Top 10 tips for Enjoying Family Vacations

I love to travel and so does my family. My husband and I both have the luxury of traveling for our careers. The kids like it when I plan our vacations because I usually plan some fun outings; from Universal VIP passes to dinner cruises. Here are a few tips, after you've decided on the dates and the venue:

1. Go online and start researching the events that will be happening in the area you are about to visit. This way you will know in advance if you want to attend an event that you may need to purchase tickets for in advance (dinner train, special show, etc.)

Start a paper folder or a folder on your computer's desktop and store websites, notes and activities, as well as hotel, travel information.

2. If you have time, and if you like hard copies like I do, call or go online to the chamber of commerce in the city/town you are visiting. They love to know when guests are coming and are invaluable to planning a wonderful vacation.

3. I look at how many days we are going to be, say, Sunday through Saturday. This gives me a good starting point. For example, our trip to Ft. Myers, we knew that my husband and I wanted to visit the Edison and Ford Winter Estates (http://www.efwefla.org/), we also wanted to go kayaking (my favorite past time), and I also wanted to visit the state park for birding, hiking, biking and I believe there was another attraction we wanted to visit. So I called or went online and got ticket information, hours of operation, etc. From here I would pencil in a date for the visit.

4. I also learned early on not to book more than one or two events/attractions in one day, allowing for travel time, eating or just last minute drive-bys.

5. It's also a good idea to get coupon books, or tourist brochures, these are great for local maps, restaurants and coupons for restaurants and attractions. We also like to pack our favorite snacks.

6. By scheduling your activities for the week, the kids and you have something to look forward to and they still have time to hit the beach or limited video games, etc.

7. It's also fun to plan your meals if you are staying in a place where you have a kitchen. We usually try to eat dinners in, since they are more expensive than breakfast or lunch.

When we planned our trip to Williamsburg, VA last year, we called ahead and found out the hotel/resort where we were staying offered day trips to various places. We chose to go to Washington D.C., on one day, with their bus service. This allowed us to sit back and relax while being chauffered around and they are also good tour guides. And you don't have to worry about getting lost.

8. It's also a good idea to get the kids input on activities for the family to enjoy. For example if the kids know we're going skiing or to the beach, they also enjoy researching online and suggesting events, etc. With an active interest in the vacation plans, the kids get excited about the excursions and are more apt to help out where they are needed.

9. Kids can actually forget about being online and texting their friends all day because they are too busy having fun with their family.

10. Also, to help keep the distractions to a minimum, if you set the ground rules up early, and everyone knows what is expected they will do their part, chores, etc., and behave in order to enjoy the activities they want to participate in.

Everyone also has to agree that one person may not feel 100 percent about an event, but once they go, they may realize they enjoy that outing or event and will be glad they went. And everyone also needs to be nice to each other.

For more ideas, go here: http://www.twittermoms.com/forum/topics/share-10-tips-to-create-a-fun

Skiing Western Mountains in NC

Looking for some great runs in North Carolina? Bring the family to this one: Sapphire Ski Resort, a four-season resort located in the Blue Ridge Mountains. This is a family-friendly resort, great for learning or relearning to ski and for quality time with the family. Sapphire Ski Resort offers skiing, snowboarding and a tube park. They have a 1,600 foot main run with a vertical drop of 200 feet and a bunny hill. The tube run is 700 feet long.

Grab your skis and head over to Cataloochee Ski Area. Come play in the snow: Founded in 1961, Cataloochee Ski Area (www.cataloochee.com) is the oldest ski resort in North Carolina and remains one of the most popular in the Southeast. It’s one of the most advanced, with state-of-the-art snowmaking capabilities extending the ski season each year. In fact, the 2008-2009 season spanned a record six months with 126 days (the second most in history) of great skiing. With 14 slopes and trails, Cataloochee Ski Area offers mountains of fun for everyone, from skiers to snowboarders, from novices to veterans. Beginners can get a feel for things on a couple of smooth, gentle slopes (classes and private lessons are also available), while the more adventurous can head to the ramps, rails and boxes at the Cat Cage Terrain Park. For those with a need for speed, there’s plenty of steepness on this mountain. Nestled in the Great Smoky Mountains, the surrounding views are as magical as the slopes are thrilling.

Ride the crest of the latest wave in outdoor winter fun: Perhaps sledding, not skiing or snowboarding, is more your speed. Then you’ll definitely want to stop at Tube World (www.tubemaggievalley.com), located just down the mountain from the ski area in Maggie Valley. The snow tube park offers fun for the entire family in the form a five-run slope and the slide of your life.

Haywood County (www.VisitNCSmokies.com) encompasses 554 scenic square miles of spectacular country, with beautiful mountains and valleys dotting the landscape. More than a dozen of its mountain peaks soar to elevations of at least 6,000 feet (more than any east of the Mississippi River), and the county is one of the highest, with a mean elevation of 3,600 feet, east of the Rockies. One of its most notable mountain peaks is Cold Mountain—the basis for the award-winning, best-selling novel by Charles Frazier and the ensuing 2003 major motion picture—at 6,030 feet. The county sits at the western edge of North Carolina, with 46 miles of the Blue Ridge Parkway running along its southwestern border. The Great Smoky Mountains National Park and Pisgah National Forest are located in the northern section of the county. For those driving from points west via Interstate 40, several alternate routes (around the closed portion near the TN/NC border) are offered at VisitNCSmokies.com.

Wolf Ridge Ski Resort has expanded and offers 15 acres of additional ski slopes, a new quad lift, a new terrain park and so much more! Also a family-oriented resort with 82 acres of ski terrain. Enjoy tubing, skiing, snowshoe adventures and more! Stay at one of their luxurious cabins and enjoy walkig to all amenities and participating in one of the resorts planned events. Rustic three and four bedroom log cabins available high atop Wolf Ridge Mountain. Hot tubs and grills at each cabin with fireplaces inside and some offer rec rooms. Visit them at www.scenicwolfresort.com

With a peak elevation of 5,300 feet, a vertical drop of 1,200 feet a longest run of 1.5 miles and 115 skiable acres, Sugar Mountain Resort is the largest ski area in North Carolina. Sugar Mountain offers skiing, tubing, ice skating, and snowshoeing. Summer activities include Summer Lift Rides, hiking and biking and the Oktoberfest. Sugar's 20 slopes and trails are varied to accommodate beginners with the Magic Carpet area to the experts with the double black diamond Whoopdedoo. www.skisugar.com

Ski Beech at Beech Mountain Resort enters its fifth decade with a variety of improvements and new options for winter sports enthusiasts. The resort added a new tubing park, a second terrain park, new quad chairs on the Oz lift, two new grooming machines and 56 high-tech snow guns. Additionally, all reservoir lakes have been dredged to push the mountain's water capacity to eight million gallons. 828-387-2011 or 1-800-438-2093; www.skibeech.com

As a leader in snow tubing, Hawksnest has taken snow tubing to new levels of fun. Hawksnest's expanded snow tubing operation makes it the biggest snow tubing operation on the East Coast. Hawksnest Snow Tubing resort will now have four different areas to snow tube with more than 20 lanes of fun. Lanes are 400 to 1,000 feet long with two moving carpet lifts to return guests to the top. Hawksnest has 100 percent snowmaking and lighting on all lanes to provide the best possible conditions and fun for the whole family. 828-963-6561 or 800-822-4295; www.hawksnesttubing.com

Whale Watching & Glaciers in Quebec, Canada

You might be wondering where in the world is Baie-Comeau. It's a quaint town on the Atlantic Shore in Quebec, Canada. Founded some 20,000 years ago by glaciers, Baie-Comeau is part of the whale route ensconced at the confluence of the Manicouagan and St. Lawrence rivers in Uapishka World Biosphere Reserve. Relax and enjoy the outdoors either hiking, biking, water sports from kayaking and whale watching to uncovering underwater treasures through scuba diving, to birding, golfing, to winter sports such as; skiing, snowmobiling and ice fishing.

Catch the Matane-Baie-Comeau ferry and respite at the Hotel Le Manoir, the only four star hotel east of Tadoussac. The Hotel Le Manoir was founded by Robert R. McCormick, owner of the Chicago Tribune, has 60 rooms and is great for both business and personal excursions. Beautiful views await you from your room or the balcony, even from the dining room. They offer; wireless high-speed internet, room service, a workout room, tennis courts, bicycle rentals, a relaxation center (day spa), laundry services, beach access and business centre.

They are located in the historic district near theatre, golf and skiing facilities. And only a few miles from the Jardin des Glaciers (www.jardindesglaciers.ca), a state of the art interpretive, exploration and research center. For the adventurous person, grab on at the Adrenaline Zone as you zipline across glacial lake and fjard; rappel down a rock face or kayak across a glacial lake or sea. Rustic campsites and Mongolian yurts are available for nightly rentals. Take a guided boat tour and learn about the impact of the Laurentian ice sheet; from glacial grooves, canyons, moraines, bays and fjard. Get up close in the Valley of the Seashells, in the heart of the boreal forest which are 90 percent shellfish from 8,000 years ago.

Glaciers and Baie-Comeau

You might be wondering where in the world is Baie-Comeau. Its a quaint town on the Atlantic Shore in Quebec, Canada. In a quaint hotel, La Manoir Baie-Comeau, with relaxing views from your room, or the patio/balcony. Whether you come on business or pleasure, be sure to book your spa treatment and enjoy your leisure time in the dining room and walking downtown shopping.

Spend the day going back, 20,000 years to Jardin des Glaciers, a multi-media cyber center, glacier exploration station and maritime adventure park! Descend four kilometers under a glacier and understand the impacts of a giant perpetual movement, then facing a giant water screen be a privileged spectator of the rising sea level as the glacier melts, 8,000 years ago. enjoy a guided kayak tour or via ferrata (rock climbing) by the Sea or 35 kilometers of rustic pathways in the Adrenalin Zone.

How about some Ziplining across the river? Get your adrenalin going at the Adventure Park, for kids and adults to enjoy the day, and also great for groups who are looking for some team building exercises.

Farmer's Markets

It was a beautiful summer morning in downtown Clinton with a rainbow of tents lining the parking lot. Local honey bee keepers, fresh from the garden, organic tomatoes, squash, corn, beans and other summer produce were proudly displayed on tables, in baskets and on the tailgates of trucks. One special vendor caught my eye.

Two long tables were lined together towards the front of the tent. On the table to your left were several pans, commercial kitchen size with several utensils on the table, a few spices, garlic cloves, olive oil and a few burners to your right with frying pans. Off to the side of the tent, flanking the tables were chairs where you can enjoy your biddles. Savory home fries, along with your favorite fresh egg omelette. Xavier Presley is at your service. He will gladly special order your breakfast for you at the market. Or, Presley comes to your home and prepares a meal at your request. You tell him what you want and he does the grocery shopping and cooks for your family and friends. 

Local vendors and farmers will gladly supply some veggies to Xavier at the Farmer's Market and he brings most of the staples to cook for you, as a demonstration. He only accepts donations at the market. But will charge you accordingly for your dinner party or festive event. Xavier once cooked for President Jimmy Carter, while working in a major hotel chain. He was formerly trained at a Texas Cooking School while on scholarship. Xavier is originally from Miami.

Xavier's son helps him cook on the weekends. Today he was making fried green tomatoes. A wonderful corn meal or flour coating with fresh spices for seasoning then fried to perfection. Rupert also helped make a sweet potato casserole. After selecting your favorite toppings; cheese, onions, green peppers, etc., for your omelette, Xavier will show you how they make fire in the frying pan and then prepare your delightful breakfast or brunch. He expertly cooks your eggs and breakfast. Xavier also has some corn on the cob slowly cooking in a large pot of water. "This is how you should prepare your corn," suggests Presley. "People today are often in a hurry and want their food instantly. When we do that it doesn't taste as good."

Xavier should know, while working for the hotel, President Carter sent a letter to the General Manger telling him that his potatoes were the best he's ever had. 

In addition to preparing food at the market, Xavier will give you tips and techniques from chopping vegetables to cooking eggplant parmesan, even which spices to purchase for the best flavor. 

read more at: www.NewTravelAdventures.com

People, its about the people

"I hold a strong conviction that the true breed of diminishing mountain folk of Southern Appalachia are among the most admirable people in the world. They are kind, gentle and compassionate, yet tough and resourceful," said John Rice Irwin, who founded the Museum of Appalachia, a Living Mountain Village in Norris, TN. 

Irwin began collecting history, artifacts with human touch, when he was young. His grandfather told him to "start a museum of these old-timey things". His grandfather has an appreciation for his ancestors and an eclectic assortment of primitive items from three or four generations back. 

"If you need something, what do you do?" asked Irwin of us. Looking around the dinner table at our faces, he explains, "With our parents and grandparents, they made the things, tools and resources they need. Today people just think about where to go to buy what they need."

According to Irwin, each generation is loosing more and more of their history, not even connecting with their ancestors. 

This unique living museum offers a respite for many. Stepping back in time, maybe a few dozen years or more than a hundred, depending on your history lesson. Irwin, a former School Superintendent, would spend weekends driving around several counties, meeting people, getting to know them and if they had something from the past, something he felt would tell a story, their story, he would offer to buy it from them. Irwin didn't want anything that he didn't know who it belonged to and the connection. 

www.museumofappalachia.com

(more soon) 

Secret City, Oak Ridge

I first visited the Secret City, Oak Ridge, TN, a few years ago and was fascinated by the history and who the people were and what their life must have been like. May people are still unaware of the secret city. I have the wonderful opportunity to come back and learn some more about America's history and how it affects us everyday. I flew into Knoxville, just  a few minutes down the interstate from Clinton and Oak Ridge. 

We began our excursion at Norris Dam State Park with a picnic lunch and a great narration from our Park Ranger/Manager, Mark Morgan. Mark explained some of the history of the area to us including the park, its' uses, the river and the dam. The dam was built for flood control in 1936, and also brings efficient electrical power to East Tennessee. the dam is 265 feet high and stretches 1,860 feet across the Clinch River. The dam is surrounded by 4,000 acres of virgin forest complete with scenic nature trails. 

Norris Dam State Park offers wonderful amenities for everyone to come out and enjoy, including; rustic cabins, a full-service marina, recreation areas and a swimming pool. Anglers will love the river with more than 50 different species of fish to reel in. The park offers 20 miles of trails for hiking, bike riding or horseback riding. Active lifestyles, getting outdoors is great for the body, mind and soul. Bringing families together is what it's all about. 

www.tnstateparks.com

Photo above: At the American Museum of Science and Energy; this is what 300,000 volts of electricity will do to you. Gives you a nice tingly feeling.

(part one- more to follow, stay tuned for more history, colorful people and wonderful places to visit in Eastern TN).