Vacations Blog

NCAA March Madness Logo (photo courtesy NCAA.com and CBSSports.com)

Zero.  That is the collective number of college basketball games I have watched this season.  Yet, come next week, I’m sure that I will be counted among the millions of Americans contributing to the estimated $1.7 billion dollar productivity drain (thanks NCAA.com and CBSSports.com) during this springtime basketball tournament frenzy known everywhere as March Madness.

Selection Sunday is March 15 and opening round games are scheduled around the country beginning in Dayton, OH with the “play-in” game March 17.  The play-in game pits the 64th and 65th ranked teams against each other.  The winner of that game goes on to the regular tournament where in all likelihood they shall be soundly beaten by a far superior team.  That’s just how it works.

Here’s the tournament schedule at a glance.  Although tickets may be scarce, your best bet for seeing any of the games live would be the first and second rounds or the regionals.  Follow the city links below for lodging options in each of the host cities as well as interesting game alternatives while you’re there.

Selection Sunday March 15, 2009  6pm ET (CBS)

Play-In Game  March 17, 2009  7:30pm

Dayton, OH

Games will be played at the University of Dayton Arena.  As time allows, make sure to check out the National Museum of the United States Air Force at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base.

Stearman PT-13D Kaydet at the National Museum of the USAF (photo courtesy of Bud Hensley)

Rounds 1 and 2 Thursday and Saturday March 19 and 21, 2009

Greensboro, NC

Games will be played at the Greensboro Coliseum.  If you’re traveling with the kids, make sure to give them a break and head over to the Greensboro Children’s Museum for a fun filled, hands-on and interactive learning experience.

Kansas City, MO

Games are scheduled at the Sprint Center.  Allow some extra time to visit the Kansas City Zoo while you’re there.  It was voted one of America’s 60 Best in 2008.

Philadelphia, PA

Games will be played at the Wachovia Center of St. Joseph’s University.  No trip to Philly would be complete without a trip to Independence National Historical Park to see the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall where our Constitution was drafted.

The Liberty Bell in Independence National Historic Park (photo ushistory.org)

Portland, OR

Games to be held at the Rose Garden of the University of Oregon.  Again, I’m gonna send you to the zoo, the Oregon Zoo.

Rounds 1 and 2 Friday and Sunday March 20 and 22, 2009

Boise, ID

Games will be held at the Taco Bell Arena of Boise State University.  There’s plenty of family fun things to do in downtown Boise.

Dayton, OH

See above.

Miami, FL

Games will be at the American Airlines Arena of Florida International University.    Of course, Miami is a top Spring Break Destination so bring your trunks and floaties.  Hit the beach with your downtime.  That should go without saying.

Miami Coastline (photo courtesy visitusa.com)

Minneapolis, MN

Games to be held at the HHH Metrodome of the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities.  Two words:  Mall of America.  (Of doesn’t count.)  While there, make sure to see the world’s largest underground aquarium Underwater Adventures.

Regionals:  Thursday and Saturday March 26 and 28, 2009

East Regional–Boston, MA

Games will be held at the TD Banknorth Garden, home of the Bruins and Celtics.  While in Boston be sure to check out the Freedom Trail a three mile walk through downtown Boston that links 16 historical sites.

The Old North Church Steeple Boston, MA (photo courtesy oldnorth.com)

West Regional–Phoenix, AZ

Games will be at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Az.    I hear the South Mountain Park Scenic Drive is a great way to experience some of Arizona’s beautiful scenery and to boot–it’s free.

Regionals:  Friday and Sunday March 27 and 29, 2009

Midwest Regional–Indianapolis, IN

Games are scheduled at the new (in 2008) Lucas Oil Stadium.  The Children’s Museum of  Indianapolis ranks as one of the best in the country.  It’s a definite if you go to Indy with the kids.

The Children's Museum of Indianapolis (photo via web public domain)

South Regional–Memphis, TN

Games will be held at the FedEx Forum.  No trip to Memphis would be complete without a visit to Graceland, even if you’re not an Elvis fan.

Final Four:  April 4 and 6, 2009

Detroit, MI–Ford Field

If your team has made it this far, congratulations.  If you’ve made it this far, congratulations again.  There’s much to see and do in the Motor City and while the games from here on out promise to be nothing short of spectacular make sure to take a break see some of what Detroit has to offer.

The Road Ends Here Detroit, MI 2009 NCAA Final Four

Oh, and coming off a perfect season (perfect 0 and 16, that is) I’m fairly certain you can get a pretty good deal on Lions Season Tickets while you’re there.

Let the games begin!

Cascade Waterfall - Giles County, Virginia

I don’t know if it’s those old black and white images or maybe it’s that dueling banjo song in Deliverance. Either way you rarely hear anyone say, “Hey, let’s go vacation in the Heart of Appalachia!” I think that’s a shame because the area is full of history, tradition, music and art. The winding back roads and mountain views are breathtaking. It’s probably one of the most beautiful areas in Virginia. I haven’t told my husband yet, but we are going for a visit during spring break.

Here are a few places I’ve added to our must see list. I plan to round it out with enough arts and craft type stops to keep me happy but not enough to end up divorced. If you’ve been to any of these or have other suggestions let me know.

Pocahontas Coal Mine – Tazewell, Virginia

I don’t think I’ve ever seen a real piece of coal much less a full-blown coal mine. The guide at the Pocahontas coal mine will give a tour of a former working coal mine and explain the history and significance of coal in the development of our country. That’s good stuff to know. And yes, I’m planning to tell the kids the mine isn’t open in the winter so Santa can get coal for stocking.

Tours of Mine and Educational Room
$7.00-Adults
$4.50-Children 6-12
Museum Free
Open April – September

Crab Orchard Museum & Pioneer Park – Tazewell, Virginia

The Crab Orchard Museum and Pioneer Park is a little piece of carefully preserved history starting with a 570 million year old snail fossil, moving on to a cabin built in 1802, throwing in some historical farm buildings, and finishing up with a 1917 Model T Ford and an old-time gas pump. This is one stop history shopping. They also maintain a working farm with heirloom and back bred seeds of the same variety that was cultivated 150 or more years ago. It sounds like a fun way to spend the day. The Fiddlers Convention in July might be worth a trip.  But then again, there’s that fear of divorce thing.

Adult (full tour): $4
Adult-Senior/AAA/Time Traveler: $3
Adult (Gallery OR Park Only): $2
Children 7-12 (full tour): $2
Children 7-12 (Gallery OR Park Only): $1
Children under 6 – FREE

Open Memorial Day – Labor Day

White Rocks in Cumberland Gap National Park

Cumberland Gap National Historical Park

The Cumberland Gap National Historic Park is located in Kentucky, Tennessee, and Virginia. I think this would be an excellent park to add to your list of National parks.  It has seventy miles of hiking trails, waterfalls, and fascinating limestone caves and structures. We’ll probably check out Gap Cave and maybe Hensley’s Settlement. Or we might just spend the day hiking and taking photographs.

No entrance fee for park

Gap Cave Tour
Adult $8
Children 5-12 $4
Hensley’s Settlement
Adults- $10
Children under the age of 12 – $5

I haven’t decided if we’ll continue on to Tennessee or Kentucky. Maybe turn back towards North Carolina. If we had a little longer I’d head to Memphis. Then again, Memphis would be more fun in May – without the kids.

Photo Credits : White Rocks from the National Park Service.  A cascade of thanks to Daniel Farrell for the gorgeous waterfall picture.

I would never suggest that you visit an airport with your children just for fun.  However, if you are stranded at an airport on your way home from holiday travel, let it be known that some of them have incredibly cool features that will help you kill the time and burn off the kids’ energy so they will pass out on the airplane.  Just don’t let them visit the ubiquitous airport candy store.

My holiday gift to you is a list, below, of links to the major US airlines and their hub airports.  Chances are, if you are traveling across the country, you may have to set foot in one of them, and you may even have to spend many of your precious hours there.  To all of our delight, I am sure, the city editors of Being Savvy, a guide for parents of preschoolers, have found interesting ways to kill time with children of all ages at many of these airports.

Do not be intimidated by the links.  Find your airline, then find the airport you where you will be sleeping changing planes.

Alaska Airlines: Alaska Airlines (AS) uses Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) where Being Savvy helps you locate the children’s play area, Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport (ANC), Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and Portland International Airport (PDX).

Music scape at the American Airlines terminal at Dallas/Ft. Worth

American Airlines: Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) – (check out the terminal’s many cool larger-than-life sculptures), Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport (ORD) (check out Being Savvy’s guide to O’Hare), Lambert-Saint Louis International Airport (STL), Miami International Airport (MIA).

Continental Airlines:  Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH), Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR), and Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE).

Delta Air Lines:  Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) (here’s Being Savvy’s guide ),Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC) with fully equipped children’s play areas on three concourses, Cincinnati-Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG), John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK).

Frontier Airlines:  Denver International Airport (DEN) where Being Savvy found five fun frolics.  Until December 31st, 2008, kids under 12 fly, ski, and stay free in Aspen.

Jet Blue :  John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and Boston’s Logan International Airport (BOS) where Being Savvy visits the Kidport – Also, if you get a chance, show the older kids Logan’s 9/11 memorial.

The Kidport at Logan

Midwest Airlines:  Milwaukee’s General Mitchell International Airport (MKE) and Kansas City International Airport (MCI).

Northwest Airlines:  Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport (MSP) where Being Savvy locates the family services and hits you with family travel tips, Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW), Memphis International Airport (MEM).

Southwest Airlines:  technically does not have hubs, but has main activities at Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI), Chicago Midway Airport (MDW), Dallas Love Field Airport (DAL), Las Vegas’s McCarran International Airport (LAS), Houston Hobby Airport (HOU), and Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX).

Spirit Airlines:  calls their hubs “bases” which are at Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW) where Being Savvy finds you kid-friendly activities, and Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL).

United Airlines (UA) uses Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport (ORD), San Francisco International Airport (SFO) with its in-house aquarium!, Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) – (check out the Being Savvy layover lifesaver ), Denver International Airport (DEN), and Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).

US Airways (US) uses Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX), Charlotte/Douglas International Airport (CLT), and Philadelphia International Airport (PHL).

[Photos courtesy of Dallas Ft. Worth International Airport and Logan International Airport]