One More Reason to Visit New York City

Who says you have to travel all the way to Hawaii to experience the beauty of awe-inspiring waterfalls? Not New York City tourism officials. According to city leaders, the Big Apple is the place to be if you want to see spectacular waterfalls in unlikely places… like near the Brooklyn Bridge. Scandinavian artist Olafur Eliasson is creating four manmade waterfalls on the shores of the city’s East River and city officials are hoping tourists will flock to them in the months to come. The falls will feature water coursing over scaffolding 90 to 120 feet high at tourist friendly locales … Continue reading →

Unique Summer Destinations

Forget about the annual trip to the beach and ditch the traditional getaway to the amusement park, if you are looking for a real thrill this summer pack up the family and head to Nashville, Tennessee to explore the Bell Witch Cave. Movie fans might be familiar with the notorious site that has been the subject of ghost stories for two centuries. The cave is tied to the legend of John Bell, a local farmer, who died in 1820 — three years after the family reported a spirit named Kate was terrorizing them. The legend has been the subject of … Continue reading →

Spending Memorial Day at Pearl Harbor

Memorial Day is a little more than a week away and while you might have your travel plans set to embark on a weekend adventure to the beach, the woods or the lake it would behoove you take some time between your barbeques and ball games to remember what this holiday is all about. Memorial Day was set aside to honor all the men and women who have given their lives in military service to this country. The holiday began as a tribute to Union soldiers during the American Civil War. Following World War I, the observance was expanded to … Continue reading →

Where to Spend World Ocean Day

Can you really think of a better place to spend World Ocean Day than in one of the most incredibly beautiful places on earth, which just happens to be set smack in the middle of the Pacific Ocean? I’m talking about Hawaii and if I hadn’t used up my vacation time to travel there a couple of months ago I certainly wouldn’t hesitate to head back on June 8th. On World Ocean Day the Maui Ocean Center will pay tribute to our watery resources with fun-filled activities for the entire family. The center is hosting an OceanFest from June 6-13, … Continue reading →

More Wild and Wacky Family Friendly Festivals

With the price of gas skyrocketing to record levels some families are opting to postpone their annual road trips to the end of summer in hopes that the cost of fuel will decrease after the busy Memorial Day weekend. Heck, I know one family who has put the brakes on their summer vacation and instead will be hitting the road in late September for an extended getaway. If you have plans to do the same then you might be interested in purusing the following list of weird and wacky events that will be taking place around the country this fall: … Continue reading →

Summer Travel: Michigan and Miami

I live in Wisconsin so it’s no surprise that our airwaves have been saturated with summer tourism ads heralding Michigan’s incredible natural wonders. From its spectacular lakes to its amazing waterfalls and beautiful beaches the state is well displayed in the new 2008 Pure Michigan advertising campaign. Tourism officials are hoping the award-winning campaign will draw people like me (who live in nearby states and Canada) to enjoy the state’s beaches, golf courses, fishing spots and bike trails. If you live in Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana or Ohio be prepared to be inundated with TV, radio and print ads boasting of … Continue reading →

Summer Travel: Museum Mania

I think I might have found the silver lining in the gray cloud that is our current economic slump. Good news for summer travelers: One of Washington, D.C.’s most expensive museums is lowering its admission fee. Officials at Madame Tussauds wax museum recently announced it plans to cut admission prices from $21 to $18 for adults and from nearly $16 to $12 for children. Museum officials say the price change was prompted by the nation’s economic slowdown. If you are a D.C.-area resident you stand to save even more. People who live in the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia … Continue reading →

Summer in New York: Superheroes Invade Gotham

If you struggle to persuade your children that a day at an art museum can actually be fun then you are in luck. If your kids are fans of Superman, Batman, or Wonder Woman you won’t have any problem getting them excited to visit New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art. Iron Man, Spider-Man, and a slew of other popular comic book legends are being honored at the Met’s current “Superheroes: Fashion and Fantasy” exhibit. The brawny super clan has been chosen by the Costume Institute to illustrate the worlds of fantasy and reality. Fashion designers who create outfits for mega-stars … Continue reading →

Oregon Road Trip

In a previous blog I noted that there are ways to tour the state of Oregon without blowing out your entire travel budget for the year. As I mentioned earlier, U.S. Highway 101 in Oregon takes you by some of the Beaver State’s most incredible scenery. The well-traveled road also leads you to some of the area’s most affordable lodgings (think $35-$50 per room per night). You can save more by setting up camp in one of the state’s lush parks. From Astoria, Oregon take the drive south to save even more in Newport. The historic waterfront district has a … Continue reading →

Tickets to Paradise on the Rise

I have got to stop looking at airline rates to Hawaii. Doing so just depresses me. But I just can’t seem to help myself. I’ve subscribed to several travel sites that automatically send me updates on ticket prices for the dates that I am planning to travel home… and the news is not good. With record-breaking fuel prices and the recent demise of several carriers servicing the islands things are not looking sunny for my trip to the “Aloha State.” What’s more, from now until at least September, airlines have scheduled 14% fewer seats than last year between the mainland … Continue reading →