connielimon's Blog

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Connie L, Female
http://smalldogs2.com/VacationIdeas
Admin of: Travel Dreams and Vacation Ideas.

Martha’s Vineyard: David Ryan’s Restaurant

November 26, 2007 by connielimon

Martha’s Vineyard: David Ryan’s Restaurant

David Ryan’s Restaurant is located in historic downtown Edgartown, just a short distance from Edgartown harbor at 11 North Water Street, Edgartown, Massachusetts. Telephone: 508-627-4100.

Upstairs at David Ryan’s Restaurant you will find elegant casual dining featuring a large menu of quality creative specialties. They have a full liquor license and feature wines by the glass or bottle, mainstream and microbrew beers, cocktails and frozen drinks. The street level café offers the same menu in a more relaxed pub style atmosphere.

In the evening, David Ryan’s Café turns into one of the hottest night spots on the island.

It is open year round and has been a favorite of the locals and visitors alike.

Catering services are available for business luncheons, wedding receptions, graduation parties and more. For more information call 508-627-4100.

Café menu examples include:

• Soup of the Day cup is $4 and bowl is $5
• David Ryan’s award winning Clam Chowder cup is $5 and bowl is $6
• Basket of Hand Cut French Fries
• Basket of Beer Battered Onion Rings
• Hand Breaded Chicken Tenders
• Chicken Wings
• Crab Cakes with a Cajun Aioli
• Fried Calamari with Marinara, Rosted Garlic Aioli $8
• Beer Battered Fresh Cod Sandwich with Hand cut Fries or House made Slaw $8
• Pulled Pork, slowed cooked pork tossed with seasonings and BBQ sauce with house made chips and slaw
• The A.B.C.: Avocado, north country applewood smoked bacon, Vermont Cheddar, whippoorwill greens, local tomatoes, mayonnaise on locally baked grilled bread with house made chips for $9
• The B.L.T.: North country applewood smoked bacon, whippoorwill greens, and local tomatoes with mayo on locally baked grilled bread with house and chips for $8
• Chicken Parmesana and fresh mozzarella served on a sub roll with French fries for $10
• David Ryan’s Burger, choice of great hill blue, Vermont cheddar or swiss cheese and north country applewood smoked bacon for $8
• California Burger with avocado, cheddar and ranch spread for $9
• Beer Battered Fish and Chips for $15
• Grilled New York Strip with roasted garlic mashed potatoes, grilled asparagus, blue cheese demi glaze and topped with beer battered onion rings for $26
• Seafood Puttanesca: Clams, mussels and calamari with capers, olives, roasted garlic and tomato sauce for $16

Their sides include:

• Roasted garlic mashed potatoes for $5
• Grilled Asparagus for $7
• Steamed Rice for $4
• Sautéed Vegetables

Beverages include:

• Panna (non-carbonated)
• Fruit juices
• Fresh roasted coffee
• Pellegrino (carbonated
• Soft drinks
• Espresso/cappuccino
• Key-lime soda
• Hot tea
• Lemonade IBC
• I BC Root beer
• Milk

Menu item prices are current at the time of this article writing, November 2007.

For more information about their restaurant/bar and menu, you can call 508-627-4100 or visit them online.

Source: David Ryan’s Restaurant/Bar online

Disclaimer: The URL address in the resource box of this article is not associated with David Ryan’s Restaurant/Bar or any of its employees. This article and the web site are offered as a resource for vacation/trip planning to Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts.

Written by: Connie Limon For more information about vacationing at Martha’s Vineyard, Massaschusetts visit: http://smalldogs2.com/MarthasVineyardVacationPlan For a variety of FREE reprint articles as well as special article topics visit Camelot Articles at http://www.camelotarticles.com

This article is FREE to publish with the resource box.

Hyannis Port Attractions: The Catboat Eventide Sailboat Excursions

November 26, 2007 by connielimon

Hyannis Port Attractions: The Catboat Eventide Sailboat Excursions

Captain Marcus M. Sherman and his crew have been operating public sailboat excursions in Hyannis Harbor for over 105,000 satisfied passengers since 1987. They will reopen May 23, 2008. You can plan to join them for a relaxing sailboat ride with your family, friends or business associates aboard the Catboat “Eventide.”

The Eventide is a Catboat class of sailboat of authentic traditional local design. The sailboat is 34 feet long, has a wide 10 food beam and a sloop rigged mast 38 feet tall that assures a steady, smooth, and comfortable ride. With the centerboard up, they can sail in only 30 inches of water, which allows you to get much closer to coastal attractions than other Hyannis excursion boats.

The boat is hand varnished teak with mahogany furnishings and has secure nonskid painted decks. Passengers are able to move about the boat from cabin-top to cockpit or into the cabin. The seating areas are comfortably padded with excellent back support in most seats. Handicapped passengers are accommodated in safety and comfort; however, a wheelchair cannot be used on board. They have a clean, comfortable, private, practical toilet and washbasin in the head.

History of the Catboat

Catboats were so named because they behave like a cat with quick, agile, well-balanced and quiet movement. Catboats were developed in the early 1800’s and used around Cape Cod for all types of coastal fishing and local transport. Catboats are now more popular for cruising and racing.

The Eventide Catboat was built in Kingston, Massachusetts in 1933 as the last and largest of several big cats.

Typical sailing cruise includes:

• Departure from Hyannis Inner Harbor
• Sailing through the Hyannis Yacht Club anchorage area past more than 200 fine boats and yachts
• Through scenic Lewis Bay

Routes and destinations of their scheduled public excursions of a private charter include:

• Hyannis Port Trips: Sailing out Hyannis Channel, past Dunbar Point, past Great Island, past Kalmus beach, over peaceful Hyannis Port Harbor with sailing especially close to the Kennedy’s’ beach, passing near the Kennedy’s’ beautiful sailing yachts anchored off the Hyannis Port Yacht Club. This is a popular cruise. Your favorite beverage and sandwich is served from their galley.
• Blue Water Sail: Sails offshore into Nantucket Sound, off Point Gammon and returning to dock. There are excellent views of three historic lighthouses: Olde Hyannis Light, Point Gammon Light, and Channel Point Light. Premium bottled beer from their bar is available.
• Sunset/Cocktail Cruise: This cruise is noted for “serious relaxation.” There is no particular destination or route. The Captain takes best advantage of the conditions to spend maximum time under sail power, however, usual sail is over to the Pine Cove Wildlife Sanctuary, a beautiful unspoiled salt marsh up close. It is an area inhabited with several species of protected marine and shore birds such osprey, black cormorant, blue heron, green heron, white egret, loon, swan, Canada goose, various ducks, terns, sandpipers and gulls. You might even see white tailed deer, red tail fox and coyote on the shore. The only sounds here are bird calls and wind in the rigging. You can enjoy your favorite beverage with a lobster roll, shrimp cocktail or prime roast beef sandwich from their galley.
• The Starlight Cruise: Requires 24 hour advance reservation. A sail during the fading colors of the sunset and gradual emergence of stars in the quiet of night sky. See the lights twinkle along the shoreline of Lewis Bay. Sky watchers will usually see a brilliant meteorite or a passing satellite. Lovers can cuddle under a blanket with a bottle of champagne.

Stay at the Bed & Breakfast Inn run by Captain Marcus and his wife Lynette, which is the Marston Family Bed & Breakfast Inn. They invite a family or group of up to six persons to stay in their three room suite as their only guests. Children, infants and pets are welcome. Each of their guests is welcome to join them for a “free sailing excursion” aboard the Catboat Eventide.

For more information about Catboat Eventide excursions call 508-775-0222 or 800-308-1837 or visit them online.

Source: Catboat Eventide sail boat rides online

Disclaimer: The URL address in the resource box of this article is not associated with any of the attractions mentioned in this article. This article and the web site are offered as a resource for Hyannis Port Vacationing.

Written by: Connie Limon For more information about vacationing and living in the Cape Cod Bay area of Massachusetts visit: http://smalldogs2.com/HyannisPort For a variety of FREE reprint articles as well as special article topics visit Camelot Articles at http://www.camelotarticles.com

This article is FREE to publish with the resource box.

Cape Cod Attractions: Dolphin Fleet Whale Watching

November 25, 2007 by connielimon

Cape Cod Attractions: Dolphin Fleet Whale Watching

The Dolphin Fleet started whale watching in 1975 out of Provincetown, Massachusetts with the hope of bringing an understanding and awareness to people about whales and their environment. Dolphin Fleet is the originators of whale watching on the east coast and the largest, most successful and experienced fleet in the country.

They work with whales in the wild such as:

• The Humpback
• The Finback
• The Minke
• The North Atlantic Right Whale, which is one of the most endangered species in the world and can be seen in and around the waters of Provincetown and Cape Cod Bay
• Toothed varieties such as pilot whaltes
• White-sided dolphins
• Harbor porpoise
• And more

Dolphin Fleet Vessels

Each fleet vessel is specifically designed for whale watching and comfort. They are built of aluminum with a double chine for added stability and are powered by 3 Detroit 1271TI diesel engines. They are equipped with a sundeck on the second level. There is a walk out platform for viewing on the bow, and no open rails. The boat has ample seating on both upper and lower decks. The interior cabin seats over 100 passengers and is centrally heated and air-cooled.

Dolphin Fleet Gallery

They serve a complete breakfast menu with eggs, bagels and a number of breakfast specials. Lunch menu includes items such as pizza, hot dogs, hamburgers, chicken, chowder and chili. Beer, wine and cocktails are available. They carry film if you need that for your camera. The gallery is reasonably priced and compares to local vendors. They will plan meals for tour groups.

What to bring

• Sun block
• Sunglasses
• Warmer cloths
• Wear sneakers or shoes with good traction
• A camera and binoculars

Every cruise includes a “naturalist” to serve as an interpretive guide to the ecology and natural history of Cape Cod and Massachusetts Bays with an emphasis on whales, other marine life and marine birds.

Since 1975, their collected research consists of over 1,300 humpback whales. With this data they can provide passengers with the personal histories on many of the humpbacks found in the Cape Cod and Massachusetts Bay area.

The opportunistic research collected on board each Dolphin Fleet cruise includes:

• Identification of different marine mammal species such as the humpback, finback, right and minke whales
• Individual whale behavior and identification
• Associated environmental and oceanographic data

When you whale watch with the Dolphin Fleet you will effectively be taking part in a scientific expedition as well as helping support vital research on endangered whales.

For more information about whale watching with the Dolphin Fleet of Provincetown call them toll free – US & Canada at 800-826-9300 or visit them online.

Disclaimer: The URL address in the resource box of this article is not associated with Dolphin Fleet of Provincetown or any of its employees. This article and the web site are offered as a resource for vacation and trip planning at Cape Cod.

Written by: Connie Limon For more information about vacationing and living in the Cape Cod Bay area of Massachusetts visit: http://smalldogs2.com/CapeCod For a variety of FREE reprint articles as well as special article topics visit Camelot Articles at http://www.camelotarticles.com

This article is FREE to publish with the resource box.

Boston Tours: Old Town Trolley Tour of Boston

November 23, 2007 by connielimon

Boston Tours: Old Town Trolley Tour of Boston

This is a very popular fully narrated city tour at your own pace with hop on/hop off privileges at any 18 designated stops.

Join expert conductors as they show you the best of Boston and turn back the pages of history to relive the bustling seaport days of colonial Boston.

The Trolley allows you to get off and on at any designated stop. Your ticket includes unlimited re-boarding all day, and free admission to the Old State House Museum Stop (you will need to show your Old Town Trolley Tour ticket).

The Old State Museum is Boston’s preeminent historical museum located on Freedom Trail. The museum’s collection includes:

• Authentic artifacts chronicling Boston’s history housed within the oldest surviving public building in Boston

A free Boston Day Planner guide is included in your ticket price. The planner will give you tips and popular places to visit with complete details.

Old Town Trolley Tour operating times:

• Daily from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (November – April), 5:00 p.m. (May – October)
• Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas and Patriot’s Day (3rd Monday in April)

There are 18 stops that include:

New England Aquarium/Faneuil Hall Marketplace
Historic North End 3
USS Constitution/Charlestown Navy Yard
North Station/TD Banknorth Garden
Old State House Museum
State House/Boston Common
Cambridge/M.I.T./Harvard
Antique Row/Charles Street Meeting House
Fenway Park
Back Bay/Skywalk View and Exhibits
Christian Science Plaza/Symphony Hall
Copley Place Shopping Galleries
Copley Square/Newbury Street Boutiques
South End Neighborhood
Trolley Stop Souvenirs/Theater District
South Station/The Fort Point Channel
Boston Convention and Exposition Center
Seaport District

Tour Duration: 1.75 hours

Booth Location: Long Wharf, 296 State Street, Boston, Massachusetts

For more information about this tour call 1-800-213-2474 or visit Trusted Tours and Attractions, Boston Tours Online.

Source: Trusted Tours and Attractions Online

Disclaimer: The URL address in the resource box of this article is not associated with Trusted Tours and Attractions or any of its employees. This article and the web site are offered as a resource for vacation planning in Boston, Massachusetts.

Written by: Connie Limon For more information about Boston, Massachusetts visit http://smalldogs2.com/BostonMassachusetts For a variety of FREE reprint articles rarely seen elsewhere visit http://www.camelotarticles.com

This article is FREE to publish with the resource box.

Nantucket Cruises and Tours

November 20, 2007 by connielimon

Nantucket Cruises and Tours

Discover Nantucket on cruises and tours. This article will give a brief summary of three different cruises and/or tours available in Nantucket, Massachusetts.

Ara’s Tours are 1 ½ hour van tours with group rates available. Travel the unique and beautiful island of Nantucket with personalized guided commentary in an air-conditioned vehicle. On this tour you will see historic Main Street, Brant Point Light, waterfront homes, the Three Bricks, the Hadwen House, the Windmill, Great Point Light, the Cranberry Bog, Sankaty Light, and the rose-covered cottages of ‘Sconset.

Ara’s Tours

Advanced bookings for Ara’s Tours are highly recommended. Call 508-221-6852 or visit them online.

Freedom Cruise Line

Freedom Cruise Line, Inc. sails from Saquatucket Harbor and is located at 702 Main Street: Route 28, Harwich Port, Massachusetts 02646.
Freedom Cruise Line will take you a step back in time to the historic whaling port of Nantucket on a short cruise. You will see Cape Cod disappear and the island they call the “Grey Lady” appear. The quaint cottages and interesting shops will surround you and you can stroll on cobble stoned streets.

Sailing from picturesque Saquatucket Harbor in Harwich Port helps you avoid the parking and traffic hassles of Hyannis. Parking is free for day trippers in their private lot.

Freedom Cruise Line offers daily passenger service that includes bicycles and most pets.

An experienced crew will assist you load and unload luggage, answer questions about points of interest and serve you refreshments from a snack bar.

For Freedom Cruise Line reservations or more information call 508-432-8999 or visit them online.

Gail’s Tours

For five years in a row, Gail’s Tours has been selected as the best island tour by the Inquirer and Mirror’s Best of Nantucket readers’ choice poll.

Highlights include:

• Gail’s Tours are presented in air-conditioned vans
• Convenient passenger pickup
• Van stops for pictures
• A unique 40-year family legacy of hospitality, current guide is a 6th generation native – hear her tales of Nantucket
• Gail’s tours are an effortless way to familiarize yourself with the island
• Van accommodates 13 people
• Departs 10:00 a.m., 1:00 p.m. & 3:00 p.m. daily
• Gail’s Tours are a better use of time – overview island, return to area of interest
• One-and-3/4 hour tours presented by a real Nantucket that only a native knows

For more information call 508-257-6557 or visit them online.

Source: Ara’s Tours, Freedom Cruise Line and Gail’s Tours online

Disclaimer: The Nantucket, Massachusetts web site listed in the resource box is not associated with or does not promote any of the above services. This article and the web site is an information source for those wishing to plan a vacation in the Nantucket Islands in Massachusetts.

Written by: Connie Limon For more information about living and vacationing in the Nantucket Islands of Massachusetts visit http://smalldogs2.com/NantucketMassachusetts For a variety of FREE reprint articles and special topic articles visit Camelot Articles at http://www.camelotarticles.com

This article is FREE to publish with the resource box.

Martha’s Vineyard: Where to Stay – Hob Knob Inn

November 20, 2007 by connielimon

Martha’s Vineyard: Where to Stay – Hob Knob Inn

The Hob Knob Inn is located at 128 Main Street in Edgartown, Massachusetts. Telephone: 508-627-9510

This is a nineteenth century era Gothic Revival home on Martha’s Vineyard, located just a short distance from the heart of Edgartown. In 1947, one of their guests was Senator John F. Kennedy while he was in Edgartown for a sailing regatta.

Martha’s Vineyard is becoming well-known as a year-round destination. It boasts of 124 miles of spectacular beaches and coastline, and varied types of architecture. They also have five lighthouses and the country’s oldest working carousel. The waters at Martha’s Vineyard are world-renowned for fishing by boat or from shore. There are dozens of art galleries, museums, musical concerts, and theatrical performances.

The Hob Knob Inn presents a spirit of gracious hospitality in a comfortable, casually elegant boutique hotel. There is a shady wrap-around porch with white wicker rockers and plush down cushions and a bluestone terrace for sun seekers to enjoy an afternoon basking in the sun.

The Hob Knob Inn has guest rooms among the most spacious on Martha’s Vineyard having many of their rooms overlook gardens or the clapboard and ivy-covered facades of Edgartown. Each room is individually designed and decorated with English Chintz fabrics, antiques, fresh flowers and personal touches.

Spa

Choose from:

• Relaxation Massage
• Aromatherapy Massage
• Pre-natal Massage
• Deep Tissue Massage
• Aromatherapy Face Massage & Cleansing
• Thai Massage

All spa services are professionally provided by certified massage therapists.

Enjoy their sauna with high heat and low humidity to soothe and relax tired muscles, relieve stress, flush away the body’s impurities and promote an after-sauna feeling of satisfaction and well being.

A fitness center is available having everything you need to stay on your exercise routine while vacationing.

Food

A hearty farm breakfast is cooked to order and made from fresh local ingredients served in the Inn’s sunlit dining room overlooking Main Street. Breakfast is accompanied by a lavish cold buffet. A highlight of every morning is their homemade scones served with fresh local preserves.

Afternoon tea at the Hob Knob is a tradition. They serve a selection of fine teas with freshly baked goods. They also serve frosty pitchers of fresh lemonade and iced tea on their spacious wrap-around porch.

Hosting Events include:

• Family Occasions
• Weddings
• Business conferences or corporate retreats

Concierge services include:

• Assistance with requests while you are a guest at the Hob Knob Inn
• Sharing a list of favorite restaurants
• Knowledge of where to find discrete beaches, beautiful vistas, and perfect sunsets
• Where to find unique Martha’s Vineyard wampum bracelets, snuggly handmade woolen sweaters and the best fried clams on the Island
• Island maps, bus schedules, walking and biking trails guides
• Movie and theatre schedules and a complete list of current happenings
• Scheduling of tee times at one of the Vineyards beautiful golf courses
• Calling a taxi or help in finding rental cars
• Schedule a sightseeing tour
• Direct you to the nearest bus stop
• Booking a fishing charter and pack you a picnic lunch

The staff of Hob Knob Inn strives to make your experience on Martha’s Vineyard a very memorable one. For more information call them at 508-627-9510 or visit them online.

Source: Hob Knob Inn Online

Disclaimer: The URL address in the resource box is not associated with the Hob Knob Inn or any of its employees. This article and the web site are offered as a resource for vacation planning at Martha’s Vineyard.

This article is FREE to publish with the resource box.

Where to Stay in Hyannis Port: Marston Family Bed and Breakfast

November 19, 2007 by connielimon

Where to Stay in Hyannis Port: Marston Family Bed and Breakfast

The Marston Family Bed and Breakfast is located at 70 Marston Avenue, Hyannis Port, Massachusetts 02647. Telephone: 1-508-775-3334

They host a family or group of up to six persons. Children, infants and pets are welcome. This comfortable house is the oldest home in Hyannis Port. It was built in 1786.

Accommodations in a traditional Cape Cod house include:

• Three bedrooms
• Delft tiled bathroom with tub
• Living room
• Kitchen
• Walk-in pantries
• Laundry room
• Screen porch
• Four fireplaces
• An additional private hot shower outside convenient for use after the beach
• Free Broadband Wireless Internet service throughout the house

The facility is pet friendly and no smoking.

The house is located in a quiet neighborhood conveniently located near two beautiful South-facing warm saltwater beaches on Nantucket sound, .4 mile from Orin Keyes Beach (Sea St. Beach) and .5 mi. from Hyannis Port East Beach. The house is .7 miles from the Hyannis Port Post Office and the Kennedy family neighborhood. Dining, shopping and entertainment are .6 miles away on Main Street, Hyannis. You catch a ferry to Nantucket or Martha’s Vineyard just 1.3 miles away at the Ocean Street Docks, or go fishing on any of several charter or party boats.

The home is an example of a Georgian full Cape with windows dropping down from the roof’s edge indicative of the Georgian-Cape styling.

For rates and reservations call 1-508-775-3334 or visit them online.

• All their prices include a full breakfast and use of the living room, porch and laundry
• There is a $20/night charge and a $50 damage deposit for each pet
• All guests may have a free sailboat ride on the Catboat Eventide on their scheduled excursions from June to October.
• The front entrance is locked for guest use only.
• The front hallway contains a good collection of local interest books and some antique toys. It connects directly to the Southeast master bedroom and the Southwest bedroom.
• The Southeast master bedroom is furnished with a queen size four post canopy bed with fine lines and feather pillows, antique bureau, antique books, chairs, chests, and oriental carpets. There is a fireplace in this bedroom.
• The master bedroom connects to the newly renovated Delft tiled bathroom and the living room.
• The living room is part of the 3 room suite and is furnished with a couch, chairs, 27” Cable TV and an antique desk, heirloom grandfather’s clock and antique paintings.
• The West bedroom is furnished with two twin beds, antique hutch, table and a bedside table with a walk-in closet
• A portable crib and a cot are available for use in any room.
• The family kitchen has all the usual appliances and a large dining table and chairs with a raised fireplace and two walk-in pantries. You can use the telephone for incoming and non-toll calls.
• A full breakfast is standard from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. You can let them know your food preferences before you arrive, or otherwise it is cook’s choice.
• Continental breakfast items are available at all times. You can use the refrigerator, but not the stove.
• You can use the washer, dryer, iron, sink, and work table in the large laundry room next to the kitchen.
• The screened porch is furnished with a love seat, several chairs and two tables
• Ample off-street parking for several cars.
• The owners of Marston Family Bed & Breakfast can direct you to any of the many nearby attractions and restaurants.

Source: Marston Family Bed & Breakfast Online

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Cape Cod Canal Places to Stay: Aaron Burbanks Windfall House and Fox Run

November 18, 2007 by connielimon

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Castle Tours: Castles and Palaces of Western Germany

November 18, 2007 by connielimon

Castle Tours: Castles and Palaces of Western Germany

The Rheinfels Castle is the largest ruined castle on the Rhine. The castle provides a wealth of information about the art of fortification especially during the Late Renaissance period.
The Rheinfels Castle was built in 1245 by Count Dieter V of Katzenelnbogen. It became his family seat and the scene of lively cultural activities. The buildings were converted in the 16th and 17th centuries to form both a residence and a fortress, and destroyed in 1796-1797.

Visiting Times:

• March – September daily 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
• October daily from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
• November-March on weekends without snow or ice
• Sat/Sun from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Special features of this castle include:

• Concerts
• Weddings
• Medieval tournaments
• Historical kitchen
• Wine tastings
• Various events
• Conferences

In the surrounding area enjoy the Loreley, the Rhine and its castles and carriage rides.

The Marksburg Castle is the only hilltop castle on the Rhine that was never destroyed. The castle has buildings dating from the 13th to 18th century that consists of a keep, several groups of buildings, outer wards and ramparts that all sits on top of a rocky cliff overlooking the river. There is a museum inside the castle complex depicting life in a late medieval castle.
Special features include:

• Restaurant
• Medieval herb garden with 150 medicinal useful and magical plants
• Wedding celebrations
• Concerts
• Special events

Visiting times are:

• Easter – November 1 from 10 am. to 5:00 p.m.
• November 2 – Eastern from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
• Closed on December 24 and 25

In the surrounding area you can enjoy:

• The Butterfly House and Palace at Bendorf-Sayn
• The Hostile Brothers at Kamp-Bornhofen
• Adler – and Falkenhorst Burg Maus at St. Goarshausen
• The Loreley
• The Ehrenbreitstein Fortress at Koblenz
• Deutsches Eck
• Cruises on the Rhine, Moselle and Lahn rivers

Source: The Official Tourism Web Site of Germany

Important Disclaimer: The URL in the resource box of this article is not associated with any of the attractions in this article. This article and the web site are offered as a resource for formulating castle tour vacation plans.

Written by: Connie Limon. To learn more about touring the Castles of Europe visit: http://smalldogs2.com/CastleTours To submit articles and for a variety of FREE reprint articles visit http://www.camelotarticles.com

This article is FREE to publish with the resource box.
© 2007 Connie Limon All Rights Reserved
.

Vacation Ideas: Exploration Place, Wichita, Kansas, USA

November 13, 2007 by connielimon

Vacation Ideas: Exploration Place, Wichita, Kansas, USA

Exploration Place is located at 300 N. McLean Blvd., in Wichita, Kansas 67203. Telephone: 316-263-3373.

The mission of Exploration Place is to inspire a deeper interest in science through creative and fun experience. Exploration Place provides informal, enjoyable learning experiences with extraordinary resources for exploration for people of all ages.

Hours of Operation

Sunday and Monday: Noon to 5:00 p.m.
Tuesday and Wednesday: 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Thursday: 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Friday and Saturday: 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

General Exhibit Admission Prices (sales tax is not included in these prices)

• $3 (ages 2 – 4)
• $6 (ages 5 – 15)
• $8 (ages 16 – 64)
• $7.50 (ages 65+)

CyberDome Theater Admission Only

CyberDome Theater shows are $2 for all ages (per person, per show). This does not include special engagements.

Examples of Exhibits

Exploring Flight and Design: Celebrates the world of aviation from its beginning to today’s aircraft industry, to flight found in nature and more.

Kansas Explorer: Explores Kansas and its people, places and environments such as touching a real mammoth tusk, stepping into a 20-foot tall tornado, close ups with Kansas critters including snakes, spiders and lizards, and more.

Kids Explore Exhibit: A three-story medieval kid’s castle

Shop in the store

Exploration Place store is a 1,900 square-foot shopping extravaganza offering the newest items on the market today from educational kits to jewelry to model trains to books for all ages and much more.

Enjoy a Meal at Exploration Place

The brand new WaterWay Café features a tasty new menu from simple snacks to deli lunch options. Dine alfresco on the Café terrace overlooking the tranquil Arkansas River. No admission is required to eat in the Café.

Source: Exploration Place Online

Important Disclaimer: The URL address in the resource box of this article is not associated with any of the attractions mentioned in this article. This article and the web site are offered as a resource for formulating vacation ideas.

Written by: Connie Limon. For more vacation ideas visit http://smalldogs2.com/VacationIdeas For a variety of FREE reprint articles and special topic articles rarely found elsewhere visit Camelot Articles at http://www.camelotarticles.com

This article is FREE to publish with the resource box.
© 2007 Connie Limon All Rights Reserved

Vacation Ideas: Village of East Davenport, Iowa, USA

November 13, 2007 by connielimon

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Vacation Ideas: The Snite Museum of Art, Notre Dame, Indiana, USA

November 12, 2007 by connielimon

Vacation Ideas: The Snite Museum of Art, Notre Dame, Indiana, USA

The Snite Museum of Art is located at the University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana, USA 46556. Telephone: 574-631-5466

Admission to the museum is free.

Visitor Parking Monday through Friday

A parking lot behind Legends of Notre Dame Restaurant and Alehouse Pub is available at all times. It can be accessed from the new Holy Cross Drive via a right turn from Notre Dame Avenue or left from the new Eddy/Juniper Road traveling north from Angela/Edison. There is a $2 fee you pay when leaving. There is also a small visitor section in the northeast corner of the large lot across the street from the Hesburgh Library.

The collection includes (this list is not complete):

• Native American
• Ethnographic
• European
• American
• Prints and Drawings
• Photography
• Modern & Contemporary
• Decorative Arts
• Museum Podcasts

The Snite Museum of Art features collections that place it among the finest university art museum in the nation. The Snite Museum of Art contains over 23,000 works representing many of the principal cultures and periods of world art history.

Current Exhibitions

October 28 – December 16, 2007: Scholz Family Works on Paper Gallery

Ramior Rodriguez, artist and museum staff member, will interpret the traditional day of remembering and honoring deceased family members with an electronically-enhanced (ofrenda (altar) installation.

Educational Tour Programs

There are over 9,000 K-12 students served through the Snite’s touring programs annually. Educators at the Snite Museum of Art at the University of Notre Dame will assist you in using the museum as a resource for your classroom. The Snite Museum offers many docent-led tours to correlate with the classroom curriculum and the Indiana State Standards.

Examples of tours available include:

• Looking and Learning: The Elements of Art
• Learning about America Through Art
• World Cultures
• Ancient Cultures
• Stories and Art (includes Bible stories)
• Contemporary Sculpture
• The Dragon and the Goddess: Ancient Mesoamerican Art
• Egyptian Art
• African Art
• Native American Art and Artifacts
• Mythology
• Portraits
• Images of Mary
• Indiana Artists of the Snite
• African American Artists at the Snite

The museum supplies materials for drawing in the galleries with any scheduled tour. Tours should be arranged at least two weeks in advance. Call Curator of Education, Public Programs Coordinator at 574-631-4435 or the tour desk at 574-631-3093 to schedule a tour. There is no fee for a tour. Tours can be docent-led or you may choose to teach your class in the museum.

The museum does not have facilities for meals; however, the University campus offers a variety of venues at nearby La Fortune Hall. There you will find Burger King, Subway, Starbucks and more. There are also locations on campus to eat a bag lunch.

You can also combine a museum tour and campus tour by calling the Visitors’ Center. There is a small fee for a campus tour. For more information you can visit the Notre Dame University’s visitor information website online.

Source: The Snite Museum Online

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Vacation Ideas: The Lincoln Home Historic Site, Springfield, Illinois, USA

November 12, 2007 by connielimon

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Vacation Ideas: Danger Charters, Key West, Florida

November 12, 2007 by connielimon

Vacation Ideas: Danger Charters, Key West, Florida

Danger Charters’ boats are docked at the Westin Hotel Marina at the corner of Whitehead Street and Greene Street. Walk between the Westin Resort/Marina and the Key West Museum of Art and History Building to get to the docks on the brick-paved pathway. Turn left and walk past the shops on your left and the cruise ship on your right. Check in at their booth for a Key West sailboat excursion with the Danger Charters.

The area where their boats are docked is called Old Town. There is parking under the Westin Hotel and Marina and in Old Town the streets have parking meters. A better idea might be just to leave your car at your hotel accommodation and bike, walk or take a taxi to the docks.

The Danger and Danger’s Prize are traditional American sailing craft known as “Skipjacks.” The boats were designed and built to dredge oyster beds in the Chesapeake Bay region during the late 19th century. Skipjacks were sailed down to the Florida Keys in the early 1900s to work as sponging and fishing vessels. They are ideal for sailing the backcountry.

Snorkel trips

Snorkel amid a beautiful collection of corals, sponge gardens, tropical fish, and dramatic marine life on Danger’s specialty shallow-draft vessels while visiting a variety of private and pristine patch reefs in the calm and protected waters of the Florida Keys backcountry.

First time snorkelers can be assured of one-on-one instruction and assistance. They also provide prescription-strength masks and wetsuits in the winter-time at no extra charge.

Kayaking trips

Their entire day excursions feature guided kayaking through enigmatic mangrove islands. The full day excursion features a great safari style picnic lunch of:

• Curried chicken, tuna, and pasta salads
• A selection of deli meats and cheeses
• Artisan breads and a little something sweet

Equipment provided is:

• Snorkeling gear
• Wetsuits and warm beverages in the winter months
• Kayaks and paddles
• Fresh fruit and healthy snacks
• Soft drinks, water, and beer after snorkeling

The full day Out Island excursion usually ends at a deserted island beach or a shallow sand bar in gin-clear aqua blue waters. You can also join a guide for an informative walking tour or just relax on your own.

Wind and Wine Cruise

Their Wind and Wine Cruise is rated the #2 Sunset Cruises in North America by Coastal Living Magazine. This is an upscale, yet relaxed and intimate, sunset sail. They sail nightly; serve eight different fine wines from all over the world and a Champagnoise. It is the only sailing excursion in the US that serves “real” wine. An array of quality beer, and hors d’ oeuvres are also served.

You will be able to explore the wondrous mangrove islands with one of their knowledgeable nature guides and/or learn about the mangrove eco-system, while paddling through a maze of mangrove-canopied canals and streams. The canals and streams are home to a tropical array of birds, rays, sharks, sport fish and more. Their kayaks are very stable sea kayaks that novices from ages 6 to 90 and beyond can easily paddle with a few simple instructions from a guide.

Weddings

Danger Charters can plan your wedding from catering and drink, to nuptials and vows.

Source: Danger Charters Online

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Vacation Ideas: Hell Canyon Winery, Caldwell, Idaho, USA

November 6, 2007 by connielimon

Vacation Ideas: Hell Canyon Winery, Caldwell, Idaho, USA

Hells Canyon Winery is located at 18835 Symms Road, Caldwell, Idaho 83607 with a telephone number of 208-454-3300. The winery is an ultra premium boutique winery in the beautiful Snake River Valley of Idaho. Their vineyards were founded in 1981, which makes them some of the oldest vineyards in Idaho. The grapes they grow in their vineyards have produced some award winning wines such as:

• Chardonnay • Syrah • Cabernet • Sauvignon • Merlot • Cabernet Franc

Their total production is about 3000 cases per year.

Hells Canyon vineyards were planted in 1981 on the sunny slope above the banks of the Snake River, overlooking the Owyhee Mountains. Elevation of the site is 2700 feet. The protected Treasure Valley is influenced by marine air flowing from the Pacific along the Columbia and Snake rivers that moderates the mountain climate enough for grapes.

Hells Canyon wines are made in the traditional manner of fermenting in small oak barrels and are always made as food wines.

Examples of some of their wines:

Chuck Wagon Chardonnay (2004): Made in the style of French Chablis, aged in oak only 3 months, maintaining its bright fruit, minerally, and crisp palette. Quintessentially dry, serve it with fresh crab, oysters on the half shell or shrimp sandwiches

Seven Devils Red (2003): House signature meritage blend, Seven Devils, marries their best grapes. 45% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot and 45% Cabernet Franc.

Deer Slayer Syrah (2005): Signature black cherries rose and a breath of wild sweet earth.

Bird Dog White Getting Warm: Refreshing fruity expression of 100% Chardonnay, tropical and citrus flavors.

Retriever Red Natural Maximum Big Water, Big Heart: 40% Merlot, 35% Cabernet Sauvignon and 25% Cabernet Franc.

Hells Canyon Winery located at 18835 Symms Road in Caldwell, Idaho. If you like wine, this might be a nice vacation destination for you.

Source: Hell Canyon Winery Online

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Vacation Ideas: Snorkeling Adventures in Hawaii, USA

November 4, 2007 by connielimon

Vacation Ideas: Snorkeling Adventures in Hawaii, USA

Sea Quest provides rafting and snorkeling adventures along the Kona Coast of the Big Island of Hawaii, both morning and afternoon adventures.

Morning and afternoon snorkel adventures are provided at Kealakekua Bay, site of the Captain Cook Monument that is located on the site of the former Hawaiian village of Ka’awaloa. Kealakekua Bay and Ka’awaloa are one of the most historic places in the state of Hawaii. Snorkeling in Kealakekua Bay near the monument is probably the best you will find anywhere in the state of Hawaii. It is a good place to start if you are a beginner at snorkeling, and experienced snorkelers will be dazzled.

Kealakekua Bay has been a marine sanctuary for over thirty years. It is home to beautiful tropical fish and thriving coral gardens as well as being extremely well protected from the open ocean offering a safe and comfortable environment for novice snorkelers.

Sea Quest morning snorkeling adventure also features an additional site: Honaunau Bay, the site of Pu’uHonua o Honaunau (The Place of Refuge at Honaunau). Honus are Hawaiian Green Sea Turtles that like to hang out there.

When you are not snorkeling or eating, enjoy exploring the Sea Caves & Lava Tubes along the rugged Kona Coast. Their boats are built narrow enough to go inside most of the caves along the coastline.

Humpback dolphins visit them during the winter season. Humpback dolphins are the original snowbirds that spend summer in Alaska and winter in Hawaii. In Hawaii they breed and give birth to their calves.

Fulltime residents include the Hawaiian Spinner Dolphin and the Pacific Bottlenose Dolphin.

Enjoy their scenery in rigid hull inflatable rafts. Their Malie and Makana take six guests at a time along with a US Coast Guard licensed captain. Their other two rafts, the Sea Quell and Kai Imi carry 12 guests and a USCG licensed captain. The adventures include all the equipment as well as snacks (fruit, chips, cookies, juice, and water).

There is no swimming involved in snorkeling. All you do is float on the surface and enjoy looking down below at all the beauty. There are snorkel vests for extra floatation you can put on for more ease of mind. Standing on a ladder is a recommended place to start. Once you feel comfortable, paddle off, or if you don’t start to feel comfortable, they will take you around the bay standing on the ladder.

Sea Quest is a great place to start for those who have never snorkeled. They are frequently recommended for beginners and non-swimmers because they take only small groups. Everyone gets lots of individual attention.

Snorkeling adventures in the Kealakekua and Honaunau Bays feature beautiful coral bottoms. Reservations should be made at least three days in advance. The busiest seasons are:

• Summer • Spring break • Whale watching season

During the above busy times, Sea Quest can fill up about a week out. You can also make reservations as far ahead as you like by calling their toll free number of 888-SEA-CAVE. If you have a large group, advance reservations are strongly recommended regardless of the season. They do have a 24 hour cancellation policy.

The Kona Coast area is blessed with the best weather, least rain and calmest seas in the state. One of the best ways to see the Kona Coast is on a snorkeling adventure. For more information call 888-SEA-CAVE or visit them online.

Source: Sea Quest Rafting and Snorkeling Adventure

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Vacation Ideas: Mansion on Forsyth Park, Savannah, Georgia, USA

November 4, 2007 by connielimon

Vacation Ideas: Mansion on Forsyth Park, Savannah, Georgia, USA

Mansion on Forsyth Park is located at 700 Drayton Street, Savannah, Georgia 31401, USA with a telephone number of 912-238-5158.

It is a magnificently restored Victorian mansion set in Savannah’s legendary Historic District. Upon entering their onyx marble appointed lobby you will experience the essence of Southern luxury. This opulent hotel is graced by a collection of over 400 pieces of original artwork. It is an 1888 restored Victorian Georgian Mansion now with 126 lavish guest suites, a 24-hour fitness center, lounge with live entertainment, 700 Drayton Restaurant, Poseidon Spa, carriage wine cellar, 700 Kitchen Cooking School and more.

As a wedding destination:

The Mansion on Forsyth Park is a romantic wedding destination of Southern grandeur. Travel to your reception on a horse-drawn carriage; celebrate in the magnificent Viennese Ballroom or sun-dappled courtyard. Experience an exclusive fairy tale wedding at the Mansion on Forsyth Park in Savannah, Georgia.

Other Low Country Charms Include:

• Poseidon Spa: A full service spa located within the Mansion on Forsyth Park blends historic elegance with contemporary amenities that include massage therapy, rejuvenating body treatments, nourishing facials, specialty nail treatments, men’s and women’s locker room facilities with steam showers, and a 24-hour cardio-fitness facility. • Grand Bohemian Gallery: Inspiring art for today’s collector features artwork from national and international artists specializing in contemporary painting, art glass, jewelry and sculpture. Gallery services include art consulting, corporate gift programs, wedding registry, framing, authentication, restoration and preservation. • 700 Kitchen Cooking School: Unique hands-on classes open to both individuals and groups overseen by Chef Darin Sehnert, Culinary Directory • Forsyth Park (across the street) • Nearby beaches, golf and tennis • Area fishing and water sports

Dining

Enjoy eclectic specialties complemented by an extensive wine list at the 700 Drayton Restaurant located within the Mansion on Forsyth Park. The menu features something special for every meal of the day that includes fresh seafood and regionally inspired delicacies. At the end of the day enjoy the Casimir’s Lounge or elegant Bosendorfer Lounge. Sip on a martini as you relax to live entertainment and enjoy views of Forsyth Park from the rooftop marble patio.

Packages include:

• Romantic Bohemian Nights 2 Days / 1 Night • Haunted Spirits of Savannah 2 days / 1 Night • Relaxation Package: Mansion Bed & Breakfast 2 Days / 1 Night • Relaxation Package: Take the Edge Off 2 Days / 1 Night • Relaxation Package: Weekend at the Mansion 3 Days / 2 Nights • Relaxation Package: Coastal Carousing 3 Days / 2 Nights • Relaxation Package: Bricks & Blossoms 3 Days / 2 Nights

For more information call 912-238-5158 or visit them online.

Source: Mansion on Forsyth Park Online

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Vacation Ideas: Olympia Theater: Gusman Center for the Performing Arts, Miami, Florida

October 31, 2007 by connielimon

Vacation Ideas: Olympia Theater: Gusman Center for the Performing Arts, Miami, Florida

The Gusman Center for the Performing Arts is located at 174 East Flagler Street, Miami, Florida 33131.

The Olympia Theater originally opened in February of 1926. It was then a silent movie palace that amazed the public with stunning Moorish architecture, perfect acoustics and simulated night sky. The acoustics even included rolling clouds and twinkling stars.

The theater was notorious as the first air-conditioned building in the South. The Olympia Theater is one of the few Eberson buildings still standing. The architect, John Eberson, responsible for the Olympia Theater’s distinctive character, was a master of “atmospheric” theater designs.

Maurice Gusman saved the theater from demolition and donated it to the City of Miami in 1975. The theater underwent an extensive renovation and is currently listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Many cultural icons such as Elvis Presley, Sarah Vaughan and Luciano Pavarotti have provided cherished evenings at the Gusman Center for the Performing Arts in Miami, Florida. Currently, Maximum Dance Company, the Florida Philharmonic and the Miami International Film Festival call the theater their home.

Hours:

Monday – Friday 12:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. 3:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.

The Box Office opens 1 ½ hours before performance for evening and weekend performances.

Children 1 and under are free on lap. If a child has reached their 2nd birthday, they must have a ticket to enter.

Parking:

City of Miami Garage #3: College Station Garage is located at 190 NE 3rd Street. City of Miami Garage #4: Convention Center Garage is located at 100 SE 2nd Street.

Upcoming events:

December 3 – 5, 2007 Miami Youth Ballet – “The Nutcracker” TBA Gusman Box Office

December 15, 2007, USA Southern Command “Holiday Party/Concert”

December 16, 2007, AEG Live “Café Tacuba” 8:00 p.m.

January 26, 2008, Miami Bhangra Foundation “Miami Bhangra Competition.”

Source: The Gusman Center for Performing Arts Online

Important Disclaimer: The URL address in the resource box of this article is not associated with the Gusman Center for Performing Arts mentioned in this article. This article and the web site are offered as a resource for formulating vacation ideas.

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Vacation Ideas: Hagley Museum and Library, Wilmington, Delaware, USA

October 29, 2007 by connielimon

Vacation Ideas: Hagley Museum and Library, Wilmington, Delaware, USA

The Hagley Museum and Library is located at 298 Buck Road East, Wilmington, Delaware 19807 with a telephone number of 302-658-2400.

The Hagley Museum and Library sits on 235 picturesque acres along the Brandywine River. Hagley is home to the DuPont Company. The park-like museum resembles the home and work life of a 19th century industrial community. Visitors have the opportunity to ride along the Brandywine River to tour the first DuPont family home in America, and participate in a mid-nineteenth-century school day. Period machines powered by water and steam are visible as you stroll through a formal French garden. The first office of the DuPont Company and a barn filled with antique vehicles that include an early nineteenth-century Conestoga wagon is on site here. Learn about the intricacies of making gunpowder, DuPont’s original product. A key step in the gunpowder production process is the Brandywine River’s falling water turning a sixteen ton iron wheel to mix the ingredients.

In the fall season, Hagley offers visitors a charming journey back to the nineteenth century in a setting of natural splendor. There is a special magic in the air as you enjoy the seemingly endless array of nature’s colors, a meandering river and the sound of honking resident Canada geese.

The spring season is full of blossoming trees and flowers as the river winds its way through the original DuPont black powder manufacturing, estate, and gardens. There are wildflowers, azaleas, dogwoods, daffodils and Canada geese.

Christmas at Hagley features a heated bus to transport groups back to a nineteenth-century style holiday celebration. Holiday decorations include nature’s bounty complemented by toys and ornaments from both the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.

The Hagley Museum and Library is an example of early American industry that includes restored mills, a workers community, and the ancestral home and gardens of the DuPont family.

The library furthers the study of business and technology in America, especially the Middle Atlantic region. Collections include individuals’ papers and companies’ records ranging from eighteenth-century merchants to modern telecommunications and illustrate the impact of the business system on society.

Museum Hours:

• Regular Hours – now through January 1, 2008: Open daily from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. • Winter Hours – January 2, 2008 through March 14, 2008. Open weekdays for one guided tour at 1:30 p.m. Open weekends 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. • Closed Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day

The Belin House Restaurant Hours:

Open daily from 11:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. through December 1, 2007, closed on Thanksgiving Day.

December 1-24, 2007, closed Monday through Friday, Open weekends 11:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. December 15, 2007 closed

December 26, 2007 to January 1, 2008 Open 11:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

January 2, 2008 through March 14, 2008 closed

Under new management of Fleur de Lis, the Berlin House Restaurant will resume regular daily hours on Saturday, March 15, 2008.

Admission Prices

Adults - $11 Students and senior citizens - $9 Children under six – Free Groups welcome year-round by reservation. Call weekdays for information – 302-658-2400, ext. 259

Exhibits include:

• DuPont Science and Discovery: Offers visitors a look at 200 years of DuPont Company history • DuPont: The Explosives Era: Details the DuPont family’s decision to come to America, choice of a site for the black powder manufactory, early years of the company, concentrated exploration of the role of explosives in nineteenth- and early-twentieth-century life. • Eleutherian Mills: First DuPont Family home in America built in 1803, sits on the crest of a hill, a charming Georgian-style residence furnished with antiques and memorabilia of the five generations of DuPonts associated with the home, has an adjoining, restored French-style garden created by E.l. DuPont, who was an avid botanist. Near this residence are two other exhibits, the First Office and the Barn • Easy Does It! How Machines Make Life Easier: A colorful, interactive exhibit featuring hands-on fun for education and adventure. Includes wheels and axles, levers, gears, and pulleys, Lift It platform, rack and pinion steering mechanism, a bicycle, simple machines from work and home that include a wheelbarrow, the whirring of an eggbeater, and the power of a line shaft. This exhibit is open only on weekends. • Hagley Powder Yard: Massive stone mills, storehouses, a waterwheel to recall the time when waterpower was the source of energy. The exhibits and working models tell the history of the economic and technological expansion of the Brandywine region and the nation. Powdermen and machinists demonstrate a water turbine, a steam engine, a powder tester, and a working machine shop. • Workers’ Hill: Focuses on the social and family history of the workers who operate the powder mills.

For more information about the different kinds of tours offered at the Hagley Museum and Library in Wilmington, Delaware, visit them online or call 302-658-2400, ext. 203

Rental of Facilities

The facilities of the Hagley Museum and Library are available for use by community groups and organizations. Contact them at 302-658-2400, ext. 203 or visit them online for more information.

Source: The Hagley Museum and Library Online

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Vacation Ideas: The Mark Twain House and Museum, Hartford, Connecticut, USA

October 28, 2007 by connielimon

Vacation Ideas: The Mark Twain House and Museum, Hartford, Connecticut, USA

The Mark Twain House and Museum is located at 351 Farmington Avenue, Hartford, Connecticut 06105 with a phone number of 860-247-0998.

The mission of the Mark Twain House & Museum is:

• To foster an appreciation of the legacy of Mark Twain as one of our nation’s defining cultural figures • To demonstrate the continuing relevance of his work, life and times

The Twain House Architecture

The architect, Edward Tuckerman Potter, employed a vibrant palette of painted brick reminiscent of William Butterfield’s work in England of the 1860s and traditional chalet designs of the Alsatian region of France.

The interiors are of cultures and styles from around the globe in a dense network of pattern, texture, and color throughout the first floor of the house. Northern Africa, the Far East and India are woven together in a bravura performance of a knowing and elegant eclecticism that helped set a new standard for the Gilded Age.

New technologies include:

• A gravity flow heat system • Split flues to allow for windows over two fireplaces • Seven bathrooms with flush toilets • Twain’s telephone, of which he was very proud of, and one of the very first installed in a private home

These new technologies and interior design when combined with Mark Twain’s profound new way of writing of progressive social and political views portrays a house more clearly appreciated as a landmark of modern American thought in the fullest sense. It is open year round with free parking and is air conditioned. The Mark Twain House and Museum offers tours of Mark Twain’s home and a wide range of education programs that include lectures by major authors and artists, symposia, dramatic performances, concerts and “family friendly” activities.

Specific Hours of Operation:

• Open Monday through Saturday 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. • Open Sunday 12 – 5:30 p.m. • Closed Tuesdays January – March • Closed January 1, Easter Sunday, Thanksgiving, and December 24 and 25 and 4th of July • Visitors should allow minimum of 2 hours for tour and Museum Center

Admission Prices:

• Adults (17-64) $13 • Senior citizens (65+) - $11 • Children (6-16) - $8 • Children under 6 – Free

Admission is by guided tour only. Visitors should be able to use three flights of stairs for the complete tour of the Mark Twain House. The first floor of the Mark Twain House is wheelchair accessible. Tours for visitors with special needs can be arranged by calling 860-247-0998, ext. 130.

A guided tour through Mark Twain’s 19-room house is a step back in time. He lived and worked in this house from 1874 to 1891. During this very productive Mark Twain period, he produced such classics as The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.

The tours are led by trained museum teachers and interpreters and are a great program for students learning about Mark Twain. The programs meet some or all of the Connecticut Curriculum Standards as set by the State of Connecticut which are:

• Social Studies Standard 1: Historical Thinking. • Social Studies Standard 2: Local, US, and World history. • Social Studies Standard 3: Historical Themes. • Social Studies Standard 4: Applying History.

Their new museum opened in November of 2003. The new museum provides the richest possible treasury of Twain’s triumphs and tragedies, contemporaries and the Gilded Age.

Source: The Mark Twain House and Museum Online

Important Disclaimer: The URL address in the resource box of this article is not associated with any of the attractions mentioned in this article. This article and web site are offered as resources to help you formulate vacation ideas.

Written by: Connie Limon For more vacation ideas visit http://smalldogs2.com/VacationIdeas For a variety of FREE reprint articles and special topic articles rarely seen elsewhere visit Camelot Articles at http://www.camelotarticles.com

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Vacation Ideas: The Colorado Chautauqua National Historic Landmark

October 27, 2007 by connielimon

Vacation Ideas: The Colorado Chautauqua National Historic Landmark

The Boulder, Colorado Chautauqua is the only year-round Chautauqua and the only one whose grounds is free and is open to the public. The Chautauqua Network is an informal alliance of institutions that range from church camps with Chautauqua roots to weeklong revived Chautauqua (examples would be Waxahatchie, Texas and DeFuniak Springs, Florida).

Over 4,000 people gathered for the opening day of the Colorado Chautauqua on July 4, 1898. Boulder civic leaders and Texas educators joined together to create a cultural and educational summer retreat. Today, the Colorado Chautauqua is one of three remaining Chautauquas in the United States and the only site west of the Mississippi River in continuous operation with it original structures intact.

The word Chautaugua is a Native American word that means “a bag tied in the middle,” or “two moccasins tied together.” The lake on which the original Chautauqua was located in western New York is shaped this way and is the reason it is named Chautauqua.

The site for the Texas-Colorado Chautauqua was chosen especially for its spectacular mountain setting and its health-giving environment. The program is a period of six weeks and is the most comprehensive intellectual retreat ever presented west of the Mississippi River. The Colorado Chautauqua continues to be a retreat experience for respite and enrichment demonstrating the historic Chautauqua ideals of lifelong learning, love of nature, voluntary simplicity, and music, oration and the arts. They continue to host a unique variety of programs for the community and destination visitors with year-round lodging and programming.

The Colorado Chautauqua is said to be an exceptional representative of the Chautauqua Movement and is deemed THE western expression of the Chautauqua Movement making it nationally significant and a National Historic Landmark. It remains a living document of the Movement’s ideals of:

• Learning for all • Uplifting entertainment • Useful leisure in a natural and inspiring setting

Cottages

The Colorado Chautauqua has hosted visitors wishing to experience the quiet, contemplative beauty of the Park and enjoy the many programs, lectures, concerts and films since 1898. Visitors originally slept in canvas tents with wooden floors. Simple cabins replaced the tents. Over time, those cabins have been renovated into cozy cottages.

There are 39 privately-owned cottages at Chautauqua. Approximately 12 are year-round residences with the remaining privately-owned cottages used throughout the year and especially in summer. Of the 59 CCA-owned cottages, approximately half are rented by CCA to students and other individuals on September to May leases. The balance of these cottages is available for nightly rental.

Special events

The Colorado Chautauqua features venues for both large and small parties that can be privately rented for weddings, small receptions, bar and bat mitzvahs, memorial services as well as for retreats, meetings, and small conferences. For more information call 303-442-3282.

More than half a million people visit Chautauqua annually. Hundreds of performers, modern musical acts and full symphonies have graced the stage of Chautauqua Auditorium. Some of the famous performers have been:

• The silver-tongued orator, William Jennings Bryan • Noted prohibitionist Reverend, Billy Sunday • Grandfather of bluegrass Bill Monroe • Vice President Al Gore • Reverend Jesse Jackson • David Byrne, musician • Indio Girls • Los Lobos

The Colorado Music Festival educates, entertains and challenges audiences of all ages by presenting classical music performed by extraordinary professional musicians from around the world for six weeks every summer in the Chautauqua Auditorium. For more information call 303-449-1397.

To learn the history of the Colorado Chautauqua take an easy walking tour or join them for a slide show presentation. The tours include a casual walk through the Colorado Chautauqua Association grounds, entering cottages, Community House, Academic Hall, and Auditorium (if they are available). You will learn about Chautauqua’s past and present. To make a reservation for a tour or slide shows contact them at 303-952-1633.

Source: The Colorado Chautauqua National Historic Landmark Online

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Vacation Ideas: Universal Studios Hollywood, Universal City, California, USA

October 26, 2007 by connielimon

Vacation Ideas: Universal Studios Hollywood, Universal City, California, USA

Universal Studios Hollywood is located at 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, California 91608. Attractions include:

• Movie-based theme park • Studio tour • City Walk entertainment • Shopping and dining complex • Universal City Walk Cinemas • The Gibson Amphitheatre concert • Special event venue

Universal Studios is open every day, however, the exact hours are always subject to change.

The theme park features:

• Revenge of the MummySM – The Ride • Shrek 4-D • Jurassic Park – The Ride • World-renowned Studio Tour that takes guests behind-the-scenes of landmark TV and movie locations and sets as Steven Spielberg’s “War of the Worlds.”

Universal CityWalk has 65 entertainment-themed restaurants, nightclubs, shops and entertainment options.

Universal CityWalk Cinemas offers the best movie-going experience in Los Angeles with 19 screens that includes one of Southern California’s largest IMAX venues and newly renovated stadium-style seating.

NBC Universal was formed in May of 2004 through the combining of NBC and Vinvendi Universal Entertainment. It is one of the world’s leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production, marketing of entertainment, news, and information to a global audience. In addition, NBC Universal owns and operates:

• A valuable portfolio of news and entertainment networks • A premier motion picture company • Significant television production operations • A leading television stations group • World-renowned theme parks

The Studio Tour at Universal Studios Hollywood sees over 125 million visitors each year, taking them behind the scenes of the movie and television industry’s biggest hits.

Popular Rides include:

• Revenge of the Mummy: This is Universal Studios Hollywood’s famous psychological thrill coaster that features an all-new ‘More Shocking’ experience that is said to leave a person breathless. Not my cup of tea, however, I am certain there are many people who do enjoy such a ride. At any rate, if you are a person who would like to be left “breathless,” this is probably a ride you won’t want to miss while visiting Universal Studios Hollywood. Incidentally, it is also said this particular ride will change you….forever. So, if you like who are right now and don’t want to be changed forever, then maybe you should try some of their rides and pass this one up. There are face heart-pounding special effects and unexpected twists at every turn as you escape the Mummy’s revenge in life-like horror. Ride it only if you dare is a heart-felt warning. • Shrek 4-D: This is said to be taking adventure to the next dimension, an attraction that puts you in the action with hair-raising, eye-popping, and butt-busting effects so real, all your senses will be on ogre-time.

I am not sure which of these rides would be the scariest. I am certain that I would be most content with both feet on the ground watching out for the movie stars I might see and whatever else this place might have to offer me. I will definitely have to pass on the Revenge of the Mummy and the Shrek 4-D rides! But for those who dare, this could be a very shocking type of an experience while visiting Universal Studios Hollywood.

Source: Universal Studios Hollywood Online

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Vacation Ideas: The Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, Tucson, Arizona

October 24, 2007 by connielimon

Vacation Ideas: The Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, Tucson, Arizona

The Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum is located at 2021 North Kinney Road, in Tucson, Arizona 85743

It is a world-renowned zoo, natural history museum and botanical garden. The Sonoran Desert is an arid region in parts of Arizona, California and the Mexican states of Sonora and Baja California. The museum features interpretive displays of living animals and plants native to the Sonoran Desert. The Museum has been in operation since September 1, 1952.

Threatened and endangered species on exhibit include:

• Mexican wolf • Thick-billed parrot • Ocelot • Margay • Jaguarondi • Desert pupfish • Sonora chub • Ponytail chub • Razorback sucker • Gila topminnow • Colorado River squawfish • Isla San Esteban chuckwalla • Apache trout

The smallest animal is the leafcutter ants and the largest animal is the American black bear. The oldest non-living animal at the Museum is the Sonorasaurus dinosaur dating from the Cretanecous.

You can plan to spend at least 2 to 3 hours touring the Desert Museum. Since the Desert Museum is primarily an outdoor experience, you should plan on wearing a hat, some good sunscreen and comfortable shoes, or appropriate colder weather clothing during colder times of the year. All indoor exhibits are cooled.

Wheelchairs and strollers are available free of charge. There are two electric scooter-style wheel chairs available for $10 per day.

There are trained Museum volunteers able to help you gain a better understanding of the complex relationships between the plants, animals and the natural environment of the Sonoran Desert.

Museum Hours

The Museum is open every day of the year:

• Summer Saturday Evenings: 7:30 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. (June – August) • March – September: 7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (no entry after 4:15 p.m.) • October – February: 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (no entry after 4:15 p.m.)

Museum Admission Costs

• June – August: $9 Adults, $2 Kids 6 – 12 • September - May: $12 Adults, $4 Kids 6 – 12 • Children 5 and under are FREE

The exhibits at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum re-create the natural landscape of the Sonoran Desert Region very realistically. You can experience eye-to-eye contact with mountain lions, prairie dogs, Gila monsters and more. There are more than 300 animal species and 1,200 kinds of plants, as well as almost 2 miles of paths traversing 21 acres of desert. The Museum’s main focus is to inspire people to live in harmony with the natural world by fostering love, appreciation and understanding of the Sonoran Desert.

Source: The Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum Online

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Vacation Ideas: Things to do in Montgomery, Alabama

October 24, 2007 by connielimon

Vacation Ideas: Things to do in Montgomery, Alabama

You can visit the Hank Williams Museum located at 118 Commerce Street, Montgomery, Alabama 36104. The Hank Williams Museum honors country music star Hank Williams, Sr. born in Mount Olive West, Alabama on September 17, 1923.

The Hank Williams Museum honors the country music star, Hank Williams, Sr., and includes exhibits of his 1952 Cadillac, the car in which he died at the age of 29, on the way to a concert. Hank Williams gave country music its standard repertoire. His legend has been so enduring that he is still the model for many singers and songwriters today. Such a sad, sad loss to the country music industry was the loss of Hank Williams, Sr.

Museum Hours

Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Saturday, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Sunday, 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Museum Admission Cost

$8 ages 12 and up $3 ages 3 to 11

The Montgomery Zoo

The Montgomery Zoo is located south off Northern Blvd. between Lower Wetumpka Road and Coliseum Blvd. It is open year round with the exception of Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day and New Years Day. It opens at 9:00 a.m. and closes at 5:00 p.m. The zoo opens at 5:30 p.m. for Christmas Light Festival.

Old Alabama Town

Old Alabama Town is the South’s premier history village. It is a collection of authentically restored 19th and 20th century structures that stretches six blocks in the heart of historic downtown Montgomery, Alabama. The buildings have been meticulously restored and furnished to reflect the lives of the people who settled and developed Central Alabama.

The Martin Luther King Historic Home

This historic home site was the residence of Martin Luther King from September 1954 to February 1960. It may be visited only with a park ranger led tour. Tours are filled on a first-come, first-served basis. You can register for a tour at the National Park Service Visitor Center. Tours are limited to 15 people.

The Huntington College

This is a fifty-eight-acre campus in Montgomery’s scenic suburb at 1500 East Fairview Avenue, Montgomery, Alabama 36106, Telephone: 800-763-0313 or 334-833-4222.

The educational site is host to a variety of community events, dance performances, concerts and college ceremonies.

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Vacation Ideas: The Anchorage Museum, Anchorage, Alaska, USA

October 24, 2007 by connielimon

Vacation Ideas: The Anchorage Museum, Anchorage, Alaska, USA

The Anchorage Museum is the largest museum in Alaska. It is located at 121 W. 7th Ave., Anchorage, Alaska 99501. The museum is community-based with exhibits and programs on art, history and cultures of Alaska. The museum also presents many public programs and art classes.

Admission Costs:

Free to members, Adults $8, Seniors/Military/Students with ID $7, Children 17 and under, free but $2 suggested donation, groups of 20 or more per visit is $6 per person with free admission for the tour group leader.

The Museum Shop features:

• Alaska Native Art • Contemporary crafts and jewelry • Books about Alaska art, history and cultures

The Marx Bros. Café at the Museum

The café is open during Museum hours serving lunches, desserts and coffee.

The primary focus of the Archives collections of approximately 10,000 titles is upon history, ethnography and art of Alaska and the North. The reference collection includes art auction records, indexes and dictionaries.

Educators

The Museum offers guided tours for classes of all ages. The exhibits of Alaska history and art and in special exhibits are the primary focus of these tours. Educators are able to borrow artifact kits from the Education Department for use in the classroom. Videotapes on discipline-based art education are also available. The Museum Shop is a good source for books, videos, CDs and curriculum guides on Alaska subjects.

Among their collections

There is a wide-range collection of art that reflects Alaska and the circumpolar North, seven galleries in all on the Museum’s ground floor. These galleries feature:

• Early view of Alaska • Life in the North • Paintings by Sydney Laurence (probably Alaska’s best known artist) • Portraits, both traditional and unconventional • Landscape paintings • Works by contemporary Alaska Native artists

As the museum adds new works, the galleries slowly change, or as sensitive works are rotated off display.

The Alaska Gallery

This 15,000 square-foot gallery should prove to be a very interesting place to visit as it is devoted to Alaska’s history. It is located on the museum’s second floor. The Alaska Gallery displays more than one thousand objects and is the finest presentation of Alaskan history and ethnology in the state. The full-scale and miniature dioramas provide a look at the early lifestyles of Alaska’s Aleuts, Eskimos and Indians. Other topics include exploration and settlement by the Russians, the gold rush era, World War II, and statehood.

Source: The Anchorage Museum Online

Important Disclaimer: The URL address in the resource box of this article is not associated with The Anchorage Museum. This article and the web site are offered as a resource for formulating vacation ideas.

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Vacation Ideas: Fort Caspar, Casper, Wyoming, USA

October 24, 2007 by connielimon

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Vacation Ideas: The Milwaukee Art Museum, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA

October 23, 2007 by connielimon

Vacation Ideas: The Milwaukee Art Museum, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA

The Milwaukee Art Museum is located at 700 N. Art Museum Drive in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 53201. It has its origin in two institutions, which are the Layton Art Gallery established in 1888 and the Milwaukee Art Institute established in the early 1900s. In 1957, these two institutions joined to form the private nonprofit Milwaukee Art Center, now known as the Milwaukee Art Museum, and also moved to its current lakefront location.

In the 1880s period, the city of Milwaukee was a thriving port city of mostly German-speaking people. The industrial base included wheat traders, meat packers, tanneries, shipyards, brick yards and breweries. People from northern European countries of Ireland, Germany, Scandinavia, Poland, and Italy arrived daily bringing with them culture, language, traditions and craftsmanship all their own.

Among these craftsmen there was a large group of talented German artists who specialized in panorama painting, which provided a popular type of entertainment at the time. The entertainment served as a precursor to going to the movies in Milwaukee. They were typically Biblical and historical scenes with narrations and music. Civil War battles were especially popular.

Today, the Milwaukee Art Museum collects and preserves art to present to the community as a vital source of inspiration and education.

The Milwaukee Art Museum collections include:

• Ancient Art • Early European Art • 19th Century Art • American Art to 1900 • Modern Art • Contemporary Art • Prints and Drawings • Photography • Asian Art • Haitian Collection • African Art • Folk Self-Taught Outside Art • Brooks Stevens Archive • Rogovin Collection

Museum Hours

The Milwaukee Art Museum is open 7 days a week, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., except Thursday, open until 8:00 p.m.

Holiday Hours

The Museum is closed Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. Thanksgiving weekend, November 14 to 26, normal hours of operation 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Christmas Eve, Sunday December 24th, 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day, normal hours of operation 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Admission Cost

Non-member adults is $8, seniors is $6, students is $4, children 12 and under free when accompanied by an adult. Residents of Milwaukee County receive free General Admission to Museum all day, every Wednesday. Each individual is required to have a valid ID demonstrating residency. Collection audio guides are available for $4.

Parking

The Museum’s underground parking garage is accessible from Michigan Street or Lincoln Memorial Drive. Parking is also available West of Museum at O’Donnel Park, North of Museum in War Memorial parking lot.

Rental

The Milwaukee Art Museum has a dynamic team of event service staff, security personnel and set-up staff to help provide the perfect setting for any function such as meetings, lectures, receptions, reunions, fund-raisers or planning the perfect wedding. The museum features:

• Breath-taking views • Grand halls and auditorium space • Lavish boardroom suite and more

To schedule an event of under 100 people, call 414-224-3279, for all events with 100 people or more (excluding weddings and social events), call 414-224-3847, or visit them online for more information.

Café

The Café Calatrava has a namesake of the world-renowned architect of the Quadracci Pavilion. The café chefs and staff are inspired by Calatrava’s creativity and design. The menu is kept fresh and updated. Fall menu has a Mexican flare as tribute to the heritage of Martin Ramirez, the featured artist in their current exhibition. Menu items include Black Bean Cake, Chicken Tortilla soup, Buffallo Flank Steak, Steak Burrito and Tres Leches Cake.

Café Hours

Open every day 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

The Museum Store

Shopping at the Milwaukee Art Museum is a must for any visitor. No admission ticket is required to shop in the Museum Store.

Store Design

There are three custom-designed display cases built of pear wood in Switzerland. Sleek white palette of the Quadracci Pavilion extends to the store walls; bleached maple floors and cabinetry provide the backdrop for product display. Glass shelves and supports line the perimeter walls with window lights reflecting the gallerias and a skylight in the vaulted ceiling rising more than 20 feet high.

Store Hours

Monday – Sunday, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (Thurs – 8 p.m.) at the Downtown location in the MAM Quadracci Pavilion.

Source: The Milwaukee Art Museum Online

Important Disclaimer: The URL address in the resource box of this article is not associated with The Milwaukee Art Museum. This article and web site are offered as resources to help you formulate vacation ideas.

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Vacation Ideas: Avampato Discovery Museum, Charleston, West Virginia, USA

October 22, 2007 by connielimon

Vacation Ideas: Avampato Discovery Museum, Charleston, West Virginia, USA

The Avampato Discovery Museum is located at one Clay Square, 300 Leon Sullivan Way, Charleston, West Virginia 25301.

2007 Hours

Wednesday – Saturday 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and Sunday 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Admission Prices

The Smart Pass includes galleries, film and planetarium, $12 for adults, $10 for children, teachers and seniors. Galleries only are $6.50 for adults and $5 for children, teachers and seniors. Children age 2 and under are FREE to all events. They must sit on an adults lap at Electric Sky Theater.

The art collection is the museum’s greatest educational resource. It consists of more than 750 pieces of unique and distinguished artworks, and is accessible year-round to visitors, students and researchers. The collection includes:

• Primarily works on paper by American artists from the 19th and 20th centuries • Charming examples of sculpture and other mediums offer diversity and exposure to broad cultural topics

Science exhibits include:

• Gizmo Factory: This exhibit is made up of more than 30 exhibits exploring physical science with a particular emphasis on creativity and engineering, sound, light and color, and electricity and magnetism. The Gizmo Factory also features the WSAZ First Warning Weather Center where visitors can watch live broadcasts from the Museum, talk to meteorologists about the science behind predicting the weather, and present your own weather cast in front of the green screen. • Earth City Exhibit: Is a unique spin on a traditional theme, Milton Gardner’s Earth City explores earth science with particular emphasis on the forces that have shaped West Virginia. • Kids Space Exhibit: This exhibit is designed exclusively for children five and under. It caters to the needs, cognitive growth and interests of young children. It is a unique exhibit that brings the outdoors in and creates a fanciful space featuring a giant tree house, clouds that rain balls into a special ball pond, puzzles, games and elements that encourage physical play. There is a nursing room for mothers with infants and a Big Kids Room for older siblings. • Health Royale Exhibit: Includes interactive exhibits exploring health and wellness as well as a larger than life animatronics game show that allows visitors to play along while testing basic health knowledge issues.

The Electric Sky

The Avampato Discovery Museum Electric Sky Theater is the only operating giant screen theater in the state. It features a 61’ domed screen putting visitors in the center of the action and as close to reality as they can get without leaving the theater seat. Just imagine swimming along with dolphins as you watch them on this giant screen, and explore the surface of Mars for signs of life or visiting ancient Pompeii.

For more information about the Avampato Discovery Museum call 304-516-3575 or visit them online.

Source: The Avampato Discovery Museum Online

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Vacation Ideas: Michie Tavern, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA

October 22, 2007 by connielimon

Vacation Ideas: Michie Tavern, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA

Michie Tavern is located at 683 Thomas Jefferson Parkway in Charlottesville, Virginia, 22902. Michie Tavern has entertained travelers for more than 200 years. Some travelers arrived on horseback, some on foot, and some by coach. The rooms at Michie Tavern would smell of cooked venison and tobacco. You could hear the voices rising in heated political debates from room to room.

Today, as you visit the Michie Tavern, a costumed hostess welcomes you into the past as “Stranger.” The term “Stranger” was used in the early 18th-century for travelers passing by the Michie Tavern.

You will be much like the 18th-century visitor at Michie Tavern enjoying the same homemade southern fare that was served in the 18th century era. You can tour through the Tavern-Museum before or after your meal.

In the 18th century, taverns were a place to eat, drink, sleep and a center for socialization of the community. On the second floor of your tour is the Assembly Room. This is a large, sunlit room that once served as a ballroom, makeshift school room, a place for worship and for extra sleeping accommodations. Other rooms included in your tour are an elaborately decorated Ladies’ Parlor that also served many purposes in the 18th century era.

Continue your tour through various outbuildings and down a winding path through the woods to the Meadow Run Mill and General Store.

Michie Tavern offers an overnight stay packaged: Autumn in Albemarle. This package includes:

• Monticello Tour: A tour of Thomas Jefferson’s Home & Grounds, a World Heritage Site • Michie Tavern ca 1784: Southern Midday Fare and Tour of Historic Tavern • Jefferson Vineyards: Wine Tasting and Tour of Winery • Carter Mountain Orchard: Breathtaking Vistas and Complimentary Cider

The overnight stay package is available Sundays through Thursdays in November, except the 22nd and the 25th. The package is $165 that includes hotel accommodations for one person. Extra room guests are an additional $36 per adult; $17 for children ages 6-11. Call 434-971-5500 to reserve your package and/or for more information.

The General Store

The General Store is housed within the Meadow Run Grist Mill and offers shopping opportunities in a charming old mercantile atmosphere. There are a wide variety of quality gifts for all ages and occasions. On the first floor there are Virginia-made products such as wines, jams/jellies, candies and stone ground flours, meals and mixes. There is also an educational section containing entertaining games and toys pertaining to the past. The second floor features Jewelry, pottery, tin-ware, pewter-ware, glassware, apparel, collectibles, framed prints, a year-round Christmas section and a reading room of period newspapers, history-related books, artwork and chest sets. Hours are 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. year-round.

The Tavern Gift Shop

This gift shop is adjacent to the Dining Room and reflects the 18th-century Tavern featuring gift ideas for the history buff such as reproductions of civil war guns, swords, historical documents, colonial dolls and needlework kits. The wine cellar features a variety of local and regional wines for sale. Open daily, year-round 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

The Clothier Shop

This is a unique shop focusing on fashion housed in a cozy circa 1822 structure. Items include:

• Clothing • Patterns • Shawls • Scarves • Hats • Colonial pockets • Handkerchiefs • Haversacks • Braided and hooked rugs • Quilts • Jewelry • Books and more

Hours are seasonal: 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Michie Tavern is open seven days a week, year-round. They offer continuous tours from 9:00 a.m. to 4:20 p.m., interactive tours are from April to October, and self guided tours are November through March.

Source: Michie Tavern Online

Vacation Ideas: Pike Place Market, Seattle, Washington, USA

October 21, 2007 by connielimon

Vacation Ideas: Pike Place Market, Seattle, Washington, USA

The Pike Place Market has been in operation for 100 years. It exists on nine acres and is called “The Soul of Seattle.”

The cost of onions increased tenfold between the years of 1906 and 1907. Citizens of Seattle were outraged and tired of paying the middlemen too much for their produce. Seattle City Councilman Thomas Revelle proposed a public street market for farmers and consumers to deal directly with each other. August 17, 1907, Pike Place Market was established. “Meet the Producer” directly, is a philosophy that is still the foundation of all Pike Place Market businesses.

On the first day of business, a total of eight farmers brought their wagons to the corner of First Avenue and Pike Street. They were quickly overwhelmed by an estimated 10,000 eager shoppers. They sold out at 11:00 a.m., and thousands of shoppers left empty-handed. By the end of 1907, the first Market building opened with every space filled.

Today, Pike Place Market is internationally recognized as America’s premier farmers’ market. It is home to nearly 200 year-round commercial businesses, 190 craftspeople and 120 farmers who rent table space by the day. There are 240 street performers and musicians, and 300 apa