Today is travel planning day! Summer travel looms, and for the first time in many summers we have no plans firmed up. Air fare has been outrageously expensive, and although I have been tracking it since last fall, there has been no meaningful movement on it up and down. I expected fares to be high for peak summer travel, but these price points are shocking even me! But we can’t put it off any longer, and so today is travel planning for our Portugal and Italy holidays. First up, buying airline tickets. They’re nearly as much as a mortgage payment, but it’s time to bite the bullet and lock things in. They’re not going to get any cheaper. Our first stop on our summer travels is Lisbon, Portugal. We’ll be there for a week, for a week. We’ll be looking […]
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History Lesson at Women’s Rights National Park
Turning on the news these days inundates us with struggles for democracy around the world. Even here at home, there are reminders to be ever vigilant about our civil liberties and individual rights, and I cannot even imagine a life in which women couldn’t vote or didn’t have individual freedoms. But the history is not all that distant. To honor the continual struggle for equal rights, and to celebrate National Park Week, why not take the family to the Women’s Rights National Park in Seneca Falls, New York. The first Woman’s Right Convention was held in Seneca Falls, New York, in 1848 when five women organized a meeting to protest the laws and customs that discriminated against women. While those determined, courageous women are long gone, a visit to Seneca Falls today will allow you to “meet” the women via […]
Read MorePlan a Stopover in Krakow, Poland
Adventurous travelers are continually seeking out different and unusual destinations, but for many people who feel that they still haven’t seen some of the major sights of the world, there’s a sense that those destinations need to wait. In fact, you can easily add on a stop in central or eastern Europe while en route to that traditional stop in western Europe. Not sure how to make it work? Look for airlines and itineraries that allow you a stop over – that is, instead of making a close connection to your final destination, allow you to spend a few days seeing someplace that wasn’t exactly in your plans. For example, one of the connections for my trip to Europe this summer routed me through Krakow, Poland. After noting the reasonable price, my next focus was checking the map to make […]
Read MorePolynesian Cultural Center Invites Visitors to Participate in Island Life
The Polynesian Cultural Center is a popular attraction for visitors to the island of Oahu, and with its new Go Native! programs, visitors will have even more opportunities to learn about the Polynesian culture. Guests will be enticed into participating in traditional aspects of daily life from Pacific island cultures like those of Samoa, Tahiti and Hawaii, as they are introduced to activities that include coconut tree climbing, canoe paddling, spear throwing, and what looked to be my favorite – cooking. Visitors will learn about building a traditional Samoan aboveground oven, or umu, and then sample traditional Samoan food that they’ve prepared and cooked with their own hands, and to be a part of the meal preparation from start to finish. Food and fire preparations start at noon daily in the tunoa (Samoan kitchen) at the Samoan village. Villagers […]
Read MoreVisiting Portugal: Lisbon, Sintra and the Algarve
In just a few more months, I’ll be packing myself up and heading to Europe for what has become an annual sojourn. The airfare prices are making me choke, so to offset that expense, the group looked for affordable options once on the continent. This year, in addition to Italy, we’ll spending a week or so in Portugal. Why Portugal? The economy is a little soft, meaning there are some good values on the ground, the temperature on the coast should range pleasantly in the high 70’s-low 80’s, and it’s also a place no one in our group has visited. So – we’ll be off to Portugal! With over a week in country, we’ve selected three basic areas for our explorations: Lisbon – The capital city, with the most economical airport for us to fly into, will be our first […]
Read MoreNational Archives: See Great Documents on Display
If you have a love of history, or want to instill it in others, research the budget flights to Washington DC, and check out some of the vital documents of our nation’s history with a visit to the National Archives. The National Archives is the repository for documents related to the business of running the country, which in turn are made available for public viewing. Thee aren’t some dry and dusty pieces of paper, though, these are some of the most legally and historically significant documents of our country’s history. The most significant documents to me are those related to the founding of the country and, in fact, they are some of the most often visited displays. The Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution are proudly displayed in a Rotunda, with the original documents preserved and displayed in glass […]
Read MoreWhere to See Wildlife in Kenya
When it comes to thinking about an African safari, Kenya usually figures prominently on the list. There are plenty of day trips and sights to see in Kenya, although most safaris in Kenya center on one of the major areas, parks, or reserves. Amboseli National Park Formerly known as the Maasai Amboeli Game Reserve, this park is part of a larger eco-system that spans the Kenya-Tanzania border. The reserve has an active tourism economy and offers some of the best opportunities for viewing wildlife in Africa, if not the world. You can have a very successful visit, even if only for a weekend, and offers the best opportunity for getting close to free-ranging elephants. The Reserve has been designated a UNESCO Man and Biosphere Reserve, and in addition to the wildlife, visitors can enjoy the views of Mount Kilimanjaro and […]
Read MoreMardi Gras Celebrations Around the U.S.
I’m currently on a plane (yay inflight wi-fi), heading to Shreveport-Bossier for my first Mardi Gras celebration. When I was younger, the idea of partying and whooping it up at this quintessentially decadent holiday had great appeal with all the drinking, parades, and beads. Somewhere along the way to adulthood, the allure faded and the idea of a Mardi Gras celebration had more appeal in my mind that in my reality. At a recent travel event, however, I had the opportunity to meet and chat with some lovely people from the Shreveport-Bossier Convention & Tourist Bureau. I’ve never been to Shreveport, but they shared the knowledge and enthusiasm about their area, and convinced me that Mardi Gras there was just as much fun, while still being primarily family friendly. Sure, there were still some of the traditional activities – parades, […]
Read MoreRoyal Beasts Return to Tower Of London
The Royal Wedding isn’t the only royal excitement in London the spring, although it probably overshadows most. But there’s another magical story that comes to life this spring, and that’s the story of the Royal Menagerie at the Tower of London. The Royal Menagerie was first established at the Tower of London in the early 1200s, making it one of the country’s oldest zoo. “Royal Beasts” offers visitors a chance to see these former residents through a display of modern sculpture, along with interactive and sensory displays. The displays will be housed in the north wall walk (recently restored) as well as the Brick Tower, opening for the first time. The Tower offers audio guides in English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Russian, Dutch, Portuguese, Japanese, Korean and Chinese (Mandarin), providing English School in London students an opportunity to enjoy a […]
Read MoreSun & Sand on Mallorca
A popular Spanish holiday island in the the Mediterranean, Mallorca has a bit of a split personality. On one side are the secluded beach, challenging cycling trails, spectacular natural beauty for hiking and enjoying, challenging deep water rock climbing, and an environment that creates a haven for a variety of seabirds. On the other side, Mallorca appeals to the hip and trendy, with luxury resorts, marinas full of yachts and luxury sailing craft, top notch restaurants, and plenty of rocking nightlife and bars. So how does a visitor take advantage of the warm weather in Mallorca, and reconcile these two versions of the island into a wonderful vacation? There’s plenty to do on Mallorca, whether you’re young, hip, and ready to party, or are just looking for a relaxing beach getaway. Here’s some ideas on how to make Mallorca the […]
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