St. Thomas Harbor from Paradise Point
High above the town of Charlotte Amalie in St. Thomas. The St. Thomas Skyride takes you 700ft. up for a stunning view of St. Thomas Harbor, a must-see destination of many cruise lines.
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My husband and I spent a wonderful, leisurely afternoon yesterday at the Desert Botanical Gardens in Phoenix, Arizona. Despite the 90 degree heat, we managed to stay comfortable among the shady lanes, blessed with a lovely breeze and a cool glass of lemonade.
We were happy to discover that our visit coincided with two extremely popular exhibitions currently on display in the Gardens. One was the Butterfly Pavilion, which runs annually from March through May, and which keeps us coming back every year. It adds an extra $3 to our general admission (we’re not Garden members, otherwise it would be free), but it’s always worth it.
The pavilion is accessed through an “airlock” so none of the inhabitants can escape. With a gentle warning from the administrators we were instructed not to touch any of the butterflies, but to allow them to come and go as they pleased (and sometimes they were “pleased” to land on us).
The other exhibition currently on display throughout the park is the collection of Chihuly Glass Sculptures. This exhibit has been present in the Gardens since November 22, 2008, and runs through May 31st, 2009. They truly add a unique and beautiful element to the lovely features of the Gardens.
The use of such vibrant colors against the desert landscape was truly dramatic.
There was another fine example of exquisite glass artwork around every corner.
The Gardens are lovely at any time of year, though they truly shine in the spring months when all the desert plants are blooming.
The Desert Botanical Gardens are part of a park complex that includes the Phoenix Zoo and Papago Park. Admission for non-members is $15.00 for adults, $5.00 for children under twelve, and $7.50 for students aged 13-18. Self-guided audio tours are available for an additional $3, and special exhibits and events (such as the extremely popular Spring Jazz in the Garden concert series) may also be an additional charge.
Whether you’re looking to create a unique family memory, or you want to spend a day in solitude and quiet contemplation, or you wish for a romantic outing to share with a loved one, the Desert Botanical Gardens are an excellent choice to wile away a sunny afternoon.
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We talk a lot about family vacations on this blog. We give you tips for traveling with kids and point out things for families to do and see.
But what about traveling without your kids?
For couples with children, a getaway as adults and not as parents can be rare. And the longer you’ve been parents, the easier it is to find yourself alone with your significant other in a hotel room asking “what should we do now?” (I mean, you know, after you’ve done that.)
(And for those of you without children who get to travel with adults frequently, don’t laugh at our need for some guidance!)
While it’s true that most amusement parks market themselves as gateways to “family fun”, they are also great places for adults to have fun. Imagine going on the roller coasters together - without having to worry about height restrictions or taking turns sitting with the stroller. When you visit an amusement park with other adults, you almost never find yourself crawling out of a ride that’s just started because someone is afraid of the dark.
You’re never too old to throw your hands up in the air and scream at the top of your lungs.
You don’t have to gamble your life’s savings to enjoy a trip to a casino. Even if you only play the penny slots or place the minimum bet at the tables, it’s nice to spend some time in a place that caters to adults. And casinos are masters at making sure grown ups have a good time.
I adore taking my kids to the beach. Truly, I do. But it’s also nice to be able to lay on the sand and close my eyes without worrying about someone drowning. Take a book and allow yourself to get lost in it, or venture out into the water and enjoy the waves that would normally be too big for children.
As a parent, meals are about getting people fed before they get cranky and overly tired. When you take a vacation without your kids, take the opportunity to skip the early bird crowd and enjoy a restaurant with ambience. This is your chance to take advantage of the available 8pm reservation slots at a place you’d never get to enjoy otherwise.
A great vacation should allow time to relax. One of the most indulgent things to do on a vacation is head back to your hotel room and take a nap. Don’t set the alarm or feel guilty about all the things you’re not accomplishing. When was the last time you slept until you woke up all on your own?
When I go to a place like New York City, I tend to get most of my nutrition from street vendors. What can I say - I usually travel on a budget! But when you’re not traveling with kids, you can get dressed up and be part of that trendy restaurant, even if it’s just to grab a few drinks at the bar (before you head off for hot dogs on the corner).
I’m a huge proponent for exposing children to art and culture. Museums provide great learning opportunities for kids. But going as an adult without kids provides a great opportunity for you to enjoy the exhibits without shushing anyone or having to enforce the “no touching!” rule.
If you go to a museum alone, you’ll have plenty of time to sit and ponder without interruption. If you go with another adult, you might find you have something totally new to talk about together.
Dinner theater is good, cheesy fun. Let yourself laugh at corny jokes. Revel in being in a room full of other adults and not having to cut anyone else’s meat.
When you get to explore a new city without having to worry about little ones darting off into traffic or running into strangers, you find you notice details that would otherwise get ignored. Allow yourself to get lost in the architecture. Stroll hand in hand with someone who isn’t tugging to break free.
A trip to the hotel spa is rarely on the family vacation itinerary. Taking a vacation without your kids provides the perfect chance to pamper yourself with a spa treatment you’d never splurge for at home. If you’re traveling with your spouse, I highly recommend couple’s massages - even if one of you scoffs at first at the idea of fluffy robes and candles. You’ll both come away relaxed and grateful for the time to unwind together.
One of my favorite ways to learn about a new place is with a guided carriage tour. A good guide will provide you with all sorts of information and interesting details about the things you’ll see. And you can’t deny there’s something romantic about riding around in a carriage.
When I was younger, I used to save for months to see my favorite band play. Even the best iPod and home stereo system can’t compete with the thrill of live music. One of the greatest vacations I’ve taken as an adult was a trip to Vegas planned around a Prince concert.
The next time you hear your favorite 80s band is doing a come back tour, consider booking a room and making a vacation out of seeing them perform one more time.
In other words, be adventurous! Do something that scares the crap out of you! Get your heart racing and your adrenaline pumping in ways you can’t experience when you’re being the responsible adult.
Yes, really. Maybe a husband and wife shoe shopping marathon isn’t ideal. And maybe one of you cringes at the very idea of stepping into a mall. But when was the last time you visited a store with breakables? Your everyday trip to Great Clips and the grocery store is not the same as browsing through antique shops or fawning over fancy electronics.
When my husband and I get the chance to shop together, we find ourselves talking about things we want, things we love, and things we can’t imagine anyone being interested in buying. But we’re talking - and not about work or school or whose turn it is to fold laundry.
Who cares if one - or both - of you has two left feet? The mantra on vacation is “I’ll never see any of these people again!” Let your hair down and don’t be afraid to make fools of yourselves. There are few things more romantic than spending a night together on a dance floor.
As an avid traveler, I wholeheartedly support frequent vacations with your kids. It’s important to let them see the world and get exposed to new places - and experiencing those places as a family is great. But it’s also nice from time to time to remember who you are without your kids and nurture the parts of you that have nothing to do with nurturing other people. Get out there and live a little!
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Sanibel Island is a great place for a unique beach vacation in southwest Florida.
Sanibel Island is about a three hour drive south of Tampa. It’s only 45 minutes away from Southwest Florida International Airport, which is accessible by non-stop flights fom major cities all over the United States (look for airport code RSW). To get onto the island, you’ll need to cross a causeway road and pay a $6.00 toll.
Sanbiel Island is best known for the ample supply of sea shells. Of course, all of Florida beaches have sea shells. What makes Sanibel Island beaches unique is that it lies east to west instead of north and south. This makes the island act as a scoop in the Gulf of Mexico. Travelers come from all over the world to hunt for unique sea shells on the beaches of Sanibel Island.
The only free beach parking on Sanibel Island is along the causeway getting to the island. All other beaches will require a beach permit or a $2 per hour for parking. If you’re planning to stay on Sanibel Island for several days and visit multiple beaches, it’s a good idea to do some advanced planning and figure out which permit will give you the most beach bang for your buck. Beach permits must be purchased at the Sanibel Police Station. This site gives a great breakdown of what permit is needed for which beaches.
Sanibel Island is a frequent favorite among the travel industry’s “most romantic” lists. Spend a weekend on one of the beaches and you’re likely to see a beach wedding or a couple strolling hand in hand. The turquoise water and remote feel of a tropical island make it a perfect place to escape for a romantic vacation.
If you’re looking to enjoy the quieter side of Florida, you can’t go wrong with a vacation to Sanibel Island.
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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
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A delicate kiss at Delicate Arch, Utah
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Deer 'Kiss' at Mt. Rainier National Park
Love shows through on top of Mt. Rainier
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Men of action are often silent and appreciate a good brunch buffet.
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St. Thomas Harbor from Paradise Point