Cougar Mtn. Zoo Reindeer Festival

The Cougar Mountain Zoo in Issaquah, WA (15 miles East of Seattle) is worth visiting year round.  The zoo is located, literally, on Cougar Mountain with a beautiful view of the Cascade Mountains and Lake Sammamish.  The primary focus of the Cougar Mountain Zoo is education and endangered species.  It’s an outing and it’s a cause.

But we’re talking reindeer. Read More »

Even though you’re in the Sunshine State, you can still find plenty of opportunities to enjoy a Winter Wonderland in Orlando, Florida.

We even have snow and ice.

That is a video of my two children sledding - on real snow – in Central Florida. We attended a holiday festival at Avalon Park, one of the many holiday festivals in the Orlando area that feature machine made snow and winter activities. While that event only lasted one night, there are still plenty of chances to get cold in the Sunshine State this month.

Holiday Events in Orlando, Florida

ICE! at Gaylord Palms

Ice slide at Gaylord Palms

From November 14th to January 3rd, the Gaylord Palms in Kissimmee presents “a walk-through Christmas attraction hand-carved from nearly TWO MILLION pounds of ice.” The exhibit features ice sculptures and an ice slide in a hall kept at a chilly 9 degrees. Thankfully, parkas are provided to help you keep you warm.

Save on your admission price by purchasing your tickets online.

The Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights at Disney’s Hollywood Studios

Disney's Specatcle Of Dancing Lights

The Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights started as a home display in Arkansas. Every year, Jennings Osborne and his family set up an elaborate collection of holiday lights and over the years, the collection grew, and grew… and grew! In 1995, Walt Disney World became the permanent home of the Osborne family’s holiday light display – and they added a little Disney magic, of course.  When you watch the light show at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, you’ll notice it actually start to snow!

The Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights is included with regular admission to the Hollywood Studios theme park.

Now Snowing in Downtown Celebration

Snowing in Celebration, Florida

From November 28 to December 31, the town of Celebration, Florida puts on a free festival that let’s everyone enjoy the magic of the season.  Snowfalls nightly for 10 minutes at 6pm, 7pm, 8pm and 9pm.  In addition to snow, you’ll find strolling Charles Dickens Carolers, the Celebration Express, horse drawn carriage rides, and a chance to take pictures with Santa.  You can also go ice skating at the local Celebration Town Tavern.

Did I mention that admission for this event is free?  Really.

Orlando prides itself on its ability to entertain.  The holidays are no exception, and we certainly aren’t going to let something like natural climate get in the way of enjoying a Winter Wonderland!

Photo credit: Avitable, Walt Disney World Resorts, Celebration Town Center

Sculpture of Roman Goddess Diana surrounded by a pond

Revel in nature’s fall colors at Brookgreen Gardens Harvest Home Festival on October 24-25.  Enter the scarecrow building contest, try pumpkin painting or opt for hay rides, basket-weaving and pottery demonstrations while listening to live bluegrass music. With the lush Brookgreen Gardens as the setting, your fall vacation will be filled with beauty.  Covered with palmetto trees, hydrangeas and expansive lawns, Brookgreen Gardens resembles a swampy Garden of Eden.

Nestled between Myrtle Beach and Pawley’s Island, the 9,200-acre outdoor museum and National Historic Landmark boasts sculptures, gardens, fountains, marshes, swamps, an aviary and a zoo.  This place is so massive that admission tickets are good for seven consecutive days. I recommend devoting a day to the Harvest Home Festivalactivities and another for the sculpture garden and lowcountry zoo. Read More »

Aloha, hula!

Hawaii puts its rich cultural history on display for visitors in many ways, but once a year, they really pull out all the stops with the Aloha Festival.

On my recent visit to Oahu to explore the island and experience the festival, I was hosted by the very friendly and laid-back representatives of the Hawaii Convention and Visitors Bureau, so I had a bit of an inside look into how Hawaii is faring these days.  It was hard to tell that tourism is down.  Everywhere I looked there were tourists, and most of those were happy and smiling.  With perfect weather, lush surroundings, and gracious staff at almost every place I visited, how could one not be happy?

(Don’t forget, you  can enter to win a trip to Hawaii until October 23rd.  Details here.)

For a busy mother of two, this trip held lots of promise of down time and relaxation.  But.  Once I got to Hawaii and there was an undiscovered delight lurking around every turn, I found I couldn’t stop my mind from spinning even when my body was exhausted.  I only had just over three days there.  “I’ll sleep on the plane,” I told myself. Read More »

Fall foliage

Contrary to the thermometer outside my window, which at this second is reading a balmy 108 degrees (September in Arizona – gotta love it!), the fall weather will soon be upon us. Nothing says fall to me more than the round of upcoming harvest fairs and festivals, scheduled for September through November.

The Arizona Expo and State Fair is being held from October 16th through November 8th (closed Mondays). Admission is $10 for adults, $5 for children and seniors, and kids under five years old are free. Parking in all fair lots is $10. The fairgrounds are located at 26 W. McDowell Road in Phoenix, just off of I-10. This year’s concert series includes Stone Temple Pilots, Bob Dylan, Lady Antebellum, The Black Crowes, David Cook, and Kelly Clarkson. The fair is entering its 64th consecutive year and features the traditional round of carnival rides, fried foods, craft and livestock displays and contests, and rodeo events.

Read More »

Nearly every state in the U.S. hosts a series of beer festivals in the spring, summer, and fall months.  For a fee (varying by the number and size of the beer “samples” in which you wish to partake) adults can spend a leisurely afternoon in the sun, wandering from booth to booth obtaining libations of their preference, a few ounces at a time. Festival participants are also entertained with live music, crafts, brew-oriented merchandise, and local cuisine.

My husband and I have enjoyed festivals hosted in Arizona and Oregon (we specifically planned a trip to Portland for their annual Brewer’s Festival). I’m also hoping to coincide a road trip this summer with events happening in Denver Colorado. Unfortunately, I’ll just miss the Brewers of Indiana Guild Microbrewers Festival in Indianapolis in July – I’ll be in the area the week prior.

The Made in the Shade beer festival in Flagstaff, Arizona is one that my husband and I try never to miss – we’ll be going again this year, for the third year in a row. It’s always scheduled in the middle of summer; by that time we are desperate to get out of the heat in Phoenix and head up north to the cool pines and mountains.

BeerFestivals.org is a great website dedicated to keeping track of when and where any beer festival is scheduled, anywhere in the world. So find one scheduled near you and enjoy! Just remember a few things:

1. Establish a Designated Driver. Festivals often offer discounted or free entrance, non-alcoholic beverages, and food for those participants who have the distinction of being the designated driver. This IS a beer festival, after all. You can still get drunk, even one ounce at a time. So be smart, and be safe.

2. Sun + Heat + Alcohol = Dehydration. It’s summertime. You’re indulging in some fabulous brews, and may lose track of just how much you’re drinking. Alcohol dehydrates, so be sure to drink plenty of good old fashioned water in between samples. It probably wouldn’t hurt to get a bite to eat every now and then, too. I know this from experience.

3. Patience is a virtue. A lot of these festivals can get crowded, and combining crowds with long lines and beer is sometimes less than entertaining. Especially when the crowd contains some of those hooty types that like to holler, “Woooo! Beer!” every few minutes, like clockwork. Have patience, slow down, enjoy the day. The beer will still be there when you get to the front of the line.

4. If you have children, get a babysitter. As you surely have realized, beer festivals are limited to those who are of legal drinking age. While it’s a great and fun idea for grown-ups, festival attendance really isn’t appropriate for children. You can make it up to them the next day by taking them to an amusement park. I just wouldn’t recommend getting on any twirly rides if you have a hangover.

Word to the wise.

1. Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta: This is a spectacular display of color….thousands of balloons are released against a blue desert sky. People come from all over the world to see this one of a kind festival of hot air balloons. You can go for an unforgettable scenic ride or just enjoy the festivities from the ground level. But, don’t miss out!

2. Maryland Renaissance Festival: Dust off your armor and get ready for turkey legs, chivalry, and sword fights. This is one of the largest Renaissance festivals in the country with more than 1300 participants and 280,000 guest every year.

3. Mardis Gras in New Orleans, Louisiana: An obvious but essential choice. The wild costumes, spectacular floats and raucous crowds make this one of the country’s best festivals. Head down in February for Fat Tuesday and have a blast!

4. Fire Ant Festival in Marshall Texas: Marshall might be a little out of your way. But, if you ever find yourself in East Texas in October. …mosey on by. This festival is an ode to the pesky fire ant, complete with “stinging” hot chili cook-offs and giant fire ant floats.

5. Gilroy Garlic Festival: If you are a fan of this versatile herb, then you don’t want to miss this festival. Snack on it whole, sauteed with pasta, or flavoring a scoop of ice cream—this a three day “ode to garlic”. Breath mints not included!

6. Monterey Jazz Festival: Another classic. This fest is in its 51st year and going strong. It is a celebration of Jazz music with over 500 musicians and 9 stages. You can sip on a glass of wine and take in a sunset over the Pacific Ocean while grooving to a smooth beat.

7. Austin City Limits Festival (ACL) in Austin, Texas: This incredibly popular music festival arose from the famed television program of the same name. It takes place over a full weekend every September and has 100’s of bands, both large and small. Added bonus: when you get overheated in the hot Texas sun, you can cross the street and go swimming in the 68degree water of Barton Springs.

8. Taste of Chicago: This summer festival in Grant Park involves music, libations, and a sampling of food from more than 60 of Chicago’s best restaurants…what more can you ask for. Oh, and the entrance is free!

9. Testicle Festival in Clinton, Montana: If you have ever wanted to try a Rocky Mountain Oyster, this is your chance! But, it is only for the brave.

10.Gulf Coast Rhythm and Rib Fest in Palmetto Florida: Who doesn’t like good music and delicious food. This festival brings together the nations top Rib Masters from the gulf coast states in a legendary cook-off. Sample the entries and decide for yourself. You can also enjoy live music and games as well as a bike and auto show.

11. World Grits Festival: Visit St. George, South Carolina where more grits are consumed per capita than anywhere else in the world! This town is proud of their claim to fame and have created quite the celebration over this yummy dish. Bring the whole family and enjoy music, recipes, games, and as much grits as you can handle!

12. Oregon Shakespeare Festival: Visit the beautiful town of Ashland,Oregon and enjoy theater at its finest. This isn’t your typical festival as it is an entire season of Shakespeare productions and events. “To go or not to go”…that is the question. I say, “Go”!

13. National Apple Harvest Festival: This is your chance to celebrate the nations “favorite fruit” in the heart of Pennsylvania’s apple country. In addition to apples galore, there are arts and crafts booths, an antique car show, and a petting zoo.

There are so many great festivals around this country every year that it can be hard to choose! Did I miss any of your favorites? Feel free to share!

Thanks to Aoife Mac for the lovely balloon pictures!