Drool over the fancy cars at the Arizona International Auto Show.

Stuffed? Looking for something to do to walk off all of that stuffing and mashed potatoes and pie? If you’re in the Phoenix area, here are three great options to get you off of the couch!

Arizona International Auto Show – November 24th through the 27th at the Phoenix Convention Center. Drool over all of the exotic cars that you’ll never be able to afford. Daydream about winning the lottery. Adults: $10, Senior Citizens: $6, Military: $6, Children (7 – 12): $6, Children (6 & under): free.

The Phoenix Zoo is enjoying regular daytime hours on Thanksgiving, plus the start of the annual Zoolights extravaganza (which begins November 24th and has separate pricing) at night. Wandering around the zoo is the perfect way to walk off all of that turkey! And it will either be really quiet because of the holiday, or really packed because of the holiday. Risk is what makes life so exciting, right? Adults: $18, Children (3-12) $9, Children Under 3 free.

Crackerjax in North Scottsdale is open Thanksgiving Day from 10:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. This amusement park features go-carts, a bunjy bounce, bumper boats, a driving range, a miniature golf course, batting cages, and an arcade. After a day of all of THAT activity, you might just be ready for seconds by the time you get home!

Photo by Tiffany Joyce

The historic Plaza in Santa Fe, at night.

In October, I had the pleasure of spending several days in Santa Fe, New Mexico. My husband and I stayed at Garrett’s Desert Inn, quite close to the Plaza and central to most walking-distance attractions. While the hotel itself wasn’t all that fabulous (clean, but a bit shabby), the location was AWESOME. In fact, it’s just steps away from the Pink Adobe. We went more than twice (okay, four times in three days).

Read More »

Disneyland is incredible no matter what time of year you visit, but the holidays are really something special. It starts with Halloween, which, at the Disneyland Resort kicks off September 16, 2011 (and runs through Halloween night). Halloween is too much fun to celebrate it on just one night. Disney gets it.

In addition to Disneyland and Disney’s California Adventure (DCA) being decked out for the fall holiday (including a Nightmare Before Christmas update to The Haunted Mansion) you can also attend the after-hours fun of Mickey’s Halloween Party. Mickey’s party is a separate-ticket event ($49 – $64 per person, priced by date). It’s a great opportunity for kids of all ages to dress up and trick or treat with their favorite Disney characters (they dress up, too!). Read More »

House on the Rock in Wisconsin.

Sometimes vacationers want to visit an attraction just to be able to say that they’ve been there. Some destinations are whimsical, silly, or downright odd. Others are firmly tied to the nostalgia and history of the area in which they reside. Here’s a list of the top ten(*) “novelty” destinations to visit in the United States. Consider checking them out if you’re ever in the area!

10 -The House on the Rock in Spring Green, Wisconsin. Unruly architecture that engages all of the senses, complete with exhibits, gardens, and displays that flow into one another with no rhyme or reason. Schedule at least three hours to do the self-tour, because the more you look the more you’ll see.

9 – The Mitchell Corn Palace in Mitchell, South Dakota. This is the Mecca for corn enthusiasts (if there is such a thing). There is an annual festival, murals made of corn that are eaten by the local birds and replaced annually, and decor consisting of over 275,000 ears of corn. The Mitchell Corn Palace is home to area stage shows and sporting events with a year-round calendar of events.

8 – The World’s Largest Yard Sale headquartered in Jamestown, Tennessee. Also known as the “127 Corridor Sale”, this yard sale extends 675 miles from Hudson, Michigan to Gadsden, Alabama. The Sale always starts on the first Thursday in August and continues through the following Sunday.

7 – America’s Stonehenge in North Salem, New Hampshire. No one knows who built the ceremonial chambers, walls, and meeting places of this 4,000 year old complex. Oddly enough, the location also boasts a growing herd of privately owned Alpacas. Visit Stonehenge, buy an Alpaca. Makes perfect sense to me!

6 – Dog Bark Park Inn in Cottonwood, Idaho. The inn… is shaped like a dog. A beagle, to be exact. It’s a full-service bed-and-breakfast, and pets are welcome (of course). And if you’re a fan of chainsaw art, this place will supply you with more wooden dogs than you can shake a stick at (har).

Read More »