Category: Family Day Trips
A Day Trip to Whidbey Island…
March 15, 2012 by Melissa A. Trainer · 1 Comment
A couple weeks ago my husband and I decided to take a day trip to Washington’s Whidbey Island. I hadn’t been there for a few years and we wanted to partake in their annual Penn Cove Musselfest! Located only a short ferry ride from Mukilteo, Whidbey Island is a fabulous rural destination. We arrived in Clinton on the south end of the island and then drove north about twenty miles towards Coupeville, which is where the mussel festival was taking place. Coupeville is a historic seaside village that abounds with mussels and lots of charm. The indigenous mussels are grown right there in Penn Cove and indeed these bivalves are the signature seafood of this rural region! The annual mussel festival clearly reflects this because just about all of the restaurants feature the local mussels on their menus!! (Even the local bowling alley features a signature mussel dish!) When we arrived around 11:30 that day, the Musselfest was in full swing. We purchased chowder sampling cards and then... [Read more...]
SAS Shoe Factory tour, San Antonio, TX…
March 12, 2012 by Dana Ticknor · 2 Comments
One source of fun (and educational!) opportunities that is often overlooked when traveling, is that of factory tours! We have done several tours this winter while visiting the sunny south; the latest was a visit to the SAS shoe factory in San Antonio, TX. SAS stands for San Antonio Shoemakers, and their quality products have been 100% American made since it’s beginning in 1976. Planning our visit, we weren’t really sure what to expect – the website made a stop look like it would be fun – but you know how websites can be – they can make a destination look like an interesting place to visit only to arrive and find that the attraction is a dud. Not so with SAS! We found it to be much more interesting than we had hoped! Pulling into the parking lot we found the grounds to be spacious, with adequate room for RV and bus parking. The parking lot was neat and clean, and full of interesting displays of classic cars and machinery. The buildings are designed to look... [Read more...]
Farmers Market in Downtown McAllen
March 10, 2012 by Rex Vogel · 1 Comment
Tucked away in McAllen’s downtown entertainment district, The Market at Alhambra is a new concept in farmers markets. On a recent Saturday, we decided to check it out. Tucked away in McAllen's downtown entertainment district, The Market at Alhambra is a new concept in farmers markets. © Rex Vogel, all rights reserved It happens from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. every Saturday with Alhambra, the Mediterranean restaurant and hookah lounge at 519 S. 17th Street as host. A group known as the Texas Food Revolution takes over this popular Downtown McAllen Mediterranean fusion restaurant and salsa dancing hot spot. Their mission is to promote small, pesticide-free farming—or farms that show a willingness to reduce pesticides—anywhere that they can. Texas Food Revolution volunteers have executed food demonstrations in Laredo, Brownsville, McAllen, and Weslaco. The market features farmers, as well as artisans and ranchers. The Rio Grande Valley is blessed with an amazing growing season yet... [Read more...]
Day trip around Cape Cod Bay
March 5, 2012 by Canadianladybug · Leave a Comment
Back in 2008, we made a long trip from Ottawa, ON to PA, MA, ME, NB and PEI before going back home. It was our first trip with the RV and we still remember the highlights of that trip. A few weeks ago I presented a tour that we did while in Pennsylvania. Today, let me present you to the coast of Massachusetts – more specifically Cape Cod Bay. While we were in the Boston area, I wanted to go visit the Cape Cod Potato Chip Company that let you see how they make potato chips. The manufacture is located on 100 Breed’s Hill Road in Hyannis, Massachusetts . We were not allowed to take picture inside the facility and to be honest this is a self-guided tour where you look through windows while you watch them work and make potato chips. The tour wasn’t long and can be done in about 10-15 minutes. But the kids enjoyed seeing the process of making potato chips. Self-guided tours are the next best thing to real tours when you take the time to read and explain... [Read more...]
OUR DIAMOND MINING EXPERIENCE – Crater of Diamonds, Arkansas
March 1, 2012 by Professor95 · 3 Comments
You have probably read or heard about the Crater of Diamonds State Park in Murfreesboro, Arkansas. Stories abound about great diamond finds. These stories have a tendency to make one think that there is a volcanic crater filled with shiny bean size diamonds just waiting for visitors to pick them up and keep with little or no effort. The truth is diamond searching is a difficult and dirty adventure. The odds of finding a significant diamond are perhaps about as good as hitting the Million Dollar Jackpot on a Las Vegas casino slot machine. Still, some visitors do make significant gem finds. But – despite all of the above, it is fun. We met some great people while digging in the mud. Folks from all over the country were out exploring our true national treasures of openness and freedom. Many families with children were present as well as their pets. Oscar went with us but soon became tired climbing the furrows and wanted to be carried. Plowed trenches in the search field Nancy... [Read more...]
37 diamonds found at the Crater in January
February 25, 2012 by Rex Vogel · Leave a Comment
January (2012) was a great start to the Crater of Diamonds 40th year as an Arkansas State Park, with more than 1,600 people visiting and 37 diamonds certified during the month. Visitation rose nearly 60% over totals from last January, and four additional diamonds were registered, according to news release. Arkansans residents registered 28 diamonds in January, while visitors from Michigan, Minnesota, California, Ontario, and Taiwan registered nine diamonds. The 22 white, eight brown, and seven yellow gems weighed a total of 3.14 carats. Mild winter temperatures in January may account for increased park visitation, while many days of heavy rain left the search area eroded to help increase the number of diamonds found, according to a state park spokesperson. Crater of Diamonds is currently experiencing their first real cold weather of the winter, with a possibility of freezing rain and snow. Hopefully temperatures will soon moderate so that more people may enjoy searching for diamonds... [Read more...]
WE FOUND A PHOTO OF PRESIDENT CLINTON NUDE!
February 24, 2012 by Professor95 · Leave a Comment
Hanging out around a library wasn’t exactly one of the most exciting items on my list of things to do Monday. But, it was President’s Day and we were not that far from the William Jefferson Clinton Presidential Library in Little Rock, Arkansas. Besides, admission is free on President’s Day and I have never been one to pass up free admission to anything. In case you may have forgotten, Bill Clinton was our 42nd President serving two terms between 1992 and 2000. While he may be best remembered for his shenanigans with a young White House aide, it was during his presidency that we reversed a climbing federal budget deficit and created nearly twenty-three million new American jobs. No prior administration had overseen the creation of so many new jobs, or at such a rapid pace. Entrance to the Clinton Library The Clinton Presidential Library is situated in a new 30-acre city park located right on the edge of the Arkansas River in the revitalized River Market area of Little Rock. ... [Read more...]
Stuffington Bear Factory tour, right here in Phoenix!
February 17, 2012 by Dana Ticknor · Leave a Comment
Our family loves factory tours. And a FREE factory tour is even better! LOL! Last week found us at the Stuffington Bear Factory, right here in snowbird paradise, Phoenix (AZ)! I was interested in the Stuffington Bear Factory for several reasons. One is the fact that it would be a great field trip for our roadschool, another was the fact that I knew that the kids (the little girls especially) would enjoy it, and third, I simply wanted to check the factory out for myself. I had visited their website, and had noted that their products are Made in the USA, including the materials to construct the stuffed animals, and I also liked their commitment to helping out in their local communities. Our tribe showed up at the SBF last Thursday, with Vaughn’s uncle, aunt, and cousin in tow. We met in the lobby, and spent a few minutes checking out the factory store that is located in the front of the building. We found that Stuffington manufactures much more than teddy bears! ... [Read more...]
GO TO A HAMFEST – A RV or Camper’s Goldmine Awaits.
February 10, 2012 by Professor95 · 8 Comments
Lot’s of campers and RV’ers, are HAMS! No, I’m not talking about the ones that like acting as if they were in a play or movie. I’m not making a derogatory reference to those that have a tendency to overeat, either. I’m talking about a different kind of HAM. This kind of HAM can actually be anyone of any size and their ages may range from middle school to the most senior of Senior Citizens. The thumbnail picture to the left is a joke to get your attention – these Hams have little to do with pigs unless it is enjoying sausage links at breakfast. The HAM I am referring to is formally known as a Licensed Amateur Radio Operator. Hams must pass a test to show their knowledge of radio communications and operating rules, and as a result have been issued a license by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to operate radio transmitters and possibly communicate with other “Hams” all over the world. Rows of small parts boxes await buyer inspection. NO, IT IS NOT CITIZEN... [Read more...]
Congaree National Park: A Hidden Gem Expands
January 29, 2012 by Rex Vogel · 2 Comments
Congaree National Park is a relatively unknown park—a hidden jewel in the national park system. Congaree National Park provides a sanctuary for plants and animals, a research site for scientists, and a place for you to walk and relax in a tranquil wilderness setting amidst giant hardwoods and towering pines. © Rex Vogel, all rights reserved The National Park Service, Trust for Public Land, and Friends of Congaree Swamp, and others recently celebrated Congaree National Park’s 35-year history and the park’s acquisition of 1,840 acres of Riverstone property, The Times and Democrat reported. “The Riverstone property, which connects the eastern and western sections of the park, was Congaree National Park’s highest priority for acquisition. We are pleased to be celebrating this latest addition to the park during our 35th anniversary year,” said Tracy Swartout, Park Superintendent. In June 2011, the final 434 acres of the Riverstone property were protected, completing... [Read more...]
