As much as I try to be an organized and semi-responsible adult, I always manage to leave everything to the last minute, which is why I found myself being patted down the other day by security at the San Francisco passport agency. This was a visit I’d been dreading, delegating it to the ranks of the DMV and cleaning the litterbox. And with this attitude I let myself get “wanded” by a guy with a handlebar mustache and took a number (23, to be exact) to wait with the hurried masses to renew my passport on the fast track.

I'm no Imelda Marcos with thousands of shoes, although mine do take up an inordinate amount of closet space. And I wouldn't ever dream of comparing myself to Carrie Bradshaw--I could never run, let alone walk, in Manolos like hers. I do, however, pay considerable attention to what I slip on my feet, especially when I fly, which leads me to my three-part air-travel-and-shoe strategy...

Editor’s Note: Travelocity’s Thanksgiving Task Force monitored crowd conditions Monday through Wednesday at 10 of the busiest airports in the country: Atlanta-Hartsfield; Chicago O’Hare; Dallas-Fort Worth International; Denver International; Phoenix International; Las Vegas McCarran; Los Angeles International; New York La Guardia; Orlando International; Reagan National.

I am in shock. Travel shock that is. Seriously, do you know how good travel has been so far this Thanksgiving? Phenomenally good, that's how much. If you're reading this you've no doubt read some of our other reports and learned that passengers were moving through security much faster than expected for such a busy time. Overall, security lines were less than 10 minutes at each of the airports, according to the Travelocity Thanksgiving Task Force team who tracked these findings throughout the week.

Editor’s Note: Travelocity’s Thanksgiving Task Force is monitoring crowd conditions ahead of the holiday at 10 of the busiest airports in the country: Atlanta-Hartsfield; Chicago O’Hare; Dallas-Fort Worth International; Denver International; Phoenix International; Las Vegas McCarran; Los Angeles International; New York La Guardia; Orlando International; Reagan National. Check back here through Nov. 22 for airport updates from our editors.

It’s a little after 5 a.m. in Texas, and as I prepare for the hectic travel day ahead, I can’t help but think about the sleep I lost last night and the turkey, dressing and mashed potatoes that I’ll stuff myself with tomorrow! But until then, I’ll be fielding calls from our on-site reporters at the nation’s top airports to learn about crowd conditions throughout what is traditionally known as the busiest travel day of the year.

Travelocity’s on-site reporters have already been at the airports for two days, monitoring wait times and surveying travelers about their experiences at the airports. The overall traveler sentiment? So far, so good. Seventy-two percent of travelers are satisfied with their experience getting through security with only 10 percent of travelers reporting that they’re unsatisfied, an indication that the TSA is well staffed and prepared for the busy day ahead.

We expect Thanksgiving crowds to peak today, so travelers should be prepared to wait in longer lines at both security and check-in points. AAA predicts 4.8 million air travelers to take to the skies this holiday season, a 3 percent increase over last year. Check back here throughout the day for updates on crowd conditions.

On a lighter note, our on-site reporters also asked travelers what celebrity couple they would invite over for Thanksgiving dinner. Despite their weekend wedding in Italy, TomKat (not surprisingly) is the most unpopular couple with 10 percent of the vote, while 28 percent of travelers would welcome Jennifer and Vince to their turkey day feast. Other contenders: The Clintons (24 percent); The Bushes (20 percent); and Brangelina (18 percent).

Editor’s Note: Travelocity’s Thanksgiving Task Force is monitoring crowd conditions ahead of the holiday at 10 of the busiest airports in the country: Atlanta-Hartsfield; Chicago O’Hare; Dallas-Fort Worth International; Denver International; Phoenix International; Las Vegas McCarran; Los Angeles International; New York La Guardia; Orlando International; Reagan National. Check back here through Nov. 22 for airport updates from our editors.

New York City is under a gridlock alert; airline load factors are at a high; and the nation’s airports are staffing up. Now, what exactly does all of this mean? I’ll tell you: it means that ‘tis the season for holiday travelers to come out in droves and all in the name of overstuffing themselves with Gram’s turkey and dressing!

While the Wednesday before Thanksgiving is typically the busiest travel day of the year, plenty of travelers headed to the nation’s airports today – many of them to get ahead of the rush. I’ve been collecting information each hour throughout the day, getting up-to-date information from our on-site reporters at 10 of the busiest airports in the country.

To the credit of the Transportation Security Administration, airlines and airports around the country, our Thanksgiving Task Force team reported smooth sailing despite increased foot traffic on what will likely go down as one of the busiest travel days of the year.

Editor’s Note: Travelocity’s Thanksgiving Task Force is monitoring crowd conditions ahead of the holiday at 10 of the busiest airports in the country: Atlanta-Hartsfield; Chicago O’Hare; Dallas-Fort Worth International; Denver International; Phoenix International; Las Vegas McCarran; Los Angeles International; New York La Guardia; Orlando International; Reagan National. Check back here through Nov. 22 for airport updates from our editors.

Thanksgiving is nearly here -- yum! But before you can eat your turkey feast, you first have to get to your destination. Whoever said “getting there is half the fun” certainly didn't try to navigate the crowds at the airports during the holidays.

The million dollar question this year: how long will it take to get through security? At least that's the question I keep getting asked by all the media who know that the latest TSA changes means more headaches for travelers. My prediction for Thanksgiving travel: long lines at security. I'd plan for at least a half an hour, maybe more. With record high load factors this year, you can't afford to miss your flight for fear of missing your fancy dinner. To make it through the gate and board the plane on time, make sure you arrive at the airport at least two hours in advance for domestic flights (three hours for international), and bring plenty to do in case you end up with extra time on your hands. (Or, check out unique finds at airports across the country!)

But, what is really happening out there right now? I have on-site reporters stationed at 10 of the busiest airports for this Thanksgiving holiday to report back with those very details. After a day of surveying the scene, here's what they've found...

My memories of cultural dance performances are not fond ones. Taking the stage to a thunderous "A-LOHHH-HA" and demonstrating the hula to hundreds of tourists at the Polynesian Cultural Center was not my idea of a good time when I was 10. Then there was that time at the Greek Easter festival when an elderly man pulled me into a humongous dance circle to solicit a good laugh at my expense. But I digress...

More recently, I met my mother for an indulgent week of eating and shopping in Buenos Aires. I was keen to distinguish us from the tourists who had no doubt shelled out lots of cash to see one of the famous tango shows (you know, the ones with live horses on stage?). Being cheap – I prefer "frugal" – I mused that only tourists go to those shows. Travelers like us sit in bars until 4 a.m., drinking Malbec and smoking cigarettes, even if we're ardently anti-smoking at home.

A cab ride is like a snowflake: No two are ever exactly alike, and if certain conditions aren't met, it can lead to total meltdown. I've been in smelly cabs, music-blaring cabs, heat-cranked-high on a summer's day cabs and burn-rubber cabs. Perhaps most disquieting for me was the cabbie in San Francisco who, after gliding through a stop sign at the top of Nob Hill, answered his ringing cell phone with a cryptic "yes, they're kicking in, and, man, is this some good s*'&t."

Don't wear your lowriders on the FlowRider®! That's the best advice I can give you after checking out the surf pool on board Royal Caribbean International's newest cruise ship, Freedom of the Seas. This summer, I had the opportunity to scrape the surface of this floating skyscraper – its ice skating rink and boxing ring, the mini-golf and rock-climbing wall, its 22 bars and, yes, the fabled FlowRider, which became titillating in ways I don't think the designers intended.

As someone who makes a living inspiring travel, I can't help but feel a little sorry for Kazakhstan, given the flogging it's taken lately with the success of "Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan." In the optimistic spirit of The Other Iraq (yes, really) and travel ads for Chernobyl, Kazakhstan has launched a slew of TV ads, promoting it as the "heart of Eurasia." I love a savvy marketing campaign as much as the next gal, but I'm guessing it's going to take a whole lot more to get people to spend their summer vacations in, say, Northern Iraq. All empathies aside, "Borat" might just be the funniest movie I have ever seen.

Red wine is practically the fountain of youth thanks to resveratrol, a natural substance found in the skin of grapes that supposedly offsets the ill effects of a high-fat, high-calorie diet and extends longevity. But like any other crop, grapes can be grown with loads of pesticides and chemicals. And what's so healthy about sipping hundreds of chemicals in your Riesling while nibbling on 100% organic Camembert?

With its close proximity to some of the world's most prolific vineyards, it's been said that San Francisco has a one-to-one ratio of wine bars to city blocks. Why welcome another? Because this one only pours "green" wines, which are sustainable, organic or biodynamic. Head to San Francisco's up-and-coming Dogpatch neighborhood and toast the opening of Yield Wine Bar.

I've taken 13 flights in the past two months, and if there's one thing I've learned – besides mastering that "Lost in Translation"-like blank stare on people movers, escalators and airtrams – it's that good things really do come in small packages. By small, I mean 3 oz. or less.

This really crystallized for me after watching a woman, who was undoubtedly somebody's mom, cause quite a ruckus at security because she was forced to check her designer purse (or risk having the nearly $300 worth of beauty products that it contained tossed in the garbage). Then, there was another passenger who accused security of stealing her jewelry (while her husband moseyed toward the gate). I had a good chuckle because she was merely being asked to remove her necklaces before walking through the metal detector.

Getting up at 2 a.m. on vacation sounds crazy, but what's even crazier is waking up at 2 a.m. to bike down a 10,000-foot volcano. At least that's what my friends say. My comeback is: how often do you get to watch the sun rise over a crater, then ride a bike 37 miles down to sea level and only have to pedal twice?

The Haleakala Sunrise Bike Ride was early, but it was also one of the most rewarding endeavors I've ever experienced on vacation. As we headed out in the pitch of night, we were groggy and a bit cold; however, once we arrived at sea level, my adrenaline kicked in. The tour guides mentioned the annual ride to the top of Haleakala, and I knew I was headed for my next challenge. (Apparently, Lance Armstrong climbed it a few times in one day for training.) The ride is officially named Cycle to the Sun (Haleakala means "House of the Sun"), though most locals call it "Psychos to the Sun" (Cycle to the Sun). Either way, climbing straight up for 40 miles is my idea of a vacation.

Am I off my rocker to think of vacations as adventures that take you out of your element? Or should vacation be about relaxing and recharging? You tell me!

Waiting in line and killing time at the airport tops the list of common complaints for any frequent flyer, but be bored at the airport no more! From spas to local eats, many of the nation's top airports may actually give you reason to get to your gate extra early. Check out these airport finds:

Austin-Bergstrom International
When you go to a place known for its “family-style” servings, you know it has to be good. A requisite stand-by for barbeque-lovin’ Austin residents, Salt Lick BBQ made its way to the West Terminal of Austin-Bergstrom, giving visitors of the Texas capital a tender taste of Texana as soon as they step off the plane.

Boston’s Logan International
If you’re leaving the east coast, but don’t want to leave all that fresh seafood behind, stop by Anthony’s Pier 4 Lobsters in Terminal B – where the term “carry out” takes on a whole new meaning. Lobsters can be packed live for 48 hour take out. But, just so you know, bib and melted butter not included.

Chicago’s Midway International
Change up what you're listening to or consider bringing a musical gift. Revered as “the top independent music retailer in the country,” George’s Music Room found its second home just beyond Chicago Midway’s security checkpoint. The original store opened in 1968 in Chicago’s fabled west side and has since been known to stock local and hard-to-find Blues records, as well as the latest hits.