Category: Family Day Trips
De Soto National Memorial, Florida…
February 13, 2013 by Dana Ticknor · Leave a Comment
Just yesterday, the kids and I took a little drive and spent the day at a wonderful National Park! Located just south of Tampa, FL, the De Soto National Memorial is a beautiful location to spend an afternoon! While the park does not cover a large acreage, the grounds are beautiful, and offer a lovely walking path (which is wheel-chair and stroller friendly). De Soto National Memorial is a park dedicated to educating the public about, and preserving the details of, Hernado De Soto’s 4 year, 4 thousand mile trek on a quest for fame and fortune. Because De Soto NM’s peak tourist time is snowbird season, right now is the perfect time to visit! The park offers 10 different ranger-led talks, featuring a different topic each hour, on the hour. While we were at the park for 5 hours, we were only able to attend 2 talks, and wish that we would have had time to listen to more! The first ranger program that we attended was on diseases, and why the Indians were decimated by European... [Read more...]
Vicksburg National Military Park, MS…
January 29, 2013 by Dana Ticknor · 1 Comment
We recently had the opportunity to visit Vicksburg National Military Park in Mississippi, and while the cold, wet weather did dampen our visit a bit, we still thought the park was intriguing and beautiful. Vicksburg was an important location in the Civil War; the army that controlled Vicksburg pretty much controlled the Mississippi River and it’s important role as a vital supply route for the Confederacy. Located high on the bluffs overlooking the Mississippi, Vicksburg had a commanding control over the ships passing beneath, all in gun range from the bluffs. Both the North and the South desperately wanted/needed to control Vicksburg, and the result was one of the bloodiest campaigns, and one of the most decisive turning points in the Civil War. Vicksburg was not an easy quest – it took her being under attack and then seige, from April of 1862 to July 4th, of 1863, before the Union could claim her as under Union control. While we were at VNMP, we chose... [Read more...]
The Forest in Winter
January 27, 2013 by Diane Berry · 1 Comment
Several weeks ago I wrote a post about hiking the Picuris Peak Trail with our son, Ryan, when he was with us this past summer. During the month of August our youngest daughter Meghan joined us and was interested in spending some time out of doors. More a biker than hiker, we decided to take Meg to the same trail for a bike ride along that forest road. However, the rutted and hilly roads that were simple to navigate when hiking proved much the opposite when operating on two wheels. After about 15 minutes, Meghan called it quits and proceeded to walk her bike back to the car. In my mind, that was to be the end of our time on that trail until the following summer; but I was mistaken. Open Meadow at the beginning of the trail In fall, Terry and I ventured out to that same area of the Kit Carson National Forest to cut firewood for winter. We found the forest road reasonably navigable in our Durango and also noted the abundance of 8-10 foot evergreen trees, suitable for Christmas trees. The day... [Read more...]
Arkansas Post National Monument, AR…
January 16, 2013 by Dana Ticknor · Leave a Comment
This year, in our annual winter trek across the southern states, we decided to take a new route between Texas and Florida. For this stretch, we usually take I-10 along the Gulf, but we decided that this year we needed some new stops – to see a few new destinations that we had not had a chance to visit before. So, we ventured a bit more north, into Arkansas, and stopped at a few fun, new-to-us places! One of the stops we did in Arkansas, was to visit the Arkansas Post National Monument. This park has some serious history going on! It played a key role in the exploration and settlement of the surrounding area, has been a military and fur trading fort, saw Civil War combat, and is the location of the remains of a 19th century town. The site is currently preserved as a National Park, and is a beautiful one at that! We arrived around lunch time last Friday, and after grabbing some lunch in the parking lot (I LOVE traveling with my home!), we toured the visitor’s center where the... [Read more...]
There’s Still More to Love about Texas Food
January 7, 2013 by Rex Vogel · 2 Comments
Texans take their food as seriously as they do their football. Many Winter Texans and other visitors to the Lone Star State have the good sense to agree with them—that Texan food is that of the gods. 1. Po Po Family Restaurant Bright neon letters spell “CHICKEN, STEAKS, SEAFOOD” across the rock exterior of Po Po Family Restaurant. © Rex Vogel, all rights reserved Bright neon letters spell “CHICKEN, STEAKS, SEAFOOD” across the rock exterior of Po Po Family Restaurant, just off I-10, 37 miles north of San Antonio at the Welfare exit #533. The neon and the notice tell you what to expect at Po Po’s: a menu that requires no translation, featuring traditional American and Southern fare, cooked to order. Po Po is not just your ordinary restaurant. This eatery has a unique history with a cast of unique characters and circumstances, a matchless plate collection, as well as some of the best food in the Texas Hill County. The warmth and hospitality are hard to beat. If you have ever... [Read more...]
Texas State Aquarium, Corpus Christi, TX…
December 31, 2012 by Dana Ticknor · Leave a Comment
One of the other things that we did during our visit to Padre Island National Park, was to drive in to Corpus Christi and spend an afternoon at the Texas State Aquarium. The aquarium is part of the AZA (Association of Zoos and Aquariums), so if you have a membership to your local zoo or aquarium, you would get in to the Texas State Aquarium for half price (like we did). One of the things that I loved the most about this aquarium, was that all the talks and shows were included in the entrance fee. The aquariums has educational talks, and animal shows every half hour, throughout the day. Our favorite stop of the day was at StingRay Alley (which is a large touch tank). During the talks that are given here (one in the morn, one in the afternoon), you can purchase a small tray of fish for $3 and feed the rays. This exhibit brought us back 3 times! LOL! The rays were docile, and friendly. They would swim right in front of the kids, and practically beg for attention! There were a couple... [Read more...]
Start the New Year Off on the Right Foot with a First Day Hike
December 27, 2012 by Rex Vogel · Leave a Comment
With New Year’s Day just around the corner, people everywhere are zeroing in on their new year’s resolutions for 2013. Some will vow to add more exercise into their routines, and others will promise not to stay indoors as much. You can start the New Year off on the right foot, the left foot, or any foot by tackling both those resolutions at once and at the same time create a new family tradition by participating in a “First Day Hike” at a park near you, and together start off your year in a new direction. America’s State Parks announces that all 50 state park systems will sponsor guided First Day Hike Programs on New Year’s Day 2013. First Day Hikes originated over 20 years ago at the Blue Hills Reservation, a state park in Milton, Massachusetts. The program was launched to promote both healthy lifestyles throughout the year and year round recreation at state parks. State involvement has grown to the point where, for the first time in 2012, all 50 state park systems joined... [Read more...]
The Lighting of Ledoux
December 23, 2012 by Diane Berry · 3 Comments
In July of this year I wrote and published a post about Taos, New Mexico’s historic Ledoux Street. Named after one of the area’s first French trappers, Paul Ledoux, the street houses the oldest galleries, shops and studios in Taos. A treat to visit in the summer months, when camping in the Taos area, Ledoux Street is even more of a treat to visit during the holidays if you can get yourself to this small southwestern community. Farolitos lining Ledoux Street The Lighting of Ledoux occurs the first Saturday in December every year. The street is illuminated with thousands of farolitos, small paper bags containing sand and a lighted votive candle. Father Winter, aka Santa, in an antique fire truck, leads the townspeople in a parade down Ledoux Street, preceded by a trumpeter playing Christmas carols. He proceeds to the Harwood Museum at the very end of Ledoux Street, where he gives each child who confides their holiday wish a small gift. In addition, the shops and galleries build bonfires,... [Read more...]
PassPorter’s Walt Disney World
December 15, 2012 by Canadianladybug · Leave a Comment
PassPorter’s Walt Disney World – The unique travel guide, planner, organizer, journal, and keepsake! One of our dream as parents is to bring our kids to Florida in vacation. Not for a week or two but more in the line of a whole month of fun visiting various theme parks including Walt Disney World. Last time my husband and I went it was our honeymoon and let me tell you that by what I am discovering these days via videos Science of Disney Imagineering and the book I am presenting you today, a lot have changed since then! So you want to plan a trip to Walt Disney World in Florida. But you feel a bit overwhelmed with all the possibilities and fun things to do. No problem. Introducing the PassPorter’s Walt Disney World which is a travel guide that will help you plan and organize your discovery of this famous theme park. I know from experience that we enjoy our trips better when I plan in advance. Not everyone are like this but let me remind you that in the case of Walt Disney World, you... [Read more...]
Some Days Are Diamond: Florida Man Finds 1.95 ct. Brown Diamond
December 9, 2012 by Rex Vogel · Leave a Comment
The second-largest diamond found so far this year at Crater of Diamonds State Park was certified on the afternoon of November 28. Doug Lay holds his newly found 1.95-carat dark brown diamond. (Credit: Crater of Diamonds State Park) The 1.95-carat dark brown gem is about the size of an English pea, with a round shape and a pitted surface. 40-year-old Doug Lay, a certified nursing assistant from Hernando, Florida, discovered the coffee-colored gem around 1:00 p.m. while wet sifting in the East Drain, a trench along the east side of the park’s 37 ½-acre diamond search area. Lay is no stranger to diamond finds; he has found more than 30 over the past four years, but this is his largest find yet! Lay first learned about Crater of Diamonds State Park from his father, one of the park’s longtime diamond miners. “Dad’s been coming to the Crater of Diamonds off and on for about 17 years. Whenever I’m on vacation, I like coming to Arkansas to spend time with him, and we enjoy searching... [Read more...]
