Last Minute Travel Gift Ideas for Mother’s Day

Forget about the sirloin steak dinner and singing greeting card. Ditch your desire to shower her with coffee mugs and candy. According to a recent online poll, what most moms want this Mother’s Day is a relaxing trip to a far off destination (supposedly far, far away from that sink full of dirty dishes and the piles of soiled laundry overflowing from the bathroom hamper). Personally, I would settle for a day off from kitchen duties. So the verdict is in: moms the world over are looking for adventure on the high seas, excitement in the air, and fun in … Continue reading →

Belgium’s Bling and Tut’s Tour

It might be a long way to travel to see some bling, but it’s not every day that the “most astonishing building in the world” turns 50. Belgium’s Atomium celebrates the half century mark this summer and to commemorate the occasion the shiny towering structure made of nine giant aluminum-clad spheres linked with steel tubes (its design represents an iron atom magnified 165 billion times) is hosting a party for visitors. The massive model was built for the 1958 World’s Fair in Brussels and was originally planned as a temporary attraction. However, when the oddity was embraced by the 42 … Continue reading →

Totally Hip Toronto

Toronto, Canada is a bustling metropolis situated on the north shore of Lake Ontario and home to some of the most popular music festivals in the world. The hip and happening family-friendly events draw millions of visitors to the area each year. From jazz festivals and operas to drumming competitions and guitar jams, Toronto has you covered. But that’s not the only cultural event the city has going for it. Art lovers have their day in Toronto as well. Each year the Canadian city plays host to a massive international arts festival complete with visual art displays and numerous theatre … Continue reading →

Grab Your Kites!

Do you know where your kids’ kites are? April is National Kite Month and one of my family’s most favorite times of the year. (Now, if we could only get the snow to melt and the temperatures to rise above freezing we’d really be in business.) Spring is one of the best times to get out and let your kite carve through the crisp April air. And while you don’t have to travel any farther than your own backyard (if it is large enough) to set your kite soaring there are some places around the country that kite-flying experts consider … Continue reading →

Hot Spring Flings

More than a dozen people have been killed due to recent wicked weather spreading across the United States. Meanwhile, winter storm warnings are in effect for the Central and Midwestern portions of the country where up to 8 inches could fall in places like Chicago… and spring officially begins in just a few hours. If Old Man Winter’s grip on the country hasn’t got you considering taking a spring fling to a warmer climate then I don’t know what will. If you are looking for a sunny escape from bad weather consider the following sunny locales: CARIBBEAN Spring is in … Continue reading →

Where to Spend Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Other Vacation Options

In three days the United States will honor Martin Luther King Jr. on what would have been the civil rights leader’s 79th birthday. Festivities marking the occasion are planned throughout the country with larger celebrations taking place at major civil rights landmarks. Organizers of this weekend’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebrations expect an attendance boost because of the presidential primaries and the way his legacy has played a role in the campaign. In addition, this year marks the 40th anniversary of King’s death. “Remember! Celebrate! Act! A Day On, Not a Day Off,” is this year’s theme for various … Continue reading →

Visiting Great Wolf Lodge

This past weekend my entire family, which includes not only our seven, but all of the cousins, aunts, uncles and grandma and papa, all went to Great Wolf Lodge for a family retreat. I can’t say it was relaxing in the traditional ‘retreat’ sense, but it was great fun! In case you’re not familiar, Great Wolf Lodge is a new brand of resort: the indoor water park. There are Great Wolf Lodges popping up all over the Eastern United States. We were visiting the one in the Poconos although I’m told that they are all basically the same. The Price … Continue reading →

Mothman Mania

Roswell, New Mexico has its aliens, Green Bay, Wisconsin its cheeseheads, but if you travel to Point Pleasant, West Virginia, be prepared to come face to face with the “Mothman.” You can’t miss him. His name decorates signs, his unsightly body hangs in shop windows and restaurants, heck, there’s even a museum devoted to him. Oh, and did I mention there’s a gigantic sculpture depicting his enormous wings and glowing red eyes standing prominently in the middle of town? So just who is the “Mothman?” According to locals, a group of residents first reported seeing the mysterious creature 40 years … Continue reading →

Where to Eat in Paris

There are more remarkable restaurants in the City of Lights than I could ever cover in this single blog; however, a new eatery opening in one of Paris’ most popular landmarks is a subject I can’t ignore. The new restaurant takes cuisine to new heights—-410 feet up to be exact–and is being run by one of the world’s most recognized celebrity chefs. Alain Ducasse’s new Jules Verne restaurant located at the top of Paris’ Eiffel Tower is the talk of the town. Ducasse is known for whipping up meals for passengers on the Concorde jet and astronauts at the international … Continue reading →

Seasons Greetings from Santa Fe

Yesterday I received a Christmas card from a friend bearing that exact greeting. Little did she know that her holiday correspondence would serve as inspiration for a travel blog. As I stared at the card and the photos she included inside it made me wonder how much people know about New Mexico’s state capital. Sure, its popular ski resorts get a lot of press, but what about the other attractions the sunny city has to offer? If you have never visited Santa Fe then you might not know that it averages 300 days of sunshine a year, which means that … Continue reading →