The southernmost point in Key West, Florida is an Ideal spring break destination. Besides scantily clad men and women in their dazzling youth, you can also get your photo taken at this marker, which looks surprisingly like a beer can.
The Southernmost Point in Key West, Florida An Ideal Spring Break Destination
Haven’t we all read the Peanuts books or watched the television specials that showed Snoopy fearlessly flying across the fields into enemy territory? I for one recall sitting in my bunk bed when my grandmother would babysit, and pretend I was Snoopy chasing the Red Baron across France. Ra-ta-ta-ta-tat!
Last spring I got to live out my fantasy and ride in a red open cockpit bi-plane. Vintage Aircraft Company has been around for ages. If you drive to the wine country on a regular basis, you will recognize them because their sign and location is on Highway 121 just before the final turn towards Napa Valley.
They have several different vintage planes including a World War II Warbird. My choice was definitely one of their Boeing PT-17 Stearmans, and on the day I went up they had a bright and shiny red one ready for me! It can accommodate two passengers but I wasn’t about to share this ride, so I had a great time sliding about the 32″ seat.
When we got there I learned they offered aerobatics for an additional fee of $50 on any of the planes including my open cockpit bi-plane. Of course I said yes to that and I think they gave me a “famous Cuban Eight” but I couldn’t tell you because unlike regular planes, you don’t get a headset with a mike connected to the pilot. It is a bit like water skiing, just tap your head to ask them to slow down or give the slashing across the neck if you are done.
My 20 minute tour over the beautiful Sonoma Valley was the best. After I stopped thinking about the reality of my possible death, I loved soaring just a few hundred feet above the fields and vineyards.
If you want more they also offer 40 minute flights:
The Wine Country tour: Catch an Eagle’s View of the world renowned vineyards of the Sonoma and
Napa Valleys, heading east across the bucolic Carneros region to Napa, Turn north to St. Helena, West
to glen Ellen then back south through the lush Sonoma Valley. Grapes galore.
West to the Pacific: Aviate over rolling hills and open pastures of Sonoma, Novato and Petaluma;
then head out to Tomales Bay and absorb the Majestic magnificence of the Pacific Ocean.
Spires of “The City”: Drift south toward San Francisco. A panoramic outlook of the Sausalito and
Tiburon Harbors: outlying views of the Golden Gate Bridge and the Marin Headlands,
then circle Mt. Tamalpais en route to Point Reyes and your safe Sonoma return.
And this adventure is also available for kids too. They can accommodate a child about 40 inches tall with their booster cushion, though all kids under 10 years must fly with an adult.
When your ride is over there are lots of great Sonoma Valley restaurants nearby or drive a little further into Napa Valley for world class restaurants or maybe just a slice of pie at Cindy’s Backstreet Kitchen.
Here is me "Amelia Snoopy Earhart" in my shiny Boeing PT-17 Stearman
A delicate kiss at Delicate Arch, Utah
A Young Giraffe at the San Diego Zoo
San Diego is a great vacation destination for families. There’s plenty of things to do that will appeal to everyone in the family. Having said that, The World Famous San Diego Zoo is about as mandatory a place to visit as there is in San Diego. Situated in historic Balboa Park, the park is minutes from downtown and a short drive from most of the hotels in the San Diego area.
The zoo is rather large and can be seen in a variety of ways depending on the amount of time you have. The zoo opens at 9:00 a.m. and I would suggest visiting early. Not only do you beat the crowds that generally start arriving around 11:00 a.m., a lot of the animals are very active at this point of the day. Later in the day, particularly in the summer heat, many of the animals lay low and you don’t get the full effect.
As I mentioned, there are plenty of ways to view the park. There is a double-decker bus that can take you to the far reaches of the zoo and the driver will give you a guided tour of about 75% of the park. You can upgrade your ticket to include this tour or purchase the tour once you’re inside the park. This ticket will also allow you to take the express buses that drop you off at bus stops around the park.
If you choose to walk, keep in mind that the zoo is located on a steep hillside. A walk to the farthest part part of the park to see the Polar Bears is a good 20-30 minute walk. If you have small kids, I would suggest taking the bus or even the skyfari aerial tram which gives you a birds-eye view of the park while taking you to the opposite end of the park. If you need to push the little ones, you can take your stroller with you or you can rent one from the park guest services when you enter the zoo. You can find a detail map of the zoo here.
Flamingos are fun for every age
There are a lot of wonderful exhibits within the zoo but, in my opinion, the can’t-miss exhibits include the monkey trails, the gorilla tropics, the giraffes and elephants and, of course, the Panda exhibit. The San Diego Zoo has one of the most successful Panda breeding programs in the world. The Pandas have their own special exhibit and you can often see the latest born Panda before it is shipped back to China. Of course, pink flamingos are also quite a thing to check out.
Since the zoo closes at dusk (it’s open later in the summer when it gets darker later), exploring the zoo thoroughly might take more than one day. The zoo has two-day passes, along with other combo packages that include San Diego’s Wild Animal Park. You can find ticket information here.
Photo: M. Henry
Clifton, Ohio
I can think of countless ways to usher in the Holiday Season, but none better than a Christmas Lighting Extravaganza. Couple over 3.5 million lights with the gorgeous backdrop of Clifton Gorge and the Little Miami River at Clifton Mill and your Holiday Season can officially be declared as having begun. Clifton Mill has been celebrating the Christmas season for almost 20 years with an extraordinary lighting display that takes a crew of six roughly 3 months to set up.
The Mill is located at 75 Water St. in Clifton, Ohio just 9 miles south of Springfield. Follow OH-72 south (Exit 54) off of Interstate 70 and you can’t miss the Mill on your right. Parking is free. Gates open daily at 5pm. Admission is $8 (children 6 and younger are free).
The weekends are definitely the busiest time, so you may want to keep that in mind when visiting. Loosely translated, you will have a much more relaxed and leisurely visit if you can swing a trip during the week. This is really important when you travel, as I do, with a horde of small children. The area is accessible to strollers but they are not allowed in some of the buildings.
Clifton Mill Lighted for Christmas
The lights go on at 6:00 pm with the flip of a single switch. It’s absolutely amazing to see the darkened gorge and mill come to life with the brilliant lights. A definite, “Ooh” and “Ahhh” moment. My kids often prefer to just scream, “WOW!!!” There’s even a synchronized light show set to music. Each hour the lights go out leaving visitors standing in the darkness and slowly they dance back to life as music echoes through the gorge. It’s captivating, really!
While at the Mill you’ll want to check out the Santa Claus museum, home to over 3000 Santas and Santa memorabilia, the Miniature Village and the spectacular views from the Covered Bridge which spans the gorge and river below. Concession style meals are served (soups, hot dogs, hot chocolate, cookies) during the evening.
Hours of operation for the lighting display are from 5:00 pm until 9:00 pm. The display starts the day after Thanksgiving and runs every night until January 1st, closing at 8pm on Christmas Eve, Christmas and New Years Eve.
The Waterfall at Clifton Mill
I suggest, though, that a trip to Clifton Mill should encompass the whole day. The Millrace Restaurant located inside of the Mill is open for breakfast and lunch 9:00 am until 2:00 pm. There’s no better way to start your day than with a stack of fresh pancakes. The flour, of course, was milled fresh on the premises probably just hours earlier. (Normally closing at 4:00 pm, 5:00 pm on weekends, the restaurant observes abbreviated hours during the Christmas lighting season.) Afterward, you may wish to tour the mill, which boasts itself as the largest water powered grist mill still in operation in America, for a firsthand look at one of America’s earliest industries.
You’ll have plenty of time in the afternoon to do some antiquing at Weber’s Antique Mall in Clifton or maybe just a leisurely hike at nearby Clifton Gorge Nature Preserve. It offers incredible views of the gorge from several bridges and platforms. If you’re looking for a truly unique gift idea or collectible check out The Fish Decoy Company on the corner of Dayton St. and OH-72.
Clifton Mill Overlooking the Gorge
After having explored Clifton’s charm you’ll have plenty of time to make it back to the Mill, grab a cup of hot chocolate and welcome the Christmas Season with the Legendary Lights at Clifton Mill.
Photos courtesy of Clifton Mill website and Bret Arnett (creative commons).
Historic downtown Boulder City, Nevada
There’s more to Southern Nevada than the mega resorts of the Las Vegas Strip. Located just 20 miles from the hustle and bustle of the gambling and entertainment Mecca, Boulder City offers families an opportunity to explore Southern Nevada’s rich history in a quaint, small town setting reminiscent of Mayberry.
Founded in 1932 by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation to house workers constructing the nearby Hoover Dam, Boulder City is unlike most destinations in Nevada as gambling is prohibited. The city is one of only two in the state with no casinos. Instead, visitors are welcome to shop antique stores along the city’s downtown streets, visit museum attractions or take advantage of outdoor activities.
Whether staying in Las Vegas and visiting as part of an excursion or staying in the city at one of its charming hotels, a trip to Boulder City is not complete without a visit to the iconic Hoover Dam, located just a few minutes away on U.S. 93 at the border between Nevada and Arizona.
Often referred to by locals by its original name, Boulder Dam, the massive art deco inspired dam was completed in 1935 as both the world’s largest electric-power generating station and the world’s largest concrete structure. Though neither record holds true today, the dam is still considered one of the world’s greatest engineering marvels.
The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation has conducted tours through Hoover Dam and its powerplant since 1937. Today, nearly one million visitors a year take the tour and millions more drive across the dam.
View of Hoover Dam
Guided tours are offered every day of the week with admission prices ranging from $11.00 to $30.00 per person with discounted prices for children, seniors and military families. The Visitor Center is open for unguided exploration for $8.00 for all visitors over the age of three.
Visitors not interested in a tour are welcome to walk along the top of the dam and enjoy the magnificent view of Lake Mead and Black Canyon. Visitors, particularly children, are often amused at the fact that the men’s restroom is located in Nevada in the Pacific Time Zone and the women’s restroom is located on the Arizona side in the Mountain Time Zone. It’s not often that you have an opportunity to visit two states and two time zones at one attraction.
Visitors to Hoover Dam may park in the parking garage nestled in the cliffs on the Nevada side of the dam. The fee is $7.00 per vehicle. Free parking is available in lots along the road on the Arizona side, but the spots may be hard to find on busy weekends and the walk up and down the steep hills may be grueling during the hot summer months. However, a small cafe is located at the top of the hill providing snacks, refreshments and a spectacular view.
Within Boulder City the state’s railroading past is showcased at the Nevada Southern Railroad Museum. Constructed in 1931 as a branch off the main Union Pacific tracks through Las Vegas, the railroad transported heavy equipment and supplies for the construction of Hoover Dam. Today, train rides along the historic tracks are a popular attraction.
February through December the train takes passengers on a 45-minute, seven mile journey along the revitalized historic Boulder Branch Line from the Boulder City Depot (off Yucca Street) to Railroad Pass, located within the River Mountain Range.
Passengers ride in refurbished and enclosed, climate-controlled Pullman Coaches, which date back to 1911. For the more adventurous passengers who wish to be closer to nature the open-air coach is great for taking photos of the desert mountain landscape.
Trains depart from the Depot every Saturday and Sunday at 10:00 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 1:00 p.m., and 2:30 p.m. Boarding begins 15 minutes prior to departure times and reservations are not required. Fares are $8.00 for adults, $7.00 for seniors and $4.00 for children under the age of 11.
Zipwire over Bootleg Canyon
For the outdoor sports enthusiasts, Boulder City’s Bootleg Canyon Park, known for its mountain biking trails, is now home to one of the city’s newest tourist attractions, the Bootleg Canyon Flightlines. There visitors who aren’t afraid of heights can experience an adrenaline rush as they glide down ziplines strung high above the canyon.
Bootleg Canyon has five zipline runs, including a practice run. From the top, riders drop nearly 1,000 feet along four runs, including one that’s nearly a half mile long.
The cost for this exhilarating adventure is $149 per person. The minimum weight for riders is 75 lbs. and the maximum is 250 lbs. Check-in is at the 1512 Industrial Road in Boulder City where riders are provided their harness and trained in safety, basic gliding techniques as well as how to increase and decrease speed.
For visitors interested in a more relaxing time, downtown Boulder City’s shops, galleries and restaurants are inviting. For great food, stop by The Coffee Cup, a favorite of locals and tourists alike. You can also grab some food to go and enjoy an outdoor family picnic at Hemenway or Bicentennial Park.
However you chose to enjoy your visit to Boulder City, you’ll find away to be “a world away for a day.”
Hoover Dam photo by Pamela McCreight (Creative Commons)/Boulder City and Bootleg Canyon photos by Boulder City.
Collecting scares with Mike and Sully
Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California is the pinnacle of family vacation spots (at least on the west coast). In addition to the original Disneyland there is a second gate, Disney’s California Adventure (DCA). It is a relatively new theme park, and it has its critics. In fact, it has so many critics that Disney’s California Adventure is being overhauled with a budget bigger than the one that financed its creation. There is hope and change in the air.
The entrance to DCA is just a matter of feet from that of Disneyland but the two parks couldn’t be further apart, figuratively. While Disneyland is the classic standard and the maker of the magic, the theme of the newer park is slightly less so: California. This is the beginning of the end for those that just drove hours through the actual state of California to get there. My family likes to look at it differently.
These are the jokes, folks.
Sure, the idea of additions and renovations is exciting to us (We’re big fans of the newest attraction Toy Story Mania which thrills my wife just as much as it does my 2-year-old. If this is a sign of things to come then sign us up!), but we really enjoy the park in its current state as well (hey, that’s like a pun!).
Disney’s California Adventure offers family activities from the very young to adult. There are shows, rides and interactive areas geared at the Playhouse Disney set, the adventure seeking school-aged kids and the thrill-loving teens. There is also a full bar, a winery and a beer cart for the grown-ups.
DCA hosts an annual food and wine festival, a half-marathon (runs through park and other parts of the resort), a very fun Halloween celebration (Mickey’s Trick-or-Treat Party runs on various nights during the month. A separate admission is required.) and a rowdy but safe New Year’s Eve bash.
Basically, the entire Disneyland Resort, which includes Downtown Disney and three hotels, can be as family-friendly or as romantic as you want it to be. We go for both.
The park hours are shorter than those of Disneyland and vary by season as well as day of the week. Services within the park include lockers, strollers, wheelchairs, first aid, ATM and communication assistance.
I recommend purchasing a ticket that allows you to enter both parks in the same day. It cost a little more, but the options that it allows you with regard to planning your activities is well worth it.
All Photos: W & T Honea
This is the second in a series about vacations in our president & vice presidential candidates’ hometowns. Maybe by walking in their proverbial footsteps, you can finally decide who you will get your vote. We, of course are completely non-partisan. The series will run each day this week. Today we are focusing on Senator McCain’s town of Phoenix, yesterday we featured Senator Obama’s Chicago, Thursday will feature Senator Biden’s stomping grounds in Delaware and we will complete the series by showcasing Governor Palin’s home turf in lovely Wasilla.
It’s a bit difficult to find a central theme to John McCain’s life, because he’s such a restless soul. Bits and pieces of his life are strewn all over the map, from Washington DC to Vietnam to Phoenix, AZ, not to mention a string of military schools and the gazillion houses he and his wife own.But I expect by the time you finish reading this, you’ll have a better idea of the kind of person John McCain was, and is today.
The McCains spend vacations and host visitors at their 15 acre Hidden Valley Ranch in Cornville AZ, about half an hour from the red rocks of Sedona.
Red rocks of Sedona
But their primary residence is a 7,000 sq ft double condo in a sleek 12 story glass building in the Camelback Corridor in downtown Phoenix, which makes the nearby Phoenix hotels seem like Salvation Army shelters by comparison. There’s a cascading waterfall in the lobby, a wet bar and a rooftop pool terrace plus a concierge service and spa. Luxurious living, I think.
The McCain Phoenix Condo
Phoenix offers over 200 pristine golf courses, and golfing is more of a craze than a relaxing sport here. The Sonoran Desert offers over 300 days of excellent weather and an inviting landscape for hiking, biking and horseback riding. You can go hiking up the 2608 foot Piestewa Peak via the Summit trail and enjoy the magnificent view of the City from the top. But McCain can’t do any of that. He was a keen sportsman and boxer, but he can’t raise his arms above shoulder level after Vietnam, so he goes to Chase Field, which has a retractable roof and a turf field, to watch the Diamondbacks.
The Phoenix Convention Center is undergoing a $600 million expansion in the heart of Copper Square.This 90 square block forms the core of the downtown district, with enough dining, shopping, hotels and entertainment to satisfy America’s 5th largest City, and the 13 million plus annual visitors and tourists. Oh, and in case you’re wondering, the $600 million didn’t come from Washington, because McCain does not ask for Congressional pork for his home state.
Jerome, Arizona
As far as restaurants are concerned, McCain’s first choice is Tee Pee, a Tex-Mex at 4144 E Indian School Road. He often ends up there for dinner with family and friends when he’s in Phoenix. McCain also recently took some of his prospective VP candidates to a restaurant called Asylum in the ghost town of Jerome, also an artist colony and a hippie hangout.
Aunt Chilada’s homespun food
One more place he’s been seen at is Aunt Chilada’s. Also, the Pho Bang restaurant in New York City claims that it is McCain’s favorite Vietnamese restaurant, and there is one Pho Bang in Phoenix too, at 1702 W Camelback Rd. Certainly won’t be as bad as what McCain had to eat at the Hanoi Hilton.
Arizona Biltmore
If you need a place to stay, I suggest the landmark Arizona Biltmore Resort & Spa, where John & Cindy got married on May 17, 1980.
Other options include the Ritz-Carlton, where McCain holds his Phoenix fund-raisers, and the Courtyard Phoenix Camelback, which is pretty darn close to McCain’s condos.
And as far as his faith is concerned, McCain has been going to Dan Yeary’s North Phoenix Baptist Church on 16th Street for 15 years, but he’s not a full member of the Church. He mostly keeps his faith to himself, and reverts back to Vietnam, where he says his faith was tested minute by minute, for 5 years.
Rawhide, Phoenix, Arizona
There are many more places to visit and things to do in Phoenix, including the Heard Museum, the Desert Botanical Garden, and the Phoenix Zoo. You can browse the art galleries and the Fashion Square in Scottsdale, or enjoy the faux wild west atmosphere and gun-toting cowboys at Rawhide. Meanwhile, John McClaine..sorry, that’s McCain – will be busy strafing Congress critters in Washington looking to sell the country to the highest bidder.
In summary, in spite of having lived in Phoenix for 27 years, McCain still remains at odds with the Valley of the Sun, and I get this feeling that he doesn’t think of himself as an Arizonian but as a citizen of planet earth. His mom, Roberta McCain, is now 96 years old, and she got her passport renewed last year to continue her road trips around the world. I think the same spirit lives inside John McCain.
Photo of McCain’s Phoenix home from 2211 Camelback site.
Sedona Red Rock by Laszlo
Arizona Biltmore pool photo courtesy of the Arizona Biltmore
Earth by woodleywonderworks
© UpTake Networks, Inc. 2009
