Category: Amusement & Theme Parks
UFO Capital: Roswell, NM
November 20, 2011 by Rex Vogel · 4 Comments
Sixty-three years ago, a rancher named W.W. Mack Brazel checked his sheep after a thunderstorm and found debris made of a strange metal scattered in many directions. He noticed a shallow trench cut into the desert floor. The UFO Museum and International Research Center is located in the old Plains Theater on North Main in downtown Roswell. © Rex Vogel, all rights reserved As the story goes, Mac Brazel drove his rusty pickup down to the county seat of Roswell to inform authorities that something had crashed and scattered metallic debris across his ranch land. Figuring it must have come from the nearby Army airfield, officers accompanied him back to the ranch, and what they witnessed in the desert has, in the decades since, mushroomed to become the most widely publicized event in UFO lore. There had been 16 reported unidentified flying object sightings reported that year during the several months preceding what would be known as the Roswell Incident. The Air Force issued a press release... [Read more...]
Up, Up and Away: Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta
September 16, 2011 by Rex Vogel · Leave a Comment
Countdown to Liftoff: 14 days, 14 hours, 14 minutes Part of the reason for the success of the Fiesta are the cool Albuquerque morning temperatures in October and the Albuquerque box. (Credit: Raymond Watt, balloonfiesta.com) Each October, New Mexico skies are full of bold blues, imperial reds, and vibrant yellows. The event is the world-famous Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, the largest hot-air balloon event in the world. This extravaganza takes place from the first weekend through the second weekend in October—this year’s festival is from October 1-9—and attracts hundreds of hot-air balloonists from around the world. The balloons come in many colors and shapes with the special shapes category getting larger every year. There are balloons that look like cows, cartoon characters, automobiles, stagecoaches—and just about everything else. A century after the release of Jules Verne’s balloon adventure novel with Captain Phileas Fogg, Around the World in 80 Days, internationally-acclaimed... [Read more...]
Safari Niagara
September 14, 2011 by Canadianladybug · Leave a Comment
While visiting the Niagara region a couple of years ago, we stumbled on an interesting zoological park that will please everyone in your family. Formely known as ZooZ, Safari Niagara will keep your family busy for the whole day when you enter their park. Right at the entrance of the park we were welcome by a garden snake which was just exploring the area. This garden snake was immediately picked up by one of the employees when we told them about it… Multiple guided tours are available as well as zoo university. Through daily interactive animal presentations, you will learn interesting facts on specific animals and birds that you can find at the zoo. We particularly like the Gibbons area where we were able to hear them make their cry – which was heard throughout the park regularly! While exploring the zoo we also learned more about various birds, saw buffalos butt heading each other, learned more about the different kind of bears, had some great time learning about the... [Read more...]
Dinosaurs. Real Close And Nearly Alive In Seattle!
May 15, 2011 by Melissa A. Trainer · 1 Comment
Seattle has many wonderful destinations for children. There are waterfront parks, a wooden boat center, dozens of playgrounds, a fabulous market, and many healthy kid friendly restaurants. If you find yourself traveling through the Emerald City this summer, seriously consider a trip to the city’s Woodland Park Zoo. I visit this zoo often with my youngest son, and we absolutely love strolling through the zoo and exploring all the animals. Some of our favorite spots are the Family Farm and the Raptor Center. Both offer great opportunities for learning because there are usually zoo educators or volunteers in the area who are willing to answer lots of questions and share their knowledge. There is one temporary exhibit right now that looks super cool. It’s the “Dinosaurs. Real Close.” exhibit and it will run through September 5. I haven’t been to the animatronic exhibit of enormous North American species of dinosaurs just yet, but my son and... [Read more...]
Experiencing the Medieval Times
May 13, 2011 by Canadianladybug · 1 Comment
http://www.medievaltimes.com/ Have you heard of Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament? If not, you definitively need to check this out. Essentially the show brings to life six knights, donning armor, and competing in a jousting tournament for the title of “King’s Champion.” Two years ago, my husband and I went to celebrate our anniversary. Last year, my husband decided to bring the boys (ages 9, 6 and 4 ¾) to discover the medieval times with him as a surprise. I stayed at the RV park with our daughter who was too young for this sort of event. But we agreed that the next time we do this, the whole family will be going… Throughout the show, you will be served a royal feast that includes: Oven Roasted Chicken, Garlic Bread, Tomato Bisque Soup, Herb-Roasted Potatoes, Spare Ribs, and Pastry of the Castle. If you prefer a vegetarian meal, make sure to specify this while making your reservation. We found that there was definitively too much food on... [Read more...]
Best of America
April 22, 2011 by Rex Vogel · 4 Comments
The backbone of American greatness is the contribution of each individual. From innovative and heroic people to compelling ideas and stories, Reader’s Digest celebrates the best. Image courtesy Reader's Digest Where can you find the best hot dogs in America? What are the best town names? Where are the best natural vistas in the United States? What are the country’s best eccentric competitions? RVing and imagination—both take you anywhere you want to be. Reader’s Digest reveals the “Best of America” Reader’s Digest, known for simplifying and clarifying the topics that matter most to its readers, dedicates its May 2011 issue to the “Best of America.” As Reader’s Digest celebrates the “Best of America,” the second phase of its “We Hear You America” online contest at rd.com continues through May 16, with a total of $7.5 million in financial and promotional support for towns and cities across the U.S. In a recent news release, Peggy Northrop, Reader’s Digest’s... [Read more...]
Relaxation and Camping…
April 10, 2011 by Melissa A. Trainer · 2 Comments
How do you relax while camping? How do you relax while camping with children? My husband and I have been camping for a long time with children in tow, so I know exactly how much effort it takes to pack the gear, organize the meals, hook up the camper, drive to a destination, park the camper (!!) and then set up camp. Over the years, I’ve learned that some of our most relaxing trips have taken place at seaside locations. There’s something about the beach that soothes my soul. Of course, the beach experience here in the Pacific Northwest can be a little different from the warm sunny experience found on beaches of the East Coast. More often than not, a beach day here in the coastal Northwest includes a healthy dose of fog and mist. If the vacation gods are smiling on us, then we might get a pinch of sunshine as well. Nonetheless, beaches are my favorite place to relax. Sometimes, I just bring a beach chair and sit at the shore with a few cooking magazines and a good book.... [Read more...]
SafetyTat will give you peace of mind!
March 1, 2011 by Canadianladybug · 1 Comment
Have you ever lost your child – even a short period of time – and wondered how you can protect them when visiting an attraction park of theme park? SafetyTat is here for the rescue! SafetyTat is a cool temporary tattoo where you can write your contact information in case your child gets lost in the crowd. I discovered SafetyTat more than a year ago and had the privilege to review their product twice so far. I love the idea of being able to put a temporary tattoo on a child when visiting a place where it could be easy to lose them. Don’t take me wrong. I usually don’t lose my kids but just in case one of them would wander and we don’t realize it, it is great to know that somehow, our phone number is marked on him/her and somebody will call us. Back in September 2010, we visited the Toronto Zoo and we were able to put our SafetyTat to good use. We rapidly applied some SafetyTat tattoos on the two youngest who would have trouble to give a phone number if... [Read more...]
The Stowe Experience–Part 4
January 30, 2011 by Diane Berry · 2 Comments
Stowe Mountain Resort is another must-see stop in this northern Vermont town. The Resort is a place to see no matter what season you visit Stowe as there are activities taking place at all times of the year. Coming down the Alpine Slide Of course the busiest season is the winter downhill ski season when skiers and snowboarders and their families populate the hills, shops and restaurants with their frenetic athletic pursuits. But for the RVing family or couple, a visit in the summer or fall is worth considering. The Resort has invested a significant amount of money and effort into developing activities for summer and fall visitors, all of which our family thoroughly enjoyed! Our first stop had to be the Alpine Slide. Once parked, a quick walk into the main chalet allowed us to purchase tickets for this and several other rides and activities. It is definitely worth buying the package deals as no one will want to stop at just one ride! The Alpine Slide was definitely the highlight of our trip... [Read more...]
‘Tis the season for Christmas lights
December 15, 2010 by Rex Vogel · 2 Comments
‘Tis the season for Christmas light displays. Below is a selected list of ten of the best places in the U.S. Sunbelt to see Christmas lights and other seasonal displays. No guarantee, but they’re all worth a look—and don’t forget to pack your digital camera and tripod. Alabama Theodore Bellingrath Gardens Magic Christmas in Lights Dates: November 26-December 31, 2010; closed December 25 General information: Stroll through 3 million sparkling lights and over 928 displays throughout the 65-acre Garden estate. The Bellingrath Home is decorated in its holiday finery and poinsettias encompass the Gardens. Nightly choral performances held on the South Terrace. Admission: Magic Christmas in Lights Only $12.00; Magic Christmas in Lights and Bellingrath Home Tour $20.00; tickets available for purchase online Directions: Located 20 miles southwest of Mobile; from Interstate 10, take exit 15A (Hwy 90 West/Theodore exit). Travel approximately 2 miles and turn left at the Bellingrath... [Read more...]
