Since my dad has retired, my parents have been able to do a bit of traveling. Chris and I are trying to convince them to take a trip to Colorado. They could fly into Colorado Springs and then drive around to Rocky Mountain National Park. But they are also interested in going to Branson, Missouri. There are a few Branson condos that look really fabulous. I think they would have fun either way!
Have you been to Branson Missouri ? Our neighbors just went there last summer and had a wonderful time! I would love to go there this summer. We were looking at all the different lodging options, and found quite a selection. I really like the Cabins at Grand Mountain. They are only a couple of blocks away from Country Music Boulevard. Plus, they have fully equipped kitchens and jacuzzi tubs.
I'd like to go to the Grand Country Music Hall to see the Amazing Pets show. I know we'd also enjoy Legends in Concert. It features artists from Elvis and Buddy Holly to Garth Brooks and Patsy Cline. Silver Dollar City theme park looks like it would be a really fun place to visit, although I haven't been on a roller coaster in years. The park is located in the terrain of the Ozarks. They have something called The GIANT Swing that takes you up and down through barn doors at extremely high speeds. Judging by the pictures, it looks pretty scary! I hope that we can get there soon!
I think it would be really neat to own an RV. Since we have a young son, and a very active dog, traveling with everyone can be a challenge. But if we had an RV, it would make life much easier. I know that american motorhomes have really stylish, practical, and roomy RVs that would accommodate our family.
I would love to take an RV to Rocky Mountain National Park. But, first I would love to see Santa Fe, New Mexico. We have family that used to live near Albuquerque, and we were never able to visit there. Colorado is such a beautiful state. I think it would be really fun to drive there during the summer. We traveled there in the summer once, and it was just gorgeous.
This would all be quite an adventure, but I would also like to see the Smoky Mountains. A sightseeing trip to Tennessee would also be exciting. Having an RV would just be so convenient. We would not have to board our dog, or have my parents babysit him. He could come along for the ride. Plus, since Cameron loves to ride in the car now, I'm sure he would love it all. I'm hoping that one day we can make all of this happen!
After doing BeccA's meme earlier, I've been thinking about different places in the United States that would make great vacation destinations. I've always wanted to visit the Outer Banks of North Carolina. I'd also love to see Boston, Cape Cod, and Martha's Vineyard. Maybe we'll be able to take a trip to the East Coast someday. I'd also love to go skiing in Colorado one year.
Give Me Five vacation destinations you've already enjoyed or would like to some day.
What a fun topic this week, Becca! I can't wait to go on vacation this year. We are hoping to go to either Cancun or Pensacola, Florida this year. I'd like to go before it gets too hot, like maybe in April or May. But, we'll see! Here are five of the vacation destinations that we've enjoyed over the past (almost) nine years.
1. 
Breckenridge, Colorado
2. 
San Francisco, California
3. 
Maui, Hawaii
4. 
Cancun, Mexico
5. 
Pensacola, Florida
To join in the fun, head on over to BeccA's Buzz
In 2003, we took a summer vacation to Hawaii. We flew to Maui from Houston, and then we also went to Oahu. In the city of Honolulu, we had a wonderful time. I had never been snorkeling before, so this was quite an experience for me! We also took a couple of sightseeing tours, which were quite memorable. While snorkeling in Honolulu, Chris refused to wear his flippers. I guess he thought that they were goofy looking. Well, he accidentally grazed a sea urchin with his foot, and long story short, we ended up taking a break to go have a little purple thing removed from his big toe. It wasn't very painful, but the nurse told him that if he hadn't removed it, he would have ended up with a giant swollen foot the next day. The moral of the story is, wear your flippers!
Maui was beautiful. We drove to the east end of the island, on the "Road to Hana" and saw beautiful cascading waterfalls. We also found black sand beaches, sea turtles, and lots of tropical fish. I would love to one day be able to visit the Hawaiian Islands again!
At Trusted Tours & Attractions, we were greeted with a friendly and knowledgeable staff. If you sign up for their newsletter, you might even win a handheld GPS device!
Are you going anywhere for Spring Break this year? We would love to visit Florida again. Last year, we went to Pensacola Beach in April. The weather was warm, but not too hot. Plus, there were not that many people there. Cameron stayed with both sets of grandparents while we were gone for two nights. I would love to find a cheap flight to Orlando so that we could bring Cameron to Disney World. I am not sure if he is ready for all of it yet, but I think he would still enjoy it. I would also love to bring him to Sea World.
Are you planning a vacation for the summer of 2008? Have you considered an Alaska cruise vacation? My parents have always wanted to see Alaska, and some friends of theirs recently took a trip there. There are two very helpful websites that you can use to book vacations to Alaska as well as all over the world. At TravelStoreUSA.com, you'll find experts that can plan the perfect trip for you and your family! Another great site, Cruiselocators.com, is the best spot for finding the cruise that most closely suits your personal needs. If you want to start planning your next vacation or cruise, you should check out these sites today!
This past weekend, my husband and I visited Dealey Plaza in Dallas. I have included a few of the pictures we took. I had always wanted to visit this site, so I was very excited to see it in person. After watching the Zapruder film, along with many different documentaries, I had an idea of what to expect. However, I was so surprised by how small everything appeared. The distance between the Texas School Book Depository building and the spot that JFK was assassinated was surprisingly short. Also, the grassy knoll fence area was a lot closer to the road than I expected.
After watching the haunting Zapruder film so many times, I think I was desensitized to the horror of the event. Chris actually stood in the same spot as Zapruder and took some video of cars going by. Standing there, we could just feel the shock and grief that the nation must have experienced.
This week I'm listing thirteen facts relating to John F. Kennedy and/or his assassination in 1963.
1. The 1961 Lincoln Continental, open-top, modified limousine in which JFK was riding is currently at the Henry Ford museum in Dearborn Michigan.
2. The motorcade route appeared in the newspaper on November 21st, the day before the shooting.
3. The Warren Commission released their report on September 24, 1964.
4. The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) sells microfilm copies of the Warren Commission Report. It can also be viewed at US Government depository libraries throughout the US.
5. The Zapruder family created an enhanced version of the film that is much clearer than the original film in NARA's custody. The copyright of the Zapruder film is owned by the Sixth Floor Museum in Dallas Texas.
6. Almost thirty years after the assassination, Congress enacted the President John F. Kennedy Assassination Records Collection Act of 1992. The Act mandated that all assassination-related material be housed in a single collection in the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA).
7. It was planned that Kennedy would travel from the airport in a motorcade through downtown Dallas (which included Dealey Plaza) to give a speech at the Dallas Trade Mart.
8. Even though I have bought into the conspiracy theories in the past, there really is overwhelming evidence to prove that Oswald did it.
9. Vice President Johnson took the oath of office at 2:38 p.m. while on board Air Force One, just before it departed Love Field.
10. JFK's funeral was held on November 25, 1963, which was his son's third birthday.
11. The Kennedy family had just experienced the tragic loss of a son in August of 1963. Their son, named Patrick Bouvier Kennedy, was born prematurely and died of what is now called Pulmonary Distress Syndrome.
12. In 2002, it was released that President Kennedy suffered from Addison's Disease, which is adrenal insufficiency. Apparently, he was in quite a bit of pain throughout his life.
13. My favorite quote from his Jan. 20, 1961 Inaugural Address: "And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you - ask what you can do for your country. My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man."
I would love to take a trip to Canada this year. My aunt and uncle have relatives there, and have visited many times. They love the Bloedel Floral Conservatory. It's a great place to see rare tropical birds. I would love to visit the Capilano Suspension Bridge/Trading Post. Capilano Suspension Bridge takes you to towering evergreens, serene trails and the award-winning attraction, Treetops Adventure. Seven different suspension bridges, some reaching as high as 100 feet, take you high above the forest floor. There are some really great deals on flights to Vancouver right now. I hope that we can get there one day!
Are you planning a trip this holiday season? Making Hotel Reservations has never been so easy and affordable! Check out www.hotelreservations.com to find great deals to places like New Orleans or Las Vegas. I checked the price of a trip to New York using this website and compared the prices to the same trip using another leading on-line competitor. The prices were much better with www.hotelreservations.com! If you're looking for the perfect motel, hotel, or even resort, you should check them out today!
I have always wanted to take a sight seeing trip to San Diego. We went to San Francisco in 2000, and had a great time. But the next time we plan a trip to California, I'd like to see San Diego. My aunt went there in the '80s, and I remember all of her awesome pictures of the San Diego Zoo. I would love to bring Cameron to see the animals there. What an experience that would be!
Trusted Tours and Attractions offers different packages that I've been looking into. My favorite package is "The San Diego Passport." It includes a Trolley Tour or the San Diego SEAL Tour which involves a trip out on the water in a Coast Guard approved Hydra-Terra amphibious vehicle. I would definitely pick the latter of those. The San Diego Passport also allows you to visit the San Diego Zoo, with unlimited use of the San Diego Zoo tour bus, Aerial tram, as well as admission to the Children's Zoo. This would be our main reason for visiting San Diego! Also included with the San Diego Passport, is the San Diego Harbor tour and tickets to the Maritime Museum as well as the Museum of Art. I'm hoping we can make this trip within the next two years.
If you sign up for the Trusted Travels newsletter, from Trusted Tours and Attractions, you will automatically be entered to win four free tickets to attractions and tours in one of twenty one different cities! Check out their site and plan your San Diego adventure today!
Want to get away this holiday season? Are you looking for a peaceful getaway to take your mind off of the Christmas shopping madness? If you are planning a winter vacation, you should definitely check out the luxury hotels Quebec has to offer. Blueberry Lake Resort in Quebec is just half an hour north of Mon Tremblant resort. You'll find a fabulous log home with all the amenities. This is also an ideal spot for a summer vacation. It is the perfect place to spend quality time with family and friends. Blueberry Lake offers a gorgeous natural landscape that you will never forget!
Are you looking to take a trip from the UK to Australia? Right now you can find great deals on flights to Sydney by using DialAFlight. Check out www.dialaflight.com to find the best Holiday Offers! Call today to speak with an experienced, friendly, UK travel consultant. For Cheap Flights, check out DialAFlight!
It has always been a dream of mine to travel to Europe, and drive around the beautiful countryside. There are so many fantastic, historical cities to see, but I would definitely want to visit Paris, Barcelona, and Berlin. It's important to be aware of the differences in driving standards between the United States and the countries in the European Union.
If we were able to take this dream vacation, I would want to hire a driver. But if you have been issued a driver's license in a European Union country, it is valid throughout the EU. If you are planning to drive yourself, you should also bring along your vehicle registration document. Your car insurance policy should provide the minimum amount of coverage required by law. Just make sure that the coverage extends to travel in other countries. Safety is obviously an important issue as well. Make sure that you do not exceed the posted speed limits in each country, and seat belts should always be worn. Also, note that using mobile phones while driving is forbidden in all EU countries. Finally, never drink and drive. The legal limits for blood alcohol level varies between 0.2mg/ml and 0.8 mg/ml, and some countries do not allow any alcohol in the blood while driving. You should never drink and drive, period!
In Barcelona, I would love to stay at the 1898 Hotel Barcelona. As you can see, it is a magnificent, historic, building that has been rated a four star hotel. It has lots of different types of suites and room categories, which are all soundproofed! They include the latest technology as well. Guests have access to seven different period rooms, five meeting rooms, a business center and two libraries. They even have a spa system and an indoor pool! What a fantastic place to stay!
In Paris, I would want to stay at the Fouquet's Barriere Hotel Paris. It is a five star luxury hotel in the heart of the city. This place is so gorgeous, and it comes with every fine amenity you can think of! I am so interested in the history of this city. I would spend all day in the museums!
In Berlin, the Schlosshotel Im Grunewald Berlin would be the perfect choice. It is located in a park setting in one of Berlin's most exclusive residential areas. This is also a five star hotel. It features a beautiful art gallery as well as a gorgeous library which has painted ceilings.
I hope to one day make this dream vacation become a reality!
I have always wanted to take a real vacation to New York City. My husband and I did get to go there for one night in 2000. His company was sponsoring a Juvenile Walk for Diabetes, and I was able to attend as well. It was so fun! We walked across the Brooklyn Bridge, and we saw Wall Street and other landmarks (all while speed walking). It was great and everything, but I'd love to go back and spend some time in the wonderful museums. The Metropolitan Museum of Art is what I would most like to visit. I would also love to go to the top of the Empire State Building!
If you know someone that loves New York City, the New York CityPass would make a great gift for them this holiday season. They'll receive a little booklet containing tickets to six of New York's icon attractions. Plus, you'll only pay half the combined admission prices. The CityPass includes: 1 ticket to the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the new Greek and Roman galleries, 1 ticket to the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), 1 ticket to the Guggenheim Museum, and 1 ticket to the American Museum of Natural History. Also, they'll get a trip to the top of the Empire State Building Observatory. In addition, it comes with a tour of the Manhattan skyline from the water while on the Circle Line Sightseeing Cruise. Your loved one will also get a map, as well as great tips on the best times to visit each location. By not having to wait in ticket lines you'll save precious time!
A New York CityPass is only $65 for adults (compared to $130), and $49 for youths 12-17 (a value of $89.50.) This CityPass Winter Special starts December 15, 2007, and runs through March 15, 2008. So, the booklet will be valid for three entire months! What a fabulous gift idea for someone special this year!
This weekend we attended my brother's wedding in San Antonio. This is a photo of my husband, myself, and my parents. Wow, everyone's eyes are open! This hardly ever happens! The wedding was at a small chapel near the Riverwalk. If you've ever been to San Antonio, you know how pretty the weather is around this time of year. Thankfully, everyone had a safe and happy trip for the weekend. One of my aunts who was unable to attend the wedding, stayed with Cameron at our house. She enjoyed her time with Cam, and we had a fun little getaway!
To join in the fun, go to Weekend Snapshot.
Wouldn't you just love to get away right now? I'd love to take a romantic little trip with my husband. We've always wanted to visit Cape Cod or Martha's Vineyard. If we ever do make plans to visit that area, I would love to stay in a beautiful home. WeNeedaVacation.com is a great place to find the best Martha's Vineyard vacation rentals. You can search through thousands of beach houses and cottage listings on the Cape, Martha's Vineyard, and Nantucket. They also have rental listings in Florida. I would love to stay at one of their luxury condos in Sarasota. Be sure to check out their summer photo contest as well!
Have you heard about all the fun Events in St. Augustine? Uptown Saturday Night is happening from 5pm to 9pm on the last Saturday of October and November in the Uptown San Marco Shopping District, St. Augustine. There will be so much to see! Antique stores, galleries, and lots of shops in between Ripley's Museum and the Mission of Nobre de Dios will stay open for this event. If you are going to be in the area on October 27th or November 24th, you should check it out! The focus for these two dates will be antiques!
I love antiquing, so this is what interests me the most about the event. St. Augustine is the oldest city, so what better place to find the best antiques! Rare books, antiques, and even Spanish treasures will be easily found. With live music, and fabulous weather, what a fun experience for the entire family! There are even going to be workshops held by antique dealers! Some of the bookstores will also be holding book signings by local authors. There are plenty of shops from which to choose.
What an awesome time of year to experience the beautiful weather and culture of South Florida! If you live nearby, or are planning a trip, you must experience this fun event for yourself!
Wouldn't you just love to travel to Europe! I have never been outside of North America, but I would love to be able to travel abroad one day. I would love to go to Ireland, England, and Italy. Now to just find the time and money to be able to go! I have met several bloggers that live in other parts of the world, so I'd even have someone to go and visit. It could happen!
When we went to Cancun a few years ago, we brought an international prepaid phone card with us. However, figuring out how to get through to the US was harder than we thought it would be. Plus, there were hidden fees that we didn't know about. We kept calling the front desk until we finally figured it all out. I wish we had known about Pingo back then. With PingoMobile, we could have used our cell phone! PingoMobile can save you up to 90% on international calls from your cell phone (even if you have an international cell phone plan). They also work with any phone carrier.
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The year before Cameron was born, we took a three day trip to Cancun, Mexico. It was so awesome. We stayed at the Riu Palace Las Americas, which was less than a year old in 2004. They had the most amazing pool! It was enormous. It had beautiful waterfalls, in-water lounge chairs, and it even had a bar! This was one of those all-inclusive places where the food, drinks, and entertainment are included in the original package price. Also, the resort overlooked the beach, which was just a few yards from the pool. What a fun vacation! 
We would love to go back there around Thanksgiving this year. But now we're really on a budget. I've been pricing different packages on-line. Even if we don't go this year, we definitely want to go back sometime soon. We are really lucky in that both sets of grandparents jump at the chance to babysit.
There are lots of different on-line travel websites that offer packages. All you have to do is enter in your basic travel plans, and you can find out exactly how much the trip will cost. I love the fact that there are no hidden expenses. For example, you enter in your travel destination, along with the dates you wish to go and whether or not you want to include the flight and/or a rental car. The sites will give you all the available hotel options based on the information you enter. You can then choose the hotel you wish to stay at. Since we were able to get such a great deal through their site in 2004, we are definitely going to use hotelreservations.com to book our next trip.What's really neat is that you can click on the hotel and see pictures of exactly where you'll stay. You can even use it to find the best deals on vacation rentals.
Hotel Reservations has given me the following deal on a trip to Cancun in November: Roundtrip flight for two adults leaving Houston, TX, to Cancun, Mexico, with 3 nights/4 days at the Riu Palace Las Americas Resort, for $661 per person! I entered the exact same dates, and specifications using another leading on-line competitor, and found the price to be $760 per person. Wow, that's about $100 cheaper per person! When we decide to book this vacation, I'm definitely going to use this site. I can't wait!
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