5 Tips for Planning a Family Vacation to Yellowstone National Park

February 21, 2014 by 2 Comments

yellowstone

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.
[Read more…]

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: ,

A Sweet Valentine’s Day In Hershey PA

February 13, 2014 by 4 Comments

9 9 13 PA 355

If you are like me, Valentine’s Day is a family affair, as well as a day to remember your sweetheart. In my house, I have two loves- the one I married, and the one I gave birth to. Valentine’s Day is a celebration of love for us – not just the romantic kind. (And there is always after the kids go to bed for a nice amorous evening and eating dessert in peace.)
[Read more…]

Filed Under: travel Tagged With: , , , ,

21st Annual Blind Willie McTell Blues Festival

February 7, 2014 by 2 Comments

The annual one day fest, held on Saturday, May 10, 2014, with a large fan base from all over the Southeast, will be held at the regular festival site, on Stagecoach Road, 300 yards off Washington Highway, north of Thomson, Georgia. Tickets, which are $30 advance and $40 day of, go on sale March 1.

pic 1

The event is held each year to bring great American roots and blues music and musicians to the rural South, as well as pay tribute to country blues legend McTell, a Thomson native son, born and buried in the Happy Valley area of McDuffie County. The small town feel and exceptional quality of the music presented year in and year out, makes the McTell Festival a special event indeed. Annually, the organizers strive to feature artists who offer the best in American music, focusing on the styles of Americana, folk, gospel, rock, blues and all its variations….with musicians that our smaller market can support; music played by folks at the top of their game.

Headlining this year will be Los Lobos, a multiple Grammy Award–winning, American roots rock band from East Los Angeles, California. Their music is influenced by rock and roll, Tex-Mex, country, folk, R&B, blues, brown-eyed soul, more. Their live electric show is white-hot, featuring the very best of over 20 albums of music filtered through 40 years of playing together in this lineup. They are led by multi-instrumentalist and vocalist David Hidalgo, regularly recognized the world over as one of the very best guitarists working today. In addition to fronting Los Lobos, he is routinely included on the roster of Eric Clapton’s Crossroads Guitar Festivals, held bi-annually around the nation to showcase the all guitarists of note.
[Read more…]

Filed Under: travel Tagged With: , , , ,

Travel In Style

January 31, 2014 by Leave a Comment

I believe that traveling is good for the soul. The chance to explore new places, to meet new people and to experience the view from another angle offers a person the chance to grow, to improve and to create memories. Travel gives a true appreciation of other cultures, and when you are away from home you learn to appreciate the place you hang your hat. I like to think that I leave a piece of myself in every city that I visit and that I take a little bit of my journey home with me.

12 15 13 021

I have been fortunate to travel often, to see the sights, to experience the thrill of the unknown and to develop an appreciation of exceptional accommodations. I enjoy seeing the personality of the decorator shine through in different hotel rooms, bed and breakfasts, and inns. Attention to detail with my comfort in mind places these amazing and stylish people that can make a hotel room seem better than home at the top of my list of things to applaud when I am on the road.

cancun-timetoplay 031

While I have spent many nights in a hotel, among the most memorable nights in my adventures I have had the privilege of staying in was a hotel that was in a building that was once a bank. The hotel was unique, cozy, and it will forever stand out in my memory of being the perfect blend of luxury accommodations with a hint of the rustic style of the Wild West.  The bathroom was amazing. The vanity was made a rich dark wood, the mirrors were strategically placed and the lighting was perfect. The jacuzzi was nothing short of heavenly.
[Read more…]

Filed Under: lifestyle Tagged With:

Turks and Caicos – Get Away From It All

January 30, 2014 by 6 Comments

Feeling the chill of winter?  Warm up with a trip to Turks and Caicos. Warm weather and good food await-and it’s not a long flight, either.

A great way to start our trip, The Conch Farm is both beautiful and educational. With conch being such a huge part of the island (a major food, source of many festivals, it was even on the flag) making sure that it is sustainable is vital. Located on the island’s eastern end, and first created (and still used as) a research facility, this is the only spot in the world that conch is commercially produced and grown.

turks and caicos

According to the farm, it “exports much of the conch you eat in the Florida Keys and Miami, (and) it’s breeding techniques could help save the conch from extinction”. With many predators (man being number one) and only a small percentage of eggs surviving to adulthood, this farm and it’s research are important to the island and to the conch in general. More then 25% of conch eggs grown to maturity at the farm, and the money made from the tours help fund research that goes into better farming, sustainability, and new techniques. Soon, completely round geodesic fish pens that will further help these and other fish from being depleted from over-fishing. This “revolutionary and state-of-the-art form of environmentally conscious commercial fish farming referred to as off-shore deep water submerged cage farming” spells good news for conch and conch lovers alike. While on the tour, you can the life cycle of the conch, shells in various parts of it’s life, breeding basins where they grow, a hatchery and laboratory, and even some fish hatcheries. You can hold tiny, growing conch, as well as meet the mascots- one male, and one female (Jerry and Sally). Yes, you can tell the difference- the male has a piston, which apparently is a delicacy.
[Read more…]

Filed Under: travel Tagged With: , , ,

Travel Toys and Tips

January 30, 2014 by Leave a Comment

 

Taking your child(ren) on a trip, but worrying about how to keep them quiet on the plane or in the car?

You are not alone.  Many parents have the same concern.  Check out some of these great travel toys and products (and don’t forget to space them out- save some for when boredom hits so you look like the well-planning hero!)

B kids ABC Touch Pad

Learn ABCs, 123s, and more the fun way with this super interactive light and sounds touch pad. Teaches simple A,B,C, 1,2,3, colors and shapes. Includes three modes: learning, game and music.

For younger tots who want to feel like a big kid, this is a good “first” tablet type toy for them. With no delicate screen or electronics that will be damaged by getting chewed on or slapped around a little bit, this lightweight and colorful toy will keep your little ones attention. It will help baby learn letters and shapes, develop motor skills and hand eye coordination, and plays music depending on what setting it is on. Note- does not allow you to plug in headphones.$14.99. (https://shop.bkidsfun.com/product/abc-touch-pad/)

 Nenuco Travel with Me

My Little Nenuco Travel with Me

She loves to go for a ride! Take her with you in her own special car seat. Buckle her up and keep her safe. She loves to keep you company wherever you go.

This adorable doll lets your child care for her just like mommy does. Buckle dolly into her carseat, which keeps baby “safe” with Velcro, as well as instructions on how to secure the baby’s carseat into your car (modify this if you are taking a plane). This can encourage kids to stay safe inside their own seat (to set a good example for “their” baby), and to take good care of their baby by feeding it and changing it (helpful hints to remind your child of if they get fidgety).

$19.99. (http://www.nenucofamosa.com/us/).

My First Green Toys Rattle Keys-Unlock the door to safe, eco-friendly teething for your baby with the My First Green Toys Rattle Keys. Made in the USA from food-safe, 100% recycled plastic milk jugs that save energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the four colorful pieces swing freely on the lightweight ring, allowing little ones to easily grasp, shake, and explore different shapes, colors, and textures. Recommended for ages 0 month and up. $7.99 at greentoys.com

When you are taking a trip, why not let even the smallest member of the family feel like they are “helping” move things along? Babies chew on anything- may as well make sure it is as safe as can be when you hand it over. When they aren’t gnawing on this toy, they can use the “keys” to take them where they want to go. The colorful pieces and easy to hold ring are not easily dropped- but since they are going to be held by a small child, you may want to consider a Velcro strap or set of rings to hold them onto his or her seat or diaper bag.

The Tidy Table Tray + Flexi Diner by Bambinos make meal time easier when you’re on-the-go withthe first of its kind new portable table tray. Offering a large eating space and rounded rims to keep spills off the table, it’s easy to use and attaches to most tables via a rubber coated clip, keeping it securely locked in place. It is also BPA free, phthalate free and dishwasher safe. The Tidy Table Tray + Flexi-Diner features an easy on/off insert which can easily turn meal time into play time at anytime!

This is easy to use and clean, and snaps apart and back together easily. Use for meal or snacktime, then just rinse or wipe off (depending on where you are) and pack it up. Great for home and hotel use as well as taking with you to restaurants and to family and friends homes. This is a great all in one, all purpose eating area for small children that even has a sippy cup holder. Bonus? Use it to let kids draw and create art on without having paper and crayons get all over the floor (keep it contained!) It clips to nearly every table and table type surface I have tried it on. (Yes, the plane too!)

$39.99 at www.bambinoschild.com or TARGET stores.

 journeyBee Black.jpeg

JourneyBee

The newest, innovative must-have travel crib for parents on the go from ParentLab.  This innovative new travel crib literally opens and closes in seconds and weighs just over ten pounds plus it provides a safe, comfortable place for babies to rest and play all day long.

There are plenty of travel cribs out there, but the journeyBee cribs from ParentLab are the first we’ve seen that are actually light and flexible enough to satisfy the portable-crib needs of families who are always on the move. Weighing in at just 10 pounds and easy to carry on your back, you’ll need only one trip to move the crib from home to car or vice versa. And they’re sturdy enough for road trips, hotels, camping, outdoor play, or bringing along to friends’ and family’s homes for easy nap- or playtime. A breeze to set up, recommended for 0-18 months. If you’re looking for something a little more petite and you’re not in a hurry, the company is planning to release a bassinet version that weighs only 4.3 lbs and folds up smaller than most purses. $169. ParentLab.com.
[Read more…]

Filed Under: review Tagged With: , , , , ,

Fun in Philly- Celebrate the Year of the Horse

January 27, 2014 by 4 Comments

 

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).
[Read more…]

Filed Under: travel Tagged With: , ,

Planning a trip through the Highlands of Scotland

January 24, 2014 by Leave a Comment

There are many destinations within the UK that make great holiday destinations, but none are greater than the Scottish Highlands. Rolling hills, a rich cultural history and a diverse range of activities on offer make it not only one of the greatest destinations in the UK, but also the wider world.

pic 1

There’s no better way to see Scotland than by car. The roads are in fantastic condition and many of them are thrilling driving roots snaking through the untouched and awe-inspiring country side. The country will also be opened up to you on the road meaning you can see vast quantities of the country within a reasonably short space of time.

Plan your trip around a central theme

When looking to explore an entire country, it’s important to have a focus around which you plan the journey. There are plenty of ways to do this in Scotland though one of the most popular is taking a tour around the world-famous distilleries.
[Read more…]

Filed Under: lifestyle Tagged With: , ,