5 Tips for Planning a Family Vacation to Yellowstone National Park

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Family vacations. They serve as a milestone of memories for so many of us. And when it comes to some of the top places to visit with our family members, without a doubt, Yellowstone National Park goes right up on the top of the list. Not only does it provide an absolutely amazing view and a great place to camp but it has a wide variety of things to do as well.

So, if this is sounding more and more like a place that you’d like to go with your family and you’d like a few planning tips, we’ve got five great ones to make your vacation one that you won’t forget.

Know when to go. Although you can enjoy Yellowstone no matter what time of year that you go, if you want to enjoy the area without having to deal with a lot of tourists, springtime is the most ideal. For one thing, there are not a lot of people then (like there is in the summertime), so you can have the space and privacy to enjoy quality time with your family. Plus, the weather is much milder too.

Know what to pack. You’re going to be doing a lot of walking while you’re there and so you want to be as comfortable as possible. Take jeans, running shoes, rain gear (especially in the spring) and a First-
Aid Kit, just for safe measure. Also, because we’re sure you’re going to see some truly amazing sites, don’t forget to pack a camera too.
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Girlfriends Valentine’s Day in NYC

As store windows quickly fill up with oversized stuffed animals and brilliant bouquets, one thing is clear: Valentine’s Day has reared its ugly head once again.

NYC

While a holiday celebrating the joys of romantic love can be a real drag if you find yourself un-coupled, New York City has a never-ending supply of engaging activities to take your mind off finding that special someone. So whether you’re in pursuit of new love or just looking to blow off some steam, grab your girlfriends and check out these great activities:

Take a stroll around the city: You’d never believe how quiet New York gets when all of its couples are somewhere kissing over martinis, so make the most of it by checking out some of the outdoor hotspots that are usually packed to the gills with kids and joggers. If you’re uptown, a leisurely walk through Central Park can feel nearly as good as a date, if you’re happy having hot dogs for dinner. If your evening finds you downtown, take a walk along the High Line, where you’ll get beautiful views of the water, as well as some of the unique new buildings going up nearby, like 505 West 19th Street, the lobby of which is being built directly under the park.

Catch a chick flick: Valentine’s day is the romantic comedy industry’s bread and butter, so there’s no better time to indulge in some guilty pleasure movie watching than on the most romantic day of the year. Grab your girlfriends, some snacks, and head to the nearest movie theater and meet Hollywood’s latest version of Mr. Right. If your building happens to have a screening room of its own, like the state-of-the-art indoor/outdoor theater at 56 Leonard Street, you won’t even have to change out of your pajamas to see on-screen love bloom.
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Faraway Holidays for All the Family

While you may be accustomed to short haul breaks for the family, opting for destinations closer to home because of the chance of a more affordable break as well as spending less time in the air, the prospect of a faraway holiday doesn’t have to be out of the picture. The idea of heading further abroad doesn’t necessarily mean trekking through jungles and flying for day to arrive at your chosen destination; there are plenty of awesome resorts within a few hours flight time which will provide you and your brood with a child-friendly option for a week or two this summer. Here are three top choices if you would prefer to head to somewhere other than the Balearic Islands this year.

Florida

It’s what every kid’s dreams are made of, right? With flights to  Orlando (http://book.flythomascook.com/cheap-flights/to-Orlando-Florida-USA/) being extremely affordable, particularly if you manage to bag a bargain, you can enjoy a trip to the Sunshine State for less than you might expect. Perfect for kids of all ages, including the grown up ones, Orlando is where the magic never ends – and with so many theme parks and attractions to choose from, your kids (and you) will be in their element!
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Captain America and the Super Bowl

The Super Bowl shows tons of big ticket commercials but one of the most interesting had to be for the new Captain America Winter Soldie movie.  Fox broadcaster Joe Buck introduced the special look to the Big Game spot, which directed viewers to FoxSports.com for a complete CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE WINTER SOLDIER takeover and the brand new full-length trailer. The :30 second Big Game spot included music from the National Anthem and aired surrounding the team captains introduction and the National Anthem performance.
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Win a THAT AWKWARD MOMENT Prize Pack

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THAT AWKWARD MOMENT starring Zac Efron, Michael B Jordan and Miles Teller, hits theatres nationwide today, January 31.

Zac Efron, Miles Teller and Michael B. Jordan star in the R-rated comedy, THAT AWKWARD MOMENT, about three best friends who find themselves where we’ve all been– at that confusing “moment” in every dating relationship when you have to decide “So…where is this going?”

There will be two winners of prize packs- Each set is worth $35.00
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How to Choose Your Ideal Wedding Location

Your wedding venue is like the backdrop to your very own fairy tale. It needs to be planned according to your comfort as well as your guests. Here are some guidelines in choosing your wedding location.

Choose a country or a city

Some brides marry in their local church or parish. Some prefer it at a hotel or at an outdoor park. There are brides who prefer destination weddings. The first step in finding the best location for your wedding is choosing the country or city of your wedding venue. Choosing the geographical location of your wedding is important because this is where the rest of the decisions are based from such as accommodations, transport and legal requirements.

What type of venue do you need?

Do you want an indoor wedding or a beach ceremony? Do you prefer an outdoor garden? How many guests have you invited? These are just some of the questions you need to ask when looking for the ambience and environment that you want for your wedding. Make sure that the venue is not only gorgeous, it can also accommodate the other details you want for your wedding.

Is your venue available?

Most wedding venues get tons of booking in the summer. It is always important to book as early as possible. If you have a set date for your wedding, search for other venues. If you are set on a location, be flexible on the date of the wedding. Venues generally have more open schedules for winter weddings. Evaluate what is the most important thing to you and consult with your wedding or venue coordinator to work around it.
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Winter Road Tripping

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Enterprise Rent-A-Car for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

There are quite a few fun activities that can be done during the winter.  Most of them involved being cold and outside.  Skiing, sledding, ice skating and curling to name a few.  But in order to do these fun winter activities you need to get out and go!  But as the money saving individual I am I would love to save some money in the process.

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Enterprise is here with the assist.  Enterprise has recently announced its new Enterprise Plus Your Points promotion.  Enterprise is a car rental service with which you can rent just about  any car imaginable from zippy turn hugging cars to 4 wheel drive monsters meant to eat up turf and off road through trouble without batting an eye.  The best part of Enterprise is their Plus Your Points program though.  This program give you points toward FREE car rental upgrades.  Points are accumulated in many ways including:

Purchase a qualifying rental (earn double points)

Add a GPS unit as part of a qualifying rental (earn 50 bonus points)

Share the qualifying “Plus Your Points” message on Twitter (earn 20 bonus points)
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Avoid being scammed when buying a ‘new to you’ car

When you buy a used car rather than a brand new one you are making a smart financial decision. Brand new cars depreciate in value the minute they are driven off the forecourt and for anyone concerned with what they spend their hard earned cash on, you would be better to wait and buy a model that is a couple of years old as you will get much more for your money.

However, buying a used car doesn’t come without it’s challenges and potential pitfalls meaning it can be a scary prospect for anyone who isn’t a car mechanic! You want to avoid looking like a complete novice at the car garage but how do you know what defects to look for in order to avoid making a very costly mistake?

For anyone about to purchase a ‘new to you’ car from either a private seller or garage, take a look at the following guidelines to avoid inheriting a money drain:

Stick to a budget

Before even thinking about which car to buy, you need to know how much you have to spend. Ask yourself the following questions:

  • Do you have a car to sell
  • Will you be taking out car finance
  • How much do you have available each month to cover fuel

In addition, you must remember to factor in the cost of insurance; it would be silly to purchase a car at the top end of your budget, only to realise your insurance premiums will financially cripple you. Take five minutes to perform a quick check on an insurance comparison site like Captain Compare for a range of  vehicles.

Research for the ‘right’ car

The next step to take in this process is to spend a little time researching the right car for you and your needs. Think about what you’ll be using the car for and work out your priorities from there.
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