Chinese New Year: Year of the Horse
January 31, 2014 will ring in the new year in the Chinese calendar. To celebrate and learn more about this holiday, take a stroll through one of America’s oldest cities- Philadelphia! Why Philly? It’s a great city, with one of the largest and most active Chinese communities in the USA, as well as one of the biggest Chinatowns, making it the perfect place to steep yourself in the culture while staying on American soil).
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Let me start out by saying that I’m quite out of shape. I like to say that the past year has not been kind to me, but in truth, I’ve not been kind to myself, either. While I’ve always been an active and physically fit woman, in the past year I stopped hitting the gym and doing my morning yoga, and it shows (body, mind, and flexibility). There was never such a wake up call for me as going paddleboarding in Turks and Caicos.
This had been a relaxing, welcome few days of tranquility at Ocean Club Resorts, something I had been in short supply of as of late. When the chance came to go paddleboarding, I jumped at it. I loved my past experience with this sport, and was honestly looking for a little action. (I get squirmy sometimes.) I didn’t know what I was getting myself into.
I had previously tried paddleboarding in Florida, on calm, flat, and shallow water in a quiet lagoon. In better shape and with regular yoga practice, I hopped right onto the board, and stayed up the whole time, falling in only after about 2 hours right before we finished the tour. This time, however, was not the same. I was not able to even get onto the board without a whole lot of falling, tipping, and rolling right into the ocean. I finally got on, but could not get to a standing position. The rocking of the ocean had me completely off balance, and I was also quite frustrated with myself.
Two other members of the group went on ahead of us before myself and another “newbie” were able to right ourselves on the paddleboards, which (being both of us competitive in nature) made us want to catch up and figure out how to get up on that thing without drinking half the ocean in the process.
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When you think of Niagara Falls, chances are you immediately think of weddings, marriage proposals and romance—no surprise given the fact that America’s oldest state park has been a hotspot for young lovers for over a hundred years now. What many people don’t realize, however, is that Niagara Falls is a fabulous destination for families too. So for those of you who’ve already got wedding rings on your fingers and safety seats in the back of the car, here are five great reasons to whisk your family away from home to Niagara Falls.
It’s Spectacular for All Ages
It doesn’t matter if you’re aged 7 or 77, the three breathtaking waterfalls that make up Niagara Falls are sights of natural beauty, wonder and incredible power. Children and adults witnessing the Falls for the first time are usually equally in awe of what they’re seeing—when nature is this majestic, all ages can appreciate it. Plus, this is something that every American and every Canadian should see at least once in their lifetime. What’s the harm in starting early?
The Maid of the Mist
If you only step foot on a boat once in your life, try and make The Maid of the Mist the one! Traversing the river underneath the waterfalls and getting so close to the falls, it’s impossible for passengers to not get soaked (don’t worry—The Maid provides waterproof ponchos to all guests), this is one boat trip that will thrill and enthrall the entire family. All passengers must be aged 5 or older.
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Make your plans now to visit Grapevine, the number one festivals and events destination in Texas, in 2014. With annual festivals and events happening nearly every month, this is the perfect year to visit Grapevine and experience events that celebrate wine, family-fun, chocolate, history, a vintage railroad and more! Officially recognized as a World Festival & Events City by the International Festival & Events Association, Grapevine welcomed more than one and a half million visitors to the city’s festivals and special events in 2013. So, mark your calendars now and find out why everyone’s coming to Grapevine in 2014.
Everything’s bigger in Texas! Be it Christmas, or ice storms, Texas doesn’t play. Grapevine, Texas, known as the Christmas capitol of the state, really showed me it’s stuff with it’s recent ice storm- but that didn’t keep a good city down. Texas still got it’s holiday groove on- albeit about 50 degrees cooler then it might be used to.
We spent quite a lot of time in the Hilton Lakes DFW hotel, but I didn’t hear any complaining. The rooms were very comfortable, and there were amenities like a pool and gym (which I never get to use, so hooray!). However, I did do a “Supernatural” marathon with a friend while there, while eating chips and salsa. Yep, the finer things in life 🙂 The rooms all had free cable and WiFi, and it was pretty fast, too. Not just “fast for a hotel”- fast. There were several restaurants to check out (such as the below Bonnie and Clyde’s Hideout), so we were not hungry even when the storm kept us in.
Shrimp grits and chicken lettuce wrap
The Winewood Grill has a good variety of food (and imbibements if your heart so desires) as well as a super friendly staff. The ribs were a favorite of many, but the smoked Gouda mac and cheese was by far and away the best eats of the night. It is also one of the restaurants’ most requested items, and for good reason. Creamy, warm, and with a bacon topping (and mix in), there was nothing not to love about this comfort food created for grown up palettes. Save room for dessert- you will need it with these Texas-sized portions! But it’s worth it- share with a friend if you are running out of steam, or get a few to share with the table-none of them were disappointing.
When I awoke the next morning, Texas was officially frozen. We were going to be spending the day at the Hilton- so down to The Vineyard I went to get some breakfast. They had a quite large hot and cold buffet, as well as table service and an omelet station. I was glad to see my favorite- biscuits!- which I don’t’ see a whole lot of in my neck of the woods. All that eating sure does make you hungry…. LOL
When you are in Grapevine, be sure to check out Grapevine Mills, a huge shopping mall (which is also REALLY close to the Hilton, and you can be bussed there by the city busses for nearly nothing- it’s one of the many, many stops they offer for convenience for travelers. We ate lunch at the Rainforest Cafe which is always fun. Since the weather outside was frighting, we made sure to light our way with fun hurricane glasses of bright drinks that turned the table into a disco party. The food was good- the chocolate volcano desserts and fun drinks made the meal, though 🙂
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The Lake Placid Holiday Village Stroll is the perfect way to discover the magic of the holiday season in an Adirondack Winter Wonderland. The volunteer ran committee of elves has a wonderful weekend of art, music, gourmet foods and boutique shopping planned for the pleasure of visitors. Shoppers love the alternative to the big box store options and the intimate setting makes the Village Stroll appealing to couples and families.
The Lake Placid Holiday Village Stroll features over 50 unique stores that accept holiday bucks to help you find the perfect holiday gifts in a serene setting. There is no hustle and bustle of the mall crowd to contend with, and you will find gifts that will be treasured by the lucky recipients.
The weekend isn’t all about shopping. Families will love the ice skating party and Holiday Story Time at the Mirror Lake Inn. Couples will enjoy the wine tastings and art displays. Children will delight in the matinee showing of the Polar Express, the craft workshops and breakfast with Santa at participating hotels on Sunday morning.
If you are traveling to attend the weekend you might wonder where to stay and eat. I have a few recommendations for you to consider while you are planning your 2014 Village Stroll trip.
Ever since Napoleon’s younger brother honeymooned with his American bride at Niagara Falls, and Aaron Burr’s daughter even prior to them in 1804, Niagara USA has been celebrated as one of the world’s most romantic destinations.
In 1843, writer Charles Dickens summarized the romance of the region that has attracted hundreds of thousands of honeymooners and starry-eyed couples: “Niagara was at once stamped upon my heart, an image of beauty; to remain changeless and indelible, until it pulses cease to beat, forever.”
Niagara USA still attracts tens of thousands of honeymooners each year. The mystique that attracts lovebirds to the region involves everything from the Falls themselves – with their power and grace – to the region’s quaint small towns that offer relaxation, historic exploration and enjoyment.
Travelers looking for romantic getaways will enjoy stunning outdoor vistas, touring the Niagara Wine Trail and staying at quaint accommodations. Here is just a sampling of Niagara USA’s offerings for couples and honeymooners alike:
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Niagara Falls is known for many things, most of which involves the powerful falls of course. But what drives those falls, the water and the creatures with in it are the emphasis of the Aquarium of Niagara.
The aquarium is an interactive aquarium full of sharks, and fish of various colors and sizes, even an octopus who is notorious for escaping! The exhibits contained within include how nocturnal fish can see at night, and how krill and algae factor into the well being of large animals like whales. The main piece of the aquarium has to be the sea lion show. It is full of tricks, fun, and lots of smiles all this at a new 100,000 gallon central tank. We were able to time our visit in such a way that we were able to see the sea lion feeding as well as the show, both of which brought the experience full circle. My son had such a good time visiting and seeing all the sea animals and marine life.
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