Tag Archives: North Carolina

Summer Adventures in Asheville

For many, summer means visits to theme parks, beaches and baseball stadiums.  However, if you are looking to travel to a family-friendly place that offers more than coasters, crabs and Cracker Jacks, head to Asheville, North Carolina. Stroll through the picturesque downtown and you immediately sense that very few people have been able to resist the pull of this Blue Ridge beauty.  After all, it’s not every day that you can immerse yourself in a city that boasts an eccentric hodgepodge of architectural styles that change from block to block. Asheville features everything from traditional southern homes with grand sweeping … Continue reading →

North Carolina Genealogy Resources

One of the nicknames of North Carolina is “The Old North State”. This was to differentiate it from South Carolina. Are you searching for more information about your ancestors who once lived in North Carolina? Try some of these genealogy resources for the state of North Carolina. Perhaps one of them has what you are hoping to find. Cyndi’s List is probably the most comprehensive list of links to online genealogy resources. If it exists online, Cyndi’s List probably has a link to it! They have a page called “United States – North Carolina”. Start by selecting any of the … Continue reading →

Green Beach Ideas

Here where I live in North Carolina, we are within reasonable driving distance of at least six beaches. But, some that I have gone to are not well taken care of by those visiting. I look around and see candy wrappers, cigarette butts, and water bottles everywhere. While you want to have fun at the beach, you can do it is a green way. What is some small things you can do to keep your beach looking beautiful? The most important thing is to keep the plastic at home. The Ocean Conservancy organized an international coastal cleanup and guess what … Continue reading →

More Fun Spring Festivals for Families

Ready for a spring fling? With the economy in the dumpster most families have a tight grip on their budgets. However, this doesn’t mean you have to skip out on a much-needed spring break. Rather than jet off to an overpriced resort, consider sticking closer to home and visiting one of the dozens of unique spring festivals being offered from coast-to-coast, most of which are free or exceedingly affordable: WASHINGTON Who says you have to fly thousands of miles to view flowering tulips this spring? Instead of jetting off to the Netherlands, consider traveling to Skagit Valley, Washington. Located between … Continue reading →

Creative Keepsakes Scrapbook Convention – Charlotte, North Carolina 2008

It isn’t too late, even though the date is rapidly approaching. This year Creating Keepsakes Scrapbook Convention (CKC) ’08 is coming to Charlotte, North Carolina on August 15-16, 2008. And while it is coming up fast, there is still time to register and sign up for classes and workshops. You have until Sunday, July 27 at 12 midnight Easter Standard Time to register online for the first pick of your favorite classes and crops. And if you register online between now and Sunday, July 13, 2008 at 12 midnight Eastern Standard Time, you will receive a free gift from Wausau … Continue reading →

Former North Carolina Senator Jesse Helms Dead at 86

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Conservative politician Jesse Helms has died at the age of 86. The cause of death was not announced, but he had been in poor health in recent years. Upon hearing of his death, President Bush said of Helms, “Sen. Helms has been a tireless defender of our nation’s freedom and a champion of democracy abroad.” Helms was a North Carolina Republican who was considered by many to be a conservative icon. He himself was once quoted as saying his job was to “derail the freight train of liberalism.” Helms started out in his career as a sports reporter for the … Continue reading →

Super Summer Fun: Wet and Wild Waterparks (East Coast)

I grew up on an island surrounded by the Pacific Ocean, so needless to say my summers were spent enjoying the sun, sand and surf more than the wet and wild fun found at waterparks. My first waterpark experience took place in New Jersey (of all places) when I was 7 years old. My family was vacationing in Seaside Heights and my brothers and I went nuts at waterpark called Rainbow Rapids. It was the late 1970s, we were small town kids from Hilo, Hawaii and this modest waterpark was as close to liquid Heaven as we had ever been. … Continue reading →

“Maui No Kai Oi”

In Hawaiian “Maui No Kai Oi” means Maui is No. 1 or “the best.” But these days the popular saying is being used more in relation to the island’s gas prices than its breathtaking views from sugary white sand beaches. Living in paradise comes with a price and my family members (some of who live on the Valley Isle) can tell you that traveling around the Hawaiian Island of Maui is costing them a fortune. According to AAA, Maui is now home to the most expensive gas prices in the nation. A gallon of regular unleaded there has hit the … Continue reading →

Unique Thanksgiving Travel Destinations

In my previous blog I mentioned that not everyone is planning to load up the family to go over the river and through the woods to grandma’s house for a lavish turkey spread this Thanksgiving. In fact, some families forgo the entire conversation-over-cranberry sauce tradition all together and opt for an extended holiday weekend shushing down the slopes in Colorado or feasting on pheasant in Hawaii. If you are looking for alternative locales to spend your Thanksgiving holiday consider some of these options: LAS VEGAS The glitz and glam of Sin City may be the antithesis of grandma’s chatskie-filled dining … Continue reading →

Weird And Wacky Family Friendly Festivals

If you think the only family friendly activities held in the fall are ones that deal with hay, pumpkins and apples, think again. Try worms and beans. I’ve got the lowdown on some weird and wacky festivals taking place around the country. And, some advice—before you snub your noses at the following “unique” events know that thousands of people travel thousands of miles to attend these unusual fests. Woolly Worm Festival – Banner Elk, North Carolina And you thought the only racing that drew crowds in North Carolina was NASCAR… Not in Banner Elk, North Carolina. October means Woolly Worm … Continue reading →