Perhaps you thought this was Texas. True, they do everything bigger, but this kernel of candy corn is located outside Disneyland Resort’s second gate Disney’s California Adventure.
Disneyland knows big, too. The two guys in the photo are both well over 7′ tall. Read More »
Couples Retreat may have topped the box office with $35.3m over the opening weekend, but it doesn’t really make the case for vacation therapy.
In fact, this Vince Vaughn starrer goes the other way – and suggests that the best way to save your marriage is to escape from the wacky Couples Retreat staff and the weird yoga techniques (filmed at the St. Regis Resort in Bora Bora). You end up at a singles resort instead, get sloshed, scream and shout at your spouse and then a round of make-up sex solves all your problems. Read More »
Happiest pumpkins on Earth - or at least Disneyland.
Yes, those are real pumpkins. Yes, they are intimidating. No, I didn’t carve them. That’s a little something the kids call Disney magic. They do, I’ve heard them.
Your moment will soon be upon you. Prepare for pumpkins! Also, turkey. Happy carving!
For more family-friendly travel photos visit DeliciousBaby’s Photo Fridays.
Photo by W. Honea
There’s about to be more magic in Orlando.
Universal Orlando Resort and Warner Bros. have finally revealed the “first-ever details about the incredible scope of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter.” Not the least of which is that the land will open in spring 2010. That’s soon!
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter will be an addition to Universal’s Islands of Adventure park, which is already AWESOME (it’s all Marvel characters though, which leads me to wonder what talks are underway between Universal and Marvel’s new owner Disney). The Spider-Man ride alone is worth the price of admission.
And the Dr. Suess stuff.
Harry Potter’s new land is obviously based upon the stories and characters of J.K. Rowling and promises to remain “faithful to the visual landscapes of the films.” Read More »
Kanab Utah Main Street
Many people call Kanab, Utah the Gateway. Kanab sits in Southern Utah along route 89 about seven miles north of the Arizona border and subsequently gets visitors on their way to the Grand Canyon, Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon and the Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park among many others. Summer finds the town packed with RVs towing boats and wave runners on their way to Lake Powell and family vehicles bursting at the seams with camping and hiking equipment. The winters in Kanab are not quite as busy but still full from people going to ski at
Coral Pink Sand Dunes
Brianhead Ski Resort and snow tubing at Coral Pink Sand Dunes. The beauty to be found in Kanab and the surrounding area is breathtaking and you usually take a little bit home with you in the form of the red dirt that Kanab is famous for.
Kanab’s population is small, about 3,500, and the residents rely heavily on tourists as the largest source of income for the city. The slow-paced small town feel is a nice change from the crowded attractions and parks and the people are friendly as you walk down Main Street to check out the stores. Frontier Movie Town is a short walk away from downtown where you’ll see authentic movie sets and memorabilia from some great western movies made there. They also have the Pioneer Museum with classic western and pioneer artifacts. Read More »
Leaving our mark on Disneyland.
At the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, CA, there is a large square of open area between the gates of the original Disneyland park and Disney’s California Adventure. The square is filled with families waiting for loved ones and teenagers trying to look cool in mouse ears and all of the randomness that one might associate with the downtime of a Disney vacation. Read More »
Fountain at the Arizona Grand Resort
The Arizona Grand Resort, located in Phoenix, Arizona, just completed a 52 million dollar renovation. This AAA Four Diamond Preferred all-suite hotel is offering the “Grand Opening Summer Splash”, from Thursday May 21st through Monday September 7th, with rates starting at $129 per night. Visitors who stay for two or more nights receive a $50 gift card that can be used toward any of the numerous resort services and amenities.
The Arizona Grand Resort has something for everyone in the family. The full service spa and salon can be enjoyed after a round on the resort’s 18-hole golf course. The Lobby features a bar and grill, and a marketplace with everything you might need, and a few things you might just want. Aunt Chiladas Mexican Restaurant is within walking distance, and the Phantom Horse Grill and Sports Bar is on the resort property. For the fitness minded, a 20,000 square foot athletic club is available, complete with 45 fitness classes offered per week. The 17,000 acre South Mountain preserve is right at the back door, with 60 miles of trails for hiking, horseback riding, and mountain biking. The Oasis Water Park, rated among the top 10 resort water parks in the nation by The Travel Channel, has water slides, a “river ride”, and an enormous wave pool. During the “Island Nights at the Oasis” visitors can enjoy a “dive-in” movie on the big screen behind the pool.
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ONE:
The newly renovated Camelback Inn in Scottsdale is holding a Mother’s Day champagne brunch. The Inn’s incredible food is surpassed only by their phenomenal service. Take Mom here for Mother’s Day, and you’ll be raking in the brownie points for YEARS. ($69 per adult, $20 per child)
TWO:
Schedule your mother for a spa weekend at Canyon Ranch in Tucson. Canyon Ranch’s all-inclusive programs are famous for their nourishment of the body, soul, and spirit. Very high end, VERY pricey, but a gift that your mother or wife will never, ever forget. (Rates can be found here.)
THREE:
Take Mom on a day trip to Sedona. It’s just a ninety-minute drive from the Phoenix area, the views are breathtaking, and there are excellent dining and shopping opportunities (I highly recommend a stroll through Tlaquepaque - pronounced Tel-AH-ko-PAH-kee).
FOUR:
Get Mom tickets to a cultural event. The Phoenix Symphony’s spring calendar includes “A Salute to Rodgers and Hammerstein”, “Legends and Heroes”, and “007: Bond and Beyond”. The ASU Gammage Auditorium is featuring numerous performances over the next several months, including “Stomp!”, “Rent”, and “A Chorus Line”.
FIVE:
For the Rockin’ Mom, Cricket Pavilion is gearing up its summer concert series. Among many other performers and bands, Jimmy Buffet will be performing on 5/14, No Doubt is holding a show on 5/23, Aerosmith is landing on 7/27, and Def Leppard (with Poison! and Cheap Trick!) is performing on 8/29. I recommend the lawn tickets, which are generally only around $20, and you can kick back on a blanket and gaze at the stars overhead.
What I’m getting at is, don’t just get Mom the same old flowers, candies, and dinner. Kick it up a little and truly surprise her! Trust me, you’ll get all the value in the world out of your thoughtfulness.
© UpTake Networks, Inc. 2009
