Tag Archives: Washington

Barack Obama’s Jam Packed, Star-Studded Inauguration

A while back, I blogged about the upcoming Barack Obama presidential inauguration and how people were chomping at the bits to get tickets. If you have been one of the lucky ones to be promised a ticket, but haven’t reserved a hotel room, you may be out of luck! Hotels in D.C. have been booked for months and now people are stretching out into Baltimore and Virginia to look for places to stay. D.C.. Mayor Adrian Fenty is even allowing citizens to rent their homes out without first obtaining a business license, but that doesn’t seem to be easing the … Continue reading →

Family Travel: Cheap Thrills in Washington, D.C.

Who says you have to mortgage your home to pay for a family vacation? With the skyrocketing price of gas and the exorbitant cost of airfare most families would agree that taking a trip these days requires some major financial wrangling. However, there are ways you can make the most of a family getaway—-no matter how cash strapped you may be–if you look in the right places. For example, Washington, D.C. is loaded with free and cheap attractions that will appeal to everyone in your clan. Many of the area’s museums, monuments and other star attractions are run by the … Continue reading →

All-American Family Vacation Destinations

What’s more American than baseball and apple pie? The big name sport is one of this country’s favorite pastimes and often serves as the focus for many a family vacation. If you have always dreamed of sharing popcorn and Cracker Jacks with your kids while watching the boys of summer swing and slide, but you don’t live near a city that has its own professional team you might consider the following travel packages, which allow families to take a trip to the ballpark without breaking the bank. SEATTLE The Hotel Nexus, located in the North Seattle University District, is offering … Continue reading →

Great Summer Escapes—Washington

If you have ever dreamed of escaping the hustle and bustle of city life to spend time bonding with your family in the great outdoors then pack your bags and head to the glorious state of Washington. The popular destination located in the tranquil Pacific Northwest is home to some amazing natural resources as well as unique regional festivals. Right now various lodgings throughout the state are offering summer travel packages that allow visitors to experience Washington at its finest without breaking the bank. Take a look: MOUNT RAINIER This great escape takes you to the stunning Mount Rainier National … Continue reading →

More Affordable Fourth of July Family Getaways

Flags, parades, picnics, and of course, fireworks–you can’t celebrate the Fourth of July without them regardless of where you are spending the long holiday weekend. Right now lodgings around the country are trying to woo families with specials and discounted packages to party on their turf. If you are still deciding where to celebrate our nation’s 232nd birthday consider the following options: MASSACHUSETTS Boston hosts one of the largest Independence Day celebrations in the entire country. This year (as they do each year) the Boston Pops will be performing a rousing patriotic concert on the banks of the Charles River … Continue reading →

Family Friendly Summer Destinations

Yee-Haw! If your family loves rodeo competitions, chuckwagon races, barrel races and other old-fashioned entertainment you might consider rounding up the troops and moseying into Calgary, Canada this summer. That’s were you’ll find the legendary Calgary Stampede, which is scheduled to take place from July 4-13 this year. The event attracts more than a million visitors to the area, not to mention some A-list entertainers. This year the event will host musical performances by James Taylor, Sugarland, The Judds and Kid Rock. In addition to the rocking nights planned for the stampede, the daylight hours will be filled with family … Continue reading →

Happy National Train Day

Tomorrow is National Train Day and I can’t help but think of my pre-schooler’s favorite train joke: What kind of train can sneeze? Ah choo choo. My daughter waits for the laughter to die down before informing her “fans” that she’ll be here all week. Okay, back to National Train Day. Whether you are a regular rider of the rails or not Amtrak is encouraging you to visit one of their stations tomorrow. The nationwide campaign includes live entertainment and activities for youngsters. Amtrak hopes the hoopla will inspire travelers to consider riding a train to their next vacation destination. … Continue reading →

Casa de Rodent

A few weeks ago I blogged about my daughter’s mouse sighting on our flight to Hawaii. The thought of a rodent rifling through the bag I placed under the seat in front of me still creeps me out, but it’s nothing compared to what some hotel guests in Washington, D.C. have been dealing with. The Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center just opened for business and it’s already been plagued with a nightmarish situation—a rodent invasion. UGH! According to news reports, numerous guests—all of which were the first to stay in the brand-new 2,000-room hotel—say they had run ins with … Continue reading →

Ways to Save on Summer Vacation—-Don’t Get the Massage

For the past several weeks I have been providing tips on how you can preserve your family’s summer vacation plans despite astronomical airfares and record high gas prices. The following tidbits are aimed at helping you save on the road as well, though one is a bit more tongue-in-cheek than the other. These days talk of a recession is on the minds and lips of practically every financial expert paraded on cable news shows; however there are some people in the world who don’t have to worry about pinching pennies during these tough economic times. And no doubt some of … Continue reading →

History Channel Delves into the Library of Congress

The Library of Congress (in my opinion) has to be one of the coolest places in the world. I love books and this is the ultimate for a book lover. It has over 138 million items in its collection. That’s right – I said 138 MILLION. But, the Library of Congress has a treasure trove of cool things other than just books. This includes George Washington’s copy of the Constitution, the first map of the United States, and it even has the contents of Abe Lincoln’s pockets from the night he died. The Library of Congress dates back to April … Continue reading →