The sun gleaming on the Peconic River

So have I enticed you to visit Riverhead yet?  With a few more weeks of summer and fall upon us, it is the perfect time to head east of  NYC to this busy town on Long Island.  I mean seriously, the kids just started school this past week, but anyone in the New York tri-state area knows that they are already off for a 4 day weekend, September 15th through 18th, and are also off September 26th and October 8th!  As you know from Part One and Part Two of this series, there is no shortage of things to do with the kids . . . aquarium,  Long Island Railroad Museum, kayaking , biking and hanging out with some farm animals.  The nice thing though about Riverhead is that you can slip some things in for Mom and Dad too, heck you can even bring the grandparents!  No matter who makes the trip, you can bet on a good time. We always do. So sift through the different ideas on the previous list and the one below and start planning what attractions, farms and outdoor activities for your own travel itinerary.

21.  Enjoy a live performance – The Vail-Leavitt Music Hall which was established in 1881 and was modeled after Ford’s Theater in Washington, D.C.  This music hall host productions from the East End Children’s Theatre Co., songwriter showcases, concerts and comedy shows.  As of Dec. 31, 2012, the Suffolk Theatre will be another place to catch a live performance ranging from musical acts, plays and comedy shows.  In addition the Suffolk Theatre which originally opened in 1933 will once again show films that span from popular box office movies to classic, foreign and independent films.  I am so excited that this historical single screen art deco movie theater that was once compared to Radio City Music Hall will be re-opening with such a range of productions.  It is located within walking distance of the Hyatt Place and there are many restaurants close by , like the Riverhead Project, that you will definitely be able to make it a night out on the town.

Vail-Leavitt Music Hall

The Suffolk Theatre scheduled to open again on Dec. 30th, the 80th anniversary of when it first opened its doors.

22.  Visit a farm-stand – It is apple picking time!  It’s also pumpkin picking time too!  Farm stands and orchards are popular stops for families to pick up some fresh produce. Many farms also offer “pick your own” strawberries, peaches and pumpkins in season. For a list of Riverhead Farm Stands, click on this link.

I love stopping off at the many farm-stands, especially for a fruit pie.

23.  Tea Time Cottage - This Long Island Teahouse is adorable.  It is a wonderful, cozy place for a cup of tea and a warm scone or a great freshly made wrap and a cup of soup.  The Tea TIme Cottage is close to Hallockville Museum Farm and the Gingerbread University, so once you are finished decorating cookies or hanging out on the farm, cap off your day with afternoon tea, minus the white gloves.

Tea Time Cottage

24.  Hit the Golf course – If golf is your game, there is several courses where you can tee off or hit the driving range in Riverhead.  The four public courses are Cherry Cree Golf Links, Long Island National Golf Club, Sandy Pond Golf Course, and The Woods At Cherry Creek.

25. Do a little fishing Flander’s Bay offers saltwater fishing where  you  can reel in striped bass, bluefish and snapper. If you would like to fish by boat, rentals are available and of course you can always fish by shore.  The Peconic River is another great place to fish and you can also find striped bass and snapper here too.  The town docks behind Main Street provide the easiest way to cast your rod and is a great place to fish with kids.  Regardless of where you go fishing, don’t forget that anyone over the age of sixteen in New York needs a fishing license.  You can pick one up at Sports Authority on Old Country Road or the Town of RIverhead  at 200 Howell Avenue for five dollars.

Fishing from a rented canoe on the Peconic River

Fishing off the dock

26.  Camp & Hike at Indian Island County Park - Open year round, camping is quite popular at Indian Island, with trailer and tent campsites. Restrooms and shower facilities are available for the comfort of all campers.  Picnic tables, grills, comfortable benches make it easy to set up shop.  Other features are fishing, playgrounds, hiking trails, and  a bike hostel. Dogs must be leashed. If you are looking to connect with nature and get away from it all,  Indian County Park is the place  to escape to where you can enjoy 287 acres and views of the peaceful Flanders Bay.  Click here for camp reservation information.

Camping

27.  Go Antiquing- Antiques Etc. is a located in an old barn on McDermott Ave. between the Peconic River and Main Street.  When I visited there were some gorgeous pieces of furniture.  I fell in love with a large farm table and a mirrored chest of drawers.  Too bad there is no room in my house.  Another great place on Main Street is the Red Collection which is a consignment shop featuring home furnishings many made by top designers.  The store is 8,000 square feet and items range from $10 to 10,000.  Since my favorite channel is HGTV, all I can say is I love this place.

28.  Get your history fix at the Suffolk County Historical Society Museum - There is a lot of history on Long Island.  Think about it, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence , William Floyd resided in Suffolk County, the Culper Spy Ring operated in parts of Suffolk County, and being on the east coast, colonial life was largely prevalent.  Of course Suffolk County also was where the first wireless signal was transmitted, where Albert Einstein spent  his summer in 1939 and was the home  of the first US Navy Submarine base.The museum has a vast collection that includes 20,000 historical artifacts. There are permanent and changing exhibitions.  The artifact collections are broad, but  mainly focus in the areas of  history and the arts.  The majority of the collections are from the 19th century, but  Native American artifacts from the prehistoric to modern time are also represented.

29.  Check out Long Island Antique Power Association - Conveniently right next door to the Hallockville Farm Museum, you will find the Long Island Antique Power Association.  Here you can check out antique trucks, tractors and equipment. So if you are into cars and like to check out engines or think it would be fun to see a tractor pull, stop on by.  Rumor has it that the association hopes make their operation a full-time working farm museum so the public can participate sowing wheat and planting potatoes and them harvesting them.

Where else can you experience lawn mower racing or garden tractor pulls?

30.  Venture out to neighboring towns – Well, if the previous 29 places were not enough, within 15 to 20 minutes from Riverhead, you can star-gaze at the Custer Institute in Southold on Saturday night or for the Annual Astronomy Jamboree October 19th- 20th.  Another must see, especially for kids is to  visit the Big Duck, a roadside attraction in Flanders.  If you can’t wait for the Suffolk Theater to open, you can catch a live comedy show or music performance at the Westhampton Beach Performing Arts Center.  You can always find a great line up here which is nice when you don’t want to head into NYC.  For example, on Columbus Day weekend the Gregg Allman and Band  and Bill Cosby will be performing.

The Big Duck

Yes, the list is long, but with 30 Reasons to Vacation in Riverhead that is expected.  Believe it or not there is even more places that are on the horizon in this busy town.  There is an ice rink and pavilion in the works and it looks like dinosaurs will be back on Main streett.  Most places that are mentioned are fairly inexpensive, but there are a few places that can be pricy, so make sure you look for discounts in the Your Local Kids Source, which is a free magazine that you can find in the hotels and restaurants.  I have found coupons for the aquarium up to 30% discounts in this coupon book or  you can just go to their website and create your own coupon.

30 Reasons….what is your families’ reason to vacation or make a day trip to Riverhead?

Sunflowers along Roanoke Avenue in Riverhead.

Riverhead, New York is small town on the east end of Long Island sitting at the mouth of Peconic River.  Many people associate Riverhead with the Aquarium, the water park Splish Splash, and the Tanger Outlets.  These might be the most popular attractions, but Riverhead has so much more to offer.  Affordable hotels (that are scarce further east out in the Hamptons) make it a great destination to visit with families.  This post is the first of three and families will be thrilled to find something to do for every family member.   There really is a lot to do, regardless of the season or your age, so check out my list below and make plans to venture out to the east end of Long Island for a day trip or a vacation in this family friendly destination 76 miles east of New York City.

1.   Long Island Aquarium & Exhibition Center - The aquarium has been one of our family’s favorite place to visit.  It is not a huge, but it has so many exhibits and interactive experiences.  In addition to seeing beautiful fishes and the sea-lion show, the aquarium is the home of three Japanese Snow Monkeys and adorable Penguins.   When my son was three he was happy touching the stingrays in Ray Bay and now at age thirteen he has enjoyed the thrill of the shark dive  and the pirate snorkel adventure.  Other fun things for the family is the Discovery Tower, climbing Poseidon’s Peak,  touring the Peconic River on the Atlantis Explorer Tour boat or hanging out in the tranquil Butterfly Exhibit.

My little guy checking out the stingrays

Not so little any more doing the shark dive with his friend.

2.  Splish Splash- This of course is a seasonal attraction and is open from Memorial Day to Labor Day.  With 96 areas of water slides and wave pools, it is no wonder that it was voted one of the best water parks in America by the Travel Channel.  One of the things I like best about Splish Splash is how the park is nestled in the trees for shade.

The Lazy River

3.  Riverhead Raceway - This is a fun way to spend a Saturday evening.  I promise the race cars whipping around the track, demolition derbies and classic carnival food will keep your family entertained.  Races are only on Saturdays starting at 6 pm and the pit opens in the afternoon where you can check out the practice and modified trials.

Riverhead Raceway

4.  Martha Clara Vineyards – More than just award-winning wine, the Entenmann’s family friendly farm is inviting for the whole family.  The kids will get a kick out of seeing the turtles, goats, pigs, cows and other animals.  This family friendly vineyard host dog walks (yes, your furry four leg friend is welcome), live music, horse and carriage rides and of course wine tasting for the adults.  The weekend we visited we were also able to pick our own sunflowers from the field and families were sprawled across the lawn with their picnic lunches while listening to the Live Reggae Music by The Roots Foundation.   The kids played games like tag and bean bag toss while adults were playing bocce. The vineyard is opened year round, so make sure you check out their website for events and live music schedule.

Check out the doggie in the wine tasting room.

The Roots Foundation keeping the crowd entertained.

Say hello to the alpaca

Walking through the sunflowers.

Saying hello to one of the horses that pull the carriage through the vineyard.

Families playing on the lawn.

The Vineyard

5.  Treasure Cove Rentals - Located behind the Hyatt Place, the Treasure Cove Resort Marina rents bicycles, canoes & kayaks, water bikes and electric tour boards.You can rent by the one or two hours or for a half a day for four hours and venture out on the Peconic River.

Kayaking along the Peconic River.

6.  Gingerbread University - This is such a fun activity to share with kids and not just for Christmas.   Families can pick from decorating their own Gingerbread house or cookies.  Each month has a theme and when I stopped by they had cute whales to decorate for summer.  There is plenty of candy in the sweet shop to add to the decorations too.  Walk ins are welcome, but it is best to make a reservation.

Gingerbread University

Gingerbread cookies waiting to be decorated.

Decorating Kits

7.  East End Art Gallery – Located in downtown Riverhead on Main Street, this gallery is run by the East End Arts Council.  The Gallery produces eight shows a year and the gift shop showcases work of the member artist.  Admission is free and open to the public.  The day I visited there was an exhibit titled Found Objects and a fabulous women named Janet gave me a little background of some of the works of art.  I found many of the sculptures and paintings whimsical and thought it would be a great exhibit for kids to get their imaginative juices flowing by looking at works of art that were made of old alarm clocks and a kitchen strainer.  My favorite  object was a very large wastebasket that looked like a Starbucks cup made from Starbucks cups found on the ground.

A work of art made from found objects.

Kids would love this.

8.  Out East Family Fun  - This is an outdoor family entertainment center opened from March through November.  Miniature golf, batting cages, and jump shot basketball (a trampoline basketball game) will definitely ensure a great time. Summer seasonal activities include all water attractions which include 4 inflatable water slides, water wars (a slingshot water balloon game), shoot and shower (a basketball splash game), and a splash zone for the little ones. This place is a must, since vacation always should include a round of mini golf!

Mini Golf for $7 per person at Out East Family Fun

9.   Affordable Accommodations – There are three options for family accommodations in Riverhead – Holiday Inn Express East End, Hilton Garden Inn Riverhead and the Hyatt Place Long Island East End, all averaging about $150 a night.   Both the Holiday Inn Express and the Hilton Garden Inn are both located on Old Country Road which is close to the outlets, Splish Splash, Riverhead Raceway & Out East Family Fun.  The Hyatt Place, which opened up a year ago is on Main Street in the historic downtown section of Riverhead and sits along the Peconic River.  It is next to the aquarium and is close to the Long Island Science Center and the Railroad Museum of Long Island.  Treasure Cove Marina is also located on the premises for kayak rentals.  Each hotel has a pool, which is another attraction in itself when traveling with kids.

10.  Picnic at the Peconic Riverfront Park – Pick up lunch at one of my favorite places, The Country Rotisserie, and head down to Milton L. Burns Park which is behind the bank on Main Street.  This is a phenomenal park and you will feel like you are in an outdoor art gallery with the carved pilings along the river.  Seriously these pilings are a work of art, and you will find carvings of the Statue of Liberty, 911 Memorial and the Empire State Building.  There is a performance area , benches and checkers and chess tables.  The gardens are beautiful with many blooming flowers. This a charming retreat with pathways, grassy areas and some shade trees.  At the entrance off of Main Street there is a new playground and community garden. Across the street, south along the river you will find Ammann Riverfront Park.  This park runs behind the southern storefronts on Main Street.  Here you will find picnic tables along the riverfront with boat moorings. Sometimes a farmers market will be set up and the park ends at the aquarium.

Milton L. Burns Park

Statue of Liberty

See, they really are works of art!

Chess anyone?

Are you impressed with all that Riverhead has to offer?  Well this is just the tip of the iceberg, with twenty more reasons to vacation in Riverhead, make sure you check out my continued post later this week!

There are several advantages when it comes to using a travel agency over planning your entire vacation yourself. As businesses, travel agencies have many contacts in various areas of travel, whether the vacation you are planning is a cruise, a resort destination, or even a school travel group. In any case, a travel agency should have the contacts to be able to get you the best prices on quality vacation items such as airfare, hotel rooms, or the best possible cruise.

The first step in choosing your travel agency is to choose the vacation that is right for you. Travel agencies will often advertise bargain vacations to certain destinations, and if you re the type who likes to fly by the seat of your pants then this kind of spur of the moment planning may be perfect for you. For many others, however, the key to the perfect vacation will be in shopping around and deciding on where you would like to go before you go out looking for an agency.

Once you have decided on your dream vacation, it is time to find a travel agency. Remember, travel agencies are not all regulated, so you will want to find an agency that has a good reputation and a great track record. Word of mouth is a great tool when it comes to any kind of service, and choosing a travel agency is no exception. Talk to friends and family members who have taken similar vacations to the one that you are planning and find out how they felt about the agency that assisted them.

Try to find out which travel agency group the agency you are considering is associated with. Agencies with more extensive (think global) affiliations are more likely to be able to get you lower prices and added favors for your vacation. Keep in mind, however, that just because they are affiliated with a large group does not mean that the agency itself has to be large. Common knowledge would suggest that the bigger the agency, the easier it is to negotiate smaller prices. This is not always the case, however, so don’t make your decision on the number of employees in the store.

Finally, ask for references from the agency of both clients and suppliers. Clients, of course, are people like yourself who have used the agency’s services to go on vacations before. Suppliers are the people with whom the agency deals in order to purchase items such as hotel rooms and airline tickets, and will often have a clearer view of how the agency operates and whether or not they can do all that they claim as far as cost cutting and favors.

Why The Bali Guidance?

The Bali Guidance (TBG) provides unlimited access to everything in Bali. We have the most dedicated workforce on the island. From bali Villa and hotel booking for daily,weekly, monthly or yearly, to rent a car and tour service on the island. It is our mission to provide each group with an unforgettable adventure. We provide every client with a dedicated representative who offers expert travel consultancy, creates customized itineraries, and executes every aspect of your holiday. We will accommodate your group with the most exciting and exclusive service anywhere in the world. By conducting a bilateral operation with both expats and locals we can make dreams become reality. Here at The Bali Guidance we settle for nothing but absolute success.

There is no reason to utilize any other site for your vacation planning because you have us. At The Bali Guidance the client will always come first and it is our goal to surpass all your expectations. Our team has years of experience working at the highest level and can ensure discretion, privacy, and professionalism.

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Riding the train in Essex, Connecticut. I forgot what I looked like as a brunette

When my son was little we occasionally took vacations.  Often times we made day trips to places like Sesame Place or riding “Thomas the Train” in Essex, Connecticut.  Outside of quick day trips we would once in a while head down south to visit family.

It wasn’t until my son entered the third grade that we started to travel on a regular basis.  Our travels often times would stem from what he was learning in school.  Of course living outside of New York City made many trips reasonable from a time and cost perspective.  It was so much fun spending time in Boston when he was learning about the American Revolution or in Gettysburg when he was studying about the Civil War.  It was after trips like these that I really began to make an effort to explore any opportunity where we could learn something new.

These opportunities resulted in really unforgettable experiences like when my son briefly drove the Duck Tour Boat in Boston on the Charles River, learning how to blow glass at the Corning Glass museum, meeting a Yeoman Warder at the Tower of London, exploring caverns in Virginia and making a stop action animated film in New York City.  I have watched his confidence grow when he would eagerly answer questions about Teddy Roosevelt that the park ranger asked during the tours of Sagamore Hill and when no other adult was brave enough to speak out and answer questions from one of the trainers when we enjoyed the dolphin encounter in the Bahamas.

Exploring Boston- Spring Break 2010

Tower of London

There  were also times when our travels didn’t go as planned, and usually revolved around getting lost.   It was these times that we had to work together to get out of a “pickle”.  For instance there has been many times my son needed to read the emergency map quest directions when the GPS lost a signal and he was quick to point out when we were going in the wrong direction on the tube of London’s Underground.  Not only did we have to work together, but these situations taught us the importance of staying calm and the realization that we could resolve any problem.

As a mother I really do want to show my son the world because there is more to life than routines and chasing society’s expectations.  I hope every new opportunity makes him curious to know more and provides him with the realization that the possibilities are endless in whatever path he chooses.  I am excited that our travels that started out as fun adventures have led to unexpected gifts of courage, knowledge, new skills and an increased awareness and perspective of other cultures not just for my son, but for me too.   As wonderful as these gifts have been, the best gift  has been the precious bond between my son and I.

As a single parent my life is really busy.  Juggling a career, keeping up the home and navigating everything that accompanies school and extracurricular activities can sometimes be demanding.  There are days that sometimes blend together.  Traveling allows me to focus on my son without all the distractions of everyday life.  When traveling I feel an inner calmness which allows me to share genuine happiness with my son.  With today being Mother’s day I can’t help but think how wonderful it is that travel has provided such happiness that has been intertwined into the fabric of everlasting memories for me and my favorite travel companion, my son.  Traveling has truly been a gift and has provided another link in the bond of our relationship.

Gettysburg

What unexpected gifts have you discovered while traveling with your children?

I follow many other traveling families via the blogosphere.  One of my favorite sites to visit is Mother of All Trips!  Today Mara is promoting a linkup for all travel moms, so click and read on to see how travel is the gift that doesn’t stop giving for many other families.

This is the trip I did last summer. If anyone has questions on how to do the trip I did or any advice- let me know, I have a ton of it!

Observed from 6 a.m. until 6 a.m. the next morning, Nyepi is a day reserved for self-reflection and as such, anything that might interfere with that purpose is restricted. The main restrictions are: no lighting fires (and lights must be kept low); no working; no entertainment or pleasure; no traveling; and for some, no talking or eating at all. The effect of these prohibitions is that Bali’s usually bustling streets and roads are empty, there is little or no noise from TVs and radios, and few signs of activity are seen even inside homes. The only people to be seen outdoors are the Pecalang, traditional security men who patrol the streets to ensure the prohibitions are being followed.

Although Nyepi is primarily a Hindu holiday, non-Hindu residents of Bali observe the day of silence as well, out of respect for their fellow citizens. Even tourists are not exempt; although free to do as they wish inside their hotels, no one is allowed onto the beaches or streets, and the only airport in Bali remains closed for the entire day. The only exceptions granted are for emergency vehicles carrying those with life-threatening conditions and women about to give birth.

On the day after Nyepi, known as Ngembak Geni, social activity picks up again quickly, as families and friends gather to ask forgiveness from one another, and to perform certain religious rituals together.

Rituals

• First, The Melasti Ritual is performed at the 3-4 previous day. It is dedicated to Sanghyang Widhi Wasa and is performed at the beach to respect them as the owner of The Land and Sea. The ritual performed in Pura (Balinese temple) near the sea (Pura Segara) and meant to purify Arca, Pratima, and Pralingga (sacred objects) belongs to several temples, also to acquire sacred water from the sea.
• Second, The Bhuta Yajna Ritual is performed in order to vanquish the negative elements and create balance with God, Mankind, and Nature. The ritual also meant to appease Batara Kala by Pecaruan offering. Devout Hindu Balinese villages usually make ogoh-ogoh, demonic statues made of bamboo and paper symbolizing negative elements or malevolent spirits. After the ogoh-ogoh have been paraded around the village, the Ngrupuk ritual takes place, which involves burning the ogoh-ogoh.

• Third, The Nyepi Rituals is performed with the following conditions:
  • Amati Geni: No fire/light, including no electricity
  • Amati Karya: No working
  • Amati Lelunganan: No travelling
  • Amati Lelanguan: Fasting and no revelry/self-entertainment
• Fourth, The Yoga/Brata Ritual starts at 6:00 AM and continues to 6:00 AM the next day.
• Fifth, The Ngembak Agni/Labuh Brata Ritual is performed for all Hindus to forgive each other and to welcome the new days to come.
• Sixth and finally, The Dharma Shanti Rituals is performed as the Nyepi Day or “Day of Silence.”

Bali is an Indonesian island located in the westernmost end of the Lesser Sunda Islands, lying between Java to the west and Lombok to the east. It is one of the country’s 33 provinces with the provincial capital at Denpasar towards the south of the island (strictly speaking, the province covers a few small neighboring islands as well as the isle of Bali).

With a population recorded as 3,891,000 in the 2010 census, the island is home to most of Indonesia’s small Hindu minority. In the 2000 census about 92.29% of Bali’s population adhered to Balinese Hinduism while most of the remainder follow Islam. It is also the largest tourist destination in the country and is renowned for its highly developed arts, including traditional and modern dance, sculpture, painting, leather, metalworking, and music. Bali, a tourist haven for decades, has seen a further surge in tourist numbers in recent years. The island of Bali is one of Indonesia’s most attractive holiday destinations. Here are seven reasons why Bali would be a great choice for your next holiday. (sources  wikipedia )

1. A Variety of Hotel

With a huge number of four and five star hotels and bali villas, Bali offers the luxury that you deserve on your holiday, wedding or honeymoon. Bali holidays are popular throughout the world, and hotel staffs in Bali are experienced, professional, and work hard to exceed expectations of all guests, Bali suite from the backpacker, surfer, family holiday and romantic journey.

2. De Cuisine

Bali offers a variety of places to enjoy delicious Balinese food, ranging from world class organic restaurants such as Clear Café, whose design is said to be as incredible as the food, to snack bars found in major tourist cities. Balinese food has a tendency to be hot, spicy and peppery. Coconut is used throughout Balinese cooking as well as coconut oil used for frying food.

3. Culture

Indonesia is rich with their culture, Especially in Bali, There are over 3.5 million people living on Bali, Nusa Penida, western Lombok and on eastern Java. There is a huge of culture in Bali, from dancing, art, many Hindus ceremony, you don’t need to worried visiting Bali, most of them are spoken English, France, Russian, Japanese, Korean Many of the Balinese people are bi-lingual and tri-lingual.

4. The Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary

At this attraction, you can not only see but also hand feed the friendly long tailed macaque monkeys. However, the monkeys in this ancient forest temple are known to be mischievous and will not hesitate to jump onto your shoulders in search of food, so be ready. The Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary attracts approximately 10,000 visitors per month from around the world.

5. Sacred Energy

Bali is one of the seven sacred chakras of the world. Many believe that by merely setting foot on the island, your soul will awaken to its power and light. Experience this wonder during your holidays in Bali.

6. Pura Uluwatu

This ancient temple boasts not only amazing architecture and a unique history, but also an incredible view of the sunset. Your Bali holidays would not complete without visiting this stop at dusk. Here, you will also be able to see performances of the Kecak dance, one of Bali’s most unique dances. The word Ulu translates to “On” and Watu translates to “Stone”. A translation of the word Uluwatu is, “Temple on the Stone”.

7. Why Not?

Why go, you ask? Why not? If you want to get out and see the world, taking your holidays in Bali is a must!

Experienced and enthusiastic round the world photographer. Enjoys traveling to various tropical locations around the world and sharing my insights with others. A picture tells a thousand words, and I love sharing them with others.

1.  CRADLE OF AVIATION MUSEUM – When you visit Long Island’s Air and Space Museum your family will be able to explore eight exhibit galleries that are home to over seventy-five air and space crafts.  Kids and adults will enjoy learning about the major role Long Island has played in aviation and historic flights like Charles Lindbergh’s “Spirit of St. Louis”.   Many interactive exhibits and short films make the experience a lot of fun.  The Junior Jet Club is a great place for children under six to explore.   Older children will enjoy the Giant Screen Dome which offers a great selection of movies like “Legends of Flight”.

Cradle of Aviation Museum

2.  FIRE ISLAND LIGHTHOUSE – For many travelers that crossed the Atlantic Ocean back in the 19th Century, the Fire Island Lighthouse was the first evidence of land.  Your family can enjoy learning about the whaling industry, shipwrecks and Long Island’s fishing industry by visiting the interactive exhibits. Families will also enjoy the guided lighthouse tower tour where you can climb 156 steps to the top of New York’s tallest lighthouse..  The lighthouse and tours are offered year-round.  For tour information visit the Fire Island Lighthouse Preservation Society.

The Fire Island Lighthouse

3.  SAGAMORE HILL – Sagamore Hill was the home of President Theodore Roosevelt.  This is one of my favorite places on Long Island.  I have to mention that the home which is the main attraction is under renovation, but there is still plenty to see and enjoy.   The Roosevelt Museum at the Old Orchard house  has great exhibits and several short movies which highlight many aspects of President Roosevelt’s political and family life.  Families can also enjoy the outdoors on the Sagamore Hill Nature Trail.  If  your family enjoys the nature scene, make sure to visit the Theodore Roosevelt Sanctuary & Audubon Center which is down the road from the President’s home.   Visit the sanctuary’s website for great family events like “Dancing Under the Stars” and the popular “Owl Prowls”.  Adjacent to the Sanctuary, you can also visit Theodore Roosevelt’s Gravesite.

Sagamore Hill, Oyster Bay, NY

The Theodore Roosevelt Sanctuary & Audubon Center

4.  SHINNECOCK NATIONAL CULTURAL CENTER AND MUSEUM - The Shinnecock National Cultural Center and Museum is the only Native American operated museum on Long Island.  Since I am not a native New Yorker, I really didn’t know too much about the Algonquin heritage until my son studied the history of the state of New York in the 4th grade.  Visiting this museum is a great way to enhance your families knowledge about the history and culture of Native Americans.  There are two permanent exhibits that span over 10,000 years of Shinnecock history, educational programs and workshops.  The museum is located in Southampton, New York and is open from Wednesday through Sunday.

Shinnecock National Cultural Center & Museum

5.  OLD BETHPAGE RESTORATION – Old Bethpage Village Restoration is a living museum that recreates a Long Island Village in the pre-Civil War era.  Families will be able to roam 200 acres and visit historic buildings like a church, school, farmhouse and general store.  Costumed guides give demonstrations and kids can learn what life was like in the mid-1800s.  There are many seasonal events like the Civil War Battle in July and the Fall Harvest Fair in September.  Old Bethpage Village Restoration is open from March 31st through mid December.

Old Bethpage Village Restoration

6.  SUFFOLK COUNTY FARM AND EDUCATION CENTER - The Suffolk County Farm is a real working farm where families can get close to the farm animals and participate in special events that are offered for all seasons.  Events like “Yesterday’s Family” will have your kids learning how to churn butter and make candle holders out of metal.  Other fun events are the St. Patrick’s Day Scavenger Hunt in the spring, the Ice Cream Social in the summer and the Sunset Wagon Tour in the fall.  In the summer, kids can also participate in garden sessions on Wednesdays for eight consecutive weeks where they can grow their own food in the Children’s Garden.  The farm is open seven days a week from 9 am to 3 pm.

Up close with the animals.

7.  COLD SPRING HARBOR FISH HATCHERY AND COLD SPRING HARBOR WHALING MUSEUM – Cold Spring Harbor is a quaint seaside village that dates back to the 1600s.  For a small village, there is actually a lot going on! The Cold Spring Harbor Fish Hatchery & Aquarium is a great place to visit with kids.  Families can learn about the freshwater ecosystem of  New York and check out the largest living collection of  freshwater reptiles in New York State, amphibians and fish.  There is two aquarium buildings and eight outdoor ponds where visitors can feed the trout and experience “Catch & Keep” fishing.  Make sure you check out the website for feeding demo and tour schedules.  Admission for adults is $6.00 and children between the ages of three and twelve is $4.00.

Cold Spring Harbor Fish Hatchery & Aquarium

Two minutes down the road on Main Street you can also visit the Cold Spring Harbor Whaling Museum.  My son and I really enjoyed learning about Long Island’s whaling history.  The museum offers changing exhibits, films like “Flubber” that will show during President’s week  and special programs that often revolve around holidays.  Admission for adults is $6.00 and kids between the ages of five and eighteen is $5.00.

Cold Spring Harbor Whaling Museum

8.  WALT WHITMAN BIRTHPLACE & INTERPRETIVE CENTER- In the 1800s, Walt Whitman was born and raised in West Hills, Long Island.  This Long Island native is regarded as one of America’s greatest poets.  I love visiting the homes of literature greats so I can learn about their experiences that lead to their words living on for centuries.  Step back in time by taking a guided tour of the home.   Families will also be able to enjoy changing exhibits that consist of memorabilia books, photographs and excerpts of Whitman’s writing at the Interpretive Center.   In addition to the exhibits, the center also has a bookstore, museum shop and a multimedia area where you can hear Whitman’s own voice on a video tape.    Make sure to check the website for special events like poetry readings, the Victorian Tea Party and events for children.  When the weather is nice, families can also enjoy picnics and hiking tours of the beautiful grounds.

Exhibit in the Interpretive Center

9.  LONG ISLAND CHILDREN’S MUSEUM- The Long Island Children’s Museum is a hands-on museum that will inspire children’s creativity.  This award-winning children’s museum has twelve galleries, art exhibits and a theater. Some galleries that were a hit with my family was” Bubbles” where the kids could step inside a giant bubble, and “Communication Station” where my son did a news broadcast.  Theatre presentations consist of music, dance, puppetry and theatre that is interactive and explores both cultural and educational experiences.  Admission is $11.  Please see the Long Island Children’s Museums website for museum hours and special events.

Bubbles

Communication Station

10. ATLANTIS  LONG ISLAND AQUARIUM & EXHIBITION CENTER -  This is one of the best family attractions on Long Island!  Kids will be able see a 120,000 gallon shark tank, an all-living coral reef display, sea-lion shows and over 100 exhibits that offer interactive experiences and touch tanks. In addition there are several aquatic adventures that families can participate in like the Penguin Encounter, Scientist for a Day and Sleepover with the Sharks.  The new Exhibition Center  is now open and the Butterflies & Birds Flying is the current exhibit and is a limited engagement.  Atlantis Long Island Aquarium & Exhibition Center is located in Riverhead, NY.  The new Hyatt Place East End Hotel has recently opened next door if you would like to extend your day-trip into a weekend getaway. Admission is $22.50 for adults and $19.50 for children.  A little pricy for a family, but so worth it!

Atlantis Long Island Aquarium

11.NASSAU COUNTY MUSEUM OF ART – This museum offers great programs for families and children.  Every Sunday at 1 pm, the museum host art activities, family gallery talks and family friendly gallery guides.  Check out the website for more family events like Show us Your LEGOS®.  The Outdoor Sculpture Gallery is also a fun place to check out with the kids.  The museum is located in Roslyn, New York which is only 25 miles east of New York City.

Outdoor Sculpture Gallery

12. CUSTER INSTITUTE AND OBSERVATORY - Amongst private homes in Southold, you will find one of Long Island’s most amazing experiences.  It is not a “day-trip”, but I have to mention the Custer Institute which is opened on Saturday evenings for stargazing.  Far from the city lights, star-gazers are allowed to use the powerful telescope to check out the night sky from 7 pm until midnight (weather permitting) and tour Long Island’s oldest observatory.  Admission is $5 for adults and $3 for children under 14.  For more information, call (631) 765-2626.

The powerful telescope at the Custer Institute and Observatory.

 Quick tips to improveyour chances of getting an upgrade on your next flight

*Always Be Positive! Airline workers deal with rude and short tempered people all day long. Being nice can go a really long way. Some simple phrases can help with your case,  “Hi, I was wondering if I’m eligible for an upgrade for this flight?’’  or “ I am willing to be put on standby if a fellow passenger needs my seat.”

* Look The Part. –Dont show up looking like a hobo or that you looked like you just rolled out of bed, this can hurt your chances. Look professional or dress in semi professional attire, wear a button down shirt or a nice polo with kakis;  people respond better to your request and can improve your odds.

* Cash In Your Rewards-Being a card member or holding a top tier membership can greatly improve your odds, especially with the same airlines that you are a member with. Be discrete about this as well, there may be other frequent flier members in the audience and they may also demand to be upgraded from your new found glory.

* Board Late At The Gate- Now this doesn’t mean to arrive late or check in through security at the last minute. Just keep in mind that boarding agents scan the boarding pass last minute for passengers to upgrade. This is also the time the boarding agent will be willing to offer you free drink tickets and asking them nicely may turn into a Bloody Mary or two for the flight!

* Observe Your Surrounding- You can sense or feel that there is a lot of stress around the counter for the boarding agent or that agent looks stressed out, sometimes just using your common sense and walking away is the best plan.

    Always ask for the Y-UP tickets!

Ask for the Y-UP fare if your flying at the last minute and paying the full fare amount for your trip! Unfortunately, this fare is not always available at the time of purchase, but when they are, the Y-UP fare is non-restricted fares and immediately puts your name on the list of upgrades when one becomes available. Plus, you can transfer these tickets without and penalties if you switch your flight.

Best time to fly and toget first class at a discount! 

*A simple way to get discounts or upgrades on your flight is to check in early, (but no more than 3hours in advance before the flight) the reason is due to airlines sell out of economy class seats first and the seats in the front of the cabin (usually the first 10 rows) if they are empty, they will upgrade the remaining economy class passengers with early check ins!

* Always book your flight to leave early in the morning and try to get to the check in counter before the morning rush.  You will have a better opportunity to ask for available upgrades and the counter agents will be more receptive to your request and have more opportunity to check there systems for any upgrades.

    Who you are has its perks!

Your position  within your company or the reason for your flight might increase your chances of free upgrades. Airlines like to take care of non profit companies, ministers and member of humanitarian organizations and can be given special consideration. Same can be said with employees of Fortune 500 companies or top executives of large companies can increase there chances as well. The key to this tip is not to abuse your position and to be humble when  mentioning this to the counter agent. We are all given a PNR (passenger record) when we travel and you can simply ask the counter agent to notate your OSI (Other Significant Information) to indicate that your performing missionary work or that your an executive from a well known company.  Remember, to always be humble when using this information, you may just get an upgrade!

  Patience is a virtue!

If all else fails with your options for a free upgrade, take advantage of discounted upgrades and pay for them! With fuel cost maintaining there high prices, airlines would rather make an extra $50 or $100 than to have an empty seat that would cost them money. Instead of paying for an extra $200 for first class or front cabin seat, wait until 10 minutes before boarding the flight or even being one of the last people to board, airlines will reduce there upgrades just to cash in on that extra money!

Airlines will also offer significant discounts and promotional fares on some routes for business  or first class fares, so don’t overlook this option. Some booking sites like Travelocity and Kayak will actually offer this feature separately.

Wether you’re a frequent flier or the occasional holiday traveler, we all experienced delays and extended stays at the airports. Waiting around for the next flight can take hours and some airports offer little or no options for killing time. Through my stays at countless airports, I complied a Top 10 list of apps for your airport vacations and hope they will help you out as they did for me!

Gate Guru- Free

Gate Guru was voted as a Top 5 travel apps by CNN! What makes GateGuru a must have is its real time security check ins, receiving  notifications of delays, complete list of all airport food, shops and services near you. Navigating through airports can be frustrating, but Gate Guru eliminates that with its locator of where you areand show cases simple airport maps. You will also be able to check out ratings and reviews of restaurants as well as photos from fellow passengers of the terminals and amenities.

 FlightView-Free

FlightView will automatically sync with your emails and alert you with any updates, delays, or bad weather. FlightView offers the most accurate, real time systems solutions used by the travel and aviation industry. Some cool features from FlightView are “Time Remaining” and “In Air Status”. Time remaining feature helps if you’re in a different time zone than your arriving airport and will lets you know when your colleague or family members are arriving. FlightView is the only app to offer “In Air Status”, this eliminates the guess work of whether the plane is on the run way or actually in the air.

NYTimes Crosswords-Free; optional subscription from $2.99 per month

The only official crossword puzzle licensed by the NY Times.With the NY Times Crossword app, you can play the same puzzles that are published daily, compete against top players with online forums, and even play over 6,000 puzzles from the New York Times library. The app is free but has a limited selection of puzzles, pay as little as $2.99 a month or $16.99 a year for full access.

Nook –Free;  upgrade for $9.99

Transform your iphone into a library filled with 2 million books, including best sellers and new releases. The Nook also makes it easy to share books with friends, includes Merriam (Webster’s Dictionary), allows you to customize back grounds and text colors. While offering adjustable font size for reading and includes the capability to syncing your iPad, PC, Mac, and smartphones to the Nook.

AirBnB-Free

AirBnB is a secured renter’s site to book, list, and discover great places to stay, while accommodating your budget.  AirBnB offers a wide variety of homes, townhouses, apartments and even private islands! You will be able to book any place with your iPhone and even message guest or host directly from your phone.

Music Box Lite-Free

Music Box Lite allows you to play and download  music, completely free and legal. Music BoxLite using multi-threading sites and downloads the songs you want. It provides live download progress bar, allows multiple downloads at once, iTune file sharing among friends, and offers repeat and shuffle features as well.

Crackle- Free

Watch full length Hollywood movies and TV series for FREE!Why pay for Hulu or Netflix, when you can have hundreds of movies and thousands of shows on your iPhone or iPad. Movies and TV series are updated monthly and you can browse by genre or keywords. Plus you don’t need Wifi to watch the program either; Crackle can stream HD video via 3G as well.  Now all you will need is some popcorn and candy!

Words with Friends- Free

Words with Friends is the virtual scramble that has more than20 million people playing and growing every day. Words with Friends has become the ultimate social game out there. You have the option to play with your friends through invite or Facebook and it can even match you instantly with a random opponent.  It even got Alec Baldwin kicked off the airplane because he couldn’t stop playing! Now you know that’sone hell of a game!

Boingo Wi-Fi- Free

With airports not offering anything for free and finding anoutlet for your devices is a mission. Boingo Wi-Fi eliminates that hassel and allows you to purchase Wi-Fi credits on an hourly basis. Boingo Wi-Fi has over 400,000 locations, including airports,  you can stay connected with your iPhone, iPad,  PC,  Mac or iPod Touch for as long as want.  Simply download the app and click on the credits by the hour. Stay connected!

Local Eats- $0.99

With travel comes great food experiences. Unfortunately,  you might miss out on those experiences if you don’t know where to go! This is the must have dinning app because it will feature the top 100 places to eat in each city, showcase the local favorites, offer coupons, and reviews by foodies.  Local Eats will allow you to make reservations, book a taxi, customize your choices via GPS and best of all, it only features the best independently owned restaurants!

On my drive home, Ms. Quinn’s comment made me reflected on the many places that I had visited with my son over the last couple of years.  Often times our journey to discover history or explore nature typically led us to one of the National Park Service sites.

History can’t occur without people and some of our favorite NPS visits have been to the homes of authors,  presidents, and scientist.  Some memorable highlights have been …

• Viewing Washington Irving’s Sketch Book at his Sunnyside home in Tarrytown, New York. My son was surprised at the original sketches of Icabod Crane and the headless horseman  since it didn’t look like the drawings in the scholastic version of the Headless Horseman that he read in school.
• Touring President Eisenhower’s farm in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.   President Eisenhower had a surprisingly  small office and the wood floors were worn with scratches made from his golf shoes. Apparently he did a lot of pacing while running the country by telephone!
• Exploring Thomas Edison’s Laboratories in West Orange, New Jersey.  Thomas Edison wanted all five buildings on the campus built close together, so he wouldn’t waste time in transit that could be spent on his work.  He even had a cot at the lab!  We learned that his efficiency and hard work paid off because he still holds the record by earning 1,093 patents!

Sunnyside, home of Washington Irving

Thomas Edison's Laboratory Complex

Visiting President Eisenhower's Farm

Of course, many NPS sites include places like monuments, battlefields, parks, natural landmarks and seashores.  Regardless if we were following the Freedom Trail in Boston, exploring the battlefields of Valley Forge or seeing the Washington Monument, the National Park Service really made learning fun!   Many places have interactive museums, short films, tours, demonstrations and a Junior Ranger Program.

Always wanting to make the most of our experience, I typically pre-plan by checking the calendar and the news and events section on the website of the NPS site we plan to visit.  This allows me to plan our day so we don’t miss any special programs or activities that are often free like the shell-fish demonstration that we went to this past summer while visiting Cape Cod National Seashore.

Learning about shell-fish at a NPS demonstration.

Checking out the websites also will alert you to any special anniversary celebrations.  For instance in 2009 it was the 200th anniversary of Abraham Lincoln’s birth, so there were many special exhibits that made our trip to Springfield, Illinois exciting.  This year is the 150th Anniversary of the Civil War and the 50th Anniversary of JFK’s Inauguration.

Most sites have visitor centers and I recommend making it your first stop because you can pick up maps and official NPS brochures that have a wealth of information and history.  Sometimes short films play in an auditorium of the visitor center.  The films are great to give a little background before you set out to explore.  Information about tours will also be at the visitors center.  Tours are led by Park Rangers who are knowledgeable and enthusiastic about the parks.  The kids can pick up a Junior Ranger guide which will make their visit more like a scavenger hunt.

The National Park Service includes 400 places to discover!  Many of the sites are free or have minimal entrance fees.  Spending a day at a national park is most probably one of the most affordable places to go with the family to experience our nations beautiful landscape and heritage.  The National Park Service is one of the greatest resources that preserves our country’s treasures.  Who knows, maybe your kids will impress a teacher with a history or science tidbit that they learned on a  NPS family trip.  For travel ideas, itineraries or information to plan a trip to a National Park Service Site go to www.nps.gov .

1. The French Quarter- I recommend starting your day by enjoying beignets for breakfast at Cafe’ du Monde and then exploring one of the cities most famous national landmarks, Jackson Square.  Throughout the square there are many street performers and artist that provide great entertainment.  Surrounding the statue of Andrew Jackson on his horse are historical buildings like the Cabildo and  Presbytere.  These buildings are part of the Louisiana State Museums and are a great way to get a crash course in Louisiana History. Of course the most notorious building is the St. Louis Cathedral that provides an excellent back drop for picture-taking.
2.  New Orleans Jazz National Historic Park - Here your family can learn about the rich music history of New Orleans.  Pick up a jazz walking tour map of the city or attend a free concert.  There are even children’s music workshop and performances offered through out the year, just make sure to check the schedule on the website..
3. Aboveground Cemeteries - The famous vaults were inspired by a cemetery in Paris where all the crypts were designed to look like buildings.  If you are inclined to check out  what has been called “cities of the dead”, I recommend visiting with a tour group.  We toured St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 with Save Our Cemeteries, Inc.  The cemetery is the oldest and most famous and spans only a block, but is the resting place for 100,000 that have departed.   Two of the most interesting tombs were Marie Laveau who was the renowned Voodoo priestess and  Nicholas Cage’s tomb.  I guess Cage felt the need to prepare for death and pick up real estate in one of the few cemeteries to be listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
4. 1. Riverboat Ride – Take a Ride on the Steamboat Natchez.  Kids will love riding on a real paddle wheel boat with Calliope music.  The family can enjoy a nice lunch, tour the steam engine room, walk around the deck or just take in the sites as you ride down the lazy Mississippi River.
5. 1. Blaine Kern’s Mardi Gras World – This tour takes you where Mardi Gras is made!  Highlights are watching the artist working on Carnival sculptures and building floats.  The tour also includes a chance to try on costumes and sample King Cake!  Access is easy, you can either catch a shuttle at most hotels or take the Canal Street ferry across the river to the studio.
6. 1. The Audubon Experience is a great deal to visit the Zoo, Aquarium of the Americas, the Insectarium and the IMAX Theatre.    The package allows one visit to each facility and the pass is valid for five consecutive days starting with your first visit. The pass is $40 for adults and $25 for kids, a savings of $24 per person!   Audubon Zoo has always been one of my favorite  zoos.  Where else can you feed pelicans and a rare white alligator? After the Audubon Experience, you’ll be singing They All Asked For You for the rest of day!
7. 1. City Park will always be near and dear to my heart.  I have so many memories of feeding the ducks and going to the amusement park with my grandparents.  One of my favorite parts of the park is Storyland.  Kids will enjoy this magical playground that revolves around nursery rhymes.  Riding the “flying horses” that have been spinning around since 1906 on the antique carousel will also be a highlight.  Of course there is also many other carnival rides and a train that tours the perimeter.  The park is 1500 acres and there is places to fish, boat and hike.  City Park is also home to the New Orleans Museum of Art, the Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden, the Botanical Gardens.
8. 1. Ride on a Streetcar – The St. Charles Avenue Streetcar line  is a historic landmark on wheels.  The Canal Streetcar is a newer line and has two branches – Cemeteries and City Park/Museum of Art.  Make sure you read the destination sign on the front of the streetcar because the line branches in two separate directions at Carrollton and Claiborne. The journey on the streetcar can be exciting for the kids and it is a way for parents to enjoy a scenic view of the city.  The fare per person is $1.25, so it is a budget friendly way to get around the city to many of the attractions mentioned above.  Maps and schedules are available at the RTA website.
9. 1. Swamp Tour – The best swamp tour in my opinion is the Honey Island Swamp Tour located 30 minutes north of New Orleans in Slidell, my hometown.  Families can tour the wetlands in covered or uncovered boats.  Your kids will get a great lesson on the environment, ecology and species that call the bayou home.
10. Enjoy the flavor of New Orleans at some authentic eateries –  One of the best things about New Orleans is the GREAT FOOD!  Typically I start dreaming about dishes like crawfish etouffee, po-boys, and pralines as soon as I purchase my airline ticket!   Honestly, there are so many great restaurants in New Orleans, it is tough to narrow down a list of recommendations.  I decided to consult with a foodie and high school friend, Susan Whelan.  Here are the winners that will allow your family to experience true New Orleans cuisine in a family friendly atmosphere.

• The Camellia Grill at 626 S. Carrollton Avenue (504) 309-2679.  Great for breakfast or lunch and a reason to take a ride on the Streetcar!
• Chef John Besh’s The American Sector at 945 Magazine Street (504) 528-1940.  This restaurant is in the National WWII Museum and is a great choice for lunch or dinner.
• Parkway Bakery and Tavern at 538 Hagan Avenue (866)755-9842.  The best Po’boys!  A MUST!
• Mandina’s Restaurant at 3800 Canal Street (504)482-9179.  One of my favorites and I always look forward to having Red Beans and Rice or a cup of great gumbo!
• Cochon (504)588-2123, or sister restaurant, Butcher next door at 930 Tchouptoulas Street (504)588-7675. Cochon is not traditional New Orleans cuisine, but modern Cajun. Cochon has won tons of critical acclaim and you will need reservations. It is casual for a nicer restaurant and very family friendly. It is fun to split small plates if your kids are adventurous diners. They might like trying things like fried alligator (tastes like chicken!) and fried boudin. If you are looking for sandwiches, Butcher is a little pricey, but worth it! Great sides like marinated brussel sprouts (I’ll bet kids will eat these, they’re flash fried & delicious) and pancetta mac & cheese.
  

  New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park Visitors Welcome Center

Enjoying the Street Performers

Enjoying French Beignets (French Doughnuts)

Times Square

Today I was in NYC and had the same energized feeling that I had eighteen years ago when I moved to the “Big Apple”.  My son shares the same love of the city.  I thought it would be great to pass along some easy tips to navigate the city for other families.

Some of my favorite resources are the apps that I have on my phone, NYC Way and HopStopNYC.    I love NYC Way!  It has over 30 icons ranging from things to do, street fairs, places to eat and ATM locator.  I used it today to find a place to have lunch close to Sony Wonder Technology Lab.  I also use HopStop when I am not sure which subway to take or which direction to walk once I have come out of  the subway.  This app is great!

Sony Wonder Technology Lab

I am a planner, so I  check things out online since I am always looking for inexpensive fun things to do.  Three resources that I use often are Time Out NY Kids , Central Park and TheatreMania .  I have found really cool things to do on Time Out NY Kids like having tea with Eloise at the Plaza for girls or outdoor movies on the Intrepid (the coolest place ever to watch Top Gun!)for boys. Time Out NY Kids is also great to find out what is going on at the museums.  Sony Wonder Technology Lab is free and has several workshops for $10.  My son never gets tired of The Museum of Natural History and he use to love the NY Children’s museum when he was younger.

Central Park

The official website of Central Park is fabulous!  There is so much to do in the park from Victoria Gardens Amusement Park in the summer and Trump’s Wollman’s Skating Rink in the winter to the Zoo and Carousel. One of my favorite things to do with my son is rent model boats to sail at Conservatory Water and have lunch at the Boathouse Cafe.  Check out their list of 176 things to do in Central Park on the Things to See page of their website.

Make sure you check out sites like Living Social Family Edition New York Kids Deals and Coupons  and Groupon.  These sights are a great way to save regardless of where you live, so subscribe and you will get notified of great deals by email.  Just last week Living Social had a deal to get two tickets to Victoria Gardens Amusement Park for $21 instead of $43.

Theatre Mania is a great place to get discounted broadway tickets.  Mary Poppins is great and there is usually discounted tickets, but there are a lot of other off-broadway shows for kids too like Freckleface Strawbery, The Bernestain Bears & Pinkalicious.  You can also find discounted tickets on this site to other things like exhibits at Discovery Times Square or Top of the Rock.

Freckleface Strawberry

NYCWay & Time Out NY Kids are also an excellent resource to find great places to eat.  One of my favorite places is Ellen’s Stardust Diner where you feel like you are in the 1950′s with the singing wait staff.  My son loved Mars 2112, so I have brought him there many times when he was younger despite the fact that it is overpriced food that is fair.  There is no where else that you can ride a space ship to your table and meet aliens.

I could go on and on about NYC and things to do with kids.  I hope the resources I shared will help families visiting NYC or those who live in the surrounding areas just heading in for the day.   NYC can be a great place to take kids.  There are many affordable things to do and it really is easy to get around.  Please comment should you have questions. I would love to help make your trip to my favorite place on earth the best place you will ever take your kids!

Visual: Here you can admire the intensity of color, if crystalline, clean, with proper training of the legs or tears. If the greasy, it’s quality, it means if the product falls slowly or like “oil” for the cup has a better body.

Olfactory: In this step we focus on how to penetrate the smell the aromas of tequila. What is the impact of nasal and retronasal alcohol, if you smell what notes aromatic woods, its sweetness on the nose, if we perceive fruits or spices, and finally, if you have balance in the alcohol and the aromas of the agave.

Tequila Tasting

Taste: all the alcohol impacts which are perceived in the mouth, if this is soft or astringent, if you have strength or weakness of flavor, if this is the agave flavor, if it’s fruity or spicy, herbal, if you have balance in the mouth.

Tactile: They admired the burning sensation of alcohol (in a friendly and bearable way) to finally see the lengt: if the smell remains after holding the sample.

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Tequila Tips

 
I just learned there is a Tequila tour at Disney World Epcot Mexico and is called La Cava del Tequila is the perfect place for adults who are looking for a fun drinking experience at Walt Disney World’s EPCOT Resort. Located inside the Mexico pavilion at EPCOT, La Cava del Tequila can be found at the bottom right side of the stairs after entering the building.

It seems to be the ideal tucked away spot for adults to spend an hour or so sampling your favorite tequila, or trying one of the 70 available varieties of premium tequilas. La Cava del Tequila is one of the best spots to meet with a few friends while touring EPCOT, as well as to make some new ones. The festive atmosphere in La Cava del Tequila, along with the potent and flavorful tequila drinks, makes it perfect for adults looking for some Disney magic to have a good time.

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Hint

San Francisco is probably one of the most beautiful travel destinations I can recommend. But of course you all already know that, right?

What I truly appreciate the most about my city is the fact, that even though it is comparatively small to most other metropolitan cities, the hills more than make up for the size and of course the fact, within walking distance or (a Muni ride) away, you can experience different cultures within each district (or neighborhood), making it actually and suggestively  a huge city.

My choice of exploring any city is of course walking and one of my favorite neighborhoods to explore, not only because of the challenging hills, which give me a great work out, but also the architectural marvel for my visual therapy away from the 9×11 computer screen.

Now, I have included some street signage for you, amazing tourists from around the world and neighboring states and Southern Cal  as a guide, so that when you are visiting the city, you can chart your walking tour based on the order of the signage and believe me you won’t be disappointed with my recommend.

But, if you aren’t going to be coming around to visit anytime soon, stay tuned for May 10th and I will share the photos of the architectural marvel which match the street signage. Stay tuned or come to San Francisco and see for yourself.

Bring a pair of walking shoes and a warm pullover or a heavy sweater when you come between Apr-Oct

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Not sure if a destination wedding is right for you?  Already planning one, but not sure how to proceed?  Here are a couple easy tips to help you avoid the 2 most common pitfalls or expectations.

First and foremost, all-inclusive destination weddings are not your traditional at-home wedding.  They are much more laid-back and casual - an extended celebration with family and friends,  incorporating a vacation with the big event.  Because of the expense guests must incur to travel to the wedding,  the invite list is typically much smaller; and therefore, so is the budget.  You can incorporate as little or as many traditions as you like; be as simple or elaborate as you wish;  but flexibility and the understanding of importation costs/resource availability is important; as certain destinations/resorts may not offer all you envision, or may charge more for certain items then you would expect in your hometown.  You are not being ripped off, it is the cost of realizing your dream in a foreign destination. 

Making your dream a reality is easy with the help of a travel professional who also specializes in destination weddings.  He or she will not only help you decide on the where, but also book the rooms (yours and your guests), and help with all the actual wedding details.  All-inclusive resorts in the Caribbean and Mexico, such as Sandals, Beaches, El Dorado, Azul, Secrets, Dreams, Palace, Excellence and others,  offer special amenities based on numbers of people booked within your group.  They also require all guests to stay at the wedding resort, or sister property, to attend the wedding without further expense (i.e. day passes and non-group surcharges).  Each resort varies in these inclusions and rules, so make sure your travel agent educates you on these from the start. 

Getting your guests on board can be a difficult undertaking.  You are asking your guests to spend a lot of money to attend your wedding.  Most will gladly do so; as it is their chance to not only share this special occasion with you, but also a great opportunity to incorporate their own vacation.  But be respectful and understanding that this expense is not doable for everyone.  Give your intended guests as much information about the resort/destination as possible.  Let them know the costs early, so they can save and ask for vacation time.  Encourage them to book early for best availability and price, and to avoid a sell-out situation.  I highly recommend sending out your save the dates as soon as you book your wedding.  Formal invitations, if sending them, should go out at least 6 – 9 months in advance (9 months is recommended). 

As a couple, you can choose to secure guest rooms by paying deposits, thus guaranteeing rooms; or let each guest book as they are able.  Either way, let your guests know so they don’t assume they have a room waiting on them when they are ready to commit. 

Careful, early planning is key to a stress-free destination wedding.  Just remember why you chose to go this route, and keep the focus on you.  All will fall into place.

So, in my own strange way of saying goodbye to summer 2010, I have included my favorite reminder of summer in a  classic and old fashioned kind of way.

Grace Travel Network is trying to advise travelers on the best places to worship while they are on vacation. We need your help! Our Christian based travel network sends people on vacation all over the world and one of the most frequently asked questions is “Do you know where we can find a good church to attend when we are in __________”

The destination is interchangeable. People ask this question about nearly every vacation destination in the world. They want to know where to worship when they visit Mickey  Mouse in Orlando, Fl. and even where to go to church in Las Vegas, NV.

If anyone is visiting San Francisco or Napa Valley, CA we’d like to recommend visiting Church on the Hill in Vallejo, CA. It’s about 30 minutes from San Francisco and about 30 minutes from the city of Napa and it’s a Great place to enjoy fellowship and worship the Lord. We’ll tell you why in another post.

Thousands of vacationers ask this question about hundreds of resort areas, so if you live near a vacation spot or have been to a church on vacation that you’d like to recommend please respond. We need to know the best places to worship in every city in the United States and just about every city in the world.

You can just give us a recommendation or a complete testimonial. Christians from all over the world will greatly appreciate your input. Unless your in the travel business you might not realize just how important this is to people. For some people knowing where to worship on vacation can help them make a decision on where to go.

Thanks for your kind help!

Blessings to you and your families.

We’ve been journaling every day by hand (busted laptop), so this will be a time-delayed “transfer” of our daily thoughts to my blog. Hope you enjoy reading along with us, even if we’re behind schedule in communicating our adventures.

Day 1: Flying to Manila

Our neighbor Steve was kind enough to take us to the airport. Because of some complications with our flight, we wanted to leave mega early. So, he arrived at the house at 8:30AM to take us to O’Hare for a 12:20PM flight. Complications, you ask? Well, this will be my first lesson to international travelers…

I ordered my tickets on Orbitz, because they were a LOT cheaper than buying them directly from United. I always use United, because that’s where I have my membership and frequent flier miles. Also because I completely didn’t get the memo from the adoption agency that we were supposed to fly Northwest, because they fly all the way into Manila. So, instead, we had tickets from O’Hare to Hong Kong (on United), and then from Hong Kong to Manila (on Philippine Airlines).

So, what was the problem? There were several, but the reason we wanted to be at O’Hare early is because my ticket said “Jeff Block” and my passport said “Jeffrey Michael Block”, and a United agent I talked to on the phone (after booking the flight) said that they had to match. So, lesson number one… Update your travel profiles on all sites you use to be the names that match your passport.

So, we get to O’Hare without a hitch, say our good byes, and walk up to the ticket counter with a LOT of luggage (we were taking gifts for all kinds of people and a huge bag of diapers and medical supplies to the orphanage). The agent tries to get me to use the automated checking, to which I reply that I can’t because I have to get the ticket re-issued (which is what the agent on the phone told me to do).

His response, “We don’t do that”. Translation, “You’re screwed!”

I started praying … and arguing with the agent. My basic point, “You can and you will, and I’m not leaving until you do.”

Finally, he directed us to another agent who was much more helpful. She said she didn’t think that it’d be an issue anyway, but called a manager to see if she could get it done. Everyone confirmed that it was no big deal because “Jeff” is a derivation of “Jeffrey”. If it’d been “Jeff” and “Bill”, we would have had to re-ticket. Praise God!

So, we got a picture of her for the file – you know me; lol; I’ll post it later – and headed through security. That was easy. Our wait was short at the gate (thank God we left early), but long enough to handle one last issue before leaving… Protecting our cash.

We carefully planned how much cash to take, most of which we would convert to Philippine pesos at the Manila airport. We were advised not to take travelers checks, because they are no longer accepted in most truly foreign countries (too much fraud). Also, we didn’t want to take credit cards with big limits on them.

So, we chose a small card we use only for gas, and I called them from the terminal to verify our credit limit and to make sure they knew we’d be using the card out of the country. This is my second tip to Int’l travelers. You don’t want your only credit card to be locked while trying to pay your hotel bill halfway around the world where the customer service 800-number doesn’t work. So just call them and tell them where you’ll be and what will be normal and abnormal usage for the card while you’re gone. They put a note on our file, and we’ve had no problems.

I also purchased their fraud protection. It was like $8/mo with no contract (so we can just cancel it when we get back to the States), and it protects us for up to $100k on all our cards, plus gives us a person agent that will work full time on restoring our credit if something does go wrong. Pretty well-spent $8 in my world.

Once that was done and a bit of McDonald’s was consumed (have you tried their new McGrill chicken sandwich? It’s pretty tasty.), we boarded our flight for Hong Kong with great anticipation.