Pennsylvania and Beyond

Trump International Hotel & Tower Toronto® to Open Doors Jan. 31, 2012

2012-01-29T00:24:00.000-05:00

Trump International Hotel & Tower Toronto® to Open Hotel Doors on January 31, 2012

What: Trump International Hotel & Tower Toronto® is pleased to welcome its first hotel guests on January 31, 2012. A special introductory rate of $395 CAD is available through April 30, 2012. Guests will find an extraordinary and sophisticated hotel experience in the heart of the entertainment and financial districts. Developed by Talon International Development Inc., and operated by TRUMP HOTEL COLLECTION™, Trump Toronto promises to be one of the city’s premier luxury destinations.

When: January 31, 2012 marks the official opening of Trump Toronto.

Where: Trump International Hotel & Tower Toronto®
325 Bay Street
Toronto, Ontario
T: 416.306.5800
T: 855.88.TRUMP (87867)

About: Crowned by an articulated spire 900-feet above the Toronto’s financial and entertainment districts, luxurious accommodations, exclusive amenities and the signature services of Trump Attaché™ unite along the city’s unmistakable skyline. Located at the corner of Bay and Adelaide, Trump Toronto places guests in the heart of Canada’s most cosmopolitan city. At 65 stories, Trump Toronto will hold the title of Canada’s tallest residential building and second tallest structure overall. Its stone, steel and glass façade will serve as a beacon on the Toronto skyline and will deliver a superior level of modern convenience including two floors of spectacular meeting and event facilities.

Staying true to Trump’s unmatched reputation for excellence, every aspect of the tower at the Toronto hotel has been designed to showcase stunning views of Toronto’s skyline, and each of the 261 hotel rooms and suites are exquisitely furnished in elegant, cosmopolitan style. The spectacularly designed lobby features high-speed elevators and the sophisticated SUITS™ Lobby Lounge. Located on the 31st floor, the vibrant signature restaurant, STOCK™ Restaurant & Bar, will serve its in-room menu beginning January 31, 2012, while daily breakfast, lunch and dinner service will begin shortly thereafter.

Further distinguishing this icon of opulence from other hotels in Toronto are two levels devoted to Toronto’s most luxurious spa and wellness facility. Quartz Crystal Spa™ will begin catering to discriminating guests soon after the hotel opening and will offer: an impressive array of signature treatments and therapies based on the healing properties of quartz mineral; a fully-equipped fitness centre with state of the art equipment; a movement studio; an indoor, heated, salt-water infinity lap pool and Spa Concierges to guide each guest through the experience.

For room and event reservations at Trump International Hotel & Tower Toronto, call 416.306.5800, 855.88.TRUMP (87867) or visit http://www.trumptorontohotel.com/. For residential condominium sales information, call 416.214.2800 or visit http://www.trumptoronto.ca/.

Launched in October 2007, TRUMP HOTEL COLLECTION™ is the next generation of luxury hospitality – one that is raising the bar in the top-tier travel experience with a level of customized service unrivaled in the market today. Presided over by Donald J. Trump and his three grown children – Donald Jr., Ivanka and Eric – the prestigious portfolio includes the highly acclaimed Trump International Hotel & Tower® New York, Trump International Hotel & Tower® Chicago, Trump International Hotel™ Las Vegas, Trump International Hotel™ Waikiki Beach Walk®, Trump SoHo® New York and the newly opened Trump Ocean Club® International Hotel & Tower Panama. Joining TRUMP HOTEL COLLECTION on Jan. 31, 2012 will be Trump International Hotel & Tower Toronto®. Reservations can be made at www.TRUMPHOTELCOLLECTION.com or by calling (855) TRUMP-00 (878-6700). TRUMP HOTEL COLLECTION is headquartered at Trump Tower, 725 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10022.

The Windy City

2012-01-29T00:19:00.001-05:00

Thanks to Wm Rowe

I was elated when my boss offered me a promotion yesterday. I had an idea that he had plans for me to move up in the company, but I didn’t know it would be this soon. I have worked there for three years, but have only been in my managerial position for six months. The promotion means a big pay raise, and a move to Chicago. One of my best friends from high school lives there with her husband, so it should be an easy transition. She has always told me that I can stay with them while I look for a place, which will be convenient. I’ll also have her to show me around town and let me know where I should live. It’s always easier to learn about a city when you have a local as your tour guide. I hope I can find a good deal on an apartment that will let me put a satellite dish up so I can get directtv chicago. I’m sure there will be plenty of choices in a city that big. I can’t wait to get to the Windy City!

Westlake Village Inn celebrates the Single Life with $100 savings for Valentines' Day

2012-01-27T21:09:00.004-05:00

Just an hour’s drive from Los Angeles, the hidden gem of Westlake Village Inn offers a serene and elegant setting for a weekend escape. The enclave of Westlake Village is celeb-laden, and some might even call it “Kardashian Kountry” – with the trio’s Dash boutique 15 min away in Calabasas.

Behind ornate iron gates, 17 lush and beautifully manicured acres offer botanical gardens, rose arbors, meandering streams, waterfalls, and a private lake. Guest rooms and suites are full of charm and square footage, and the property’s amenities, including a full restaurant and hopping martini bar overlooking the lake make for a perfect girls’ escape to celebrate “Friendlentines’ Day.”
All the Single Ladies

No fellas, no problems! Gal pals are encouraged to ditch the boys and paint the town red with this holiday slumber party package that includes the following:

* One night’s accommodations in a spacious Mini-Suite
* VIP entrance into Bogies’ Lounge, the hotel’s popular nightclub, featuring live music and dancing
* Two complimentary signature Bogies’ Valentine Martinis

The Single Ladies package is priced at $199 based on double occupancy, and represents a savings of nearly $100 per suite. Reserve by calling 818.889.0230 or visiting http://www.westlakevillageinn.com/

The above packages are available Feb. 1-29, 2012, require reservations and are subject to availability.
Coupled up? There’s a package for that as well:

Inn Love

The elegance and sophistication of classic old Italian romance sparkles with “Inn Love,” an evening that sings of amore. “Inn Love” includes:

One night’s accommodations in a Mini-Suite

* Chilled Veuve Clicquot en suite upon arrival
* A customized floral bouquet
* See’s Chocolates
* Swedish Couples’ Massage, either set en suite, poolside or in a tranquil treatment room
* Prime lakeside dinner reservations at Mediterraneo restaurant, with a complimentary dessert presented with each entrée
* Two signature Valentine Martini’s in Bogies’ Lounge, featuring live musical performances and dancing

Priced at $595 per night, “Inn Love” requires reservations, is subject to availability. Reserve by calling 818.889.0230 or visiting www.westlakevillageinn.com.

The Element Hotel by Westin in New York Times Square - New York City

2012-01-25T08:00:00.001-05:00

A few weeks ago my husband and I took a mini-trip up to New York City, New York and we stayed in the "posh" hotel called "Element" by the Westin hotel chain. This beautiful hotel is eco-friendly and located just west of New York Times Square. It is a fabulous hotel located near Times Square so if you are planning a trip to New York City...we highly recommend this place!The hotel has 40 floors with 10 rooms per floor. There is a beautiful front lobby where you can grab a free breakfast every morning and every evening they serve some beverages and snacks in the lobby which are also free. This is a rare thing for New York City hotels and definitely a big PLUS with this one!

From the time we walked in the door and until the time we walked out...the entire hotel staff was very friendly and courteous! Every time we saw a staff member they greeted us and said hello. I love that about this hotel!Our room was on the 30th floor and we had a great view of the Empire State Building outside our hotel room window. We loved looking at that building at night when it's all lit up and had the perfect view of it.Our room was spacious (by New York City standards) and very clean! The bathroom was nice and large and we loved the large shower with glass doors. You don't need to bring any shower gels or shampoos with you because they are in pump dispensers right inside your shower stall. Hubby loved the eco-friendly bathroom fixtures and I loved the big mirrors!
Our room had a full-size stainless steel refrigerator/freezer, stainless steel dishwasher, microwave oven, 2 burner range top, sink and all the dishes, cooking utensils, etc. that you would need if you wanted to prepare a meal.

The sleeping area had a large king-sized comfortable bed, flat-panel tv, a desk with ergonomic desk chair, a nice closet to store your clothing and the lighting in this room was just perfect. We also appreciated that our room had free wii-fi so we were able to hook up to the internet really easily.If I had to rate this hotel on a scale of 1-10...I would give it 9 1/2 stars. I only deducted a 1/2 star because the elevator "dinging" was quite loud and we could hear the "dinging" all day/night long...but after a few hours you did get used to hearing it. Other than that...we would definately stay here again when visiting New York City!

Thanks for having us Element in New York Times Square! We would also like to thank the great folks over at Pretzel Crisps who sponsored our trip up to New York City (we were brand ambassadors for Pretzel Crisps). We had a wonderful time & we will be back again some day soon!

Calabash Cove a Romantic Saint Lucia Hideaway

2012-01-19T11:00:00.001-05:00

Calabash Cove Partners with Online Registry to Make Honeymoon Dreams Come True Newlyweds Can Now Register at HoneymoonWishes.com for their Getaway and Special Experiences at Romantic Saint Lucia Hideaway

St. Lucia, West Indies --- Sure, toasters and towels are great. But why not register for something you’ll really enjoy after the wedding: an unforgettable honeymoon at Calabash Cove Resort & Spa, a romantic seaside retreat on the idyllic island of Saint Lucia?

Calabash Cove is now a partner resort on Honeymoonwishes.com, the leading online honeymoon registry provider. Couples can visit Calabash Cove’s website and link to http://calabashcove.honeymoonwishes.com/, where they can register for resort credits and a host of romantic amenities and adventures during their stay, such as a couples massage, sunset cruise, private dinner on the beach, and snorkeling, horseback-riding and rainforest zipline excursions. All gifts and credits can be purchased on the site by friends and family members and transferred directly to the resort for the couple to use and enjoy hassle-free once they arrive.

Calabash Cove managing director, Konrad Wagner, said he anticipates the Honeymoonwishes.com registry to be particularly popular with established couples who already have their household basics covered. “What these couples want is time with each other in a peaceful, romantic setting and once-in-a-lifetime experiences here they will treasure always,” he said.
Couples can also use their Calabash Cove registry site on Honeymoonwishes.com to create a complimentary website, blog and photo album with photos from their wedding and honeymoon. The link is a personal URL created for each couple. Wagner expects the online photo album option to get a lot of use from newlyweds who want to share the views from their honeymoon hideaway at Calabash Cove, with its stunning ocean vistas and exotic natural surroundings and unique, luxurious accommodations.

In addition to the Honeymoonwishes.com registry, Calabash Cove also offers a separate gift service available for guests who may not have registered. “The resort’s gift service is a great way to surprise guests, whether they are here on their honeymoon or celebrating another landmark occasion, with a special gift during their stay.” For more information about the resort’s gift service, visit http://www.calabashcove.com/gifts.htm.

To make reservations at Calabash Cove Resort & Spa, contact your preferred travel agent or e-mail reservations@calabashcove.com or Tammy@LMPInternational.com. Visit Calabash Cove’s website or its Facebook or Twitter pages.

Express Scripts and Walgreens Dispute - How Walgreens is Helping

2012-01-18T16:01:00.002-05:00

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Walgreens for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

Late last year the great folks over at Walgreens tried to negotiate with Express Scripts a new contract but those negotiations failed. As of January 1st, 2012, customers of Walgreens that use Express Scripts have been forced to go elsewhere to get their prescriptions filled. Often times this means commutes across town, to another town or a delay in customers getting the prescriptions that they need. Shame on Express Scripts!

Walgreens has decided to do something about this and they have a Prescription Savings Club at Walgreens that Express Scripts customers can use. For only $10 a year for family coverage or for $5.00 a year for individual coverage, customers can get discounts at Walgreens for their prescription medications, pet medications, diabetic supplies, breathing supplies and more! This discount prescription club participates with over 8,000 name brand and generic medications! Wow, what a great deal and thank you Walgreens for stepping up to the plate to help ease this unfortunate situation for Express Scripts customers.

As someone who is chronically ill, I know what a pain in the butt it is to drive across town to another pharmacy to get a medication I need and when I have had to do that, there is often a delay in me getting it. Just not a good situation at all.

Unlike Express Scripts, the great folks over at Walgreens really appreciate and value their pharmacy customers and they are doing their best to help out and ease this unfortunate burden that Express Scripts has forced on their clients/customers.

I would like to invite you to follow Walgreens on Facebook and Walgreens on Twitter so that you are kept up-to-date on what is going on with this situation. In addition, give a big "shout out" of support to the great folks over there at Walgreens!

Thank you Walgreens for caring about your customers!

The New York Times Building in New York City

2012-01-17T18:00:00.002-05:00

Last week my husband and I took a trip up to New York City and had a wonderful time. During this trip I was a Brand Ambassador for the great folks over at Pretzel Crisps so we got to see and do a lot of great things!

Our hotel (blog post coming about the hotel) was only 2 short blocks away from The New York Times building and we had a great time checking out that "famous" New York City landmark. This building is a lot larger than what I thought it would be and at night when all of the lights were on it was simply beautiful to look at!If you are taking a trip up to New York City we recommend that you take a little hike over to The New York Times building and check it out for yourselves...it is really big! There are several nice places to eat at and numerous little stores to shop at while you are checking out the building.

If you are looking for a Taxi Cab...look no further as there are hundreds of Taxi's swarming this area and you can get one within a few seconds! We had a great time in this part of the city and you will too!

The Luxurious Bahama Beach Club Welcomes Families This Spring Break with Private Accommodations

2012-01-12T20:03:00.001-05:00

Families can celebrate spring at the Bahama Beach Club with bonfires, fireworks and snorkeling in 80-degree waters during the resort’s Warm Winter Savings promotion.

Great Abaco Island, Bahamas — This will get your kids excited about spring break: How about spending a vacation snorkeling alongside colorful tropical fish or diving through the Caribbean’s majestic underwater caves? Top off the day with a bonfire and a Bahamas-style beach BBQ and your kids might say this is the best spring break they have ever had.

The luxurious Bahama Beach Club is inviting families to celebrate their spring breaks with the club’s special Warm Winter Savings that includes stay three nights and get the fourth night complimentary. Rates for a two-bedroom, two-bath villa start at $300 and rates for a four-bedroom, four-bath villa start at $700. Prices include daily housekeeping services, cable TV, air conditioning, and unlimited in-room long distance calling to the United States and Canada, and high-speed wireless Internet. Bahama Beach Club also offers all-inclusive meal plans.

Parents can unwind with a couples massage done in the privacy of their own villa or on the beach while the kids enjoy swimming in the resort’s pools. Parents can even organize a “family day” where they and the kids rent a boat and go deep-sea fishing getting up close and personal with big-game fish like tarpon, wahoo, sailfish and blue marlin.

Adventurous-spirited families will love the area’s diving, which is considered some of the best in the world off the Abaco Great Barrier Reef that includes miles of coral reefs and underwater caverns. There is also snorkeling nearby in the 80-degree waters of the Caribbean where the visibility is crystalline and coral reefs go on for miles, and rainbow-colored parrot fish can be spotted.

The Bahama Beach Club is an ideal location for families. Its beachfront local gives parents and kids easy proximity to National Geographic’s “Top 10 Beaches in the World.” Guests at the club can also enjoy access to Treasure Cay’s 150-slip marina, championship 18-hole golf course, tennis courts, and the Tipsy Seagull Bar, open nightly. The club has several family-style activities such as fireworks, bonfires and island golf cart races, and has cars, golf carts and bicycles available for rental. Families can also rent their own boat or take a scheduled ferry boat to New Plymouth on Green Turtle Cay or to Hopetown on Elbow Cay.

Defined by British Colonial elegance, families stay in spacious beachfront villas individually decorated with colorful fabrics and rattan furnishings along with grand master suites, private balconies, fully-equipped kitchens, living rooms and ocean views. Families also get the convenience, services and amenities of a luxury resort where the Bahama Beach Club’s staff caters to all guests’ needs. The resort’s concierge can pre-stock kitchens with groceries or arrange for a chef to prepare a gourmet meal in your villa, including a Bahamas-style breakfast.

On- and off-site amenities at the Bahama Beach Club include:

• 3.5 mile powder-white beach voted “The Best Beach in the Caribbean”;
• Two fresh water swimming pools and swim-up bar;
• Pampering concierge services, including custom-arranged activities, from an island excursion such as diving, snorkeling or fishing to a beachfront family barbeque or private massage and spa treatment;
• New chef-driven fine dining restaurant
• Casual beachfront bar and grill;
• Grocery shopping;
• Duty-free shopping;
• Two oceanfront Jacuzzis; and
• Close proximity to the famous Treasure Cay Resort, with a championship 18-hole golf course, tennis courts, 150-slip marina and the Tipsy Seagull Bar open every night for dancing and cocktails.

The Bahama Beach Club is located on charming Great Abaco Island, which is part of the Abacos, a chain of 100 or so tropical isles known for their soft sands, jewel-toned waters and a laid-back, friendly atmosphere. The resort is only an hour’s flight from Miami and is conveniently located close to two international airports: seven miles from the Treasure Cay Airport (TCB) and some 21 miles from the Marsh Harbour Airport (MHH).

For more information about the Bahama Beach Club, visit http://www.bahamabeachclub.com/, in the Bahamas call 242-365-8500 or from U.S and Canada call toll free (800) 284-0382.

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Looking for the Perfect Honeymoon Spot?

2012-01-10T14:35:00.001-05:00

My daughter has been talking about getting married in the next few years so she has been looking around for beautiful honeymoon spots and found this luscious all inclusive resort in Fiji! Oh my goodness, the photos are spectacular and the immunities are amazing. This spot has to be the most beautiful place around and what a wonderful place for an awesome Fiji honeymoon.

Since romance is on the top of the list for my daughter and really, any bride, how can she not be drawn to the gorgeous resort that is geared to honeymoons, weddings and wonderful vacations in an amazingly beautiful place on earth? The resort is right on the beach with such sparkling blue water. So clean and crisp looking! What a perfect place to scuba dive and see the wonderful sea life.

The beaches look awesome and the activity list is long with plenty to keep you busy or you can opt for a lovely couples massage and relax by the pool. They even have gorgeous places for your own Fiji weddings should you want to hold your wedding at the resort. The place looks simply amazing.

My daughter is seriously considering holding her wedding at this amazing spot in Fiji and then staying on for a lovely honeymoon to kick off her new life with her new husband. What an amazing experience that would be! I think that it would be a wonderful vacation for my hubby and I to attend her wedding there and then send some of our own private time together in a gorgeous sea side resort.

6 Frugal Foreign Travel Tips for Baby Boomer Ladies

2012-01-06T19:48:00.002-05:00

The obviously American gentleman was eating dinner while reading at a cozy French restaurant, but I just had to interrupt with a somewhat rude question: "Why do so few older men travel alone in Europe?"

I'd been on the road for two months, touring the world as a travel writer, and this was the first American male I'd seen flying solo. He responded with just one word: "Fear." I thanked him and went on my merry way, only realizing later I hadn't asked, "Fear of what?"

The flat fact, however, is that older women are more comfortable traveling to foreign countries without a partner or tour group. You see them sitting in cafés, diligently scribbling in their journals and taking in the passing scene with genuine smiles. I formed easy friendships with many of these women everywhere from Abu Dhabi to Krakow, and learned quite a few frugal foreign-travel tips, which I'm delighted to pass on to men and women alike.

1. Hostels
I can't stress strongly enough how much cheaper and more enjoyable it is to stay in a hostel. Other overnight residences are not only more expensive, they tend to segregate you from the reality of a city or region. Hostels throw you right into the mix, which nowadays includes travelers of all ages -- not just the young.

Hostels usually provide breakfast, the heftier ones yielding leftovers from which you can use for lunch. Free Wi-Fi access and front-desk workers who can point you to unique sites worth seeing round out the many benefits of staying in a hostel.

To make reservations before you leave or while you're on the road, Lonely Planet and Hostel World allow you to search by location, price and type of hostel, with photos and a description of the accommodations.

2. Food
Shopping local markets is a great way to interact with residents, learn about new foods, and how to prepare them. It's amazing how easy it is to converse about food when you don't share a common language.

You'll want several Ziplock bags of varying sizes to store bread and dry foodstuffs. In France, I'd make a to-die-for baguette sandwich with any of their hundreds of cheeses, then stuff it into a large bag for train travel.

A couple extra tips: If you're heading to Spain, I found a cheap and delicious dinner of tapas came free with sangria orders placed during "happy hour." Most stores in Arab countries will offer you a cup of coffee just for stepping across their threshold, should you need a caffeine jolt while shopping.

3. Guide Books
Thanks to online guides, there's no need to fill your luggage with heavy books. I printed out the pages I needed and created a list of vital foreign words I'd need, like "please," "thank you" and "How much does this cost?" Omniglot has an easy-to-use website that will get you started.

Lonely Planet has some great PDF guides and you can buy them by the chapter (roughly $5 each). ArrivalGuides.com and Hostel World offer free online guides, but they're not as comprehensive and the selection is limited.

If computers aren't your thing, buy a bound guidebook, read it, and cut out only the pages you'll need.

4. Trains
Boy do I love train travel. It's cheaper than renting a car or flying, helps you meet new people, and usually drops you off close to the action in major cities. The trick, if you're traveling to a rural destination, is to know the stops before your destination so you can be ready to hop off at a moment's notice.

Another couple handy phrases you should learn in each language are "How much does a ticket cost?" and "From which platform does the train depart?"

It's best to buy your Eurail train passes before leaving as it's cheaper in the United States. My pass ran out once, however, and Eurail provided free shipping on the second one.

5. Money
Rule number one: Never, never, never exchange money at the airport. You'll pay the highest rate possible. Instead, look for an airport ATM and take out the maximum amount (usually around $200). You'll pay a fee, but not nearly as high as the airport exchange rate.

Rule two: If you're going to travel a bit upscale, buy gift cards at a discount from sites like GiftCardGranny to purchase American services found in foreign countries. This might include airlines, hotels or car rental agencies for which you can realize up to 25-percent savings.

6. Plastic Safety
Notify all credit card companies you plan on traveling outside the U.S. so they won't place a hold on your account for unusual activity.

Finally, note your credit/debit card numbers and foreign contact phone numbers and keep this info in a safe place, separate from the cards. I stored mine in my email account with a bogus "subject" line. You might need this info should your plastic be stolen or problems arise.

That's about it, except I highly recommend you keep a journal. Traveling alone is lonely at times and writing out your thoughts and experiences helps fill in some gaps. As a bonus, you'll have a personal record of your adventures.

Happy trails!

Kate Forgach is a Baby Boomer consumer specialist for Kinoli Inc. She has written about senior issues for 11 years and has been featured in USA Today, Detroit News, New Orleans Times-Picayune, New Yorker magazine, "ABC World News," NBC's "TODAY" show and many other media outlets.

Planning Day Trips and Family Picnics

2012-01-05T15:20:00.006-05:00

My husband and I love planning day trips around our great state of Pennsylvania and many of the day trips we plan include picnic lunches for the family. With that said...you do need to plan ahead if you are planning a day trip for you and your family.

The first thing you want to do is purchase some items you will need for your picnic and that includes shopping for picnic baskets. You can find hundreds and hundreds of different styled picnic baskets in a variety of styles and sizes to suit your own family's needs. We actually own 2 baskets...one which we call the "couples" picnic basket and one which we call the "family" picnic basket, so depending on what type of day trip we planned will decide on which picnic basket we pack up and take with us.

The next thing you need to do is decide on what type of foods and beverages you want to take along for your picnic. Make a list of those items and hit your local store the day before to purchase them along with the other products you might need. (plates, bowls, cups, napkins, plasticware, etc.). If you are going to take wine along on the picnic you will need to purchase a wine bag to keep it safe and secure. It is also a good idea to pack a first-aid kit, blanket to sit on, some insect repellant, suntan lotion, maps, emergency money, umbrellas, etc. You will want to gas up the car and pack up your picnic basket the day/evening before because no-one likes rushing around in the morning the day of your trip.

Our family has been enjoying day trips and family picnics for the past 20 years and we plan about 6 of them every year. We all look forward to it and it is a great way to "bond" together as a family and make lasting memories for years to come.

Do you and your family enjoy taking day trips? Do you all plan family picnics? If so, I would love for you to leave some ideas and tips for us in the comment form below here on our blog. Thanks!

Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post and I was compensated by the advertiser to write this post. I was provided with the subject matter to write about but our thoughts, opinions and words are 100% mine. All information contained on this blog is copyright 2012, All Rights Reserved.

Motorhome or Trailer | Tips on How To Choose the Best One for Your Needs

2011-12-29T05:56:00.001-05:00

Motorhome or Trailer by Bettye Whitten

Motorhome or Trailer that is the question for you. Here are some of the advantages and disadvantages of both, so you will be confident when purchasing an RV. When comparing Rvs, a motorhome or a travel trailer, should you buy a motorhome or fifth wheeler? The advantages and disadvantages of both are studied so that you can make your choice wisely when purchasing an RV. Possessing a motorhome or fifth wheel is an achievement of a lifetime. It can be similar to sojourning with your residence as you search the various sites of our great land, America.

The two commonly known recreational vehicle classes are the motorized and towable. Towable rvs are the travel trailers and the fifth wheel. The rv travel trailer or fifth wheel has the attraction of getting towed by a pickup or a car, thus giving the adaptability of possessing transportation for you when you are parked at your campsite.

A motorhome is a recreational vehicle that is motorized. It has three categories which can either be gas, diesel or Diesel Pushers which are the most costly ones. Converted vans that are large and self-sustaining represent the smaller types of motorhomes and then there are the ones that are built on the chassis of a truck.. The motorized motor home needs a tow car for your transportation after you set up in your campsite.

Rvs are styled to your specifications for the best appearance and luxuries you anticipate when possessing an rv. High standard artisanship, venues for entertainment, and keenness to small bits of information can be applied into an rv bearing in mind that each and every amenity comes with a price tag.

A travel trailer or fifth wheel is larger inside than a motorhome of the same size because of the driving area, i.e. a 40 foot trailer or fifth wheel has more livable space than a 40 foot motorhome. Towing a trailer with a car puts a lot of wear and tear on the automobile because they are usually not equipped for heavy duty towing.

The motor home is definitely more money because you are paying for the driving mechanism and chassis. Trailers and motorhomes can be equipped with the same options. So the question seems to be do I want to travel in a truck pulling a large fifth wheel or ride in a motorhome pulling a tow car.

One thing is certain if you talk to a motorhome owner he will tell you that you should definitely purchase a motorhome and the same goes for a travel trailer or fifth wheel owner, he thinks the trailer is the only way to go. No matter what you choose the experiences are out of this world.

Rving and Camping covers what you need to know about exciting places and recreational vehicles. We have been rvers for 50 years. Now full time. email support@rvingandcamping. com http://www.rvingandcamping.com/ ~ Bettye Whitten

Article Source: WAHM Articles

Started Researching

2011-12-29T00:49:00.002-05:00

Guest post written by my buddy Royce Heath

I started researching Pennslvania home security when I first got into this business because I think it’s important to know everything about buying a house. I wanted my clients to feel like they could come to me if they had questions about anything at all and that’s sort of the reputation I’ve developed for myself around here which I think has been really good for my career. I love being in the real estate business and though it’s a tough time right now for people like me I don’t mind. I’ve been able to weather the storm relatively well and to be honest, I’ve been working so hard the last 8 years I don’t even mind having a little bit of time off! It’s relaxing not to have to show houses each and every weekend and I know my clients appreciate having more of my attention, too. There’s something to be said for being refreshed and not stretched too thin and that’s what I’m aiming for here at my new and improved real estate office.

Brought To You By Our Friends at HomeSecurityFamily.com

CAYMANIAN RESORT ANNOUNCES DISCOUNTED RATES FOR CAYMAN EVENTS

2011-12-26T07:26:00.004-05:00

Come for Warm Island Hospitality on Grand Cayman, Stay for Inaugural Foodie Event

GRAND CAYMAN, CAYMAN ISLANDS – To promote Cayman Culinary Month, a celebration and exploration of local cuisine, in January and February 2012, Cotton Tree is pleased to offer 15% off the first three nights of any stay at Cotton Tree during the period from January 3, thru February 15, 2012.

Cotton Tree, the Cayman Islands’ first cottage resort to boast authentic Caymanian character, bungalow charm and luxurious modern conveniences envelops guests in the warm comforts of traditional Caribbean hospitality, while offering them ideal proximity to the best of a world-class port-of-call.

New to the menu this year is Slow Food Day. Launching February 4, 2012, this inaugural event—a joint sponsorship between Michael’s Genuine Food & Drink, Slow Food South Sound, and Cayman Islands Agricultural Society among others—is dedicated to raising awareness for Grand Cayman’s own food producers and for the island’s notable leap up the food chain as an elite destination for jet-setting gourmands.

Slow Food Day will culminate with a farm-to-table dinner hosted at Michael Genuine’s Food & Drink, featuring guest chef Jonathan Waxman.

Indulgences extend at Cotton Tree, where plantation-era elegancy defines the resort’s scattering of exquisitely appointed, pastel-hued beachfront cottages fashioned to reflect authentic Grand Cayman. Surrounded by lush gardens and fruit trees, and located just steps from the island’s celebrated white-sand shorelines, the breezy boutique property proffers a private, secluded hideaway.

Resort amenities include upscale accommodation in a Caymanian-inspired beach cottage, each featuring comfortable living spaces, spa bathrooms, fully equipped kitchens, plasma TVs, and complimentary Wi-Fi, local calls, and housekeeping services every day excluding Sunday; a pre-stocked selection of regular and decaffeinated coffee, bottled water, tea, milk, sugar, orange juice, and assorted cereals;   access to and the use of a swimming pool; fitness center, a media library of books, music and DVDs; recreational activities including water sports, hiking, biking, and bird-watching; cultural diversions, on-site art and culinary classes; and   one-way airport transfers. Concierge services are also available to guests seeking to customize a personalized vacation, as are sommelier services.

Discounted rates, valid January and February 2012, require a three-night stay and start US $715 excluding government tax of 10%. Get the latest updates on Slow Food Day, and its chefs and farmers, by following Michael’s Genuine Food & Drink on Facebook and Twitter @MGFD_GCM with hash tag #SFD12. http://www.caymancottontree.com/

About Cotton Tree:
The Cayman Islands’ new luxury hideaway, Cotton Tree, on the northernmost point of Grand Cayman (just 10 minutes from the famed Seven Mile Beach), beautifully evokes the spirit of the Cayman Islands with its pastel-hued, plantation-style cottages just steps from the Caribbean Sea and lush garden setting of tropical flowers and avocado, guava, mango and cotton trees for which the hotel was named. Owner Heather Lockington, a global traveler who was born in the Cayman Islands, built her dream property in West Bay, creating an authentic haven where guests could embrace Caymanian heritage. Four 1,600 square foot two-bedroom beachfront cottages resemble fully equipped houses featuring “Caribbean chic” décor, classic contemporary furnishings, French doors overlooking the sea, plasma TVs, state-of-the-art Kitchen Aid appliances, and more. Additional amenities include a freshwater swimming pool, fitness center and spa pavilions nestled among seagrape trees, perfect for a sunset massage. A personal chef can whip up gourmet meals accompanied by wines chosen by a sommelier, or Cotton Tree is a quick drive to Grand Cayman’s best restaurants. Hotel services such as a reception/concierge, bellhop, housekeeping and turndown on request are also featured.

Namale Resort & Spa in Fiji ’s Romance Package

2011-12-20T07:23:00.001-05:00

NAMALE RESORT & SPA IN FIJI OFFERS A ROMANCE PACKAGE THAT INCLUDES TWO FREE NIGHTS

New York, NY / December 2011 –Namale Resort & Spa in Fiji announces a special Holiday Romance package, offering guests the chance to stay seven nights at the 5-star resort for the price of five. Voted the Best Hotel for Romance in the South Pacific by Trip Advisor® and One of the Top 50 Most Romantic Places on Earth by Luxury Magazine, the all-inclusive resort and spa provides the idyllic backdrop for romance, unparalleled luxury and privacy.

To take advantage of this package, guests must plan to stay at Namale now through February 28, 2012. Couples can also expect extra perks upon their arrival at the resort.

Namale’s Holiday Romance Package includes two free nights in any bure or villa, plus the following amenities:

· All Meals - Full service breakfasts, 3-course lunches and 5-course dinners and snack in between each meal
· All beverages including beer, liquor, red and white wines and champagne
· Round trip transfers to and from Savusavu Airport
· Fully stocked and daily replenished mini-bar
· Daily laundry service
· Complimentary access to the Namale Fitness Centre, Kava Bowl (Indoor Entertainment Centre) & Hydrotherapy Room at the Namale Spa & Sanctuary
· Complimentary activities include freshwater pools, snorkeling, kayaking, horseback riding, golfing, volleyball, bowling, virtual golf, waterfall hikes, movie theatre and more!

Namale Resort & Spa served as The Bachelorette Ashley Hubert’s fantasy getaway in the ABC’s Television Network’s seventh season. Namale offered Ashley and her potential suitors the ultimate in romance –private villas, walks around the grounds to nearby rushing waterfalls, private dinners and luxurious spa treatments – an experience any couple can take advantage of with Namale’s Valentine’s Day package.

Offering 19 bures and villas of award-winning accommodations, along with 120 on-call staff members, Namale caters to anything their guests could ever need or want. Set on a volcanic cliff near an opaque rain forest, the Namale Fiji Spa and Sanctuary provides world-class treatments, ancient aromas, soothing rhythms and skilled therapists to guide guests on unforgettable journeys of rediscovery.

About Namale

Namale is the getaway for romance, relaxation, pampering and a spiritual renewal. Located on the edge of the Koro Sea in Savusavu, Fiji, the award-winning, five-star resort and spa has received numerous accolades, including One of the 50 Most Romantic Places on Earth by Luxury Magazine and 2010 World Travel Award as Fiji’s leading Spa Resort. The 525 acre resort and spa boasts 19 unique villas and bures, a world-class spa that merges ancient wisdoms with the knowledge of modern medical sciences and research to create a generous variety of activities.

Spend the Holidays in Your Own Private Villa at the Luxurious Bahama Beach Club

2011-12-13T09:24:00.001-05:00

Vacation with loved ones and friends on Great Abaco Island where tropical Bahama Beach Club welcomes guests for Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years

Chicago, IL – Great Abaco Island, Bahamas — Bahama Beach Club, a luxuriously intimate beachfront villa resort situated on one of National Geographic’s “Top 10 Beaches in the World” is gifting holiday revelers with a trio of festive celebrations.

Fete Thanksgiving and Christmas with five-star meals and luxurious beachfront villa accommodations, or ring in the New Year with a gourmet buffet, fireworks and entertainment. For the price of a hotel room, book a private, two- to five-bedroom villa and unwrap a host of world-class indulgences, including access to the famous Treasure Cay Resort and an array of land and sea activities.

Overlooking the sugary-soft sands of Treasure Cay Beach, the jasmine-scented setting at the Bahama Beach Club is far from the casino and cruise ship crowds of Nassau and other mega-tourist destinations. This elite oasis prides itself on providing privacy and tranquility along a stunning, palm-dotted beach ranked “The Best Beach in the Caribbean” by Caribbean Travel & Life.

Bahama Beach Club offers the privacy and convenience of fully-furnished, lavishly-serviced villas with the services and amenities of a luxury resort. Defined by British Colonial elegance, each spacious beachfront villa is individually decorated with colorful fabrics and rattan furnishings along with grand master suites, private balconies, fully-equipped kitchens, spacious living rooms and spectacular ocean views.

For the holidays, Bahama Beach Club is pulling out all the stops to gift guests with memories of a lifetime. Seasonal experiences include:

Thanksgiving
The Club-hosted Thanksgiving Day Dinner includes Roast turkey and honey-glazed baked ham with all the trimmings and desserts of the classic American feast. Cost is $35 per person plus 18% service charge. Children under 12 years are half price.

Christmas
The Christmas Day Holiday Buffet will feature fresh Bahamian seafood, , smoked salmon, roast turkey, smoked ham, barons of beef and an array gourmet treats. Cost is $35 per person, plus 18% service charge. (Children under 12 are half price.)

New Year’s Eve
The party of the year will include dining, cocktails, dancing, entertainment and fireworks, with buffet featuring beef tenderloin, coconut-crusted chicken, Bahamian grouper, desserts and more. Cost is $68 per person plus 18% service charge. (Children under 12 are half price.)

The upscale resort’s concierge can pre-stock the kitchens with groceries, arrange for a chef to prepare a gourmet meal in your villa or in a romantic pool- or seaside setting, book spa treatments done in the privacy of your villa or on the beach to the relaxing sounds of the ocean. Guests also enjoy access to Treasure Cay’s 150-slip marina, championship 18-hole golf course, tennis courts, and the Tipsy Seagull Bar, open nightly for cocktails, camaraderie and dancing.

Ideal for romantic getaways or family holiday gatherings, Bahama Beach Club is located on charming Great Abaco Island, which is part of the Abacos, a spectacular chain of about 100 tropical isles known for velvety soft sands, translucent blue waters and laid-back, family-friendly atmosphere.

Cars, golf carts, and bicycles can be rented and taxis are available at all times. Many local island restaurants provide complimentary taxi service for diners. Boats can also be rented or you can travel by scheduled ferry boats to New Plymouth on Green Turtle Cay and to Hopetown on Elbow Cay. Divers also flock here for some of the world’s best diving off the Abaco Great Barrier Reef, which includes miles of coral reefs and underwater caverns.

On- and off-site amenities at the Bahama Beach Club include:

• 3.5 mile powder-white beach voted “The Best Beach in the Caribbean”;
• Two fresh water swimming pools and swim-up bar;
• Pampering concierge services, including custom-arranged activities, from an island excursion such as diving, snorkeling or fishing to a beachfront family barbeque or private massage and spa treatment;
• New chef-driven fine dining restaurant
• Casual beachfront bar and grill;
• Grocery shopping;
• Duty-free shopping;
• Two oceanfront Jacuzzis; and
• Close proximity to the famous Treasure Cay Resort, with a championship 18-hole golf course, tennis courts, 150-slip marina and the Tipsy Seagull Bar open every night for dancing and cocktails.

The Bahama Beach Club, only an hour’s flight from Miami, is conveniently located close to two international airports: seven miles from the Treasure Cay Airport (TCB) and some 21 miles from the Marsh Harbour Airport (MHH).

Rates for a two-bedroom, two-bath villa start at $300 and rates for a four-bedroom, four-bath villa start at $700. Prices include daily housekeeping services, cable TV, air conditioning, and unlimited in-room long distance calling to the United States and Canada, and high-speed wireless Internet. Bahama Beach Club also offers all-inclusive family meal plans. For more information about the Bahama Beach Club, visit http://www.bahamabeachclub.com/, in the Bahamas call 242-365-8500 or from U.S and Canada call toll free (800) 284-0382.

Looking For A New Cell Phone This Holiday? Check Out Sprint's 3-Day Sale!

2011-12-12T22:00:00.003-05:00

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Sprint for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

Are you done with your holiday shopping yet? I know I am not done yet but trying to get done! This year my 26 yr old daughter who is a full time student at college asked us to get her a new cell phone for Christmas so we are considering an Android™ powered EVO 4G devices.

While checking for deals on cell phones we came across a fabulous deal from Sprint where you can get the new HTC EVO 4G or the EVO Shift for FREE! Not only that, you can get FREE shipping too! This is an online deal for online customers and ONLY lasts for 3 days!

Plus you can get waived activation for new lines of service too!

While looking at the information over on Sprint's web site I found out that they have an awesome program where Sprint can buyback your old cell phone (up to $250) which may get your new cell phone for you for free! This is true even if your cell phone is from a different carrier. Wow!

So this year it looks like my adult daughter will be getting a new cell phone because that deal is way too sweet to pass up!

Happy Holidays everyone!

Visiting Sydney? Check out Darling Harbour for Hotels, Accommodations and Attractions

2011-12-12T21:56:00.002-05:00

I have been looking at travel data for Sydney lately in case I need to go and help with my relatives move and I have been excited to see such wonderful accommodations that are available in Sydney. Since I won’t have too much time to spend sightseeing, I was looking for an all-inclusive area where I could get the best of the city in one area. The one that has attracted me so far is Darling Harbour.

The Darling Harbour hotels and accommodation/have plenty of selections in all price ranges and I love that it is so near so many attractions. There is so much to see and do in Darling Harbour, I know that for the short time that I will have available, I am sure to be a busy girl! Some of the attractions include the Tall Ships, Maritime Museum, Aquariums, beautiful parks and you can even grab the Light Rail to other sites.

The restaurants abound with amazing food selections and the fact that everything is right by the harbor it the best yet. I just love wandering through areas and exploring the sites in new cities and Darling Harbour seems like just the ticket. Christmastime is certianly special there too, I am sure, with the gorgeous lights on the water.

Sydney CBD near Darling Harbour is so convenient too. It is only 5 minutes away and that is a big plus for me! This will definitely be a perfect fit for me when I get into Sydney. Now I am totally jazzed about visiting my aunt and spending my bit of vacation time exploring parts of Sydney through the eyes of Darling Harbour.

Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post and I was compensated by the advertiser to write this post. I was provided with the subject matter to write about but our thoughts, opinions and words are 100% mine. All information contained on this blog is copyright 2011, All Rights Reserved.

5 Things to See in Albuquerque New Mexico

2011-12-05T08:02:00.000-05:00

5 Things to See in Albuquerque, NM
By Ronald C Baker

As a cartoon joke for many years, most people have heard of Albuquerque. But if you don't turn left and stop instead, what would you find there? More than you might think. There are so many attractions here that you will want to look into finding hotels in Albuquerque just so you can hit them all. Here are just five places you can visit:

1. Murder Mystery Dinner Event - The Spy House: This house was once where the US and Soviet Union exchanged secrets of the Atomic Bomb. Now it hosts a monthly interactive dinning experience called A Brief Case of Murder. This murder mystery gets every guest involved; everyone is given a role to play in the story and some may even have a short speaking part. It it also a B&B so you may want to stay at The Spy House or you can find an Albuquerque hotel elsewhere.

2. Rainbow Ryders: Rainbow Ryders Hot Air Balloon Company, Inc.� is truly a must see. They offer hot air balloon rides year round. You can either just sit back and watch as they inflate the balloon or you can find out, hands on, what its like to be part of the crew. After you soar over the beautiful landscape, you land to a champagne toast, a certificate, and a balloon pin to commemorate you safe flight. And be sure you are in town for the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta, where 500 balloons take flight and other festivities are held.

3. Sandia Peak Tramway: Another way to see Albuquerque from the sky, this time by a2.7 mile tram ride. The Sandia Peak Tramway takes riders 10,000 feet to the peak of the Sandia Mountains for a 11,000 square foot view of the Rio Grande Valley. Make sure you find a Albuquerque hotel to stay at so you can take the tram at sunset, when they view of the land is the most spectacular. They also have skiing in the winter as well as biking in the summer.

4. Albuquerque Biological Park: This park is made up of four great attractions: a zoo, a botanical garden, an aquarium, and a beach. Of all the attractions mentioned so far, this is the most kid friendly. The zoo holds over 200 animals and has activities where you can get up close with some of the animals. The botanical garden has over one and a half miles of pathways, along with a butterfly pavilion and Japanese garden. Head over to the aquarium to see the 285,000 gallon shark tank and other exhibits. Finally, head over to Tingley Beach to fish, rent a peddle boat, and just relax. With so much to do, you may need to look into hotels in Albuquerque just so you can see it all!

5. Explora Science Center and Children's Museum of Albuquerque: This final destination is defiantly for the kiddies. This museum is almost entirely hands on. You can build puzzles, blow giant puzzles, make mechanics, and much more. There is also a good mix of activities for kids young and old. There is also an adult night every month so grown ups can explore as well.

Looking for a great Albuquerque hotel so you can see all the great things Albuquerque has to offer? Look no further than the Barcelona Suites of Albuquerque, NM. With comfy beds, spacious rooms, and free breakfast, what more could you want? Visit http://barcelonasuitesabq.com/ for more information.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ronald_C_Baker
http://EzineArticles.com/?5-Things-to-See-in-Albuquerque,-NM&id=6445653

Vacations Are Possible When You Plan For It & Follow These Tips

2011-11-25T01:06:00.003-05:00

Vacations Are Possible When You Plan For It by Nicole Calhoun

With the spring and summer months right around the corner and summer break right on its heels, most people's thoughts turn toward vacation! My family is no different. In fact, we've been planning all of our vacation time for the past twelve months.

Our goal is to take three trips a year. Two short ones; maybe a weekend trip to another city in our state or a bordering state. And one nice, relaxing, long trip that we have to pack our bags and head for the airport for that lasts seven to ten indulgent days!

For example, about the time our son's April birthday rolls around, we plan a weekend trip somewhere in our state. His favorite is always San Antonio because he likes to visit the theme parks and gorgeous Riverwalk that they have there. Since we live in Dallas, it's less than a four hour drive; and it's usually the precursor to kicking off our year of getting away.

This year, the longer trip will be in the summertime, a week after school is out. We are planning a vacation to Florida to visit Walt Disney World. We will be gone for ten glorious days for fun in the sun.

And then, in October, my husband and I are planning a three to four day getaway to celebrate our anniversary in beautiful Mexico. And that will give us our three getaways for the year! It's as simple as that.

Now, we haven't always been able to do this. Why? Because of poor planning on our part. But, that is no longer the case. We've wised up, and if you haven't been getting away for a little rest and relaxation because of the same problem, here's how you can guarantee that will not be the case next year...or the year after that - forever!

My husband, Muri, and I have created what we call a "Battery Recharge" account, or in regular terms, a travel account. All monies that go into it ensure that we'll be able to get away with our ten-year old son, Jordan, or for a romantic weekend on our own!

Have a family discussion and decide where each of you would like to go. Narrow it down, and vote on three locations. One that's far away and two that are within a reasonable driving distance.

Once you've done that, do your research. There are a number of online resources. Thanks to technology, finding attractions in the city of your destination is no more than a click away! You can build an itinerary of what your family will do, as well as get the costs of each show or attraction you'd like to attend.

Then, one-by-one, you begin to fund your "Batter Recharge" account until you have the money to do each trip! What's so great about the two short trips, most can be done for less than five hundred dollars. The key is not extravagance. It's just getting away with your family to bond and re-energize yourself.

You work hard, everyday. Take some time to enjoy the fruits of your labor with the ones you love and cherish. Your mental, physical and relational well-being will be all the better for it!

Happy vacationing!

Nicole enjoys spending time with her son, Jordan and her husband, Muri. She loves to write, read, travel, working from home and making new friends. If you would like to spend more time with your love ones please contact Nicole. http://www.fulltimefamily.com/

Article Source: WAHM Articles

Explore Chile and Patagonia by Ferry

2011-11-23T19:49:00.002-05:00

The other day I wrote about Pategonia and adding that area to my wish list. While I was continuing my research I ran across additional information on Chile tours and the region down around Pategonia.

I have become enthralled with that area. I cannot wait to get there now. This new site has lovely Ferry's that take you further into the areas of Pategonia where you can see the amazing Fjords. Patagonia Fjords are a stunning act of nature that has to be seen to be enjoyed.

On their tours you are able to also see Puerto Edén, a tiny village that is only accessible by boat and Puerto Natales. Puerto Natales is the city of entry to the Torres del Paine and Bernardo O´Higgins National Parks. You also get to see Southern Patagonian Ice Field. This is an awesome experience to visit one of the glaciers of the Southern Ice Fields.

There are plenty of other sites to see as well such as the Angostura White which is located inside the Santa Maria Channel. This way of passage is one of the two accesses to Puerto Natales and is stunning!
Since I have been researching Chile and Pategonia, I have been looking forward to booking my next tour on the ferry’s that criss cross this amazing region. I am mentally packing my bags!

Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post and I was compensated by the advertiser to write this post. I was provided with the subject matter to write about but our thoughts, opinions and words are 100% mine. All information contained on this blog is copyright 2011, All Rights Reserved.

Join the Race to The Moon Challenge for Fun, Better Health and Prizes

2011-11-20T04:01:00.003-05:00

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Cafe Well for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

When I am on vacation, I am very active. We walk and see the sites, play on the beach and have a great time outdoors. But lately with our weird weather in Pennsylvania, it has been less and less that I have been able to get outside and enjoy my walking group to stay in shape.

I love walking. Normally, I can walk several miles an day. Since I have a vacation coming up soon, I decided that I really need some help staying on track. I heard about a great program through Cafe Well and their Race to The Moon Challenge. If you have never heard of Cafe Well, it is a social networking site dedicated to healthy living and what is cool about it is that it is an anonymous health care site that connects you with other people who share your health care interests and needs. Perfect for me!

CafeWell realized the fact that so many people need support in exercise and staying healthy so they created this challenge along with HealthAmerica to promote health and wellness. Its free to join for HealthAmerica members or you can join CafeWell directly for the support you need too. If you are in Pennsylvania, you need to check this out! Thousands have joined the Challenge and are changing their lives!

I think Health challenges are a great idea. Having a partner or others to support you and your challenge is great. I know I need more healthy eating, more veggies and less garbage along with more walking and exercise. Working at home has its own set of challenges. A site like this can help me get motivated and moving again.

The Wildwood New Jersey Boardwalk is the Best in New Jersey!

2011-11-19T07:46:00.001-05:00

My husband and I own a vacation condo down at the Jersey Shore in the North Wildwood, New Jersey area and we absolutely love it there! We have both visited many of the New Jersey beaches over the past 25 years but we always go back to Wildwood, New Jersey!

We feel that the Wildwood Boardwalk is the "BEST" boardwalk in New Jersey because there is so much to see and do on the boardwalk! There are tons of places to eat at...both fast food, take-out, dine-in and even fine dining establishments! If you love pizza...well, you can find over 25+ places on the boardwalk that sell pizza!

We love that the boardwalk as the famous Tram Car and for $2.00 it will take you for a ride from one end of the boardwalk to the other end of the boardwalk and it is quite an enjoyable ride...especially for those who can't walk the entire length of the boardwalk.

Shopping is always fun on the Wildwood Boardwalk and you can find inexpensive places (like the dollar store), to moderately priced places to high-end expensive boutiques. I love that you can even find craft boutiques or beautiful jewelry stores! I find the prices in Wildwood to be a lot cheaper than the stores in Ocean City, Cape May or Atlantic City.

We also love that there is always a heavy security/police turn-out on the Wildwood Boardwalk. Seriously...I swear we see a policeman at least once every 10 minutes when we are up on the boardwalk and that makes us feel a whole lot safer...especially when we are up on the boardwalk late at night.

We love Wildwood, New Jersey and one of the things we love about the place is the nice, long, clean and super fun boardwalk in Wildwood!

The Amazing Beauty of Patagonia

2011-11-18T22:18:00.002-05:00

There are so many places on this amazing earth that I would love to visit and see. Viewing pictures of the incredible beauty of stark wilderness and wondering what it would be like to be there in person has been pushing me to search the internet looking to see if they are accessible to you and me. One of the places I have found that I would love to add to my list is to visit Patagonia.

Located in the Southern hemisphere, Patagonia is a part of Chile and surrounding areas. It’s amazing beauty is like none other. I found a site that offers cruise tours to the region that includes the Glaciers, Wulaia, Argentina and Cape Horn, the southern tip of the world. You will also be sailing through the Strait of Magellan. Just like out the history books!

The packages look great and they offer several different variations of the cruise in 3 night or 4 night durations. The imagery is just a taste of the amazing sights that nature has created. Because of the local, getting to the area to take the cruise will be a long trip but being able to relax and refresh on the ship will truly be worth the effort. Patagonia is definitely going on my wish list!

Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post and I was compensated by the advertiser to write this post. I was provided with the subject matter to write about but our thoughts, opinions and words are 100% mine. All information contained on this blog is copyright 2011, All Rights Reserved.

The Indoor Water Parks in Virginia Look Like a Great Destination

2011-11-17T01:59:00.001-05:00

We have family that lives in Virginia and every few years we try and get over there and visit them for a week or so. We are planning a trip there this spring so I was looking for some things to do and see while we are there. We love exploring new sites everywhere we go!

One of the fun things that I saw was a listing for Indoor Water Parks in Virginia and since we love the ocean and water sports, I had to check it out! One of the first things that struck me was that there is so much to do! I never knew this existed.

This place is loaded with different pools and water activities for all ages. There is mini golf, spas for the kids, a space for teens and so much more. A big plus is there is hotels attached to the park so we can stay for a few nights and sightsee in Williamsburg plus spend time at the waterpark.

I love places like this. You can stay in one central location and sightsee and be a tourist if you want; all you want. I am definitely going to put this place on the list of things to do when we get to Virginia! It looks like a great destination!

Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post and I was compensated by the advertiser to write this post. I was provided with the subject matter to write about but our thoughts, opinions and words are 100% mine. All information contained on this blog is copyright 2011, All Rights Reserved.

Babymoons: Travel Tips for Expecting Parents

2011-11-15T08:04:00.004-05:00

Dear Expecting Parents: Before you dive into the world of dirty diapers and sleepless nights, take advantage of your current freedom and go on a babymoon! This pre-baby vacation helps you connect as a couple while relaxing and rejuvenating before the stress of parenthood hits. If you're planning on having more than one child, make sure you take an extra long babymoon, since you may not have the luxury of traveling sans children for many more years.

Consider the following tips to ensure comfort, value and fun as you plan this important getaway.

1. Travel During Your Second Trimester
This is the most comfortable part of your pregnancy. Hopefully morning sickness has passed and your growing belly isn't making you feel like you're coming apart at the seams. Keep in mind, however, that some cruise lines won't sell tickets to women who are pregnant beyond 24 weeks, so check out this comprehensive list of cruise line policies before booking.

2. Visit Child-unfriendly Locations
Find a location you won't visit when children are part of your family. For example, a Disney Cruise is easy to do with little ones, but a spa and shopping mall is next to impossible with a toddler. A two-hour flight is relatively easy with children, but a flight to Hawaii or overseas will bring parents to their breaking point.

3. Eat Together
Plan plenty of quiet meals with your partner and cherish those uninterrupted adult conversations. It gets significantly harder to have a relaxing meal when a toddler is throwing food and screaming at the dinner table.

4. Visit a Spa
During your second trimester, you can again indulge in a relaxing massage and planning this during the beginning of your babymoon will help set the tone for the rest of your trip. Pedicures are also great, since it will soon be increasingly difficult for you to reach your toes.

5. Use Gift Cards
Save on your babymoon costs and buy gift cards at a discounted rate for your airfare, hotel stay, dining, car rental and spa treatments. Sites like GiftCardGranny.com have hundreds of travel-related discount gift cards for purchase, from airlines to bed and breakfast websites. Remember to buy your gift cards a couple weeks in advance to account for order processing and mailing time.

6. Be Adult-only Active
Participate in adult-only activities, such as going to a movie, dancing the night away, visiting museums, catching a theater show, going to a sporting event, or eating in a nice restaurant. Basically, think of everything you would not do with a squirmy toddler in tow, then plan on doing those things. Read "8 Best Babymoon Trips" from Parents Magazine for destination ideas.

7. HAVE FUN!
Delight in being adults; you have plenty of years ahead to enjoy being a kid with your kid. Take advantage of this time to do grown-up activities.

###

Maisie Knowles is a working mother of two with three-year's experience writing on parenting and partner issues. For all media inquiries, please contact Maisie Knowles at 970-672-1136 or email maisie@kinoliinc(dot)com

Checking out Epcot Resort Hotels for our Vacation

2011-11-14T19:42:00.002-05:00

I have been waiting and waiting to get to Florida so that my family and I can enjoy a much needed and long awaited vacation to Epcot Center. We have heard so many things about it and I am trying to move it up on my list of destinations that we have to get to in the near future.

I was checking out some of the Epcot resort hotels and found some amazing places! I want to make sure that we spend some time near the water and I found this awesome resort that has 87 acres right on the water. It is close to Epcot so we can visit Disneyworld without any issues and they work closely with Disney so there are some special features that we can get buy being a guest at the Hotel.

The Swan and Dolphin resort looks fabulous with if different architecture and gorgeous rooms. It looks like it has been recently updated as everything looks fresh and new. My granddaughter is in love with the Disney princesses so I think that this resort is going to be perfect for our vacation plans. She is going to flip when we get her a special meal with a Disney Character!

This trip is going to be so much fun! I cannot wait for our trip to Epcot.

Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post and I was compensated by the advertiser to write this post. I was provided with the subject matter to write about but our thoughts, opinions and words are 100% mine. All information contained on this blog is copyright 2011, All Rights Reserved.

The Beautiful Cape May County Park & Zoo in New Jersey

2011-11-10T08:00:00.000-05:00

Are you planning a trip down to the south Jersey Shore area? Heading to Ocean City, Avalon, Stone Harbor, Wildwood or Cape May, New Jersey? If so, you need to plan an afternoon trip to the beautiful Cape May County Zoo in New Jersey! It is located right off the Garden State Parkway near the Cape May County Court House.

The Zoo is open year-round and the admission is 100% free with free parking! They do ask for a donation at the gate and we always give them a few dollars so if visiting the zoo we hope you will at least drop a few bucks into the bucket on your way in. If you need additional information you can call the park's office at (609) 465-5271. The hours are posted on their web site so make sure you check the schedule before planning your trip.

This is a large zoo and once you head through the gates you will come to the first section which is mainly birds. You will see peacocks, toucans, snowy owls, barn owls, hawks, bald eagles and other types of birds.
You will then visit the farm animal enclosure where you can feed the goats (and yes, they will come up and eat out of your hand!) and there are a few chickens in there too. Kids just love visiting this small petting farm animal section of the zoo. The photo shows my hubby feeding the white billy goat which was really cute!

After visiting the farm animals we came across enclosures that held various types of monkeys and primates. We say tamarins, ring-tailed lemurs and other types of monkeys. We really enjoyed seeing the primates as they are always so much fun to watch.
We then hiked back through the zoo until we got to the African Savanah and walked the trials so that we could see the lions, rocky the tiger, leopard, snow leopards, red panda, camels, giraffes, zebra and other animals that you normally only see on the other side of the world.
After we were done touring that area and visiting those animals we headed over to see the alligators, turtles and we went into the reptile house to visit with those animals. (or I should say that hubby went into the reptile house while I waited outside as I have no desired to see snakes and other creepy animals). I did enjoy seeing the super large turtles though!

When we came out of the reptile house we were greeted by two beautiful big black bears who were out in the enclosure prancing around and playing with barrels and balls. They even had a small inground pool in their enclosure and I guess they take swims in that during the hot summer days.

It took us about 2 1/2 hours to go completely through the zoo...but we are adults and had no children slowing us down so if you are a family you might want to plan on spending 3 to 4 hours at the zoo when you visit.

The Cape May County Park & Zoo also has a train and carousel on the property so the kids and you can take a ride on those if you wish. We didn't have time that day to ride those but next time, we definitely want to take the train ride!

There are a few restrooms throughout the zoo along with places for you to get snacks & drinks. Once you leave the zoo you can buy some lunch and beverages at the zoo's cafe which is right outside the exit gates. We had a really great time and can't wait to visit the zoo again in the spring! It is a definite "must see" zoo in New Jersey!

10 Tips To Prepare For a Winter Vacation: Don't Forget the Travel Insurance

2011-10-31T14:55:00.000-04:00

10 Tips To Prepare For a Winter Vacation: Don't Forget the Travel Insurance

By Tom Harp

If you want you to enjoy the winter season in the safest manner possible, then you have to make sure that you consider buying winter sports travel insurance. This especially holds true if your family comes with you on your travels. In order to choose the right insurance policy for your next trip, review these tips. They will help you prepare for the trip and understand how much insurance coverage you will need.

1. Obtain as much information as you can get about your planned destination. You have to make sure that you have a comprehensive knowledge about the place to ensure that you can easily create your itinerary.

2. Make sure that you book your flights and your hotel accommodation ahead of time.

3. Protect yourself from the harmful effects of the winter sun. Do not forget to bring your sunglasses, lip protection and sunscreen.

4. Protect yourself from the negative effects of injuries and accidents to your finances by purchasing winter sports travel insurance. This will help you easily deal with inevitable accidents and emergencies.

5. Make sure that you pack some foods especially if you will be up for a long drive. This will allow you to keep yourself full, thereby ensuring that you avoid feeling extremely exhausted.

6. Pack prescription drugs and over the counter medicine. You should never fail to bring with you pain reliever and cough medicine. This will allow you to easily cope with illness whenever you are faced with it during your vacation.

7. Bring items like books and board games just in case you will be locked indoors because of a bad weather. This will allow you to still enjoy your bonding moment with your family even if all of you are inside the rented place.

8. Roads: Ask for road accessibility in case of storms. This will allow you to get access to the road instead of getting trapped under a bad weather.

9. Make sure that you bring a set of earplugs with you. This will allow you to obtain a blissful sleep even if there are loud noises at night because of snow making and snow grooming machines.

10. Bring sufficient amount of bottled water. Keep in mind that the cold and dry weather may cause dehydration. You will be able to deal with this by keeping a number of bottled water ready.

By following the above tips, your winter vacation will turn out to be a very enjoyable experience. Just don't forget to purchase winter sports travel insurance coverage before your scheduled travel so you will feel more at ease during your vacation. Skipping a travel insurance policy may seem like a good way to save a few dollars, but the hazards of winter sports mean that saving those few dollars could be quite costly, especially if you travel abroad.

If you're not careful about selecting the right discount travel insurance package, you can easily waste money by overpaying for coverage that does not meet your needs. On the other hand, if you are going snowboarding or engaging in some other kind of high risk activity, purchasing a winter sports travel insurance policy is well worth the cost.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tom_Harp

http://EzineArticles.com/?10-Tips-To-Prepare-For-a-Winter-Vacation:-Dont-Forget-the-Travel-Insurance&id=6343360

NAPA

2011-10-31T14:15:00.001-04:00

Thanks for the guest post by Laura Mitchell

This morning, I got everything taken care of early. I called the doctor to reschedule some appointments and then I called home security business and took care of rescheduling an appointment that we had for next week. The reason I had to reschedule everything is because my in-laws surprised us with an early Christmas gift. They had been planning on taking a tour of Napa Valley for a week with some of their friends. Their friend’s daughter just had a baby ( earlier than expected) and they couldn’t take off. I was delighted when they called us and invited us all expenses paid! My sister volunteered to watch our kids and our little beagle. I have never been to wine country and am really excited. I don’t know much about wine, but I know that I like to drink it! Now, I just have to do some research and figure out what I am going to wear. I think that the temperature is actually going to be pretty chilly. I may have to buy some new clothes for this trip!

Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post and I was paid monetary compensation by the advertiser to write this post. I was given the topic to write about but the content, wording, ideas and thoughts contained in this post are 100% my words and my opinion. Please see my Terms of Service and Disclaimer policy for additional information.

Morey's Piers - Morey's Fears the Haunted Amusement Pier

2011-10-29T07:38:00.004-04:00

Last week we took a mini-vacation down to Wildwood New Jersey and stayed at the posh Montego Bay Resort. We specifically went down there during the weekend so that we could check out Morey's Piers as they were putting on a haunted Halloween event called Morey's Fears.

It was really chilly out the weekend we were there so we did have to bundle up as the breeze coming in off the Atlantic Ocean was pretty cold at times! I believe this was the first year for Morey's Fears and we had such a great time there that we hope they bring it back again next year.

They took one of their famous amusement piers and had it all decked out in spooky Halloween decor and there were even a few folks dressed up (Morey's Employees) which was super nice to see. They had several of their rides open and we did enjoy a few of those while we were visiting. Hubby really enjoyed the haunted roller coaster the best!

Morey's Fears is definitely for the adults but we did have our little granddaughter up on the boardwalk with us for a little while where she enjoyed playing a few arcade games nearby. I do want to say this...that most businesses up on the Wildwood boardwalk are indeed closed during this time of year so there wasn't much for us to do. We did find a few gift shops open and one indoor mini golf course was open and a few places to eat...but other than that...most everything else was closed for the season.

If they do Morey's Fears again next year...we will be back...as it is definitely something fun to do during the Halloween season.

We just hope that if it becomes an annual event that perhaps more gift shops, food places and amusements up and down the boardwalk will be open so that we have more to do while we are down there for the entire weekend.

Overall...we had a great time "playing" at Morey's Fears on the Morey's Piers!

West Shore Farmers Market in Lemoyne, Pennsylvania

2011-10-27T09:38:00.000-04:00

Looking for some fresh fruits and vegetables in the Harrisburg and Camp Hill areas in Pennsylvania? If so, you need to check out the West Shore Farmers Market in Lemoyne, Pennsylvania. The market is located on 900 Market Street and is very easy to find...there is no mistaking it once you are near it as it is well-marked and easy locatable.

The downstairs farmers market is open Tuesday, Friday and Saturday from 8am to 3pm on Tuesdays, 8am to 7pm on Fridays and 8am to 2pm on Saturdays. The upstairs market shoppes are open Tuesday through Sunday but hours do vary. Please call ahead or check out their web site to confirm hours of operation before you head to the farmers market.

Downstairs in the farmers market you will find fresh meats, fresh cheeses, fresh vegetables and fruits, seafood, baked goods, canned jellies & jams and just about any other gourmet treat. The upstairs houses various gift shoppes that sell jewelry, crafts, home decor items, candles, books, collectibles, etc.

We love visiting the West Shores Farmers Market and we think you will love it too! If you have never visited it...we highly recommend that you do!

I Would Love To Visit The Galapagos Islands

2011-10-27T09:04:00.003-04:00

About 8 years ago my aunt and uncle had the pleasure of visit the Galapagos Islands and when they went there they were fortunate enough to do so by taking a Galapagos Cruise. My aunt Helen told me that the islands were very beautiful and that they had a great time on the cruise ship but also enjoyed the many trips and tours they took on the mainland.

My aunt told me about all of the hiking they did with a very informative tour guide and then one afternoon they went out fishing on a little boat with a few people they had met on the cruise ship and had a great time doing that.

Their cruise was a 4 night cruise and the next time around they want to take a 7 night cruise. She told me that Galapagos Cruise Ship was very clean and they had a beautiful stateroom with a private balcony. She also said the food was top notch! Unlike other big cruise ships she said they didn't feel over-crowded at all and didn't have long wait lines either.

Now that I have heard all about her great journey hubby and I are looking into a few Galapagos Cruises for ourselves. Perhaps we can take one next spring for our 26th wedding anniversary and if we do...I will make sure that I take a lot of photos and document it here on my travel blog.

Have any of you ever visited the Galapagos Islands? If so, do you have any tips to share with us?

Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post and I was paid monetary compensation by the advertiser to write this post. I was given the topic to write about but the content, wording, ideas and thoughts contained in this post are 100% my words and my opinion. Please see my Terms of Service and Disclaimer policy for additional information.

All Traveler's Need A Great Cell Phone Plan!

2011-10-27T09:01:00.003-04:00

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Net10 for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

My husband and I love to travel and we travel around the beautiful U.S.A 4-6 times every year. Matter of fact, we just got back from vacation last weekend from visiting the Jersey Shore! One thing you need if you are traveling around the U.S. or the World for that matter is a good reliable cellular carrier so today I am going to talk to you about NET10. I would love for you to hear what a Real NET10 customer has to say and then please continue reading my informative post.

NET10 has a great unlimited plan where you get nationwide coverage, unlimited minutes, unlimited text messages and unlimited web data for only $50 per month! That is super affordable and about $40 a month less than what we are currently paying! There are no credit checks, no long term contracts, no activation fees, no reactivation fees and no cancelation fees! Got to love that!

The Easy Minutes Plan starts at $15.00 and you get 200 minutes with that which would be perfect for my mother who is a light cell phone user. These are pay-as-you-go plans so you can carry over any unused minutes to the next month as long as you keep an active account. As your cell phone needs change you can even switch your plans from month to month so that you are staying within your budget! Airtime can be purchased online, offline at various retail stores or use your phone to purchase additional time.

I would love for you to hear What Rob has to say about NET10, pretty impressive stuff! Oh get this, they even have international coverage to over 75 different countries for about .15 cents per minute! Wow! If you have friends and family members in Mexico or Canada you can check out their International Neighbors Plan which is super affordable too!

You can get a simple phone for as little as $15.00 which includes calling & texting or you can upgrade to phones that have cameras, web data & video recorders for around $40.00 and guess what? They only work with name brand phone manufacturuers like Nokia, Kyocera, Samsung and Motorola!

You can follow NET10 over on Twitter and/or Facebook for additional information! In addition, check out this really cool video over on YouTube!

Charitable Donation Gifts - Donate Your Timeshare!

2011-10-26T15:37:00.003-04:00

Do you own a Timeshare or know of someone who does? Are you looking to unload your Timeshare and get out of all of those expensive Timeshare fees? If so, you could donate your timeshare as a charitable donation to a special needs family who needs it!

In today's economy many Timeshare owners are looking to sell their Timeshares and instead of doing that you could do a really generous and kind charitable donation which may or may not be a tax deduction. Just think...you will finally be out of that contract and be donating it to a worthy cause!

My husband and I have a friend who owns a Timeshare right on the beach and I can't wait to tell him about this program as he has been looking to sell or transfer the contract to someone else but in this economy he has had a heck of time unloading it. This seems like the perfect solution for him since his family no longer uses the condo anymore and they are looking to move on with their lives.

Whether you have a Timeshare in a big resort, small town, in the mountains or one right on the beach this option should be one that you and your family should consider. There are special needs families out there that can put that beautiful Timeshare to good use!

Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post and I was paid monetary compensation by the advertiser to write this post. I was given the topic to write about but the content, wording, ideas and thoughts contained in this post are 100% my words and my opinion. Please see my Terms of Service and Disclaimer policy for additional information.

3 Fun Family-Oriented Attractions To Enjoy While Visiting Lancaster, PA

2011-10-24T16:47:00.002-04:00

Are you planning a trip to Lancaster County, Pennsylvania? If so...I am going to share with you my top 3 fun things to see and do in Lancaster, Pennsylvania and all three of these activities are family-friendly and geared towards children. You and your family will have a great time checking out the 3 places on this list.

1. The Lancaster Farm and House is located on 2395 Lincoln Hwy. East in Lancaster, PA. and was the first official Amish attraction listed in the U.S.A. The Lancaster Farm and House is situated on 15 acres of Amish farmland. You will visit the farm house which was built in 1805, an authentic Amish one-room school house, beautiful old barns and out-buildings, a covered bridge, visit with farm animals, you can enjoy lunch in the picnic area and visit the blacksmith shop.

2. The Dutch Wonderland Amusement Park is located on 2249 Lincoln Hwy. East in Lancaster, PA. and this amusement park is totally geared towards children. You enter the park through a big white castle and once inside you have access to all of the fun rides and amusements. The castle serves as the entrance point and also houses the park's gift shop. Parking is free and it is handicap accessible.

3. The Hands-on House Children's Museum is a great family-oriented museum and if you have small children...a must see and do activity while visiting Lancaster county. The Museum is located on 721 Landis Valley Road in Lancaster, PA. You can find a complete list of their schedule, exibits and services by visiting their web site online.

Have a great time visiting Lancaster County, Pennsylvania!

Planning A Cruise for Our Next Vacation!

2011-10-24T16:29:00.006-04:00

Hubby and I are thinking about taking another cruise since it has been several years since our last one and we are taking a look at celebrity cruises for our next vacation. The cruise that we are considering is a 7 day Caribbean Cruise so that we can explore some of those beautiful Caribbean Islands.

I was looking at prices and they are a lot more affordable than what I thought they would be this time of year. I think taking a nice vacation in the middle of winter down through the warm Caribbean is just what we need since we are not fans of the cold, snowy and icy winters here in Pennsylvania.

One of the things we love about taking cruises is that most times you can get those all-inclusive deals where your price includes your meals, lodging, activities, shows, etc. and that interests us a lot because it helps us to stay within our vacation budget. I also like that we can take a very laid-back trip or we can really fill up our schedule with a bunch of activities...the choice is really ours!

Another thing that interests us is the fact that we don't have to go down to Florida to depart! We found out that several cruise lines now depart from New York and that is only a 4 1/2 hour drive from our home. That will save us a bundle since we won't have to fork out any airfare! We are really excited about taking another cruise and going to a different destination this time around and we are looking to take this journey perhaps as early as next month!

Have any of you ever taken a cruise out of New York? If so, do you have any tips for us? We would love to hear your tips, thoughts and ideas so please leave them in a comment on this blog post! Thanks!

Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post and I was paid monetary compensation by the advertiser to write this post. I was given the topic to write about but the content, wording, ideas and thoughts contained in this post are 100% my words and my opinion. Please see my Terms of Service and Disclaimer policy for additional information.

Here's a Great Tool for Booking Tours

2011-10-22T15:25:00.001-04:00

One of the hardest things about traveling is the lost time and aggravation that you experience putting your tour together. I was online trying to get some information for our next vacation tour and I ran across this cool site that helps with all of your tour booking needs. So I thought I would check it out.

What is different about this is that there is no software to install. It is great for businesses that book a lot of tours and activities for others. Maybe your business is tour booking. This is perfect for booking all different functions, not just travel. You can book whale sightseeing tours, skiing, skydiving, scuba trips and all kinds of stuff.

It is great for individual tours or groups of people. There is no commission that you have to pay and it even integrates the payment system and groupon deals right into the program. Now that’s cool.

If you run a tour booking business or your company has a lot of people that travel for business, this is a product where you can save a lot of time and money. Surfing the net for deals or using high priced agents can be a thing of the past. You need to check this out.

Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post and I was paid monetary compensation by the advertiser to write this post. I was given the topic to write about but the content, wording, ideas and thoughts contained in this post are 100% my words and my opinion. Please see my Terms of Service and Disclaimer policy for additional information.

Planning a Ski Trip to Quebec Canada

2011-10-20T14:04:00.003-04:00

One of the things on my bucket list is to go and visit Canada. With the wonderful picturesque countryside and the beautiful cities I think it would be a awesome trip. Quebec is on the list as one of the towns I would love to see because of its French influence and I heard that the skiing is good too.

Now I am not the skiier, my hubby is, but we have been doing some reasearch on the best places to go downhill skiing and Quebec has several excellent resorts with easy access to Quebec City and Montreal. We are looking to stay at a few beautiful resorts and take in the sites in the beautiful cities too. Plus while hubby is skiing for a day or so, I can hit the awesome shops in town.

There are so many great things to do and see in Canada so I think that by starting on the east coast in Quebec will be a great trip. I cannot wait to take in the views in Quebec City! I have been doing some reading for our trip and catching up on all of the sites to see. Lower Town sounds like a great place to spend several afternoons and with the history of the old buildings and battle grounds, it will be a perfect place for my hubby and I to both enjoy spending time wandering the city.

I read that the Winter Carnival in January is a great time to visit the city and that sounds perfect. Hubs can get in his skiing and we both can enjoy the city Celebration. I cannot wait to go!

Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post and I was paid monetary compensation by the advertiser to write this post. I was given the topic to write about but the content, wording, ideas and thoughts contained in this post are 100% my words and my opinion. Please see my Terms of Service and Disclaimer policy for additional information.

13 Tips To Know Before You Go When Traveling To Foreign Countries

2011-10-20T09:05:00.000-04:00

13 Tips To Know Before You Go When Traveling To Foreign Countries by Marilyn Bohn

Traveling to foreign countries can be a lot of fun and a great cultural experience. With research and planning the trip can be double the fun and less hassle. You will come home with great experiences to put in your memory bank and to share with friends and family.

Things to know before you go:

Make sure you have a current passport. Go to travel.state.gov for general travel information. My passport had expired and I planned on traveling to Japan in three weeks. I went to this web site and used the instructions to expedite my passport. By expediting my application I had my new passport 10 days after sending in the application, photos and fees.

Visit travelregistration.state.gov/ibrs to register your trip. Registration allows you to record information about your upcoming trip abroad that the Department of State can use to assist you in case of an emergency.

Familiarize yourself with local laws and customs of the country to which you are traveling. While in a country, you are subject to their laws.

Make 2 photocopies of your passport data page and itinerary and leave with family or friends in case of an emergency. Take the other one with you and keep it in separate from your passport. If your passport gets lost or stolen, you can use the copy to exit the country and it will also facilitate the replacement process.

I have a friend who put her passport in the hotel safe rather than keeping it with her and the safe was broken into and her passport was stolen. Since then she keeps it in a money belt which is with her at all times.

Know your current banking information. For your credit card, make sure the valid dates will remain valid while you're traveling, know your available spending amount and remember to leave room on it for emergencies. Notify your banking institution of the countries you will be traveling in so they won't deny credit bills as they come in; thinking your card has been stolen.

Learn some local phrases. If you are traveling to a country with a foreign language, it's nice to know some of the local phrases. Knowing the "polite words" and just a few local phrases is a nice thing to know and use. They will appreciate your effort in using their language.

Know the voltage that is used for the country you're traveling to. If you are taking anything that requires an outlet; cell phone, computer, video camera, etc. make sure to purchase plug adapters. For things such as hairdryers, curling irons, electric razors, etc to purchase an actual voltage converter unless your appliance has multiple voltage currencies. I advise buying quality converts. I purchased a cheap set when traveling to New Zealand against the advice of the salesman. The first time I plugged it in; it fried the plug and my battery recharger. It pays to buy quality.

If you plan to send postcards to friends print address labels before you go to save time.

Research places to visit in the country before you go so you can make the best use of your time there and with some history of the places you will visit it makes it much more interesting.

Know what the weather will be like during the time you will be there so you can pack accordingly. Pack light, pack light, pack light. With the airlines being like they are today if you can just travel with a carry on and a backpack it will lighten your trip and make things so much easier when traveling to your destination once you have arrived in the country of your choice. Pack an extra bag inside your carry on in case you need it on the return trip.

Take a travel first aid kit; include a few basic items such as calamine lotion, antiseptic cream, insect repellent, painkillers, and anti diarrhea tablets. Pack a sufficient supply of prescription medications you are taking and store them in their original bottles. Carry extra copies of your prescriptions in case your luggage is stolen.

Check your health insurance policy and confirm the extent of coverage your health plan provides for travel. Look into receiving a travel health insurance policy, including coverage for changes to the itinerary, emergency repatriation for health reasons, hospitalization, and medical care in case of illness or accident.

With research and proper thoughtful preparation, traveling to foreign countries can be fun and rewarding. Bon Voyage!

Marilyn is a creative organizer who helps women, seniors & their families to create space and end clutter in homes and offices by setting up custom made systems. Visit her website http://www.marilynbohn.com/ for free organizing tips.

Article Source: WAHM Articles

Haunted Mill Scream Park in Spring Grove Pennsylvania

2011-10-16T23:26:00.000-04:00

Looking for something fun and scary to do this Halloween? Live in the Spring Grove, Harrisburg, York, Lancaster or Carlisle are in Pennsylvania? If so...you want to head on over to the Haunted Mill Scream Park located in Spring Grove.

The Haunted Mill Scream Park is a seasonal Halloween attraction that is open from September 22nd through October 30th, 2011. Hours of operation are Thursday and Sunday nights from 6pm to 10pm and Friday nights and Saturday nights from 6pm to 11pm. You can find their entire hours of operation/schedule on their web site.

They do not accept credit cards but there is an ATM machine on the premises...so either bring cash or use your debit card. There are 5 haunted scary attractions and each one has an admission price or you can purchase a combo ticket. Parking is free!

These scary attractions are not for little kids so please make sure if you are bring kids that they are old enough to handle all of the scary, gruesome fun!

Halloween Park in York Haven Pennsylvania

2011-10-12T23:34:00.000-04:00

Looking for something scary, fun and unique to do this Halloween? If so, you should check out Halloween Park in York Haven, Pennsylvania. New for the 2011 season is their new Scare Central attraction! Come one...come all...come if you dare!

Hours of Operation: September 16th thru October 30th, 2011

* Fridays from 6pm to 11pm
* Saturdays from 6pm to 11pm
* Sundays from 6pm to 9pm

Large combo attraction ticket price is $28.00 per adult.

You can grab additional information, check out the attractions and photos directly on the Halloween Park web site!

Sailing by Chartered Yacht in Croatia - A Dream Vacation

2011-10-12T07:15:00.005-04:00

My husband and I love to travel especially to tropical destinations. We love the beach, warm waters and the atmosphere that surrounds coastal communities. We are already thinking about our vacations for the year 2012 and would like to visit a few places that we have never been to before.

My husband was online last night and stumbled across a few Croatia Yacht Charter tour opportunities and we are highly considering one of those. We have never been to Croatia and from everything we read about the country and the area it looks like it would be a beautiful fun place to visit.

What I like about these type of Yacht Charters is that they can handle all of our arrangements like airfare, hotel accomodations, meals, activities, travel car arrangements and of course helping us to select the right yacht for our needs. I have always wanted to do some sight-seeing on a private yacht and this seems like the way we should go.

We also learned that with these type of tours we can really get into doing some island hopping and most of them will island hop so that you can see all kinds of beautiful places that you have never seen before. We aren't much into fishing but we do like to be out on the open water and perhaps we could take in some scuba diving near the coastline as we would love to see some tropical fish and a few coral reefs in their natural habitats.

Like I said...we have never visited Croatia before but we are highly considering it for one of our 2012 vacation destinations. Have any of you been to Croatia before and if so, do you have any tips or ideas to share with us?

Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post and I was paid monetary compensation by the advertiser to write this post. I was given the topic to write about but the content, wording, ideas and thoughts contained in this post are 100% my words and my opinion. Please see my Terms of Service and Disclaimer policy for additional information.

Jason's Woods Haunted Attractions in Lancaster, Pennsylvania

2011-10-10T18:34:00.002-04:00

Looking for something to do this Halloween? Live in the Harrisburg, York or Lancaster area in Pennsylvania? If so...you have got to check out Jason's Woods! This haunted spooky attraction is open Friday and Saturday nights from September 30th through November 6th, 2011 from 7pm to 10pm and Sunday nights from 7pm to 9pm.

Wanna see if you can handle this scary spooky good time? Check out their YouTube video which is directly on their web site. This video gives you a good look at what to expect when visiting Jason's Woods! They have brand new scary attractions for Halloween 2011 so if you have been there before...you need to visit again!

The admission price depends on which haunted Halloween attraction you are attending and if you want to attend more than one...you can purchase a combo ticket to save a few bucks. Parking is Free and you will need cash if you are paying at the gate.

Have a spooky great time while visiting Jason's Woods in Lancaster, Pennsylvania!

Jaco Beach in Costa Rica - One of My Dream Vacation Destinations!

2011-10-10T08:42:00.006-04:00

My husband and I have been married for over 25 years now and for the past few weeks we have been discussing about taking a second honeymoon to a vacation destination that we have never visited before. Earlier today he suggested that we check out Jaco Beach in Costa Rica. I have never heard of this city in Costa Rica so I was excited to get online to see what I could find.

I went to my favorite search engine and typed it in and thousands of web sites came up for my viewing and reading pleasure. Costa Rica is a beautiful tropical destination and looks like it would be a fun place to visit. We actually found some Jaco Condo Rentals that are right on the beach and super affordably priced! Wow...we can get a 3 bedroom ocean-front condo for around $188 a night!

We also found that we can get vacation packages that include surfing lessons, scuba diving lessons, hiking and horseback riding, boat and fishing tours and a whole lot more! We would love to take their birdwatching tour and then visit Manuel Antonio National Park since we are an outdoorsy type of couple.

We have never been to Costa Rica so we are really looking forward to taking a trip there some day soon! Have you ever been to Costa Rica and if so...do you have any types to share with us?

Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post and I was paid monetary compensation by the advertiser to write this post. I was given the topic to write about but the content, wording, ideas and thoughts contained in this post are 100% my words and my opinion. Please see my Terms of Service and Disclaimer policy for additional information.

I Would Love To Take A Second Honeymoon To Fiji

2011-10-09T20:43:00.006-04:00

My husband and I have been talking about taking a second honeymoon to visit the beautiful island known as Fiji. We have never been there and would like to try to find a few Fiji all inclusive resorts to check out before we make any travel arrangements. We have always thought that all inclusive resorts were the best value for our dollar so we are looking into those for our travel accomodations.

I first got interest in traveling to Fiji after seeing Fiji Honeymoon stories in one of my daughter's bridal magazines. Oh my gosh...the photographs were amazing and it looks like a very beautiful place to visit. My daughter got engaged a few weeks ago and has even been talking about Fiji Weddings so maybe that will end up being our second honeymoon trip.

I am hoping that when we take our trip to Fiji that we can spend at least 2 weeks on the island so that we can really take in all of the sights, attractions and sounds that the island has to offer. After I check into some accomodations I will need to find some airline deals so that we can stay within our budget.

Have any of you ever been to Fiji? If so...do you have any tips for my husband and I? If so, please leave them in the comment form below. Thanks!

Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post and I was paid monetary compensation by the advertiser to write this post. I was given the topic to write about but the content, wording, ideas and thoughts contained in this post are 100% my words and my opinion. Please see my Terms of Service and Disclaimer policy for additional information.

Broadway Classics Productions | Back Stage Horrors at the Harrisburg Mall

2011-10-08T10:26:00.004-04:00

Looking for something fun to do this Halloween in the Harrisburg and Hershey area in Pennsylvania? If so...we got a real spooky treat for you this year! The Broadway Classics Productions is holding the Back Stage Horrors at the Harrisburg Mall in the former Boscov's department store!

This is a haunted walk-through maze that has been professionally done so you know you are going to be scared out of your pants and have nightmares for weeks! There will be spooky ghosts, bats, goblins, skeletons and monsters galore! You know all those things related to Halloween that you are scared of? Well....come on over and face your fears!

The tickets are $17.00 per person and the event opens on October 7th and runs through November 6th, 2011. To find the hours of operation and the schedule of events please visit the Broadway Classics Productions web site! You can also follow them over on Facebook so that you can be kept up to date with news, specials and announcements!

Have a spooky good time!

We Celebrated Our 25th Wedding Anniversary in New York City!

2011-10-08T07:31:00.003-04:00

Back in April my husband and I celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary by taking a nice long 3 week trip up to New York City and we had an incredible time! There is so much to see and do in New York City that we are already planning another trip for spring 2012 and this time around we will be taking our grand daughter with us!

If you are flying out of New York City and looking for long term parking JFK then you want to look for some secured parking lots near the JFK airport. Many of them have valet parking and almost all of them offer shuttles back and forth to the airport. We actually drove up to the city and decided to get long term parking for our car and we used shuttles, cabs and the subway to get around. That was a great idea on hubby's part as the city is so large we would of gotten lost!

While we were up in New York City we took in 3 wonderful Broadway Shows that were absolutely fantastic!!! My husband had never seen a Broadway Show until we were up there and I am so glad that he got to experience it and now he wants to see more shows next year.

We spent 3 hours at the Empire State Building and were both amazed at how tall that building is. I mean really...we knew it was tall but you really don't understand how tall it is until you are standing there in front of it!

We were hoping to tour the Statue of Liberty but it was closed so we never got to do that but hubby did go out into the bay on a charter boat and did some fishing nearby so that he could see the Statue of Liberty at a distance. While he was fishing...I was shopping on 5th Avenue and having a great time with that!

During the evenings we went out every night to enjoy some of the fine dinning options that New York has to offer...everything we ate during the entire trip was absolutely delicious and all of the servers were super nice and friendly. We also had a great time taking a horse and carriage ride through the downtown area one evening and I totally enjoyed that!

There is so much to see in New York City that if you are planning a trip to the city we highly recommend that you plan at least 2 weeks to be there so that you can really take in the sights and sounds that the city has to offer.

Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post and I was paid monetary compensation by the advertiser to write this post. I was given the topic to write about but the content, wording, ideas and thoughts contained in this post are 100% my words and my opinion. Please see my Terms of Service and Disclaimer policy for additional information.

Dream Vacations and Trips of a Lifetime

2011-10-07T14:35:00.006-04:00

My husband and I absolutely love to travel and we do so a minimum of four times a year. We like to mostly travel domestically but every once in awhile we will travel overseas. A few years ago we sat down and made a list of some destinations and activities that we wanted to see and do at least once in our lifetime and ended up with a list of 71 places & things to see.

One of the things we would like to do is to charter a private jet and go from the east coast of the United States to the west coast of the United States and back. Could you imagine the awesome service you would get by hiring a private jet service to "fly" you around for your vacation travel? oh my...what an experience that would be!

Another "dream vacation" for us is to spend a month long vacation in Arizona. I grew up in Arizona but my husband has never had the pleasure of visiting the state. We would like to spend a month there so we could check out Tombstone city, Flagstaff (so we can visit the Grand Canyon), visit the beautiful city called Sedona and do some hiking and camping in the desert. I think that would be a fabulous month long vacation!

Next spring we are completing one of our dream vacations and that is spending one week up at Niagra Falls (Canadian side) and we are really looking forward to that since we booked a luxury hotel for our stay.

Do any of you have any Dream Vacations or Trips of a Lifetime that you would like to take?

Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post and I was paid monetary compensation by the advertiser to write this post. I was given the topic to write about but the content, wording, ideas and thoughts contained in this post are 100% my words and my opinion. Please see my Terms of Service and Disclaimer policy for additional information.

Great PA and NJ Travel Destinations For Family Vacations

2011-10-06T10:51:00.005-04:00

My husband and I love to travel and travel several times a year. Now that we are grandparents to a 2 1/2 year old we want to take our grand daughter with us when we travel so we have been researching some great domestic travel destinations that would be family-friendly. Since we love to travel in Pennsylvania and New Jersey we made a small list of great locations that you and your family should check out.

If you would like to visit Pennsylvania specifically the Hershey/Harrisburg area there is HersheyPark, Hershey Chocolate World, Hershey Zoo America, The Hershey Museum and Indian Echo Caverns and all of these are extremely family-friendly.

If you would like to visit south New Jersey (aka the Jersey Shore) then you should check out the Stone Harbor, Wildwood and Cape May area. You will find the Cape May Zoo (free admission), the Cape May dolphin & whale watching day cruises, nice clean large beaches for beach time fun, Morey's Amusement Park & Pier, several outdoor waterparks and so much more!

If you would like to visit the Philadelphia area in Pennsylvania you can plan a trip to the Philly Zoo, the Liberty Bell, Valley Forge State Park, Music Concerts for both adults & kids, numerous Museums and so much more! Philly really has a lot of things for you to see and do that are family-friendly!

If you would like to visit Lancaster County in Pennsylvania which is considered to be the home of the Amish here in PA...you will find over 200 outlet stores & malls for your shopping pleasure, Amish buggy rides and tours, Dutch Wonderland Amusement Park, Dutch Apple Dinner Theater, Outdoor Waterparks, Petting Zoos and more!

Pennsylvania and New Jersey both have a lot of great family-friendly destinations and hot spots that you and your family can enjoy. If you ask me...these two states should be on every family's vacation list every year!

Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post and I was paid monetary compensation by the advertiser to write this post. I was given the topic to write about but the content, wording, ideas and thoughts contained in this post are 100% my words and my opinion. Please see my Terms of Service and Disclaimer policy for additional information.

Creatures of the Night | Halloween Fun at Zoo America in Hershey, PA

2011-10-03T14:33:00.006-04:00

Looking for something fun to do this Halloween? Live in Harrisburg, Hershey, York, Lebanon or Lancaster, Pennsylvania? If so, you want to check out Hershey's ~ Creatures of the Night this Halloween season!

Creatures of the Night is held at Hershey's Zoo America October 14th through October 16th, 2011. On Friday and Saturday it is held from 6pm to 10pm and on Sunday 6pm to 9pm. Tickets can be purchased online or at the Zoo America entrance gate.

It is advised that you bring flashlights or you can purchase them at the door. Get a rare glimpse at over 200+ North American Wildlife Animals and see what they do at night! Kid's always enjoy this event so young and old are invited to attend.

You can visit the Zoo America web site for additional information on the scheduled events, opening & closing times and to purchase your tickets online!

Have a spooooooky great time at Creatures of the Night!

Blue Mountains Tour in Sydney Australia

2011-10-03T10:41:00.007-04:00

My husband and I have always wanted to take a vacation to the beautiful city of Sydney in Australia and we have finally put it on our to-do list for Fall 2012. The Blue Mountains Sydney is a beautiful area and there is a lot of activities to see and do while visiting there.

We would like to experience a few tours of the following areas and activities:

* We would like to visit the Featherdale Wildlife Park.
* We would like to visit the Nurringingy National Reserve (for cool boomerang throwing lessons). * We would like a guided walk up to the Mountain Cliffs and down into the Valley.
* We would like to visit Historic Katoomba (I would love to see all of the victorian charm that this place has to offer).
* We would like to take a ride on the Historic Blue Mountains Railway System (that sounds like fun and something we have never done aka a train ride).
* We would love to take a visit to Sydney's 2000 Olympic Park. (we loved watching the Sydney Olympics on TV so we would like to visit Olympic Park).
* We would love to visit the Sydney Harbour and perhaps take an evening dinner cruise.
* We would love to do some hiking and biking in the Blue Mountains and heard that they have beautiful riding and biking trails.
* We would love to spend the day at the Sydney Zoo. I have always wanted to see live Koala Bears up close and personal!

Doesn't all of that sound like fun? Well...we hope to visit Sydney, Australia in fall of 2012 and that is our "short" list of things we want to see and do in Sydney.

Have you ever visited Sydney? Do you have any suggestions for us on things we need to see and do while visiting there? Any tips for us? If so, please leave them in the comment form below. Thanks!

Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post and I was paid monetary compensation by the advertiser to write this post. I was given the topic to write about but the content, wording, ideas and thoughts contained in this post are 100% my words and my opinion. Please see my Terms of Service and Disclaimer policy for additional information.

Vacation Planning | Cape Cod Fishing Charters in Massachusetts

2011-10-01T12:07:00.001-04:00

My husband and I are planning to take 6 vacations next year and we are already working on booking our trips. Now that we are older with no small children at home...we really like to take advantage of our vacation time and travel up and down the east coast.

One of the places we want to visit next year is Cape Cod because my husband loves to fish and we want to book a few Cape Cod Fishing Charters since we plan on taking several friends and family members up there with us. When it comes to booking your charter there are really a lot of options available to you.

You can book a charter on a boat that will fit 6 comfortably or you can go big and book one that holds 50+ people...it really depends on how many people will be in your group. You will find privately owned charter boats and company owned charter boats, although we prefer booking the family-owned charter boats because we feel we get better individualized customer service with those.

Some of the charter boats have indoor and outdoor seating while others just have outdoor seating. We even found a few that have an onboard snack bar so we can grab a bite to eat or get something to drink while spending our day out on the sea. If your boat doesn't have a snack bar you want to make sure you back some lunches and beverages to take on board.

Another thing to keep in mind when booking your charter is that some of them charge by the hour and others charge by the day. If you only plan on staying out there for 2-3 hours than it is better to pay by the hour. However, if your fishing party plans on spending most of the day out there fishing...it would be cheaper to pay for the entire day at once.

We have gotten charters before down in Maryland and New Jersey so we are really excited about seeing Cape Cod and doing some fishing up there come spring 2012. It should be a great trip and one to remember for years to come.

Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post and I was paid monetary compensation by the advertiser to write this post. I was given the topic to write about but the content, wording, ideas and thoughts contained in this post are 100% my words and my opinion. Please see my Terms of Service and Disclaimer policy for additional information.

Companies That Offer Amish Buggy Rides in Bird-in-Hand Pennslvania

2011-09-30T21:53:00.000-04:00

Lancaster County Pennsylvania is home to the Lancaster Amish and every year thousands upon thousands of tourists flock to our area for their vacations and weekend getaways and one thing that the tourists like to do while visiting Lancaster, Pennsylvania is to take an Amish buggy ride.

You will find several great companies that offer Amish Buggy Rides and here is our "short" list of a few of them.

Abe's Buggy Rides ~ Abe's is located in the historic city of Bird-in-Hand, Pennsylvania. Abe's has been in business since 1968 and your private ride through the countryside in an authentic Amish buggy awaits you at Abe's! You can print out a money saving coupon directly from their web site to save you a few dollars on your ride fare.

Aaron and Jessica's Buggy Rides ~ This is another fabulous company located in Bird-in-Hand, Pennsylvania. You can be driven around in an authentic Amish buggy or an open wagon, your choice! Their amish buggy rides are 4 miles in length through the amish countryside. You can print out a money saving coupon directly from their site to save you a few dollars on your ride fare.

Amish Barn Buggy Rides ~ This company is located in Bird-in-Hand, Pennsylvania. This company will take you for a scenic ride on the back country roads and they have a petting zoo right on the farm for the kids to enjoy. They don't have a web site but you can call them to get their hours of operation and directions to the farm at (717) 556-2051.

A is for Amish Buggy Rides ~ This company is also located in Bird-in-Hand, Pennsylvania. They are located near the Strasburg Railroad and local area attractions. You can print out a money saving coupon directly from their web site to help save you a few dollars on your ride fare which starts at $10.00 for adults.

We hope you have fun in Lancaster County PA and if you have the time, we highly suggest that you take a buggy ride through the countryside while you are here!

How To Find Fantastic Travel Deals Online

2011-09-30T13:38:00.003-04:00

My husband and I just celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary this past spring so we have spent a lot of time this past year traveling. So far we have taken 4 vacation trips and have been visiting some awesome travel destinations. Now that the year is starting to wind down we are already thinking about our vacations that we want to take in 2012.

One of the ways we like to find fantastic travel deals is by visting various online travel sites. When you visit these types of sites on the web you can find great deals on airfare, train trips, bus trips, cruises, etc. I love that I can type in our desired destination and then type in our arrival and departure dates and within seconds a list pops up of all of the deals that you can consider when making your travel arrangements. Fast and easy!

Just a few weeks ago I used an online travel site and I was able to snag hubby and I a great deal on a beach resort vacation at the Jersey Shore and we leave in 3 weeks for that! I got a great deal on our hotel accomodations and we decided to get a rental car and I was able to get a great deal on that too...all by booking our travel arrangements online! Overall, we estimated that we are saving about 35% which feel is a great deal!

Next year we plan on taking a 2 week vacation down to Florida so that we can visit some of their beaches, NASA, Epcot and of course Disney World! I know when I go to book our Disney vacation I will again be using online travel sites so that I can get the best deal! These days if you are doing any type of traveling...I highly suggest you visit these types of web sites so that you can make all of your travel arrangements in one place and get a great price on them!

Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post and I was paid monetary compensation by the advertiser to write this post. I was given the topic to write about but the content, wording, ideas and thoughts contained in this post are 100% my words and my opinion. Please see my Terms of Service and Disclaimer policy for additional information.

Mom's Glass

2011-09-30T07:34:00.003-04:00

Thanks to Erasmo Cortez

Mom is really into collecting all types of things but there’s nothing like her ridiculous glass collection. She’s got all kinds of glass dishes and glass frames and just glass EVERYTHING and it’s getting so out of control she had to move! She said her old house didn’t have enough space for her collection and she was afraid things were going to get broken so anyway, I helped her find the new place and even get Home Security System equipment so she wouldn’t have to worry about the security of her stuff while she was out and about. I mean, I don’t know who would want to break in and steal thousands of pounds worth of glass but she seems to be convinced somebody would. I don’t want to say my mom’s lost it but she’s definitely going off the deep end a little bit. I’d like to have her come live with me but there’s no way she’d be allowed to bring all her glass and she’s not going anywhere without it, that’s for sure!

Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post and I was paid monetary compensation by the advertiser to write this post. I was given the topic to write about but the content, wording, ideas and thoughts contained in this post are 100% my words and my opinion. Please see my Terms of Service and Disclaimer policy for additional information.

London 2012 Olympics Affordable Lodging Options in London

2011-09-29T13:26:00.009-04:00

The 2012 Olympics are fast approaching and this time around the beautiful city of London in England is hosting the wonderful Olympics! I have always wanted to visit London and now that the Olympics are going to be there this seems to be the perfect time for me and my husband to take a second honeymoon and go to England!

I found a fabulous web site online called HomeAway.co.uk which is the "go-to" web site for finding the perfect lodging choices to plan a great vacation to London. You can find apartment rentals, house rentals, guest house rentals, etc. all with the click of a mouse! I love that you can read each rentals detailed information and most have photos so you can see them up front before making any reservations. There are many London Apartments for you to rent!

Besides the 2012 Olympics...London has a lot of great activities and things for you to see and do while you are there. You can visit local museums, shop the quaint little stores, hit the big retail stores, go biking, visit beautifully landscaped gardens, take in a few shows or music concerts, dine in fine eateries, have breakfast at a quaint little cafe, check out the Venice carnival, visit amusement parks and many other things...all while visiting the London Olympics.

If you prefer staying directly in Olympic Park you can find hundreds of Olympic Park Rentals on their web site too! If you are wondering what Olympic Events are going to be held directly in Olympic Park you can find that list on their web site too! All around Olympic Park you will find great places that serve delicious and affordable food, plenty of entertainment options and tons of things for you and your family to see and do!

I am really hoping that my husband and I can take a trip to London to see the 2012 Olympics for our second honeymoon as I feel it would be a trip of a Lifetime and something that we would always remember and treasure.

Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post and I was paid monetary compensation by the advertiser to write this post. I was given the topic to write about but the content, wording, ideas and thoughts contained in this post are 100% my words and my opinion. Please see my Terms of Service and Disclaimer policy for additional information.

3 Fun Things To See and Do in Hershey, Pennsylvania

2011-09-25T00:22:00.004-04:00

Are you planning a trip to Hershey, Pennsylvania? If so, I thought I would share with you today the top 3 fun things to see and do in Hershey, Pennsylvania. These activities are all family-friendly and also great for couples to do too!

1. Plan an afternoon trip to Zoo America, the North American Wildlife Park which is in downtown Hershey. The Zoo is open year-round and costs $10.00 per adult, $8.00 for children ages 3-8 years and kids under 3 are free. The Zoo only has animals that you would find in North America so you won't find lions, tigers and primates there. However, you will find alligators, snakes, various birds, bison, wolves, ducks & swans, prairie dogs, cougars, bob cats, black bears, turtles, tree frogs, deer, river otters, skunks, etc. A very nice smaller-scaled zoo that is very clean and well-kept.

2. Plan an afternoon trip to visit Hershey's Chocolate World which is in downtown Hershey and open year-round. Admission is free for both children and adults. When you go into Hershey's Chocolate World you will first come upon the various Hershey theme'd stores which is called the Marketplace Shops. You will find an abundance of Hershey candy, Hershey souvenirs, gifts and other treasures in the marketplace and you will find a few fun places to eat at too! You can then get on the FREE chocolate tour ride which is really educational and fun for both kids and adults. During your ride tour you will learn about the history of Hershey's chocolate and the various chocolates that are made in Hershey.

3. Plan to spend an entire day at Hershey Park, the biggest amusement park in south central, Pennsylvania. The park features over 60+ rides for adults and children along with a water park with boardwalk. The park is spring through fall and often holds special events. Standard admission for kids age 9 through adult is $55.95 per person, kids ages 3-8 is $34.95 per child and children under the age of 3 are free. Hershey Park is a fantastic amusement park and inside the park you will find various entertainment attractions too!

As you can see, there are free, low-cost and more expensive fun things to see and do in Hershey, Pennsylvania. You can find various lodging arrangements nearby all three of these attractions. We hope you will pay our beautiful city a visit and enjoy some of the sights and sounds of Hershey.

Shelly Hill is the owner and publisher of the Pennsylvania and Beyond Travel Blog and is the author of this article. If you would like to reprint this article on your site, please contact Shelly to obtain her official article which contains her Author's Resource Box. Thanks!

Straight Talk 2 Offers Fabulous Cell Phone Plans To Fit In Your Budget!

2011-09-21T22:00:00.003-04:00

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Straight Talk for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

My husband and I love to travel and we travel as often as we can. Most of our travels are domestic as we like exploring and seeing our homeland here in the USA. When we travel having a cell phone is a MUST and we want cellular carriers that are reliable and affordable. After all, we don't want to over-pay and not be able to afford to travel so that is why we are checking out Straight Talk so we can save some money.

What we like about Straight Talk is that there are no hidden fees, no long term contracts, no credit checks, no activation fees, no reactivation fees and no cancelation fees! Wow, that is how it should be with all cellular carriers if you ask me!

Straight Talk has an All You Need plan where you get 1,000 minutes, 1,000 texts and 10 GB of web data which is super affordable and great for most people. They also have an unlimited plan where you can get unlimited calls, unlimited text and unlimited web data for only $45 a month. Wow, for around $499 a year you can get great reliable cell service that is totally affordable! If you need a new phone they also have reconditioned phones starting at only $10.00 each! They even have smart phones that are affordable so check those out if you prefer those! Even Android on Straight Talk is available.

If you are tired of all those other cell phone companies raking folks in Hook, line and sinker then you need to check out Straight Talk! With the money you will save you will be able to Call a friend whenever you want and we all have a lot of friends we want to talk to! I like that they have international plans too so that when hubby and I travel overseas we can still get affordable great cell phone service.

Check out this great video from a real Straight Talk customer. I think you will be impressed like we were when we saw the video. Straight Talk has Everything you need and more! Seriously, why are you over-paying with those other guys when you can get affordable cell service from Straight Talk!!!

Jurassic Miniature Golf Course in North Wildwood New Jersey

2011-09-20T08:00:00.003-04:00

My husband and I consider North Wildwood, New Jersey our second home and go down to Wildwood a few times every year. We absolutely love the North Wildwood area and plan on retiring there sometime within the next 10 years.

Every time we go down to the condo we always make sure we stop in to Jurassic Golf for a few rounds of mini golf. This is an affordable 18 hole mini golf course that is super fun to play and is well-kept!

As you go around the mini golf course you will find really cool statues of various dinosaurs from eons ago...including a really cool wooly mamoth! In addition to the cool dinosaurs you will find a few small bridges to cross and some pretty landscaped grounds.

We love all of the challenging holes that this miniature golf course has to offer and those man-made waterfalls are absolutely gorgeous to look at. Rarely do we encounter a long line but we do usually go up there to play mini golf early in the evening before the crowds hit.

The Jurrasic Mini Golf is located in North Wildwood, New Jersey at 4th & New Jersey Avenues. It sits right on the corner and you can't miss it! (it is right across the street from WaWa. If you are heading down to the Jersey Shore (Stone Harbor, Wildwood or Cape May area) you will want to stop in and play a round of mini golf at Jurassic Golf!

You and your family will have a great time...I can almost guarantee it! Make sure you check them out as they are one of our favorite mini golf courses in the Wildwood area!

Wildwood New Jersey World-Famous Sightseer Tram Car

2011-09-14T13:38:00.006-04:00

My husband and I just spent a full week down at the Jersey Shore and had a great time in North Wildwood and Wildwood, New Jersey. We spent a lot of time up on the Wildwood boardwalk enjoying some great beach-side food, mini golf, attractions and of course shopping!

If you are planning a trip down to Wildwood New Jersey during the in-season you will see the world-famous Sightseer Tram Car that runs up and down the boardwalk. On most days you will actually see two of them going up and down the boardwalk and for a few dollars you can take a ride.Kids really love the Sightseer Tram Car and you can find many boardwalk shops that sell miniature Sightseer Tram Cars that you can purchase for the kids. When you are walking the boardwalk you will often hear "Watch The Tram Car Please" as they tend to play that every few minutes so that people get out of the way of the Tram Car.

Every time we go down to Wildwood we always treat ourselves to a ride on the Sightseer Tram Car and it is always a lot of fun!

Planning Inexpensive Vacations | Practical Money Saving Tips

2011-09-10T07:49:00.000-04:00

Planning Inexpensive Vacations - Practical Money Saving Tips by Darlyn Burkle

Vacations are always so nice to take. However, inexpensive vacations are not always easy to find. With the price of gas, food, and lodging, it can cost a fortune for a family of four to enjoy a vacation. Don't let these high prices control your vacation plans. You can plan inexpensive vacations and have a wonderful time while spending less money.

Don't let the words inexpensive vacations scare you into thinking that you will end up with a messy hotel room and a rental car wreck either. You can save money on your vacations and still travel "like the rich and famous". Above all, regardless of where you go or what you do, just getting away from the hustle and bustle of every day life is relaxing in itself.

But if it's really time for you to getaway for some well deserved R&R, this article will give you some ideas and tips for planning inexpensive vacations.

• Gas

Gas is one crucial factor to consider when planning inexpensive vacations. To save money on gas you can take a car on vacation instead of a truck or van. If you have a camp trailer, you should weigh the options of camping versus motels. You will need to check the cost of your lodging versus gas to see if it would be cheaper to drive your truck or van and pull your trailer than it would to drive the car and have the motel expense.

• Lodging

If you are looking for inexpensive vacations, then another factor worth considering is your vacation accommodations. Check the rates on several different motels and hotels. You should also check online as they sometimes have better rates online than they do when you call. If the price seems a little high ask if they have an event or something going on. That could be the reason for the higher price. If that's the case, you might consider a different time when the price would be a little cheaper. You might also check a few different dates. Try not to schedule your vacation time during holiday weekends as the price will usually be higher.

• Meals

Dining out at restaurants is expensive, so if your planning to have an inexpensive vacation, you need to decide now how to stretch your food budget. You should consider bringing your own food supplies or stopping at a grocery store when you get to your destination. Some motels offer free continental breakfasts for guests. If you have the continental breakfast and sandwiches for lunch, you would save quite a bit of money on meals. Also, purchase snack items such as crackers and peanuts at the store rather than buying them at the gas station or gift shop.

• Attractions

When you go on vacation it's always fun to go to the tourist attractions while you are there. Just because you are planning inexpensive vacations doesn't mean you can't go to these attractions. Check online and with motel employees when you arrive to see what you can do for free. Not all the attractions will have a fee. You might also receive a book that has coupons in it for free passes to certain places. Check those out in the motel lobby or in your room. You might ask someone if they have guides to the attractions. Those sometimes contain coupons as well.

So if funds are low or you don't want to spend a lot of money, don't scratch your vacation just yet. You can still go on vacation. Consider places closer to home and bring food with you instead of going out to eat for every meal. Planning inexpensive vacations can actually be a lot of fun, since you need to find create ways to do more for less. You will be surprised to discover that there are plenty of things to do without spending any money at all.

Darlyn Burkle of http://www.i-choose-us.com/, offers resources to show women how to survive a depression and thrive through the financial crisis. The 52-week Money Saving Toolkit helps women save and earn extra money. It covers practical money saving tips for saving on food, utilities, mortgage, gasoline, entertainment, college education, travel, gift-giving, and more.

Article Source: WAHM Articles

Carlisle Sports Emporium in Carlisle Pennsylvania

2011-09-06T07:51:00.000-04:00

Do you live in the Harrisburg or Carlisle area in Pennsylvania? Are you planning a little vacation trip to our area? If so...you have got to plan a visit to the Carlisle Sports Emporium in Carlisle, Pennsylvania.

The Sports Emporium features batting cages, a minature golf course, video arcade, Lastertron laser tag, Skate Zone roller skating rink and Go Karts! Wow...there is a lot of things to see and do there and it makes for a great fun afternoon with the family.

After you are done playing hard and having fun you can grab a bite to eat at the Victor Lane Cafe. This is a nice clean facility that is very family-friendly. The facility is open year round and their hours of operation varies as the season change so make sure you check out their site or call ahead to make sure they are open.

This is one of our favorite local places to play minature golf at and we always have a great time. One of these days I might even get brave enough to drive one of those Go Karts! So...the next time you are in the area and looking for something cool to do with your family...make sure you check out the Carlisle Sports Emporium!

All Inclusive Honeymoon Destinations Make for Easy Planning

2011-09-03T18:02:00.001-04:00

All Inclusive Honeymoon Destinations Make for Easy Planning
By Andrew Bicknell

Once you and your beloved decide to tie the knot the wedding plans begin to take over every free moment you have. In the process the honeymoon gets put by the wayside and forgotten. Planning the wedding of your dreams takes a lot of time and energy and can be extremely stressful so it's easy to see why this can happen.

But if you think about it wouldn't it be nice to have a week or two alone with your spouse after all the craziness and stress leading up to the wedding? Isn't that the point of the post wedding vacation, to get away and just be alone with the one you chose to spend the rest of your life with? If time is getting the best of you making your wedding plans then it might be time to consider one of the many all inclusive honeymoon destinations available to newlyweds.

If you're wondering why an all inclusive package is a good idea the answer is simple. Everything needed for a relaxed, romantic, and fun getaway is included in one price. There are many to choose from, from resorts to cruises, and once you decide on one and make your payment the planning is done. Depending on the package you may need to make your own travel arrangements but a travel agent or online travel site can help you with this part your travel plans. Once all that is taken care of you can rest assured that your honeymoon is taken care of and you can concentrate on the wedding plans.

So how does an all inclusive honeymoon package work? Most hotels and resorts will offer a base package that includes room, board, meals and drinks. From this base package there will be upgrade options available that will add to the cost but in most cases it can be well worth it. At a beach resort an upgrade can include a change from a standard room to a room or suite with an ocean view.

Access to certain entertainment and beach side activities can also add to the cost of the package. Most resorts have a number of beach and ocean toys, such as jet skis or sailboats, that you will have free reign to use if you purchase a package that includes them. You may also find other adventurous activities such as snorkeling and even scuba diving lessons and trips.

How much you spend on your honeymoon package will ultimately depend on your budget. Make sure the package you choose is one you can afford. Read the details of your package thoroughly to make sure you know what is and isn't included so you can make plans accordingly. If you have any questions or concerns be sure ask before making a reservation. The last thing you want to have happen is arriving at your destination to find out the package you have is not what you thought you were getting.

For the couple pressed for time all inclusive honeymoon destinations can be a great way to quickly and easily make those post wedding plans. It also takes the worry out of planning and lets you concentrate your time and energy on the wedding.

Honeymoon Destinations is here to help make your honeymoon a lasting romantic rendezvous you and yours will remember for a lifetime.

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Best Place To Purchase Salt Water Taffy & Fudge in Wildwood New Jersey

2011-09-01T13:58:00.004-04:00

My husband and I visit North Wildwood and Wildwood, New Jersey a few times every year...we absolutely love the South Jersey beaches! When we are down at the Jersey Shore we always make sure we stock up on delicious tasting creamy fudge and salt water taffy and the best place to purchase both fudge & salt water taffy happens to be at the Fudge Kitchen!

The Fudge Kitchen has over 20+ different flavors of fudge that you can purchase and the fudge is freshly made daily! We love the chocolate, chocolate peanut butter, peanut butter, chocolate marshmallow and vanilla nut fudges and always purchase a 1/2 lb. of each flavor and we bring them home and freeze them (they freeze well!). We have tried fudge from various locations down in Wildwood but we always go back to the Fudge Kitchen as we feel theirs is the BEST in Wildwood!

In addition...we love salt water taffy and we have tried various brands while down in Wildwood and we always go back to purchase ours at the Fudge Kitchen! Their taffy is always soft and chewy and has a delicious flavor! We like to purchase our fudge & taffy when they are running their buy 2 lbs. of fudge and get a free box of salt water taffy deal.

If you are heading to Wildwood we highly recommend that you purchase some creamy fudge and salt water taffy from the Fudge Kitchen!

3 Affordable Lodging Choices in North Wildwood New Jersey

2011-08-29T10:20:00.000-04:00

Are you thinking about taking a trip down to the Jersey Shore? Thinking about visiting North Wildwood, New Jersey? If so, I would like to make a few family-friendly hotel, motel and lodging accomodation suggestions to you. We have been taking vacations down to the North Wildwood, Jersey Shore area for over 17 years so we really know of some great places to stay.

The Acropolis Oceanfront Resort is located between 3rd and 4th Avenues and features all ocean-front accomodations. There is a large outdoor heated pool for you and your family to enjoy. This Resort Hotel features color cable tv, private balconies, ocean-front views, daily maid service, elevator service, etc. A very nice place to stay that is practically right on the beach.

The Aloha Oceanfront Motel is located right beside the Acropolis on 210 JFK Beach Drive in North Wildwood. This motel is my family's favorite and we go down to stay at the Aloha at least twice every year. They have 4 different room styles, a heated in-ground pool, a nice game room, a large sun deck, daily maid service, ocean-front views, color cable tv, free parking and more! We absolutely LOVE this place and highly recommend it.

Trylon Motel is located right in North Wildwood about 2-3 blocks down the street from the first two motels that I mentioned above. The Trylon has a large in-ground pool, a kiddie pool, daily maid service, outdoor grills, color tvs, 5 different room types and on-site shuffle board. We stayed here once in September 2010 when we couldn't get a room at The Aloha. It was a nice place but we still prefer the Aloha.

All 3 of these Motels/Hotels are located in North Wildwood, NJ. and all 3 are very clean, affordably priced and family-friendly.

Straight Talk 2 Offers Fabulous Cell Phone Plans To Fit In Your Budget!

2011-08-29T10:03:00.003-04:00

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Straight Talk for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

For the past few weeks my husband and I have been looking into getting a new cellular carrier as we are just plain tired of over-paying our current one so we have been doing some online research and came across Straight Talk 2. What really attracted me to Straight Talk is the fact that they have no long-term contracts, no credit-checks, no hidden fees and their plans fit into your budget. With inexpensive plans like Straight Talk 2, I can afford the more important things in life like "more" family vacations.

Straight Talk has everything you need from low-cost plans to even new reconditioned phones. I know when I want to call a friend, I don't want to pay and arm & a leg and I want to be able to call my friends whenever I feel like it. Straight Talk has great reliable nationwide coverage with great connection rates.

The all you need plan gives you 1,000 monthly minutes, 1,000 text messages per month and 30 MB of web date for those who like to use their phones to get on the web. Unlimited monthly service is only $45 a month and includes calls, texts, mobile web and picture messaging. Wow! What a deal! Can you believe that for around $499 a year you can your family can have cellular service? Amazing! Oh and get this... even 411 calls are FREE with Straight Talk!

mom knows best and mom always told me to shop around for the best deal and I think I have finally found it! I am tired of all of these other cellular companies roping people in Hook, line and sinker into contracts that are way over-priced! If you need international cellular service, they have plans for that too! If you need a phone, they sell reconditioned phones starting at only $10.00.

Want to hear what REAL Straight Talk customers have to say? Well, you need to check out this great customer testimonial video.

If you are looking for a new cellular phone company I hope you check out Straight Talk 2. I know I was very impressed with the information on their site!

The Pros And Cons Of Travel Insurance

2011-08-27T07:58:00.000-04:00

The Pros And Cons Of Travel Insurance by Dave Sweet

International travel is probably at its peak now, with people travelling for both business and pleasure. With so many air miles being used up, accidents or other mishaps are bound to take place. With this in mind, the careful traveller needs to think carefully about taking out travel insurance. But how do you choose the insurance that best suits your needs?

There are three different groups of travellers, each with their own, very special needs; Senior travellers, Backpackers and Families and Business Travellers.

Senior or more mature travellers have to choose wisely. Some travel insurances simply do not cater for the elderly traveller at all. Obviously these can be dismissed straight away. Others just make the cost of insurance ridiculously high. Again, look elsewhere. Some companies, of course, attach limitations depending on age. Different packages are presented for under 70s and under 80s.

Then there is the vexed question of pre-existing medical conditions. Now, of course, all conditions cannot be catered for because of the expense which could be prohibitive for the insurance company. But you can find companies which cover for quite a few pre-existing conditions.

You simply need to shop around.

Young people are often the ones most discriminated against as far as premiums are concerned.

Gap years between school and university were all the rage not so long ago. Maybe it's not so popular now? Never-the-less, young people still like to travel. Many go for 6 months to a year or even longer, backpacking around foreign lands.

Travelling in foreign countries, especially if you are alone, can be a hazardous, but immensely rewarding experience. But planning is essential if you are not to come to grief. Letting people know where you are should also be a first priority. A friend of mine has just returned from a cycle ride through Khuzestan. He's a young lawyer, so should have known better!

He kept in touch via the internet, sending back blogs of his experiences almost every other day. His trip took almost a month and covered nearly 3,ooo kilometres of varying terrain. He tells me that there were some scary moments, but most people he met were very helpful and pleasant.

Accidents are always possible, however! Without some sort of insurance, you could not only be very ill for much longer than necessary, but could also be paying for your misfortune for many years afterwards.

Families and Couples, especially those with very young children, must be fully aware of the necessity of travel insurance.

Can you imagine your feelings if your toddler fell off a cliff and the rescuers would not attempt a rescue until you showed them your insurance documents....and you didn't have any! What if you or your children were taken very seriously ill and the hospital refused entry...because you weren't insured and could not prove you could pay? Your little boy or girl is floating out to sea on a 'peddle boat' and the rescue team refuse to push their boat out until they see your insurance document....and yes, you don't have one!

Beggars belief, doesn't it? But unfortunately, this is an all too common occurrence.

Business people, of course, have a very different outlook on foreign travel. Often it is something to be endured. Most hotel rooms in whichever city you're in look much the same as any other.

Often important papers or expensive electronic equipment have to be carried so that preparation for that all-important meeting can be done on the laptop. Their insurance needs tend to be for damaged goods rather than personal damage. However, both are actually needed.

Unfortunately, insurance of any kind is a necessary evil! But if you choose the right one for your needs, at least you will have peace of mind. Of course, you hope you won't need it.

Without it, however, you either have to be extra careful or be very lucky, because it is not only your own actions that you have to be thinking about.

Other people's actions could land you and your loved ones in trouble just as easily.

So, all in all, it's definitely important to be insured. What you must do is to make sure you have the right insurance for your particular circumstances.

My name is Dave Sweet and I have been a headmaster, a travel agent, a theatre aide (I’m a doctor, but not a medical one!), a taxi driver and worked on a chicken farm. Now, I am a residential landlord and online entrepreneur and dabble with other things in my spare time!
Have a look at Travel Insurance

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A Look at Luxury Hotels in New York

2011-08-25T07:57:00.004-04:00

A Look at Luxury Hotels in New York
By Michael Kamau

New York City is commonly referred to as the city that never sleeps due to its incessant night life, tourism spots and great vibe. It is for this reason that hotels are being built every year to accommodate the 44 plus million visitors that visit the city each year. Most of these hotels include mid level hotels commonly referred to as boutiques and economy level hotels.

But people looking for high-end hotels away from the bland artwork, common carpet designs and stiff floral bedspreads found in most midtown hotels can rest assured of getting a luxury hotel of their choice since New York City has a plethora of luxury hotels that offer excellent services.

The Ritz-Carlton, Central Park is one such hotel and has one of the most esteemed addresses in the City and is located between Fifth and Sixth Avenues and overlooks Central Park. Due to its proximity to Madison square and Fifth Avenue shopping it mostly attracts high-end business travelers and leisure seekers.

The 33 storied luxury hotel has 259 rooms, with each suite having modern services and amenities that can only be found in a first class hotel. The Ritz-Carlton, Central Park charges up to $ 845 a night and is considered as one of the best hotels in the world. Its appeal lie in giving guests the best urban experience in New York while offering an atmosphere that can only be found on a private home on Central Park.

Another high-end luxury hotel in New York is The Pierre considered to offer the quintessential hotel experience in the city. It recently underwent a major renovation on 11 grand suites, 189 rooms and 38 suites at a cost of over a hundred million. The hotel overlooks Central park and is located on Fifth Avenue; it is managed by the Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces and has a 5 star diamond rating.

What makes the hotel stand out from other luxury hotels in New York City is that it hosts a number of high-end restaurants like The Ivy, Soho House and Daphne's. Costs charged per night in the high-end hotel may run as high as $10, 000 and begin at $895. Additionally, the hotel offers excellent conference services for large groups of people up to 800 people.

Lastly, another high-end hotel of good repute is The Mandarin Oriental, New York. It is located in Midtown Manhattan with Broadway, Fifth Avenue and Times Square surrounding it. The hotel uses impressive Asian designs and its lobby is located on the 35th floor with New York City's skyline being the view that welcomes visitors.

Other luxury hotels found in New York City include:

Trump International Hotel

The Plaza

Trump SoHo New York

Setai Fifth Avenue

St. Regis Hotel New York

Waldorf Towers

The Surrey and

New York Palace

All these high-end hotels aim at offering unrivalled services to customers and giving them the best experience while in New York. Their charges reflect their services and people who have stayed in these hotels normally have a single regret- that the duration of stay was too short.

Michael is an expert article writer with a wide range of expertise writing diverse topics under the sun.
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Overlook Niagara Falls while relaxing at Serenity Spa by the Falls

2011-08-22T20:57:00.004-04:00

NIAGARA FALLS, ONT, CANADA — Let your worries and stress float away with the thundering waters of Niagara Falls at the Serenity Spa by the Falls.

The majestic falls will provide the backdrop as you slip into deep relaxation and romantic bliss at Serenity, located in the Marriott Fallsview Hotel & Spa. Unique and signature treatments at Serenity will ensure your body, mind and soul are refreshed and reenergized. It is the ultimate spa experience in the ultimate location.

“Niagara Falls and the Serenity Spa is a magical combination that quite literally takes you to another world,” says Anthony Annunziata, Vice-President of Marketing at the Marriott Fallsview, the closest hotel to the brink of the world-famous Niagara Falls. “Serenity Spa has the advantage of a natural setting beside the falls, creating an authentic environment where you can relax, refresh and revive. The spa’s range of services, that include water and mineral treatments, will make your vacation a truly memorable one.”

Serenity Spa’s Waterfall Bliss is its most popular facial service. Using a holistic approach that combines the benefits of the marine world with a whole body experience, this exclusive facial will leave skin refreshed, re-mineralized and deeply hydrated. The double exfoliation and masks brighten and revitalize your complexion. This 90-minute treatment will awaken, stimulate and energize all of your senses.

The Cascade Signature Treatment, designed with couples in mind, includes facials, relaxation massages and deluxe spa pedicures, followed by valuable quiet time to unwind in your own private hydrotherapy tub or lounge by the fireplace.

The relaxing spa experience doesn’t stop once you step out of Serenity. Retreat to your Marriott Fallsview guest suite where you can sit back with a fine Niagara wine and watch the Niagara Falls from the comfort of your room. The two-night hotel and spa package gives you a$40 voucher at Serenity Spa, a $75 voucher towards dinner at the Terrapin Grille Fallsview Restaurant — which offers stunning views of the Falls — a breakfast buffet for two and complimentary shuttle passes to the casino.

Other traditional spa services available include a steam room, massages, pedicures and manicures, sunless tanning, facials, body treatments, hair and make-up. Serenity uses, and offers its patrons, a full range of Phytomer products and treatments.

The information & images in this post were provided to me by a PR firm. Thanks for submitting this information to me and to the readers of this blog.

Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire

2011-08-21T18:00:00.003-04:00

If you have never experienced the Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire it really is something you should experience at least once in your lifetime. The locals in Pennsylvania refer to it as the PA Ren Faire. The faire runs from August 13th through October 30th, 2011 from 11:00 am thru 8:00 pm. The events are open rain or shine.

The faire is located in Mt. Hope Estate in Northern Lancaster County and if you want to save a few dollars before you go, head on over to the site and print out some discount tickets for the PA Ren Faire and local area activities. The food, rides and games are not included in your ticket price so you will need to pay for those separately once you arrive if you want to participate in those.

Cameras are permitted as long as you only take photographs for personal use (hence why there is none in this blog post). Cell Phones are permitted but only if you mute them or put them on vibrate as they don't want cell phone calls disturbing other people or interupting performances. Parking can be a real "bear" so I advise you arriving early and try to leave before the crowds head out for the evening.

~ Sam ~

Get Organized for a Successful Family Vacation with a Vacation Planning File

2011-08-20T07:59:00.002-04:00

Get Organized for a Successful Family Vacation with a Vacation Planning File by Jacquie Ross

Summer vacations are some of the happiest memories for families. Family vacations are a great time to sit back, relax and spend some quality time together; away from chores, busy schedules, email and other distractions. However, getting ready for vacation can be exhausting!

One of the best ways to get ready for a vacation is to create a vacation planning file as early as possible. Inside your vacation planning file will be everything you may need to refer to, before, and during your vacation. Typical contents will include, packing lists, itinerary info, accommodation info, maps, important documents and much more.

If you have a family member with health issues, make sure you have pertinent information handy, including a list of all medications and the location of the nearest urgent care center or hospital at your destination.

Keep your vacation planning file in a convenient location, so that it will be quick and easy to add vacation related papers.

You will need:

• A 3-Ring binder: Select a 2” binder with a clear overlay so that you can insert your own decorative custom cover.

• A 3 hole paper punch: Keep one handy, so that you don’t procrastinate adding papers that need be 3 hole punched prior to filing.

• Tabbed dividers: Keep your papers organized by using tabbed dividers with labeled inserts. Or create an organized binder with numbered tabbed dividers, like the one pictured here from Avery.

If you get too busy to do your paper filing and end up with a backlog of travel related papers, create a “To File” folder, just for your vacation file and don’t mix it with any other paperwork. Keep the file nearby to collect your vacation related papers until you have a few minutes to file them away.

Your new and organized vacation file will be the perfect place to file all of those papers that have been sitting in a pile on the kitchen counters, or in a variety of places around the house. You will no longer feel guilty for collecting sightseeing information, local amenities, and things to do during your vacation, because you’ll finally have a proper organizational system that you can use year after year.

For more detailed tips on creating a vacation planning file, plus hundreds of other organization tips and ideas, check out “The Busy Mom’s Guide to a More Organized Life: Time Saving Tips to Help Busy Moms Get More Done!”, available on my website at CastAway the Clutter!

Would you also like to know what some of the top organization products are to help you to get organized and stay organized? Register for Jacquie's free special report "21 Organizing Solutions to Cast Away the Clutter!" and receive her bonus Timely Tips newsletter with organizing tips especially for busy moms and families who feel overscheduled and overwhelmed. Get your free special report now to get started on your journey to getting organized!

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Beautiful Stone Harbor New Jersey | A Jersey Shore Gem

2011-08-15T07:33:00.001-04:00

One of my absolute favorite beaches to visit happens to be in Stone Harbor New Jersey. This beautiful beach isn't as crowded at other South Jersey Beaches like Wildwood, Cape May and Ocean City so that is partly why I love Stone Harbor.

Stone Harbor is a beautiful 7 mile long island situated on the Jersey Cape and only 10 minutes away from Wildwood and about 20 minutes away from Cape May.

This wonderful little sea gem is like a quaint little sea town with cobblestone sidewalks, a nice shopping/business district and oodles of fantastic places to eat. Unlike other Jersey Shore beaches...Stone Harbor doesn't have an official boardwalk which I think is really nice for those of us who don't want to be near all of that hustle and bustle. With that said...they have fantastic clean and wide beaches and you won't have to squeeze into a spot on their beaches as there is plenty of beach to go around.

I love visiting Stone Harbor even though we don't stay in Stone Harbor (we stay in North Wildwood) we do like to drive up to Stone Harbor and spend a day on their beach and shopping their businesses when we visit the Jersey Shore. This is definitely the place you want to be if you don't like a lot of large crowds, traffic jams and loud noises. I often refer to this place as a quaint beach that is a lot more quieter. Have fun at the Jersey Shore and make sure you visit Stone Harbor soon!

Oahu Resort Reviews: The Kahala Hotel and Resort in Hawaii

2011-08-14T22:49:00.002-04:00

Oahu Resort Reviews: The Kahala Hotel and Resort
By Patrick Remington

When looking for Oahu resorts for Hawaiian vacations, you could do worse than The Kahala Hotel and Resort. This hotel offers premium amenities and excellent service. It is also a better deal than similar Oahu resorts.

About The Kahala Hotel and Resort

Located just ten minutes from the incredible center for shopping entertainment of Waikiki, The Kahala Hotel and Resort is a reigning luxury resort. It is a favorite resort amongst international royalty, presidents, and celebrities on Hawaii vacations, so you know it must be a special place.

The Kahala Hotel and Resort is right on the beach, so you can enjoy Hawaii's famous warm ocean waters and cooling breezes. It is only one mile from the Kahala Mall, 20 minutes drive to the airport, and seven miles to the Ala Moana Center.

Things to Do in Oahu

There are many things to do in Oahu, starting with The Kahala Hotel and Resort's outdoor pool. This pool has a swim-up bar and Beach Butler service, a children's section, and a Jacuzzi.

If you would prefer to swim in the Pacific Ocean, that is quite enjoyable, too. There are a myriad of water sports available, including complimentary snorkeling. For an additional fee guests can try surfing, JetSkiis, or paddle boats, and fishing is always a great way to unwind.

Speaking of unwinding, the Ala Wai, Koolau, Hawaii Kai, and Hawaii Prince golf courses are all close to this Oahu resort and very relaxing. Each is a professional, 18-hole course set against the back-drop of the Oahu landscape.

Additionally, guests can enjoy horseback riding, tennis, massages, mani/pedis, and facials.

Dining Options

There are five restaurants to choose between at The Kahala Hotel and Resort. The Veranda is adjacent to the lobby and offers afternoon tea, snacks, and evening cocktails. Tokyo Tokyo, serves, well, Japanese cuisine, obviously, with an open Sushi bar to boot. Hoku's Restaurant is award-winning, offering Oahu's most innovative dining options while guests can enjoy panoramic views of the Pacific. Plumeria Beach House is an open air caf� with buffets for all three meals. Finally, Seaside Grill serves sandwhiches, seafood, salads, and tropical fruity drinks at beachside tables.

More Ammenities at The Kahala Hotel and Resort

The Keiki Club is a children's program that will babysit the little ones while parents escape for a relaxing day at the spa. At the Keiki club, they will have fun with hula dancing, lei making, kite flying, beach activities, fishprints, leaf prints, scavenger hunts, shell art, puppet making and more.

Patrick Remington is a freelance writer who's got a lot of info on travel destinations and all inclusive vacation packages. Check out special Hawaii vacations and discounted deals at http://applespecials.com/. View this original blog at http://applespecials.com/apple-vacations/oahu-resort-reviews-the-kahala-hotel-and-resort/

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Kissimmee Vacation Packages Are Great For Those Going to Orlando

2011-08-12T08:11:00.000-04:00

Kissimmee Vacation Packages Are Great For Those Going to Orlando

By Cindy Bair

Availing Kissimmee vacation packages are a great alternative for those who want to enjoy the attractions of Disney World theme parks and nearby water parks. With Kissimmee vacation packages, you will be able to save lots of money by combining the less costly yet equally exciting attractions in Kissimmee and the more expensive Disney World vacation packages. By fusing these two different types of holiday destinations, you are saving money while enjoying all the fun and exciting things both can offer to you.

Planning a Disney Holiday is quite expensive, particularly if you are planning to have longer stays at Disney World. Apart from accommodation expenses, you should also be ready for cost of rides, arcades, and other attractions which your kids might be interested in. So, to make your holiday vacation equally enjoyable but affordable, why not combine your Disney plan with Kissimmee. If you are quite short on the budget, you can try several Disney attractions only those that which you can afford and spend most of your quality time at Kissimmee.

With their affordable and good value vacation packages, a little budget will certainly go a long - long way. Ideal for children and families looking for an excellent place to have their bonding moment, all of Kissimmee vacation packages offer a lot of exciting attractions and various entertainments. For a taste of the olden days, you can have a quiet walk at the Old Town where there is period boardwalk styled boulevards, entertaining novelty stores and souvenir shops. Some packages also offer world-class rides, a hodgepodge of arcade games, live entertainment, and the ever popular classic car show. The package may also include unlimited access to Fun Spot where you together with your kids can enjoy the exhilarating experience of driving a go - kart.

For guest couples who may want to enjoy the solitude of their own company away from the shouting and chasing away of children, packages also include excellent options for couples including access to the most romantic restaurant in the area, great entertainment scene or have bask under the sun with their thrilling outdoor adventure. Kissimmee also has excellent vacation packages for those who love the fun and adventure of outdoors. Throughout the Kissimmee, there are at least 12 golf courses so no matter what part of Kissimmee you are in, you will surely find one. So, if you love playing golf, availing a Kissimmee vacation package can be your ideal vacation where you can have golf lessons directly from pro golf players, play a full game, either with one of your friends or strike a friendly match with other visitors.

For people who love touring the exciting places of Orlando, some would say that availing a Kissimmee vacation package can be a practical choice, particularly for people planning to have a Disney Holiday. Although Disney World can be quite fun, the Kissimmee's idea of excitement is rather unique, yet effective, in drawing in the crowd.

For more tips and information about Kissimmee Vacation Packages and Kissimmee Fl vacation packages, please visit orlandovacation.com

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The Otahuna Lodge in New Zealand

2011-08-09T20:49:00.005-04:00

Otahuna Lodge, a seven-suite destination retreat located in the heart of New Zealand’s Canterbury region, offers unique residential style service in historical surroundings that evoke a romantic British colonial sensibility.

Nestled at the end of a long meandering drive lined by stately oak, eucalyptus and acacia trees, the Queen Anne-style homestead is one of New Zealand’s largest private residences and has established itself as an iconic landmark, earning it a Category 1 Listing with the National Historic Places Trust. In addition, Otahuna’s 30 acres of land are recognized as “A Garden of National Significance” by the New Zealand Gardens Trust.

Otahuna Lodge was originally built in 1895 and was the home of Sir Heaton Rhodes, a renowned politician. Today, over a century later, the property is owned by Hall Cannon and Miles Refo. They left New York to seek a new lifestyle and a more rewarding day-to-day existence. Considering the Lodge’s history as the residence of one of New Zealand’s most prominent citizens and the property’s status as an architectural gem, Hall and Miles had a vision to open an authentic Lodge that highlights the home’s legacy with features that showcase Otahuna’s distinct heritage.

After purchasing Otahuna in mid-2006, Hall and Miles felt the estate needed to be updated and appointed New Zealand interior designer Stephen Cashmore, renowned for his work with historical properties, to renew the Lodge. While most of the original furniture disappeared throughout the years of successive owners, the spirit of the home’s unique history was maintained by incorporating new furniture and decor that tied into the property’s British colonial heritage.

Hall’s passion for art inspired him to select the finest New Zealand pieces to create one of the country’s most significant private art collections, showcasing the combined influences of the landscapes, cultures and native peoples of the region. Thirty-five major works were specially commissioned for the Lodge, including art by renowned artists such as Peter Beadle and Craig Primrose as well as newcomers Mark Zhu, Peter Hackett, and Simon Edwards. The addition of these pieces has accentuated the original New Zealand Kauri and Rimu wood paneling of the Lodge.

The Lobby, designed to blend a classic atmosphere with opulent sophistication, features hunter green walls, a wood-burning fireplace with leather furniture and plaid chairs, perfectly complementing the hand-carved staircase leading to the suites. The Drawing Room, featuring powder blue tones and a hand-carved fireplace mantel that is set within a hand-carved sideboard, was designed to reflect the motifs throughout the Lodge.

Each guest room at Otahuna Lodge is unique, featuring its own personality based on the homestead’s history. The Rhodes Suite, was once the master bedroom of Sir Heaton Rhodes, while The Clark Suite is named for the family name of Sir Heaton’s wife Jessie. The Verandah Suite, named for its 30-foot-long outdoor verandah, overlooks the property’s gardens and offers an optimal setting for couples to enjoy private dining. Sir Heaton’s favorite sport was played regularly on the lawn and gives The Polo Suite its name. The Botanical Suite features the New Zealand Silver Fern pattern, while The Butler Suite features Canterbury Art. The Garret Suite pays homage to New Zealand’s great outdoors with a rich sporting theme.

Six of the seven guest suites feature wood-burning fireplaces, two of which offer a fireplace in the bathroom. In the evening, guests of Otahuna can expect a cookie jar that is replenished daily, as well as nightly turn down complemented by a chilled carafe of water and a bedtime story that depicts a true tale of colonial life at Otahuna. In order to provide guests with a truly historical setting and the opportunity to escape, televisions in the suites are available only upon request; however, wireless internet can be found throughout the Lodge.

Among the gathering rooms, a cozy and well-stocked library of over a thousand titles invites guests to lounge on leather couches. The sophisticated Ballroom, boasting Cathedral-style ceilings and a wood-burning fireplace, seats 64 for dinner and is the ideal setting for private business gatherings, family dinners or intimate destination weddings.

The formal Dining Room is highlighted by its original embossed green-and-gold wallpaper that dates back to 1895, along with a blazing fireplace and a built-in wooden sideboard. The Dining Room epitomizes the setting of a traditional New Zealand dining experience, which takes place nightly at Otahuna Lodge.

Otahuna’s award-winning Executive Chef Jimmy McIntyre draws all of his inspiration from the property’s 19 acres of gardens, including an organic “potager” or vegetable garden, and orchard. Each evening, he creates a five-course journey that is accompanied by the finest New Zealand wines and a selection of cheeses. Guests are also offered the opportunity to harvest their own vegetables for the evening’s meal. There is also an opportunity to participate in private demonstration cooking classes taught by Chef Jimmy.

The Lodge’s naturally lit Kitchen provides a cheerful setting for daily breakfast. Along with fresh fruit picked from the property’s orchard, a cereal buffet and freshly baked breads are offered. Chef Jimmy is available to prepare any breakfast craving desired, with eggs gathered each morning from Otahuna’s chicken coop.

For guests that are interested in spending time outdoors, Otahuna Lodge provides a seasonal outdoor swimming pool and whirlpool, an outdoor fireplace and barbecue area, as well as a tennis court. The Estate’s former laundries, which feature the original copper and iron stoves, were converted into a gym facility and a massage suite, while the property’s original game house is now a wine cellar.

Otahuna Lodge also provides travelers with the opportunity to experience New Zealand beyond the gates of the Lodge. The Otahuna team can coordinate excursions to the area’s most scenic gardens, New Zealand’s most celebrated wineries, the craggy Alpine peaks and glaciers of the South Island, as well as the virgin bush in the Waimakariri Gorge for fly-fishing.

About Otahuna Lodge

Otahuna Lodge evokes a romantic British Colonial sensibility through its historic Queen Anne architecture and intimate size. The 30-acre estate provides guests with the quintessential New Zealand Lodge experience featuring exceptional amenities, personalized service and uniquely memorable surroundings. Translated from the Maori language, Otahuna is a “little hill among the hills.” The seven-suite Lodge sits on a hill between the rocky outcrops of the Banks Peninsula, providing commanding views of the Southern Alps and the Canterbury Plains.

Originally built in 1895, Otahuna Lodge served as the primary residence of politician Sir Heaton Rhodes for over 60 years. The property holds a Category 1 Listing from New Zealand’s National Historic Places Trust and is acclaimed as the best example of Queen Anne architecture in Australasia. Americans Hall Cannon and Miles Refo purchased Otahuna in August 2006. The Lodge opened in 2007 following an extensive renovation. Otahuna Lodge is a Relais & Châteaux property and a Virtuoso member.

Kauffman's Fruit Farm and Market in Bird-in-Hand Pennsylvania

2011-08-07T15:00:00.000-04:00

The Kauffman's Fruit Farm and Market is located in a small town in Lancaster County Pennsylvania called Bird-in-Hand on 3097 Old Philadelphia Pike in Bird-in-Hand. Getting there is a lot of fun because it is a beautiful scenic drive from Harrisburg, PA and you will see beautiful country and Amish Farms along the way.

Kauffman's Fruit Farm & Market has the nation's largest online inventory of random-picked bulk foods and you can purchase case lots of many of the canned goods that they have to offer. If you are looking for award winning gourmet food products...they have those too!

You will find award-winning homemade Sweet Apple Cider, Chow-Chow, Jams, Cookbooks, Honey, Birch Beer, Maple Syrup, No-Sugar Added Spreads, Pretzels, Gourmet Baking Mixes, baking and canning mixes, dried fruits, fruit butters, pancake mixes and so much more!

If you are in the area you can stop buy and purchase these gourmet goodies directly from the fruit farm & market and if you are not local you can purchase these gourmet Pennsylvania products directly from Kauffman's online store.

So if you are ever visiting Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, I hope you stop by and visit Kauffman's Fruit Farm & Market in Bird-in-Hand!

Tantalizing New Exhibition: New York’s Good Eats! Our Fabulous Foods

2011-08-02T14:44:00.001-04:00

COOPERSTOWN, N.Y. (03/XX/2011) —Do the words “Buffalo Wings” make your mouth water or do you prefer Shredded Wheat? Either way, you can thank New York State for bringing you both of these foods and many others as well. A new exhibition at The Farmers’ Museum in Cooperstown tells the story of the foods that got their start in New York State. New York’s Good Eats! Our Fabulous Foods opens Saturday, May 28th.

Several foods commonly eaten everyday across the nation were invented or first produced in New York State. Buffalo wings and potato chips are probably the most famous, but Thousand Island dressing was also created in the Empire State, and celery was first commercially farmed here. The exhibition will profile over a dozen foods - everything from Jell-O to Lifesavers to ice cream sundaes.

“New York has a rich agricultural and culinary history,” says Museum Curator Erin Richardson. “The whole family will enjoy learning about their favorite foods, discovering how they got their start, how they’ve changed, and the impact they have had.” In addition to fun food facts, New York’s Good Eats! will showcase important objects and artifacts, such as the oldest known tomato ketchup recipe, classic Jell-O molds, and an original packing crate for Shredded Wheat.

This tantalizing new exhibition promises to be popular—not only because of the topic, but also because of how it is designed. “The Farmers’ Museum has developed an innovative, hands-on approach to engage visitors of all ages with this exhibition,” says Richardson. “From recipe sharing to an interactive family guide to trivia quizzes and coloring stations, there is something fun for everyone.”

New York’s Good Eats! Our Fabulous Foods opens Memorial Weekend on Saturday, May 28th in the Main Barn of The Farmers’ Museum in Cooperstown, N.Y. The exhibition will run through October 2012. It is sponsored in part by Price Chopper, The Tianederrah Foundation, WMHT, Savor New York, and The New York State Council on the Arts. Visit FarmersMuseum.org for more information.

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About The Farmers’ Museum

As one of the oldest rural life museums in the country, The Farmers’ Museum in Cooperstown, New York, provides visitors with a unique opportunity to experience 19th-century rural and village life first-hand through authentic demonstrations and interpretative exhibits. The museum, founded in 1943, comprises a Colonial Revival stone barn listed on the National Register for Historic Places, a recreated historic village circa 1845, a late- nineteenth-century Country Fair featuring The Empire State Carousel, and a working farmstead. Through its 19th-century village and farm, the museum preserves important examples of upstate New York architecture, early agricultural tools and equipment, and heritage livestock. The Farmers’ Museum’s outstanding collection of more than 23,000 items encompasses significant historic objects ranging from butter molds to carriages, and hand planes to plows. The museum also presents a broad range of interactive educational programs for school groups, families, and adults that explore and preserve the rich agricultural history of the region.

The Keystone Elk Country Visitor Center in Benezette Pennsylvania

2011-07-31T15:18:00.005-04:00

If you happen to be in the Clearfield or Benezette area of Pennsylvania you have to stop by the Keystone Elk Country Visitor Center. Even if you're not in the area, it's worth the drive.

The center opened in September 2010. The hours of operation vary depending on the season, daylight so you need to make sure to check their site or call them at 814-787-5167 to confirm times. The center covers 245-acres on Winslow Hill in Benezette Township in Elk County, running adjacent to Elk State Forest and state game lands. The visitor center itself is am 8,400-square foot eco-friendly building which contains a gift shop, restrooms, different wildlife trails (no pets allowed though), observation areas and a story theater.

Within the visitor center is a Story Theater with shows that start on the hour and every half hour. There is a small $3.00 fee for the theater, but trust me it's worth it! I don't want to give away all the fun but rest assured you'll feel like you're experiencing the great wild nature yourself without ever leaving the theater. Your senses will be awakened and utilized during the show, and that's all the information I'm giving you because I don't want to ruin the fun.
Tip: if you can sit in the back right part of the theater.

There are many exhibits at the center for kids of all ages (that means you too, adults!) You'll learn about wildlife, seasons and history of Pennsylvania and be able to experience hands on exhibits and touch screen activities to assist you in your learning experience.

Experience Elk Country in a hands on manner with the touchable exhibits and get up close and be able to feel what an elk antler is like, along with getting up close and personal with a wild turkey or a black bear.

If you want to take a break, you may do so in front of the fireplace where others relax and enjoy the atmosphere.

Horse drawn wagon rides are also available to enable you to experience Elk Country and learn morea bout the elk. You have to contact the center for the ride schedule.

You can also "like" their Facebook page to keep up to date on what's going on.

This post was written by Guest Blogger, Tara Burner. Tara is an eco lovin', health & fitness lovin' foodie who enjoys traveling as well! You can visit http://www.taraburner.com/ to see what else she's up to or where else she's going and been.

Water Golf on City Island in Harrisburg Pennsylvania

2011-07-29T20:52:00.000-04:00

If you live in the Harrisburg Pennsylvania area you know by now that one of the best places to go and play miniature golf happens to be over on City Island. The Water Golf On City Island is an 18 hole minature golf course located in downtown Harrisburg over on the beautiful city island which is nestled on the Susquehanna River.

The mini golf course is open April through October...weather permitting and the schedule changes throughout the season so make sure you check their website out for the most up-to-date information.

It is a beautifully laid out course that both children and adults will enjoy and makes for a great family outting. Current prices for the 2011 season is $6.00 for adults and $5.00 for children.

So if you are looking for a little fun in the Harrisburg area that doesn't cost a lot of money we suggest heading over to city island for a round (or two) of minature golf!

Looking For A New Cell Phone Provider? Check Out Straight Talk 2

2011-07-29T20:02:00.003-04:00

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Straight Talk for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

My husband and I do a lot of traveling around the east coast here in the United States and most of our traveling is road trips and it is very important to us that we have a good reliable cell phone carrier that is affordable and one that is reliable as we use our cell phones all of the time while out on the road.

We are finally ending our contract with our current provider and have been looking for new providers and came across Straight Talk 2 and we are very impressed with what they have to offer, especially that they have NO contracts and NO credit checks! yeah! In addition, there are no activation fees, no reactivation fees and no cancelation fees! Doesn't that sound fantastic? I am so tired of all of these cell phone companies hitting all of us left and right with ridiculous contracts and fees! Our old company roped us into a couple year contract hook, line and sinker and I am glad we are finally done with that!

Straight Talk 2 has a monthly "All You Need" plan which I think is perfect for us as it gives us 1,000 minutes, 1,000 texts and 30 MB of web d

ata and that is impressive! Their unlimited monthly service is only $45 a month and that includes calls, texts, pictures and web! wow! What a huge savings that is! With all of the money I will be saving, I can take more road trips to go out and see our beautiful country. If you are a heavy cell phone user you should check out their $499.99 a year plan that includes unlimited calls, texting, pictures and web! Wow, what a huge bargain that is as just one month of use with our previous carrier was costing us $150 a month! When you are saving this type of money you can call a friend any time you want and spend as much time that you want talking to them and not worry about being hammered with a slew of charges when you use your cell phone.

Straight Talk has an international long distance service too for those of you who have family and friends overseas you can sign up for that which is a flexible prepaid service so you will always be staying within your household's budget when it comes to international calls.

If you need a new phone or just need extra phones for family members you can purchase reconditioned phones from Straight Talk 2 for only $10.00 and they include cameras and MP3 players on them. Wow, that is another huge savings!

I think Straight Talk 2 has everything you need and you should check them out too, especially if you are looking to save money on your cell phone usage. I know my hubby and I are looking forward to switching over so that we will have more money to travel around the east coast! Check out this video by clicking here => mom knows best and see why this mom is telling you to check out Straight Talk 2.

National Watch and Clock Museum in Columbia Pennsylvania

2011-07-26T07:11:00.000-04:00

Have you ever heard of the National Watch and Clock Museum in Columbia, Pennsylvania? If not...you should really check it out if you are planning a trip to Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.

The National Watch and Clock Museum is located at 514 Poplar Street in Columbia, Pennsylvania and officially opened to the public in 1977. The museum is open year round but please visit their web site before planning a trip to obtain their operating schedule.

The museum has over 12,000 items in their collection...from early non-mechanical devices to modern day time pieces. When visiting you will see clocks, time pieces, watches and tools...all related to the clock industry.

If you need a nice family afternoon activity...we highly recommend that you plan an afternoon trip to the National Watch and Clock Museum in Columbia, PA.

How To Keep The Kids Busy and Comfortable While Taking A Long Road Trip

2011-07-23T13:37:00.004-04:00

Are you heading out soon on a road trip or family vacation and taking the kids along? If so, you will want to plan ahead and pack up several things that will keep the kids busy and keep them comfortable while you are traveling. How much you take along with you will depend on the number of children traveling with you and how long you will be traveling by car as children will need a nice variety of things to do so that they don't get too bored.

Here are a few suggestions on things you could purchase and pack to help keep the kids busy and comfortable while traveling this summer.

* Hangman Game (Paper and Pencils)
* Tic, Tac, Toe Game (Paper and Pencils)
* I Spy Something (Color) Game (Paper and Pencils)
* License Plate Collector Game(Paper and Pencils)
* Crossword Puzzles & Activity Books
* Coloring Books and Crayons
* Sticker Books
* Classic Travel-Sized Board Games (Checkers, Chess, Sorry)
* Electronic Hand-Held Games
* Dice Games (Yahtzee)
* Classic Card Games (Uno, Go Fish, etc.)
* DVD's and a DVD Player

In addition to packing games and activities to keep the kids busy while on a road trip you want to pack some cold beverages, various snacks, a few paper bag lunches, extra set of clothing for each person, a first aid kit, travel pillows and a few throw blankets.

Being prepared ahead of time while taking a road trip with the kids will save you a lot of stress and aggravation while out on the road.

Shelly Hill is the owner of the popular travel blog called Pennsylvania and Beyond located at http://pennsylvaniaandbeyond.blogspot.com/ where you can find valuable travel related articles, travel tips and lists of things to see and do across the United States. This article was written by Shelly Hill, copyright 2011, all rights reserved.

The National Mustard Museum in Middleton Wisconsin

2011-07-20T07:22:00.006-04:00

Did you know that there is a National Mustard Museum? I didn't until a friend of mine came back from a recent trip to Wisconsin and told me that her and her husband had visited the museum while on vacation.

The museum is home to the world’s largest collection of mustards and mustard memorabilia and is located in Middleton, Wisconsin. It is open 7 days a week from 10 am to 5 pm local time. (closed during major holidays).

The museum houses a large collection of more than 5,300 mustards from all 50 states and from ore than 60 countries...so if you are a mustard lover...you need to pay them a visit! After your tour through the museum you can visit their store and pick up a few mustard varieties to take back home with you.

I hope to some day take a trip out there to visit the museum since I love various mustard dips, especially a good raspberry honey mustard pretzel dip and I am sure this museum/store has a few of those for me! So...the next time you are visiting the great state of Wisconsin, make sure you plan a trip to the National Mustard Museum.

Bumble Bee Hollow Golf Center in Harrisburg Pennsylvania

2011-07-15T07:55:00.004-04:00

Looking to learn how to play golf? Looking to just practice your golf swing? If so, you need to check out the golfing services and instruction classes that Bumble Bee Hollow Golf Center has to offer. The Bumble Bee Hollow Golf Center is located right off of Linglestown Road in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

This golf center is family owned and operated and is one of our areas finest golf teaching and golf practice centers loved by both residents of the area and by visitors to our area. You will find beginner's to professionals both using this golf facility and you can sign up for classes to learn how to play the sport/game of golf.

Bumble Bee Hollow is open year round although their operating hours can vary depending on the season. You can find their complete schedule, driving directions and rates over on their web site.

Happy Golfing!

10 Ideas on How To Pack A Carry On Bag For Traveling On The Airlines

2011-07-09T11:02:00.000-04:00

10 Ideas on How To Pack A Carry On Bag For Traveling On The Airlines by Marilyn Bohn

I have an adult daughter I love to travel with and we have been fortunate to go several places around the world together. As the saying goes she would pack everything but the kitchen sink and I knew if I had forgotten something she would have it. When she would come home for Christmas we would always laugh that she had to bring two suit cases and a carry on for a seven day stay.

This same daughter came back from a trip to Switzerland and Prague this year and informed me she had only taken a carry-on bag. I was astonished. I asked her if she felt like she needed more and she said no.

Advantages to using only a carry-on bag when flying:

·It is wonderful not checking bags and having to wait in line to check them, and then wait even longer for them to come off the belt to pick up. This saves a lot of time and frustration.

·Knowing that your bag wouldn't be lost.

·Not having heavy baggage to lug up and down stairs and off and on trains or other modes of transportation.

·Packing only the essentials.

·Saving money by not having to pay money to check one or more bags.

So how on earth do you pack just a carry-on bag instead of larger bags? I just went to Japan for 10 days so I have some firsthand knowledge of how to do this. At first I had to receive constant reassurance from my daughter that I could do it because frankly I didn't know how I could do it. When packing only a carry-on there is not the luxury of packing clothing "just in case I might want it", planning ahead is very important. Everything you pack will be used.

·First of all check with your airline, this can be done on line, to find out what their measurement restrictions are. Domestic and International can be different. Measure your bag three ways; length wise, the depth and side to side. Add these three together and you have the size of your bag.

·I still pack everything in plastic bags, by squeezing out the air you can get more in them. Rolling your clothes takes up less space. If you are concerned about wrinkles you can buy wrinkle free clothes, use the hotel's iron, or lay them flat for your outgoing trip and then as you collect things on your trip roll them up for the return trip.

·Wear one blouse and take two other blouses for a total of three. These can be two short sleeves and one long sleeve if going to a warm climate, or reversed for a cold climate. Check the local weather before you pack.

·Wear one long pair of pants and pack two short pair, or reversed depending on the weather. If you like to wear skirts or dresses, change out one of these.

·Take as many socks and underwear as you are willing to wash out—I mean if you don't want to wash only every four to six days then take that many.

·Wear your bulkier shoes and pack your lighter ones. If you will only need one pair, that saves even more space. Two pair might be a good idea if you are planning on going to the beach, out for the evening, or if you think you may get your feet wet.

·For cosmetics take as few as possible and in 3 oz. or smaller sizes as those are the TSA rules. Put all gels and liquids in a quart size plastic zip bag before getting to the airport. Place them in the outside pocket of your luggage and you can take it out easily to go through security.

·Pack enough medications for the duration of your trip and a few extra pills in case of emergencies. Keep these in their original bottles, ask the pharmacists to put them in the smallest bottles available with a label.

·If you need a curling iron or blow dryer buy a travel size. Everyplace I have been are now providing blow dryers. Buy smaller hair brushes.

·Use a bungee cord to attach a jacket to your bag to stroll through the airport, doesn't take up valuable space on the inside of your bag.

I do not recommend the hard suitcases as a carry-on bag because they don't have any pockets on the outside you can put things in. Like your plastic bag with liquids. And other things you may need to tuck in at the last second.

If you travel often within the USA to relatives homes keep things like blow dryers, extra tooth paste, brushes and so forth in a closed container that can be kept out of their way on a shelf or under the bed at their homes. This saves you space when traveling and keeps you organized.

If you travel often keep small size products in the plastic zip lock and keep them with your travel supplies. The next time you travel your personal items will be all ready to go and this will save you time.

If you are traveling with children get them carry-ons they can not only pull, but holds all their clothing and stuff, even if you have to carry it along with yours, a paying customer is allowed one carry-on and one personal item. Too often I see kids just pulling little dinky carry-ons.

You are also allowed a personal item so use your back pack for your book to read, whatever you take to hold your I.D., money, treats, and other things you want to get to without opening the overhead bin. For the children load their backpacks with things they will need for the trip, activities and treats would be the main things to include.

Time management is important to all of us and you will not only make the most of your time but you will see that being organized has its distinct advantages even when traveling.

Marilyn is a creative organizer who helps women, seniors & their families to create space and end clutter in homes and offices by setting up custom made systems.
Visit her website http://www.marilynbohn.com/ for free organizing tips.

Article Source: WAHM Articles

Adventure Sports in Hershey Pennsylvania

2011-07-05T07:46:00.001-04:00

Are you looking for some family fun while visiting Hershey, Pennsylvania? If so, you need to spend an afternoon at Adventure Sports in Hershey! This wonderful family oriented adventure park includes a challenging miniature golf course that is complete with waterfalls, ponds and water fountains. After you are done playing a round of mini golf you can head on over to the Fast & Furious Go-Kart Track and take a few spins around the track for some friendly racing competition. If golfing is your thing...they have a Championship Driving Range so that you can sharpen your golf game.

If you are visiting during our hot summer season...you can play around in the Wet-N-Wild Bumper Boats course! You can bump and splash or simply cruise around the course. The bumper boats have built in squirt guns to add to the fun! Adventure Sports also has some professional outdoor baseball & softball batting cages for you to practice your swing! The range is fully lit so you can even practice your swing at night. After you have spent the day playing at Adventure Sports I am sure you have worked up an appetite so head on over to their Ice Cream Parlor for some delicious ice cream and beverages.

Adventure Sports in Hershey is open daily 10 to 10 Mother's Day through Labor Day and on weekends April, September and October. All hours are weather permitting so check out their web site or call ahead. Have some fun while visiting Hershey, Pennsylvania!

Dutch Wonderland in Lancaster Pennsylvania

2011-07-02T19:05:00.002-04:00

Planning a trip to Lancaster, Pennsylvania? Got small children? If so, I suggest you plan a full day to visit Dutch Wonderland which is an Amusement Park that is totally geared towards children!

Dutch Wonderland has 30 fun-filled rides and 2 kiddie roller coasters that will entertain the little ones for hours! Most of the rides at Dutch Wonderland are for kids only...but they do have about 10 rides that are family-friendly where the adults can ride too!

You enter Dutch Wonderland through a big white and purple castle which is also the parks gift shop. Once you pass through there you will be at the entrance of the park where you pay your admission. Right past the gates you will find several places that sell food and beverages along with restrooms (which I suggest you use before venturing too far into the park). You will find that the park is well laid out and there are maps along the way to direct you around to various rides and amusements. As you are out and about in the park you might just run into a few of the Dutch Wonderland characters. Our wee one enjoyed visiting with the Dutch Wonderland Princess.

You will want to allow a minimum of 4 hours to ride and play at Dutch Wonderland and when you are done...you can find many eating establishments close by to enjoy a good family dinner together. Dutch Wonderland is a lot of fun for families so make sure you plan a trip to visit Dutch Wonderland this summer.

Harbor Light Miniature Golf and Ice Cream Parlor | Wildwood Crest NJ

2011-07-02T07:47:00.000-04:00

Heading to Wildwood, Wildwood Crest or Cape May, New Jersey this summer? If so, You have got to visit the Harbor Light Minature Golf Course and Ice Cream Parlor in Wildwood Crest!

Location: 10200 Pacific Avenue, Wildwood Crest
Phone: (609) 522-1221

Hubby and I were just down in Wildwood during the middle of May, 2011 and we enjoyed a round of minature golf and then treated ourselves to some delicious ice cream at Habor Light Putting and Ice Cream Parlor. We had a great time! The mini golf course is really laid out nicely and everything is well landcaped and pretty to look at. We found their prices to be affordable and their ice cream was absolutely delicious!

Getting there is really easy...we were in North Wildwood and got onto the main drag aka Pacific Avenue and it took us right to the place. Parking was free. We really recommend this place for an afternoon of family fun! We look forward to going back there in early September.

Restaurant.com Offers Money-Saving Tips for Summer Getaways

2011-06-29T12:53:00.002-04:00

Arlington Heights, Ill., June 28, 2011 – Restaurant.com strongly recommends summer vacation travel as important therapy for stress busting and attitude adjusting. Summer travel requires advance planning and a survival kit that includes sunglasses, sunscreen, flip-flops, cold beverages and Restaurant.com gift certificates.

The company brings family and friends together to relax, converse and enjoy dining out. Restaurant.com helps deepen relationships and create lasting memories one dining experience at a time. Restaurant.com also offers savings at more than 18,000 restaurants nationwide.

“Summer vacations can be expensive, especially with high gas prices. So finding ways to save while traveling is always important,” says Cary Chessick, CEO of Restaurant.com. “Restaurant.com dining certificates can help make a difference.”

Leisure travelers are dealing with soaring costs for gas, airfare and lodging, but no one is suggesting the family skip its summer vacation. Travelers usually plan ahead to get airline and hotel discounts, but not savings at restaurants.

“My boyfriend and I literally wrote the book on traveling for free, or very little money,” says Shelley Seale, author of the travel blog, How To Travel For Free. “We use Restaurant.com on most of our trips as one method for saving big money in travel.”

The company encourages vacationers to plan dining destinations ahead of time to find savings. Travelers can search the website by location, then refine their search by cuisine, atmosphere, attire, accepted payment and more.

“When we’re planning our family vacations, I go online to look for the good places to eat and print out Restaurant.com gift certificates before we go,” says Jill Cataldo, author of the nationally-syndicated newspaper column, "Super-Couponing Tips," read by more than 20 million consumers each week.

Now through June 30, summer travelers can save 80 percent on already discounted Restaurant.com gift certificates with the promo code TRAVEL.

“It’s wonderful even when you’re traveling somewhere you’ve never been,” says Cataldo. “You can do your homework on the restaurants and pretty much know what you’re going to spend when you get there. It takes a lot of the pressure off.”

About Restaurant.com
Restaurant.com helps deepen relationships and create lasting memories one dining experience at a time. The company offers savings at more than 18,000 restaurants nationwide with more than 45,000 daily gift certificate options. Restaurant.com brings family and friends together to relax, converse and enjoy dining out. Restaurant.com customers have saved more than $500 million since the Arlington Heights, Ill.-based company was founded in 1999.

Red Mountain Resort in Southwestern Utah

2011-06-27T12:03:00.003-04:00

Nestled in the high desert red rock bluffs of Southwestern Utah, Red Mountain Resort is a one-of-a-kind active destination retreat, inspiring guests to pursue health, balance and joy. With one of the country’s most breathtaking natural settings as its backdrop, the resort features a comprehensive selection of fitness programs, outdoor and hiking adventures, nutritious cuisine and personal discovery services.

Highlights include the year-round outdoor recreation programs at nearby Zion National Park, unlimited on-property fitness classes, and seminars hosted by some of the leading minds in health and wellness. Red Mountain Resort also features the Sagestone Spa & Salon, named one of the top spas by Condé Nast Traveler, Fodor’s, Allure Magazine, Forbes.com and USA Today. The new St. George Municipal Airport, opened in January 2011, allows visitors an easy commute, while Las Vegas is a mere two hour drive from resort property.

Red Mountain is located at 1275 E. Red Mountain Circle, St George, Utah 84738. For reservations call 435.673.4905, toll-free at 877.246.HIKE, or visit RedMountainResort.com.

The Laserdome in Manheim Pennsylvania

2011-06-25T07:35:00.004-04:00

Are you visiting the Harrisburg, Hershey or Lancaster area in Pennsylvania? Do you live in the Central Pennsylvania area? If so, you have got to check out The Laserdome in Manheim, Pennsylvania!

The Laserdome has been in business since 1999 and offers laser tag games and laser concerts, along with a fun-filled arcade. The laser tag is for ages 5 and up and is played in a multi-level arena during 40 minute long sessions.

The laser concerts are held in their Planetarium Theater and are about 30 minutes long. The seating is very comfortable and you will enjoy your laser light show concert set to music that you will enjoy.

You can visit the Laserdome web site to obtain their hours of operation and show schedule. The Laserdome is also great if you live in the area and want to host a Birthday party there...children especially love having their Birthday parties at the Laserdome!

So, the next time you are visiting Central Pennsylvania or if you live in the area and want to experience a fun-filled time with your family and friends, head on over to the Laserdome!

Travel Tips | Packing Checklist For Busy Last Minute Vacation Travelers

2011-06-21T07:51:00.001-04:00

Are you the type of "packer" that starts your packing for a trip or vacation days in advance or do you start your packing at the last minute? Personally...I start 2 weeks in advance as I like to be organized and I like to make sure I pack everything I think we "might" need.

Often times when I speak to others about their packing habits many people tell me they are last minute packers and usually start the day before! Many of these folks just take things out of their drawers and closets and throw them into a suitcase and out the door they go. The bad thing about this is that when you arrive at your destination your items in your suitcase are a wrinkled mess and/or you realize you forgot to pack some important things that you need. Then you have to scour an unfamiliar area to purchase the items you forgot or you have to pay a laundering or hotel service to wash, dry and iron your clothing.

To solve all of those problems I sat down a few years ago and drafted up my own vacation checklist of items that we will always need when we travel. Then approximately 2 weeks before our departure time I get that list out and start our packing. If need be, I head to the store to pick up items that I need to replace or "might" need while we are traveling. Here is an example of our Travel Packing List:

___ Seasonal Clothing for ___ amount of days.
___ Non-Seasonal Clothing for 1 day. (just incase the weather changes).
___ Outerwear (coats, jackets, sweaters, hats, gloves, scarves...depending on destination).
___ Two Pairs of Shoes Per Person
___ Haircare Items (blow dryers, curling irons, shampoo, conditioner, etc.)
___ Toiletries (soap, shower gels, shaving gel, razors, face wash, deoderant, dental care, etc.)
___ Prescription Medications and Over the Counter Medications
___ Eyecare (glasses, contacts, solutions, sunglasses, etc.)
___ Rainy Day Activities For Adults (hand-held electronic games, puzzle books, reading books, games)
___ Kid's Activity Bag (games, toys, arts & crafts supplies, books, etc.)
___ Linens (if appropriate, pillows, beach towels, bath towels, bed linens, etc.)
___ Snacks and Beverages for the Family.
___ Empty Tote Bags, 1 Empty Duffle Bag, 1 Empty Wet/Dry Bag (these can be used to bring wet clothing/towels home or to carry souvenirs back home).
___ Traveling Essentials (passports, hotel reservations, airline tickets, documents, maps, etc.)
___ Equipment (any equipment needed for activities)
___ Miscellaneous Supplies (mending kit, first-aid kit, extra money, etc.)
___ Other ___________________________________________
___ Other ___________________________________________
___ Other ___________________________________________

You can tailor my above list to suit your own family's needs or according to your vacation/trip destination.

Getting yourself organized and starting your packing 2 weeks in advance saves you a lot of time, stress and money once you arrive at your vacation destination. Prepare your packing ahead of time and enjoy your family's vacation time together.

Shelly

Historic Penn's Cave and Wildlife Park | Pennsylvania

2011-06-20T07:24:00.002-04:00

Historic Penn's Cave and Wildlife Park is located in beautiful Centre Hall, Pennsylvania. Penn's Cave is America's only all water cavern and wildlife park so it is a must see if you are visiting the great state of Pennsylvania.

Two separate guided tours are offered. The first one is a one hour underground tour of the water cavern by boat and the second one is a 90 minute above ground tour of the wildlife park by motor vehicle. In my opinion, you should take both tours! A knowledgeable guide takes you through the tour and gives you a history lesson on the caverns and wildlife that exists there.

The limestone cavern glistens with beautiful stalactites and stalagmites in some unusual and in some common shapes. Some famous and common shapes include the Statue of Liberty, the Nittany Lion and the Garden of the Gods. The unique all water cavern was formed from the bed of a shallow sea that existed millions of years ago. Wow...I would of loved to have seen the beauty of that back then!

The Wildlife Park at Penn's Cave is 1500 acres in size and is made up of a beautiful forest and several streams that have been beautifully preserved. As you take the tour you will see white-tailed deer, elk, gray wolves, black bears, bobcats and more! The 90 minute wildlife tour includes visiting the farm where you can see cattle, bison, wild mustangs and other traditional farm animals.

Once you are done touring Penn's Cave you can grab a bite to eat at the cafe or bring your own picnic lunch and eat at one of the picnic pavillions. Once you are done eating you can visit their gift shop to pick up a few mementos of your trip. If you are visting Penn's Cave with a few little ones then you might want to check out their gemstone panning which looks like a lot of fun. (we didn't have time to do that ourselves). Most importantly, visiting Penn's Cave is a great little family trip and we all need to spend more time with our families. Enjoy your visit to Penn's Cave!

Viva la Vacation | 9 Easy Summer Travel Tips

2011-06-16T08:00:00.000-04:00

Spring fever has slowly subsided, but summer fever is swinging into full effect. While summer is always the big travel season in the United States, Americans are changing the way they take vacations. For example, look at the new partnership between Groupon and Expedia. They're following the increasingly popular deal-of-the-day model and offering significant discounts on travel packages that can include airfare, hotels, activities, car rentals and more.

That's not the only way to get to your destination for less, though. Try using these 9 thrifty travel tips to save some money on your next vacation.

1. Discover Off-Peak Destinations
With nearly four-million square miles of land area, the U.S. is a big country. This means there are nearly unlimited places to travel. Destinations in California, like Los Angeles and San Francisco, are some of the most popular spots, but they're also the most expensive. If you think outside the box, you'll find some really cool locations to have a unique vacation without the crowds.

2. Shop at Auctions
Is your heart set on luxurious accommodations, but your bank account doesn't match up? The auctions at travel sites like LuxuryLink.com can help you find accommodations, spa credits, meal vouchers and free drinks for as much as 65 percent below the typical retail price. Auction king eBay also offers a variety of discount vacation packages in their travel section.

3. Go Back to Campus
Traveling with a large group? Often, hotels will offer discounts to large groups, but staying a whole week is still very expensive. Many colleges and universities rent out empty dorms during the summer, which can save everyone a bundle. It generates a little extra money for the college and the price is typically significantly less than hotel rates. If you're traveling with a soccer team or church group, a college campus offers more space and freedom for the kids to play outdoors, instead of running amok around a hotel.

4. Use Discount Gift Cards
Most major travel companies are on board with gift cards. Purchase gift cards at sites like GiftCardGranny.com for serious savings on rental cars and airfare. Discount gift cards for airlines like Southwest usually sell out within minutes, so signing up for email alerts can help put you at the front of the line.

5. Make Your Own Food
Eating out at new restaurants is one of the best parts of traveling, but there's no need to eat out three meals a day. Instead, plan to eat only one meal out. Many hotels and even hostels offer some sort of free breakfast, typically consisting of fruit, cereal and pastries. Also consider booking a hotel that offers a mini kitchenette so you can prepare meals to enjoy in-room or pack as lunch for a day exploring the city.

6. Enjoy Membership Perks
Membership in clubs like AAA or even credit cards can provide some unexpected travel benefits. AAA members can find discounts at hotels, restaurants and local merchants. They'll also hook you up with complimentary tour books and travel maps.

Many credit cards will help with affordable travel insurance, baggage protection, rental car protection and even travel-delay protection. Find out what your card covers before you go so you don't end up shelling out extra cash.

7. Giving Back to Get Away
If rest and relaxation are less of a priority than simply getting out of town, there's always an abundance of volunteer opportunities. Volunteering is a great way to connect with other people who care about the same causes. It also provides a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction. Sites like VolunteerGuide.org can help you find opportunities all over the world. Many times, food and lodging are included when you commit to a term of a week or two. All you have to do is get there.

8. Find Secret Savings
Travelocity is taking a new approach to finding great hotel prices with their Top Secret Hotels. Give them a little information about when and where you're traveling and they'll give you a list of hotels with ratings and prices. Once you pick one and book your stay -- saving up to 50% off the original price -- they'll reveal the name and details of the hotel you selected.

9. Travel With Apps
Smartphones go where you go, meaning they can help you save while you're on vacation.

If you're taking an old-fashioned road trip, the GasBuddy app can find the lowest prices on gas for every leg of your journey. After fueling up the car, Meal Ticket will help track down coupons and reviews for nearby restaurants.

When you still have work to do before you relax, don't bother paying the ridiculous Internet fees at hotels. The Free Wi-Fi Finder app tracks down local hotspots in 144 different countries.

Consumer savings expert, Andrea Woroch, is available for an in-studio, satellite or skype interviews to share "Viva la Vacation: 9 Easy Summer Travel Tips" with your audience. As a media expert source, Andrea has been featured on NBC's Today Show, FOX & Friends, MSNBC, ABC News NOW and many more. To view recent interviews or get more information, visit AndreaWoroch.com or follow @AndreaWoroch on Twitter to receive daily savings tips.

To book a segment or arrange an interview, please call 970-672-6085 or email andrea@kinoliinc.com.

Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course in Pennsylvania

2011-06-15T08:00:00.001-04:00

Love to play the slots? Love to play table games? Love the fun and entertainment that you find at a casino? If so, you need to check out the Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course in Pennsylvania!
The Hollywood Casino is located in Grantville, Pennsylvania...just outside the capital city of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania and features over 2,450 slot machines ranging from .01 cent to $100 per game and 56 fantastic table games for you to enjoy!

If you love good food, they have fine dining options, casual dining options and snacks & beverages are available. If you are looking for great deals and promotions that are offered at Hollywood Casino, please click --- HERE and if you love live entertainment and musical performances, you can get the entertainment schedule --- HERE!

We love going out to Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course in Pennsylvania as we always have a lot of fun playing the slot machines, eat good food and enjoy fine entertainment. If you plan on visiting the Harrisburg, Hershey or Lancaster area in Pennsylvania, we hope you will check out the Hollywood Casino.

Bumble Bee Hollow Miniature Golf Course in Harrisburg PA

2011-06-10T07:43:00.004-04:00

Visiting the Harrisburg, Pennsylvania area and looking for something to do? Or...do you live in the surrounding Harrisburg area and looking for a fun family activity to do with the kids this summer? If so, you need to check out Bumble Bee Hollow Golf Center which is located right on Linglestown Road in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

During the summer season Bumble Bee Hollow is open from 9 am to 10 pm, 7 days a week. This beautifully landscaped mini golf course is well-loved by the serious and recreational miniature golf players here in the area. You will enjoy the beautiful flowers, wooden walk-way bridges, mini ponds (complete with live goldfish swimming around in them) as well as the friendly service you get from the staff. Located right beside Bumble Bee Hollow is a local Subway where you can pick up some sandwiches and drinks after playing a few rounds of mini golf.

You can find driving directions, their schedule and rates by visiting the Bumble Bee Hollow web site online. Happy Golfing!

Take Dad Golfing To Niagra Falls, Ontario for a Father's Day Getaway!

2011-06-08T23:58:00.001-04:00

NIAGARA FALLS, Ont. — The rolling fairways and manicured greens of Niagara’s finest golf courses offer the perfect setting for spending time with Dad on Father’s Day.

Our fathers have been there for us over the years as mentors and friends. Father’s Day is your chance to show him how much you appreciated his influence in your life, and you’ll want to do it in a way that is both special and memorable.

“Time with your dad on the golf course is precious, but it’s more about the quality time you will share together than it is the score on your card,” says Anthony Annunziata, Vice-President of Marketing at the Marriott Fallsview Resort & Spa and the Marriott Gateway on the Falls. “Of course, Niagara Falls offers so much more for you and your dad to do after you walk off the 18th green. Father’s Day in Niagara Falls is a Father’s Day that won’t soon be forgotten.”

Both the Marriott Fallsview and Marriott Gateway are running a special in honour of Father’s Day. The Marriott Golf Getaway package, in partnership with three of the top golf courses in the area — Legends on the Niagara, Grand Niagara and Thundering Waters — includes:

· One night Fallsview Room at either the Marriott Fallsview or Marriott Gateway (based on double occupancy)

· Fallsview Breakfast for two

· 18 holes of golf (1 for each person) and cart at any one of the select courses

· Marriott Golf Getaway packages start at $129 per person (based on double occupancy); this limited time offer expires June 18, 2011.

“Niagara Falls has one of the longest golf seasons in Canada,” says Annunziata. “The courses have already been open for nearly two months, and with all the rain we have had this spring, the fairways and greens are in great shape. It is the perfect place to bring your father to show him how much he means to you.”

Visit http://www.niagarafallsmarriott.com/golf or http://www.niagarafallsgateway.com/golf or call Marriott Fallsview at 1-888-501-8916 or Marriott Gateway at 1-800-618-9059 for more details.

Hardwood Artisans ~ Furniture Maker Based Out Of Virginia & Maryland

2011-06-06T14:36:00.008-04:00

"Hardwood Artisans" is a green, local and employee-owned furniture maker in Northern Virginia and Maryland. We started in 1976 selling loft beds out of a basement in Alexandria and now we have a local factory, 70 employees and 4 stores conveniently located in Northern Virgina and Maryland.

Our furniture is built to order out of solid wood by our expert craftsmen and designed to exceed our customer's wildest dreams. Our customers can even stop by the factory to see their furniture being built. With the leftovers from larger pieces of furniture, we build many beautiful accessories such as clipboards and suzy cubes; our fun portable wood cubbies. All of our wood is from sustainable growth forests, most of which are 300 miles away or less.

Stepping into our stores is akin to walking through a museum, rather than just a "store" selling furniture. It's an experience you have to see for yourself to believe! To learn more about us, visit http://www.hardwoodartisans.com/, check out our facebook page and send us a tweet @hardwoodartisan! We use our twitter and facebook page to answer any and all wood questions! "

~ Hardwood Artisans

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I would like to thank Hardwood Artisans for being a guest blogger on my blog today. I am looking forward to visiting them and taking a tour of their factory later this fall when hubby and I go on vacation. ~ Shelly

The Beautiful Hereford Inlet Lighthouse in North Wildwood

2011-06-05T08:16:00.000-04:00

One of my favorite lighthouses is in the Village of Anglesea, North Wildwood New Jersey and its called the Hereford Inlet Lighthouse. This lighthouse sits about 3 blocks from our condo and overlooks the Inlet and the Atlantic Ocean.

It has beautifully landscaped grounds with numerous floral gardens and butterfly habitats that you can stroll around in for free! There is only a charge if you decide to go inside the lighthouse for a tour. The lighthouse is open year around. The lighthouse is a working lighthouse as well as a museum. The lighthouse was built in 1874. You can read about the history of this lighthouse on their wonderful web site.

Behind the lighthouse and overlooking the bay is a mini cement boardwalk with comfortable park benches that you can sit on and view the ocean and scenery. There is also a nice clean beach behind the lighthouse which is great for a romantic picnic lunch and that beach isn't as crowded as other Wildwood beaches. In addition, there is an old wooden Wildwood row boat in the back that you and your family can sit in for picture taking time.

The photograph on the right shows the beautiful ocean view behind the lighthouse. The photograph on the left shows my hubby standing beside the Hereford Inlet Lighthouse welcome sign that is on the backside of the lighthouse. Look at those lush green gardens in the background! We love walking behind the lighthouse on the mini cement boardwalk and trails and we love walking the streets in front of the lighthouse.

Within walking distance of the Hereford Inlet Lighthouse are several Irish pubs, pizza shops and convenience shops that you can visit for lunch, dinner or a snack.

We hope you take the time to visit the Hereford Inlet Lighthouse in North Wildwood, New Jersey the next time you are visiting the area. It's a beautiful place to visit!