Vacations Blog

Oh, the places you’ll go!
There is fun to be done!
There are points to be scored.
There are games to be won.

Dr. Seuss (Theodore Seuss Geisel), Oh, The Places You’ll Go! (1990)

The Grinch and Max

It starts earlier every year. The Christmas sales. The Christmas music. The Christmas decorations. By the day after Thanksgiving, we’ve all given in to Black Friday sales, twenty-four hours of Christmas music, and planning nonstop until December twenty-fifth.

One thing that’s usually welcome amid all the holiday chaos (at least for families with kids) is Christmas specials on TV. Santa. Rudolph. Frosty. Even the Grinch is welcome this time of year.

The Grinch of course was created by Dr. Seuss in How the Grinch Stole Christmas, one of the forty-four books Theodore Geisel wrote under the pen name Dr. Seuss. Geisel became such a well-known author that his books (from 1937’s And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street to 1990’s Oh, The Places You’ll Go!) have been translated into over twenty languages. Geisel also won a Pulitzer Prize, three Academy awards, and his works have provided the material and inspiration for television specials, Hollywood films, and a Broadway musical.

The Cat in the Hat watching over his creator, Dr. Seuss

For true fans of Dr. Seuss, a vacation to New England wouldn’t be complete without visiting the Dr. Seuss National Memorial Sculpture Garden in Geisel’s hometown of Springfield, Massachusetts. Located in a quadrangle of museums, the bronze works were sculpted by Geisel’s step-daughter, Lark Grey Dimond-Cates, for the Springfield Library & Museums Association. Among the characters in the quad are Horton the Elephant, Sam-I-Am, Yertle the Turtle, the Grinch with his dog Max, and the Cat in the Hat looking over Dr. Seuss himself.

The Sculpture Garden is accessible year-round. The adjacent Springfield Museums are the George Walter Vincent Smith Art Museum, the Springfield Science Museum, the Connecticut Valley Historical Museum, and the Museum of Fine Arts. Hours and admission fees for the museums are available at the Springfield Museum website.

Las Vegas Premium Outlets is located in downtown Las Vegas and features the finest designer labels.

Some people come to Las Vegas to gamble. Others come to eat at the city’s fine restaurants or party at popular night spots. Then there are others who come to Las Vegas exclusively to shop. With three major outlet malls offering bargains on designer label merchandise, Las Vegas is the perfect vacation destination for the holiday shopping season.

Located at 875 South Grand Central Parkway in downtown, the Las Vegas Premium Outlets is an outdoor mall featuring more than 150 stores, including retailers A|X Armani Exchange, Ann Taylor, Burberry, Calvin Klein, Coach, Cole Haan and Dolce & Gabbana, among others. 

Whether you’re staying at a hotel nearby, such as the popular Golden Nugget or Main Street Station Hotel Casino, or at a resort on the Las Vegas Strip, you can take advantage of the mall’s extended holiday shopping hours of 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Monday through Saturday and 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Sundays.

A newly constructed parking garage provides convenient parking at the Las Vegas Premium Outlets, however it can fill up. Early arrival is recommended to avoid the deluge of vehicles. Bus service is available from anywhere along the Las Vegas Strip. Take route 301on The Deuce, a double-decker bus, to the Downtown Transportation Center. From there, take the Downtown Shoppers’ Express or route 106 or 108 south. It picks up every 20 minutes. 

Las Vegas Outlet Center is located on the Las Vegas Strip.

At 7400 Las Vegas Boulevard South near Blue Diamond Road, Las Vegas Outlet Center features 130 stores, including Adidas, Ashworth-Callaway Golf, Calvin Klein, Coach, Gymboree, Liz Claiborne, Nautica, Nike, Reebok and Tommy Hilfiger. A favorite store for holiday gifts is Harry & David. Their baskets of fruit, salsas and other gourmet foods can be purchased on site and shipped to anywhere in the country.

Bus service to the mall from nearly all hotels on the Las Vegas Strip on The Deuce is available. For added convenience, nearby hotels include the Silverton Lodge and Casino and the South Point Hotel and Casino.

Located about a half hour south of Las Vegas on the California state line in Primm, the Fashion Outlets of Las Vegas is considered a favorite for visitors and locals alike. The indoor mall features more than 100 stores, including Neiman Marcus Last Call, Polo Ralph Lauren, Williams-Sonoma, Banana Republic, Old Navy, Tommy Bahama, BCBG and Versace.

Located on the California state line, Fashion Outlets of Las Vegas features more than 100 stores.

The Fashion Outlets of Las Vegas operates a daily Shoppers’ Shuttle from the Las Vegas Strip with departures from the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino, the Miracle Mile Shops at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino and the Fashion Show Mall. The round-trip fare is only $15.00 and includes a complimentary Savings Book with more than $800 in savings at participating stores. Shopping packages are also available and include shuttle service, dining, discounts and gifts. For visitors with a car, from Las Vegas take I-15 south to the Primm exit.

To turn your trip to the Fashion Outlets of Las Vegas into a shopping vacation, the mall is connected to the Primm Valley Resort & Casino. Nearby are Buffalo Bill’s and Whiskey Pete’s.

All three outlet malls offer VIP club memberships, providing additional discounts and shopping privileges. Visit the malls’ information centers to sign up and save.

From popular toys to designer label clothing, you’re sure to find great gifts for friends and family at a great price during your holiday shopping vacation in Las Vegas.

Photos by Las Vegas Premium Outlets, Las Vegas Outlet Center and Fashion Outlets of Las Vegas.

A perfectly prepared holiday meal. A flawlessly set table. A smiling family patiently admiring the Thanksgiving turkey as Mother carries it to be carved. This isn’t my house at Thanksgiving and it may not be yours either. It may not even exist except in some illustration of Norman Rockwell, because Rockwell’s Thanksgiving in Freedom from Want is exactly what I was describing.

Freedom from Want is one of four works Rockwell painted in 1943 in his Four Freedoms series. During World War II, posters of the paintings raised $132 million for the war. That amount would equal over $1.5 billion today.

The Norman Rockwell Museum

Four Freedoms and more than 570 additional Rockwell paintings are in the collection of the Normal Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge, Massachusetts, along with more than 100,000 photographs, letters and other items originally belonging to one of America’s greatest artists and illustrators of the twentieth century. Among these are several of the 321 covers that Rockwell painted for the Saturday Evening Post between 1916 and 1963. Best known for these magazine covers and other depictions of idealistic American life, Rockwell was also commissioned to paint portraits of presidents, international leaders, and entertainers. Rockwell also used his art to depict historic and political events, such as racial integration in Southern schools in 1964’s The Problem We All Live With which was based on the first day of Kindergarten of Ruby Bridges in New Orleans, Louisiana in 1960.

Norman Rockwell's Studio

Located on 136 acres, the museum grounds also include Rockwell’s studio, which was moved to this location from downtown Stockbridge. The studio is arranged exactly as it was when Rockwell worked there.

In addition to exhibitions and programs dedicated to Rockwell, the museum displays works of modern illustrators and other masters of the twentieth century. Like any art museum, young kids’ attention may not be held. For older kids though, especially those interested in illustration and commercial art, Rockwell is a great introduction.

Stockbridge itself, in the Massachusetts Berkshires, is a popular vacation destination any time of year. Hotels and inns, including the famous Red Lion Inn, are often crowded as are area restaurants. For fans of sculpture, another nearby attraction is Chesterwood, home of Daniel Chester French who created the Lincoln Memorial as well as other famous works.

The Norman Rockwell Museum is open daily except for Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day. Admission is $14 for adults, $12.50 for seniors, $10 for college students, and free for kids 18 and under. Further information concerning hours and admission packages is available at the museum website.

Photos courtesy of Rmrfstar under a Creative Commons Attribution 2.5 Generic license.

As Inauguration day approaches the Washington metro area is preparing for the estimated four million or so visitors that will be attending the event. It’s going to be quite a celebration. After the celebration you may want to end your vacation in D.C. on a historic note. How about taking the family on a short road trip to learn about the first president of the United States?

The first inauguration at the Federal Hall in New York

George Washington gave our countries first inaugural address on the balcony of Federal Hall in New York on April 30, 1789. After serving two terms as president of the United States he returned to his home in Mount Vernon where he lived the final two years of his life. Mount Vernon is probably the most famous home of George Washington, but if you have ever wondered about the other places George Washington called home, here are two often overlooked nearby locations.

Popes Creek Plantation, Westmoreland County, Virginia

A quiet spot at Popes Creek Plantation

George Washington was born at Popes Creek Plantation in Westmoreland County Virginia. I’ve visited this location on several occasions and it’s a tranquil, slow moving kind of place. Of all the historic locations I’ve visited, this one feels the most authentic. It’s not as grand as Monticello and it’s not as forced as Colonial Williamsburg but it has charm. You can walk in the quiet along the river or through trails and imagine what was when our country was just beginning. The future paleontologist in the family will enjoy searching for fossilized sharks’ teeth in the sandy river shore. Future graffiti artists can use a stick to carve designs into the clay cliffs. Just be careful of the wildlife when you go. The squirrels at the picnic area will shamelessly steal your Cheetos and the turkeys are a little mean.

Ferry Farm, Fredericksburg, Virginia

Known as George Washington’s boyhood home, Ferry Farm isn’t a re-created historical site as much as an active learning location. They have a beautiful colonial style garden and some trails along the Rappahanock River but that’s not why we visit. We go for the fun, well thought out summer educational programs. In addition to the civil war workshops and gardening programs they can “Dig George” and become junior archaeologists or learn about the “First Virginians”, the Powhatan Indians. They have also created a touch box program that enables the blind and visually impaired to enjoy history with touchable artifacts, Braille maps and text, and large print brochures.

Ferry Farm is located just outside of Fredericksburg, Virginia about 50 minutes from Mount Vernon. Admission is $5 for adults and $3 for children. George Washington’s birthplace is an easy 60 minute drive from Ferry Farm. Admission is $4 for adults and no fee for children. They’re both worth a visit.

Photo Credits : Federal Hall from the public domain. Popes Creek Plantation by Ken Lund

The Polar Express

Ohio’s Scenic Railways offer magical experiences to make this holiday season truly memorable.

Chris Van Allsburg wrote the Caldecott Award winning book, The Polar Express in 1985. Tom Hanks gave his voice to the characters in a 2004 movie version which garnered numerous awards including 3 Oscar Nominations. The Polar Express is a seasonal favorite for families all over the country. And while reading the story or viewing the film can make for special holiday traditions, nothing compares to the magic of an actual train ride in your pajamas. Truth be told, any public endeavor in your pj’s is pretty magical.

What I’m referring to here, though is an actual Polar Express Train Ride. Several of Ohio’s scenic railways offer variations of the magical excursion to the North Pole where you will read the story, sing carols and drink copious amounts of hot chocolate, all the while gorging yourself on fresh cookies and eventually greeting that jolly old elf himself, Santa Claus. When planning your Christmas visit to America’s Heartland make sure to include one of these fascinating trips.

Santa at the Cuyahoga Polar Express

The most popular line in Ohio is the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railway. It boasts itself one of the oldest scenic railways in operation in the country. And with stations in Independence, Akron and Canton, OH it is certainly one of the longest. Unfortunately, tickets for the Polar Express excursions have been sold out for this year but there is plenty of availability for the Christmas Tree Adventures the last weekend in November and the first two weekends in December.

The Christmas Tree Adventure departs from the Rockside station in Independence and takes you to Heritage Farms where you can select your tree from a variety of pre-cut trees or you may choose to cut your own–ala Clark Griswold. They will then bag and tag your trophy and place it on the train for your return trip.

The Family Tree

The Dennison Depot Railroad Museum’s Polar Express has several departure times the first two weekends in December. Passengers ride in their pajamas sipping hot chocolate and eating cookies (pretty standard fare on all of the Polar Express Excursions) and Santa hops on board once the “North Pole” is reached to greet passengers and hand out presents. The Dennison Depot Railroad Museum is located in Dennison, OH on SR-36 east of I-77.

Another very popular Polar Express is the Hocking Valley Scenic Railway which departs from Nelsonville, OH. The line runs between Nelsonville and Logan along the scenic Hocking River and the rolling hills of southeastern Ohio. They offer two versions, a Santa Express where Santa and Mrs. Claus ride the train with you and personally visit each passenger. The Santa Express runs weekends (Saturday and Sunday) November 29-December 21.

The Nelsonville North Pole

The Hocking Valley Scenic Railway’s North Pole Express scheduled to depart December 6 and December 19 follows the more traditional storyline as passengers are encouraged to come in their pajamas and robes. After visiting with Santa and enjoying cookies and hot chocolate passengers can go ice skating at the Nelsonville North Pole. You are encouraged to bring your own skates.

Yes, Christmas time is filled with magic, tradition and memories. I can think of few things more memorable than a train ride on the Polar Express.

Prices and departure times vary and are subject to availability. Please check the individual station’s websites for details and to make reservations. All photos obtained from websites linked within article and considered public domain.

When we drive west from Idaho, we’re usually heading toward the Seattle area to visit friends and family.  But for restful family vacations, we drive just a little further west to Washington’s Olympic Peninsula.  It’s an amazingly diverse place, and we never know what we’re going to find when we go there to explore.

A lavender farm in Sequim, Washington

Last summer we spent a day in the area around the town of Sequim (that’s pronounced “skwim”) on the northern shore of the Peninsula. Our first stop was at a lavender farm.  Sequim bills itself as the lavender capital of North America, which explains why there is lavender everywhere you look.  Each July the town holds a 3-day Lavender Festival to celebrate the fragrant purple flowers.  Any time of the year, you can find all things lavender at dozens of farms and shops throughout town.  Take a chance and sample some lavender ice cream.  It leaves an interesting aftertaste.  We spent about an hour strolling the beautiful grounds of the Purple Haze Lavender Farm.  There’s no charge to just wander around admiring the flowers and the view.  There’s a gift shop, stocked with all things lavender, as well as a quaint farm house available as a vacation rental

Five miles of sand and driftwood

The kids were restless, so we moved on to what turned out to be the great surprise of the day.  We found it at The Dungeness National Wildlife Refuge just outside of Sequim.  The main geographic feature of the Refuge is the Dungeness Spit, the longest natural sand spit in the country.  Quite honestly, I wasn’t expecting much at the Spit.  A lot of sand, to be sure. But the simplicity of the place is what charmed us. The Spit is five miles of sand and driftwood, with ocean on either side. It was absolutely mesmerizing.

I’ve never seen my kids happier than when they gazed out over all that driftwood and began mentally designing tri-level forts and castles. The sand and the ocean were a blur to them. All they cared about was building stuff.  There is no shortage of material to work with, and there is certainly no shortage of sunshine on the northern coast of the peninsula.  The dry climate of Sequim (only 15 inches of rain a year) almost guarantees that rain won’t ruin your family vacation.

Zen rocks at the Dungeness Spit

This is the kind of outing where you don’t need to bring anything but a few chairs, towels, and snacks.  If you’re not in the mood to build driftwood forts, you can take off your shoes and enjoy a leisurely barefoot stroll down the beach.  Or sit and stack rocks (talk about a stress reducer).

It’s surprising finds like Sequim and the Spit that is making my family fall in love with the Olympic Peninsula of Washington. It’s one of the most diverse, and least crowded, areas I’ve ever visited. It’s easily accessible from Seattle by ferry, the roads are good, the distances not too far, and the scenery is some of the most spectacular in the country.  You can hike on a glacier, stroll through a rain forest, and then enjoy a driftwood fire on a spectacular ocean beach, all in one day.

Most of all, the Peninsula reminds me that the simple things are sometimes the best. Children certainly don’t need a lot of bells and whistles to have fun on vacation. A simple walk on the beach can spur imagination and creativity like nothing else. That’s what will keep us returning to places like the Dungeness Spit.

Strolling along the spit.

Building a driftwood fort on the Dungeness Spit

All photos by Phil Corless

Marble House

Peak tourist season in Newport, Rhode Island is summer.  Founded on Aquidneck Island in 1639, Newport was one of the first major seaports in the colonies, was significant in whaling and the slave trade, and was one of the first popular getaway locations for wealthy American families when the rich first became richer in the 1870s.  Newport is also a major naval base, frequent host of the America’s Cup regatta, location of the International Tennis Hall of Fame (the U.S. Open was first played here in 1895), home to annual jazz and folk festivals, and the summer residence of two presidents.  In short, Newport is where money meets the sea.

The Breakers Library

Being a summer resort doesn’t mean that Newport isn’t a popular destination other times of the year. Year-round, tourists come by land and sea to sightsee, shop, dine and relax.  Christmastime, in fact, is probably the second busiest time of the year.  It’s then that tourists can see holiday decorations in the mansions built here by America’s very rich—families with names such as Vanderbilt and Astor—in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.  Nine of those mansions are operated by The Preservation Society of Newport County.  Three of these—The Breakers, The Elms and Marble House—are especially decked out for the holidays.  Inside are hundreds of ornaments on dozens of trees, thousands of poinsettias, fresh flowers and wreaths, dining tables set with period silver and china, and mannequins in period holiday dress. Another mansion, The Astors’ Beechwood, is not only decorated but populated with actors portraying the Astor family and their servants.  Visitors can tour the home as these characters prepare for Christmas, sing carols, and entertain in the grand ballroom.  Guests can even dine with the family at Beechwood’s Victorian Christmas Feast featuring a multi-course period meal.

The Elms Foyer

The Preservation Society’s Breakers, Elms and Marble House are decorated and open daily for tours from November 15 through January 4 except for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day.  A Winter Passport ticket providing daytime admission to all three houses can be purchased for $25 for adults and $9 for children ages 6 to 17. Purchased separately, admission to The Breakers is $16.50 for adults and $4 for children ages 6 to 17. Marble House and The Elms are each $11 for adults and $4 for children 6 to 17. Information on additional ticket packages and special holiday events such as visits with Santa Claus on Sundays in December (at no extra charge), holiday concerts and refreshments, and a holiday dinner dance are available at the Preservation Society website.

At Beechwood, a schedule of holiday tours and events is available at the Beechwood Web site.  Standard tour admission is $20 for adults and $8 for children ages 6 to 17. A family rate of $50 is available for two adults and up to four children. Reservations are strongly suggested. Tickets for the Victorian Christmas Feast are $125 for all seatings and reservations are required.

For travelers planning to visit Newport, dozens of choices exist for accommodations and even more for dining.  A couple favorite restaurants of my family are the Red Parrot and the dockside Candy Store at the Clarke Cooke House which my wife and I (and our waitress) agreed makes the best hot fudge anywhere.

All photos courtesy of The Preservation Society of Newport County. The Breakers Library and The Elms Foyer photos by John Corbett.

When the weather gets bad and the days get gray I start to look for indoor activities that involve more than eating pizza with an oversized mouse. The Torpedo Factory Art Center in Alexandria, Virginia is a favorite stop.

The name Torpedo Factory is not the least bit misleading. This waterfront complex was once a working torpedo factory. Documenting its past use, there is a torpedo on display in the front lobby. After serving its time producing munitions it was abandoned and later reclaimed as a working art space for local artists. It now contains 82 artist studios, 6 galleries, two workshops, and if that wasn’t enough, it also houses the Alexandria Archeology Museum.

Many different types of fine arts and crafts are represented here. Traditional Chinese brushwork is just a short walk from modern sculpture. Oil paintings find a place by stained glass and pottery. It’s a wonderful place to introduce children to the many forms of art without the stuffiness of museums and the pressure of museum guards looking over your shoulder making sure you don’t touch the horse paintings.

It is not uncommon to find artists busy at work in their studios and they are often willing to answer questions and give impromptu demonstrations of their art. My daughter was especially fascinated with a demonstration of weaving copper wire on a loom into metal fabric.

You can pack a lunch and eat out by the waterfront or stop and pick up a bite at any of the many downtown restaurants. The noodle soup at vegan and kid-friendly Bumblefish is inexpensive and tasty on a cold day.

There is no charge to visit the Torpedo Factory Art Center but finding on-street parking might be a challenge and is usually limited to two hours, so you should be sure to have cash for the parking garage.

Don’t forget to check out the sculpture stairs and be sure to weigh the entire family on the industrial scale by the front door on the way out.

Photo Credits: Photo from the Torpedo Factory Art Center website