Archive for the ‘Travel with kids’ Category

Turtle Hospital in Marathon, Florida: Be sure to pay a shelled friend a visit!

Monday, March 2nd, 2009
Be sure to pay a visit to these special patients the next time you are in the Florida Keys.

Be sure to pay a visit to these special patients the next time you are in the Florida Keys.

Turtle Hospital?  What’s a turtle hospital?  We were staying in Marathon, Florida which is nicely situated between Key Largo and Key West.  Our drive to Key West took us past an unusual sight, especially if you are from northern Canada, like we are.  Glad we stopped.

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Florida Keys and the Everglades – See the Gators close up at Gator Park!

Friday, January 23rd, 2009

“Go ahead, make my day!”

We can’t bear heading straight home to our climate of snow and ice after spending weeks in the tropics. Having just finished off a 14-day adventure through the Caribbean islands and up the Amazon, we felt a short stay in the Florida Keys would help to ease the pain of transition. And so it did, in spite of the unusually cool temperatures.

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Planning a trip to Brazil? Here’s the lowdown on the drugs you’ll need

Tuesday, November 18th, 2008

Yes, drugs. And the accompanying side effects.

It’s not possible to travel to many countries today without first getting topped up with a variety of inoculations and prescription drugs. Take Brazil, for instance. Getting the plane ticket or the cruise ship ticket is the easy part. Then it’s time to roll up your sleeve. The sleeve on your needle arm, that is.

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How to Choose the Right Cruise Ship for Your Family!

Tuesday, October 21st, 2008
Peggy's Cove, Nova Scotia

Peggy's Cove, Nova Scotia

Bored kids?  Bored grandparents?  Bored you?  Is there a cruise line that is perfect for the entire family?  Yes.

With the huge number of cuise lines to choose from, and the even bigger number of individual ships in the line, the task of choosing a ship that will be perfect for your family might seem impossible.

There is hope.  And help.  One of the Internet’s most popular social sites for cruisers has come up with it “Editors’ Picks” for 2008.  Among the site’s conclusions includes the BEST family ships and the BEST ships for fitness buffs.

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San Antonio – An Awesome Value Vacation Especially After Labor Day!

Thursday, September 4th, 2008

Yellow Rose Named Leonardo

San Antonio, Texas is, simply put, one heck of a great vacation destination.  It is family-friendly, it is easy to navigate, it offers many activities and adventures, and there are no crowds right after Labor Day.   But even when there are crowds (like on the Labor Day weekend), San Antonio is a must-see.  And, a caution here, a couple of days just won’t be enough time.

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Our Disappearing Heritage along Western Canada Roadways!

Friday, August 22nd, 2008

Old Building in Alberta

I felt a pang, no, a pain, that swept through me in an instant as I beheld the old decrepit building with its weathered facade and its old-fashioned architectural detals.  The pain was one of nostalgia, a yearning of things long gone, things that made my childhood magical, things that most children will never understand in today’s fast food world.

Except for my grandkids.

As long as I can walk and talk, as long as I can get into a car, and pack them along with me, my grandchildren will be introduced to my past, my heritage — a heritage in danger of disappearing altogether under the pressures of weather, urban sprawl, industry, and . . . time.

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Take a Trip Back to Yesterday: Travel the Historic Route 66 for a Magical Adventure!

Wednesday, July 30th, 2008

Blue Car in Seligman Arizona by Sheree Zielke

There are almost no words to describe traveling an authentic portion of Route 66.  If time machines exist, then this is one of the finest. 

There is an ambience of days gone by, the good old days, when Mom and Dad packed up the old Chevy with 3.5 kids, a dog, a cooler, Dad in his best driving hat, and Mom in her finest traveling clothes, and hit the road in search of adventures, or maybe a new life on the other side of Amercia.

The atmosphere, the sense of nostalgia along “The Mother Road” is so poignant, so acute, that it will bring tears to your eyes.  At least, it did, to mine. 

My husband and I set out yesterday in search of Americana history.  We left Vegas about 7 AM and reached Kingman, Arizona about 3 hours later.  With a few stops in the desert along the way, we had set up the perfect photo safari.  But we had no idea just how perfect our day was going to be.  Because the adventure that is Route 66 still lay ahead of us.

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The Best Show to See in Las Vegas? The “V” Show!

Monday, July 28th, 2008

 

I’m jaded when it comes to variety acts.  I have owned an entertainment company for more than a quarter century, and there really isn’t much out there that turns my crank. I have had my fill of jugglers, magicians and comedians.  I am married to a magician, and I still teach interactive comedy theatre, so, it is with great pleasure that I can say I have found a really good variety show in Vegas that’s not only fresh and exciting — it’s actually fun.

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New York City’s Central Park Zoo – Terrific? Or Just Too Tiny?

Monday, July 14th, 2008

Emerald Boa at Central Park Zoo by Sheree Zielke

Harry Smith, from the CBS Early Show, referred to this zoo as a “zoolet.”  And he’s right.  New York’s Central Park zoo is a very tiny animal sanctuary, but it does prove the old adage that “Good things come in small packages.”

The Central Park zoo is the perfect destination if your time and your cash are a little short.  The admission price is tiny, and it’ll take only a couple of hours to look around, but the animals are very exotic, and the little haven has a very inviting ambience.

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Riding the Rails – Take a day trip on the Amtrak! Affordable and fun!

Thursday, July 10th, 2008

Philadelphia Amtrak Train Station by Sheree Zielke

If you have never taken the train, or you haven’t ridden the rails in some time, then check out the nearest Amtrak station.  Especially when exploring a new city. That’s the Philadelphia Amtrak station showing above.

With the high cost of rental cars, gasoline, insurance, and with the irritation of battling traffic in a strange city, travel by Amtrak train is like a gift from heaven.

My husband and I have just decided to include at least one Amtrak day trip while traveling, and we are very glad we did.  We took the Amtrak between New York City and Philadelphia, and loved the trip.

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