10 Best US Boardwalks

Once again National Geographic has brought us a fantastic top ten list. Summer may be coming to a close, but you can still sneak in a trip to one of these awesome Boardwalks to get your fill of rides, food, and games.

On the east coast you can visit Jersey's own Atlantic City. Did you know this 4 mileboardwalk was orginally laid down to keep beach lovers from tracking so much sand into hotels and onto the trains? Clever idea. Another tid-bit, Coney Island wasn't always family fun. In the 19th century it was known as "Sodom by the Sea" for it's brothels and gambling houses. And no, Coney Island is not closed. And of course the west coast houses the imfamour Venice Beach.

For more Boardwalk destinations and factoids check out National Geographic's list here.

Roadside Atractions

The best thing you can do on a long road trip, is have some sort of diversion about half way through. At least in my opinion. Stretching your legs, seeing something new, and maybe completely boggeling your mind can revitalize you for the last long hours to your destination. National Geographic has put together a list of the Top 10 U.S. Roadside Attractions.

And I'm proud to say I've stopped at Foamhenge. Wait, maybe proud isn't the word. But it did entertain me and get me out of the car just long enough.

Also, this article reminded me of a little series I wanted to do on roadside attractions. I have an awesome book FULL of these places scattered throughout the U.S. So keep an eye out!

A Few Great Travel Apps

For many, vacations and travel are about getting away from every day life. Leaving the office and carpool behind and disappearing. Sometimes this means leaving behind the cell phones, tablets, and laptops. However, these ties to the technological world can be valuable tools while traveling. So if you don't insist upon putting your cell phone in a safe, wrapping it with a padlocked chain, and burying it in cement in the backyard while you leave town, check out some of these useful travel apps.

I have tried all of these listed apps on my Android phone. I can't attest to how they may or may not work on any other phone or operating system. I also can't promise that every app is available for every phone/os. But I'll try to list what it's available on (according to the information I find online), and try to stick to apps that are widely available. I also probably won't be listing apps that cost money, simply because I don't pay for apps.

Google Maps: This map app (everyone loves a rhyme) can be a lifesaver on your mobile phone. With turn by turn navigation, a compass mode for when you're walking, and lists of nearby places this is the best navigation app I've had. The traffic option will help you save time in the car, and street view shows you images of streets and places as if you were standing there.
Cost: Free
Available On: Android, Apple Products, Blackberry, Windows


Google Translate: After messing around with both this app and iTranslate, I have decided Google Translate is better. Although the layout isn't so pretty, Google Translate does offer over 50 languages, talk to text, translation read-out, and the option to favorite your most used phrases. While iTranslate claims to do all of the same, I couldn't get the voice capabilities to function at all. Not available without wi-fi, but you can access your favorited phrases without wi-fi.
Cost: Free
Available On: Android, Apple Products, Blackberry, Windows


Oanda Currenty Converter: Another simple but fantastic app. Convert between more than 190 currencies, updated daily. Available without wi-fi, although I'm guessing it doesn't update without wi-fi.
Cost: Free
Available On: Android, Apple Products, Blackberry, Windows

Urbanspoon: I find it daunting to choose a place to eat in a city I've never been. But Urbanspoon can help take the guess work out of dining. You can browse by neighborhood, food type, popularity, features (who delivers, live music, etc), or even pictures of the food. You can get a list of what's nearby, or you can load everything into a slot machine style spinner and gamble. Links to phone numbers and maps, prices and hours. Eat where you want, without the surprise.
Cost: Free
Available On: Android, Apple Products

HopStop: There are a lot of apps for subway maps and schedules, but this seems to be the best one I can find that encompasses all forms of transit. You enter two addresses and a method of transportation and it will give you directions, more importantly if there is a faster route using a different method of transport, HopStop will tell you. Plus, if you're walking it tells you how many calories you'll burn...important data. Includes about 50 US cities, 9 Canadian cities, and 5 cities in Europe. I haven't thoroughly tested this app by any means, and public transportation can be a beast, so uh, well, don't sue me if you end up walking ten miles out of your way.
Cost: Free
Available On: Android, Apple Products

Most Photographed Places in the World

If you're like me, when you're on vacation the camera rarely leaves your side. So apparently, a lot of people are like me, and Cornell University Scientists have been busy proving it. Using 35 million photos from Flickr, the scientists have composed a list of the top ten most photographed landmarks in the world, plus the most popular angle for photographing the landmarks. Yahoo! took it one step further, and listed suggestions on how to make your picture of these uber-photographed spots unique and special.

Check out the list and Yahoo!'s suggestions here (link no longer available). Plus check out my shots of two of the top ten.

Colosseum, Rome - Taken from the Forum

Lincoln Memorial, DC - Taken from Old Post Office Tower

Surviving a Long Car Trip

I'm gearing up for a 10 hour car trip this weekend, but I'm not dreading it at all. I've literally been taking trips like these since I was two weeks old. And they were longer back then. 12 hours from CT to NC, and later in life 15 hours from NH to NC. So 10 is a breeze. But if you aren't used to spending the majority of any given day crammed into a car, it could sound like a prison sentence - life without parole. So I thought I'd share some of the ways I pass the time as well as some other popular suggestions.

Sleep. That's my personal favorite. It's amazing how much time passes when you're sleeping. As the passenger, of course. Not much time at all will pass if you're sleeping as the driver. But even as the passenger, be careful when you choose to sleep. If your driver is sleepy, you should stay awake to help keep them alert and to watch them should they start to doze.
Music. I can't even drive to the grocery store without the music on. Pick some music everyone in the car loves and turn it up. The average CD will eat up at least 40 minutes of time. If I plugged my iPod in I could drive for three days straight and never repeat a song. That'd get me to where...midway between Washington and Alaska?

Games. The most popular games I always play in the car are the Alphabet Game (call out the letters in the alphabet as you see them anywhere outside the car, first to Z wins), Car Bingo (create your own boards with anything you might see on the trip, first to cross off their whole card wins), and story telling games. Some other popular games go like this:

• Tell a story one line at a time, following the letters of the alphabet. Ex: Player 1 "Alice took a walk in the woods" Player 2 "But she got lost." Player 3 "Concerned because the sun was going down..." You get it.
• The old "I'm going on a picnic and I'm bringing" game. Each player must say what they're bringing, following the letters of the alphabet, and repeating what everyone before them is brining. Ex. P1 "I'm going on a picnic and I'm bringing an aardvark." P2 "I'm going on a picnice and I'm bringing an aardvark and bamboo." Etc.
• Lisense Plates. Write down each state you see and try to get to 50 (I've never made it to 50 before...not many people drive to the states from Hawaii.)
• Counting Cows. I've never done this because the majority of my trips are through cow country and it would be like just counting from 1 to a million. But if you're driving through say, California, it might be...interesting. A point for every cow you see, and if you're the first to spot a graveyard everyone else must subtract ten points. 20 points to you if you see a white horse. Bend the rules and make new rules all you want.
• Board Games. If there's more than one person not driving in the car (I just feel as if these disclaimers may really be necessary) there are some popular board games made minature and magnetic.
• Mad Libs. Just a couple of dollars for a book, and lots of entertaining fun for everyone in the car.

Reading. Leaves everyone else in the car high and dry, but you'll be entertained. (I won't say it, you know if you're the driver you shouldn't be reading) But if you want to be nice to the person hauling you around, you could get a book on tape, or more likely CD or iTunes. Under reading falls all the other things you can do by yourself in the car - crossword, word search, soduko, and 8 million other mini car game books you can find in a book store.

Pit Stops: If you can afford the time it's always nice to get out of the car for an hour and do something. You can make the trip to your vacation a little sightseeing trip, especially if you pay attention to billboards on the interstate. I've been able to spend an hour on the battlefield of Gettysburg, visit a drive-through zoo, see the Natrual Bridge in VA, and several other things just by getting off the interestate and driving a few miles. It really can re-engergize you for what remains of the drive.

So don't dread that drive you have coming up, just get yourself prepared and try your best to enjoy the ride. Afterall, they say it's as much about the journey as it is the destination!

More endangered places.

Today Yahoo! brought us information on ten more endangered places. For reasons ranging from global warming to water rerouting, these places could be changed forever or even disappear, some as soon as in the next 50 years.

If these beautiful places are places you want to visit, you might want to make plans to do that. But more importantly, there may be some things you can do to help save them. And you know what they are: use less water, waste less electricity and be more aware of your environmental impact (just a few ideas among many).

See the list of 10 Natural Wonders to See Before They Disappear, and read what's threatening them. - Link no longer available.

Endangered Places (yes, places)

It's somewhat hard to believe a place could be endangered. Dangerous, yes. But endangered itself? Also, yes. Gaute Hogh has published a book entitled "100 Places to Go Before They Disappear"(...as a funny side note to this otherwise somber posting, I first typed that the book was "100 Places to Go Before You Disappear"...take a moment to laugh...now let's get back to the issue at hand...). Hogh wrote the book after witnessing first hand the effects of global warming in Denmark, and he wanted to be sure others could see and understand the effect rising temperatures had on all sorts of environments and climates (not just icebergs and the deep ocean).

So if you have a hard time visualizing how a 1/4 inch rise in sea level can be catastrophic, or why it matters to you living in Nebraska, this book will show you some of the amazing places that could be changed and lost to us forever.

Hogh's first example was the Wadden Sea in Denmark. The sea is a low-lying coastal zone where visitors can see landscapes and birds while seemingly walking on the water. With rising waters, this area's ecosystem could be destroyed, but it could also become too dangerous for people to cross.

Getty Images/Jochem D. Wijnands

Other locations that Hogh pinpoints in his book are the River Thames in London, Kauai, Olympia, and even Big Sur California and The Battery in New York City. The River Thames could become flooded, causing millions of dollars (or pounds as it were) of damage to London's underground railways. Flooding could also become a serious issue someday for Manhattan, and Big Sur is threatened by increased droughts and wildfires.

If you'd like to read Yahoo's News article (where I obtained my information) and interview with Hogh you can find it here (link no longer available), and be sure to check out some more pictures of endangered places, here (link no longer available).

Soda Around the World

Coca-Cola is Coca-Cola, right?

Well, mostly. But if you've ever tasted Coke in a country other than your own, you'll surely have noticed that it tastes different. But why is that? Coke has a super secret formula, but shouldn't that formula be the same around the world?

The answer: it is. The concentrated form of Coke (the syrup) is the same everywhere. Coke plants produce the concentrate and then ship it to franchises around the world. It is then up to the franchise to complete the production of the soda by adding water and sweeteners, and the water and sweetener used can change the taste.

The major difference seems to be in the type of sugar used. The US tends to use high fructose corn syrup, because it is cheaper. Other countries, such as Mexico, can get cane sugar cheaper, so that is what they use in soft drink production. In my opinion, the cane sugar gives the soda a much better taste.

I've had soda in Switzerland, Italy, and Mexico, and much prefer any of these countries' drinks to our US counterparts. Another interesting point - our Diet Coke is referred to as Coke Light in the countries I've visited. And it's so much yummier. Also, while I don't like regular Coke here, I could guzzle it in these other places.

If you want to taste the difference but can't hop a jet to Europe, try and get yourself to Atlanta, Georgia where you can visit the World of Coke. Find the Taste It! exhibit to try brands of Coca-Cola products from around the world, both those offered in the US and those not.

Souvenirs: Memories or Junk?

Ok, I'll answer that one. Both. I am a souvenir junkie. (Do you like my play on words there...junk...junkie...) I leave a place usually with far more souvenirs than necessary, but in the past few years I've found a way to try and keep it a little more reasonable. At the very least, I have a sort of system.

There are lots of small, inexpensive, easy to find things that you can get from most anywhere you visit. I find that picking a "collection" to work on is a great way to souvenir hunt, while avoiding some of the cheesier, trinket type things. Of course, this entire blog is up for debate, as what I find useful/not tacky/inexpensive may differ greatly from your ideas. Regardless, here I go.

Pins: This collection started thanks to the Hard Rock Cafe. I always make a point to eat at the Hard Rock if there is one where I'm visiting. And with an entire club devoted to pin collectors, the Hard Rock is always coming out with new pins that represent the season, city, and/or year. While I'm not part of the club, I do always buy a city specific pin after dining. I've also used pins as a way to collect souvenirs in Las Vegas (every hotel, show, etc. sells pins), Disney World, and Universal Studio.




Hard Rock and Disney pins

Cups: This has become as much of a way to annoy my Dad as it has a collection of items from places I've been. He finds the large, plastic cups to be highly impractical. Too big to keep in the cabinet, and far too many in the house. But I say, too bad. I'm going to buy a drink just about everywhere I go because I have an unending thirst, so I might as well shell out a couple more dollars for a cool cup that, at many places, I can get refilled for a discounted price. Sea World, Cirque du Soleil, Disney World, Universal...yep, there's a cup for them all.

T-Shirts: This is an obvious one. But you can only wear one shirt in a day...most people...and at some point having 48 city t-shirts in your closet becomes a bit much. So when I get to that point, my solution is going to be to make a city quilt. Cut the front of the t-shirt into a foot by foot square, then sew all the squares together for a quilt. So in the meantime, I occasionally buy a souvenir t-shirt, knowing there's an ultimate goal.

Euro Stickers: These are the hugely popular white oval stickers with the black initials on them that represent a city or place. I can't always find a Euro sticker at the place I'm visiting, but you can order just about anything from Cafe Press. And if you don't want to cover your car's entire back window, I've found a couple of other fun places for them, such as my laptop and scrapbook covers.

Blogger absolutely REFUSES to put the picture the right way...

Of course nothing can beat or replace the memories you make while you travel. My best advise is to take lots of pictures and/or write a blog. If nothing else, while you're buried under four feet of snow in the month of January with a temperature of -4 you can look back on your pictures and writing from last summer's trip to the Caribbean!

Travel Passport Visa Center

I ran across a terrific website the other day and wanted to share it with all of you...

The Travel Passport Visa Center is an online service providing expedited passports, visas, passport amendments (change of name, address, etc), passport extensions, and more. So when you've just discovered that you need to be in Portugal this weekend, or that you desperately need another month in Beijing, these are the people you'll want to contact.

How do they work so fast? They're registered with and licensed by the US Department of State and work with registered agents who are able to take applications directly to passport agencies, by hand. They also have agreements and relationships with Embassies and Consulates. If you have more questions, they have an extensive FAQ page.

In addition to helping you get your regular travel documents in order quickly, they have lent help to the disasters in Haiti and Chile. The are currently helping to send relief workers to Japan by offering steep discounts on their expedited passport services, and helping to make sure each worker has all the necessary documentation before they leave. If you are someone headed to Japan and do not yet have your passport, call their Japan Expedited Travel Documents Hotline at 800-431-1141.

Another useful facet to this organization can be found on their facebook page, www.facebook.com/travelpassportvisacenter. Here you can find links to interesting news stories, and perhaps more importantly travel warnings and alerts issued by the US Department of State. Postings are up-to-date and made often.

So whether you are planning at trip outside of the United States or just want to read up on travel news around the world, be sure to check out both the website and facebook page of Travel Passport Visa Center.

Time for a Tropical Vacation

All I can think about lately is going somewhere tropical. Don't care where exactly, as long as it comes with plenty of sun, sand, and surf. Preferably soft white sand (or black sand, Hawaii anyone?), and warm water at least 3 shades of gorgeous blue, backing up to lush tropical vegetation full of brightly colored tropical blooms. Then, when I've had my fill of sun soaked days I want to take a hike into the rainforest to see its natural inhabitants; flora and fauna. Maybe even do a little ziplining through the canopy, or plop down in front of a plummeting waterfall. Finally, back to the water for some snorkeling and getting to know the local sea life.

Sorry, I lost myself in my daydream there for a moment. But I'm back now. If all of that sounds like a vacation right up your alley, then check out Yahoo's list of 10 Amazing Tropical Escapes - Link no longer available. They'll take you places were you can experience all of my dreams and much, much more.

Theaters...but not the movies.

I am a huge movie fan...but there is nothing quite like seeing a play at a theater. Or theatre if you prefer. The first thing to pop into your mind when you think theater is probably Broadway, and rightly so. I highly recommend seeing a play in New York if you have the time and money. (And keep in mind, tickets don't have to be expensive, and you can always take your chances with the cheaper "Day of" tickets at the TKTS discount booths located in Times Square, South Street Seaport, and Downtown Brooklyn.)

But the bright lights of Broadway isn't the only place to see a fantastic show. Every big city is going to have a theater, and some with quite over-the-top productions, New York style. Just last night I took in Broadway's "Young Frankenstein" at the Belk Theater in Charlotte. The Performing Arts Center of Charlotte has six theater spaces; seating 1,200 people to just 150. Events range from local music and educational programs to touring Broadway productions. Check out the schedule of events for the next year and into 2012. Personally, I think I'll make a trip to see Mama Mia, CATS, and the Addams Family. They sound too fun to miss.

If you aren't close to a large theater boasting Broadway shows, don't discount your local community theater. You'd be surprised how many talented actors live and perform in your area. Check this regional list for a theater near you.

Hilton Head Island by Numbers

Hilton Head Island is beautiful and serene. Live Oaks, spanish moss, sandy beaches. If you're looking for a relaxing weekend away from it all, this is the place to go. Here are some things you need to know, by the numbers...

1.5 - Dollars you will need to pay at the toll to get onto the Island. If you're just driving a car.

12 x 5 - Miles across and wide. The size of the Island.

7 - Public beaches on the Island. They are Alder Lane Beach Access, Beachfront at Coligny Circle, Driessen Beach Park,  Fish Haul Park, Burkes Beach Access, Islanders Beach Park, and Folly Beach Park. Plantations and hotels on the beach offer access to their guests. Much of the beach access is private.

We personally visited Coligny and it was beautiful. The beach is wonderfully maintained and the grounds are stunning. Before you even get to the beach you can rest in one of their many Adirondack chairs or porch swings, or play in the water spouts. When you're done at the beach you just have to cross the street for plentiful shopping and dinning. Or take a walk or a bike ride down some of their trails and see if you can spot an alligator. Parking and beach access were free. Restrooms and changing rooms were available.

24 - Golf courses on the Island. Hilton Head was ranked number 10 on Golf Digest's list of the world's best golf resorts. But if you do visit Hilton Head to hit a few balls, watch out for the alligators! No joke. And only a handful of mini-golf courses. You will not find a giant octopus spewing toilet-blue water here.

7,256 - People riding bikes at any given moment. At least that's my estimate. The entire island is criss-crossed with walking and bicycle paths, plus you can ride out onto the 12 miles of beach. Bicycle rental companies are very numerous, and the average rental cost per week is around $25.

20 - Public Parks on the Island. All beautiful, without a doubt.

5 - Dollars to enter Sea Pines Resort. This area covers a third of the Island and is divided into four neighborhoods, including Harbour Town and its lighthouse. You don't have to be staying anywhere on the Resort to visit and with the lighthouse, numerous water tours and activites, and plentiful shopping and dining you will want to visit. I personally recommend stopping by Lawton Stables, a beautiful place offering rides and a small animal farm. The farm is free and food is available to feed the critters.

4 - Restaurants where you can experience the lengend of Jake, the Salty Dog. There's the original Salty Dog Cafe, The Wreck of the Salty Dog, Lands End Tavern, and Jake's Pizza. All restaurants are located within Sea Pines. The Wreck and Jake's Pizza are only open seasonally.

View from The Salty Dog Cafe

3 - Places to get your Salty Dog gear. Jake's Cargo and The Salty Dog T-Shirt Factory are located within Sea Pines, or you can visit the T-Shirt Factory on Arrow Rd. And of course, you can always shop online.

4 - Traffic circles we drove 'round and 'round. I don't know how many are on the island, but they're popular.

10 - At least the number of thrift/antique/second hand stores on the Island. From furniture, to clothes, to designer hand bags you'll find something you have to have. An entire day can easily be spent hopping from one store to another.

3 - Feet. The average height of any roadside sign. City ordinances require signs to be under a certain height, and to be colored in unobtrusive, earth tone colors. So keep a sharp eye out as you drive around looking for somewhere to shop or eat. Buildings themselves are often blocked by trees and signs are easy to miss. It's part of what keeps the Island so beautiful, but you'll need a passanger or two to help you find places.

2 - Alligators we saw. Without even trying. They like to come up out of the water during the day and soak up the sun. Don't approach them, and don't feed them though. Seems obvious, but judging by the number of warning signs posted...it isn't that obvious to some.

Tragedy in Japan & How You Can Help

It is heartbreaking to read stories and see pictures of the aftermath of the earthquake and tsunami that hit Japan over the weekend. One natural disaster to strike a country is more than enough, and within hours this country was hit with two.

Thousands of people are dead, with bodies literally washing up onshore. Crematoriums cannot keep up with the flow of cremations and funerals. Millions are without food, water, and heating for the fourth day and hundreds of thousands more are living in emergency shelters. Then add in the scares over the nuclear reactors in the area that have lost their cooling abilities, specifically the plant at Fukushima Dai-ichi. Should these reactors have a meltdown, radioactive material could be released into the air. It is astounding what has been thrown at this nation.

On a side scientific note, Japan was pushed a full 13 feet closer to the United States and two feet downward by this quake The earth has actually shifted 6.5 inches on its axis and the day has been shortened by 1.6 microseconds. I doubt we'll notice that. And not to worry, this isn't the first time the earth has shifted or the day has shortened. See, told you you wouldn't notice.

There are so many ways and hundreds of places to donate to help those in need in Japan. Following are just a few links to donation sites and other ways you can help.

Yahoo's List of Orgs - link no longer available

American Red Cross - link no longer available

Salvation Army - link no longer available

iTunes: Open the iTunes store, look for the "Japan Earthquake and Tsunami Relief” button, and use your iTunes account to donate.

Texting: Text "Japan" or "Quake" to 80888 to make a $10 donation through Salvation Army.

As always, be careful where you are sending your money. There are many people who will try and scam you and e-mails are already circulating. Your best bet is to visit the website or local office of a charity that you would like to donate through. Read this article on donation scamming to keep yourself safe.

Wanna get high?

Come on people, it's a travel blog!

But if you want to visit some of the highest places in the world, Yahoo! hooks you up in this brief video about some of the tallest things and places in the world.

Highest Places

A "Typical" Person

We are not all the same.

Obviously.

So then how did National Geographic come up with a description, and even a photo, of the most typical person on the planet? A lot of statistics. And I imagine some pretty expensive computer imaging programs. It's good to be National Geographic.

Check out this video about the most "typical" person in the world, and some major differences between us and our neighbors across the globe.

How does this relate to travel? Well, if you're a man from Holland who travels to Peru, you're going to have to watch your head!

Room with a view!

There's always that chance that the Oceanside hotel you booked your room at will offer you a view of nothing more spectacular then the construction site and burger king across the street. But these 10 hotels, located all around the world, will offer you views worthy of the hefty price tag some of them come with. But don't worry, a few of them more are wallet friendly.

Check out the list here.

Travel and Film. Win, Win.

Those are two of my favorite things. So why not combine them? There's nothing quite like standing right where a pivotal moment of one of your favorite movies took place. Or even just a so-so moment of some movie you saw once that you barely remember the name of. Still cool.

With the Oscars right around the corner, Yahoo has created a list of the Top 10 Film Locations (from Oscar nominated films) to travel to. Their list takes you from Paris to Mexico, and includes movies from Toy Story 3 (I'm not too sure that one should count...) to Black Swan.

Top 10 Film Locations. - Link no longer available.

It's one of my dreams to go to Hawaii. And I could pretty much end my statement there. But I want to go on the Jurassic Park tour, where they take you to the field of the gallimimus scene. I have been able to see a few film locations, besides the obvious ones in New York City or Las Vegas. There's a small town about two hours from my home called Danbury, where parts of Cabin Fever were filmed. If you've seen the movie, the opening and beginning of the film were filmed at Priddy's General Store, which you can visit. If you can find it. Good luck.

Anyone else seen any movie or tv locations? Where would you love to travel that you've seen in a film?

A Weekend in Texas: Dallas and San Antonio

Yeah I know, it's not like you can see Texas in a weekend. You can barely drive from point A to point B in Texas in a weekend. But, you have to work with what you're given.

Two immediate facts you must know. I didn't see an armadillo, which greatly saddened me. I don't know where those suckers are hiding. Not in San Antonio or Dallas. I also did not see a Texas Longhorn. They are hanging out with the armadillos...having drinks...and watching Texas football.

So I flew into Dallas to visit a friend who lives outside the city. But after some research, the things I really wanted to see were in San Antonio. It was a little less than a five hour drive, but I must be special, because Chris agreed to take me there.

There were two things I wanted to see before we left Dallas though. For you history buffs, you'll know that Dallas is where JFK was assassinated. You know, the grassy knoll, the huge conspiracy, one shooter or two. In Dealey Plaza (the most visited historic site in Texas) you can visit the Sixth Floor Museum, housed in the old Texas School Book Depository building. It is from this floor, from the corner window, that a shot was fired killing the president. (FYI: The link provided takes you to tour page of the Museum and Plaza, best I could do because the link to http://www.jfk.org/ was broken...go ahead, conspiracize...) Also in the Plaza you can stand on the grassy knoll and see where the motorcade was when the two shots hit the president, courtesy of two giant white Xs in the roadway. And yes, lots of people want to stand on those Xs. And yes, Elm Street has a lot of cars moving at accelerated rates. And no, I didn't feel the need to play in traffic for any reason whatsoever (ok, maybe I wanted to just a little bit, but everyone else looked so stupid trying to dodge cars).

The second thing I wanted to see was Pioneer Plaza. The plaza re-creates a cattle drive using bronze sculptures of 70 longhorn cattle herded by 3 cowboys and their horses. It's located in an open park, so just take a stroll by and have a look. Very cool and surprisingly pretty.

Neeeeext, San Antonio. It's about a five hour drive to San Antonio, and you drive through Austin on the way. Every major city in Texas, as far as I can tell, is surrounded by a five mile bubble of traffic. You get within five miles, you must decrease your speed to 30 mph or less. But once we got into downtown San Antonio traffic wasn't too bad, and we were able to find somewhere to park pretty easily. Lots of pay for the day parking lots. If you park within a few blocks of anywhere downtown pretty much everything is walking distance. I mean, it's a bunch of blocks, but a nice stroll with lots to do and look at.

The Alamo grounds

We started our day at the Alamo. The Alamo was originally a Mission, and it now sits in the middle of everything in downtown. You can stand with your back to the deceptively tiny Alamo and watch people going in and out of Ripley's Believe It Or Not. The grounds of the Alamo are beautiful and there's a museum, lots of history boards, and even a "lecture" that I assume is given a few times a day. We even were visiting the Alamo almost 175 years to the day since the infamous battle. Although you can see the outside of the Alamo at any time, the grounds close early at 5:30 (except in June, July, and August when it closes at 7:00). All free!



The Alamo

From there it's a quick, couple of block walk to the Riverwalk. The main section of the Riverwalk containing the most restaurants and shops is the section of river that forms three sides of a square. Descriptive huh? I can't do any better. But you can easily spend hours just strolling along the river, and it's beautiful. So very many restaurants to eat at. I can't even begin to list them. And shopping from souvenirs to clothing to, well whatever else. Part of the river goes through a mall, so that pretty much covers you. There's also a boat ride you can take with Rio San Antonio Cruises, for just about $8. Great way to scope out where you want to go on the river, and learn lots of fun things from your tour guide. There are several places to board a boat, so if you see one with a long line, keep walking. Dinner cruises are also available. Two little things to know: the river is drained every year in January, so check for exact dates. And if you're clumsy beware, there are no railings anywhere between the walk and the water! Oh, and although the Riverwalk is below street level, there are elevators for handicapped access.

Mission Concepcion

We spent our next day checking out the remaining four Missions of San Antonio (the Alamo is the fifth). If you start at the one closest to San Antonio you'll be visiting Mission Concepcion first, only ten minutes or so from downtown. This is the oldest of un-restored stone churches in America, dedicated in 1755, where original frescoes are visible in several rooms. Just a few minutes down Mission Road stands Mission San Jose, founded 1720. At this Mission you can gain a sense of the culture and community of the time, from housing to work and church and observe the famous Rose Window. Continuing down the line is Mission San Juan, 1716. The standout of this Mission is the beautiful bell tower and three bells. Lastly is Mission Espada, the oldest from 1690. A beautiful church is surrounded by beautiful grounds and flowers, and a small shop sells hand blown glass. All of the Missions provide learning materials, history boards, and exhibits. These four Missions, excluding the Alamo, also all hold Mass on Saturdays and/or Sundays, open for all to attend. Check for times.

Mission San Jose

Mission San Juan





Mission San Juan



Mission Espada

San Antonio is a place where you could easily spend a week. In addition to the rich history of the area, there are family fun places such as Six Flags and Sea World. This city is certainly going down in my book as one of my most loved.

No Facebooking in China

Lately I've been seeing ads along the side of my facebook page for something like "before you go to China, make sure you get your FB key." I tried in vain just now to get that ad to reappear so that I could be more specific, but all it wants to inform me about in my ad bar today is Britain and lemonade. So anyway, this ad stuck in the back of my mind. Mostly because I couldn't figure out what FB meant, and I wondered what weird things China was up to. Yeah, I know...all synapses were not firing in my brain. And if they aren't in yours either, FB, as I finally realized, is Facebook.

So, it turns out that Facebook is banned in China. Not just Facebook, but all of the following online resources (as well as many, many others):
- The New York Times
- Twitter
- You Tube
- Picasa
- Dropbox
- Flickr
- Foursquare
- Hotmail

China actually started censoring the Internet by creating the Golden Shield Project in 1998. Since then they've been continually adding (and occasionally removing) website access. From what I can tell, this really became an issue mid 2009 after a fatal riot in the Xinjiang province in China. Although websites had been blocked before this incident, the upheaval further fueled China's censorship and caused an increase of their firewall.

There are of course ways to get around the blocks, which I will not discuss. Just seems a little on the iffy side of the law. But you can test a website here to see if you'll be able to access it in China. But seriously...you're in China, why are you messing around on Facebook?

PS - China isn't alone in Internet blocking. The OpenNet Initiative recently found that out of 40 countries studied, 25 of them practiced Internet censorship. Read the full article here.

Interesting Fact

So my feature cities have kind of bombed. It took a lot of research to do those...which I loved...but I haven't had time as of late. So maybe we'll do interesting facts instead.

Today's interesting fact comes from a coworker who spent her honeymoon in Iceland. First of all, I'll remind you that Greenland is covered in ice and Iceland is very nice (thank you Mighty Ducks #...whatever # that was...3?).  So with that in mind, it turns out that the water in Iceland is naturally warm. Think nice warm sulfur springs. Now stop thinking about that rotten egg smell, because that isn't my point. My point is that the water that comes out of the faucets in Iceland is warm and you must wait for it to cool. The exact opposite of what happens here in America, and most of the world.

I couldn't find any online information about the water temperature as it comes out of the faucet, except that hot water burns were more common in Iceland than in any other country. Hospital admitted burns had reached an epidemic proportion at one point, leading to an increase in public education about geothermic hot water, and regulations to keep the maximum hot water temperature at a lower level. One last interesting note, 72.8% of all hospital admissions for water burns between 1988 and 1992 were from tourists. An important reminder to research before you travel!

So wait for the cold water, and be careful with the hot water!

What to Know about Universal Studios and Sea World

Universal Studios

The first thing to know is that Universal is actually divided into three sections: Universal Studios, Universal Islands of Adventure, and City Walk. City Walk is a free area (meaning you do not need an entrance ticket) with shops, clubs, a movie theater, and restaurants (much like Downtown Disney).

Tickets: You can either buy separate passes for the two theme parks or a Park-to-Park pass. You may also want to check out the Express Pass, which you can purchase on top of your park entrance pass. The Express Pass puts you in an Express line, which usually has you boarding all rides within five minutes. You can use the Pass one time at each ride, but Rip Ride Rocket and Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey are currently exempt.

Parking: Parking is $15, and Universal got smart and invested in parking garages. Much less walking to get to the park entrance. The same parking areas get you to both theme parks and City Walk. You must pay to park even if just visiting City Walk.

Food: Lots of places to choose from, from quick and easy to sit down. A meal pass is also available.

Wizarding World of Harry Potter: Located at Islands of Adventure, within one hour of the park opening the stand by wait time just to get into the Wizarding World was over three hours. But hope is not lost. You can get a return time ticket (although a line forms early for these tickets as well). This ticket will grant you instant access to the Wizarding World at the specified return time. Once inside you can use your Express Pass on all rides (Flight of the Hippogriff and Dragon Challenge) except The Forbidden Journey. Expect lines to get into Honeydukes and Ollivanders (where you can test interactive wands and see which wand picks YOU). Other shops include Zonko's and Dervish and Banges. And right here is the only place in the world where you can try Butterbeer. So my personal recommendations....get in line for a return pass as soon as you get to the park, go into a couple of shops once inside Hogsmead, and then wait in line for the Forbidden Journey, because I agree with the reviews that say it's the best new ride of the year, and the best ride in America. Also, since the Forbidden Journey is the only way to go into the Hogwarts castle, it is possible to skip portions of  the line if you just want to see inside the castle but do not want to ride.

Other Rides: Certain rides at both parks require that all personal belongings (purses mostly) be stored in a locker before riding. Luckily, near all rides that require this are lockers. And they are free for a certain amount of time (usually plenty of time to ride that one ride and then retrieve your things). The Forbidden Journey has lockers inside the castle, but if you want to save yourself a little time and skip ahead of some people, store your things in the lockers next to the Hogwarts train before you get in line for the Forbidden Journey.

Souvenirs: While Universal does not practice pin trading, you can buy lanyards and pins representing the areas of the park and major rides and attractions. Universal also has package pick up at the front gate if you buy something large and don't want to carry it around the park with you.

Sea World

Although Sea World itself is just one park, you can get joint passes for Sea World, Busch Gardens, and the water park Aquatica. When you buy your tickets for Sea World, you also might want to look into Quick Queue passes, which give you priority access in lines to all Sea World rides. However, keep in mind that Sea World only has four major rides (plus the paddle boats and Skytower).

Shows: I would recommend focusing your day at Sea World on the amazing shows. When you enter the park pick up a map, which will list the day's shows, locations, and times. Make a "plan of attack." Figure out what time you can see each show. If you wing it, you may end up trying to run all over the park in different directions and missing many shows. You can also go online here and pull up the show schedule.

Shamu's main shows are Believe and Shamu Rocks. However, as of December 2010, the Orcas were being retrained for a new show, One Ocean. Orcas may be Sea World's main attraction but Blue Horizons features dolphins, birds, and a pilot whale. The comedy show, Clyde and Seamore, stars two sea lions, a walrus, and even an otter. Get to this show early for some pre-show fun! For cats, dogs, and one big pig don't miss Pets Ahoy. And if you want to see some amazing human acrobatics, make sure you see A'Lure: The Call of the Ocean. *Shows with links include a video preview.

After the shows, check out the underwater viewing areas for an up close and personal view of Sea World's amazing entertainers...and I mean their animals! FYI - the seats that say "splash zones" mean it. The first couple of rows you could easily come away dripping and soaked. But if you sit in the last couple of rows, you'll have a great view, possibly not be as crowded, and really not get but a few drops. At least...that's how it worked out for us.

Feeding (animals, not yourself): You can purchase food and feed sea lions and harbor seals, sharks, dolphins and stingrays at their respective exhibits. Don't be squeamish though, the food is mostly fish heads and tails. Feeding stations are not open all day, so be sure to check for times.

Food (for yourself, not the animals): Sea World does offer an All Day Dining Deal that is good for several of their restaurants. If you want to eat at Sharks Underwater Grill, you'll need a reservation. And make sure to check the menu as it's a higher end place. And if you are interested in attending the Makahiki Luau, I recommend getting reservations online before you go to the park. There is only one show and it sells out. **As of 2013 the Luau has been closed.**

Rides: As I said before, rides aren't the focus of Sea World. But there are a few, and several rides for smaller children at Shamu's Happy Harbor. You should also know that you will have to ride the Wild Arctic Ride in order to see the beluga whales, polar bears, and walrus.

Tours: At Sea World you can have a once in a lifetime experience with some of your favorite animals. Up-Close Tours are available for the penguins, dolphins and sea lions. The Behind the Scenes tour takes you all over the park and teaches what it takes to care for Sea World's animals as you interact with a few of them. Also look into the VIP and Family Tours.

Animal Interactions: Swim with the sharks, work with a marine mammal keeper, or swim with a beluga.

If you still just haven't had enough or seen the experience you're looking for, see what's available at Discovery Cove.

So you're going to Disney? Well you might want to know...

Here are some general tips you might want to keep in mind for your trip to Disney...you know, other than to have fun!


NEW! Ok, I'm not sure how new this actually is, but I just found out about it...Rider Switch Service. This allows one adult to stay with a child who is too short for a ride, or doesn't want to ride, and then board the ride as soon as one of the other adults gets off the ride. I said ride a lot just then. So  you stay with little Sally while your friends get in the regular line. As soon as they come out of the ride you get straight on it without waiting!

Just ask a cast member for a Rider Switch Pass then wait in the designated area. When the rest of your party returns present your pass to board the ride immediately. You can even take 1 person who has already ridden the ride with you. This is available at all four Disney Parks, but only for certain rides. Check Rider Switch Availability here.

Parkhopper Passes: These passes allow you to visit all four of the Disney parks for one price rather than buying four different passes, which will of course save you money. This is especially the way to go if you plan on going to more than one park in one day.

Seeing the Parks:
- While having a day per park would be best, it is very possible to do two parks per day.
- The best thing you can do is decide which rides/attractions you are willing to wait in long lines for and which you are willing to skip, ahead of time. Popular rides often have wait times around 90 minutes.
- Upon entering the park get the day's schedule of shows and character meet and greets so that you can make a plan and not miss anything.
- Pick up Fast Passes (passes that give you a specified time to return to the ride to enter the Fast Pass line, which is often very short) for rides as soon as you enter the park. They stop giving them out early afternoon.

Parking: Parking is just around $15. If you go from one park to another in the same day, keep your parking ticket and only pay once.

Transportation between Parks: Buses run between all parks and are free. They run quite frequently. The tram at Epcot will only take you to the Transportation and Ticket Center, where you can catch other rides. For more info check here.
Food: You will want to check into Disney's Meal Plan if you are going with a large group. For small groups or couples it may be cheaper to buy each meal. At the cafeteria like restaurants the average meal is $10. The sit down restaurants vary in price and you will probably need a reservation.

Souvineers: If you buy large items, or a lot of items, and are not yet leaving the park you can have your package held and pick it up near the front gate when you leave. A fantastic way to get a souvineer from every park and remember your favorite parts of each park is Pin Trading. Pins can be bought in almost every shop and pin stands are located around the park. You can also approach most characters and staff members (all called cast memmbers) and trade pins with them. Make sure you pick up a lanyard so you can wear your pins throughout the day.

Children: Nothing much to say here, it's obviously a place for children. But a great deal of your day at Disney will be spent waiting in lines, so bring snacks and/or things to entertain. If you have a child in a stroller be prepared to have to leave your stroller in designated stroller parking areas a lot. These areas are unattended.

Photographs: Throughout the park you will see employees set up with cameras on tri-pods, greatest Disney idea ever! Pick up a Photo Pass (available from the employees), give the pass to the photographer, have your picture taken. Your picture will be scanned onto your card and will then be available online. You can share pictures online for a limited amount of time for free, or edit and order prints you like. You will find photographers at the most popular spots of all the parks (the Tree of Life, Cinderella's Castle, etc) and at the character meet and greets.

Disney World - The Parks and Tips

It would take me a very long time to tell you about my trip and how much fun we had and how much stuff we did. So instead I'm going to give some basic tips and suggestions based on what I learned and experienced. And I think I'll do this by park. But what you must remember, these parks are gigantic and packed with things to do. It would take me a very long time to list and talk about them all. So I'm going to stick to my favorites and strongest recommendations. Use the provided links to do some exploring on your own and see what you and your family or friends would enjoy the most. After each park I'll list some hints and tips particular to that park.

Disney is made up of four theme parks and Downtown Disney. Downtown Disney is a shopping, eating, entertainment district within the Disney limits. It's free park and visit, and offers several great restaurants such as Planet Hollywood and House of Blues ( I recommend T-Rex, a shoot off of the Rainforest Cafe that takes you back several million years). After you eat check out World of Disney, the largest place to pick up your Disney merch. The kids can have fun at the interactive theme-park, Disney Quest, or catch a movie at the AMC. Non-Disney shops are also offered as well as a giant arcade and the Cirque du Soleil theater, showing La Nouba. If you have a free afternoon this is the place to be.

Epcot -

Epcot is divided into two large sections, Future World and and the World Showcase. Future World is dominated by the giant silver sphere, which houses the ride Spaceship Earth. This is a slow moving ride that takes you back through time and then into the future. There's even a fun, interactive surprise at the end of the ride. The next near by ride is Mission: SPACE, a ride that simulates what an astronaut might feel and experience during a flight to Mars. Choose between the regular intense ride, or a less intense version with less simulated spinning. After the ride you can play around the Advanced Training Lab, full of interactive games and simulations. Have you ever wondered what a crash test dummy feels like during General Moters' safety and quality tests? If you have, you need to visit the Test Track. After loading into your car and testing the suspension, ABS, and taking several hairpin turns, you're let loose onto the testing track to experience a thrilling jump up to 60 mph as you bank around the entire Test Track building. I personally recommend Ellen's Energy Adventure inside the Universe of Energy building. It's a funny, multimedia attraction that teaches while entertaining, and stars Ellen Degeneres and Bill Nye the Science Guy.

The World Showcase will literally take you all over the world. Walk though pavilions that make you feel as if you've just stepped into the countries of Canada, China, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Morocco, and Norway. Each area features shops and restaurants from that particular region and some offer additional rides. You can catch a street show, or meet some of the Disney characters all throughout the Showcase.

Get a fast pass for Test Track and Mission: Space. Both have long wait times. Although, the line for the less intense ride of Mission: Space does have a shorter line. Spaceship Earth is a continually loading ride so the line moves very quickly.

Hollywood Studios -

If you're a fan of the silver screen there's lots for you to love about Hollywood studios. The Great Movie Ride takes you through scenes of some of the most classic and memorable movies moments in history. You'll know you've found this ride when you find the full-scale reproduction of Hollywood's Grauman's Chinese Theatre. Perhaps the biggest draw to Hollywood Studios is the infamous Twilight Zone Tower of Terror. Everyone wants to know what it would feel like to plummet down a dark elevator shaft, right? Well you couldn't have more fun doing just that than at the Hollywood Tower Hotel. Right next to the Tower is the Rock 'n' Roller coaster, complete with an Aerosmith soundtrack for your ride.



The last scene of Fantasmic! Mickey on the Mountain.

Aside from the rides, Hollywood Studios offers a lot of fantastic live shows. You can see some of the most memorable scenes of Indiana Jones recreated right before your eyes in the Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular. Or learn the secrets behind the movies stunts and effects in the Lights, Motors, Action! Extreme Stunt Show and the Studio Backlot Tour. If you're still around at night join Mickey in his dreams for the amazing live action, water, and light show, Fantasmic!

Fast passes are definitely recommended for Rock 'n' Roller coaster and Tower of Terror. Wait times often exceed 90 minutes. The Studio Backlot Tour closes around 5, so make sure to get there early. If you stay for a late show of Fantasmic! when the show lets out get yourself right next door to the Tower of Terror for a shorter wait time. If you are at Hollywood Studios on a cold day see the Indiana Jones show early in the day, if it gets too cold the show cannot run all the way through due to the possibility of mechanical failure from cold.

Animal Kingdom -

Tree of Life

See live animals, ride a few rides, dig up some dinosaur bones, and catch a show. This park is divided into several "zones", each with a unique feel. Dinoland USA is predominately an area for smaller kids, but if you're looking for a thrill ride with dinosaurs you'll want to check out Dinosaur, an indoor ride to the past. A little dark and scary for small kids. Animal Kingdom's thrilling roller coaster is Expedition Everest, in the Asia Zone, and takes you right through the majestic mountain. There are a lot of opportunities to see animals: The Discovery Island Trails, Pangani Forest Exploration Trail,  and the Maharajah Jungle Trek. If you're looking for a truly unique experience,  the Kilimanjaro Safari will take you out into the Savannah in an open caravan to see rhinos, elephants, giraffes and more as they roam in a natural habitat. Plus, you might get the chance to run off some nasty poachers.

Mama and baby Elephant in the Safari

You can't miss the Tree of Life, and if you want to wander on inside the tree you can see the It's Tough to be a Bug show. Some other shows you can catch in Animal Kingdom include the Festival of the Lion King and Finding Nemo - The Musical. As far as meeting the characters go, keep an eye out for them, or see when certain characters are scheduled to appear at Camp Minnie Mickey.

The line for the Safari can get very long, Fast Pass recommended. It also closes earlier than the park. A fast pass is also recommended for Expedition Everest, although even with a fast pass we were not able to get on this ride. The Trails and Trecks are a great way to spend some time seeing beautiful animals without having to wait in any lines.



Magic Kingdom -

Magic Kingdom is divided into 7 lands, with Cinderella's castle in the middle. In Tomorrowland you'll find a space age land from the future. Among other rides here you'll find the Astro Orbiter and Space Mountain. If you continue around the park in a counterclockwise fashion you'll next find yourself in FantasyLand, home to the famous Mad Tea Party, Dumbo, and It's a Small World. With the long waits for these rides, if you don't have small children and a fast pass, you may want to skip over Fantasyland. Liberty Square brings you The Haunted Mansion, a ride that is as technologically and holographically amazing as it is fun. Although the ride is dark, it's isn't too scary. Moving onto Frontierland, you'll find Splash Mountain and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, a small coaster with a big punch. Adventureland is where you'll find Pirates of the Caribbean, the Swiss Family Treehouse, and the Magic Carpets of Aladdin. At the front gate you'll walk down Main Street USA which is full of shops.

There are a lot of places to meet the Characters throughout the park, so be sure to check for places and times. Also check for times and dates that you can catch the Main Street Electrical Parade, a parade full of Disney's most loved characters lit up from head to toe. There are also shows that take place in front of Cinderella's castle, so check times and dates.

Get fast passes for any and all rides possible. Not much in this park has a short wait time, especially the "famous rides" such as Space and Splash Mountain, It's a Small World, and the tea cups. If you catch the Main Street Electrical Parade and then rush to a ride as soon as the parade has passed you, you may avoid lines. We got a five minute wait at Pirates by doing just that. You may not realize it, but you cannot drive right up to Magic Mountain. You must park a mile away and then take the tram or a ferry to the entrance of the park. When it is time to leave, make sure you account for the lines that will form at the tram/ferry and then again at the shuttles that take you to your area of the parking lot. And you won't want to skip that shuttle....they could fit Magic Kingdom in the MK parking lot, and still park 500 cars! And a special note that Mickey's Toontown Fair will be closing in February 2011 for Fantasyland expansion construction.

NEW! Ok, I'm not sure how new this actually is, but I just found out about it...Rider Switch Service. This allows one adult to stay with a child who is too short for a ride, or doesn't want to ride, and then board the ride as soon as one of the other adults gets off the ride. I said ride a lot just then. So  you stay with little Sally while your friends get in the regular line. As soon as they come out of the ride you get straight on it without waiting!

Just ask a cast member for a Rider Switch Pass then wait in the designated area. When the rest of your party returns present your pass to board the ride immediately. You can even take 1 person who has already ridden the ride with you. This is available at all four Disney Parks, but only for certain rides. Check Rider Switch Availability here.