Archive for the ‘Travel with kids’ Category

Spend a day in Philadelphia – take the train from New York City – it’s a GREAT idea!

Sunday, July 6th, 2008
Click to play A Day in Philly 08
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Cheers,
Sheree Zielke

New York City – Fourth of July Celebration 2008!

Saturday, July 5th, 2008
Click to play Fourth of July NYC 2008
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Avoid those airline checked bag fees: Get smart with your carry-ons!

Thursday, June 26th, 2008

Photo by Sheree Zielke

No, not all the airlines are charging for the first checked bag, but will they hold out for much longer?  We may as well get used to traveling lighter now in anticipation of even higher fees down the road.

Those fees will really add up at $15-$25 per checked bag EACH way when flying to that dream destination.

But do you really need the extra baggage?  Probably not.  If you choose an appropriate carry-on bag and pack more efficiently, you’re likely to find that you don’t miss hauling around all those extra suitcases.

There are great travel sites with clever tips designed to help you beat the airlines at their own game.

Read on . . .

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Foreign travel can be dangerous: Visit these sites for traveler reports

Saturday, June 14th, 2008

Alberta Pond by Sheree Zielke

This is a typical sight from an Alberta highway.  A quiet little pond, so innocuous, so charming.  But many countries, many lands have similar vistas – sights which look perfectly safe, including those sights in some of the more questionable areas of the world like Egypt and Africa. 

How can a traveler know if a decision to explore a new world is a smart decision? 

Luckily, there are many web sites that can help you make an informed decision.  Some even have links to other travel tools (like currency conversion charts) that make travel to a foreign land a whole lot easier.

Read on . . .

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Calgary Traffic – Beware visitors! Save on gas and your nerves!

Wednesday, June 11th, 2008

Calgary Downtown Skyline from Deerfoot Trail

I love my province, and I love our two biggest cities: Edmonton and Calgary.  But I hate the traffic congestion.  Monday, I went to Calgary for a Photoshop seminar.  Arriving at 5 PM was my first mistake; my second mistake was staying on the Deerfoot Trail.

The drive was perfectly normal.  3 hours from the west side of Edmonton to the edge of Calgary.  What happened after that was, in a word, ridiculous.

Read this if you want some good advice when traveling to Calgary.

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July 4th – Independence Day Fireworks in New York City!

Saturday, June 7th, 2008

M&M Statue of Liberty Guy

With millions of people, all eager to catch a glimpse of some of the world’s best Fourth of July fireworks, where does a visitor – or for that matter – a local New Yorker go to catch the show? 

It’ll be my first visit to New York during the 4th of July, and I wanted to do this visit up right.  I have already done Christmas and St. Patrick’s Day – so I am expecting great things from New York City on Independence Day.

But I am glad I did the research first.  Here’s what I discovered about how best to enjoy the Fourth of July in New York City. 

Read on . . . 
 

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Philadelphia, a Sunken Ship, Treasure, and a Boy Pirate? Oh my! Count me in!

Tuesday, June 3rd, 2008

Gargoyle by Sheree Zielke

Okay, count me in.  I’m hooked.

When I began my initial research into Philadelphia, I wasn’t expecting to find, of all things, pirates.  But lo and behold, yes, indeedy, matey, I am on my way to see pirates.

Or rather what is left of them. This July.  On a day trip from New York City.

I have decided to ignore pre-arranged babysitting tour company all-in-one tours, and arrange the trip myself on the Amtrak train.  It’ll save my husband and I a bundle of money.  And I am a sucker for the unexpected.

So, the pirate exhibit in Philly was a most delightful unexpected surprise.  I can hardly keep my timbers from shivering.

Read on . . .  (more…)

New York City? Try a day trip to Philadelphia! It’s easy!

Tuesday, June 3rd, 2008

New York City Double-Decker  Bus Tours by sheree Zielke

We are off to New York City in a few weeks, but we’ve been there lots of times.  And, while we LOVE the Big Apple, we are adventurous travelers.  So, it’s time to step out of our comfort zone once more.

The “City of Brotherly Love,” – that’s Philly, for those of you not in the know, is just under 2 hours away, by train.  This historical hub of the USA sounds very intriguing.

But how to get there?  And what to do?  And how long do you have to do it?

Read on . . . (more…)

Looking for wild exciting times? Visit Edmonton, Alberta’s capital city!

Tuesday, May 20th, 2008

Horses and Wagon

Alberta embraces the simpler life, and some farms (like Sprout Farms) offer wooden wagon rides pulled by draft horses.   It’s one way to spend a summer day in Alberta, but the Edmonton area has so much more to offer.  Here are some suggestions of things to do, when you travel to Alberta’s capital city, Edmonton.

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Calgary Zoo’s Stingray Deaths Sad But Zoo Offers Much More

Thursday, May 15th, 2008

Lion Pair by Sheree Zielke

The stingray deaths at the Calgary Zoo have continued to baffle authorities.  The cownosed rays began dying en masse this past Sunday in a new exhibit that opened just a few months ago, in mid-February.  Toxins or poisons are suspected in the rays’ deaths although recent water tests have come up as clean.  Zoo veterinarians have eliminated the possibility of moisture lotions or sunblock creams as the source of any contamination of the touch pools.

As sad as the stingray deaths are, the Calgary’s Zoo, Botanical Garden, and Prehistoric Park, with over 290 species of animals, has so much more to offer its patrons.  Opened in 1929, The Calgary Zoo celebrates its 80th birthday next year.

If you’re planning a trip to western Canada, be sure to include the Calgary Zoo in your plans.  And here’s why you should do that . . .

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