything is bigger in Texas, including the hospitals. Baylor University’s Medical Center in Dallas is one of the top-ranked hospitals in the nation and its emergency room had over 100,000 visits in 2013. If you make it to this city you will have to check out the shopping scene. Shopping in Dallas is a “sport and a pastime,” according to Frommers, and there are more opportunities per capita than any other city in the U.S.

5. Seattle, WA (1,411 postings)

Take a stroll through Pike’s Peak and you might see a fish whizzing past your face. Seattle has so much fresh seafood it’s jumping out of the containers. Seattle is also world renowned for its coffee, which is akin to lifeblood for many nurses to help them survive that overtime 12-hour shift. If you’re looking for something a little more unique to do other than visiting the Space Needle, however, check out this list of weird ideas including the world’s strangest park.

6. Boston, MA (1,300 postings)

This historical city has countless opportunities to take a step back into our country’s origins. There is such a great tradition of healthcare in the city that Massachusetts General Hospital opened a museum dedicated to the more than 200 years of medical history. And if you have time maybe try and grab a hot dog near baseball’s legendary Green Monster.

7. Atlanta, GA (886 postings)

It gets hot in ”Hot-lanta” so pack your sunscreen. One of the best ways to cool off is to grab a chilled beverage on one of the roof-top bars downtown. Georgians take the heat seriously and their department of public health has even put out an app to help people keep cool.

8. Phoenix, AZ (753 postings)

Phoenix is not all golf courses, spas and cacti. It has grown into a thriving city with a lot to do from Segwey tours to romantic castles. The city has a reputation for the climbing age of its population so be prepared for more senior visits. But if you’re looking for a night out on the town, head over to neighboring Scottsdale for the liveliest restaurants, bars and clubs.

9. San Diego, CA (678 postings)

Sunny San Diego is the third Cali city to make this list. If your travels lead you to this city, be sure to visit the ocean at least once and try a fish taco before you leave. Your sound machine can’t compete with the sound of real ocean waves for getting over the stress of a hectic hospital shift. If you’re feeling really adventurous, stroll across the border to the adjacent city of Tijuana for about as authentic a taco as you can get.

10. Denver, CO (575 postings)

Last, but not lowest, the “mile-high” city. While you probably won’t have much luck anymore mining for gold, the streets nearly sparkle they are so clean. Denver has done a lot of work on its Lower Downtown (LoDo). Check it out for everything from swanky art galleries to a mayor’s microbrewery. Oh and don’t forget to look up from time to time at the beautiful mountain view – you might need the memory of it when you’re caring for a careless mountain climber.
*Burning Glass analysis of Travel Nurse job postings 03/01/2013 – 02/28/2014.

About the Author:

Katy Katz an MBA that has been working in higher education for four years. As a blog writer for Rasmussen College, she stays current on medical trends to research and write career-focused articles in the areas of nursing and health sciences. Katy comes from a long line of educators, nurses and healthcare providers so you could say the inclination explore the medical field is in her blood.

One of the interesting things that I found early on in my travels is that there are many places throughout the US that have Themed Street art around the town.

Norfolk VA

In Norfolk Virginia, I was seeking cheap/free things to entertain my then 13 y/o daughter during her summer visit and I found Mermaids! Norfolk is full of mermaids!! Well, not real mermaids…did you think I’d lost my mind? They are actually artistic statues of mermaids. They are all over town! I don’t know how many in total but they are all themed and named and have some cute stories behind them. Pretty cute, I think! My daughter and I ended up going on a mermaid hunt and had a great time trying to find all of the mermaid statues scattered around the city.

(Unfortunately, I do not have photo’s from my personal Mermaid Hunt so I’m sharing the ‘borrowed’ photo’s below. Please stop by these sites and explore more of this fun and unique city.)

Louisville KY

While visiting Louisville KY on a Photo Safari with my daughter, we found Horses! Statues of fancifully painted horses can be seen around Louisville. The horse statues were a part of the Gallopalooza art exhibition, and the horses honor past winners of the Kentucky Derby.

San Miguel, El Salvador

A recent trip nearly 5,000 miles away from Louisville, I discovered that themed art does not stop at the US border. In San Miguel El Salvador, one of the local Colleges (Universidad Andreas Bello) has sponsored some great street art. Art Deco Styled paintings abound on random poles down one lonely street near the College. Each of these themed pieces of art explore a bit of the beauty, culture and activities of the local area. Also in El Salvador via the “Ruta de las Flores” there are several small towns with roadside murals depicting local events, festivals and daily life.

Have you visited a city with Themed Street Art? If so, please share it in the comments…I’m always interested in unique (and free) sights to explore in a new city.

Ever wonder what to do in New York City? You can find fun, inexpensive and free things to do in New York City. Are you a beer drinker? How about a Free Brewery tour? Explore a different neighborhood with a city walking tour of SOHO, Little Italy, The Brooklyn Bridge, or a Staten Island Ferry ride. Yes still FREE and much more…..

There is so much to do in NYC, and it can be expensive. Save your wallet and check out these free things to do. There is something for every interest.

Find Free Things to do in New York City

Museums

There are many museums in NYC that offer free admission. If history is your jam, check them out and take advantage of these free visits. Some of these are always free and others have special FREE days. Check the website for details.

The New Museum
Brooklyn Museum
Bronx Museum of the Arts – Always FREE
Museum of Modern Art
Leslie-Lohman Museum of Gay and Lesbian Art
BRIC House
Museum of Jewish Heritage
Onassis Cultural Center
New York Aquarium

Free Walking Tours

Plan your time off by exploring one of these free walking tours. There are some interesting places that you can explore in New York City for free. Be aware, some of these require pre-registration so plan ahead for those days off.

Gracie Mansion
Hamilton Grange
Village Alliance
Big Apple Greeter
Chelsea Craft Brewing
Grand Central Partnership
NYPL’s Stephen A. Schwarzman Building
Federal Reserve Bank of New York
City Hall

Get Outdoors

If you’re lucky enough to be in New York City during warmer weather, take advantage and get outdoors. These places and activities offer free admission or free days to enjoy the great outdoors.

Ping Pong in Bryant Park
The Gowanus Dredgers Canoe Club
Long Island City Community Boathouse
Free fishing
NYC pools
The Downtown Boathouse – Kayaking
NYC Fun Run Club
Bootcamp at Bryant Park

Websites to Check

See what sounds fun to you. Find another traveler and get on your walking shoes! GO EXPLORE!!! No matter where you are!

Club Free Time : Free things to do in New York City
The Travelettes: 10 Things to do in New York City for Free
Lonely Planet: 40 free things to do in New York City

Have you been to NYC? If you’ve visited any of these free things to do in New York City, let us know how you enjoyed them in the comments. Do you know of activities that we don’t have listed? Share them in the Comments below.

Finished the travel nursing guide and are ready to look for an assignment?

Check out our travel nurse jobs!

As a Travel Nurse relocating to Australia is a scary prospect.

I’d thought I’d had greater culture shock in Miami, but starting my Australian nursing position changed my mind. Traveling halfway around the world with the uncertainty associated with moving to a new country can be overwhelming.

Although Australia is an English speaking country, their English may not be your English. Beyond deciphering the accent, one must understand the slang and acceptable verbiage. Culture shock is inevitable. When you think of your experiences as a travel nurse, culture shock might be a way of life for you. It might be dependent on your experiences or your background, but when one relocates to a different country…Everything might be different.

There are many things to consider prior to accepting a job and relocating to another country.

The populations are as diverse as any you might see in the United States. It’s normal to hear many languages as you walk down the street in the city.

Do you want to live in a rural or city setting?

In Australia, the large cities are located on the coast, and beyond the cities and suburbs are extremely rural areas. For instance, Sydney and its suburbs are sprawling. The Blue Mountains are approximately a two-hour drive from the central business district. After the blue mountains are the bush, you might drive 100 km without seeing anything other than kangaroos.

Housing is another consideration.

Sydney is one of the most expensive cities to live in. Did you know rent is paid weekly in Australia? Finding a home or apartment to rent can be time-consuming and very expensive. Prior to your move find a serviced apartment. These apartments are fully furnished and short term leases are available. A corporate studio in Sydney can be as little as $350 per week to as much as $700 per week AU or more. It is location dependant., While Australia has a relatively low crime rate, there are still undesirable areas to live in. Another option to look into is renting a “holiday” property, but these can be very pricey.

Be wary of sites like Craig’s List, many travellers have lost money due to scams on Craig’s List. If you are interested in using the site, wait until you’ve arrived in Australia. This will allow you to actually view the rental property.

When you arrive in Australia, you will be overwhelmed and exhausted. The flights are long and the time difference is great. Currently, Sydney is 14 hours ahead of New York City and in the summer it’s 16 hours. Settling into a hotel or corporate apartment will make the transition easier. The last thing a traveler wants to worry about is where they will stay upon arrival. If you come to Australia via a medical recruitment company, they will assist in setting up a house for the first 3 months.

Try to arrive a week or two prior to starting work.

Adjusting to the time difference can take awhile. I arrived on a Monday morning. While I didn’t go to sleep until 9 pm that night, my body rebelled against every moment I was awake. Because I was excited to arrive, I had difficulty sleeping on the flight over. When I was in the United States, I rarely slept more than six hours a night, but for my first month in Australia, I slept 12-14 hours a day.

Availability of Transportation

Finding housing near public transportation is necessary. While you can drive on your American Driver’s license, actually jumping into a car and driving on the “wrong” side of the road can be rather stressful. There is traffic to contend with and the public transportation system in Australia is amazing. In my suburb of Sydney, I can go to 8 different bus stops within 600 meters from my apartment. The ferry wharf is a 10-minute walk. The buses will take me to the central train stations in approximately 15 minutes. I can take a train anywhere in the city.

Do not get an International Driver’s License. It’s a waste of time and money. You can drive on your US license while you are here. You cannot get an Australian license until you’ve been here six months unless you haven’t had a license prior to arriving. Licensing is in stages here. If you have only had an international license for a year or less, you will be granted provisional P1 privileges and if you’ve been licensed for less than three years, you’ll be granted a P2 license.

Each has restrictions such as speed limits and alcohol consumption. If you have a P1 license, you may not consume alcohol for 24 hours prior to driving and your top speed is 90 km/hour.

Telephone

Is your smartphone unlocked? You can purchase a SIM card for any of the mobile carriers at any of the shops. The SIM card is a $2 purchase. When I arrived, my fiance bought me SIM cards for all the carriers. It cost less than $10 AU. While in the United States, a majority of the population are in contracts with the major carriers, in Australia, the majority use prepaid plans.

Review the sites for the carrier and decide what you want. I spend $30 per month (far less than I did in the United States on my contract) I have 250 minutes to use. These can be used on international calls as well, plus data with free data on social networking sites.

Which mobile carrier you choose is up to you, but check which SIM card will give you the best service. In my first apartment in Sydney, I had no service with my current carrier.

Food/Groceries and Shopping

A trip to the shops will cost you far more. Groceries are much more expensive here, but you can still find deals. Since I use public transportation, I order my groceries online and have them delivered. The fees are minimal, but this offers me the opportunity to shop at the larger stores and purchasing the store brands will save a great deal of money

For instance, a case of coke costs $27.83. When I was home, I would normally buy a 24 pack of soda for work, taking two cans a night. I’ve since broken that habit.

Also You cannot bring any food into the country. You are able to find some American foods at grocery stores, but typically you can find an American “Lolly” (candy) store where you can purchase items like PopTarts or Hershey Kisses. Surprisingly, there are items I’d always taken for granted in the United States such as Crisco Shortening. You can use something called Copha, but it’s nothing like cooking with Crisco.

While there is no Walmart in Australia, there is Kmart and Big W. If you are looking for inexpensive household items, these two stores are the best place to shop. Although Target is available, it’s far more expensive than in the United States.

Banking/Legal

When you arrive in Australia, you need to apply for a bank account within 12 weeks of arrival. An application can be completed online or on a mobile site and only takes a few minutes. You will have to venture into a bank at some point to verify your identity.

You will need to apply for a Tax File Number. The application is simple and you’ll receive your number within 28 days via post. In order to be paid, you must have a TFN.

Other things to think about

Everything is more expensive.
You should have a decent nest egg. You’ll have to pay a bond (security deposit) for your apartment, plus weekly rent.
Transportation costs are high. A multi-ticket for public transportation can cost up to $61 per week depending on the zone chosen. Though if you are using only one type of public transportation, such as the bus, you can purchase a prepaid ticket for 10 trips.
Purchasing a car is costly. While there are many sites that post advertisements for cars, all cars are far more expensive here than in the United States. For example, a 2014 Kia Sportage runs about $18, 500 in the United States while in Australia, the same vehicle costs $37, 990. Buying a “cheap” car will cost you approximately $5000. If you are lucky, the registration will have will go for several months. When you register your car here, you must also pay for one year of insurance. Plus, if you finance a vehicle, you must purchase comprehensive insurance as well.

If you use an agency to relocate to Australia, they will help you through the overwhelming process. Either way, you’ll be in for the experience of a lifetime.

Gypsy,

What does it take for a travel nurse to take a pet to Hawaii? I’ve heard so many different stories, I don’t know what to believe? Can I avoid the pet quarantine in Hawaii?

Tonya

Taking a pet to Hawaii requires some pre-planning but it isn’t impossible. Many believe that “The dog will probably have to be quarantined for a month before he can live with you.” There is some truth to this statement and the quarantine can actually be as long as 120 days!. Don’t despair, there are ways to get around the ‘mandatory’ pet quarantine in Hawaii.

Because Hawaii is a rabies-free Island, they have strict rules governing the import of pets in order to maintain the Island(s) as rabies-free. You can’t blame them for wanting to protect the island from this disease!

So….how do you avoid the mandatory quarantine?

Hawaii has procedures in place for a “5-day-or-less quarantine” This reduced quarantine does enable you to potentially take your pet ‘home’ once it’s cleared by the Animal Quarantine Holding Facility if all of the requirements are met and verified.

The pet must have been vaccinated at least two times for rabies in its lifetime.
These rabies vaccines were administered more than 30 days apart.
90 Days must have elapsed after the last rabies vaccine before your pet arrives in Hawaii
The dates and type of vaccine must be listed on the pets Health Certificate

Our Facebook Network Group member Amanda just successfully arrived in Hawaii with her furry friend and avoided the Pet Quarantine (May 2017)

Amanda recommends:

“As far as the original rabies vacation papers go they require an original ink signature, the vaccines name, lot or serial number, booster interval, vaccines date and lot expiration date. My vet had to call the vaccine company because they did not put the lot expiration date on the paperwork. So people need to make sure that the paperwork has all the needed information.”

The pet must be microchiped. This must be done before the OIE-FAVN (see below) is drawn.
Microchip must be able to be verified. (Have your vet check)
The pet must have blood drawn for a OIE-Flourescent Antibody Serum Neutralization Test (OIE-FAVN).
- This test assesses for the adequate response to the rabies vaccine. The test takes 120 days to process. Your pet must complete the required 120 waiting period from the day after the approved facility receives the sample before it can enter Hawaii in order to be eligible for the reduced quarantine.
- There are only 2 approved facilities for this test in the US. Kansas State University or the DOD Food Analysis and Diagnostic Laboratory in Texas. If you are not near one of these facilities, your local lab will have to send the sample to one of these facilities.
- The day after the approved facility (above) receives your pets sample must be at least 120 day and not more than 36 months from the date of the pets arrival in Hawaii.
- NOTE: The waiting period begins the day after KSU or DOD received the blood sample for the OIE-FAVN test.
Original copies of all documents, including:
- Completed and Notarized Import Form AQS-278
- Both recent rabies vaccines (originals)
- Health Certificate (completed within 14 days of arrival in Hawaii)
- Veterinarian treatment for ticks within 14 days of arrival in Hawaii

Hawaii Animal Quarantine Information FAQ

5 Day or Less Quarantine – Checklist

The rules are quite specific. The above is simply a summary of the process. I would recommend that you print the guidelines and checklist and take them with you to your Vet to help the process move a little smoother.

As you can see from the above summary, getting your pet to Hawaii is a long enduring process. It’s also quite expensive. You may want to consider finding a responsible friend or loved one to care for your pet for you while you enjoy a 3-month working vacation in Hawaii.

TIP: The quarantine center is only open till 4:30. If you want to take your dog home the same day you need to get in earlier otherwise the animal has to stay overnight. – Amanda

I love hearing the opinions of my readers. Your opinion could be the perfect solution for someone. Please share your thoughts below in the comments. Do you have a question? Feel free to contact us.

10 Places you can work and avoid the cold

Here are 10 places that won’t make you hibernate:

1.) Asheville, North Carolina

2.) Prescott, Arizona

3.) Honolulu, Hawaii

4.) Los Angeles, California

5.) Key West, Florida

6.) Athens, Georgia

7.) Vero Beach, Florida

8.) Baton Rouge, Louisiana

9.) Charleston, South Carolina

10.) Orlando, Florida

If you are a new travel nurse or looking into becoming a travel nurse:

Travel Nurse Guide: Step-by-Step (now offered in a PDF Downloadable version!)

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Tips and Tricks for Rotating Shifts as a Travel Nurse

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Top 10 Cities Hiring Travel Nurses

1. Los Angeles, CA (5,037 postings)

2. San Francisco, CA (1,971 postings)

3. New York, N.Y. (1,734 postings)

4. Dallas, TX (1,689 postings)

5. Seattle, WA (1,411 postings)

6. Boston, MA (1,300 postings)

7. Atlanta, GA (886 postings)

8. Phoenix, AZ (753 postings)

9. San Diego, CA (678 postings)

10. Denver, CO (575 postings)

About the Author:

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As a Travel Nurse relocating to Australia is a scary prospect.

Do you want to live in a rural or city setting?

Housing is another consideration.

Try to arrive a week or two prior to starting work.

Availability of Transportation

Telephone

Food/Groceries and Shopping

Banking/Legal

Other things to think about

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How Can a Travel Nurse Learn & Overcome a Language Barrier?

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