Greetings from Sea World! @SeaWorld

Christmas at Sea World

Shamu- Christmas at Sea World

Hello from Little Man and Shamu! Sea World is his favorite theme park in Orlando, and the one he most looks forward to. We were undeterred by the cold, and quite excited that we were able to see the costumed Shamu to pose with for photos. We have never had that opportunity before.

Sea World has so much to see and do- from rides to water park (though not today!) and a wide array of shows, you and your family should not miss this attraction the next time you are in the Orlando area. This time, the weather was not super cooperative, so we didn’t do any water rides (they were off, in fact). I am thinking that it may be me- the last few times we went to FL, there were hurricanes, so perhaps I am a harbinger of “fun weather”, LOL. This time, is was very cold (below 60 each day, and down into the 30’s) for the area, and there were even tornado warnings 🙂 Wahoo!

Sea World ShowThat didn’t stop the day from being a whole lot of fun, however. My son LOVES the shows, all of them. We saw Blue Horizons for the first time, which we all enjoyed. The theme was a little (a lot) out there, but it didn’t really matter. It was full of action, stunts (by people and animals), flying birds of several varieties, and aerial performances. There were colorful costumes, banners, flags, and people dressed as tropical birds as well, all adding to the spectacle.

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Riedlbauer’s Resort in Upstate NY – Perfect for New Years Eve

Nestled in the Catskill Mountains of New York State is fun and family friendly, all inclusive Riedlbauer’s Resort. This German themed property is located on 70 acres of scenic land in Green County. A perfect getaway for all seasons, Reidlebauer’s Resort is all about family.

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The resort is German themed, with the food and décor all as German as the name. There is often live music, and many times, it is German. German music plays over the speakers from breakfast to after dinnertime. Costumed dancers are known to show up now and again to preform authentic dances- we were privileged enough to see a dance troupe from the area while we were there. Many of the guests are native Germans, or have parents who are. Some speak the language, many understand it, and all enjoy singing traditional songs after dinner and dessert.

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Many of the guests have been returning year after year, season after season. Children grow up and bring their own children to vacation or spend the weekend. The friendly staff treats everyone like family members- [Read more…]

Planning A Trip To Chicago, Check The Cubs Schedule

Whether you’re actually a fan of the “lovable losers” (the Cubs) or not, visiting Chicago between late March and the end of September should include Chicago Cubs tickets. Wrigley Field is one of the few original ballparks left and one of the most historic. Baseball fans of all teams should catch a game while staying in Chicago.

Of course, there’s quite a bit to do in the city of Chicago, but there’s nothing like the experience of a Chicago Cubs game. Many sports fans have compared this to a trip to Lambeau Field in Green Bay or to Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend. These are two of the other most historic sporting venues and Wrigley Field ranks up there with the best of them.

Going to a baseball game is an American tradition and who can turn down a great game, hot dogs, soda, beer, peanuts and even cracker jacks. Nearly everybody that grew up in the United States knows the words to the famous song that comes out during the [Read more…]

#FamilyTravel in Upstate NY @I_LOVE_NY @Rochester_NY

Little Man and I recently took a ride to upstate NY, and we had a great time. There is lots to see and do (and eat!) and [Read more…]

South Georgia Zoos Offer a Walk on the Wild Side

What’s not to love about a day at the zoo? These four zoos in South Georgia offer great day trips with educational components for the kids- great if you are a local, or on vacation in the area.

The Oatland Island Wildlife Center of Savannah will provide your family with memorable experiences
that will last well beyond your trip. Striving to spark a lifelong love of nature and its inhabitants,
the Center lets your children experience any of the forty hands-on activities available to them, such
as marsh ecology boat tours, star programs, and guided tours—all with the goal of deepening their
understanding of the surrounding flora and fauna. Locals can even enroll their children in summer
day camp, which feature stories, crafts, up-close-and-personal observations, and hands-on scientific
experiments to help children experience and understand nature’s phenomena. Contact: (912) 395-1212;
www.oatlandisland.org

At Pine Mountain’s Wild Animal Safari—Georgia’s drive-through animal park—you and the family
can go on safari from the comfort of your own vehicle, in a rented Zebra Van, or on the bus service
offered by the zoo and led by a tour guide. With a park [Read more…]

5 Great Family Winter Vacation Ideas

Winter is a great time to take advantage of the season and get your family into an environment that it’s never experienced before or doesn’t get to experience very often. Wintertime is a great opportunity to use some of those vacation days and spend your time snuggling up with those that are the most important to you as the days get colder and shorter at the same time. Vacation is a blast when you’re making the best of your cold temperatures, and we’ll talk about some of the best ideas for you and your family when you see that it’s starting to get colder out. It’s easier than you might have thought to get a great vacation out of the coldest time of the year!

1. The Cabin in the Woods. Perhaps the most classic winter vacation idea, you can always go with the good, old-fashioned cabin in the woods. There are plenty of locations that will make cabin rentals an easy reality when you and your family want to get out, and a low-tech vacation experience is a great way to bond with those to whom you’re closest. You can go as modern or as rustic as you want — your cabin can be equipped with modern amenities, or you can try and have a screen-free weekend with a deck of cards and a few good books. The possibilities are endless when you’ve got your very own cabin in the snow for a week or so.

2. New York City! The city that never sleeps is a blast during the winter, and the closer you go to Christmas, the more festive and interesting things have a tendency [Read more…]

We are in the 100,000 Mile Club

Me and my baby! Yes, Little Man- but right now I am talking about my 2003 Mazda Protege 3, which has taken me all over the country (and out of it), on more trips then I can count, driven me to to my wedding, to the hospital to have my son, on his car ride home- and anywhere else [Read more…]

Barcelona: a Rich Cultural Discovery

With neighborhoods like Ribera and Barrio Gotico, Barcelona is a destination of choice
for all those who want to have a sample of the whole country be means of a city break.
Simply by walking down the steep streets of Catalonia’s capital city, you can discover the
Spanish culture’s authenticity.

Palau de la Musica Catalana

An iconic landmark for the city’s modernity of the city, the Palace of Catalan Music is
a visit that imposes itself. The distinguished building has a magnificent façade adorned
by floral marquees and colorful mosaics. The visit goes through a splendid auditorium
decorated with a canopy and a painted ceiling. Another great thing about the Music
Palace is its great bar where you can taste the Spanish tapas accompanied by a good local
wine throughout the day.

Picasso Museum

This set of five medieval buildings is one of the most remarkable landmarks of the Gothic
Quarter. Included in any artistic tour of Barcelona, Picasso Museum is an interesting
way to discover some of the most important treasures of the Spanish culture. With a
permanent collection dedicated to Pablo Ruiz Picasso’s first sketches and a total amount
of over 3500 paintings, Picasso Museum plunges its visitors into the [Read more…]